Abstract: A motor control apparatus for controlling a motor with reduced noise and vibration includes a detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of the motor, a command signal processing means that generates a command signal for allowing the motor to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, a drive means that generates a drive signal based on the command signal and supplies the drive signal to the motor, and a control signal generation means that generates a control signal for allowing the motor to produce a control torque having a frequency equal to one of frequencies of noise and vibration due to the motor. The frequency of the control torque corresponds to at least one of orders of the rotational speed detected by the detecting means. The command signal processing means generates the command signal based on the control signal.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including: (a) a recording head unit for performing a dot recording operation by activation of the actuators; (b) a main circuit for outputting a plurality of sets of drive waveform signals; and (c) a head driver unit for receiving the sets of drive waveform signals outputted from the main circuit, generating a drive signal based on one of the drive waveform signals that is selected from among each of the received sets of drive waveform signals, and supplying the generated drive signal to each actuator of the recording head. The main circuit transmits a single set of waveform data signals containing data representative of the plurality of sets of drive waveform signals, to the head driver unit. The head driver unit includes a waveform signal retriever operable to retrieve the plurality of sets of drive waveform signals from the single set of waveform data signals, with reference to reference signals, so that the head driver unit receives the plurality of sets of drive waveform signals.

Abstract: Two apparatuses are disclosed for providing a dynamically varying water surge in a salt-water reef aquarium. The first apparatus is a micro-controller based variable frequency reef surge drive 100 for an AC permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) submersible aquarium pump. Drive 100 comprises voltage conversion circuitry 105, xmicro-controller 110, reef-surge generation program 115, variable frequency drive 118, mode switch 130 and tidal cycle switch 135. Three user-selectable modes of operation are provided: a random frequency mode, a fixed-program mode and a tidal mode. A second apparatus comprises a novel submersible AC PMSM pump with dual impeller assemblies and dual input and output chambers for supporting forward and reverse flow through an AC PMSM pump.

Abstract: A method and a control device for a brushless DC motor, which has an AC/DC inverter supplied by an intermediate direct voltage circuit for feeding the DC motor, a pattern generator for controlling switches of the AC/DC inverter having a variable frequency and phase periodical switch signal pattern and an input for a signal representative of the present phase position of the rotor of the DC motor. The pattern generator detects an average current strength released by the AC/DC inverter and adjusts a phase offset between the phase position of the rotor and the switch signal pattern in accordance with the detected average current strength and the speed of the motor.

Abstract: A current sensor 8a detects a motor current of a steering motor 5 which supplies a steering mechanism 1 with steering force corresponding to the steering amount applied to a steering wheel 2. A main controller 4 extracts component within a predetermined frequency range out of a motor current detected by the current sensor 8a, amplifies the extracted component and drives a reaction force motor 3 in a controlled manner so as to supply the steering wheel 2 with steering reaction force corresponding to the steering amount applied to the steering wheel 2 and steering reaction force corresponding to a current of the component, which has been extracted and amplified. The vehicle steering apparatus constructed as above can supply steering means with steering reaction force corresponding to component within a predetermined frequency range of a motor current of the steering motor.

Abstract: An apparatus, machine tool, and method for adaptively controlling a feedrate of a machine tool are provided in which a plurality of maximum spindle power and/or radial load values, each corresponding to a spindle rotational speed, are received, stored and applied. Additionally, the current spindle power and/or the current radial load, along with the current spindle rotational speed may be received. The current spindle power and/or the current radial load may be compared to the maximum spindle power and/or radial load corresponding to the current spindle rotational speed, such that the feedrate may be reduced if the current spindle power and/or the current radial load exceed the corresponding maximum spindle power and/or radial load for the current spindle rotational speed or increased if the current spindle power and the current radial load are below the corresponding maximum spindle power and/or radial load for the current spindle rotational speed.

Abstract: A method of determining the angular position of the rotor of a brushless direct current motor having a stator with multi-phase windings, control circuitry that provides excitations switched after one another to the motor phases such that the excitations produce stator flux vectors lying in different directions in the full 360 electrical degree range, and a measurement circuit that delivers responses for the phase excitations is provided. The position is estimated by selecting the main excitation stator flux vector which results in the minimal inductivity shown by the measured response, and selecting the two other vectors in the previous and subsequent directions with respect to the direction of the main vector, and by computing the ratio between differences of measured responses for the selected stator flux vectors.

Abstract: A half-bridge assembly is provided, such as for use in a drive assembly of a controller for controlling a motor. The half-bridge assembly includes a first arrangement, and a first diode electrically connected in parallel with the first arrangement. The half-bridge assembly also includes a second arrangement electrically connected in series with the first arrangement, as well as a second diode electrically connected in parallel with the second arrangement. Each arrangement includes a base switching element, such as a metal-oxide semiconductor field—effect transistor (MOSFET), electrically connected in series with a supplemental switching element (e.g., MOSFET).

Abstract: A multiphase motor includes a fixed part or stator energized by electric coils and a mobile part or rotor including N pairs of poles radially magnetized in alternate directions, N being not less than 4 while being other than a multiple of 3, and the stator including P×9 identical poles spaced apart by 40°/P, the stator poles being assembled consecutively by three so as to define a phase with a W-shaped circuit, assembling three consecutive stator poles, the central stator pole bearing the winding of the phase. At least one element for detecting the position of the rotor is arranged in a common stage with the stator poles, in a housing substantially equidistant between two consecutive stator poles not belonging to a common phase.

