Patents Examined by Thai T Dinh
  • Patent number: 11874020
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes a reactor, a converter connected to an alternating current power supply via the reactor, a smoothing capacitor connected between output terminals of the converter, and an inverter that converts a direct current voltage output from the smoothing capacitor into an alternating current voltage to be applied to a motor and outputs the alternating current voltage. The motor drive apparatus includes a plurality of operation modes for controlling conduction of switching elements of the converter and causing the converter to operate in different modes of operation, and changes operation of at least one of the switching elements of the converter and the inverter according to the operation mode when a bus voltage indicates an excessive value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Hatakeyama, Keisuke Uemura
  • Patent number: 11876470
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting pulse width modulation with randomized zero-sequence components for control of an electrified powertrain of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include determining a zero-sequence voltage of an electric machine of the vehicle based on a random distribution, and adjusting a voltage reference signal of the electric machine based on the determined zero-sequence voltage to decrease ambient acoustic noise in the vehicle. In this way, spectral energy dispersion of pulse width modulated control of the electric machine may be increased without affecting torque production of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Wolf, Michael Degner, Yue Nie
  • Patent number: 11863096
    Abstract: A boost circuit is arranged to reduce rise and fall times of pulsed power used for pulsed control operation of electric machines. Magnetic energy present in the electric machine at the end of a pulse is extracted by the boost circuit to reduce the pulse fall time. The energy is stored by the boost circuit and then applied at the beginning of a subsequent pulse to reduce the rise time. By reducing rise and fall times compared to not using such a boost circuit, machine efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Tula eTechnology, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Mazda, Adya S. Tripathi, Paul Carvell
  • Patent number: 11855570
    Abstract: This motor device includes: a motor having components including a stator and a rotor; and a controlling circuitry to control the motor. The motor is provided with temperature sensors to detect a heat transfer amount and a transfer direction about the components. The controlling circuitry includes a temperature calculator to calculate a component temperature based on a thermal circuit network from thermal resistances and heat capacities given for the components. On the basis of actual measured values of the heat transfer amount and the transfer direction obtained by the temperature sensors, the temperature calculator corrects thermal resistances and heat capacities about the components obtained on the basis of the thermal circuit network, and estimates the temperature of each component during driving of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kato, Hideaki Arita, Taiga Komatsu, Yuki Hidaka, Shohei Fujikura, Hiroyuki Higashino
  • Patent number: 11845341
    Abstract: A method for operating switching elements of an inverter of a vehicle that is driven by way of a three-phase synchronous machine. The inverter has a series circuit of switching elements for the phases. When the vehicle brakes, the synchronous machine is used to set a cycle rate for the operation of the switching elements depending on a frequency of AC phase currents of the synchronous machine. The electrical energy provided by the synchronous machine is fed to a DC voltage intermediate circuit. The cycle rate is set according to the frequency of the AC phase currents, such that it corresponds to the frequency of the respective AC phase currents of the synchronous machine. Zero points of the AC phase currents are determined, and the switching elements are operated to set a predefined phase difference between the respective AC phase current and a respectively associated AC phase voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Bergner, Juergen Ditterich, Karsten Hoke, Niklas Rueger
  • Patent number: 11843331
    Abstract: A system for determining an initial angular position of a rotor of a synchronous machine includes a motor driver module configured to provide a motor driver voltage signal to the synchronous machine, the motor driver voltage signal being sufficient to induce an electrical current in the synchronous machine; and a rotor position determination module configured to receive an indication of the current generated in the machine and to determine the initial position of the rotor based on the indication of the current generated in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Yaojin Mo, Huaqiang Li, Jimmy Qi, Tony Zhao, Hao Cai
  • Patent number: 11834903
    Abstract: Example motor assemblies for architectural coverings are described herein. An example motor assembly includes a motor, a first switch to trigger the motor to retract an architectural covering, a second switch to trigger the motor to extend the architectural covering, and an actuator positioned to activate the first switch when the actuator is rotated in a first direction and to activate the second switch when the actuator is rotated in a second direction. Also described herein are example lever actuators for motor assemblies of architectural coverings. An example lever actuator detaches from the motor assembly to prevent excess force on the motor assembly that could otherwise detrimentally affect the motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Anthony, Kevin M. Dann, Daniel A. Huber, Paul Brayford, Douglas J. Lorenz, James Kolozs, Ronald Holt, Todd Nelson, Shelby Jared Yenzer, Charles Cooper, Peter Zagone, Stephen T. Wisecup, Jan Prügner, Robert Witt, Jörg Schierz
