Of Motor Control Means Patents (Class 318/472)
  • Patent number: 7352147
    Abstract: A power supply to provide operation power for cooling fans includes a non-stop power system to provide DC power in normal conditions to a remote switch control circuit to set a computer in an ON or OFF condition. The non-stop power system also outputs the DC power to a fan actuation control circuit to drive a rear end cooling fan. The fan actuation control circuit and the remote switch control circuit are bridged by a cooling delay unit. The cooling delay unit receives a computer ON/OFF signal from the remote switch control circuit and outputs another signal to enable the cooling fan to operate for a period of time before stopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Wen Chou
  • Patent number: 7331532
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for acoustic noise reduction using fan speed control. The acoustic noise reduction using fan speed control includes a plurality of temperature detectors disposed at a plurality of locations within an electronics equipment enclosure, each detector having an associated setpoint temperature. An error value is determined for each temperature detector, the error consisting of the difference between the detected temperature and the associated setpoint temperature. The maximum error among all error values is then identified and the operating speed of a cooling fan in is set in response to this maximum error. Advantages include providing a fan speed directly related to electronics temperature which inherently accounts for higher ambient temperatures, enclosure altitude, electronics power consumption, and air filter clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Currie, John Clayton Atkinson, Marko Nicolici, Amrish Patel, Ken McFarlane
  • Patent number: 7317296
    Abstract: The electric motor is equipped with an electronic control, for example in the form of a frequency converter (2) and comprises at least one Seebeck element (6) whose one side is connected to the motor (1) in a heat-conducting manner and whose other side is in heat-conducting connection with a cooling medium. The electrical output power of the Seebeck element (6) is led to the electronic control (2) of the motor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Grundfos A/S
    Inventor: Pierre Vadstrup
  • Patent number: 7307396
    Abstract: A protection system for an electrical device may include at least one temperature sensitive element located in a region adjacent to a component of the electrical device and configured to provide an output related to an actual temperature in the region. The system may also include a controller configured to determine the actual temperature in the region based on the output of the at least one temperature sensitive element and to determine a predicted temperature of the component based on the actual temperature in the region and on a predetermined heat dissipation characteristic of the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Sychra, Daniel F. Stanek, William J. Tate
  • Patent number: 7305316
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel D. Strike
  • Patent number: 7295897
    Abstract: A fan control system in which a sensor selection block having a number of sensor inputs may be combined with an autofan block having a number of zone inputs, where the number of sensor inputs is greater than the number of zone inputs. Each one of the sensor inputs of the sensor selection block may have a corresponding sensor parameter input. The sensor selection block may be configured to map a subset of the sensor inputs with corresponding sensor parameter inputs to the autofan block. Each zone input and corresponding zone parameter input of the autofan block may receive a corresponding one of the subset of the sensor inputs with corresponding sensor parameter inputs, respectively. The autofan block may have a number of pulse width modulated (PWM) outputs that may be calculated according to the autofan block zone inputs and zone parameter inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen M. Marando, Robert W. Schoepflin
  • Patent number: 7256562
    Abstract: A control circuit for a cooling fan is provided that adjusts input power and drive a cooling fan. The control circuit comprises a temperature detector for detecting temperature; a power controller for controlling driving power to the cooling fan based on the input power and supplying the driving power; a proportional electric power block supplying control power proportional to temperature variation of the detected; and a fixed electric power block supplying control power at a fixed level when the detected temperature is lower than a predetermined level. The control circuit for a cooling fan is configured to detect temperature variation and to operate with less noise by controlling rotational velocity of the cooling fan in proportion to variation in temperature variation to reduce noise generated when operating the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byong-Jeon Lee
  • Patent number: 7245099
    Abstract: A voltage for driving a cooling fan is usually output from a fan voltage control circuit. Whether to cause the fan voltage control circuit to output the drive voltage or not is controlled by a system management utility (software) and a bridge controller (hardware) on the basis of temperature data from a temperature sensor. To provide for the occurrence of a failure in the system management utility or the bridge controller, a temperature comparator monitors the temperature data from the temperature sensor and instructs a fan voltage control circuit to output a drive voltage for the cooling fan in the case where the temperature rises above a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takehiko Yamamoto, Akira Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7190139
