Initial, "cracking" Or "starting From Rest" Torque Control Patents (Class 318/431)
  • Patent number: 11955154
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a sense amplifier, a switch and a temperature compensation circuit. The temperature compensation circuit provides a control signal having a positive temperature coefficient, based on which the switch provides reference impedance for temperature compensation. The sense amplifier includes a first input end coupled to a target bit and a second input end coupled to the switch. The sense amplifier outputs a sense amplifier signal based on the reference impedance and the impedance of the target bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-Tung Huang, Jen-Yu Wang, Po-Chun Yang, Yi-Ting Wu, Yung-Ching Hsieh, Jian-Jhong Chen, Chia-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 11927103
    Abstract: A method of mitigating thermal rotor bow in a rotor assembly of a turbine engine may include performing a plurality of motoring cycles. The plurality of motoring cycles may include receiving feedback on a temperature within a turbine engine in a post-shutdown state, actuating a starter motor when the temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold, operating the starter motor for a motoring time to exhaust some residual heat from the turbine engine, and shutting down the starter motor after the motoring time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Charles Hon, Amid Ansari, Michael Scott McCambridge, Thomas Earl Gillingham
  • Patent number: 11874310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a motor coupled to an electrical appliance are disclosed herein. The electrical appliance can include a motor assembly comprising at least one electric motor and a filter network including an electrical resistance component and an electrical capacitance component. The electrical appliance can also include a controller electrically coupled to the motor assembly and the filter network, the controller comprising one or more processors and a memory comprising instructions for performing a process. The process can include providing an input signal to the filter network and receiving an output signal from the filter network, the output signal being filtered by the filter network. The process can also include identifying a filter characteristic of the filter network based on the output signal and identifying a type of the electric motor based on the identified filter characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Victoria Steele, Steven Keith Root, Mark Thomas Fryman
  • Patent number: 11799404
    Abstract: A motor controller circuit having a rotational speed locking mechanism is provided. Each time when a motor commutates, a first signal generating circuit resets a first waveform signal and a second signal generating circuit resets a second waveform signal. An output signal generating circuit outputs a waveform output signal according to the first waveform signal and the second waveform signal. A motor controller circuit outputs an on-time signal according to the waveform output signal. A motor driving circuit outputs a driving signal to the motor to drive the motor to rotate according to the on-time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ming-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 11746895
    Abstract: A shift range device switches a shift position. The shift range device includes a motor and an energizing unit. The motor functions as a power source for switching the shift position. The energizing unit energizes the motor. The shift range device monitors an abnormal state in which a magnetic field that causes a rotation of a rotor of the motor not to start or a holding magnetic field that stops the rotation generated in the rotor is incapable to be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11569763
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying and responding to a condition in which an electric motor fails to start. A rotor core includes slots in which magnets are received to produce an electrical reluctance. A motor controller determines a position of the rotor, uses the determined position to convert a torque demand to a demanded D-axis current value, and compares the demanded value to a supplied D-axis current value. If the demanded value differs from the supplied value by at least a pre-established threshold amount, then the motor is restarted. Otherwise, the difference between the torque demand and an actual current is used to drive a voltage applied to the motor. The controller may also implement a sensorless technology, and may restart the motor if the demanded value differs from the supplied value by at least the threshold amount even if the sensorless technology determines that the motor started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Bret S. Clark, Christopher D. Schock, Prakash B. Shahi
  • Patent number: 11545919
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a driving circuit of a fan motor to shorten a start time. The driving circuit drives the fan motor with a sensor. A control logic circuit controls an inverter circuit connected to the fan motor according to a Hall signal that indicates a position of a rotor of the fan motor. When the driving circuit is given an instruction to start a rotation, if the fan motor rotates at a speed lower than a predetermined rotational speed, the drive circuit starts the fan motor by sequentially switching between a second state in which the rotor is fixed at an initial position, a third state in which the fan motor is forcibly and synchronously started, and a fourth state in which the fan motor is Hall-driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuho Ono, Tsubasa Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11522483
    Abstract: A haptic system includes a haptic engine in which a reluctance motor is driven by a driver controller operated in conjunction with an impedance-estimator that uses amplitude-modulated calibration signals. An enveloped-calibration signal is superimposed on a haptic-drive signal to quickly, and accurately, estimate the driving coil's impedance, while minimizing power penalty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Denis G. Chen, Juil Lee, Hari Vasudevan, Riccardo Tarelli, Darya Amin-Shahidi
  • Patent number: 11469701
    Abstract: A control system includes a motor controller coupled to a brushless direct current motor. The motor controller determines a first start time and a first duration for a first pulse and a second start time and a second duration for a second pulse relative to a commutation cycle of the motor. The motor controller energizes a winding of the motor with the first pulse and the second pulse within the commutation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ebm-papst Inc.
