Automatic And/or With Time-delay Means (e.g., Automatic Starting And/or Stopping) Patents (Class 318/445)
  • Patent number: 8810188
    Abstract: Provided is a method of indirect position estimation in three-phase switched reluctance machines. The method may comprise providing a three-phase switched reluctance machine. A three-phase switched reluctance machine may comprise a rotor and three phases. The method may further comprise producing data about the machine, setting threshold current values for at least a first phase; and sensing rotor position. Sensing rotor position may comprise applying a sensing pulse voltage sufficient to induce a pulse current having some maximum amperage in the first phase, determining the amplitude of the maximum amperage of said pulse current with respect to the thresholds for the first phase, and determining the sector of the rotor based upon the amplitude of the maximum amperage of the pulse current in the first phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Iqbal Husain, Gregory Pasquesoone
  • Publication number: 20140184110
    Abstract: A touch control arrangement is arranged for a container having a foldable cover being folded between an opened position and a closed position via an actuation unit. The touch control arrangement includes a power source and a touch actuator electrically linked to the power source, wherein the touch actuator is located out of the storage cavity of the container body and is arranged in such a manner that when the touch actuator is activated by a presence of a touch, the actuation unit is actuated to move the foldable cover from the closed position to the opened position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Xin Wang
  • Patent number: 8736214
    Abstract: A motor-drive circuit includes: an output transistor configured to supply a drive current to a motor for a cooling fan; a switching-control circuit configured to control switching of the output transistor so that the motor rotates in a first direction, or rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a switching circuit configured to, when a first time has elapsed since start of rotation of the motor in the first direction, cause the switching-control circuit to start switching control so that the motor stops rotating in the first direction and thereafter rotates in the second direction, and configured to, when a second time has elapsed since start of rotation of the motor in the second direction, cause the switching-control circuit to start switching control so that the motor stops rotating in the second direction and thereafter rotates in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshitomi, Masashi Tanabe, Syunji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8736212
    Abstract: A robotic catheter control system includes a plurality of electric motors. Diagnostic logic automatically detects motor runaway fault conditions based on the current motor position, the target motor position and a predetermined tolerance parameter. Fault conditions include overshoot, movement in the a non-prescribed direction, exceeding a prescribed maximum motor speed and exceeding a prescribed maximum motor acceleration. The diagnostic logic terminates operating power to the electric motor when a fault condition is detected for any one of the motor. An error message is generated to notify the operator of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kulbir S. Sandhu, Atila Amiri, Otto K. Chiu, Samuel K. Gee
  • Patent number: 8723466
    Abstract: A motorized venetian blind system for covering a window of a space comprising a blind drive unit having two motors to provide for independent control of a position of a bottom rail and a tilt angle of a plurality of slats of the blind system. The blind drive unit is operable to adjust the position of the bottom rail to a preset position, and to adjust the tilt angle of the slats to a preset angle in response to receiving a single digital message (e.g., a preset command). The blind drive unit is operable to automatically adjust the position of the bottom rail and the tilt angle of the slats to limit a direct sunlight penetration distance in the space to a maximum direct sunlight penetration distance, and to maximum a reflected sunlight penetration distance on a ceiling of the space, while minimizing occupant distractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel F. Chambers, William Bryce Fricke, Matthew R. Hontz, David A. Kirby, Justin J. Mierta, Jonathan Carl Sevy
  • Patent number: 8723469
    Abstract: A winding overheat prevention apparatus comprises: a stator winding temperature calculation unit which calculates winding temperature based on the ambient temperature of the motor and on the amount of change in the estimated temperature of a stator winding; a position sensor temperature detection unit which detects the temperature indicated by a temperature sensing element in a position sensor a rotor; and an alarm signal output unit which outputs an alarm signal when the winding temperature exceeds an alarm level, wherein when the ambient temperature is not higher than a prescribed temperature, the alarm level is set equal to a temperature preset based on the ambient temperature and the maximum value of the amount of the temperature change, while when the ambient temperature is higher than the prescribed temperature, the alarm level is set equal to a temperature preset in order to protect the position sensor from overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Uematsu, SeungJun Lee
  • Patent number: 8716970
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor comprises steps of: first, determining whether a switch of a motor control circuit in an electronic system is in a first state; then, operating the motor at a fanless operation mode when a temperature inside an enclosure of the electronic system is higher than zero and lower than a first threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is zero rpm; operating the motor at a silent operation mode when the temperature is higher than the first threshold temperature and lower than a second threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is a constant rotation speed; and operating the motor at a cooling operation mode when the temperature is higher than the second threshold temperature, wherein the rotation speed of the motor is a function of the temperature and varies between the constant rotation speed and a maximum rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sea Sonic Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiu-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 8710784
