Patents Examined by Kawing Chan
  • Patent number: 11784487
    Abstract: An overvoltage protecting system and method of a motor pre-driver are provided. An overvoltage protecting circuit compares a first reference voltage with a common voltage inputted to a single phase motor to output a first comparison signal. When a controller circuit determines that the common voltage is higher than the first reference voltage according to the first comparison signal, the controller circuit turns off a first high-side switch and a second high-side switch, and turns on the first low-side switch and the second low-side switch, during a phase time of a phase transition signal of the single phase motor. After the phase time ends, the controller circuit alternately turns on the first low-side switch and the second low-side switch according to a level of the phase transition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jyun-Ping Jiang, Shih-Hai Chien
  • Patent number: 11784599
    Abstract: An SR drive with an acoustic noise reduction system for reducing vibration and acoustic noise in a switched reluctance motor (SRM). The vibration and acoustic noise at specific harmonics of current excitation in SRM are in a proportional relationship with the radial force harmonics acting at SRM stator teeth. The acoustic noise reduction system includes a processor on which is installed an acoustic noise reduction application designed to derive an optimum current waveform for generating an average torque satisfying an optimum torque condition and creating radial force with minimum amplitude at the desired order of harmonics of current excitation. A reduction in the amplitude of the specific radial force harmonics utilizing the optimum current waveform minimizes the vibration and acoustic noise in the SRM. The acoustic noise reduction system applies turn-on and turn-off angles at the optimum current waveform to improve the system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Turntide Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Chiba, Candra Adi Wiguna, Jihad Furqani, Piyush Desai
  • Patent number: 11784589
    Abstract: A safety switching system and method for braking an electric motor in a mobile device. A multi-phase shorting system brakes the motor by diverting power from the motor windings. Multiple independent switching units each include a switch control unit controlling multiple normally-closed switches which, in response to a safety controller, close to connect a respective motor winding to electrical ground. An electromechanical brake system mechanically brakes the motor. An independent switching unit includes two normally-open switches which, in response to the safety controller, opens to activate an electromechanical brake. A feedback system communicates to the safety controller a switch failure of any of the switches either as a short circuit fault or an open circuit fault. The feedback system may include an analog and/or a digital feedback system. If a switch failure is detected, the safety controller may activate the multi-phase shorting system and the electromechanical brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Cosma Pabouctsidis, Nikolaos Adamopoulos, Dimitrios Papathanasopoulos, Steven C. Bartz
  • Patent number: 11777424
    Abstract: A method for determining an initial rotor position of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) includes: generating a plurality of transient currents by applying a plurality of voltages to each phase stator winding of a three phase stator winding of the PMSM; generating three phase current differences according to the plurality of transient currents; determining a first zone in which the initial rotor position of the PMSM is located according to the three phase current differences, wherein angles between 0-360 degrees are divided into a plurality of zones, and the first zone is selected from the plurality of zones; calculating three line current differences according to the three phase current differences; and determining the initial rotor position of the PMSM according to the first zone and the three line current differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Microelectronics Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Wang, Yong-Yi Jhuang, Ming-Fu Tsai
  • Patent number: 11759953
    Abstract: An abnormality detection method for detecting an abnormality of an encoder provided for a robot includes: obtaining corrected position information according to commanded position information output from a controller that designates the rotational position of a motor and an output signal output from the encoder; and, determining, after comparing the corrected position information with the detected position information according to the output signal output from the encoder, the abnormality of the encoder, if there is a difference greater than or equal to a predetermined value between the corrected position information and the detected position information. The controller removes a vibration component of the robot corresponding to the weight of an attachment load from the commanded position information and compensates for a time delay to obtain the corrected position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kinugasa, Atsumi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11764709
    Abstract: A motor controller comprises a switch circuit and a control unit. The switch circuit is coupled to a motor for driving the motor. The control unit generates a control signal to control the switch circuit. The motor controller determines a non-excitation time. When the motor is in a locked state, the motor controller enables the non-excitation time to be a variable value. The motor controller utilizes the non-excitation time to achieve a lock protection function. The motor controller determines whether the motor is in the locked state by detecting a rotor speed or a rotor temperature. Moreover, the motor controller further comprises a driving signal, where the driving signal has the non-excitation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ching-Feng Lai
