Braking Patents (Class 318/362)
  • Patent number: 8736208
    Abstract: When one of six FETs has short-circuit faulted, a controllable region identification unit stops driving of an electric motor, and then performs processes for determining whether a short-circuit fault has occurred, and when a short-circuit fault has occurred, for identifying the position of the FET that has short-circuit faulted based on phase voltages (induced voltages) VU, VV, and VW of phases. When the position of the FET that has short-circuit faulted is identified, the controllable region identification unit performs a controllable region identification process. In detail, the controllable region identification unit identifies a “possible region,” an “indeterminate region,” and a “impossible region” based on phase voltages VU, VV, and VW of the phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Okumura, Fumihiko Satou, Hiroshi Sumasu
  • Patent number: 8736202
    Abstract: In a drive control circuit of a linear vibration motor, the drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal whose phase is opposite to that of the drive signal generated during the motor running, after the running of the linear vibration motor has terminated; this drive signal of opposite phase includes a high impedance period during which the driver unit is controlled to a high impedance state. An induced voltage detector detects an induced voltage occurring in the coil. A comparator has a function as a hysteresis comparator in which the output level does not vary in a predetermined dead band, and the comparator outputs a high-level signal or a low-level signal during the high impedance period. When an in-phase signal is consecutively outputted from the comparator during the consecutive high-impedance periods, the drive signal generating unit determines that the linear vibration motor has come to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Tsutomu Murata
  • Patent number: 8736205
    Abstract: A switching device and method are disclosed for terminating a braking process of a three-phase AC motor. The braking process of the AC motor is performed by way of a first and second thyristor. During the braking process of the AC motor, in a first step the first thyristor is actuated in such a way that a braking current is fed to the AC motor, and therefore a torque which brakes the AC motor is produced. In a second step the second thyristor is actuated in such a way that, when the first thyristor is quenched, the braking current is taken on by the second thyristor and the braking torque is maintained. The two steps are repeated during the braking process; wherein the second step is suppressed during the braking process after a last actuation of the first thyristor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Hertz, Johann Seitz, Stefan Zitzler
  • Patent number: 8736204
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring power between an electricity network (UP) operating on alternating-current electricity and a multiphase electric machine (M2, M3), which apparatus comprises low-voltage power cells (CS, C11 . . . CN6) operating on a cascade principle, which power cells comprise a single-phase output connector (OUT), and at least one transformer (TA, T1 . . . TN), comprising for each power cell connected to it a single-phase or multiphase winding dedicated to the specific power cell, which transformer comprises at least one additional winding (WA, WB1 . . . WBN) connected to the same magnetic circuit as the other windings for the purpose of at least one auxiliary circuit, which can be connected to the aforementioned additional winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Vacon Oyj
    Inventors: Nicklas Södö, Risto Komulainen
  • Patent number: 8704466
    Abstract: The method is capable of equalizing time lengths of stopping a motor at load-holding stop positions of respective phases so as to average amounts of heat generation of phase coils. The method for drive-controlling electric machinery, in which a multiphase motor is used as a driving source of an assist mechanism, is performed by a control unit including a driving circuit for driving the multiphase motor. The method is characterized in that the control unit controls to stop a rotor at a load-holding stop position, at which rotation of the rotor is stopped in a state where a motor coil is energized and the rotor is in a load-holding state, and that the load-holding stop position is angularly shifted an electric angle of 180/n (n is number of phases and an integer two or more) degrees, in a prescribed rotational direction, with respect to a previous load-holding stop position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Shinano Kenshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuchika Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8704468
    Abstract: An electrodynamic braking device for a universal motor is proposed, wherein during a braking operation a field winding is supplied from a network, and an armature is directly short-circuited, and a braking operation is carried out using a program of a controller of a control electronics system, whereby good braking is achieved with relatively low brush wear. Such an electrodynamic braking device is advantageously applied in a power tool equipped with a dangerous tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Hermann Rottmerhusen
  • Patent number: 8692489
    Abstract: A control system for controlling an electrical device of a nacelle, the device having at least one element that is movable to a closed position and an open position. The control system includes at least one electromechanical member for actuating the movable element, a unit for electrically driving the electromechanical actuation member, and a controlling and monitoring unit for controlling the electrical drive unit so as to move the movable element to the closed and/or open position. The control system further includes a system for recovering braking power from the electrical drive unit during the movement of the movable element to the closed and/or open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventor: Hakim Maalioune
