Patents Examined by Tyrone Smith
  • Patent number: 7339343
    Abstract: A method for correcting speed feedback in a drive motor by calculating the averages of speed reference and speed measurement for both downward and upward constant-speed travel and then identifying the gain and zero factors and correcting the measured speed measurement to the correct value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Jyrki Laaksonheimo
  • Patent number: 7323840
    Abstract: A magnetic-pole detecting system for synchronous AC motors and a magnetic-pole detecting method therefor are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Takahashi, Yasunobu Harada
  • Patent number: 7315145
    Abstract: A system of controlling a sliding member for a vehicle includes a motor, a pulse generating device, a counting device and a control device. The system has a range for movement of the sliding member between a position short of a first lock position and a position short of a second lock position. Also, the system has an error range within the range for movement of the sliding member and memorizes in advance a range of pulse count representative of the error range. If a pulse count counted by the counting device falls within the range of pulse count when the sliding member discontinues movement due to detection of an overload of the motor, the system resets a pulse count counted by the counting device at one of the first and second lock positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yachiyo Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisya
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Uehara, Yuki Honjo, Yoshiki Noro
  • Patent number: 7312591
    Abstract: A powered panel moving system includes a motor, electronic drive circuitry, a mechanism, a coupler, and electronic function circuitry. The drive circuitry drives a rotor of the motor. The coupler couples rotational output of the rotor to the mechanism to drive the mechanism in order to move the panel. The function circuitry is integrated with the drive circuitry for providing additional functionality beyond driving the motor for panel movement. The drive circuitry includes a current sensor for determining rotor position based on motor current, a back emf sensor for determining rotor position based on back emf of the motor, and an impedance sensor for determining rotor position based on motor impedance. The function circuitry may include an analyzer to determine presence of an obstruction to the motion of the panel based on at least one of the rotor position, the motor current, and the back emf of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: NPC Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Washeleski, Stephen R. W. Cooper, Peter H. Strom, Todd R. Newman
  • Patent number: 7310475
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is provided which can minimize ripple current flowing through a DC link capacitor, and downsize the motor driving apparatus. It synchronizes the frequency of the inverter carrier signal for driving an inverter with the frequency of the DC/DC converter carrier signal for driving a DC/DC converter, and carries out control in such a manner that the center of a period during which the input current of the inverter is zero and the center of a period during which the output current of the DC/DC converter is zero are matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Okuda, Takahiro Urakabe, Yuuji Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 7304450
    Abstract: An electric actuator including at least a first P-phase automatically-switched brushless synchronous motor, P being an integer ranging between 1 and 6, and N pairs of poles at the rotor, N being an integer not less than 1. The actuator also includes a position sensor outputting signal to control an electronic circuit controlling the motor. The rotor of the motor drives a gear ratio reducing mechanism. The position sensor is coupled to the reduction unit output shaft to measure the absolute angular position of the reduction unit output shaft. The electronic circuit includes a circuit sequentially controlling the current of each of the phases producing automatic switching of powering sequences of the phases on the basis of the absolute position of the reduction unit output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies
    Inventor: Daniel Prudham
  • Patent number: 7301296
    Abstract: An integrated control and diagnostics system for a controlled system (e.g., a motor) includes a diagnostics module and a controller coupled to the motor. To optimize operation, the diagnostics information signal is used to modify the control provided by the controller as required. Moreover, the output of the control module is coupled to the diagnostics module so that the health assessment made by the diagnostics module can be based at least in part on the output of the controller. The invention uses a model-based diagnostics approach that allows integration of control algorithms with diagnostics algorithms to intelligently trade off optimizing performance to avert or accommodate failures, and to meet performance requirements in a wide range of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick M. Discenzo
  • Patent number: 7294985
    Abstract: A steering controlling device comprising a power source, a motor connected to a steering system, a motor driving circuit converting a power source voltage to a predetermined voltage and applying the voltage to the motor, and a controlling means for controlling the motor driving circuit, wherein the controlling means controls the motor driving circuit so as to boost the power source voltage when a rotational speed of the motor is a predetermined value or more, whereby a sufficient motor output torque is obtainable under various steering conditions in use of a converter, an efficiency is improved by suppressing a frequency of operating the converter, and an appropriate fail safe treatment is conducted when the converter is disordered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Kifuku
  • Patent number: 7294982
    Abstract: A three-phase DC motor output stage including a predriver that supplies drive voltages to power MOSFETs supplies output voltages to three-phase coils, monitors whether each of gate-to-source voltages of the power MOSFETs is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage and thereby detects a current zero cross, and employs the output of such current zero cross detection in PLL control for controlling energization switching timing and thereby forms drive voltages of 180-degree energization. Lower hooks with a voltage minimum phase as GND and upper hooks with a voltage maximum phase as a source are set as patterns alternately repeated for every electrical angle of 60 degrees. The patterns are expressed in linear approximation to generate sine wave-like drive voltages, thereby causing sine wave-like currents to flow into the three-phase coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Minoru Kurosawa, Yasuhiko Kokami
  • Patent number: 7272303
    Abstract: An electric motor drives a belt spool of a seatbelt retractor in a vehicle using a micro-controller and a drive circuit that drives the electric motor. A plurality of PWM control signal sources are provided each of which has a trigger input and a control signal output. Each control signal source, upon application of a trigger pulse to its trigger input, provides on its control signal output a control pulse of a duration different from durations of control pulses of all other control signal sources. A set of motor control programs are permanently stored in the micro-controller. A program selection signal is sent to the micro-controller from a central sensor unit in the vehicle. Trigger pulses are sent by the micro-controller to the trigger inputs of the control signal sources. Particular ones of the control signal sources are selected for application of their signal outputs to the drive circuit in a control sequence defined by a selected control program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bolz, Martin Prokscha
