Patents by Inventor Bart De Cock
Bart De Cock has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210265090Abstract: Improved solenoid controllers and control methods. One illustrative solenoid control method embodiment includes: supplying a drive signal to a solenoid, the drive signal having: an average current corresponding to a desired position of an armature, and a dither current having a dither amplitude that produces an associated solenoid voltage variation; varying the dither amplitude in a region insufficient to overcome static friction of the armature; determining a linear relationship between the dither amplitude and the associated solenoid voltage variation in said region; increasing the dither amplitude while monitoring the associated solenoid voltage variation for a deviation below the voltage variation indicated by the linear relationship; and upon detecting said deviation, employing a corresponding dither amplitude to maintain mobility of the armature.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Bart DE COCK
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Patent number: 10566804Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a balancing circuit for a plurality of battery cells includes configuring the balancing circuit to selectively pre-charge a transfer element from a power source, and to subsequently selectively couple the transfer element to one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to transfer energy from the transfer element to the one battery cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Bart De Cock
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Patent number: 10038329Abstract: A method and module for monitoring a voltage of a power cell, sampling and holding a voltage of the power cell, and balancing a voltage of the power cell. In accordance with an embodiment, an interface circuit is capable of operation in a plurality of operating modes. In accordance with another embodiment, the interface circuit is coupled to a filter section.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Bart De Cock, Bernard Gentinne
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Publication number: 20170093193Abstract: A method and module for monitoring a voltage of a power cell, sampling and holding a voltage of the power cell, and balancing a voltage of the power cell. In accordance with an embodiment, an interface circuit is capable of operation in a plurality of operating modes. In accordance with another embodiment, the interface circuit is coupled to a filter section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Bart De Cock, Bernard Gentinne
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Publication number: 20170005487Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a balancing circuit for a plurality of battery cells includes configuring the balancing circuit to selectively pre-charge a transfer element from a power source, and to subsequently selectively couple the transfer element to one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to transfer energy from the transfer element to the one battery cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2016Publication date: January 5, 2017Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Bart DE COCK
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Patent number: 9472961Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a balancing circuit for a plurality of battery cells includes configuring the balancing circuit to selectively pre-charge a transfer element from a power source, and to subsequently selectively couple the transfer element to one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to transfer energy from the transfer element to the one battery cell.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20140239901Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a balancing circuit for a plurality of battery cells includes configuring the balancing circuit to selectively pre-charge a transfer element from a power source, and to subsequently selectively couple the transfer element to one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to transfer energy from the transfer element to the one battery cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Inventor: Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20140210272Abstract: A method and module for monitoring a voltage of a power cell, sampling and holding a voltage of the power cell, and balancing a voltage of the power cell. In accordance with an embodiment, an interface circuit is capable of operation in a plurality of operating modes. In accordance with another embodiment, the interface circuit is coupled to a filter section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Bart De Cock, Bernard Gentinne
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Patent number: 8736298Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting for a step loss condition. A back electromagnetic force signal is measured and compared to a reference voltage. The motor continues operating and the back electromagnetic force signal is measured again and compared to the reference voltage. If the measured levels of the back emf voltages are less than the reference voltage, a step loss condition has occurred and the stator field is repositioned.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20130106460Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting for a step loss condition. A back electromagnetic force signal is measured and compared to a reference voltage. The motor continues operating and the back electromagnetic force signal is measured again and compared to the reference voltage. If the measured levels of the back emf voltages are less than the reference voltage, a step loss condition has occurred and the stator field is repositioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: May 2, 2013Inventor: Bart De Cock
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Patent number: 8058894Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting for a step loss condition. A back electromagnetic force signal is measured and compared to a reference voltage. The motor continues operating and the back electromagnetic force signal is measured again and compared to the reference voltage. If the measured levels of the back emf voltages are less than the reference voltage, a step loss condition has occurred and the stator field is repositioned.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20100244887Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting for a step loss condition. A back electromagnetic force signal is measured and compared to a reference voltage. The motor continues operating and the back electromagnetic force signal is measured again and compared to the reference voltage. If the measured levels of the back emf voltages are less than the reference voltage, a step loss condition has occurred and the stator field is repositioned.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventor: Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20080218113Abstract: An integrated circuit has drive circuitry to drive the windings of an electrical motor, means to make a measurement from the drive circuitry during rotation of the motor, suitable for use as motor control feedback, and has an output contact through which the motor control feedback measurement is available as an analog output signal. It can be used with an external motor control circuit coupled to receive the analog output signal to generate motor control signals, to control the drive circuitry. The analog feedback output gives more flexibility to the design of a motor control loop in terms of bit resolution, bandwidth and choice of discrete time or continuous time control.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Applicant: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBAInventors: Peter Cox, Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20080197794Abstract: A circuit for determining a direction of rotation of an electric motor, the motor having asymmetry and/or eccentricity in a profile of back electromotive force as a function of angular position of a rotor with respect to a stator, the circuit receiving a signal representing the BEMF, and use the corresponding asymmetry and/or eccentricity in the signal to derive the direction of rotation. The signal representing the back emf can be generated by a control circuit. The control circuit can have a feedback loop regulator to generate a control signal (TL or TR) to control a current drive circuit (11,12) to control an amplitude of current (iw) in the windings, the feedback loop regulator being arranged to compare the amplitude of the current (iw) in the windings with a reference value (iset), and use the control signal to provide the signal representing the back electromotive force.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBAInventors: Sam Vermeir, Francois Laulanet, Bart De Cock
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Patent number: 7288956Abstract: A method for detecting rotation of a rotor of a multiple phase motor with bipolar drive is described, excluding a three-phase motor with bipolar drive with star connected coils or motor stator windings. The motor has at least a first and a second energizable motor stator winding. A voltage is sequentially and alternately sensed on the first and the second motor stator winding at or near the end of a period of a non-energised state thereof. An apparatus for detecting rotor speed is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBAInventors: Bart De Cock, Jan Plojhar, Lucas Emiel Elie Vander Voorde
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Patent number: 7271993Abstract: A PWM controller for a bridge driver circuit for controlling current in an inductive load such as a motor, can set the driver into a forward mode, a slow decay mode or a fast decay mode, and can switch from slow decay mode into forward mode or into fast decay mode for the duration of pulses at controlled time intervals to provide pulse width modulated control of the current. This is a simpler control scheme avoiding complex switching schemes related to mixed mode decay. By using a controlled PWM frequency, it is easier to avoid the problems of variable frequency such as increased heat dissipation or acoustic noise generation. It can have a selector for selecting top or bottom sense switching, enabling a wider range of stable PWM duty-cycles to be used (e.g. 0% to 100%), which is useful to compensate for Back emf influence on coil-drive.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBAInventors: Jan Plojhar, Bart De Cock
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Publication number: 20040222779Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting rotation of a rotor of a multiple phase motor with bipolar drive, excluding a three-phase motor with bipolar drive with star connected coils or motor stator windings, the motor comprising at least a first and a second energisable motor stator winding. The method comprises sequentially and alternately sensing a voltage on the first and the second motor stator winding during a substantially non-energised state thereof. The present invention also provides an apparatus for detecting rotor speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Bart De Cock, Jan Plojhar, Lucas Emiel Elie Vander Voorde