Patents Examined by Bradley R Brown
  • Patent number: 11626822
    Abstract: A fire suppression system includes a motor and a foam pump. The foam pump is driven by the motor to inject one or more chemical additives from an off-board additive container into a discharge conduit. A bypass valve is in fluid communication with the output of the foam pump. One or more sensors are configured to measure at least one operating condition of the foam pump. A controller is in communication with the one or more sensors and is operatively connected to the bypass valve. The controller is configured to determine, based on data received from the one or more sensors regarding the at least one operating condition of the foam pump, whether the foam pump is experiencing a loss of prime, and to open the bypass valve in response. The motor may also selectively operate in one of two modes depending on the rotational speed and torque required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: HALE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: William J. Brown, George H. M. Clementson, III
  • Patent number: 11606053
    Abstract: A method for initial position detection of an electric motor includes determining a delta voltage for each of three pairs of stator windings by sequentially energizing and deenergizing each pair. The delta voltage is measured through a non-energized stator winding connected to a center tap of each respective pair. A minimum delta voltage is determined from an absolute value of a minimum of the three delta voltages. The minimum delta voltage is associated with a remaining stator winding not included in the respective pair. The two delta voltages not associated with the minimum delta voltage are compared to determine the proximity of the remaining stator winding to one of a D-axis of a rotor of the electric motor and a Q-axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianqiu Hu, Huabiao Tang
  • Patent number: 11596977
    Abstract: A vibration control device of a plate-like member 11 includes: a plurality of piezoelectric element actuators 14; at least one piezoelectric element sensor 15; and a control circuit 17 that performs feedback control of operation of the piezoelectric element actuators 14 based on an output voltage of the piezoelectric element sensor 15 so as to suppress vibration of the plate-like member 11. A layout of the piezoelectric element sensor 15 and the piezoelectric element actuators 14 is set such that anti-resonance occurs in an output voltage of the piezoelectric element sensor 15 in a range where the vibration frequency of the plate-like member 11 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Therefore, generation of noise can be prevented at the frequency. As a result, a gain can be increased at a control target frequency. Therefore, vibration can be suppressed, and noise can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunji Suzuki, Toshizumi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11601080
    Abstract: A motor control device controls a current of a motor based on a torque command, the current being separated into a d-axis current and a q-axis current orthogonal to the d-axis current, the torque command being a target value of a torque of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuta Sasaki, Toru Tazawa
  • Patent number: 11575336
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a sensorless multi-phase permanent magnet (PM) motor by sensing induced motor terminal voltages from the PM motor while the rotor is spinning, generating an input voltage vector signal from the plurality of induced motor terminal voltages, projecting the input voltage vector signal to a transformed voltage vector signal which does not include DC-offset components by using a Clarke transformation without a zero component that is applied to the input voltage vector signal, and estimating an initial rotor position of the rotor from the transformed voltage vector signal, wherein said sensing, projecting, and estimating are performed while a power converter for the sensorless multi-phase PM motor is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Matej Pacha, Simon Zossak, Lukas Gorel
  • Patent number: 11569709
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes: a position command generator which generates a position command; a damping filter unit which includes one or more stages of damping filters which reduce vibration of a device including a load and a motor, applies, to a position command, a damping filter determined based on a model parameter corresponding to a model of the device, and outputs a filtered position command to which the damping filter has been applied; a servo controller which gives a torque command to the motor based on the filtered position command; a low-pass filter unit; a parameter estimation unit which estimates the model parameter from the rotational speed and the torque command of the motor which have passed through the low-pass filter unit; and a vibration determination unit which determines presence or absence of vibration in the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Sakamoto, Ken'ichi Suzuki, Hiroshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11557990
    Abstract: Examples of methods and systems for compensating for the timing delay caused by the winding impedance of the motor coils and/or for non-ideal rotor magnet shapes and positions are disclosed. The example methods and systems may include generating a synthesized commutation signal compensating for non-ideal magnet shapes and positions (e.g., asymmetrical magnet positions) on a rotor and/or compensates for the timing delay caused by the winding impedance of the motor coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Agave Semiconductor, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Alan Brannen
  • Patent number: 11552589