  • Patent number: 8664897
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes a rectifier which converts AC power to DC power and DC power to AC power, an inverter which converts the DC power output by the rectifier to AC power and supplies the AC power to a motor, and which converts regenerative power from the motor to DC power and returns the DC power to the rectifier, a DC voltage detection unit which detects a DC output voltage of the rectifier, an AC voltage detection unit which detects an AC output voltage of the rectifier, a frequency calculation unit which calculates the frequency of the AC voltage; a storage unit which stores as a reference value the DC voltage at the start of the regenerative operation, and a power failure detection unit which determines the presence or absence of a power failure by using the DC voltage, the reference value, and the AC voltage frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Masakazu Niwa
  • Patent number: 8604728
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a locomotive such that the braking effort is maintained at its optimal maximum level throughout the extended range. The method comprises detecting a first reduction in speed of the locomotive; energizing at least one solid state device connected across one or more grid resistors for a first predetermined amount of time to divert current away from the one or more grid resistors for the first predetermined amount of time; and de-energizing the solid state device after the first predetermined amount of time. The solid state device may be an Isolated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and a plurality of solid state devices are energized, each solid state device being connected across a corresponding resistor grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Trac Rail Inc.
    Inventors: Aldo Liberatore, Viktor Gvelesiani
  • Publication number: 20130307446
    Abstract: A braking apparatus for a three-phase brushless motor is provided in a motor-driven appliance, and includes a switching circuit having six switching elements and a brake control device. The brake control device executes two-phase short-circuit control in braking control in which a braking force is generated in the motor. In the two-phase short-circuit control, an on/off state of each of the switching elements is set in such a manner that two out of three conduction paths constituting one of a positive electrode side conduction path that connects three terminals of the motor and a positive electrode side of a direct current power source and a negative electrode side conduction path that connects the three terminals and a negative electrode side of the power source are in a conducting state and other of the three conduction paths is in a non-conducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Yoshitaka ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8587231
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a brushless DC motor housed inside the housing, a power supply, a control unit, and an input unit such as a trigger switch actuated by a user. The control unit controls the commutation of the motor through a series of power switches coupled to the power supply. The control unit initiates electronic braking of the motor after occurrence of a condition in the input unit, such as trigger release or reduced speed, indicative of the power tool shut-down. A mechanism is provided to power the control unit for a predetermined amount of time after the detection of the condition from the input unit in order to complete the electronic braking of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Pradeep M. Pant
  • Patent number: 8587230
    Abstract: A power tool includes a brushless DC motor housed inside a tool housing, an input unit, and a control unit. The motor includes a rotor, a stator, and at least one sensor positioned to sense a state of the rotational position of the rotor inside the stator. A control unit controls commutation of the motor through a series of power switches coupled to the power supply. The control unit receives a current sensor state from the sensor and a user-selected speed from the input unit and determines whether the motor has reversed direction using the user-selected speed and the current sensor state. The control unit disables commutation of the motor if the motor has reversed direction until a proper current sensor state is received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Pradeep M. Pant, James Goble
  • Patent number: 8531718
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a power source unit, motors supplied with and driven by electric power from the power source unit, and a control device for controlling the motors' operations. A CPU in the control device monitors presence/absence of power supply from the power source unit. When power is cut off during image forming, the CPU causes regenerative braking of the motors. The regenerated power is voltage-converted by a second DC-DC converter in the power source unit and supplied to the control device for continuously driving the CPU, which in turn backs up operating information. This eliminates inconsistency between the actual life status and the backed-up information when power is off, with no need of frequent backup during image forming. It is thus possible to provide the image forming device which can reliably manage operating information even if power supply to the motors is stopped during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunio Furukawa, Mikiyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 8508170
