Optical Sensor (e.g., Encoder, Photodetector, Etc.) Patents (Class 318/400.4)
  • Patent number: 7960932
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling an electrical door drive by means of which the door drive is switched off if the maximum torque is overshot and/or a defined nominal closing rate of the door is undershot as a result of the door drive being obstructed. In order to reliably prevent injuries and damage to people and objects in the event of a functional failure of the safety control system, and in order to nevertheless reliably block or reverse the door, it is proposed that pulse monitoring be carried out on the door drive, for redundant obstruction identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Ludwig, Guido Sonntag, Hans-Wilhelm Wilken
  • Patent number: 7944164
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining rotor position in a stationary rotor of a sensor-less permanent magnet synchronous machine that employs a rotating magnetic field to identify a magnetic axis of the stator without a magnetic direction and then determines magnetic direction by applying pulses along the magnet axis in two polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingbo Liu, Thomas Nondahl, Peter Schmidt, Semyon Royak, Mark Harbaugh
  • Patent number: 7915844
    Abstract: This invention provides a motor driving apparatus that made it possible to reduce torque ripples including those attributed to load variation of the motor and an associated method for control of motor revolution. An output stage to a multiphase DC motor is comprised of power elements to supply output voltages to multiphase coils and a predriver to supply drive voltages to the power elements. A resistor means detects a current flowing through the power elements. A supply current detector detects a voltage signal produced across the resistor means as a supply current, using a high-speed ADC and a moving average filter. An output controller generates a PWM signal with a frequency lower than the frequency of the high-speed ADC so that the current detected by the supply current detector conforms to a current signal indicating a motor revolving speed and transfers the PWM signal to the output stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Kurosawa, Yasuhiko Kokami
  • Patent number: 7884580
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a constant-power brushless DC motor and a generator using the same, and in particular, to a constant-power brushless DC motor and a generator using the same, which stably generates power upon load fluctuation. Since the stator is wound in parallel by phases and poles, the motor is realized to generate high power with low voltage and since the stator's winding is performed without interconnection, automatic production is realized to reduce costs and enable mass production. Accordingly, a generator constituted by using the above-described motor supplies high efficient power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Oak-Jae Lee
  • Publication number: 20110001443
    Abstract: A system is used to measure a fan rotational speed. The system includes a main controller, a first socket coupled to the linear fan, a second socket connected to the main controller, and an optical fiber amplifier connected to the main controller. A PWM (pulse width module) fan is coupled to the second socket, the PWM fan sends a first rotational speed signal, which represent a rotation speed of the PWM fan, to the main controller via the second socket. The optical fiber amplifier is capable of radiating light on fan blades of the linear fan, and sensing light reflected by the fan blades to count a rotational speed of the linear fan, and generating a second rotational speed signal which represents a rotational speed of the linear fan. The optical fiber amplifier sends the second rotational speed signal to the main controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO.,LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: LING-YU XIE, KUN-LUNG WU, SHENG-CHUNG HUANG, SAN-YONG YANG, XIN-PING ZHANG, JING LIU
  • Publication number: 20100315028
    Abstract: A motor having an alternating current electrical source, a light power circuitry, a stationary transcutaneous energy transmission coil spaced from a rotatable transcutaneous energy transmission coil, a plurality of phototransistor arrays positioned on a rotatable platform and each phototransistor array corresponds to and rotates in conjunction with an armature winding used in the motor. Each phototransistor array (i) receives an alternating current from the rotatable transcutaneous energy transmission coil, and (ii) charges (a) each armature winding to a constant high voltage when the motor is operating and (b) each phototransistor/MOSFET power source to a desired power level. When the light from the light power circuitry contacts a phototransmitter, the phototransistor array is turned on so the armature winding associated with that phototransmitter generates an instantaneous maximum magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: RONALD MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Ronald
  • Publication number: 20100083462
    Abstract: Embodiments of a switched reluctance (SR) motor for use in a integrated vacuum system for a vehicle are disclosed. The SR motor may receive input voltage directly from an electrical storage device used to start up an engine of the vehicle. The SR motor may include an encoder that triggers an optical sensor to provide signals to a motor controller. The motor controller may energize stator poles based on the received signals. The encoder may be mechanically phase-advanced with respect to poles of the rotor to ensure proper start-up of the SR motor. Commutations of the motor may occur before a point of maximum inductance where the rotor and stator are aligned. In a preferred embodiment, the input voltage received by the SR motor is in a range of 9-16 Volts DC, a maximum drawn current is 36 amps, and the phase advance is between 9-11 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil N. Norell, Matthew L. Huff, James M. Robitaille
  • Publication number: 20100052451
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a constant-power brushless DC motor and a generator using the same, and in particular, to a constant-power brushless DC motor and a generator using the same, which stably generates power upon load fluctuation. Since the stator is wound in parallel by phases and poles, the motor is realized to generate high power with low voltage and since the stator's winding is performed without interconnection, automatic production is realized to reduce costs and enable mass production. Accordingly, a generator constituted by using the above-described motor supplies high efficient power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Oak-Jae Lee
  • Publication number: 20100007303
