Parallel Connected Motors Patents (Class 318/112)
  • Patent number: 11552581
    Abstract: A board includes a first motor driver control circuit, a first connector, and a second connector. The first motor driver control circuit includes a first H-bridge and a second H-bridge. The first connector includes at least the following: a first pin to which a first output of the first H-bridge is input, a second pin to which a second output of the first H-bridge is input, and a third pin. The second connector is disposed apart from the first connector and includes at least the following: a first pin to which a first output of the second H-bridge is input, a second pin to which a second output of the second H-bridge is input, and a third pin of the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nanai, Mitsuhiro Sugeta, Hiroki Hirata
  • Patent number: 11318603
    Abstract: A delta robot includes a robot base, an end effector carrier that can be positioned in space, and three parallelogram articulated couplings which connect the end effector carrier to the robot base and are designed to connect the end effector carrier in a displaceable manner while maintaining its orientation in space relative to the robot base. Each parallelogram articulated coupling can be displaced, driven by a motor, to automatically move the end effector carrier, wherein each motor can be braked by means of a brake in order to automatically stop the end effector carrier and/or to hold the end effector carrier in its present position. The end effector carrier comprises at least one input device connected to the brakes by control technology and designed to release the brakes in an actuated switching state of the input device such that the end effector carrier is manually displaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Handfest, Victor Klein
  • Patent number: 11005395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for selectively actuating drive elements (1, 2), which are operated on direct current, in a motor vehicle by means of half-bridges (4, 5). According to the invention, the circuit is designed for selectively actuating eight drive elements (1, 2) for locking and, respectively, unlocking four doors of the motor vehicle from the outside and/or from the inside. The circuit contains nine half-bridges (4, 5), wherein the outputs of eight of the nine half-bridges (4) are each connected to a first pole of one of the eight drive elements (1, 2) and the output of the ninth half-bridge (5) is connected to all second poles of the eight drive elements (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lukas Preusser, Holger Mueller, Ahmet Cinar, Denney Vellaramkalayil
  • Patent number: 10742158
    Abstract: A circuit for split sine wave alternating ground paths. The current circuit consists of two DC motors that act as individual power and ground paths for one other DC motor using AC voltage. Each motor supplies power and ground for one leg of a third DC drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GEG Consulting & Developing International, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Cook, Mark M. Turner
  • Patent number: 10350750
    Abstract: An industrial robot may include multiple motors structured to rotate multiple arm units; multiple motor drivers to drive multiple motors; a power source to supply power to the multiple motor drivers; a charge-discharge unit connected to the multiple motor drivers; a control execution unit to control the multiple motor drivers; an elevation motor to elevate the arm, an elevation motor driver to drive the elevation motor; a first brake to stop the elevation motor; and a second brake to stop the elevation motor. When the industrial robot makes an emergency stop, the supplied power is turned off and control execution unit stops the multiple motors while controlling the multiple motor drivers by using the power supplied from the charge-discharge unit. The control execution unit controls at the time of said emergency stop, operates the first brake and then operates the second brake to stop the elevation motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Yazawa, Yoshihisa Masuzawa, Tomoki Tanabe, Hirokazu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10090785
    Abstract: An electric arrangement which, for controlling at least two electric motors, has at least one first H-bridge arrangement and a second H-bridge arrangement, is provided. The electric arrangement comprises a first electric motor, which is electrically connected to a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element and a fourth switching element in the first H-bridge arrangement. The electric arrangement furthermore comprises a second electric motor, which is arranged in a second bridge branch of the second H-bridge arrangement) and is connected to a third half-bridge via a third motor contact, wherein the third half-bridge comprises a fifth switching element and a sixth switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugtelle GMBH & Co. KG, Bamberg
    Inventors: Thomas Schindhelm, Stefan Franek, Guido Naumann, Christian Thomann
  • Patent number: 10060654