    Abstract: A method for dissipating power of an automotive electric drive system that includes a traction battery, and an inverter, wherein the inverter includes a DC bus between, and a dissipation circuit between the traction battery and DC bus, wherein the dissipation circuit includes a plurality of resistors connected in series between positive and negative terminals of the DC bus and a dissipation resistor and switch connected in series between the positive and negative terminals, the method includes responsive to a voltage across one of the plurality of resistors being less than a threshold value, deactivating the switch to prevent current flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal through the dissipation resistor, and responsive to the voltage exceeding the threshold value, activating the switch to permit current flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal through the dissipation resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Miao Wang
  • Patent number: 11533006
    Abstract: A motor controlling device configured to control an on-board motor is provided, which includes an H-bridge type drive circuit comprised of first switching elements and configured to drive the on-board motor, and a controlling circuit configured to control the on-board motor by controlling the drive circuit, the controlling circuit carrying out an ON control of one of the first switching elements connected to ground, when not operating the on-board motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, U-SHIN LTD
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hashimoto, Naoki Takasuka, Shinya Kanayama, Kazuhiko Obatake, Hideyuki Osumi, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11515765
    Abstract: A motor control assembly for an electric motor. The motor control assembly is configured to be coupled to the electric motor, and includes a wireless communication module, an input power connector, and an inverter module. The wireless communication module is configured to receive a wireless signal from a system controller. The input power connector is configured to receive a DC voltage from an external power supply module. The inverter module is coupled to the wireless communication module and the input power connector. The inverter module is configured to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage to operate the electric motor according to the wireless signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Roger Carlos Becerra
  • Patent number: 11515818
    Abstract: Reduced computation time for model predictive control (MPC) of a five level dual T-type drive considering the DC link capacitor balancing, the common-mode voltage (CMV) along with torque control of an open-ends induction motor based on determining a reduced set of switching states for the MPC. The reduced set of switching states are determined by considering either CMV reduction (CMVR) or CMV elimination (CMVE). Cost function minimization generates a voltage vector, which is used to produce gating signals for the converter switches. The reduced switching state MPC significantly reduces computation time and improves MPC performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS, King Abdullah City for Atomic & Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE)
    Inventors: Aboubakr Salem, Mohamed Ali Abido, Mohamed Mamdouh
  • Patent number: 11515813
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a motor control system that provides torque ripple compensation includes a current regulator that receives a first current command corresponding to an input torque command. The current regulator further generates a first voltage command based on the first current command using a first transformation matrix. The current regulator further receives a second current command corresponding to a torque ripple to be compensated. The current regulator further generates a second voltage command based on the second current command using a second transformation matrix. The current regulator further computes a final voltage command using the first voltage command and the second current command, the final voltage command being applied to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 11509252
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive supplying power to an electric motor, the variable speed drive comprising a plurality of at least Ni low-voltage power cells connected in series, comprising: upon reception of a speed command, determining a number Mi of cells sufficient to supply power to the motor at a target voltage V that is determined based on the speed command; and activating the Mi power cells from among the Ni power cells, and deactivating the Ni-Mi other power cells in order to supply power to the motor in accordance with the speed command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Emmanuel Frappe, François Malrait, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 11496065
    Abstract: A power module is provided that is configured to supply power to a load. The power module includes a current generator configured to generate a current; a current rail configured to receive the current and output the current from the power module, wherein the current rail includes a first opening formed therethrough, and the current, while flowing along the current rail in an output direction, flows around the first opening; and a housing that houses the current generator, wherein the housing includes an outer frame from which the current rail outwardly extends, wherein the outer frame includes a recess aligned with the first opening of the current rail such that the recess and the first opening form a unitary opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Leo Aichriedler, Gerald Wriessnegger
  • Patent number: 11489421
    Abstract: A secondary part provides a magnetic path for a primary part of a linear motor and includes a spacer element as well as yoke plates forming two limbs, which are arranged for an attachment to the spacer element so that—situated opposite each other—they extend in planes parallel to the magnetic path. In addition, the secondary part includes a plurality of permanent magnets, which are fixed in place on inner sides of the yoke plates pointing toward the magnetic path. The permanent magnets each have a width that decreases in an extension direction perpendicular to the magnetic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ETEL S.A.
