Patents Assigned to Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
  • Patent number: 11480629
    Abstract: An electronic determination device for determining at least one characteristic parameter of a connection set connected between a converter and an electric machine; the converter comprising at least two output terminals and, for each output terminal, a switching branch including at least one converter switch; the connection set comprising a filter connected to the output terminals and a cable connected between the filter and the electric machine; the filter including, for each output terminal, a respective electromagnetic coil connected to said output terminal and a respective capacitor connected to said coil; the determination device comprising: for each output terminal, a device switch configured to be connected to the respective capacitor; a generation module configured to generate a voltage pulse through the connection set, by controlling the converter switches and each device switch; an acquisition module configured to acquire measurements of respective current(s) and voltage(s) through the filter, fur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Hocine Boulharts, Rudolf Fehringer, Mehdi Messaoudi
  • Patent number: 11404982
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical motor taking in account slip frequency. The method including determining amplitude, phase and frequency of the stator voltage from voltage measurements, determining estimates for current components from current measurement and stator voltage phase, determining estimate for torque from voltage amplitude, frequency, current amplitude and motor data, determining estimate for speed from torque, frequency and motor data, and determining over-estimation of speed from speed estimate, torque estimate and slip frequency. The over-estimation may be used to improve functional safety of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François Malrait, Thomas Devos
  • Publication number: 20220200499
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling an electric motor using a variable speed drive based on input parameters of the variable speed drive. The method uses initial estimated parameters of an electric motor and measurements of the variable speed drive at operating points of the electric motor to determine accurate input parameters of the variable speed drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Henwood, Al Kassem Jebai, Vincent Ravier
  • Publication number: 20220200493
    Abstract: A method for sensorless control of an electric motor implemented in a variable speed drive including: determining a control voltage to be applied to the motor; injecting a high frequency signal to the control voltage to obtain an excitation voltage, wherein one or more frequencies of the high frequency signal varies with time; applying the excitation voltage to the motor; measuring a current signal induced in the motor by the excitation voltage, wherein the current signal comprises a fundamental current, induced by the control voltage, and a disturbance current, induced by the high frequency signal; and demodulating the current signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Combes
  • Publication number: 20220200489
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a motor soft-starter for starting an electric motor on a three-phases electric network in order to compensate a misbalance between the windings of the electric motor due to a misbalance between the phases of the electric network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20220200507
    Abstract: A variable speed drive includes an output terminal for delivering a drive voltage; a power inverter for generating the drive voltage; a drive controller for controlling the generation of the drive voltage; and a current sensor for providing a drive current intensity signal to the drive controller. The drive controller includes a PWM generator; a control law module; and a state variable estimator estimating a state variable of the controlled AC electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Pascal COMBES, Dilshad SURROOP, Philippe MARTIN, Pierre ROUCHON
  • Patent number: 11356046
    Abstract: An electronic determination device is configured for determining at least one characteristic parameter of an electric machine with P phases, P?3, connected to an electric starter and including at least P-1 switching arms, each switching arm being connected to a respective phase of the electric machine. The determination device comprises a control module configured to control respective switching arm(s) to close and the other switching arm(s) to open, so as to generate a current injection on two phases of the electric machine; an acquisition module configured to acquire measurements of respective current(s) and voltage(s) for said two phases, further to the generation of the current injection; and a calculation module configured to calculate at least one characteristic parameter of the electric machine according to the respective current(s) and voltage(s) measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11349427
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive comprising Ni low-voltage power cells connected in series for each phase among multiple phases, i being a phase index. The method comprises repeating P iterations comprising: activating at least one cell of one or more phases and deactivating the other power cells of the variable speed drive, wherein the at least one activated cell is selected on the basis of predefined activation controls depending on an iteration index; and receiving at least one output voltage of the variable speed drive across the terminals of the electrical device for at least one phase. The method further comprises, at the end of the P iterations, determining, from the measured output voltages, values of rectified voltage at the output of respective rectification stages of the power cells, and storing the rectified voltages obtained, which are respectively associated with the power cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11349425
    Abstract: A method and device estimate an amplitude of a periodic component in a measured analog signal, e.g. from an electric motor, and adapt a control law for an external entity, e.g., a variable speed drive (VSD) controlling the motor, based on the estimated amplitude. The measured analog signal is converted by delta-sigma modulation to a digital signal that is applied to at least one filter. Periodic signals of independent known periodic functions are also applied to the at least one filter. In response, the at least one filter provides the estimated amplitude of the periodic component in the measured analog signal that may be used to adapt the control law. A monitoring value for the electric motor may also be based on the estimated amplitude of the periodic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Combes, Dilshad Surroop, Philippe Martin, Pierre Rouchon
  • Publication number: 20220154732
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic pumping system that includes a centrifugal pump operating at a functional point. The method uses parameters of the centrifugal pump at the functional point and end-of-lines characteristics of the centrifugal pump to determine an updated Net Positive Suction Head Required, NPSHr, value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventor: Kamal Ejjabraoui
  • Publication number: 20220077801
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a synchronous motor using a variable speed drive. The motor includes a permanent magnet rotor generating a magnetic flux. The method includes applying a predefined electrical command signal to the motor and estimating a motor speed in response to the applying of the predefined electrical command signal. The method also includes reaching a desired estimated motor speed and, in response to reaching the desired estimated motor speed, estimating a parameter related to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet rotor. The method further includes recording the estimated parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20220077803