    Abstract: Heat pump type heating apparatus capable of performing a continuous dual-stage operation without stopping a high stage side compressor even when a return temperature of a heating medium reaches a prescribed high temperature and, thereby, improving a sense of being insufficiently warmed due to stoppage of the high stage side compressor or a sense of being insufficiently warmed due to execution of frequent defrosting operations. The heat pump type heating apparatus includes an internal heat exchanger (a second internal heat exchanger) that performs heat exchange between a low-temperature refrigerant on a low-pressure side of a low stage side refrigeration circuit and a high-temperature refrigerant on a high-pressure side of a high stage side refrigerant circuit, a bypass pipe bypassing the internal heat exchanger, and flow path control means that controls a refrigerant flow to each of the internal heat exchanger and the bypass pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Takayama, Hiroshi Ishida, Masato Sakai, Yoichi Negishi
  • Patent number: 9855859
    Abstract: An electric vehicle accomplishes speed changes through the use of electronically controlled, multiple electric motor configurations that are coupled to an output drive shaft instead of a speed change transmission. A parallel-coupled motor configuration includes at least two motors that are each coupled to the output drive shaft through respective gear arrangements, each gear arrangement having a respective gear ratio. In a serially-coupled motor configuration, the stator of the second motor is coupled to the rotor of the first motor, where the rotor of the second motor is coupled to the output drive shaft. The required torque to reach or maintain a desired vehicle speed can be obtained by selective energization of either one or both of the motors (in both multi-motor configurations). Two motors are also coupled to a differential gear so that the rotational speed contributed by both motors are additive at the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Superior Electron, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Zing, Joachim H. Wiest, Henry T. Fung
  • Patent number: 9676295
    Abstract: An electric vehicle accomplishes speed changes through the use of electronically controlled, multiple electric motor configurations that are coupled to an output drive shaft instead of a speed change transmission. A parallel-coupled motor configuration includes at least two motors that are each coupled to the output drive shaft through respective gear arrangements, each gear arrangement having a respective gear ratio. In a serially-coupled motor configuration, the stator of the second motor is coupled to the rotor of the first motor, where the rotor of the second motor is coupled to the output drive shaft. The required torque to reach or maintain a desired vehicle speed can be obtained by selective energization of either one or both of the motors (in both multi-motor configurations). Two motors are also coupled to a differential gear so that the rotational speed contributed by both motors are additive at the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: SUPERIOR ELECTRON, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Zing, Joachim H. Wiest, Henry T. Fung
  • Patent number: 9660452
    Abstract: An exemplary method for controlling transfer of electrical power in island mode in an arrangement having a converter and a load connected to the converter through a filter. The method including determining voltage reference components for one or more frequency components of an output voltage of the converter. An effect of a load current is compensated for by forming one or more voltage feedforward terms based on the load current and using the feedforward terms to adjust the voltage reference components. Control reference components for one or more of the frequency components are formed based on the voltage reference components, and a control reference is formed based on the control reference components. The output voltage of the converter is controlled based on the control reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Mikko Routimo
  • Patent number: 9543862
    Abstract: A current command generator 117 generates a current command that indicates a value of current supplied from an inverter circuit to electric motors connected in parallel with the inverter circuit. A voltage command calculator 120 generates a voltage compensation signal for compensating a difference between a value of actual current supplied to each of the electric motors and a value of current indicated by the current command. A determiner 135 determines, based on a value obtained from the voltage compensation signal, whether or not an abnormality is occurring in at least one of the electric motors. A shutdown controller 136 shuts down, upon the determiner 135 determining that an abnormality is occurring, the power supply from the inverter circuit to the each of the electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 9293921
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of power converters 1a, 1b and 1c can be used to interface to a supply network, ac busbar etc. Each power converter includes a network bridge 14 operating in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy having the same switching period and which causes at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage. The method includes the step of providing the switching period of the PWM strategy of each network bridge with a different time offset relative to a time datum such that the at least one unwanted harmonic in the supply network voltage is at least partially cancelled. Two alternative ways of providing the time offset are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Robert Vernon Fulcher, Henrik Stiesdal
  • Patent number: 8907596