    Abstract: A driving device for a hatch in a vehicle, with a housing tube connected to a base part or to a movable structural component part, a protective tube connected to the movable structural component part or to the base part, a spindle drive having a threaded spindle and a spindle nut arranged on the threaded spindle by which the housing tube and the protective tube are movable axially relative to one another. A rotary drive drives the spindle drive in rotation includes at least one electric motor. The driving device has a safety circuit that causes a braking effect on the rotary drive when the rotary drive is deactivated and when extraneous forces are introduced into the driving device from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Marian Bochen
  • Patent number: 8487559
    Abstract: A diesel-electric drive system includes a generator having two multi-phase winding systems, a diesel engine, and a DC-link converter. Two self-commuted pulse power converters on the generator side are linked to the windings systems and to each other by a brake resistor on the alternating voltage side. The brake resistor is split into two series-connected resistors, each having half the resistance value of the brake resistor. An input of a bipolar switching device is connected to a connecting point of two series-connected resistors. The capacity of the diesel motor can then be checked in a self-load test with a controllable load torque of the diesel-electric drive system, while eliminating overloads of the power semiconductors of the self-commuted pulse power converters on the generator side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Holweck, Olaf Körner
  • Patent number: 8466641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for decelerating a drive movement of a power tool and to a power tool suitable for carrying out the method, having a drive driven by a motor, an energy supply device for the provision of electrical energy, a controller having a motor controller for activating the motor and an operating-state recognition module which is to detect at least one operating-state variable and, as a function of this, to output a brake signal, the controller being designed to initiate, as a function of the brake signal, a braking procedure in which brake cycles are provided which have a first time segment, in which the motor is short-circuited, and a second time segment in which current is fed to the motor opposite to its original direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kaufmann, Ulf Rinckleb
  • Patent number: 8466640
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for slowing-down control of an asynchronous machine, wherein the value of a start energy is determined and stored while the asynchronous machine is being run up from being stationary to the operating rotation speed. The asynchronous machine is braked, in the reversing mode, with braking energy which corresponds to the start energy multiplied by a correction factor wherein the correction factor assumes a value between 0 and 1. In at least one embodiment, the asynchronous machine is braked further by DC braking after braking has been carried out in the reversing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Hertz, Diethard Runggaldier, Stefan Zitzler
  • Patent number: 8456113
    Abstract: An electric switch for an electric tool with an electric motor. The switch has first electrical terminals for electrical connection to a voltage supply and second electrical terminals for electrical connection to the electric motor. The switch has an actuating mechanism which can be adjusted between an initial position and a final position, wherein the electric motor is switched off when the actuating mechanism is located in the initial position and is switched on when the actuating mechanism is not located in the initial position. The switch also has a braking circuit for braking the electric motor, the braking circuit operating when the actuating mechanism is reset to the initial position. The switch also has a reversal circuit for switching over the direction of rotation of the electric motor. The braking circuit is arranged between the second electrical terminals and the reversal circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Lexer, Jens Müller, Andreas Seidel, Norbert Papok, Michael Tröndle
  • Patent number: 8436558
    Abstract: An electrically driven mooring winch is provided. The mooring winch includes a winding drum, an AC motor configured to drive the winding drum, a frequency conversion unit connected to the AC motor, and a control unit configured to control the frequency conversion unit on the basis of an indicator for tension of the mooring rope. The control unit is configured to set a reference value of rotational speed of the AC motor to a predetermined value, drive the AC motor in one direction for a predetermined time interval, define a first value of a torque of the AC motor, drive the AC motor in an opposite direction for the predetermined interval, define a second value of the torque of the AC motor, and compute a torque estimate using the first and second values of the torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Mikael Holmberg, Vassili Jung
  • Patent number: 8421384
    Abstract: A direct current motor controlling apparatus may include a direct current motor driving unit to apply a driving voltage to a direct current motor and detect a predetermined signal from the direct current motor, and a servo-micom to control the status of the direct current motor using the signal detected by the direct current motor driving unit. Accordingly, the rotational status of the direct current motor is checked to control the direct current motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-chul Lee
  • Patent number: 8405328
