Brushless Motor Open-loop Control Patents (Class 318/400.42)
  • Patent number: 11863101
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes: an inverter unit generating a three-phase alternating-current voltage from a direct-current voltage in accordance with a drive signal based on a voltage command and outputting the three-phase alternating-current voltage to a permanent-magnet motor, the permanent-magnet motor including a permanent magnet; a current detection unit detecting a motor current flowing through the permanent-magnet motor; and a control unit generating the voltage command to control an operation of the inverter unit and estimating a temperature of the permanent magnet to perform a protection operation on the inverter unit on the basis of the motor current and an overcurrent protection threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11763844
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a lead actuator that actuates a first read-write head over a first disk and a support actuator that actuates a second read-write head over a second disk. A spindle motor rotates the first and second disks. In response to an emergency power off (EPO) event, a processing device retracts and parks the actuators using an internal supply voltage generated from a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage of the spindle motor, and brakes the spindle motor. The spindle motor is not braked until both the lead and support actuators have been retracted and parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Jaesoo Byoun, Gaku Ikedo, Hideaki Ito, Naoyuki Kagami, Hiroki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11622500
    Abstract: A power tool includes a motor and a power supply for supplying power to the motor. A driving circuit is connected to the motor. A voltage detection unit is used for detecting the voltage of the motor. A controller is configured to perform the following operations: if the motor voltage is greater than or equal to a preset voltage, the driving circuit will apply a voltage to the motor with a second slope, wherein the value range of the second slope is from 0 to 0.3. The disclosure also discloses a control method for starting under load of a power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Xian, Jifeng Feng
  • Patent number: 11587777
    Abstract: An analysis device includes an electron emission element, a collector, an electric field former, a power source, and a controller. The electron emission element includes a bottom electrode, a surface electrode, and an intermediate layer arranged between the bottom electrode and the surface electrode. The power source and the controller allow application of a voltage between the bottom electrode and the surface electrode. The electric field former forms an electric field in an ion movement region where anions directly or indirectly generated by electrons emitted from the electron emission element move toward the collector. The collector and the controller allow measurement of a current waveform of an electric current made to flow by arrival of anions at the collector. The controller regulates, based on the current waveform, a voltage applied between the bottom electrode and the surface electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masamitsu Moritani, Katsuhiko Kyuhken, Shohei Komaru, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Satoshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11536484
    Abstract: An ECM including a motor body and a motor controller. The motor body includes a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator winding. The motor controller includes a control circuit board, and the control circuit board includes a power source, a microprocessor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) inverter circuit, and a plurality of universal interface modules. The motor controller is configured to be connected to a main control board of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, to receive a command from the HVAC system, and to control the operation of the motor body based on the command. The power source is configured to supply power to each electric circuit of the motor controller. The IGBT inverter circuit includes an output terminal; the stator winding includes a coil winding; and the output terminal is connected to the coil winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenqing Bian, Juezhi Xue
  • Patent number: 11463031
    Abstract: A closed-loop stepper motor control system, drive device and automation device, wherein the system comprises a microprocessor (1) compatible with EtherCAT communication protocol functions, an external interface circuit (2) connected to the said microprocessor (1) and communication interface unit (3); the said microprocessor (1) is also connected to a drive circuit (4), current testing circuit (5), as well as an encoder feedback circuit (6); the said communication interface unit (3) is mutually connected to the said microprocessor (1) through the physical layer communication circuit (31); the said microprocessor (1) is also mutually connected to the power supply circuit (7) that provides stable power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Weiping Li, Jianhua Lin, Zhouyong Zhu, Tiansheng Tian, Weili He
  • Patent number: 11387751
    Abstract: A device for speed-dependent braking torque control for electrical machines excited by permanent magnets includes a switching device deliberately short-circuits the electrical machine. The switching device is controlled as a function of an induced voltage generated by the electrical machine. If the induced voltage falls below a defined value, the switching device reverses the short-circuited state of the electrical machine to cause the braking torque to reduce to zero and the speed to increase again. The speed can thus be controlled within a range by alternately opening and closing the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Schaller