    Abstract: A system comprises a vehicle seating system including a seat and at least one powered seat adjustment actuator for altering the seating position formed by the seat. Additionally, the system includes a controller for receiving at least one signal based on at least one vehicle/user event. For reducing fatigue, the controller controls slow seat movement while the vehicle is moving, and changes slow movement between first and second slow movements based on the vehicle/user event(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Innovative Biomechanical Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Meyer, Paul B. Phipps, Thomas D. Epply
  • Patent number: 8675321
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for monitoring the continuous flow of power delivered by multiple DC Direct current operated starter motors used to start engine driven electrical generators. The method and system comprise the closing of a starter battery system and an associated starter control switch, causing the starter battery system to discharge through a shunt whereby current is fed into a starter motor. The shunt is optionally provided as a precision resistor with a pre-calibrated voltage drop in millivolts DC proportional to a current passing through it. The shunt directs current to a meter relay, which is calibrated by establishing two set points, or desired trigger ranges, for the meter relay. If the current falls outside a range established by the two set points, then a meter relay alarm output is activated; and, if the current remains within the range, then the meter relay alarm output is not activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Darby Group Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Fortner
  • Patent number: 8659260
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus has a plurality of motor drive parts and a control unit. The control unit performs first and second failure detection processing for the motor drive parts before starting to drive the motor. If the first motor drive part is determined to have failure by the first failure detection processing, a first power supply relay for the first motor drive part is turned off and the second failure detection processing for the first motor drive part is inhibited. If the second motor drive part is determined to have no failure by the first failure detection processing and then by the second failure detection processing, the motor is started to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Mukai, Nobuhiko Uryu
  • Patent number: 8643383
    Abstract: The present techniques include methods and systems for detecting a failure in a capacitor bank of an electrical drive system. Embodiments include using discharge resistors to discharge capacitors in the capacitor bank, forming a neutral node of the capacitor bank. In different capacitor configurations, the neutral node is measured, and the voltage is analyzed to determine whether a capacitor bank unbalance has occurred. In some embodiments, the node is a neutral-to-neutral node between the discharged side of the discharge resistors and a neutral side of the capacitor bank, or between the discharged side of the discharge resistors and a discharged side of a second set of discharge resistors. In some embodiments, the node is a neutral-to-ground node between the discharged side of the discharge resistors and a ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Xiao, Lixiang Wei, Doyle F. Busse
  • Publication number: 20140021899
    Abstract: A driving circuit for driving a fan with a plurality of operational modes includes an initiation module for generating a switch signal according to a feedback signal, a control module coupled to the initiation module for utilizing a pulse frequency modulation technique to generate a control signal according to the switch signal and a predetermined comparison signal, so as to drive the fan for a rotational operation, and a feedback module coupled to the fan for generating the feedback signal according to a conduction result of the fan. The rotational operation includes the plurality of operational modes, and the fan is switched between the plurality of operational modes according to different conduction results of the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ching-Feng Lai, Hung-Chun Yeh, Kang Sheng
  • Patent number: 8633780
    Abstract: The PWM control circuit is provided. The PWM control circuit includes: a PWM control signal generator that generates a PWM period signal defining a period of a PWM signal and a PWM resolution signal specifying a resolution in one period of the PWM period signal; and a PWM unit that generates the PWM signal based on the PWM period signal and the PWM resolution signal, wherein the PWM control signal generator changes a frequency of the PWM resolution signal while keeping a frequency of the PWM period signal unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8633666
    Abstract: A method for activating a jamming protection function in an electrical closing system. The jamming protection function is designed to abort a movement of a closing part in a movement direction if it is detected that the movement of the closing part is obstructed by a jammed object by: —providing consecutively measured values of a motor variable of a motor that effect the movement of the closing part, wherein the motor variable gives an indication of a drive torque provided by the motor; —determining a gradient curve from the consecutively measured values of the motor variable, wherein the gradient curve is established using a derivative method that provides for a weighting of the individual consecutively measured values of the motor variable according to the measurement sequence thereof; —establishing a point in time for activating the jamming protection function according to the determined gradient curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Pablo Luis Guarnizo
  • Patent number: 8605393
    Abstract: A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj B. Jayanth, George Ramayya
  • Patent number: 8598825
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a lead angle control circuit is configured to control a lead angle of a motor drive signal driving a motor. The lead angle control circuit includes a control signal generating section, an upper limit voltage limit section and a lead angle data generating section. The lead angle data generating section is configured to generate a relationship line between lead angle data representing the lead angle and a lead angle control signal, and configured to generate the lead angle data based on the relationship line and the lead angle control signal. The relationship line reaches an upper limit point from a lower limit point through a changing point. In the changing point, the lead angle control signal is a changing point voltage, and the lead angle data represents the lead angle corresponding to a lead angle setting voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shen Wang, Takehiro Hara