    Abstract: A torquer apparatus generally comprises a reaction-gyro sphere consisting of a concentric assembly of a substantially spherical rotor and a substantially spherical stator. This is implemented in the present invention as a rotor with magnetic poles such that, when radially projected on a concentric octahedron, the same symmetrical pattern is obtained on all faces of said octahedron, the polarity of the poles projected on two adjacent faces of said octahedron being opposite and a stator with at least twenty poles magnetized with coils and such that, when radially projected on a concentric icosahedron, the same symmetrical pattern is obtained on all faces of said icosahedron, said stator being-in nominal position-concentric with said rotor. Real-time measurements, or equivalent information, of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator are obtained together with exported torque from the stator, or the orientation of the rotor with respect to the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: Olivier Chételat
  • Publication number: 20090295317
    Abstract: Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W/cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Barrett Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Townsend, Adam Crowell, Gill Pratt, Traveler Hauptman
  • Publication number: 20090289584
    Abstract: Featured is a controller for a motor that is ultra-compact, with a power density of at least about 20 watts per cubic cm (W/cm3). The controller utilizes a common ground for power circuitry, which energizes the windings of the motor, and the signal circuitry, which controls this energization responsive to signals from one or more sensors. Also, the ground is held at a stable potential without galvanic isolation. The circuits, their components and connectors are sized and located to minimize their inductance and heat is dissipated by conduction to the controller's exterior such as by a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material (e.g., potable epoxy). The controller uses a single current sensor for plural windings and preferably a single heat sensor within the controller. The body of the controller can also function as the sole plug connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Barrett Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Townsend, Adam Crowell, Gill Pratt, Traveler Hauptman
  • Publication number: 20090267548
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switched reluctance motor and a connection method for a sensor shutter thereof. The switched reluctance motor in accordance with the present invention includes a stator; a rotor rotating with respect to the stator centering around a rotational shaft; and a sensor shutter having a sensing part through which a light can be passed and connected to an end portion of the rotational shaft, and a stopping ring is connected to the end portion of the rotational shaft so as to prevent the sensor shutter from being separated. Accordingly, the sensor shutter can be quickly and easily connected and the length of the rotational shaft can be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Myung-Keun Yoo, Jun-Young Lim
  • Patent number: 7586284
    Abstract: A synchronization control system includes plural controlling object apparatuses connected through first and second wired OR lines. Each controlling object apparatus includes a function of switching an output to the first wired OR line from a first state to a second state in an odd numberth synchronization waiting state and switching an output to the second wired OR line from the first state to the second state in an even numberth synchronization waiting state. A control apparatus determines an odd numberth synchronization in response to changing of the first wired OR line from the first state to the second state when all the controlling object apparatuses enter the odd numberth synchronization waiting state, and determines an even numberth synchronization in response to changing of the second wired OR line from the first state to the second state when all the controlling object apparatuses enter the even numberth synchronization waiting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tadashi Akita
  • Patent number: 7586276
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically commutated motor (10) and to a method of controlling an electronically commutated motor (10). In order to reduce commutation noise, it is proposed to influence the working range of the power-stage transistors (20, 22) with the aid of a component (48), in such a way that each transistors produces, during energization of each respective stator winding, a substantially constant current through the stator winding (12, 14). Preferably, each power-stage transistor operates within a pinch-off range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Konstantin Dornhof
  • Publication number: 20090072776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid motor, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid motor, which uses a permanent magnet instead of a field coil for a rotor, winds a coil round a stator in a multi-phase independent parallel manner, fixes a rectifying type encoder to the rotor and connects a sensor to a driving circuit to smoothly start and rotate the hybrid motor, simplifies the configuration of the hybrid motor and reduce the manufacturing cost of the hybrid motor The apparatus for controlling a hybrid motor having a multi-phase independent parallel stator coil comprises: an encoder attached to a rotor of the hybrid motor and operated in cooperation with a sensor in order to sense the pole of the rotor; the sensor for outputting a sensor signal indicating the polo of the rotor, sensed by the encoder; a speed input unit for generating a speed instruction signal for driving the motor; a power switching circuit for generating signal
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: ENI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-Ryul Shin, Pyeong-Hun Cho
  • Patent number: 7417392
    Abstract: An improved electronic line shaft provides for a predictor sending predicted position and/or velocity values to servant drives that may be later strobed in by high speed low-latency strobe signals to eliminate network jitter and delay. The predictor may be implemented as a phase lock loop, providing filtering of a master encoder signal together with flexible electronic gear ratio adjustments and other desired control refinements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Wirtz, Thomas J. Rehm
  • Patent number: 7411124
    Abstract: A self-calibrating key sensor system is constituted by an optical modulator, optical position transducers, a data accumulator and a data analyzer, and the optical modulator has a gray scale section to produce a key position signal varied together with the keystroke and an absolute data section to produce a calibration signal representative of a strictly adjusted distance between transparent areas of the absolute data section; the data accumulator accumulates discrete values of the calibration signal and discrete values of the key position signal together with the sampling time, and the data analyzer determines the gradient of the key position signal on the basis of peaks of the calibration signal produced at both ends of the strictly adjusted distance so as to estimate the true distance between the rest and end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Muramatsu