    Abstract: A first motor controller generates commanded speeds of a first rotor of a first electric motor for a first time interval and a second time interval. A first speed monitor detects observed speeds of the first rotor for the time intervals. A first ratio is determined based on a relationship between respective commanded speeds and corresponding observed speeds for the first time interval and the second time interval. A first data processor increments a persistence counter for the first motor if the first ratio increases or changes during the time intervals. A first motor deceleration is estimated if the persistence counter exceeds a stall limit count. A target rotor speed of a second motor is adjusted based on the estimated first motor rate of change to track the first motor rate of change (or first rotor speed) if the persistence counter exceeds the stall limit count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Troy W. Harris, III, Jacob Kallara
  • Publication number: 20140352459
    Abstract: A drive device includes plural moving portions, piezoelectric motors that move the moving portions, at least one drive circuit that drives the piezoelectric motors, and a connection/disconnection portion that connects and disconnects the piezoelectric motors and the drive circuit. The number of drive circuits is fewer than the number of piezoelectric motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Matsuzawa, Osamu Urano, Yoshiteru Nishimura, Masakuni Shiozawa, Osamu Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 8860335
    Abstract: A distributed motor drive system includes a power management module and multiple inverter modules integrated with the motors and located on a machine or process remote from the power management module. The power management module distributes DC voltage and command signals to each of the inverters. The DC voltage is distributed between modules via a DC link cable. The integrated inverters execute switching routines to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage suitable for controlling the motor. Each of the power management module and the inverters includes a portion of the DC bus capacitance. The distributed motor drive system also includes a link inductance between the power management module and the inverters to limit the amount of reactive current generated by the inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Gries, Mark R. Cooper, Rangarajan Tallam, Garrett B. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 8847521
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, four VVVF main circuit inverters for supplying electric power to drive a permanent-magnet synchronous motor are packaged into one unit. The four VVVF main circuit inverters are configured as a 4-in-1 inverter unit which shares a cooling mechanism for radiating heat generated due to power supply operation for the permanent-magnet synchronous motors to outside. A 2-in-1 semiconductor device package in which two semiconductor elements to convert electric power are packaged into one unit to be able to drive a permanent-magnet synchronous motor is contained in the 4-in-1 inverter unit. Thereby, individual control of inverters and reducing the size of the entire apparatus can be achieved for the electric-vehicle control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Toda, Ikuo Yasuoka, Yosuke Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8622002
    Abstract: A rail vehicle has a powered bogie, wherein the powered bogie has driven wheels. Each driven wheel of the powered bogie can be driven by an electric machine, with a power converter being assigned to the electric machine. As a result, a separate power converter is assigned to each driven wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Jöckel
  • Patent number: 8593090
    Abstract: A motor drive is provided that includes a control circuit or board and a one or more functional circuits or option boards coupled to the control board, and a profile that includes a configuration for the option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes loading a profile for a option board coupled to a control board of the controller, wherein the profile comprises a configuration for the option board. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Campbell, John Howard Stuedemann, Gary A. Kabitzke, Ronald Rudy Hrlevich
  • Patent number: 8581528
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling frequency converter modules of an electric drive. In the arrangement, the frequency converter modules are arranged to control alternatively a first motor or several motors having less power than the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Osmo Pasuri, Ilkka Tunkkari
  • Publication number: 20130152817
    Abstract: A traction motor drive system includes a plurality of armatures arranged in parallel with each other and a plurality of field circuits arranged in series with one another. The plurality of field circuits is arranged in parallel with the armatures. The traction motor drive system also includes a field isolation system including a shunt circuit associated with at least one field circuit. The field isolation system includes a first field switch arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits and configured to switch between a first terminal of the shunt circuit and a first field terminal of at least one field circuit. The field isolation system includes a second field switch, arranged in series with the plurality of field circuits and configured to switch between a second terminal of the shunt circuit and a second field terminal of at least one field circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: John Franklin Kral, Sidarta Fornari Beltramin