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a variable speed drive of an electric motor. The variable speed drive is connected to a torque sensor for sensing a torque supplied by the electric motor. The method includes performing, by the electric motor, a predetermined torque sequence. The method also includes measuring, by the torque sensor, a measured torque sequence corresponding to the predetermined torque sequence, and comparing the predetermined torque sequence and the measured torque sequence. As a result of the comparison, one or more torque sensor transfer function parameters are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 11264935
    Abstract: A variable speed drive comprises an output for delivering a drive voltage to an electric motor, power inverter, a drive controller, and a current sensor. The drive controller includes a PWM generator, a control law module, and a state variable estimator for estimating a state variable of the electric motor. The module computes a target voltage signal based on state variable estimates provided by the estimator and outputs the target voltage signal to the PWM generator. The generator approximates the target voltage signal with a PWM control signal, controls the inverter using the control signal, computes, based on the deviation between the control signal and the target voltage signal, an estimation support signal, and outputs the estimation support signal to the estimator. The estimator estimates a state variable of the motor based on the estimation support signal and the drive current, and outputs the estimate to the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Combes, Dilshad Surroop, Philippe Martin, Pierre Rouchon
  • Patent number: 11251733
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive arranged for powering an electric motor, the variable speed drive comprising a power part and a control part. The method comprises a preliminary phase of storing a set of predetermined levels of flux of the electric motor. Then, during a current phase, the method comprises selecting a level of flux from among the set of predetermined levels of flux and controlling the power part of the variable speed drive based on the selected level of flux as reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François Malrait, Thomas Devos
  • Publication number: 20220045639
    Abstract: Examples include a method of control implemented in a variable speed drive for controlling an electric motor during backspin, wherein the method comprises includes: determining, by the variable speed drive, a mechanical power value occurring at a backspin speed and an estimated load torque; determining, by the variable speed drive, a specific electrical losses profile occurring at a motor flux level, wherein the specific electrical losses profile coincides with the mechanical power value; determining, by the variable speed drive, a flux reference and a speed reference to be applied to the motor to coincide with the specific electrical losses profile ; and controlling, by the variable speed drive, the backspin speed of the motor to maintain the coincidence with the specific electrical losses profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Alain Dutrey, Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11095236
    Abstract: A method for configuring a variable speed drive in charge of power supply of an electric motor. The method comprises the application of a sequence of motor voltages to the electric motor by the variable speed drive and the obtaining, in parallel, of measurements of motor current. The method then determines a feature of the electric motor on the basis of the measurements of motor current and determines a type of electric motor at least as a function of the feature. The variable speed drive is then set up on the basis of the determined type of electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François Malrait, Thomas Devos, Al Kassem Jebai
  • Publication number: 20210190582
    Abstract: A method for determining a resonance frequency of a mechanical system including an electric motor coupled to a mechanical load, the method including: starting the motor by providing a supply voltage using a motor controller; once the electric motor is running at a predefined target rotational speed, applying a first excitation signal comprising a voltage pulse superimposed to the supply voltage; measuring a mechanical response of the mechanical system, using a measurement system coupled to the motor; and analyzing the measured response, to determine at least one resonance frequency of the mechanical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Mohamad Koteich
  • Publication number: 20210167711
    Abstract: An electronic determination device is configured for determining at least one characteristic parameter of an electric machine with P phases, P?3, connected to an electric starter and including at least P-1 switching arms, each switching arm being connected to a respective phase of the electric machine. The determination device comprises a control module configured to control respective switching arm(s) to close and the other switching arm(s) to open, so as to generate a current injection on two phases of the electric machine; an acquisition module configured to acquire measurements of respective current(s) and voltage(s) for said two phases, further to the generation of the current injection; and a calculation module configured to calculate at least one characteristic parameter of the electric machine according to the respective current(s) and voltage(s) measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20210141032
    Abstract: An electronic determination device for determining at least one characteristic parameter of a connection set connected between a converter and an electric machine; the converter comprising at least two output terminals and, for each output terminal, a switching branch including at least one converter switch; the connection set comprising a filter connected to the output terminals and a cable connected between the filter and the electric machine; the filter including, for each output terminal, a respective electromagnetic coil connected to said output terminal and a respective capacitor connected to said coil; the determination device comprising: for each output terminal, a device switch configured to be connected to the respective capacitor; a generation module configured to generate a voltage pulse through the connection set, by controlling the converter switches and each device switch; an acquisition module configured to acquire measurements of respective current(s) and voltage(s) through the filter, fur
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Hocine BOULHARTS, Rudolf FEHRINGER, Mehdi MESSAOUDI
  • Publication number: 20210135612
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical motor taking in account slip frequency. The method including determining amplitude, phase and frequency of the stator voltage from voltage measurements, determining estimates for current components from current measurement and stator voltage phase, determining estimate for torque from voltage amplitude, frequency, current amplitude and motor data, determining estimate for speed from torque, frequency and motor data, and determining over-estimation of speed from speed estimate, torque estimate and slip frequency. The over-estimation may be used to improve functional safety of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François MALRAIT, Thomas DEVOS