Patents Examined by Tyrone Smith
  • Patent number: 7098621
    Abstract: In a method for measuring motor speed and position by detecting the back EMF generated during pole-pair interactions, a separate respective duration of a power phase suppression signal, that is set during back EMF detection, is stored in memory for each respective pole. The separate respective duration values are determined during a calibration phase by iteratively lengthening each respective duration one unit at a time (up to a maximum value) until no part of the respective back EMF signal occurs outside the suppression signal duration, and those values are stored. During operation, the approach of a pole-pair interaction may be determined from the electrical cycle of the power supply, and then the stored duration value is used to control the state of the suppression signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Foo Leng Leong, Cheng Yong Teoh, Siew Yong Chui
  • Patent number: 7095201
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a user selectable start-up current in a disk drive are provided. A user may select a relatively high start-up current to provide a relatively fast start-up time in a disk drive. Alternatively, the user may select a relatively low maximum current draw by the hard drive to enable a relatively low power, low cost power supply to be used in connection with the hard drive, for use with applications in which a relatively long start-up time is acceptable. In connection with applications in which a low cost power supply is to be used, the maximum current drawn by the disk drive may be limited to the amount of current required by the disk drive during seek operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Erhard Schreck, Mark Heimbaugh
  • Patent number: 7095188
    Abstract: A serial fan set and rotation speed-matching curve generation method thereof are provided. The serial fan set comprises a rotation speed control module, a first fan and a second fan, in which the rotation speed control module is used to receive the power signal and produce the rotation speed driving signal corresponding to the power signal in accordance with the relations of the rotation speed-matching curve, so that the first fan and the second fan are operated at the matching rotation speed, thus producing the optimum operation efficiency and achieving the purpose of controlling the serial fan set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventor: Shu-Ju Lin
  • Patent number: 7095189
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a brushless electric motor for operation within a specified supply voltage range, a motor control controlling the winding voltage by means of pulse width modulation (PWM) and regulating the rotational speed to a specified speed. According to the invention, the motor is so rated that the nominal rotational speed is just achieved at the nominal operating point at the nominal supply voltage and at the maximum PWM ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: AndrĂ¡s Lelkes, Michael Bufe
  • Patent number: 7091678
    Abstract: When an angular acceleration ? of a rotating shaft of a motor connected with a drive shaft exceeds a preset threshold value ?slip, which suggests the occurrence of a skid, the torque control procedure sets a maximum torque Tmax by referring to a map, which gives a smaller maximum torque Tmax with an increase in angular acceleration ?, and restricts the motor torque to the maximum torque Tmax. The maximum torque Tmax is fixed to a value corresponding to a peak value of the angular acceleration ? at the time of occurrence of a skid. The torque control procedure then integrates the angular acceleration ? to give a time integration thereof over an integration interval when the angular acceleration ? once exceeds the preset threshold value ?slip and decreases again below the preset threshold value ?slip by the motor torque restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Hommi, Kiyotaka Hamajima, Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 7088067
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus has a driver circuit configuration capable of individually adjusting three phase coil currents. Coil current waveforms are formed to have a total of three phase shaft direction forces to be zero in compliance with predetermined mathematical expressions, and thus, three phase coil current profiles can be made independent of one another, and vibration-causing factors attributed to the fact that a certain phase is in an non-energized state are corrected by adjusting the current profiles of the other phases. Consequently, the vibration and the noise can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Yamamoto, Hideaki Mori, Shinichi Kuroshima, Hideki Nishino, Taishi Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 7088069
    Abstract: Load of each motor-driven drive section of an injection molding machine is monitored in order to obtain an average load level of the drive section for each molding cycle. A cycle extending time or a cycle shortening time necessary for decreasing or increasing the average load level to a previously set reference load level is calculated, and is displayed directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Usui
  • Patent number: 7088063
    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: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Minoru Kurosawa, Yasuhiko Kokami
  • Patent number: 7088073
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically changing configurations of multi-inverter drive systems. By changing configurations during operation, a multi-inverter system of the present invention can provide greater than half of full output power during failure of a power cell and can provide efficient braking torque during regeneration. The inverter drive system includes a plurality of single pole inverter cells and a configuration switch system connecting the single pole inverter cells in a star configuration and for changing the connection configuration of the single pole inverter cells. In one embodiment, the configuration switch system is adapted to dynamically change the star configuration of the inverter system to a mesh configuration during operation of the load. In another embodiment, the configuration switch system is adapted to dynamically change the star configuration of the single pole inverter cells to form a polyphase inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Toshiba Internationl Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Morishita
  • Patent number: 7084594
    Abstract: A direct current motor for an engine throttle control is driven with a motor current of 100% duty ratio, when a throttle valve is to be moved from one throttle position to another or when the movement of the throttle valve is to be braked. The motor current is limited to a limit level, when the motor locks, that is, when the motor current continues to be in excess of the limit level for more than a predetermined period. The motor may be driven with a limited current at initial stages of moving the throttle valve, and with a further limited current when the motor lock is detected. The motor current is finally shut off, when the throttle valve is not rotated to the target position after the continuation of the limitation of the motor current for more than a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Itabashi, Yukihide Niimi
  • Patent number: 7084591
    Abstract: An electric drive control device is provided with an electric machine having an asymmetrical salient pole, a current detecting portion, a phase converting device that converts the detected current into an axis current, and a current controlling device which generates a voltage command value based on the axis current and a current command value of the axis current. The current controlling device generates the voltage command value in response to the detected current and an offset angle of the center of a magnetic flux density distribution occurring at the salient pole, with respect to the center of an opening angle of the salient pole. In this case, the current controlling device generates a voltage command value corresponding to the detected current and the offset angle so the electrical characteristics are the same as when an electric machine having a symmetrical salient pole is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd, Kabushiki Kaisha Equos Research