  • Patent number: 11764713
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate, generally, to a control system for a movable partition. In one embodiment, the control system is an access control system that includes a lock control interface and a remote line interface at which lock modes are asserted, and which are communicated to a door controller. Protocols installed at the controller enable the controller to provide control signals to the movable partition responsive to the various lock modes asserted at the lock control interface and remote line interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, Duane O. Hall, Nathan Godwin, Daniel L. Steadman
  • Patent number: 11759224
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a first motor, a second motor, and a third motor is disclosed. The surgical instrument system comprises a first handle comprising a first number of controls, a second handle comprising a second number of controls, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is attachable to the first handle in a first orientation in order to engage one of the motors. The shaft assembly is attachable to the second handle in a second orientation to engage a different motor. The surgical instrument system is configured to perform a different function of an end effector in the first orientation and the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III
  • Patent number: 11757382
    Abstract: A motor control system (1), preferably for an aircraft, having a plurality of motors (3), each having a motor control unit (2) that includes a primary motor controller (COM) configured to provide motor control commands (9) to a corresponding motor (3). The system (1) also has a system control unit (COMstring) in communication with each of the primary motor controllers (COM), configured to provide motor control commands (9) to the primary motor controllers. A system monitoring unit (MONstring) is connected to the system control unit for monitoring an operation thereof, and at least one sensor (4) determines an operation state of at least one of the motors. The sensor is connected with the system monitoring unit, which is configured to disable communication between the system control unit and the primary motor controllers and/or between the primary motor controllers and the motors based on the monitoring and/or the determined operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Volocopter GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Mores, Benjamin Kirsch
  • Patent number: 11757388
    Abstract: A method suitable for characterizing a motor, for instance a permanent magnet synchronous motor, includes obtaining a plurality of winding flux linkage values or terminal voltages of the motor, each corresponding to a different combination of phase current magnitude and phase advance. The resultant flux-linkage values or terminal voltages are transformed into the rotor dq reference frame. The flux linkage model is fitted to the one or more dq-axis flux-linkage values or terminal voltages and their linked phase current magnitude and phase advance using a process of parametric optimisation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, TRW LIMITED
    Inventors: David Moule, Luis Ayala, Albert Schwinn
  • Patent number: 11750121
    Abstract: An actuator assembly comprising an output member rotatable about a center axis relative to a structure, a first actuator having a first stator fixed to the structure and a first rotor rotatable about the center axis relative to the first stator, a second actuator having a second stator coupled to the first rotor such that the second stator rotates about the center axis relative to the first stator with rotation of the first rotor about the center axis and having a second rotor rotationally coupled to the output member, a controller configured in a failure mode to drive one of the first actuator or the second actuator to selectively control the rotation of the output member about the center axis with an operational failure of the other of the first actuator or the second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Stoelting
  • Patent number: 11750135
    Abstract: One aspect of a motor control device according to the present invention is a motor control device that controls a motor of an electric pump. The motor control device includes a drive unit that supplies a drive current to the motor; a control unit that controls a rotation speed of the motor by controlling the drive unit based on a rotation speed command value; and a current detection unit that detects the drive current supplied to the motor, and supplies a current detection value indicating a detection result of the drive current to the control unit. The control unit determines whether or not a foreign fluid suction abnormality occurs in the electric pump, based on a first current detection value acquired at a first timing when the rotation speed command value changes from a first command value to a second command value and a second current detection value acquired after the first timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC TOSOK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 11745619
    Abstract: Multiple chemistry battery systems and methods for using such systems in electric vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example electric vehicle may include a drive motor configured to impart motion to one or more wheels of the electric vehicle, a plurality of batteries configured to power the drive motor, and one or more controllers. The plurality of batteries may include a first battery including a first cell having a first chemistry, and a second battery including a second cell having a second chemistry different from the first chemistry. The one or more controllers may be configured to cause the first battery and the second battery to power the drive motor, and to cause the drive motor to charge the first battery and the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: PREMERGY, INC