  • Patent number: 11342861
    Abstract: A method and line interface filter apparatus to couple a drive or group of drives to a shared multiphase AC bus, including individual phase circuits having an inductor coupled between a respective bus and drive phase lines, a resistor coupled to the respective drive phase line, and a capacitor coupled between the resistor and a common connection of the capacitors of the individual phase circuits, where the capacitance of the capacitors is 5 to 15 times a per-phase equivalent capacitance of the drive or group of drives, and the resistance of the resistors is two times a damping ratio times a square root of a ratio of the filter inductance to the filter capacitance, where the damping ratio is greater than or equal to 1.0 and less than or equal to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun Liu, Gary L. Skibinski
  • Patent number: 11239786
    Abstract: Provided is a motor control device that includes a controller outputting a PWM control signal for controlling a multiphase electric motor, a driving signal generator generating a switching element driving signal for driving the multiphase electric motor according to the PWM control signal output from the controller, and a bridge circuit configured of a plurality of semiconductor switching elements switching a current flowing through the multiphase electric motor according to the switching element driving signal generated by the driving signal generator. The controller is provided on a first board. The driving signal generator and the bridge circuit are provided on a second board and are connected by wiring provided on the second board. The first board and the second board are connected by a predetermined inter-board connecting line. The controller outputs the PWM control signal to the driving signal generator through the predetermined inter-board connecting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC MOBILITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromi Murata, Jiro Matsukawa, Tomoya Yamanaka, Masamitsu Hamasaki, Naoyuki Ito, Keita Gunji
  • Patent number: 9800183
    Abstract: An inverter electrically operatively connected to an electric machine and in communication with a controller is described. The inverter is electrically connected to a high-voltage DC power bus. A method for controlling the multi-phase inverter circuit includes monitoring, via the controller, a rotational speed of the electric machine during operation of the inverter in an over-modulation mode. The inverter is commanded to operate in a linear modulation mode when the rotational speed is within a speed range associated with objectionable audible noise generated by operating the electric machine in the over-modulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jianglin Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Chia-Chou Yeh
  • Patent number: 9473013
    Abstract: A method for controlling a modular converter with a plurality of converter modules includes: selecting possible future switching sequences of the converter based on an actual converter switching state; predicting a future current trajectory for each switching sequence based on actual internal currents and on actual internal voltages; and determining candidate sequences from the switching sequences, wherein a candidate sequence is a switching sequence with a current trajectory that respects predefined bounds with respect to a reference current or, when a predefined bound is violated, moves the current closer to such a predefined bound. The method includes predicting future module voltages for each candidate sequence; evaluating a cost function for each candidate sequence; and selecting the next converter switching state as a first converter switching state of a candidate sequence with minimal costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Baljit Singh Riar, Tobias Geyer
  • Patent number: 9419551
    Abstract: A driver circuit for driving an electrical motor coil is provided which comprises combined switched inductance boost voltage converter circuitry and switched inductance buck voltage converter circuitry. An input node of the driver circuit is provided to be coupled with the electrical motor coil, which provides the inductive element of both the boost and buck circuitry. Further the boost and buck circuitry share a storage capacitor, which provides the capacitive element of each circuitry, and a voltage developed across the storage capacitor by the boost circuitry forms an input of the switched inductance buck voltage converter circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: David Pietromonaco
  • Patent number: 8901867
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electrical machine. The electrical machine includes a stator having a core and a plurality of windings, and a rotor disposed adjacent to the stator to interact with the stator. The method includes detecting a movement of the rotor, generating a three phase alternating current (AC) voltage signal by all phases of the electrical machine, monitoring for a transfer speed of the electrical machine, discontinuing the three phase AC voltage signal when the transfer speed is traversed, and switching to a back electromotive force (BEMF) control mode after discontinuing the three phase AC voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Mullin
  • Publication number: 20140340015