  • Patent number: 8581530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windscreen wiping device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one wiper, a wiper drive (1), an electronic control device (2) that controls the wiper drive (1), a first signal transmitter for capturing the angular position of the wiper, and a first control line (7) that can emit an angle position signal captured by the first signal transmitter to the control device (2). According to the invention, a second signal transmitter for capturing the angular displacement of the wiper is provided. A second control line (8) that can emit an angle modification signal captured by the second signal transmitter to the control device (2) is provided. Said claimed windscreen wiper device has the advantage that it has a permanent self-locking device for at least one wiper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Florian Tisch
  • Patent number: 8569985
    Abstract: In a wiper control apparatus, a water drop detector outputs an output signal in accordance with water drops adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. When a traveling determination portion determines that the vehicle is traveling, a first level setting portion sets a sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a first sensitivity. When the traveling determination portion determines the vehicle is not traveling, a second level setting portion sets the sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a second sensitivity that is larger than the first sensitivity. A water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield when a determination waiting time elapses in a state where detection of the output signal continues. A driving control portion controls a wiper driving portion to drive the wiper when the water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Taiji Morishita, Yasuhiro Takabe, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Katsunori Tonomyo
  • Patent number: 8564235
    Abstract: A self-adjusting door closer is disclosed. The door closer is self powered and includes a control unit to intelligently control a valve within the door closer to vary the operating characteristics of the door closer as needed. The controller includes a position sensor to determine a position of the door, and at least one input switch to enable user selection of at least one door closer parameter for an installed door closer. The control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the user selection of the door closer parameters, and the position of the door, in order to control force exerted by the door closer on the door. A generator can be provided to provide electricity to power the controller and store power to operate the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Burris, Robert L. Tadlock, Jr., John White, Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph McGinty, Wade Patterson
  • Patent number: 8558493
    Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for replacing a PSC motor in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. The blower motor assembly includes a variable speed motor and motor controller; a first power input for receiving a plurality of AC power signals from a control device for use in determining an operating parameter for the motor; and a second power input for receiving AC power from an AC power source for powering the motor controller even when no AC power signals are received by the first power input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur E. Woodward
  • Patent number: 8558496
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring current in an electric motor. An electrical system includes a (DC) interface, an electric motor, an inverter module coupled between the DC interface and the electric motor, a first current sensor between a first phase leg of the inverter module and a first phase of the electric motor to measure a first current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor, a second current sensor between the first phase leg and the DC interface to measure a second current flowing through the first phase leg, and a control module coupled to the first current sensor and the second current sensor. The control module is configured to initiate remedial action based at least in part on a difference between the first current measured by the first current sensor and the second current measured by the second current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian A. Welchko, Silva Hiti, Ronald W. Young, David Tang, Gregory S. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130216261
    Abstract: A rotary driving apparatus that is capable of controlling a rotational speed correctly even when an anomaly occurs. A drive unit rotates a rotating member. A rotating body is rotated with the rotating member. A detection unit detects scales formed on the rotating body. A calculation unit calculates rotation information about the rotating member based on the detection result by the detection unit. A control value setting unit sets a control value to a predetermined value when the rotation information falls outside a predetermined range and a count of determinations that the rotation information falls outside the predetermined range is smaller than a predetermined count, and sets the control value based on the rotation information when the rotation information falls outside the predetermined range and the count of determinations is larger than the predetermined count. A control unit controls the drive unit based on the set control value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 8508167
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuation device for pull-outs, shelf boards, flaps, or other such elements to be opened, particularly front elements of particularly kitchen and office furniture, kitchen appliances and flush-mounted appliances, product dispensing devices, and the like, having components comprising a corpus, wherein the element to be opened can be transferred into an open position relative to the corpus 2 by way of a drive unit 5, the drive unit 5 can be activated by way of control means, and the control means comprise a front body sound sensor 6 that is associated with the front element 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kesseböhmer Holding E.K.