    Abstract: The learning method is one which comprises an action of the installer having at least as consequences the ending of the powering of motor controlling the translational movement of the slats in the direction of extending, if this movement is in progress, and/or the initialization of a motor displacement amplitude or activation time counter, and, so long as this action is maintained; the powering of a motor for controlling the orientation displacement of the slats of the screen, the incrimentation of the counter, then when this second action ceases; the recording of the value of the counter in a register for storing a data relating to the total orientation travel, the powering of the motor controlling the translational moment of the slats in the direction of retracting, if the action has not brought an end to a translational movement of the slats in the direction of extending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Somfy SAS
    Inventor: Dirk Mommaerts
  • Patent number: 7157878
    Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage mode controlled electric machine comprising: receiving a torque value representative of a desired torque; obtaining a speed value indicative of a rotational velocity of the electric machine; acquiring a phase advance value indicative of a desired phase advance angle; generating a voltage command responsive to the torque value, the position value; the generating is responsive to the torque value, the speed value, and the phase advance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven James Collier-Hallman
  • Patent number: 7129660
    Abstract: A motor-current square value calculation section 45 calculates, as a motor-current square value, the sum of respective square values of two phase currents converted from three phase currents flowing through an electric motor. A temperature estimation calculation section 44 performs low-pass filtering for the motor-current square value, and calculates temperature increases of the mass portion and coils on the basis of the filtered motor-current square value. In the low-pass filtering, filtering calculation is performed in a manner which changes depending on rotational speed RV of the electric motor; i.e., whether the electric motor is in a rotating state or in a stopped state. The temperature increase of the mass portion is added to ambient temperature of the electric motor to thereby estimate temperature of the mass portion, and the temperature increase of the coils is added to the estimated temperature of the mass portion to thereby estimate temperature of the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Fujita, Atsuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 7084593
    Abstract: An electric power assist steering control system having an electric motor actuator and a motor driver circuit for generating and applying a motor current to the electric motor actuator. A current sensor is included for measuring the motor current from the motor driver circuit and generating a feedback signal. A torque sensor is included for sensing an applied steering torque and providing a torque command signal having a value indicative of the applied steering torque. A controller calculates a temperature of the electric temperature of the electric motor actuator by evaluating the motor current applied to the electric motor actuator. In the case that the calculated temperature of the electric motor actuator surpasses a predetermined temperature, the electric power assist steering control system reduces the amount of motor current applied to the electric motor actuator thereby reducing the temperature of the electric motor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Michael Crowley
  • Patent number: 7075261
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fan is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for controlling a fan includes applying power to the fan at startup. The fan may be supplied a predetermined amount of current, which may break the inertia of the fan propeller and begin its rotation. As the propeller begins rotating, the speed at which it rotates may be monitored. The fan startup routine may continue until the fan reaches or exceeds a minimum fan speed threshold. Once the fan has at least reached the minimum speed, the amount of current supplied to the fan may be reduced such that the fan rotates at minimum speed, and an automatic fan control algorithm may begin executing. By reducing the current such that the fan operates at a minimum speed, the amount of audible noise generated by the fan during startup may be kept to a minimum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Burstein
  • Patent number: 7038408
    Abstract: A fan motor speed control circuit includes a driving circuit, a voltage division circuit, and a speed modulator. The voltage division circuit has a first transistor and a plurality of resistors and is connected between a voltage source and the driving circuit. The speed modulator has a second transistor and a plurality of parallel resistors and is connected between the voltage division circuit and the driving circuit. The current of the fan motor speed control circuit flows through a first path under a first input voltage generated from the voltage source and through a second path under a second input voltage larger than the first one; the parallel resistors are in the second path such that the current value passing through the driving circuit varies according to the resulting resistance value of the parallel resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-liang Lin, Yueh-lung Huang, Tsung-yu Lei, Ju-wen Hsieh, Wen-shi Huang
  • Patent number: 7038415