    Inventor: Hogan Eng
  • Patent number: 11034231
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, at least two electric motors, at least four wheels, a first axle and at least a second axle. Two of the wheels are associated with each axle. The internal combustion engine is provided for driving the wheels of the first axle, and the two electric motors are provided for driving respective wheels of the second axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Joachim Froeschl
  • Patent number: 10972034
    Abstract: In a method and a compensation arrangement for compensating detent torques of identically constructed synchronous motors, a no-load detent torque and a bad detent torque are measured on a reference motor as a function of a rotor position relative to a stator. A differential detent torque for the reference motor is determined by subtracting the measured no-load detent torque from each measured bad detent torque, and an operating-point-dependent spectral component of the differential detent torque is determined, A model function modeling the spectral component as a function of the operating point is then formed, and a first compensation current, which generates a compensation torque that compensates a detent torque at the instantaneous operating point with a value of the model function, is superimposed for each of the identically constructed synchronous motors on a setpoint current when operating at an instantaneous operating point in a predetermined first operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Stefan Künzel
  • Patent number: 10530283
    Abstract: A motor controller capable of more reliably starting a stepping motor even if a predetermined drive power is supplied to the stepping motor, and to a control method for the stepping motor is provided. The motor controller driving a stepping motor detects that the stepping motor is in a step-out state after a start operation of the stepping motor is performed. If predetermined determination conditions are satisfied, when it is detected that the stepping motor is in a step-out state, it is determined that a restart operation of the stepping motor is performed, and the stepping motor is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Ayaka Shimada, Takayuki Matsui, Kazuo Takada, Haruka Miyaji, Hideo Sano
  • Patent number: 10160348
    Abstract: A starting control device is provided for an electrically driven vehicle having an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as drive sources and a transmission shifts and transmits an output of the electric motor to a drive wheel. The starting control device is configured to suppress an abrupt increase in the rotation of the electric motor at the time of an EV start of the vehicle from a released state of a starting dog clutch. In the electrically driven vehicle, an EV start is carried out by transmitting the output of the first motor/generator (MG1) to the drive wheel via a starting dog clutch that is meshingly engaged. The output of the first motor/generator is limited until the starting dog clutch comes into a meshed state in which the transmission transmits drive power at the time of start from a released state of the starting dog clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tsukizaki, Masato Koga, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Ryohey Toyota
  • Patent number: 9998044
    Abstract: A field oriented control (FOC) system and method provides smooth field-oriented startup for three-phase sensorless permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) despite the absence of load information. The system uses the rotor flux projection on the d- or q-axis to determine whether the stator flux current reference being applied during reference startup phase is sufficient to spin the PMSM, thereby providing smooth operation during the reference startup phase and saving energy relative to applying rated current. The system also determines a suitable initial value for the stator torque current reference to use at the start of closed-loop sensorless FOC control mode based on an angle difference between the reference and estimated angles. Since this angle difference is reflective of the load on the PMSM, the selected initial value allows the system to achieve a smooth transition from reference startup mode to closed-loop sensorless FOC control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LINESTREAM TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Gang Tian
  • Patent number: 9510719
    Abstract: Vacuum cleaners and methods of controlling a motor driven by a battery source in a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner has a motor, a battery source for providing power to the motor, a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage over the motor, and a current measuring unit for measuring a current flowing through the motor. Further, the vacuum cleaner comprises a control unit for controlling, based on the measured voltage and/or the measured current, the power provided to the motor from the battery source to attain a target motor power value during a specified time period running from start-up of the motor, and to gradually decrease the power provided to the motor after the time period ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Ulrik Danestad, Bo Pilsmo
  • Patent number: 9035591
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control method of an electronic parking brake system, which variably controls the duty of voltage applied to a motor upon release of the electronic parking brake system. The control method includes controlling voltage applied to a motor to a first duty ratio upon release of the electronic parking brake system, controlling the voltage applied to the motor to a second duty ratio greater than the first duty ratio if locking of the motor occurs and the motor is not operated, and controlling the voltage applied to the motor to the first duty ratio if locking of the motor is released and the motor begins to operate, after the control of voltage to the second duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Gyung Hun Sim