    Inventors: Rene Barkau, Heiko Schnier
  • Publication number: 20130200833
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control method of a washing machine. The method includes performing first-stage rotation in which a drum is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed, performing second-stage rotation in which the drum is rotated at a first target RPM when a predetermined time has passed after the first-stage rotation ends, performing deceleration rotation in which the rotational speed of the drum is kept at a lower value than in the second-stage rotation, and performing third-stage rotation in which the drum is rotated at a second target RPM that is greater than the rotational speed of the drum in the deceleration rotation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent laundry from being adhered to an inner surface of the drum during removal of moisture contained in laundry, and to achieve an increased contact area between laundry and hot air via uniform dispersion of laundry, resulting in enhanced laundry drying performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Heakyung YOO, Cheolsoo Ko
  • Publication number: 20130200834
    Abstract: There may be disclosed a controlling method of a laundry treating apparatus including a low speed rotation step of rotating a motor configured to rotate a drum mounted in a tub at a low speed; and a high speed rotation step of rotating the motor at a high speed, the high speed rotation step implemented after the low speed rotations step, wherein the high speed rotation step comprises an acceleration period in which a RPM of the motor is increased after the RPM of the motor reaches a target RPM of the low speed rotation speed, such that the amount of the additionally supplied wash water may be reduced and that the washing course can be implemented, using a small amount of wash water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Youngsuk KIM, Romon SON
  • Patent number: 8502489
    Abstract: A motor control device, which receives at least two emergency stop signals, includes an LSI, a PWM signal transmission circuit, a drive circuit, and an inverter circuit. The LSI generates PWM signals. The PWM signal transmission circuit transmits the PWM signals. The drive circuit generates inverter drive signals. The inverter circuit includes a P-side power switching device and an N-side power switching device. The drive circuit includes a P-side drive circuit for driving the P-side power switching device, and an N-side drive circuit for driving the N-side power switching device. One of the emergency stop signals is inputted to the P-side drive circuit and the PWM signal transmission circuit. The other emergency stop signal is inputted to the N-side drive circuit and the PWM signal transmission circuit. In response to the receipt of an emergency stop signal, the PWM signal transmission circuit stops transmitting the PWM signals, and the drive circuit stops outputting the inverter drive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ooto, Taro Kishibe, Hiroshi Ozaki, Ryuhei Watabe, Satoru Doi
  • Publication number: 20130181649
    Abstract: Provided is a component for a network system, which includes a communication device for receiving at least energy information, a component driver part driven by supplied energy, and a control part that recognizes high price-related information or low price-related information, based on the energy information received by the communication device and that controls the component driver part. A method of controlling the component driver part when the high price-related information is recognized is different from a method of controlling the component driver part when the low price-related information is recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Yongwoon Jang, Yanghwan Kim, Junho Ahn, Jeongwon Lee, Koonseok Lee, Hoonbong Lee
  • Patent number: 8487570
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric motor (2) having a phase angle control with the following steps: Applying an AC voltage to a series connection of the electric motor (2) and a switching element (4), particularly a triac, wherein the switching element (4) connects through by applying an ignition signal and suppresses the flow of a current if the amount of current falls below a holding current; determining the time of a zero crossing of a virtual motor current that would flow if the switching element (4) were connected through; and turning on the switching element (4) at an activation time that is dependant on the time of the zero crossing of the virtual motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Walter, Jacek Wiszniewski, Michael Maercker, Klaus Dengler
  • Patent number: 8482236
    Abstract: This invention provides a motor control method which comprises the steps of operating a motor at a fanless operation mode when a ambient temperature is lower than a lower temperature, operating the motor at a silent operation mode when the ambient temperature is higher than the lower temperature and lower than a higher temperature, and operating the motor at a cooling operation mode when the ambient temperature is higher than the higher temperature. When the motor operates at the fanless operation mode, the rotation speed of the motor is zero rpm. When the motor operates at the silent operation mode, the motor operates at a constant rotation speed. When the ambient temperature is higher than the higher temperature, the rotation speed of the motor is a linear function of the temperature and varies between the higher temperature and a maximum temperature corresponding to the full rotation speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sea Sonic Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiu-Cheng Chang