    Abstract: A temperature sensor (33) detects the temperature of a MOS transistor (7), and a current detecting circuit (35) detects current flowing in the MOS transistor (7). When the voltage corresponding to the detected temperature or the voltage corresponding to the detected current is increased to a threshold value or more, an overheat state detecting signal and further switching signal is set to a high level. As a result, a switch circuit in a driving circuit (17) is turned on, and the gate resistance value becomes the parallel value of a resistor (25), and the PWM frequency in the PWM control circuit is lowered, whereby the switching loss of the MOS transistor (7) can be reduced under the state that the motor (2) is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nakamura, Manabu Nomura, Satoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7029239
    Abstract: A system may include a PWM generator and control logic. The PWM generator is configured to generate a PWM signal having a duty cycle dependent on a duty cycle value generated by the control logic. The control logic is configured to generate the duty cycle value to have a piecewise linear relationship with temperature such that at least two of a plurality of linear segments defined by the piecewise linear relationship have different slopes. In some embodiments, the piecewise linear relationship may be continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen M. Marando, Robert W. Schoepflin
  • Patent number: 7019480
    Abstract: A synchronous-motor controller including an inverter for converting direct current to alternating current in order to supply a synchronous motor with a current responsive to a torque instruction value, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the inverter and a control unit. The control unit detects a locking of the synchronous motor although current is supplied to the synchronous motor and calculates, based on the torque instruction value, a heating value of a switching element of the inverter at the time when the switching element is supplied with the current after the synchronous motor is in a locked condition, wherein a temperature of the switching element is estimated by adding the calculated heating value to an initial value of the temperature of the inverter measured by the temperature sensor when the locking of the synchronous motor is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Hiromichi Agata, Tatsuyuki Uechi
  • Patent number: 7012400
    Abstract: A control circuitry, electrically connected to a DC motor and a variable voltage source for modulating a rotational speed of the DC motor. The control circuitry includes a voltage reference component and a switching circuit. The voltage reference component is electrically connected with the variable voltage source and provides a predetermined reference voltage. The switching circuit is electrically connected with the DC motor and the voltage reference component. The switching circuit is “OFF” when a voltage given by the variable voltage source is lower than the predetermined reference voltage so that the DC motor operates with a first operation mode, and the switching circuit is “ON” when the voltage given by the variable voltage source is higher than the predetermined reference voltage so that the DC motor operates with a second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shou-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 6970643
    Abstract: A radiator includes a voltage regulator for providing a reference voltage, a fan including a power end connected to the reference voltage via a first resistor and a feedback end for outputting a pulse signal indicating the rotation speed of the fan, an integration circuit including an output end, and an input end connected to the feedback end of the fan for converting the pulse signal from the feedback end into a voltage signal, and a thermistor connected between the output end of the integration circuit and the reference voltage, for detecting temperature changes in order to adjust the rotation speed of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventor: Wei-Chun Chang
  • Patent number: 6946809
    Abstract: A motor driving system includes a power supply unit, a voltage-stabilizing unit, a signal-generating unit, a comparing unit, and a control unit. The power supply unit provides an input supply voltage to each other unit in the system. The voltage-stabilizing unit includes a voltage-stabilizing element and produces a constant voltage. The signal-generating unit generates an input signal, which varies with high and low levels of the input supply voltage. The comparing unit compares the constant voltage with the input signal to generate a comparison signal. The control unit controls a motor's rotating speed according to the comparison signal generated by the comparing unit. When the input supply voltage is low, a lowest rotating speed is set for the control unit to control the rotating of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shou-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 6900607
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller responsive to at least one of: a current sensor, and a temperature sensor. Where the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value, a torque command and the resultant of the parameter estimation process representing an estimated parameter of the electric machine. The parameter estimation includes a method for estimating a temperature of the electric machine comprising: a temperature sensor operatively connected to and transmitting a temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller, which executes a temperature estimation process responsive to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Kleinau, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Ashok Chandy, Ravindra P. Patankar, Daniel W. Shafer, Jeffery A. Zuraski