  • Patent number: 9013133
    Abstract: A method of detecting a stall condition in a stepper motor with very little movement of an instrument pointer coupled to the stepper motor. The stepper motor rotates the instrument pointer in a first direction towards a pointer stop by a plurality of micro-steps. The stepper motor then rotates the pointer in the first direction at least one additional micro-step while monitoring a back electro-motive force (EMF) produced by the stepper motor. If the instrument pointer is abutting the pointer stop, then the stepper motor will be compressed slightly. If the back EMF is below a predetermined threshold, then the stepper motor is in a stall condition. The instrument pointer can then be micro-stepped in a second direction opposite the first direction to a micro-rotor offset value (?ROV) position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Paul Russ
  • Patent number: 8907607
    Abstract: A soft start circuit for a forward/reverse rotation fan includes a forward/reverse switch unit, a soft start activation unit, a soft start control unit, a Hall IC and a driver IC, wherein the soft start activation unit comprises a first signal transmission loop and a second signal transmission loop. The soft start circuit activates the soft start control unit via a first instantaneous signal outputted by the first signal transmission loop or a second instantaneous signal outputted by the second signal transmission loop to make the soft start control unit output a control signal to a speed control terminal. When the rotating direction of fan is switched from one direction into another, the fan starts rotation in a soft start mode owing to high level of the control signal transmitted from the soft start control unit to the speed control terminal during initial rotation of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: ADDA Corp.
    Inventor: Ching-Cheng Ma
  • Patent number: 8860347
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing current drain and current spike impact on a dispenser electric motor by employing a series of supercapacitors in a power supply current to provide at least a portion of the energy requirement of the dispenser electric motor upon initial energization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Dispensing Dynamics International
    Inventors: Joel P. Keily, Lockland Corley, Richard Lalau
  • Patent number: 8836267
    Abstract: A torque detection device includes: a torsion bar that couples a first shaft to a second shaft; a magnet that is fixed to the first shaft; and a pair of magnetic yokes that are fixed to the second shaft and that are arranged to face each other in an axial direction. Each of the magnetic yokes includes a yoke ring and a plurality of lugs that are arranged in a circumferential direction on the corresponding yoke ring. Each yoke ring includes an extending portion that extends radially outward from base portions of the lugs, and a bent portion that is bent in the axial direction from a radially outer end portion of the extending portion. The outer size of the pair of magnetic yokes in the axial direction is larger than or equal to the length of the magnet in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Kaname Aoki
  • Patent number: 8796975
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is disclosed herein and includes a control unit, a soft-start unit and an output unit. When power-up or lock release situation, an external PWM driving signal is inputted to the soft-start unit, the soft-start unit generates an internal PWM driving signal and a power-up initial signal; after the power-up initial signal is generated, the control unit transmitting a motor rotation signal to the soft-start unit; when the soft-start unit counts a plurality of the motor rotation signal, the soft-start unit selects the external PWM driving signal or the internal PWM driving signal to output to the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Amtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teng-Hui Lee, Kuo-Yung Yu, Chen-Pin Lo
  • Patent number: 8729840
    Abstract: When a forced commutation mode ends, a switchover to a sensorless control mode is made. The sensorless control mode immediately after the switchover to the sensorless control mode is executed with a power source current maximum value set at a value higher than a rated current value of a motor. The sensorless control mode immediately after the switchover is executed only over a predetermined period of time, and, after a lapse of the predetermined period of time, a steady sensorless control mode is executed. In the steady sensorless control mode, the power source current maximum value is set at a value equal to the rated current value of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Miura
  • Patent number: 8716972
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a power converter, a speed controller, and a stop position controller. The power converter outputs a current to drive a motor based on a torque command. The speed controller generates the torque command based on an error between a speed command of the motor and a speed of the motor. The stop position controller calculates an acceleration command to output a predetermined torque after detection of a reference position per revolution of a position detector for a first time during speed control of the motor, generates a torque feed-forward command based on the acceleration command, generates a position command based on the acceleration command, and generates the speed command based on an error between the position command and the motor position to execute position control of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Seitaro Ohta, Jun Hagihara, Takeshi Arimatsu