  • Publication number: 20130160499
    Abstract: Provided is a motor drive device for a motor for a washing machine of a double-rotor/double-stator structure that can selectively rotate a pulsator and a dehydrator without having a separate clutch, and a motor control method thereof. The motor drive device includes: a motor controller that generates a drive signal according to a laundry control signal to thus control a motor for the washing machine to be driven: an inverter that generates three-phase alternating-current (AC) power under the control of the motor controller, and outputs the three-phase AC power to a first three-phase stator coil for rotating an outer rotor in the motor for the washing machine, and a second three-phase stator coil for rotating an inner rotor therein; and a rotor drive controller that is provided between the inverter and the second three-phase stator coil, to thus block or pass the three-phase AC power under the control of the motor controller and simultaneously change the direction of rotation of the inner rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: AMOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Amotech Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130113404
    Abstract: An actuator includes at least one drive arrangement configured to generate output mechanical power from input electrical power. The actuator also includes a communication line port and a processing device. The at least one drive arrangement is configured to generate output mechanical power from input electrical power. The communication line port is configured to connect to a communication line, and is further configured to obtain electrical power from the communication line. The processing device is configured by programming instructions to obtain a first information from the communication line via the communication line port, and to adjust an operation of the at least one drive arrangement based on the first information and based upon information identifying electrical power available for use as input electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Pankaj V. Kalore
  • Publication number: 20130113405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of safety cutoff of an electromechanical motor vehicle power steering, in which safety switches (26, 27, 28) are provided for electrical separation of a servomotor from a control system or a vehicle electrical system, wherein the following steps are provided: a) receiving a fault signal in a control system (30); b) sending a switch-off signal via control lines (31, 32, 33) to the safety switches (26, 27, 28); c) checking the electrical voltages present on the safety switches (26, 27, 28); d) deciding whether the switch-off signal on each safety switch (26, 27, 28) has led to switch-off; e) if the switch-off signal on one or more safety switches (26, 27, 28) has not led to switch-off, switching those safety switches (26, 27, 28) back on, which could not be switched off; f) repeating steps b) to e) until all safety switches have been switched off successfully (26, 27, 28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Zoltan Baranyai
  • Patent number: 8432117
    Abstract: Automated shade systems comprise motorized window coverings, sensors, and controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, ASHRAE clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: MechoShade Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Berman, Jan Berman, Alex Greenspan, Stephen P. Hebeisen
  • Publication number: 20130099715
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and/or closing a door of a domestic appliance, such as, for example, an oven, a refrigerator and the like, has a drive apparatus for the automatic opening and/or closing of the door and an actuating device which is operable by a user for activating the drive apparatus in order to open or to close the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
    Inventor: DIEHL AKO STIFTUNG & CO. KG
  • Patent number: 8418930
    Abstract: The temperature control circuit, to keep a temperature of an enclosed space within a temperature range, comprises a cooling unit to keep the temperature of the enclosed space below a maximum temperature of the temperature range, a heating unit to keep the temperature of the enclosed space above the minimum temperature of the temperature range, and an indicating unit to indicate whether the temperature is within the temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8405337
    Abstract: A door position control including an electric door actuator having a motor and a motor controller in communication with a system controller. A motor actuation operation is selected from a plurality of predetermined motor actuation operations to provide control signals to the motor controller for controlling actuation of the motor for control of door movement. Control of door movement is effected with reference to parameters specific to an installation location including an angular sweep of the door between open and closed positions and with reference to an available bus voltage for supplying power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Globe Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven A. Gebhart, Syed A. Hossain
  • Patent number: 8390221