  • Patent number: 6873514
    Abstract: An integrated solenoid system including a single housing containing a solenoid, a controller and one or more electrical connections. The controller includes temperature compensating means and/or voltage compensating means thereby providing predetermined, substantially constant currents to said solenoid. The housing includes an integral two-part end cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Trombetta, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis A. Maller, Todd McMahon
  • Patent number: 6864653
    Abstract: An improved fan useful for ventilating applications in motor vehicles features a modular structure, which facilitates quick replacement of any components likely to fail. A first module (110) is intended for permanent installation on the part that is to be cooled. A second module (110) is configured for quick engagement to and disengagement from the first module. The second module preferably comprises a hub (22; 362), an internal stator (60; 332) mounted on the hub, and one or more struts (74; 344) connecting the hub to a cylindrical casing part (76; 336) which surrounds but is spaced from the outside of the fan wheel (46; 348). The struts form a lattice (112) which can be easily grasped for swapping out the second module when repair or replacement becomes necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: EBM-Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas von der Heydt
  • Patent number: 6847187
    Abstract: A thermal protection apparatus for an AC traction motor including a stator, a rotor, a blower fan and an inverter includes a method and apparatus for predicting the motor temperature assuming that the blower is operational. The method and apparatus also determines an estimated motor temperature by measuring the motor resistance or the rotor slip. The estimated motor temperatures compared to the predicted motor temperature to determine the condition of the motor cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 6810202
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a rotational speed of a motor, coupled to a sensing unit capable of outputting a sensing signal. The apparatus includes a controlling unit, coupled to the sensing unit, for outputting a controlling signal according to the sensing signal and independently of the rotational speed of the motor. The controlling signal is a square wave and has a duty ratio that is determined by the sensing signal. The apparatus also includes a driving unit, coupled to the controlling unit, for outputting a driving signal to a motor rotor according to the duty ratio of the controlling signal. The driving signal also is a square wave. The rotational speed of the motor rotor is determined by the duty ratio of the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Prolific Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chang Hsu, Chung-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 6737824
    Abstract: A circuit is arranged control the acceleration of a fan by limiting the rate of change in fan speed control signals. The control system includes an acceleration controller that low pass filters a target fan speed control signal. The low pass filtering signal minimizes abrupt changes in the fan speed. A sudden change in the speed of the fan often results in an audible noise that is undesirably distracting. Filtering the fan speed control signal advantageously slows the rate of the fan speed changes without having to change device drivers for controlling the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Mehmet Aslan, Richard Dean Henderson
  • Patent number: 6495982
    Abstract: A start-up switch 50 for an electric motor 1 comprises a resistive element (54) which is so constituted as to be connectable to an electric current path (15) and which has such a characteristic that its resistance value increases by the heat generated by electric current that flows through the electric current path (15) and a thermostatic switch (60) which is connected in series with the resistive element (54). The thermostatic switch (60) has an actuation member (60) which is responsive to temperature so that upon reaching a preselected temperature, said member moves from a closed current path position to an open current path position. The thermostatic switch (60) is positioned to be in direct heat transfer relationship with the resistive element (54) so that the member will (66) rise in temperature as the resistive element (54) rises in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hiromi Katsumata, Toshihiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6453260
    Abstract: A system for motor thermal protector device performance test data collection includes a microprocessor configured to measure elapsed times of reset and trip power cycles of a motor winding through a thermal protector device. An operator interface terminal is coupled to the microprocessor and includes a display and input selectors for recalling a predetermined number of elapsed reset and trip times stored in a system memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Michael Prough
  • Patent number: 6407525
    Abstract: A thermal control variable speed fan motor comprises a rectifying circuit, a differential amplifier, and a temperature-sensing circuit. The rectifying circuit converts a speed signal detected from the fan into a voltage that is outputted to a negative terminal of the differential amplifier. A positive terminal of the differential amplifier is connected to the temperature-sensing circuit that is connected in series with a power source. The temperature-sensing circuit includes a temperature sensor having a resistance that varies in response to a change in ambient temperature. When ambient temperature rises, the drive voltage outputted by the differential amplifier increases and the fan speed increases. When ambient temperature reduces, the drive voltage decreases and the fan speed decreases, thereby changing the fan speed linearly by thermal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, Nan Long Tsai