    Inventors: Sylwia Szczukiewicz, Loïc Moreno
  • Patent number: 11479291
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of microcomputers outputs a motor drive signal, which is generated based on a current command value and a current limit value as a control amount command value and a control amount limit value, to each motor drive circuit. When an OFF determination of an own microcomputer is made, each microcomputer executes first end processing as a first stage of end processing and transmits an OFF determination signal to the other microcomputer. When the OFF determination signal is received from the other microcomputer, each microcomputer determines that the OFF determination has been made and starts second end processing which gradually decreases the current command value or the current control limit value from a present value. When the second end processing is completed and power-off preparation of the own microcomputer and the other microcomputer is completed, each microcomputer executes final end processing for turning off the power supply relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Endoh, Nobuyori Nakajima, Koichi Nakamura, Hiroyasu Otake
  • Patent number: 11464593
    Abstract: A robotic surgical system has a user interface with a control arm that includes a passive axis system for maintaining degrees-of-freedom of a gimbal rotatably supported on the control arm as the gimbal is manipulated during a surgical procedure. The control arm includes a swivel member, a first member, and a second member. The swivel member is rotatable about a first axis. The first member rotatably coupled to the swivel member about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis. The second member rotatably coupled to the first member about a third axis that is parallel to the second axis. The gimbal rotatably supported by the second member about a fourth axis that is orthogonal to the third axis. The passive axis system correlating rotation of the swivel member about the first axis with rotation of the gimbal about the fourth axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: William J. Peine, Cameron K. Cecil
  • Patent number: 11451174
    Abstract: A method for reducing a total operational load of a method of a model predictive control-by conducting simplifications based on specific observations, in order to drive alternating current motors by using the method of the MPC with a two-level voltage source inverter. The method includes the steps of determining at which one of the predefined sectors a resultant of stator currents is present, determining a motor mode, reducing seven estimation vectors to four estimation vectors and calculating a cost function or reducing seven estimation vectors to five estimation vectors and calculating the cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ORTA DOGU TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Ilker Sahin, Ozan Keysan
  • Patent number: 11418130
    Abstract: A voltage command estimator is configured to estimate a minimum required variable DC bus voltage based on the first direct-axis current/voltage command, the first quadrature-axis current/voltage command, the second direct-axis current/voltage command, and the second quadrature-axis current/voltage command for a respective time interval. The voltage command estimator is configured to provide the estimated minimum required variable DC bus voltage to a voltage regulator to adjust the observed voltage level of the variable DC voltage bus to the estimated minimum required variable DC bus voltage to maintain the operation, as commanded by the voltage/current commands, of the first electric machine under the first variable load and the second electric machine under the second variable load at the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dan Li, Long Wu, Guangqi Zhu
  • Patent number: 11398787
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a different amplifier. A node in the apparatus receives a motor-current signal and an output of the differential amplifier. The motor-current signal represents a motor current of a DC brush motor. Moreover, a first input of the differential amplifier is coupled to a node. The apparatus also includes a low-pass filter with an input receiving a motor-current signal and an output coupled to a second input of the differential amplifier. The apparatus additionally includes a comparator with a first input coupled to the output of the differential amplifier and a second input coupled to a referential voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Matthew Sean Sullivan, Arun Tej Vemuri