  • Patent number: 8704469
    Abstract: A periodic disturbance observer determines real part I^An and imaginary part I^Bn of an estimated current including a periodic disturbance, from value of identification identifying a system transfer function of an nth order torque ripple frequency component from a command torque to a detected torque value, with a one-dimensional complex vector having a real part P^An and an imaginary part P^Bn, a cosine coefficient TAn, a sine coefficient TBn, and the real part P^An and imaginary part P^Bn of the system transfer function; subtracts command compensating current IAn* and IBn* obtained through pulsation extracting filter GF, respectively, from the real part I^An and imaginary part I^Bn of the estimated current, and thereby determines estimated periodic disturbance current real part dI^An and imaginary part dI^Bn to cancel the periodic disturbance current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventor: Yugo Tadano
  • Patent number: 8674633
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the starting time of a vehicle mounted thermal engine coupled mechanically to a polyphase rotary electrical machine with an inductor. The electrical machine includes phase windings and sensors for the position of a rotor, and is connected to an on-board electrical network. The method uses pre-fluxing by establishing an excitation current in the inductor for a predetermined pre-fluxing time, before establishment of phase currents. These phase currents are controlled by signals phase-shifted by an angle which varies according to a speed of rotation of the electrical machine, relative to synchronization signals produced by the sensors. During the starting time, the angle of phase-shifting is additionally dependent on a voltage of the on-board electrical network, in a range contained between a first and second voltages, with the second voltage being higher than the first. In the method, the starting time is independent from the voltage of the on-board electrical network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Oussama Rouis
  • Publication number: 20140070748
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a control unit, which makes it possible to reliably detect in an electric vehicle whether or not an electric machine is in a blocked state. For this purpose, a current rotational speed of the electric machine (1) is monitored using a control unit (7). If a non-rotating state is detected, the electric machine (1) is actuated specifically for increasing a in torque. The current rotational speed is further monitored, in particular for an increase of the current rotational speed of the electric machine, at least a short-term one, for tensioning a drive train (3) against a wheel (5) blocked due to external influences, for example. If this is not the case, it is assumed that the electric machine (1) is blocked, and a corresponding blocking signal is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Joerg Spranger, Johannes Heusser, Julian Doerreich, Stefan Mangold, Martin Wirth
  • Patent number: 8541968
    Abstract: A method for reducing cogging torque effects of an electrical permanent magnet machine includes running an “a” test and a “b” test with different cogging compensation signals. A first value is calculated by multiplying a complex cogging amplitude of the compensation signal applied for the “a” test with a complex amplitude of a vibration signal resulting from cogging torque of the “b” test. A second value is calculated by multiplying a complex cogging amplitude of the compensation signal applied for the “b” test with a complex amplitude of the vibration signal resulting from cogging torque of the “a” test. A desired complex cogging compensation amplitude is calculated by dividing the difference between the first and second values by a difference between the complex amplitudes of the vibration signals resulting from the “b” test and the “a” test. A cogging compensation torque is applied to the machine based on the desired complex cogging compensation amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Norway AS
    Inventor: Åge Kyllingstad
  • Patent number: 8432113
    Abstract: A brushless fan motor control circuit assembly consists of a high-frequency filter circuit, a rectifier circuit, a power factor enhancing circuit, a current-limit and voltage regulation circuit and a brushless fan motor driving circuit. By means of the high-frequency filter circuit to suppress high frequency noises, the power factor enhancing circuit to enhance the power factor and to save power consumption, the current-limit and voltage regulation circuit to limit the current and to achieve overload protection, the brushless fan motor control circuit assembly controls the operation of a motor of an electric accurately and safely, avoiding fan vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Hsien-Meng Lee
  • Publication number: 20130069576
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is disclosed herein and includes a control unit, a soft-start unit and an output unit. When power-up or lock release situation, an external PWM driving signal is inputted to the soft-start unit, the soft-start unit generates an internal PWM driving signal and a power-up initial signal; after the power-up initial signal is generated, the control unit transmitting a motor rotation signal to the soft-start unit; when the soft-start unit counts a plurality of the motor rotation signal, the soft-start unit selects the external PWM driving signal or the internal PWM driving signal to output to the output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Teng-Hui LEE, Kuo-Yung YU, Chen-Pin LO