  • Patent number: 6396231
    Abstract: A fan motor having a two-step speed control includes a buffer circuit, a control voltage terminal, and a fan. The buffer circuit is mounted between a voltage source and a source terminal of the fan. The buffer circuit includes a resistor and a transistor. The control voltage terminal is connected to a transistor of the buffer circuit to control conduction or non-conduction of the transistor, thereby changing the voltage of the source terminal of the fan. The varying voltage waveforms are smooth linear waveforms such that rotating speed of the fan is increased or decreased gradually during switching between a low-speed operation mode and a high-speed operation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, Ming-Sheng Wang, Nan Long Tsai
  • Patent number: 6396675
    Abstract: A high-efficiency, automatic detecting, and self-adjustable temperature controlled air flow device, more particularly a computer power supply having dual adjustment temperature controlled air flow device, includes a primary fan mounted at a front end of a power supply of a computer, and a secondary fan mounted at the other end. One side of the primary fan is provided with an adjustment knob to allow the user to adjust rotational speed. The secondary fan is controlled by an environmental temperature detecting circuit inside the power supply. The device can automatically adjust, detect, and provide high-efficiency heat dissipation effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Yen-Wen Su
  • Patent number: 6392376
    Abstract: A motor controller improves reliability and enables stable and high-accuracy control by detecting a current value running through the motor detected by current detectors by preventing changes in ambient environment, particularly the influence of temperature variations. The arithmetic and control unit of the motor controller has a storage unit for storing current detection characteristic compensation data for compensating for fluctuations in the characteristics of the current detectors, a current value computing device for computing current values by correcting detection currents from the current detectors, and a device for computing and generating drive signals for controlling the switching of the power elements based on the computed current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Kobayashi, Kiyoharu Anzai, Hirotoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 6356047
    Abstract: A starting device for electric motors which is designed to be fitted to compressor motors or the like, and includes a PTC resistor in series with a relay inserted between the line and the motor start winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Electrica S.r.l.
    Inventor: Pietro Cecconi
  • Patent number: 6323613
    Abstract: A drive unit includes an electric motor as a power source, and a simplified coolant circuit for cooling the electric motor. The drive unit further includes, in the drive unit case, a circulation passage L for coolant for cooling the motor M. A circulation passage F for a second coolant is provided separate from the circulation passage L for coolant. A heat exchange portion C within the circulation passage L for the first coolant is provided in the drive unit case for heat exchange with the second coolant in the circulation passage F, and the first coolant for cooling the electric motor is cooled by heat transfer to the second coolant in that heat exchange portion C. Accordingly, the coolant circuit in the drive unit case is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hara, Yutaka Hotta, Masayuki Takenaka, Hiromichi Agata, Kozo Yamaguchi, Takahiro Kido, Naruhiko Kutsuna
  • Patent number: 6307343
    Abstract: A driving controlling apparatus of a hood motor, including: hood motor means rotatably driven for ventilating the inner portion of a system; main controlling means for generating control signals for controlling the operation of the hood motor; sub-controlling means for controlling the driving of the hood motor by sensing temperature changes in the system; and driving circuit means for controlling the driving of the hood motor in accordance with the control signal of the main controlling means and the driving controlling of the sub-controlling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-ho Lee, Young-won Cho
  • Patent number: 6285150
    Abstract: In order to control the operating voltage of a fan in electrical equipment, the temperature of an output diode (D) of an output circuit of the power supply of the electrical equipment is monitored. The operating voltage of the fan is controlled as a function of the component temperature of this physical element such that up to a limit temperature, which is in the region of the maximum permissible component temperature of a physical element which absolutely becomes the hottest, the operating voltage of the fan is regulated at a constant, minimum level. The operating voltage is then regulated to rise continuously and rapidly up to a maximum operating voltage at which, although the component temperature of the physical element which absolutely becomes the hottest is still above the limit temperature, it is below the maximum permissible component temperature of this physical element, however.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Adam, Peter Busch
  • Patent number: 6229275