    Abstract: There is provided a slewing control device that enables to detect breakdown of a driving system of a mechanical brake, and generate a torque for holding a slewing body in a stopped state to thereby prevent movement of the slewing body when an anomaly has occurred. In a working machine for driving a slewing body by an electric motor 1, judgment is made as to whether a mechanical brake 4 is in an inconsistent state, based on a command to be outputted to a brake circuit B, and a pressure detected by a brake pressure sensor 17. The inconsistent state is a state that the mechanical brake 4 is in a brake released state when an activation command for switching the mechanical brake 4 to a brake activated state is outputted. If it is judged that the mechanical brake 4 is in the inconsistent state, a command for obtaining a braking torque for holding the slewing body in a stopped state is outputted to the electric motor 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Komiyama, Natsuki Yumoto, Yoshiyasu Umezu, Masayuki Kogashima
  • Publication number: 20130069567
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement, especially for supplying an electromagnetic holding brake with a clocked supply voltage, includes a module for controlled provision of a clocked supply voltage for free-wheeling operation of the holding brake. The module has a switching unit for switching off the supply voltage for braking operation. A free-wheeling diode and a suppressor diode are connected in parallel to an inductance of the holding brake, with the free-wheeling diode being effective in free-wheeling operation only and the suppressor diode being effective in braking operation only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: BERNHARD HILD, CHRISTIAN MAUL, GÜNTER SCHWESIG, HANNO WALDERS
  • Patent number: 8395335
    Abstract: A drive system for an electric drive machine having an engine, a generator, a motor, final drive wheels and auxiliary devices is provided. The drive system may include an inverter circuit and an auxiliary driver. The inverter circuit may be coupled to each of the generator and the motor. The auxiliary driver may be coupled to each of the generator and the auxiliary devices. The inverter circuit and the auxiliary driver may be configured to automatically communicate power from the engine and any power from the auxiliary devices to the motor in a propel mode, and automatically communicate power from the motor to the engine, and optionally to a hybrid system if applicable, in a dynamic braking mode so as to minimize fuel consumption during the dynamic braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Marchand, Dustin Selvey
  • Patent number: 8390220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique improvement (23) in an electronic motor drive (20) having an LC filter (21) to reduce conducted emissions from a motor (M) back to a voltage source (V1). The improvement broadly includes diode (24) in series with the inductor (L1) of said filter to prevent transmission of regenerative power from the motor to said voltage source; and a bypass switch (25) arranged in parallel with the diode and selectively operable to enable transmission of regenerative power from the motor to said voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Underhill
  • Patent number: 8324846
    Abstract: A retarding system for an electric drive machine (100) includes a direct current (DC) link (312), at which a DC voltage is developed, disposed between a rectifier (206) and an inverter (208). A first contactor switch (216) electrically communicates with a first rail of the DC link (312), and a second contactor switch (216) electrically communicates with a second rail of the DC link (312). A first resistor grid (214) is connected in series between the first contactor switch (216) and the second contactor switch (216). The first resistor grid (214) dissipates electrical energy in the form of heat by conducting a current between the first rail and the second rail of the DC link (312) when the first contactor switch (216) and the second contactor switch (216) are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Marchand, Matthew E. Williams, Gerald Brown, John Gunzburger
  • Patent number: 8305017
    Abstract: In a motor control circuit which controls energization of a coil on the basis of a detection result of a rotor position, control is performed so that continuous rotation of the rotor by inertia is suppressed, rotation is stopped quickly, and reverse rotation of the rotor is prevented. When an external control signal CTL is changed from L to H, the normal rotation control is switched to reverse rotation control, and a reverse brake state is effected. When motor rotation speed is monitored and reduced to a set rotation speed, a brake control signal SPSB is changed from L to H, and a short brake state is effected. However, the motor continues to be rotated by its own inertia, and a position detection signal HALL is changed. Thus, reverse brake control is temporarily performed (only during a time period corresponding to a pulse width TRB). The short pulse reverse brake control is intermittently performed until the motor is completely stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei EMD Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8299735
    Abstract: A fan system including a motor with a coil, a storage unit, a driver, and a buffer circuit is provided. The coil module has a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal. The storage unit electrically couples with a voltage source, stores electrical energy when the voltage source is available, and releases the stored electrical energy to carry out a brake operation when the voltage source is unavailable. The driver electrically couples with the first and second connection terminals of the coil module to control a direction of an inductor current passing through the coil module. The buffer circuit electrically couples with the coil module. In the brake operation, the buffer circuit operates to form a transient potential between the first and second connection terminals of the coil module and to consume electrical energy of the inductor current, for gradually stopping the motor in a buffering time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, Tung-An Chen, Cheng-Nan Tsai, Kun-Tien Wu, Kuan-Yin Hou