  • Patent number: 8421393
    Abstract: A system and method for pulse edge synchronization. According to an embodiment, a first series of PWM signals that may drive a first device wherein each pulse in this series has a rising edge and a falling edge. The system and method further includes a second series of PWM signals that may drive a second device wherein each pulse in the second series of pulses also has a rising edge and a falling edge. These series of pulses are then synchronized such that each rising edge in the first series occurs simultaneous to a falling edge in the second series and vice versa. Such a system and method reduces the level of acoustic noise generated between the two motors. Further, synchronizing the rising and falling edges of the PWM pulses reduces and often eliminates stray EMI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Alain T. Pellen
  • Patent number: 8310177
    Abstract: A hand-held, battery powered tool (e.g., nutrunner, drill) includes an output head operatively connected to a motor, a plurality of battery cells, an ON/OFF start switch, a resistance sensor that measures a resistance of the output head to movement, and a controller. When the start switch is ON and the resistance sensed by the resistance sensor does not exceed a predetermined shift resistance, the controller automatically connects the plurality of battery cells to each other and the motor in series. When the start switch is ON and the resistance sensed by the resistance sensor exceeds the predetermined shift resistance, the controller automatically connects the plurality of battery cells to each other in parallel and to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Naumann, Duane R. Bookshar, Leonard V. Demchak
  • Patent number: 8279040
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a plurality of movable barrier operators includes a controller configured to communicate with a plurality of movable barrier operators. The controller is programmed to receive a command to operate the plurality of movable barrier operators and to send a signal to start operation of a first movable barrier operator of the plurality of movable barrier operators in response to receiving the command. The controller is also programmed to send a signal to start a second movable barrier operator of the plurality of movable barrier operators at a time after sending the signal to start the operation of the first movable barrier operator. An arbitration of confirmation signals from the plurality of movable barrier operators may be used to determine the order of operation of the movable barrier operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Thomas Laird
  • Patent number: 8248009
    Abstract: A motor drive is provided that includes a control circuit or board and a one or more functional circuits or option boards coupled to the control board, and a profile that includes a configuration for the option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes loading a profile for a option board coupled to a control board of the controller, wherein the profile comprises a configuration for the option board. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Campbell, John Howard Stuedemann, Gary A. Kabitzke, Ronald Rudy Hrlevich
  • Patent number: 8242733
    Abstract: At least two asynchronous AC induction electrical machines in parallel connection with the power source respectively include a main winding and control winding for operating the electrical machines, wherein the individually load driving operations of the two electrical machines in cross-interlocked parallel connection with the power source respond to changes in individual electrical machine loading statuses to provide variable impedance operation so as to change the end voltage ratio between the individual electrical machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8228008
    Abstract: A motor controlling apparatus having a controller for controlling a plurality of inverters correspondingly provided to each of a plurality of alternating-current motors is reduced in size, mass, and cost by effectively grouping operations performed by each calculation unit included in the controller. This controller for controlling the inverters includes: a first common calculation unit and a second common calculation unit that calculate and output control signals that are common to each of the inverters; individual calculation units that individually calculate and output a control signal related to each of the inverters; and a common logic calculation unit 60 that outputs a gate signal for controlling switching of each of the inverters based on the signals received from the first common calculation unit, the second common calculation unit, and the individual calculation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 8091665
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system comprises inverters connected electrically with a power supply line and a ground line and controlling the current flowing through each stator coil of each of first and second motor generators, and a switch making or breaking the connection between the neutral of the stator coil of first motor generator and a battery. When the first motor generator is not used but the second motor generator is used, a controller brings the switch into connection state in parallel with voltage conversion operation of a booster unit and controls the inverter to perform voltage conversion operation using the stator coil of first motor generator as a reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromichi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8063589