  • Patent number: 8401770
    Abstract: A method to permit a start time of a heat engine of a vehicle to be controlled. The heat engine is mechanically coupled to a polyphase rotary electrical machine connected to an on-board electrical network. The method is of the type consisting of carrying out pre-fluxing by establishing an excitation current in the inductor for a predetermined pre-fluxing time (Tpref) before the phase currents are established. In accordance with the method, the predetermined pre-fluxing time (Tpref) is a function of the voltage (Vbat+X) of the on-board electrical network. Typically, the predetermined pre-fluxing time (Tpref) is increased when the voltage (Vbat+X) of the on-board electrical network reduces within a nominal voltage range (V 1, V2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Oussama Rouis
  • Patent number: 8368332
    Abstract: A motor-driving circuit includes: a plurality of output transistors; a first-comparator circuit to compare a voltage of each phase of driving coils of a plurality of phases in a motor, with a neutral-point voltage; a position-detecting circuit to detect a rotor position of the motor based on a comparison result of the first-comparator circuit; a switching-control circuit to supply switching signals to the plurality of output transistors according to the rotor position; and a current-limiting circuit to limit the driving currents to a first-current value so that the motor rotates at a target-rotation speed when the current-limiting circuit determines that the motor is rotating at a speed higher than or equal to a predetermined-reference-rotation speed, and limit the driving currents to a second-current value smaller than the first-current value when the current-limiting circuit determines that the motor is not rotating at the speed higher than or equal to the predetermined-reference-rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: ON Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Imai, Hiroyuki Kikukawa
  • Patent number: 8350506
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to start a frequency converter equipped with a direct current intermediate circuit, particularly when a permanent magnet motor whose rotor is rotating at the start-up time is connected to it, wherein the frequency converter has a network bridge (10) and load bridge (11), and the load bridge has controllable power semiconductor switches of the upper and lower branch (V1-V6) and parallel connected zero diodes (D1-D6), and a direct current intermediate circuit between them, and the said frequency converter uses a current transducer placed in the direct current intermediate circuit, and the analogue current signal composed by it features samples of the measured output currents, and the diverter switches of the frequency converter's upper branch are controlled using the bootstrap method, wherein start-up is initiated by controlling the controllable power semiconductor switch of the lower branch of at least one output phase to a conductive state for one or several periods of time, preferably of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Vacon Oyj
    Inventors: Andreas Doktar, Stefan Strandberg, Jaakko Ollila
  • Publication number: 20130002181
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control method of an electronic parking brake system, which variably controls the duty of voltage applied to a motor upon release of the electronic parking brake system. The control method includes controlling voltage applied to a motor to a first duty ratio upon release of the electronic parking brake system, controlling the voltage applied to the motor to a second duty ratio greater than the first duty ratio if locking of the motor occurs and the motor is not operated, and controlling the voltage applied to the motor to the first duty ratio if locking of the motor is released and the motor begins to operate, after the control of voltage to the second duty ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Gyung Hun SIM
  • Patent number: 8102138
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a steering column having inserted therein a steering shaft to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box coupled to the steering shaft, and an electric motor that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. The electric motor and its control unit including a control board mounted with a control circuit, are provided side by side in the reduction gear box. A connection terminal of the electric motor is electrically connected to the control unit directly. This minimizes a connection distance between the control unit and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sekine, Atsushi Ooshima, Tetsuya Kodama, Seiichi Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Shimizu, Naoki Hyoudou, Shigeru Endo, Atsushi Horikoshi, Keiji Kashimoto, Tamotsu Oumi, Hideaki Kawada, Shigeo Shinohara, Takeshi Senba, Mitsuo Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20120001002
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a machine that blends liquids and/or shaves ice. The machine includes a motor and a control system with an integrated power factor correction circuit and a drive circuit. The integrated power factor correction circuit receives input power from a mains power line, reduces noise transmitted to the mains power line, and provides a boosted, regulated output voltage. The drive circuit is connected to the motor and uses the regulated output voltage in order to control an effective voltage applied to the motor substantially independent of the voltage and frequency of the input power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Scott B. Donaldson, Ronald Flanary