    Abstract: The present invention provides a brushless motor in which the voltage utilization ratio can be increased and the torque and output of the motor can thereby be increased, and also provides a drive method for a brushless motor. The brushless motor includes an armature constituted by an armature core having armature windings of a plurality of phases, and a field pole constituted by a field pole core having a plurality of permanent magnets. A voltage, in which at least a 5th order harmonic component is superimposed on a 1st order fundamental wave of a voltage under predetermined phase difference condition and amplitude condition in order to increase a 1st order fundamental wave peak of the applied voltage over an applied voltage peak, is applied to the armature windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Hirotani, Ryuichi Takiguchi, Yuji Takizawa, Tetsuya Kojima, Masatsugu Nakano, Satoru Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20140312820
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a differencing comparator. The differencing comparator receives a differential input signal. The differencing comparator compares the differential input signal to a threshold value. The differencing comparator includes a transconductance circuit coupled to receive the differential input signal and to provide a differential output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Axel Thomsen, Kenneth W. Fernald, Pavel Konecny
  • Publication number: 20140265972
    Abstract: A load commutated inverter (LCI) drive system for a synchronous electrical machine is provided. The system may include a first supply bridge and a second supply bridge, each of which may include an alternating current to direct current (AC-to-DC) source side converter, a DC link circuit, and a DC-to-AC load side inverter. The system may include a controller for selectively controlling at least one of the first supply bridge and the second supply bridge by selective firings of SCRs. The electrical power outputted from the first supply bridge and the second supply bridge may be combined by an output delta-wye electric power transformer and supplied to the electrical machine. The LCI drive system may further include one or more input electric power transformers configured to supply an input electric power to the first supply bridge and the second supply bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Chunchun Xu, Allen Michael Ritter, Cyrus David Harbourt, Luis Jose Garces, Cheng Luo
  • Publication number: 20140265973
    Abstract: A system and method for determining rotor shaft position of high voltage permanent magnet AC synchronous machines using auxiliary windings utilizes a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor including a stator having a main set of coils and an auxiliary set of coils. A drive controller including a digital signal processor in communication with the motor utilizes a current and voltage measurements from the main and auxiliary coils to determine the position of the rotor shaft in a sensorless mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SKY WINDPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick J. McCleer, Richard K. Mains
  • Patent number: 8829746
    Abstract: Each of a first and a second inverter circuit supplies a driving current to an electric motor in a different power supply line. A custom IC has a first pre-driver circuit for outputting control signals to the first inverter circuit and a second pre-driver circuit for outputting control signals to the second inverter circuit. A micro-computer for outputting operation signals to the first and second pre-driver circuits is mounted to a control board on a center line. A distance between the center line and the first inverter circuit and a distance between the center line and the second inverter circuit is equal to each other. First and second output terminals of the micro-computer as well as first and second input and output terminals of the custom IC are symmetric with respect to the center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8823311
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of controlling a step motor system includes operating the step motor system in a normal mode. In the normal mode, the step motor is advanced upon receipt of a step pulse. If a failure event is detected, the step motor is operated in a failure mode. In the failure mode, a failure counter is incremented upon receipt of the step pulse, and the step motor is not advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Martin Barth
  • Publication number: 20140239865
    Abstract: A brushless motor device controlled by a carrier of DC positive and negative power wires comprises a controller. The controller outputs a positive DC wire for outputting a positive DC voltage and a negative DC wire for outputting a negative DC voltage. The positive and negative DC voltages include a carrier signal. The controller is connected to a driver which is applied to receive the carrier signal and control a rotating mode of a brushless DC motor according to the carrier signal. Therefore, the carrier signal allows the driver and the controller to be connected by the positive and negative DC wires and attains the object of transmitting the signal, thereby reducing the material of the signal wire and the manufacture cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Mei-Chun LIU, Hui-Yen Chu
  • Patent number: 8810170
    Abstract: A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Brattoli, Guy Bonner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8786222
    Abstract: An open-loop or closed-loop control method for a converter which supplies an electric motor, wherein a current space vector is acquired as motor current, and the motor voltage, in particular a voltage space vector, is set, an induced voltage space vector UI is determined, which is forwarded to an integration element, a flux space vector being generated, whose angular position is perpendicular to the voltage space vector, the amount of the flux space vector corresponding to a predefined nominal value, the difference of the integration result and the flux space vector thus produced being used as feedback in the integration element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Wolf, Wolfgang Hammel