  • Patent number: 8283880
    Abstract: A motor drive device including a converter for a power running operation and a power regenerative operation. The converter has power switching elements, a first power regenerative control unit for controlling the power switching elements in the power regenerative operation by using pulse width modulation signal whose pulse width changes with a value indicated by a command signal; a second power regenerative control unit for controlling the power switching elements in the power regenerative operation to generate respective power regenerative currents in a phase representing the maximum potential among three phases of a three-phase AC power supply and a phase representing the minimum potential among the three phases, and a power regenerative operation switching unit for switching a control of the power switching elements in the power regenerative operation between a control by the first power regenerative control unit and a control by the second power regenerative control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Shinichi Horikoshi, Takashi Harada, Shinichi Mizukami
  • Patent number: 8248005
    Abstract: A braking circuit is adapted to supply generatively produced energy of the motor as load resistance to a bipolar transistor. The braking circuit has a voltage regulator, which controls a voltage, applied to the base terminal of the bipolar transistor to achieve an associated controlled voltage based on a reference voltage. A first power supply connector of the electrical motor, in the generator mode of operation of the electrical motor, is coupled to a collector terminal of the bipolar transistor and to the voltage input of a voltage regulator. A second power supply connector of the electrical motor is coupled to an emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor and is coupled to a reference input of the voltage regulator via a resistive branch including at least one electrical resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Römer
  • Patent number: 8237384
    Abstract: Methods of dynamic braking include two embodiments with braking circuits for vehicles such as, for example, locomotives which are operable down to very low speeds. These circuits can provide a braking force even at zero locomotive speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Railpower, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Tarnow, Frank Wegner Donnelly, Ronald B. Bailey, Kris Redinger
  • Publication number: 20120181955
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring power between an electricity network (UP) operating on alternating-current electricity and a multiphase electric machine (M2, M3), which apparatus comprises low-voltage power cells (CS, C11 . . . CN6) operating on a cascade principle, which power cells comprise a single-phase output connector (OUT), and at least one transformer (TA, T1 . . . TN), comprising for each power cell connected to it a single-phase or multiphase winding dedicated to the specific power cell, which transformer comprises at least one additional winding (WA, WB1 . . . WBN) connected to the same magnetic circuit as the other windings for the purpose of at least one auxiliary circuit, which can be connected to the aforementioned additional winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Nicklas Södö, Risto Komulainen
  • Patent number: 8183802
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a composite electromechanical machine which can operate as a motor, a generator (including dynamo or alternator), or any combination thereof. In an aspect, the present composite electromechanical machine comprises at least a double-sided magnetic plane (e.g., rotor or stator) to form two rotor/stator pairs, together with a controller to configure the multiple rotor/stator pair. The controller can configure or convert the multiple rotor/stator pairs into motors, generators, or nonoperation, and also can change the windings characteristics of the magnetic planes. The controller can add new functionality and characteristics to the present composite electromechanical machine. Other embodiments can also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Eric Stephane Quere
  • Patent number: 8159169
    Abstract: In a parking brake control device, the minimum value of a motor current is set as an idle current after a motor begins to be driven, specifically, in a period during which the idle current is being sampled. As a result, the idle current is set to a value which reflects the temperature of an electric parking brake and the dispersion of individual units of the motor. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a parking brake control device, which can set a target current value capable of coping with the dispersion of the individual units of the motor by calculating the target current value by adding a target effective current necessary to generate an actuation force to the idle current set as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Kazuma Kondo, Masaki Ninoyu
  • Patent number: 8160743
    Abstract: An anthropomorphic medical robot arm includes a base end, a first arm element, a base joint coupling the base end to the first arm element, a second arm element, a middle joint coupling the second arm element to the first arm element, a distal functional end, a distal joint coupling the distal functional end to the second arm element, and at least one selectively operable movement inhibitor operable on the base joint, middle joint and/or distal joint so as to restrict the functionally possible range of movement of the robot arm to the range of movement of a human arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Rainer Birkenbach, Andreas Hartlep, Richard Wohlgemuth, Michael Bertram, Alin Albu-Schäffer, Markus Grebenstein, Ulrich Hagn, Klaus Jöhl, Mathias Nickl, Tobias Ortmaier, Franz Hacker, Rainer Konietschke, Stefan Jörg
  • Patent number: 8148925