    Abstract: A system for protecting a three-phase electric motor of a compressor, the motor receiving first, second, and third phases from a three-phase power supply, the system including a single-phase line break protector, a first current sensor, and a control module. The single-phase line break protector disconnects the motor from the first phase in response to a temperature being greater than a predetermined temperature threshold. The first current sensor measures a current through the single-phase line break protector. The control module determines a current value based on the measured current, and disconnects the motor from the second and third phases in response to the current value being less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj B. Jayanth, Wayne R. Warner
  • Patent number: 8390229
    Abstract: A method of braking a washing machine from an operational speed to a reduced non-zero speed is provided (as well as a washing machine incorporating the method) for a washing machine driven by one of a synchronous or asynchronous motor. Upon receipt of a speed reduction signal, the motor rotating magnetic fields are collapsed for a defined time period. After the defined time period, DC braking voltage is applied to the motor stator windings at a controlled ramp-up rate to an amplitude to generate a controlled ramped braking torque on the motor until the motor has slowed to a defined reduced speed. Thereafter, the amplitude of the DC braking voltage is set to 0V and the motor is soft started to an amplitude and reduced frequency needed to maintain the defined reduced speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard Dean Suel, II
  • Patent number: 8378609
    Abstract: Motor-driven actuating system for roller shutters or sliding barriers or the like, provided with an obstacle-sensing safety device for acquiring samples (?(?n)) of at least one main physical parameter (?) relating to operation of the actuating system, preferably the torque supplied by the motor, sampled in a set of positions (?n) of the roller shutter along its travel path; for generating from the samples the points of a memorized reference profile (M; W); processor able to calculate the deviation between the profile (M; W) and values subsequently acquired in real time (?(?k)) for the same main parameter (?) and able to modify the movement of the roller shutter depending on the deviation, wherein the device is designed to analyze and/or process the result of one or more arithmetic logic operations which have as the operand at least the value (?(?k)) of a variable (?) acquired in real time, and, depending on the result, modify the points of the profile (M; W) with operations based on previously memorized value
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nice SpA
    Inventors: Oscar Marchetto, Alberto Codognotto
  • Publication number: 20130038264
    Abstract: In a method of fan speed control, a flow value corresponding to airflow amount through a fan during operation of the fan is detected with a fan controller. The flow value and a preset value are subsequently compared, and when the flow value is less than the preset value, a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal is outputted to increase rotation speed of the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: YEN SUN TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Jung CHEN, Hsien-Wen LIU, Tzu-Wen TSAI
  • Patent number: 8368329
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving cooling fan operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling fan's speed is maximized by adjusting a PWM signal driving the fan to change the switching point of the fan motor. In another embodiment, a method for starting a low speed cooling fan by incrementally increasing the amplitude of the PWM signal applied to the fan is disclosed. In a further embodiment, a method for controlling a fan and a fan sensor is disclosed. In this embodiment, a PWM signal is generated, a fan is driven using the PWM signal, a cycle of the PWM signal is modified, and the fan sensors is driven using the PWM signal during the cycle. In a further embodiment, a fan incorporating these improvements is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Depew, Mike Culbert, Keith Cox
  • Patent number: 8358501
    Abstract: A motherboard includes a fan and a fan control circuit. The fan control circuit includes a switch module and a voltage control circuit. A first terminal of the switch module is connected to a standby power terminal of the motherboard. A second terminal of the switch module is connected to a first power terminal of the motherboard and connected to a power terminal of the fan. An input terminal of the voltage control circuit is connected to a power state signal terminal of the motherboard. An output terminal of the voltage control circuit is connected to a control terminal of the switch module. When the motherboard is turned off, the voltage control circuit turns on the switch module for a predetermined time, to make the standby power terminal supply a working voltage for the fan to keep the fan rotating for the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang Wu, Zheng-Heng Sun
  • Patent number: 8339084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring current in an electric motor. An electrical system comprises a direct current (DC) interface, an electric motor, and an inverter module between the DC interface and the electric motor. A first current sensor is configured to measure a DC current flowing between the DC interface and the inverter module. A second current sensor is configured to measure a first phase current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor. A control module is coupled to the current sensors, and the control module is configured to determine an expected value for the first phase current based at least in part on the DC current measured by the first current sensor and take remedial action based on a difference between the expected value and the measured first phase current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian A. Welchko