  • Publication number: 20140176033
    Abstract: There is provided a driving circuit including: a signal delay unit including a first delay unit delaying a high level input signal in a case in which an input signal has a high level, and a second delay unit delaying a low level input signal when the input signal has a low level; a signal output unit including first and second transistors connected to the first and second delay units and performing a switching operation under the control of the first and second delay units, respectively; and an output holding unit maintaining an output voltage at a level equal to that immediately before the first and second transistors are turned off, when the first and second transistors are simultaneously turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Jae HEO, Sung Man PANG
  • Publication number: 20140152200
    Abstract: A portable service controller for controlling an electro-mechanical actuator, the portable service controller includes a battery configured to power the portable service controller and a user interface configured to receive input from a user and to responsively generate an input signal. The portable service controller also includes a phase sequencer configured to convert the input signal into a series of timed output signals and a driver circuit configured to convert the series of timed output signals into inverter gating signals. The portable service controller further includes a three-phase brushless motor inverter configured to convert inverter gating signals into control signals for a brushless motor of the electro-mechanical actuator. The portable service controller contains a motor brake on/off circuitry for engaging and disengaging the electro-mechanical actuator motor brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Harald Klode, Albert K. Pant
  • Publication number: 20140117905
    Abstract: A method arranged to control a motor for driving a load is disclosed. The motor and load form at least a part of a system and the motor comprises a stator arranged to produce a varying magnetic field responsive to an applied AC voltage and a rotor arranged to rotate responsive to the varying magnetic field produced by the stator, the rotor rotating at a speed synchronised to a frequency of the applied AC voltage. The method comprises receiving a target rotor speed, determining a voltage level for the applied AC voltage for producing a magnetic field having magnetic flux of sufficient magnitude to maintain the rotor in synchronisation with the frequency of the applied AC voltage when rotating at the target speed of rotation. The voltage level is determined in accordance with the target rotor speed and a model of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Control Techniques Limited
    Inventor: Simon David Hart
  • Patent number: 8692494
    Abstract: A driving circuit for a single-phase-brushless motor includes a driving-signal-generating circuit to generate a driving signal for supplying, to a driving coil of the single-phase-brushless motor, first- and second-driving currents alternately with a de-energized period therebetween, an output circuit, and a zero-cross-detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Tsutomu Murata
  • Publication number: 20140084821
    Abstract: An observer (404), operating during a time when open loop control (402) is being used to drive a synchronous motor (401), the output of the observer (404) being a signal, E_I_angle, related to the angle between a rotational EMF vector and the current excitation vector, the observer (404) determining the angle by an iterative calculation incorporating a summation term, the summation term summing the variation of the quadrature component of a rotational EMF vector relative to an estimated EMF position vector, and using the angle output of the observer to update the estimate of the rotational EMF position vector. In a further aspect of the invention the observer output signal, E_I_angle, can be used to determine the transition to closed loop control (405), when the observer output signal reaches a value indicating conditions close to pull out conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: TECHNELEC LTD
    Inventors: Charles Pollock, Helen Pollock
  • Publication number: 20140084830
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electrical machine (1) controlled by an inverter (2), wherein the inverter (2) comprises half-bridge branches (10-U, 10-V, 10-W) having power components in the form of controllable power switching elements (3) and power diodes (4) respectively connected in parallel therewith, wherein each of the half-bridge branches (10-U; 10-V; 10-W) is arranged on a separate semiconductor module (11-U; 11-V; 11-W), which are arranged jointly on a baseplate (12), wherein the phase currents (1_U, 1_V, 1_W) flowing through the half-bridge branches (10-U, 10-V, 10-W), the voltages present at the power components and temperatures (t_Sens_U, t Sens_V, t_Sens_W) on the semiconductor modules (11-U, 11-V, 11-W) are determined, from the current (1_U; 1_V; 1_W) respectively flowing at a power component and from the voltage respectively present a power loss (P) is calculated for each of the power components, from the power losses (P) a relevant temperature swing (?t; ?t_Sens) is determ
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Djonga, Stefan Gaab, Tobias Werner, Michele Hirsch, Michael Heeb, Markus Kretschmer, Torsten Heidrich