    Abstract: A drive system for multiple motors includes a first motor, a second motor, a motor drive power supply for supplying power to the first and second motors, a first motor drive amplifier, a second motor drive amplifier, a first overcurrent detection apparatus, and a second overcurrent detection apparatus. The first overcurrent detection apparatus is connected between the motor drive power supply and the first motor drive amplifier for detecting current through the first motor drive amplifier, and comparing the current value to the first overcurrent benchmark value to output an overcurrent detection signal correspondingly. The second overcurrent detection apparatus is connected between the motor drive power supply and the second motor drive amplifier for detecting current through the second motor drive amplifier, and comparing the current value to the second overcurrent benchmark value to output an overcurrent detection signal correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Jung Liu
  • Patent number: 8040081
    Abstract: If any short-circuit failure occurs in an inverter, then a motor generator is used to execute a safety driving. If the rotational speed of a motor generator calculated from a detection value of a position sensor exceeds a predetermined reference rotational speed during the safety driving, an MGECU turns on all of the switching elements connected in parallel to a switching element in which a short-circuit failure occurs with respect to a power supply line. If the rotational speed is equal to or less than the reference rotational speed, the MGECU turns on only the switching elements connected in series to the switching element in which the short-circuit failure occurs. In this way, any excessive currents can be prevented from occurring in the inverter without restricting the safety driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoko Shimana
  • Publication number: 20110018473
    Abstract: An HVAC/R system is configured with a variable frequency drive power supply which provides power to both a three-phase motor and to a single-phase motor. In some embodiments, the three-phase motor is a compressor motor and the single-phase motor is a condenser fan motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ROCKY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian, Kaveh Khalili, Warren Harhay
  • Publication number: 20110018472
    Abstract: An HVAC/R system is configured with a variable frequency drive power supply which provides power to each of a compressor, a condenser fan, and a blower. In some embodiments, the compressor has a three-phase motor and the condenser fan has a single-phase motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ROCKY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian, Kaveh Khalili, Warren Harhay
  • Patent number: 7863838
    Abstract: A power supply system is provided with a plurality of driving motors, a power converter, and a plurality of power supplies which supply the driving motors with power and have different output voltages. Each power supply is connected with at least one driving motor through the power converter and with at least one driving motor through a path which does not include the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Aso
  • Patent number: 7859200
    Abstract: For mutually cross-interlocked multiple asynchronous AC induction electrical machines of the present invention, wherein the applicable operating characteristic curves of the asynchronous AC induction electrical machines include the asynchronous AC induction electrical machine of various operating characteristics, wherein when they are provided for the individual operation in different loading conditions, it is characterized that the cross interlocked electrical machine can be used to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the individual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 7755306
    Abstract: A load on a vehicle is connected to first and second neutral points in first and second motor generators through a relay circuit and power output lines. A control device controls inverters depending on a requested voltage of the load on a vehicle such that a potential at the first neutral point becomes higher than a potential at the second neutral point by that requested voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Shoichi Sasaki, Makoto Nakamura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7637333
    Abstract: Hybrid drive for a motor vehicle with a drive train, comprising a combustion engine and a vehicle transmission with variable gear ratio and a first and second electrical machine which can be operated both as a motor and a generator, each of which comprises a stator and a rotor with the second electrical machine being in a permanent nonpositive connection with an input of the vehicle transmission, with a shiftable clutch each being arranged between the electrical machines and the drive shaft of the combustion engine, and with the electrical machines to be connected with each other and/or an electrical energy source via an electronic control circuit. The two electrical machines are to be arranged in a common housing, and one of the stators of the electrical machines together with the electronic control circuit and/or the other stator is accommodated on a common carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Gründl, Bernhard Hoffmann, Reinhard Rasch, Friedrich Mörtl, Hans Glonner, Georg Götz, Jörg Michael, Markus Kaindl
  • Patent number: 7602128