  • Patent number: 7268509
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric driven tool device, especially an electric hand-held tool device, comprising an asynchronous electric motor (2) or a brush-less synchronous electric motor and a computer-controlled motor control device (8). The invention is characterized by a frequency converter (4) which can be controlled by the motor control device, whereby a motor (drive) voltage can be applied to the motor (2), and with a current detector (10) which co-operates with the motor control device (8) and detects the motor current. The motor control device (8) is embodied in such a manner that, in a first phase of the motor operation, the frequency of the motor current is maintained in a constant manner up to a limiting current I(grenz) and, in a second phase of the motor operation, at loads above the load at which the motor current reaches the limiting current I(grenz), the frequency of the motor current is lowered in such a manner that the motor current is maintained at a constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Metabowerke GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schmohl
  • Patent number: 7268506
    Abstract: The power window system moves a window glass in opening and closing directions in response to operation of an opening and closing instruction switch. The power window system includes a measurement device for obtaining an open degree of the window glass and a control device for controlling movement of the window glass in response to operation of the switch. The control device moves the window glass in the closing direction when an open degree obtained by the measurement device is not less than a predetermined degree and in the opening direction when the open degree is less than the predetermined degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakagawa, Yoshimitsu Maejima, Yasuyuki Mochizuki, Katsuyuki Iwasaki, Susumu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7265505
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a synchronous motor such as a switched reluctance motor, having a plurality of respectively separate stator windings, can operate the motor in either a normal mode or a low-torque mode by selectively supplying drive current to the stator windings. In the low-torque mode, alternate ones of the stator windings are driven in succession, thereby ensuring that electromagnetic forces will not be continually applied to the rotor of the motor along the same limited range of directions and so preventing unbalanced wear of the rotor shaft and bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 7262570
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of interfacing a Hall sensor to a commutation circuit comprises receiving output signals from the Hall sensor; detecting when the Hall sensor output signals are within a predetermined range; generating commutation output signals when the Hall sensor output signals are in a predetermined state for a predetermined period of time; and locking out a change in the commutation output signals for a second predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Andigilog, Inc.
    Inventors: Jade H. Alberkrack, Robert Alan Brannen
  • Patent number: 7262576
    Abstract: A method drives a synchronous electric motor, particularly to start a fan/exhaust fan. The method includes measuring the supply voltage value of the electric motor windings being proportional to the mass flow rate. The method also includes measuring a real load angle, by a signal coming from a Hall sensor associated with the motor rotor; performing a comparison with an optimal load angle corresponding to a reference mass flow rate of fluid being exhausted; and changing the voltage value and the operating frequency applied to the electric motor up to reach a value of the real load angle corresponding to said optimal load angle value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Askoll Holding S.r.l.
    Inventor: Elio Marioni
  • Patent number: 7260319
    Abstract: An abnormality monitoring device monitors a PWM driving signal output from a driving section of an associated motor control system to judge whether the driving section is operating abnormally. By monitoring the output of the driving section, the monitoring device can detect an abnormality of the driving section before the motor can respond to the abnormal drive signal to a significant degree (e.g., to a degree readily discernable to a rider of a motorcycle on which the motor control system is employed in combination with an electronic throttle system).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Watanabe, Mikiyasu Uchiyama, Tomoaki Kishi
  • Patent number: 7259530
    Abstract: A control CPU generates, in response to a signal STON from a start key, a signal SE at H level and outputs the generated signal to a relay to render system relays ON. Accordingly, a DC power supply is connected between respective neutral points of three-phase coils. When a terminal-to-terminal voltage of a capacitor that is detected by a voltage sensor becomes equal to or higher than a voltage of the DC power supply that is detected by a voltage sensor, the control CPU generates a signal PWMPC1 or PWMPC2 and outputs the generated signal to an inverter. The inverter increases the output voltage of the DC power supply according to the signal PWMPC1 or PWMPC2 to precharge the capacitor to a predetermined voltage or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoe Ochiai, Takeshi Tateishi
  • Patent number: 7256558
    Abstract: A brushless motor according to the present invention provided with a recording disk in a rotational member and serving to rotate the recording disk together with the rotational member comprises a first position detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the rotational member, a second position detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the recording disk, wherein a mode for rotating the rotational member at a high speed by a detection signal of the first position detecting means and a mode for rotating the rotational member at a low speed by a detection signal of the second position detecting means are generated. Thereby, the two rotation states whose rotation speeds are different can be obtained in a simplified constitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Mine, Eiji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7256562
    Abstract: A control circuit for a cooling fan is provided that adjusts input power and drive a cooling fan. The control circuit comprises a temperature detector for detecting temperature; a power controller for controlling driving power to the cooling fan based on the input power and supplying the driving power; a proportional electric power block supplying control power proportional to temperature variation of the detected; and a fixed electric power block supplying control power at a fixed level when the detected temperature is lower than a predetermined level. The control circuit for a cooling fan is configured to detect temperature variation and to operate with less noise by controlling rotational velocity of the cooling fan in proportion to variation in temperature variation to reduce noise generated when operating the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byong-Jeon Lee
  • Patent number: 7253574
    Abstract: A switching frequency multiplier inverter for low inductance machines that uses parallel connection of switches and each switch is independently controlled according to a pulse width modulation scheme. The effective switching frequency is multiplied by the number of switches connected in parallel while each individual switch operates within its limit of switching frequency. This technique can also be used for other power converters such as DC/DC, AC/DC converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventors: Gui-Jia Su, Fang Z. Peng