An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical contact device and a second electrical contact device. The first electrical contact device includes at least one first electrical contact and an actuator movable between a first position and a second position. The second electrical contact device includes at least one second electrical contact device and an interlock feature to engage the actuator when the actuator is in the first position. The actuator is in the first position when the first electrical contact is in electrical communication with a power source, and the actuator is in the second position when the electrical communication between the first electrical contact and the power source is disconnected. When the actuator is in the first position and the second electrical contact engage the first electrical contact, the interlock feature engages the actuator, thereby securing the first electrical contact device and the second electrical contact device against disconnection.

Electromagnetic actuators are provided, which generate bidirectional linear force output without magnetic bias from current or permanent magnets. Systems and methods based on the electromagnetic actuators are also provided. In particular, an electromagnetic actuator having a shaft, an axial bearing, coil assembly, top and bottom stationary flux returns, and top and bottom magnetic flux sensors to measure flux crossing the respective top and bottom axial air gaps.

A power converter module is connected to an electrical power supply and is configured to generate a first voltage and a second voltage for controlling operation of a valve, where the valve includes a solenoid for affecting opening and closing of the valve. The first voltage is a boost voltage for accelerating opening of the valve. The second voltage is a holding voltage for maintaining the valve in an open state. A boost control module is configured to control supply of the first voltage to the solenoid of the valve in accordance with a first state of an opening boost control signal when a valve control signal directs opening of the valve, and is configured to control supply of the second voltage to the solenoid of the valve in accordance with a second state of the opening boost control signal when the valve control signal directs opening of the valve.

An electromagnetic machine for generating force is provided. The electromagnetic machine includes a magnet having opposing sides extending along a longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes a pair of ferromagnetic bodies respectively extending along the opposing sides of the magnet, and along the longitudinal axis, each of the ferromagnetic bodies comprising: a back-iron portion; and a pole portion extending from the back-iron portion. The magnet and the ferromagnetic bodies include reciprocal retention devices at the opposing sides along the longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes electrical windings around respective pole portions of the ferromagnetic bodies, the electrical windings around the respective pole portions being independently controllable. The electromagnetic machine includes at least one cold plate configured to thermally isolate the magnet from the electrical windings.

A door assembly includes: a door including a first region; a doorframe connected to the door through a door hinge, the doorframe including a second region, wherein the first region faces the second region when the door is closed; an electromagnet located at one of the first and second regions; a permanent magnet located at the other one of the first and second regions; a distance sensor configured to detect a distance between the door and the doorframe; and a control chip coupled with the distance sensor, the control chip being configured to control a direction of a current in the electromagnet according to the distance detected by the distance sensor.

Embodiments of a discharge circuit are disclosed for quickly and safely discharging energy from an inductor load. The discharge circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch and a voltage regulator. The inductor load couples between the first switch and the second switch. During fast demagnetization, a high side switch is tuned off to decouple the load from a voltage source and the second switch is turned on. Voltage on one end of the load is pushed high and maintained at a predetermined level due to the voltage regulator. The predetermined voltage pulls down the current at the inductive load and causes temperature of the discharge circuit going up quickly. Once the temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, a comparing circuit outputs a signal to a driver and eventually pulls down voltage of the inductor load for low-power demagnetization.

A system may include an electromagnetic load, a driver configured to drive the electromagnetic load with a driving signal, and a processing system communicatively coupled to the electromagnetic load and configured to, during a haptic mode of the system couple a first terminal of the electromagnetic load to a ground voltage and cause the driving signal to have a first slew rate, and during a load sensing mode of the system for sensing a current associated with the electromagnetic load, couple the first terminal to a current-sensing circuit having a sense resistor coupled between the first terminal and an electrical node driven to a common-mode voltage and cause the driving signal to have a second slew rate lower than the first slew rate.

A display apparatus includes: a display module including a display panel, a window member on the display panel and having an area greater than an area of the display panel, and a magnetic member attached to at least one of the display panel and the window member; a set bracket under the display module; and an electro permanent magnet fixed to the set bracket. The electro permanent magnet is coupled to the display module in a first mode and decoupled from the display module in a second mode. The display apparatus is configured to enter the second mode from the first mode if an impact equal to or greater than a reference value is applied or is to be applied after a period of time.

A system for dispensing material on a substrate includes a dispensing unit having a dispensing piston. The dispensing piston is pneumatically driven from a first lower position to a second upper position. The system further includes a solenoid valve coupled to the dispensing unit, with the solenoid valve being configured to control air flow to and from the dispensing piston. The solenoid valve includes a solenoid coil and an amplifier connected to the solenoid coil. The system further includes a controller coupled to the amplifier, with the controller being configured to generate a command signal to the amplifier to control current in the solenoid coil.

A video probe is disclosed herein that includes an elongated probe including an articulating portion, and a controller functionally coupled with the elongated probe. The articulating portion may include at least two interconnected links and each link may include opposing electromagnetic coils disposed within the link. The controller may be configured to stimulate the opposing electromagnetic coils to attract/repulse corresponding opposing electromagnetic coils of an adjoining link thereby causing the link to pivot about the axis of the single-axis joint.