    Abstract: A motor controller for controlling an electric motor including a soft starter and a human-machine interface for control and configuration of the soft starter. The soft starter includes a visual display and a selector associated with the visual display. A method to configure a motor controller for controlling an electric motor, including a soft starter and a human-machine interface for control and configuration of the soft starter. A computer program and graphic user interface for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Sören Kling, Gunnar Johansson
  • Patent number: 7589487
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and simultaneously driver motors in response to the error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Moller, Philip K. Schneider, Dennis W. Berryman
  • Patent number: 7538501
    Abstract: A power system including at least two self-controlled synchronous machines operating in parallel synchronously, a central three-phase converter to which all these machines are connected in parallel, at least two rotor position sensors. The system also includes at least one control module that receives phase currents from each synchronous machine, signals output from position sensors, and a required reference torque value and that powers the three-phase central converter so as to slave the phase currents for each machine as a function of the required reference torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignees: Airbus France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Etienne Foch, Gaetan Bisson, Pascal Maussion, Maria Pietrzak-David, Maurice Fadel
  • Publication number: 20090129936
    Abstract: An electronic device having a first motor which rotates a rotating body (for example, blades) about a rotation axis and a second motor which vibrates a vibrator including the rotating body in the axial direction is provided. A control IC unit has a first circuit which subjects the rotation to control drive by a first waveform, and a second circuit which subjects the vibration to control drive by a second waveform. Rotation and vibration of a rotating and vibrating unit driven by the first and second motors generates an airflow and output sound by a synthesized output of a first output corresponding to the rotation and a second output corresponding to the vibration. The control IC unit generates a second waveform by using a reversed-phase waveform with respect to the first waveform or the like and suppresses the output sound by control of the first and second waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Nobuhiro YOKOYAMA, Takashi Chikusa, Masao Iwakura
  • Publication number: 20080129231
    Abstract: To provide an electric motor car drive control apparatus enabling, in a train drive system having permanent magnetic synchronous motors employed as drive motors, such a configuration that allows a similar control to a centralized control like the case of induction motors, allowing for a reduced cost and a minimized installation size of the system, a plurality of permanent magnetic synchronous motors 17 to 20 are provided as car drive motors, a plurality of VVVF inverters 9 to 12 are adapted to drive the plurality of permanent magnetic synchronous motors individually in a one-to-one corresponding manner, the plurality of VVVF inverters being grouped into a plurality of control units each respectively composed of two or more VVVF inverters, and a plurality of gate controllers 22 and 23 are provided one for each control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinichi TODA, Ikuo Yasuoka, Yosuke Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20080100237
    Abstract: A multi-powered electric motor system (21) is provided for a vehicle. The system includes first and second direct current motors (12, 14), each constructed and arranged to operate at a single speed. Current limiting structure (R1) is constructed and arranged to lower electrical input power to the motors so that a speed of the motors is reduced when the motors are powered together with the current limiting structure, as compared to a speed of the motors powered absent the current limiting structure. Switching structure (K1, K2, K3) is selectively operable to cause the motors to operate at various speeds resulting in three discrete power levels of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Simofi-Ilyes, Andrew Lakerdas, Mike Toner
  • Patent number: 7352141
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and control of one or more electric motors, including a motor controller, equipped with a soft starter. The soft starter includes memory for storing operations and event data, as well as a human-machine interface for making the event information available for display and/or analysis. A method to monitor and diagnose a condition of an electric motor controlled by a motor controller equipped with a soft starter including a human-machine interface. A computer program for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Sören Kling, Gunnar Johansson
  • Patent number: 7276865
    Abstract: A power output apparatus includes two motor generators, a DC power supply, a relay, three inverters and a control CPU. One of the motor generators includes three-phase coils. The DC power supply is connected via the relay between respective neutral points of the three-phase coils. When the sum of respective powers of the motor generators is zero, the control CPU generates a signal SE at L level for rendering the relay OFF to output the generated signal to the relay, and generates signals PWMC1, PWMC2 and PWMI3 for driving the other motor generator by electric power generated by the one motor generator to output the generated signals to the inverters respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoe Ochiai