  • Patent number: 8054030
    Abstract: Permanent magnet alternating current (PMAC) motor systems and methods for starting or restarting PMAC motor system sensorless control algorithms are provided. One system includes a PMAC motor including a rotor, an inverter, and a controller. The controller includes control logic, start/restart logic, drive logic, current detect logic, and estimation logic configured to estimate a position of the rotor, a speed of the PMAC motor, or both based on current detected in each phase of the inverter. A start/restart method includes determining to start/restart the sensorless control algorithm and modifying the inverter voltage in response to the determined start/restart. The method also includes detecting current in each inverter phase after the inverter voltage is modified and estimating a rotor position, a PMAC motor speed, or both based on the current detected in each inverter phase after the inverter voltage is modified. Another controller includes means for performing the above start/restart method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yo Chan Son, Seok-Joo Jang, Rostam Dehmoobed Nasrabadi
  • Patent number: 8049446
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a dq-axis current control unit for generating a dq-axis voltage reference based on a dq-axis current reference and a dq-axis current signal, an initial magnetic pole position estimation unit for estimating a magnetic pole position of the motor upon power-on to generate a magnetic pole position signal, and a magnetic pole position estimation precision confirming unit for supplying a current in a d-axis direction after generation of the magnetic pole position signal with the initial magnetic pole position estimation unit, and checking an error of the magnetic pole position signal based on an angle of movement of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Junichi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110227521
    Abstract: A fan starting method including following steps is provided. A fan module including a control unit and a fan is provided, wherein the control unit and the fan are electrically connected with each other. An electric power is supplied to the fan module, wherein the electric power drives the fan to rotate at a full speed. Whether the fan rotates is determined by the control unit within a predetermined time. If the fan rotates, the fan is controlled to rotate at a predetermined load speed after the predetermined time. If the fan does not rotate, an alarm signal or an off signal is issued by the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicants: FSP TECHNOLOGY INC., 3Y POWER TECHNOLOGY (TAIWAN), INC.
    Inventors: Shao-Feng Lu, Chih-Chang Tsai
  • Patent number: 7965052
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for starting a motor which is useful, among other things, is useful for motors under unknown or variable load/inertia conditions. If a first attempt to start the motor using a first frequency ramp-up rate fails, a subsequent start attempt may be performed at a decreased frequency ramp-up rate. Iteration may be performed until starting of the motor is successfully achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 7932688
    Abstract: A cleaner that can be operated at motive force of sufficient strength by using a battery voltage as well as by using a AC voltage. The cleaner uses a low-resistance-mode motor to rotate a collecting fan. The low-resistance-mode motor is driven by a motor driver. The motor driver drops a DC voltage converted from the AC voltage, depending on whether the AC voltage is received. Depending on whether the AC voltage is received, the motor driver drives the low-resistance-mode motor using one of the battery voltage and the dropped voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Do Han, Hyoun Jeong Shin
  • Patent number: 7800328
    Abstract: A fan motor driving circuit controls an energized state of a fan motor by performing on and off control of a switching circuit connected to a coil of the fan motor of a driving object. A variable reference voltage circuit generates a voltage whose voltage level changes with time by charging or discharging a capacitor at the start of starting up the fan motor. A drive signal combining unit generates drive signals on the basis of the voltage when at least starting up, and performs on and off control of the switching circuit by the drive signals. An initialization circuit initializes the capacitor before starting up with a transition from off to on of a power supply voltage to be supplied to the fan motor driving circuit as a turning point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7723937
    Abstract: A motor drive control device and motor startup method prevent startup noise and reduce startup time. At startup, a current to which a rotor does not react is passed through two phase coils of a polyphase DC motor in succession, and a voltage polarity induced in a non-conducting phase is detected. A first operation decodes the detected signal, and determines phase coils of the motor through which a current should pass to rotate the rotor and the energization direction. A second operation forms a control signal for passing a current according to the determination to drive the motor, detects a voltage peak induced in the non-conducting phase during the drive, and performs switching control of a conducting phase. In normal operation, the position of the rotor is detected based on a back EMF in each phase, and rotation control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Minoru Kurosawa, Yasuhiko Kokami