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device 1 for use in a disk drive has a temperature detection section 9 that detects the temperature inside the semiconductor integrated circuit device 1 to switch a signal TSD between high and low levels when a predetermined temperature is reached, and a delay circuit 11 that receives this signal TSD and a clock from a control section 10 to output signals TSD1 and TSD2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minehisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6198245
    Abstract: Thermal management within an electrically powered systems requires monitoring, from time-to-time, both electrical power consumption and temperature within the system. The power consumption and temperature data thus obtained permits developing over time a thermal model for the system. After a thermal model for the system has been thus developed, the model together with the presently sensed electrical power consumption, and the system temperature are used to predict a thermal trend for the system. The predicted thermal trend thus obtained for the system is then used in effecting a temperature control strategy within the electrically powered system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: O
    Inventors: Sterling Du, You-Yuh Shyr, Chuan Chiung Kuo, Shih Ping Yeh
  • Patent number: 6169381
    Abstract: A method for driving the motor of multiple phase, where the number of windings in the coil of each phase can be changed, either in a first mode where all the windings in the coil of each phase are used or a second mode where the number of windings used is smaller than that of the first mode. The driving method includes a source voltage detector for supplying the driving method with a source voltage, a temperature detector for detecting an ambient temperature about the motor, and a controller for switching the action of the driving method to run the motor in either the first mode or the second mode in response to a result of the detection released from the source voltage detector or the temperature detector. Accordingly, the revolution of the motor can be maintained constant hence providing a degree of energy saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Arai, Tatsuya Kushima, Tomonori Kato, Ichiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6140786
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a temperature of an electric motor. According to the present invention, the method for controlling the temperature of the electric motor includes the steps of setting a present temperature of the electric motor as an initial value, comparing the present temperature with a lower limit temperature when the multifunctional apparatus receives an order to perform a printing, performing the printing if the present temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature at the comparing step, converting a time for printing into an increased value of the temperature at the performing step and resetting the increased value of the temperature as the present temperature, and delaying the printing for a predetermined time if the present temperature is higher than the lower limit temperature at the comparing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myoung-sool Lee
  • Patent number: 6135718
    Abstract: An interface apparatus for fan monitoring and control includes a current source amplifier that generates a programmable current in response to its input voltages. Associated with an output capacitor, which is able to reduce noise, the programmable current drives the fan at a desired speed. The rotating fan induces a ripple signal in the output capacitor, which is fed to a band-pass amplifier to produce a tachometer pulse. Through a buffer amplifier, an input control signal combined with a thermal sensor signal has direct control over the current source amplifier. Alternatively, a PWM circuit having a comparator, a ramp oscillator and the output of the buffer amplifier drives the current source amplifier in switching mode. Since the ramp oscillator can be synchronized by the input, both analog and pulse signals can function as the input control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: System General Corporation
    Inventor: Ta-yung Yang
  • Patent number: 6111379
    Abstract: The circuit configuration is used to drive an electrical drive unit. The circuit has a voltage source and a control circuit for voltage commutation connected between the voltage source and the electrical drive unit. In addition, the circuit includes a temperature evaluation circuit that monitors the temperature of the control circuit. The temperature evaluation circuit uses the motor current of the electrical drive unit to determine the housing temperature of the power switch which has the greatest load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Feldtkeller
  • Patent number: 6100660
    Abstract: A temperature sensor is located close to each of a plurality of switching elements. Each of the elements opens and closes a current supplying line from a power supply to a three phase SR motor. A generating circuit of a instruction value for the driving current of the motor generates a target value (It) of the driving current so as to achieve a requested power of the motor and an allowable value of the driving current on the basis of the highest temperature sensed by the temperature sensors. The circuit outputs the target value as an instruction value of the driving current when the target value is smaller than the allowable value and outputs the allowable value as an instruction value of the driving current when the target value is greater than the allowable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikeyama, Teruo Tatsumi, Keiji Suzumura, Yoshihide Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6066931