  • Patent number: 7221115
    Abstract: A control for stopping the rotation of the output shafts of a plurality of multiplexed motors configured in columns and rows with the first connector of each motor in a given column connected in parallel and with the second connector of each motor of a given row of motors connected in parallel. Each motors includes a switch positioned to be actuated when the output shaft of the motor is in its home orientation. One contact of the switch is connected to a first contact of the motor and therefor receives power when the switch for the column is energized. The second connector of each switch in a given row are connected in parallel to a detector for detecting a change in electric potential. The detector will detect a change in potential when the rotating shaft of an energized motor rotates its output shaft to its home position thereby closing its associated switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventors: Jack Chen, Kenneth Such, Eric Gonzales, Jeremy Waldrop, Milan Sebek
  • Patent number: 7180261
    Abstract: A self-synchronous AC servo system is used for high-speed serial communication and has multiple axes control. The system includes a computer sending command to master axis drive and slave axis drive through a transmission line. The master axis drive and slave axis drive send interrupt request to the computer through the transmission line after receiving the command. Each drive will judge whether the command is for it self according to the interrupt request and stores a plurality of computer commands in queue. Each drive drives master axis motor or slave axis motor by the queued command synchronously according to a synchronous timing clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ching Hsiung Tsai
  • Patent number: 7164253
    Abstract: On end of a reactor (L1) is connected to a positive electrode of a battery (B1) and the other end is connected to a power line via a transistor (Q1) and to the ground via a transistor (Q2). By PWM control of the transistors (Q1, Q2), an arbitrary increased voltage is obtained in the power line. It is possible to obtain an optimal inverter input voltage (power line voltage) according to the motor drive state, thereby increasing efficiency. Thus, it is possible to optimize the inverter input voltage according to the motor drive condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Sumikazu Shamoto, Masayuki Komatsu, Ryoji Oki, Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7038421
    Abstract: A system for control of a plurality of motors comprising: an inverter including at least three legs, with each leg including two series switching devices configured to receive a command from a controller. The system also includes a first motor operably connected to an inverter at a common terminal of the switching devices for a first leg and at a common terminal of the switching devices for a second leg; a second motor is operably connected to the inverter at the common terminal of the switching devices for the second leg and at a common terminal of the switching devices for a third leg. The outer terminals of the switching devices for each of the first leg, second leg and third leg are operably connected to the voltage source. The controller executes a process for controlling the first motor and the second motor with an error arbiter function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy M. Trifilo
  • Patent number: 7026778
    Abstract: A data table stored in a numerical controller associates motors controlled by the numerical controller with information from sensors used by the motors. When the numerical controller is turned on, the contents of the data table are sent from the numerical control section to the motor control section. The motor control section controls each motor by using information from the sensors associated with the motor in the data table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fanuc LTD
    Inventors: Kazunari Aoyama, Kunitaka Komaki, Yasuharu Aizawa
  • Patent number: 7023169
    Abstract: A method for changing the speed of a motor group, in particular for starting or stopping it, the motor group comprising a plurality of squirrel-cage induction motors or synchronous motors and network converters arranged for their control, when the nominal supply power (Pns), the acceleration power (Pacct) at the final speed (Vmax) of the motors and the losses (Ploss) of the used power are known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Ilkka Erkkilä{umlaut over ( )} , Juhani Väänänen
  • Patent number: 6933698
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of driving a servo motor with a built-in drive circuit in which a common rectifying circuit is provided on a distribution board to which a plurality of the servo motors with built-in drive circuits are connected, to thereby achieve a reduction in size of each servo motor. In this method, there is used a common distribution board for distributing power to be supplied to a plurality of servo motors with built-in drive circuits and for distributing a communication line, an external communication signal and external input power are supplied through the distribution board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Tamagawa Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa Miura, Toshiyuki Noda