    Abstract: This electric safety braking device for an electric traction vehicle may allow the force/speed characteristic of the vehicle to be improved and includes a rotating electromechanical machine with permanent magnets which has at least one coil with electric terminals, a rheostatic electric braking torque production device, and a commutation device which are capable of connecting the electric terminals of the electromechanical machine to the braking torque production device. The electric safety braking device includes at least one inductor is connected in series between the braking torque production device and the electromechanical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventors: Thierry Jobard, Eric Bonin
  • Patent number: 8134314
    Abstract: An electric powered vehicle according to the present invention comprises a battery, an electric power converting device, an electric motor, a drive wheel, a control part, an accelerator, a brake, and a rotation sensor. The control part detects the velocity using the rotation sensor. When a first velocity threshold is Vt1, and a second velocity threshold is Vt2, and when the thresholds are Vt1<Vt2, regenerative control is permitted in the case where a running velocity increases to or above the second velocity threshold, and the regenerative control is prohibited in the case where the running velocity falls below the first velocity threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomonori Kunimitsu
  • Patent number: 8102131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a yarn-tensioning device for producing a specific thread pull on a thread (5) that is unwound from a winding point (7) of a creel (2) and is guided to a warping machine arrangement (1). Said yarn-tensioning device comprises a rotating body (18) which is at least partially wound round by threads and an electric motor (19) which is connected to the rotation body. Said motor (19) is equipped with at least one brake transistor (20) for discharging excess energy produced when the generator of the motor is operated, said brake transistor being able to convert generator energy, arising when the generator is operated, into heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Benninger AG
    Inventors: Alfred Jakob, Andreas Kleiner
  • Patent number: 8093844
    Abstract: A motor control circuit that features a smart, two-phase braking operation is presented. The motor control circuit includes a motor drive circuit to apply a brake current to a coil of an external motor for active braking of the motor. The motor control circuit further includes a braking control circuit, coupled to the motor drive circuit and responsive to an externally generated control signal, to control the active braking by the motor drive circuit so that the active braking occurs in two phases. The two phases include a first phase that includes a first portion of the active braking and a second phase that includes back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage sensing and a second portion of the active braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro G. Milesi, Bruno L. Uberti
  • Patent number: 8084970
    Abstract: An electrical machine having a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a core and a plurality of windings disposed on the core in a multiple-phase arrangement. The rotor is disposed adjacent to the stator to interact with the stator. A method of operating the motor includes applying a pulsed voltage differential to first and second terminals of the windings resulting in movement of the rotor; monitoring the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the windings to sense rotor movement; after the applying and monitoring steps, monitoring the BEMF of the windings to determine whether the rotor is rotating in a desired direction, and electrically commutating the motor when the rotor is rotating in the desired direction and zero or more other conditions exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Regal Beloit EPC Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Steven Mullin, Brian Thomas Branecky
  • Patent number: 8076876
    Abstract: A servomotor system is provided. The servomotor system includes an enclosure and a motor stator and rotor disposed in the enclosure. The servomotor system also includes a motor brake disposed in the enclosure and configured to selectively brake the rotor from rotation and a brake control switch disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the motor brake for selectively providing power to the motor brake for selectively engaging and/or disengaging the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Lundell
  • Patent number: 8026680
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reduce the stopping time of a spindle motor are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a dissipation current flowing in a spinning motor; determining when the dissipation current drops below a threshold value; and, in response to the dissipation current dropping below the threshold value, applying a voltage to the motor to increase the dissipation current for a duration. In some examples, the voltage is removed from the motor when the motor reaches a predetermined rotational velocity to avoid reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Triet Tieu
  • Patent number: 8026681
    Abstract: A method and device for electrically braking an electric drive in a machine for processing printing material, includes a power electronics connected between the electric drive and a DC voltage intermediate circuit. A further electric braking device is switchable between the electric drive and the power electronics. Upon a failure of a power system, a computer initiates a generator-type braking operation through the power electronics. The further electric braking device is switched on upon the failure of the power electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Alexander, Jochen Bechtler, Wolfgang Dürr, Klaus Hartmann, Klaus-Dieter Kleibaumhüter, Helmut Meyer