    Abstract: A motor controller unit includes an operating program that controllably responds to manual motor start and stop commands for protection of the semiconductor switches connected with each phase of a multi-phase electric motor. Upon receipt of a start command, a determination is made as to whether the measured time lapse between a previous stop command is less than a predetermnined time delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Morris, Samir Chreim, Charles S. Pitzen, Richard Fischer, Jose Munoz
  • Patent number: 6040668
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a monolithic fan controller circuit which provides the following features: a special start-up routine for the fan; a fan fault detector; a thermal fault detector; an automatic speed controller; a minimum speed controller; a routine for attempting to clear temporary fan faults; and a controllable drive signal frequency. A start-up control circuit provides an initial high duty-cycle kick to the fan in order to initiate the rotation of the fan. A temperature sensor, which may be external or internal to the monolithic fan controller, supplies a signal which is proportional to measured temperature. This signal is used to control the output pulse width of a pulse-width modulator (PWM) or control the frequency of a pulse frequency modulator (PFM). The PWM or PFM output signal regulates the speed of the brushless (or brush) DC fan motor. In a preferred embodiment, the monolithic fan controller has 8 pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: TelCom Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Quoi V. Huynh, Sang T. Ngo, Joseph James Judkins, III, Donald E. Alfano
  • Patent number: 6023107
    Abstract: Suggested is a switching arrangement for actuating a wiper motor (10) for windshield wiper arrangements, which functions to protect the power switching element (13), designed as semiconductor, and the wiper motor (10) against permanent destruction caused by blocking and overload. The switching arrangement comprises a temperature monitoring of the semiconductor end stage (29), which short-circuits the power switching element (13) in case of a motor (10) overload and simultaneous heating up of the power switching element and shuts down the motor (10), as well as a parking position monitoring of the wiper lever, in order to shut down the motor completely if the wiper lever is blocked (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ansgar Grass
  • Patent number: 5926386
    Abstract: A configuration based cooling fan speed controller for use with computers and other heat intensive electronic devices. Methods of using and manufacturing the controller are also disclosed. The cooling fan speed controller generally comprises a EEPROM coupled with firmware controls. If the controller is set in manual mode, a speed input by the computer's manufacturer or service provider is used to set the starting speeds of a device's cooling fans. If the controller is set in auto mode, the device's configuration is detected, and cooling fan start speeds are retrieved from a fan speed table stored in the EEPROM. Once the lowest operating speeds for a device's cooling fans have been selected, the speeds of the device's cooling fans are ramped up or down in response to the temperature sensed by an ambient air temperature sensor. The invention holds audible fan noise to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Donna E. Ott, Dennis L. Floyd, John Hoppal, Guy R. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5821715
    Abstract: A start-up controller is programmed to reduce current to a motor during a coast phase of an alignment state of the motor. The alignment state is divided into a plurality of phases based on time elapsed from the start of the alignment phase and the controller reduces the current when the elapsed time is substantially between a start and end time that define the coast phase. Because reduced current is provided to the motor during the coast phase, the total power and thus the thermal load on control components for the motor is decreased while the time the motor requires to "settle" into alignment is only slightly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Western Digital Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene F. Plutowski, Robert W. Warren
  • Patent number: 5712802
    Abstract: A method for providing thermal protection for forced air cooled power electronic semiconductors without direct measurement of semiconductor temperature, the semiconductors being mounted on a heat sink over which cooling air is blown includes the steps of computing the cooling air mass flow rate, creating an electronic model of the semiconductor/heat sink combination and estimating the semiconductor junction temperature from the mass flow rate and model. The cooling mass flow rate is determined by measuring the temperature of the cooling air prior to passage over the heat sink, measuring atmospheric pressure of the cooling air, determining the volumetric air flow rate of the cooling air and computing, from the cooling air temperature, pressure and volumetric flow rate, the cooling air mass flow rate. Power dissipation in the semiconductors is then computed and heat sink and semiconductor temperatures are estimated from power dissipation and cooling air mass flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Peter Billey Macchiaroli
  • Patent number: RE37589
    Abstract: A method for the low-loss regulation of a collectorless direct current motor and a semiconductor circuit has, during the commutation phase given by a position sensor and with reduced motor output and number of revolutions, transistors or one end transistor which initially operates temporarily as a switch and thereafter operates temporarily as an analog amplifier element. During the analog period, a current is available which changes slowly according to a ramp function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rolf Müeller