  • Patent number: 11831266
    Abstract: A system (1) has a control device (10) with central electronics (11) designed for connection and operation of differently coded electric motors (En), with different motor characteristics (Mn) and/or power classes (Ln), to a device connection (12) of the control device (10). The at least one electric motor (En) is selectable from a number (n) of electric motor (En), that can be connected as intended, has a coding element (Kn). The central electronics (11) have a coding capture device (2) to recognize, via coding element (n), the motor characteristics (Mn) and/or the power class (Ln) of the respective currently connected electric motor (En).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Bürkert, Steffen Kammleiter, Sebastian Schroth, Alex Schneider, Marco Weckert
  • Patent number: 11820523
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the electric propulsion system including an electrical motor having a stator and a rotor. The electric propulsion system may include a main shaft possessing at least one shoulder on an outer surface of the main shaft. The electric propulsion system may include a gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear that is concentrically aligned with the main shaft at least one planetary gear that interfaces with the sun gear. The electric propulsion system may include a planetary carrier, wherein a center of the planetary carrier is concentrically aligned with the main shaft. The electric propulsion system may include a propeller flange assembly that travels through the rotor, and an axial buttress positioned in the at least one shoulder located on the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Archer Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Graves
  • Patent number: 11814890
    Abstract: A control system for an electric drive assembly of a hatch of a motor vehicle includes a drive assembly configured to reposition a hatch in motorized manner in a time-controlled motion process within a predetermined set hatch-motion time (tsoll) over a predetermined set hatch displacement (ssoll). The control system further includes a regulating unit that regulates the drive assembly to a set hatch speed (vsoll) during the motion process. Wherein, in a motion routine during the motion process, the control system ascertains a residual remaining hatch-motion time (tRest) continuously and computes the set hatch speed (vsoll) continuously in accordance with a computation rule on the basis of the remaining hatch-motion time (tRest) and supplies the hatch speed to the regulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG
    Inventor: Thomas Goldmann
  • Patent number: 11814889
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for operating a power tailgate system involve a vehicle that includes a tailgate, a motor connected with the tailgate for interdependent movement, and a motor circuit for the motor. The embodiments include, upon the initiation of a driving event in the vehicle, identifying that the tailgate is unclosed. The embodiments further include, in response to identifying that the tailgate is unclosed, upon the initiation of the driving event, irrespective of whether the tailgate is moving or not moving, checking the tailgate against movement during the driving event, wherein checking the tailgate against movement includes operating the motor circuit to electrically brake the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Nagase, Daisuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 11804796
    Abstract: A motor drive system includes: an inverter that drives a motor; a current detector that detects and outputs the first signal that is a current value of a current flowing through the inverter; a first low-pass filter that removes a noise frequency component from the first signal and outputs a second signal that is a current value after the noise frequency component has been removed; a demagnetization current determiner that compares a demagnetization current threshold with the second signal, and outputs a demagnetization protection signal when the second signal takes a value larger than the demagnetization current threshold; and a short circuit determiner that compares a third signal with a short circuit and outputs an anomaly signal for stopping the inverter when the third signal takes a value larger than or equal to the short circuit threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kutsuki, Shinji Sakai
  • Patent number: 11801599
    Abstract: A method for designing a customized robot to perform a specified function begins by initially creating an electronic library of data about modules and accessories for a robot assembly. The library stores, for each module and accessory, at least firmware for operation and dimensions. Per robot, the method includes receiving a set of functions and requirements of the customized robot, generating design(s) for the customized robot by finding a set of modules or accessories which match at least one of its functions and requirements, based on information in the electronic library, performing a set of validation tests of each design against criteria, identifying the design(s) which passed the set of validation tests, and generating a list of modules and accessories of a selected design and a connection map for the selected design indicating how the modules and accessories are to be connected together to form the customized robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: XTEND AI Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Fox, Sergh Sapojnikov, Andrew C. Gorelick