  • Patent number: 7911164
    Abstract: A circuit installation that executes full voltage activation, division voltage operation, and delayed breaking brake to electric load by increasing the power to the load activated to promote its activation performance or reducing operation power in the course of operation by the load to save power consumption or limit operation performance of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 7898196
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus for driving and braking a motor equipped with a brake comprises a motor/brake driving DC power supply which is used both as a motor driving power supply and as a brake driving power supply, wherein when the motor/brake driving DC power supply is being used as the motor driving power supply, a voltage conversion circuit via which a voltage supplied from the motor/brake driving DC power supply is applied to the brake feedback-controls the voltage applied to the brake. This configuration serves to reduce the loss (due to temperature rise) in the brake coil of the motor being driven to move a robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Shinichi Horikoshi, Naoyuki Suzuki, Tsutomu Shikagawa
  • Patent number: 7839105
    Abstract: A circuit installation that executes full voltage activation, division voltage operation, and delayed breaking brake to electric load by increasing the power to the load activated to promote its activation performance or reducing operation power in the course of operation by the load to save power consumption or limit operation performance of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 7825619
    Abstract: A method for controlling stopping of a vibration generating stepping motor is a method for controlling the stopping of an vibration generating stepping motor by a control unit, characterized in that the method includes: stopping a supply of a driving pulse to the vibration generating stepping motor while applying a driving voltage to the vibration generating stepping motor; applying the driving voltage to the stepping motor, which does not completely stop, for an optimum braking time according to a motor configuration of the stepping motor, so as to brake the stepping motor; and stopping the applying of the driving voltage to the stepping motor which is rotating under inertia after the elapse of the optimum braking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Minebea Motor Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Matsubara, Kazuaki Sato, Mikio Umehara, Toshiaki Tsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7795825
    Abstract: A method of voltage supply management for an electric drive system includes receiving a voltage signal (1002) indicative of a voltage in a supply link, and one or more condition signals that are indicative of an operating condition of the electric drive system. A difference between a desired voltage value (1008), which is calculated based on the voltage signal (1002) and the one or more condition signals, and the voltage signal (1002) yields a voltage error signal (1014). The voltage error signal (1014) is evaluated to indicate an over-voltage condition or an under-voltage condition. Power is dissipated from the supply link when an over-voltage condition is present and a torque command limit with respect to the one or more electric drive motors (210) is imposed when an under-voltage condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Joshua Williams
  • Patent number: 7777444
    Abstract: In a travel-driving mechanism for a self-propelled working machine such as a self-propelled lawn mower travels by using power of an electric motor 30, the torque of a driving shaft 50, which is driven by the power of the electric motor 30 through a power transmission unit 40, is transmitted to travel-driving wheels 7 through two-way or bi-directional clutches 55 provided at both ends of the driving shaft 50. Power transmission units 61, 62 are provided between the bi-directional clutch 55 and the driving wheels 7. A travel control unit 70 is provided to input an instruction signal produced by the operation of a travel operation member 66, which is operated by the operator, and to control the electric motor 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7764029
    Abstract: An activation circuit and a method for operating an activation circuit for a DC motor having an electrically actuated stopping brake, in particular for adjusting a rotor blade of a wind or water power facility. The activation circuit includes an emergency operation supply unit and a three-phase bridge inverter. The emergency operation supply unit is connected so it is disconnectable via an emergency operation network switching element to the intermediate circuit of the three-phase bridge inverter, the DC motor is connected via an emergency operation motor changeover element either to the three-phase bridge inverter or to the emergency operation supply unit, and the stopping brake is connected via an emergency operation brake changeover element either to the three-phase bridge inverter or to the emergency operation supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Moog Unna GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Buente, Lars Kauke, Dirk Fedder
  • Patent number: 7733048
    Abstract: Method and arrangement in connection with a motor fed with a frequency converter provided with an intermediate voltage circuit. The method comprises steps of feeding motor voltage to the motor along a motor cable with a frequency converter for controlling the motor, rectifying the voltage of the motor cable and restricting the magnitude of the voltage of the motor cable at the end of the motor cable on the side of the motor with a clipper circuit coupled in parallel with the motor, using the rectified voltage for rotating one or more cooling fans of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Erkki Miettinen