  • Patent number: 7652441
    Abstract: A motor drive system for a sensorless motor includes a catch start sequencer that controls the motor drive system to robustly start the motor in the event the motor rotor is rotating in forward or reverse direction prior to activating the motor drive system. In particular, the catch start sequencer causes the motor drive system to initially find and track the rotor position, and then determines the speed and possibly the direction of rotation of the rotor. If the rotor is rotating in the reverse direction, the catch start sequencer controls the motor drive system to slow the speed of rotation and to then start the rotor rotating in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Eddy Ying Yin Ho
  • Patent number: 7638967
    Abstract: A motor control unit includes a power converter unit that energize a motor based on a commutating signal, the motor having a rotor provided with a permanent magnet and a stator having a coil wound thereto; a start-up controller that outputs a commutating signal to the power converter unit during a start-up operation, the commutating signal having a predetermined conductive pattern corresponding to a command rotational speed; a voltage calculator that calculates a voltage of the motor during the start-up operation by applying a parameter for the motor, the command rotational speed, and a current flown in the coil of the motor to a voltage-current equation of the motor; and a determiner that, during the start-up operation, compares a voltage calculated by the voltage calculator and an actual voltage of the motor and that determines occurrence of rotational abnormalities when the actual voltage is lower than the calculated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Aizawa, Tsuyoshi Hosoito
  • Patent number: 7595603
    Abstract: Electronic motor regulation for a pump with a multi-phase permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The system is enabled to detect and estimate a rotor phase position and rotary speed. Foam or air operation is detected by way of fluctuations in the estimated rotary speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Zeh
  • Patent number: 7595601
    Abstract: An abrupt fall in a current value immediately after an abrupt rise at the time when an starting switch is turned ON is detected, when the current value rises due to starting of nut fastening and then the current value abruptly falls, it is determined that an inward flange of a washer is sheared, and when the current value reaches a value corresponding to a primary fastening torque, the motor is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Maeda Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Kushida
  • Patent number: 7560885
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a motor includes a plurality of switching elements configured to switch energizing phases of the motor; and a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the switching elements. The driving unit drives a predetermined switching element from among the switching elements so as to position the rotor to a predetermined position. When starting the motor, the driving unit first drives the predetermined switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hattori, Masahiko Asai, Takayuki Takashige
  • Patent number: 7477032
    Abstract: A compressor having a sensorless motor and a driving method thereof. The compressor includes a sensorless motor having a rotation shaft connected to a rotator, a piston for performing a compression stroke and an intake stroke between a top dead center and a bottom dead center thereof, and a crank connecting the rotation shaft to the piston. The method includes forcibly aligning the rotator such that the rotator is positioned at a start position in the intake stroke of the piston, and accelerating rotation of the forcibly aligned rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyen-young Choi, Kwang-woon Lee
  • Patent number: 7368886
    Abstract: A method of testing an electric motor that is adapted to provide a desired electric motor output torque to a vehicle powertrain system comprising an engine and the electric motor which are operatively and selectively coupled to a transmission. The method includes the steps of determining an initial motor speed of the electric motor, determining a motor torque command as a function of the initial motor speed, applying the motor torque command to the electric motor to produce an output torque from the electric motor, measuring a resultant motor speed of the electric motor and establishing a motor status as a function of the resultant motor speed. The method may be implemented as a computer control and diagnostic algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsieh, Gregory A. Hubbard, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 7342366
    Abstract: The controller for a brushless motor controls motor current by executing updates of applied voltage to a coil in accordance with rotational position of a rotor, the target current, and the actual current flowing through the coil. The updates of applied voltage to the coil are executed according to the results of calculations of applied voltage to the coil in accordance with the rotational position of the rotor, the target current, and the actual current flowing through the coil, in order to generate power for rotating the rotor by varying magnetic field generated by the coil. The cycle time of the updates of applied voltage is shorter than the cycle time of the calculations of applied voltage corresponding to the rotational position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ueda, Shigeki Nagase