  • Patent number: 11799403
    Abstract: An electric motor for a vehicle includes a stator, a rotor and a plurality of independent bridge drivers. Each bridge driver supplies a portion of current to the electric motor. There may be a phase shift between each independent bridge driver. Optionally, each bridge driver delivers current at a slew rate that is different from each other independent bridge driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 11791813
    Abstract: Disclosed are a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) generation circuit, a processing circuit and a chip. The PWM generation circuit is used for controlling a rotation speed of an external motor system. The PWM generation circuit includes a second clock prescaler and a PWM signal generator. A frequency division output end of the second clock prescaler is connected to a data input end of the PWM signal generator. The PWM signal generator includes an output frequency divider and a comparator. A clock output end of the output frequency divider is connected to a comparison input end of the comparator. By means of the technical solution, PWM signals with different duty ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: AMICRO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhanghui Li, Zaisheng He, Dengke Xu
  • Patent number: 11777438
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes a first drive circuit to control an energization period of a first upper arm switch and a first lower arm switch connected to one end of a coil, a second drive circuit to control an energization period of a second upper arm switch and a second lower arm switch connected to another end of the coil, a current detection circuit to detect current flowing through the coil and output a current detection signal indicating a detection result of the current, a first protection circuit to determine whether overcurrent has occurred based on the current detection signal and output a first enable signal indicating a determination result to the first drive circuit, and a second protection circuit to determine whether overcurrent has occurred based on the current detection signal and output a second enable signal indicating a determination result to the second drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC SERVO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Mizukami, Junya Kaneko, Katsuaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 11772284
    Abstract: A power supply system for at least one system for transporting and/or machining workpieces having a plurality of electric drive units is disclosed. The supply grid of the drive units is supplied via at least one recuperating energy storage device, which is electrically connected to a charging device that is fed from an alternating- or three-phase low-voltage grid. The power supply system for a transport and/or machining system draws maximally 50 percent more power from the power supply grid compared to the regular nominal supply current regardless of the occurrence of current peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Zimmer, Günther Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11770080
    Abstract: A method for increasing a resolution by N bits performed by a processing circuit of a motor driving system, where N is a positive integer, and the method includes: performing a conversion upon an analog command, to generate a command count value; performing a first N-bit right-shifting operation upon the command count value, to generate an initial output value; performing a logical operation upon the command count value, to generate a low bit value; generating an overflow value according to the low bit value; and determining a final output value according to the initial output value and the overflow value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Microelectronics Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Tsai
  • Patent number: 11770093
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, AC chopping circuit includes a switching circuit, a synchronizing signal generating circuit, a switch driving circuit and an auxiliary power supplying circuit. In some examples, the switching circuit are coupled to an AC power source and a load. In certain examples, the synchronizing signal generating circuit provides a synchronizing signal which is related to a polarity of the AC power source. In some examples, the switching circuit is controlled based at least in part on the synchronizing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Xiamen Kiwi Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Zongjie Zhou, Huijie Yu, Kunming Cai
  • Patent number: 11770087
    Abstract: The technologies described and recited herein pertain to a permanent magnet motor having multiple voltage taps so that the motor may run in multiple configurations, e.g., a low-range and a high-range, and have multiple optimal operating points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Sykora, Petri J. Mäki-Ontto, James W. Ziemer, Matthew A. Shepeck