Abstract: The invention provides a drive control device for the motor as well as an electric power steering apparatus using the motor and the drive control device. Respective phase current command values are calculated on the basis of vector control. Pseudo-vector control for controlling respective phases separately is used as current feedback control.

Abstract: An electric motor system includes a motor brake control circuit that uses current induced in the motor stator from generated back EMF to keep the motor brake energized and in its disengaged position, should electric power be lost to the motor system. When the motor has slowed sufficiently that the induced current is no longer sufficient to keep the motor brake energized, the motor brake will move to its engaged position, and prevent further motor rotation. The motor rotational speed at which the motor brake is no longer energized is sufficiently low that any potential degradation or other deleterious effects from motor brake engagement are minimized.

Abstract: A high current interconnection system is provided which can be configured to couple a motor to an inverter. A high current interconnection system comprises a bus bar, a motor winding coupled to the bus bar, and a thermal interface. The motor winding is configured to receive a current. The thermal interface can be coupled to at least one of the motor winding or the bus bar. The thermal interface is configured to reduce a temperature of the motor winding or bus bar which the thermal interface is coupled to.

Abstract: A robot arm is provided with an end effecter for grasping an object and a force sensor for detecting a force acted upon the end effecter. In the state in which end effecter grasps an object, when there is a change in the force acting on the end effecter detected by the force sensor, outputted is a signal for releasing the force of the end effecter grasping the object. The object grasped by the end effecter can be taken out as if the object were handed from person over to person.

Abstract: An electrical machine having stator (30) and rotor (31) is disclosed. The motor has field windings (F) and armature windings (A) energized by a suitable power electronic controller (401). A controller (400) sends signals to the power electronic controller (401) to control the armature current to control operation of the machine. When the machine is operating as a motor, the armature windings (A) will be supplied with electrical current from the power electronic controller by the application of applied voltage in synchronism with the rotation of the rotor (31). A mutually induced first electrical signal dependent on rotational position of the rotor will be induced within the field windings (F). This will create a superimposed gradient in the field current delivered by the power electronic controller (401).

Abstract: A motor driver circuit includes a diving circuit for driving at least one motor, a plurality of DC/DC converters for respectively generating different voltages, a detection circuit to detect an output failure in the plurality of DC/DC converters, and a stopping circuit for stopping a specific DC/DC converter if failure is detected in an output of the specific DC/DC converter. In addition, a signal output circuit outputs a first signal if the specific DC/DC converter of the plurality of DC/DC converters is stopped by the stopping circuit, recovery means recovers the specific DC/DC converter when a second signal is inputted, and a reset circuit stops the rest of the plurality of DC/DC converters, if the stopping circuit stops any one of the plurality of DC/DC converters other than the specific DC/DC converter.

Abstract: A stepping motor control apparatus that is able to electrically detect the load of the stepping motor and effectively prevent step-outs by means of an inexpensive configuration. The stepping motor control apparatus is equipped with a microcomputer (10) that outputs a command pulse, a chopper-type constant current driver (20) that outputs a drive current that corresponds to the input command pulse to the stepping motor (5) and outputs a chopper signal to keep the output drive current fixed, and a load detection circuit (30) that detects the chopper signal to detect the load of the stepping motor (5). The load detection circuit (30) is equipped with a waveform shaping circuit (50) that makes the chopper signal waveform continuous to convert it to a pulse or voltage, and it detects the load of the stepping motor by means of the width of the pulse or the voltage value.

Abstract: A method of driving a brushless DC motor includes operations of rectifying an AC voltage of an AC power source by a rectifier circuit to which a capacitor is coupled between its output terminals and the AC voltage of the AC power source is input; driving the motor by an inverter coupled to the rectifier circuit; detecting a rotor position of the motor by a position detector based on a motor back electromotive force or a motor current; estimating the rotor position by a position estimator when the rotor position is not detectable by the position detector; and controlling the inverter by a controller based on the rotor position detected by the position detector or the rotor position estimated by the position estimator.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for moving an object. The apparatus includes a first actuator which drives the object in X and Y directions, a second actuator which drives a reaction force counter which receives a reaction force generated when the first actuator drives the object, and a controller which calculates X- and Y-direction reaction forces and a moment reaction force on the basis of X- and Y-direction positions of the object and X- and Y-direction accelerations of the object, which are to be received by the reaction force counter when the object is driven by the first actuator, and controls the second actuator so as to cancel the reaction forces and the moment reaction force.

Abstract: A motor speed, duty, and power source voltage are detected (steps S1 to S3). Referring to a load point map, a load point value is obtained (steps S4 and S5). The load point map is created with the motor speed, duty, and power source voltage taken as parameters, and is corrected in accordance with atmospheric temperature of the motor. After the load point value is obtained, the value is accumulated (step S6). The accumulated point value and a predetermined threshold value are compared with each other (step S7). If the accumulated point value exceeds the threshold value, an overloaded state is determined and the accumulated point value is stored (step S8). Thereafter, the motor is stopped.

Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a brushless repulsion motor having a series of switches mounted on a rotating armature for shorting circumferentially spaced armature coils comprising first stationary signaling means and a plurality of rotating detectors for activating said switches; second stationary signaling means for speed control; a plurality of markers on the rotating armature; a speed detector for detecting the speed of the rotating markers and generating a speed feedback signal; means for generating a speed command signal; an error calculator for comparing the speed feedback and speed command signals and generating an error signal; and a controller for controlling the signaling means based on the error signal.