  • Publication number: 20140062367
    Abstract: A detection control system includes a sensing unit, a control module and a driving module for a motor including a rotor and a stator. The sensing unit electrically connects the motor to sense a first and a second magnetic pole of the rotor cross a chip disposed between the rotor and the stator; a third magnetic pole is alternated to a forth magnetic pole of the stator to generate a sensing signal. A detection unit of the control module detects a kickback voltage value generated by a first current value changing to a second current value to calculate a minimum current value to generate a detecting signal. A timing unit receives the sensing and the detecting signal to calculate a first and a second period of time, and a discharging time. The driving module drives the rotor by receiving a control signal the control unit generates by controlling an alternating time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FEELING TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: SHENG-HSIANG YEN, HSUAN-CHUAN CHEN
  • Patent number: 8648559
    Abstract: The system comprises a first motor for applying rotational energy to a respective first wheel of the vehicle. A second motor is arranged for applying rotational energy to a respective second wheel of the vehicle. A first inverter is coupled to the first motor, where the first inverter is capable of receiving direct current electrical energy from the direct current bus. The first inverter is configured to provide a first group of alternating currents with a corresponding reference phase. A second inverter is coupled to the second motor. The second inverter is capable of receiving direct current electrical energy from the direct current bus. The second inverter is configured to provide a second group of alternating currents with a phase shift with respect to the reference phase, such that the phase shift is effective to reduce the direct current ripple on the direct current bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Brij N. Singh
  • Publication number: 20140028231
    Abstract: When electric power supply is started, an initial driving operation is performed to switch over a power supply phase of a motor in open-loop control. Initial learning processing is performed to learn a phase deviation correction value for the power supply phase relative to a count value of a pulse signal of an encoder. As a restraint caused by a shape of a detent mechanism, the motor need be rotationally driven so that a detent lever does not move in a negative direction beyond a bottom position of a P-range in the initial driving operation. In a case of performing the initial learning processing in the P-range in consideration of this restraint, the initial learning processing is performed by setting a rotation direction of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro YOSHIDA, Jun YAMADA, Masaaki SHINOJIMA
  • Patent number: 8629643
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a stepping motor arranged in a conveying path for a paper; a driver for driving the stepping motor; a current detecting unit for detecting an actual current value; and a control unit for providing a set current value for every predetermined cycle. The control unit determines an estimated load torque value corresponding to the set current value in a previous cycle and the actual current value in a present cycle, by referring to a relationship between actual current and load torque of the stepping motor with respect to the set current value, determines a target load torque value based on the estimated load torque value, and determines, as the set current value, a current value corresponding to the target load torque value, by referring to a relationship between maximum output torque of the stepping motor and current supplied to the stepping motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuta Tachibana, Tomonobu Tamura, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Norihiko Nakano
  • Publication number: 20130264985
    Abstract: Circuits arranged to produce first and second outputs produced by first and second switch-mode converters, respectively, wherein each switch-mode converter comprises a converter input, a converter output, a converter controller, a converter controller enable input arranged to provide power to the controller, and a semiconductor power switching device coupled between the converter input and the converter controller. A first output of the first converter and a second output of the second converter are each arranged to produce a voltage of higher magnitude than the voltage at the respective converter controller enable input and converter input when the converter controller is enabled. Methods of controlling first and second outputs from first and second switch-mode converters are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Control Techniques Limited
    Inventors: Colin Hargis, Richard Mark Wain
  • Patent number: 8471508
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a phase sensing circuit, current sensing circuit, phase lock loop, controller and driving circuit. The phase sensing circuit detects a phase switching state of a magnetic pole of a motor circuit, then generates and outputs a phase switching signal to the phase lock loop during motor operation. The current sensing circuit detects current flowing through a coil of the motor to generate and output a current phase signal to the phase lock loop. The phase lock loop compares a phase difference between the phase switching signal and the current phase signal to generate and output a phase-switch controlling signal to the controller. The controller generates and outputs a driving signal to the driving circuit in accordance with the phase-switch controlling signal. The driving circuit controls the phase switching state of the magnetic pole to drive the motor in accordance with the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Sheng Lin, Zong-Hong Tang, Wen-Chuan Ma