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Masami Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7081724
    Abstract: An electrical mains-powered actuator designed to operate a closing, darkening or solar protection element, having in a common enclosure, a direct current motor, a board controlling the motor power supply and an AC/DC voltage converter, the control board including a radio-wave receiver, such that the voltage converter enables lowering of the voltage and includes at least one switch controlled at a frequency (F1) such that it is at most equal to twice the mains sector frequency or such that its ratio to the radio-wave receiver frequency (F0) ranges between 2.2 10?5 to 2.2 10?4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Somfy SAS
    Inventors: Marc Bouix, Serge Bruno
  • Patent number: 7075261
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fan is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for controlling a fan includes applying power to the fan at startup. The fan may be supplied a predetermined amount of current, which may break the inertia of the fan propeller and begin its rotation. As the propeller begins rotating, the speed at which it rotates may be monitored. The fan startup routine may continue until the fan reaches or exceeds a minimum fan speed threshold. Once the fan has at least reached the minimum speed, the amount of current supplied to the fan may be reduced such that the fan rotates at minimum speed, and an automatic fan control algorithm may begin executing. By reducing the current such that the fan operates at a minimum speed, the amount of audible noise generated by the fan during startup may be kept to a minimum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Burstein
  • Patent number: 7075259
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus, for controlling an electric motor to move a control object from a current position to a target position, estimates a condition of a load currently being applied to the motor (e.g., whether it is a positive or a negative load) based on the current position of the control object and predetermined data that relate positions of the control object to load conditions, and adjusts a target value of motor rotation speed in accordance with the estimation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 7075268
    Abstract: A system and method are provided to increase the horsepower of an induction motor. One technique for increasing the horsepower of a motor is to connect the motor to a variable speed drive that is providing an output voltage and frequency greater than the standard line voltage and frequency. The connection of the variable speed drive to the induction motor enables the motor to be operated in constant flux or constant volts/Hz mode and provide a greater output horsepower. Another technique for increasing the horsepower of a motor is to use a dual voltage motor configured for lower voltage operation and then provide the motor with the corresponding voltage and frequency for higher voltage operation. The higher voltage and higher frequency can be provided by a variable speed drive with or without voltage boost. A variable speed drive without voltage boost, but with frequency boost, can be used in situations where the standard main voltage is greater than the lower voltage rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Eugene Wills, Harold Robert Schnetzka
  • Patent number: 7071637
    Abstract: A window lifter system and method coordinates closing of multiple windows by detecting when more than one window pane is approaching a fully closed position and moving one window pane to only an approximately closed position while the other window pane is moved to the fully closed position. By staggering the closure of window panes to the fully closed positions, the system and method provides the illusion that all of the window panes are being closed at the same time while avoiding voltage drops in the vehicle power supply caused by excessively high blocking currents generated when multiple window panes are moved to the fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Mersch
  • Patent number: 7064512
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes an X stage, a linear motor (X-axis) which drives the X stage along the X-axis, a linear motor (Y-axis) which drives a Y stage along the Y-axis, a laser interferometer which detects position information of the stages along the X and Y directions, and a controller which controls the linear motor (X-axis) and linear motor (Y-axis) based on a detection result of the laser interferometer. The controller controls the linear motor (Y-axis) based on the position information of the stages along the X direction detected by the laser interferometer, so as to cancel a force generated along the Y-axis by the linear motor (X-axis) when the linear motor (X-axis) is to drive the stage in the X direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7064509
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining angular positions of DC motor includes a capacitor connected in parallel with the DC motor. The current flowing through the capacitor, at any given time, is an AC ripple current responsive to a commutation event of the DC motor. The capacitor partially sources the motor current ripples during commutation and recharges itself during the off-commutation period. Since the number of commutation events per mechanical revolution is pre-determined once the DC motor is designed, the frequency of the AC ripple currents through the capacitor corresponds to the frequency of commutation, and thus a motor position of the DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenxing Fu, Karienne A. Yockey, Frank J. Aiello, James R. Winkelman, Frank J. Haas
  • Patent number: 7064518
    Abstract: A driving circuit of an AC fan motor has an AC to DC converter, a regulated voltage divider, a motor driving unit, two windings each having many coils and a harmonic wave suppression unit. The AC to DC converter converts AC power to high voltage DC power. Since the motor driving unit requires low voltage DC power, the motor driving unit is connected to the AC to DC converter through the regulated voltage divider. The two windings are directly connected to the AC to DC converter to obtain the high voltage DC power. Therefore, when the motor driving unit drives the windings, a large current will pass through the winding to increase rotation ration. Since each winding has many coils, the large current can be held in a suitable range to prevent the winding from being damaged by the large current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventor: Hsin-Mao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7061203
    Abstract: A controlled stepping motor is electrically connected to a controller and a loading device. A method of controlling the stepper motor includes utilizing the controller to output a control signal to the stepping motor according to a target displacement and a first index parameter, utilizing the stepping motor to move the loading device according to the control signal, utilizing the controller to calculate a difference between the target displacement and an actual displacement of the loading device, and utilizing the controller to generate a second index parameter for updating the first index parameter according to the first index parameter, the difference, and the actual displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: VIA Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Chung Chan, Jacky Lee, Alex Lin