    Inventors: Richard Edward Botts, Blakely Lane Fabiani, David S. Merrill
  • Patent number: 11742676
    Abstract: A motor driven industrial actuator device includes an enclosure that houses: a motor, a control module, a drive, a battery pack and associated temperature sensor, and an input that receives an external power supply. The control module receives: the status of the external power supply, the charge state of the battery pack, the status of the battery pack, or the charge state and status of the battery pack. The control module causes the battery pack to be charged when an external power supply is present and the battery pack requires charging. During charging of the battery pack, the control module: receives the temperature associated with the battery pack from the temperature sensor; compares the measured temperature with a predetermined threshold temperature; and reduces the current to the battery pack if the measured temperature is greater than the predetermined threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: Nian You Tan, Jonathan Wiggins, David Ware
  • Patent number: 11738653
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus that includes a battery, a Direct Current (DC) bus connected to the battery, and a DC to DC converter connected to the battery in parallel with the DC bus. A Motor Control Unit (MCU) is connected between the DC to DC converter and an electric motor. An Alternating Current (AC) port is connected to the electric motor. Switches connect the DC bus and an output of the DC to DC converter in series as an input to the MCU in a drive mode and disconnect the DC bus from the MCU in a charge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huibin Zhu, Heping Dai, Yongtao Liang, Weiping Liu, Feng Su, Shaohua Wang
  • Patent number: 11736052
    Abstract: A fan control circuit with temperature compensation includes an on-off unit and a speed adjustment unit. When determining that a loading is greater than or equal to an adjustable start threshold according to a load signal, the on-off unit controls the fan entering a working mode. In the working mode and determining that the loading is less than a speed-adjusting threshold, the on-off unit maintains a speed value of the fan at a first fixed speed. When determining the loading is greater than or equal to the speed-adjusting threshold, the speed adjustment unit adjusts the speed value according to the loading. The speed adjustment unit generates a speed displacement according to a temperature signal to compensate the speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ENERMAX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chin-Yun Chang, Chien-Kuei Hsu
  • Patent number: 11728757
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling temperature inside electrical and electronics systems. The method includes sensing temperature of an inverter section by a temperature sensor, the inverter section including one or more electronic components. The method also includes determining, by a microcontroller, a temperature zone based on the sensed temperature and transmit a command to an inverter based on the temperature zone. The method further includes controlling speed of a compressor by an inverter based on the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mani Ram Devrath
  • Patent number: 11714395
    Abstract: A motor control device is a motor control device which controls a spindle motor of a machine tool, the device including: a low-pass filter which averages torque command values or drive current values of the spindle motor and calculates averaged load information of the spindle motor; and a time constant calculation unit which calculates, as a time constant of the low-pass filter, a first time constant based on a cut-off frequency according to the rotation number of the spindle driven by the spindle motor, or a second time constant based on a cut-off frequency according to a value produced by multiplying a of cutting tooth number of a tool by the rotation number of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Morita, Tadashi Okita
  • Patent number: 11711041
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a motor driving system comprising a power network between an inverter and a motor and a method for designing such motor drive system, the motor drive system comprising: an AC motor; an inverter unit for applying a voltage to the AC motor; a controller configured for controlling an output voltage of the inverter unit; and a power network circuit disposed between the inverter unit and the AC motor, wherein the power network circuit is configured with passive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jung-Ik Ha, Yong Su Han, Ka Hyun Lee, Hyeon Gyu Choi
  • Patent number: 11703038
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power control circuit includes a converter, a signal generating circuit, an estimation unit, and a controller. The converter includes a switching circuit and is configured to transform an output voltage from a power generator. The signal generating circuit is configured to transmit a signal to the switching circuit. The estimation unit is configured to determine a switching operation condition based on vibration information indicative of a vibration applied to the power generator. The controller is configured to control an operation of the switching circuit based on the determined switching operation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Atsuro Oonishi