  • Publication number: 20130147410
    Abstract: A synchronous permanent magnet motor is controlled independently of position sensing means by determining the system parameters including the motor impedance and back-emf and the cable impedance and supplying power according to a predefined voltage:frequency ratio which is determined based on said system parameters to provide a desired rate of acceleration determined by the supply voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: ARTIFICIAL LIFT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Philip Head, Hassan Mansir
  • Patent number: 8456119
    Abstract: A driving device of a brushless DC motor for a fan includes a protection circuit, a storage circuit, a control circuit and a bridge circuit. The protection circuit is electrically connected with an auxiliary power. The storage circuit electrically connected with the protection circuit receives the auxiliary power. The control circuit is electrically connected with the protection circuit and the storage circuit. The bridge circuit electrically connected with the control circuit has a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit and a fourth switching unit. The first and second switching units are coupled with one end of a motor coil. The third switching unit and the fourth switching unit are coupled with the other end of the motor coil. The first switching unit is electrically connected with the third switching unit, and the second switching unit is electrically connected with the fourth switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Hung Wu, Tsung-Jung Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20130127386
    Abstract: The invention provides a control unit for at least one electric motor, wherein the control unit performs open-loop or closed-loop control of the motor speed of the electric motor in such a way that in the case of control values in specific ranges which are typical of a fault when the setpoint value is being predefined, such a fault being, for example, a line break, a voltage failure or a short circuit, the control unit drives the motor with a predefined setpoint value which differs from the current control value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andras Lelkes
  • Publication number: 20130119908
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic control unit for electric power steering, including: a first board which is mounted with first surface-mount components; and only one second board which is mounted with second surface-mount components having larger allowable current capacities than the first surface-mount components, which have approximately the same components mounting area as the first board, and which is layered with the first board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA ELESYS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130088180
    Abstract: A vehicular outside-mirror control method may improve durability of a motor by appropriately controlling the motor according to a condition of peripheral temperature so as to prevent the motor implementing a folding function of the outside mirror from being damaged and improve assembling workability and save costs of a vehicle by reducing the number of wires connected with the door while performing various functions to be implemented by the outside mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corp., Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun Sub Kim, Jun Mo Ku
  • Publication number: 20130002180
    Abstract: A driving circuit for a single-phase-brushless motor includes a driving-signal-generating circuit to generate a driving signal for supplying, to a driving coil of the single-phase-brushless motor, first- and second-driving currents alternately with a de-energized period therebetween, an output circuit, and a zero-cross-detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Tsutomu Murata
  • Publication number: 20120309241
    Abstract: An underwater propulsion device includes a number of modules allowing it to be used in a range of configurations including a tow/pull type scooter 300, a thigh strap configuration 700, a calf strap configuration 1100, a push configuration 1200, a tank mount configuration 1300. The device may include an underwater changeable battery canister 1600, a hand controller 216 that senses movement about the radius bone to generate direction and speed control signals and/or a front mounted headlight 224.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: OPCON PTE LTD
    Inventor: Chee Hui Yeo
  • Publication number: 20120262101
    Abstract: A controller for varying the voltage provided to an electronically commutated motor includes a circuit configured to generate both a pulse voltage direct current output and a continuous direct current output. The circuit is configured to run the electronically commutated motor at an average speed that is below its minimum rated speed using the pulse voltage direct current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: George Rudich, Timothy J. Riesch, Terry Heckenbach
  • Publication number: 20120256576
    Abstract: The invention provides a control unit for at least one electric motor, wherein the control unit performs open-loop or closed-loop control of the motor speed of the electric motor in such a way that in the case of control values in specific ranges which are typical of a fault when the setpoint value is being predefined, such a fault being, for example, a line break, a voltage failure or a short circuit, the control unit drives the motor with a predefined setpoint value which differs from the current control value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andras Lelkes