  • Patent number: 8324854
    Abstract: A fan control system includes a temperature detecting circuit and a rotation rate control circuit. The detecting circuit includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a thermistor. The rotation rate control circuit includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The detecting circuit detects temperature and outputs a voltage signal. The rotation rate control circuit receives the voltage signal and controls the rotation rate of the fan according to the voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8324855
    Abstract: A fan control system includes a temperature detecting circuit and a rotation rate control circuit. The detecting circuit includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a thermistor. The rotation rate control circuit includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The detecting circuit detects temperature and outputs a voltage signal. The rotation rate control circuit receives the voltage signal and controls the rotation rate of the fan according to the voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8314582
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling a motor in an image reading apparatus. It may be possible to optimize the drive current of the motor for driving the movement of the scanning module by using information associated with, for example, the time it takes for the scanning module to return to a home or rest position after the scanning module is moved from the home position to a predetermined position. Such optimized drive current can result in improvements in the reading performance of an image by the image reading apparatus and reduction of power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji Young Byun
  • Publication number: 20120274256
    Abstract: A motor having a first portion configured to turn in a forward direction, a second portion coaxially mirrors the first portion; and a central fan between the first and second portions, and forcing air through the portions. A thermoelectric cooler element, thermally coupled to the portion is configured to cool the motor. A motor controller is electrically coupled to the first and second portions, and operates a portion in response to a condition sensed by the motor controller. The condition sensed by the motor controller is a motor torque, a motor speed, a motor casing temperature, or a zoned motor casing temperature. A method includes detecting a motor operational command; selecting a motor operational state using motor portion responsive to the motor command; sensing a heating state of a motor portion; and providing a cooling state to the motor portion responsive to the heating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Aurora Office Equipment Co., Ltd. Shanghai
    Inventor: John O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 8296896
    Abstract: Provided is a wiper driving apparatus for an automobile. The wiper driving apparatus includes: a housing; a driving motor; a worm wheel installed in the housing to be rotated by the driving motor, connected to a wiper arm, and having protrusions formed on a surface thereof; and a clutch member eccentric with respect to the center of the worm wheel to be rotatably installed in the housing such that power supply to the driving motor is selectively turned on or off according to the position of the rotating clutch member relative to the housing, wherein the clutch member has an engagement unit which is caught by the protrusions of the worm wheel when the worm wheel is rotated in a first direction, and is not caught by the protrusions of the worm wheel when the worm wheel is rotated in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Dongyang Mechatronics Corp
    Inventors: Sung-Jin Hong, Kwang-Hyun Jung
  • Patent number: 8289113
    Abstract: Modular soft starters are disclosed having a plurality of soft starter modules with stacked SCRs and heat sinks for accommodating a single phase of a three phase motor, where the modules may be connected serially for starting each phase of a higher voltage motor, and where the modules can be mounted in a cabinet in a variety of different orientations to facilitate optimized cabinet space utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Donald Miller, David Scott S. Maclennan
  • Patent number: 8264183
    Abstract: A windshield wiper control unit that controls a windshield wiper based on the position of an operation member, includes: an electric value detection unit that detects an electric value that continuously changes based on the position of the operation member; a setting unit that sets a reference electric value range that is a portion of a variation range of the electric value; a determination unit that determines whether the electric value detected by the electric value detection unit falls within the reference electric value range; and a position determination unit that determines the position of the operation member based on the reference electric value range. When the detected electric value falls outside the reference electric value range, the reference electric value range is updated in such a manner that the electric value, which falls outside the pre-update reference electric value range, falls within the post-update reference electric value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jonathan Debrouwere