Energy conversion systems that may employ control grid electrodes, acceleration grid electrodes, inductive elements, multi-stage anodes, and emissive carbon coatings on the cathode and anode are described. These and other characteristics may allow for advantageous thermal energy to electrical energy conversion.

Energy conversion systems that may employ control grid electrodes, acceleration grid electrodes, inductive elements, multi-stage anodes, and emissive carbon coatings on the cathode and anode are described. These and other characteristics may allow for advantageous thermal energy to electrical energy conversion.

A pulse current generation circuit (100) for neural stimulation includes an analogue signal receiving device (101) for receiving an analogue signal; an analogue-to-digital converter (102) for converting the analogue signal into a digital control signal; a current signal controller (103) for producing, according to the digital control signal, pulse current parameters for generating bidirectional pulse current signals; and a current generator (104) for generating, according to the pulse current parameters, bidirectional pulse current signals for neural stimulation, and the current generator can generate pulse currents of different precisions according to the pulse current parameters. In addition, the present invention further relates to a charge compensation circuit, a charge compensation method, and an implantable electrical retina stimulator using the pulse current generation circuit or the charge compensation circuit.

A pulse current generation circuit (100) for neural stimulation includes an analogue signal receiving device (101) for receiving an analogue signal; an analogue-to-digital converter (102) for converting the analogue signal into a digital control signal; a current signal controller (103) for producing, according to the digital control signal, pulse current parameters for generating bidirectional pulse current signals; and a current generator (104) for generating, according to the pulse current parameters, bidirectional pulse current signals for neural stimulation, and the current generator can generate pulse currents of different precisions according to the pulse current parameters. In addition, the present invention further relates to a charge compensation circuit, a charge compensation method, and an implantable electrical retina stimulator using the pulse current generation circuit or the charge compensation circuit.

A pulse output device which corrects a pulse signal advanced or delayed from a timing prescribed by a control device and a control system including the pulse output device are provided. A PLC system including a driving device, a CPU unit, and a pulse output unit is provided. The pulse output unit includes a clock generation unit that generates a clock signal, a pulse output unit that generates a pulse signal by dividing a frequency of a clock signal and outputs the pulse signal having the number of pulses and a pulse speed commanded by the CPU unit at a prescribed timing, a pulse counter that counts the number of pulses of the output pulse signal, and a processing unit that corrects the pulse speed of the pulse signal generated by the pulse output unit based on an error in the numbers of pulses.

A pulse output device which corrects a pulse signal advanced or delayed from a timing prescribed by a control device and a control system including the pulse output device are provided. A PLC system including a driving device, a CPU unit, and a pulse output unit is provided. The pulse output unit includes a clock generation unit that generates a clock signal, a pulse output unit that generates a pulse signal by dividing a frequency of a clock signal and outputs the pulse signal having the number of pulses and a pulse speed commanded by the CPU unit at a prescribed timing, a pulse counter that counts the number of pulses of the output pulse signal, and a processing unit that corrects the pulse speed of the pulse signal generated by the pulse output unit based on an error in the numbers of pulses.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic acoustic transducer excitation system comprising a tone burst generator, the tone burst generator comprising: an oscillator device configured to produce a radio frequency signal; an analog switch configured to produce an output based on the radio frequency signal produced by the oscillator device and a control signal; a pre-amplifier configured to amplify the output of the analog switch and produce a tone burst output signal; and a control module configured to produce the control signal for providing to the analog switch.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic acoustic transducer excitation system comprising a tone burst generator, the tone burst generator comprising: an oscillator device configured to produce a radio frequency signal; an analog switch configured to produce an output based on the radio frequency signal produced by the oscillator device and a control signal; a pre-amplifier configured to amplify the output of the analog switch and produce a tone burst output signal; and a control module configured to produce the control signal for providing to the analog switch.

A control module for a generator exercise timer enables a user to conduct generator exercise sessions at intervals longer than predetermined intervals permitted by the manufacturer. The control module can be connected in series with a generator's existing electronic exerciser timer, preferably by disconnecting the existing exerciser timer's wiring harness from the exercise timer and connecting the control module to the exercise timer. The control module can be provided with a connector of its own to which the wiring harness can be connected. The control module includes a latching relay and a non-latching relay that can be operated in such a manner that alternating engine start signals are sent to the generator. Thus, the exercise timer will be effective to exercise the generator at delayed intervals, e.g., every other week rather than every week. The control module includes a pushbutton switch and a visible LED. The switch enables a user to control the state of the latching relay, while the LED indicates to the user whether the latching relay will permit or prevent the next engine start signal from being effective to start the generator.

A control module for a generator exercise timer enables a user to conduct generator exercise sessions at intervals longer than predetermined intervals permitted by the manufacturer. The control module can be connected in series with a generator's existing electronic exerciser timer, preferably by disconnecting the existing exerciser timer's wiring harness from the exercise timer and connecting the control module to the exercise timer. The control module can be provided with a connector of its own to which the wiring harness can be connected. The control module includes a latching relay and a non-latching relay that can be operated in such a manner that alternating engine start signals are sent to the generator. Thus, the exercise timer will be effective to exercise the generator at delayed intervals, e.g., every other week rather than every week. The control module includes a pushbutton switch and a visible LED. The switch enables a user to control the state of the latching relay, while the LED indicates to the user whether the latching relay will permit or prevent the next engine start signal from being effective to start the generator.