  • Publication number: 20120235617
    Abstract: The system comprises a first motor for applying rotational energy to a respective first wheel of the vehicle. A second motor is arranged for applying rotational energy to a respective second wheel of the vehicle. A first inverter is coupled to the first motor, where the first inverter is capable of receiving direct current electrical energy from the direct current bus. The first inverter is configured to provide a first group of alternating currents with a corresponding reference phase. A second inverter is coupled to the second motor. The second inverter is capable of receiving direct current electrical energy from the direct current bus. The second inverter is configured to provide a second group of alternating currents with a phase shift with respect to the reference phase, such that the phase shift is effective to reduce the direct current ripple on the direct current bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Brij N. Singh
  • Patent number: 8258731
    Abstract: A motor starting apparatus includes a driving signal generating unit that generates an open-loop driving signal and a drive circuit that is connected to a motor. The driving signal generating unit includes a data storing unit that stores therein predetermined data, a velocity integrating unit that integrates velocity data, a phase adjusting signal generating unit that generates a phase adjusting signal, a three-phase driving signal generating unit that generates a three-phase applied voltage, and a drive circuit driving unit that generates a driving signal of the motor. The three-phase driving signal generating unit performs open-loop driving by outputting the three-phase applied voltage based on the phase adjusting signal to the drive circuit driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20120206078
    Abstract: In a method of controlling speed of a brushless, direct current (BLDC) motor based on dwell, an indication of a desired speed of the BLDC motor is received. A dwell is determined based on a magnitude of a voltage corresponding to the indication of the desired speed. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulse having a pulse length corresponding to the determined dwell is applied to a stator of the BLDC motor to adjust a rotational speed of a rotor of the BLDC motor to the desired speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil N. Norell, James M. Robitaillc, Matthew L. Huff
  • Patent number: 8190276
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that controls a temperature variation in a computer system. First, a performance parameter of the computer system is monitored. Next, a future temperature of the computer system is predicted based on the performance parameter. Then, a pitch of one or more blades in a cooling device in the computer system is adjusted based on the future temperature to control the temperature variation in the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Lewis, Kenny C. Gross, David K. McElfresh
  • Patent number: 8154238
    Abstract: A filter representing a complex impedance of a motor system based on a deviation between a first voltage driven by a command signal and a second voltage driven by the command signal can be dynamically adjusted. The motor system can be held in a steady state, eliminating back electromotive force, by providing zero mean current excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael Leis
  • Publication number: 20120068650
    Abstract: A driving device of a brushless DC motor for a fan includes a protection circuit, a storage circuit, a control circuit and a bridge circuit. The protection circuit is electrically connected with an auxiliary power. The storage circuit electrically connected with the protection circuit receives the auxiliary power. The control circuit is electrically connected with the protection circuit and the storage circuit. The bridge circuit electrically connected with the control circuit has a first switching unit, a second switching unit, a third switching unit and a fourth switching unit. The first and second switching units are coupled with one end of a motor coil. The third switching unit and the fourth switching unit are coupled with the other end of the motor coil. The first switching unit is electrically connected with the third switching unit, and the second switching unit is electrically connected with the fourth switching unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Yen-Hung WU, Tsung-Jung Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110316465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for charging accumulation means via an external electrical network via at least a first (A) and a second (B) switching arm respectively comprising two switches (12), said method comprising a step for controlling the switches (12) of the switching arms (A, B) by transmission of pulse width modulation control signals, characterized in that the switches (12) of the second switching arm (B) are controlled by adapting the pulse width of the control signals so as to generate an alternating voltage (Vx) in phase opposition relative to the voltage at the terminals of a compensation inductance (7?) connected on the one hand to the second arm (B) and on the other hand to the neutral (N) of said network, so that the voltage (VN) between the neutral (N) of said network and ground is a direct voltage. The invention also relates to a charging device for implementing such a charging method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Boris Bouchez, Luis de Sousa