In Or About The Motor Being Controlled Patents (Class 318/473)
  • Patent number: 8378614
    Abstract: A fan control circuit includes a first switch element, a second switch element, and a fan connector. A first control terminal of the first switch element is connected to a fan control terminal to receive a pulse width modulation signal. A first terminal of the first switch element is connected to a first voltage source. A second control terminal of the second switch element is connected to the first terminal of the first switch element. A fourth terminal of the second switch is connected to a second voltage source via a NTC resistor. A first pin of the fan connector is connected to ground. A second pin of the fan connector is connected to a third terminal of the second switch element. A third pin of the fan connector is connected to a signal receiving terminal. The third pin is configured to receive a feedback signal indicating a rotating speeding of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuan-Tsai Hou
  • Patent number: 8368338
    Abstract: This invention provides a device and method for detecting a type of a fan. The device for detecting a type of a fan includes a detector and a voltage controller. The detector is used for detecting and comparing a control voltage with a reference voltage to generate a comparison signal and transmitting the comparison signal to the voltage controller. The voltage controller outputs a variable voltage or a constant voltage to a voltage input terminal of a fan according to the comparison signal. The voltage controller can include an integrator for integrating a modulation signal and outputting the variable voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pegatron Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Kai Shen, Kuan-Yin Lin
  • Publication number: 20130020973
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit controls driving of a motor based on communications with an external MCU. The motor driving circuit has a first port that receives a first digital signal outputted from the MCU. The motor driving circuit has a duty measuring circuit that measures a duty of the first digital signal inputted through the first port and outputs a duty information signal corresponding to the measured duty. The motor driving circuit has a frequency measuring circuit that measures a frequency of the first digital signal and outputs a frequency information signal corresponding to the measured frequency of the first digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Toshiaki OHGUSHI
  • Patent number: 8358094
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement having an electric machine, comprising a stator (4) and a rotor (1) and an infrared temperature sensor, wherein the detection field of the infrared temperature sensor is directed at an outer surface of the rotor (1). The infrared temperature sensor is a thermopile (6) for radiometrically contactlessly detecting a temperature of the rotor (1), the thermopile being arranged in a slot of the stator (4) and being compatible with standard slot-sealing-wedge components of the electric machine with regard to assembly, and thus enables the operational monitoring of the thermal state of an electric machine in a novel manner, such that adapted power states can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Zettner
  • Publication number: 20120326650
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine control apparatus includes a plurality of rotating electrical machine controllers and a target voltage setting device. Each of the rotating electrical machine controllers includes a rotating electrical machine and a power supply controller configured to perform power supply control on the rotating electrical machine. The rotating electrical machine controllers have different imposed loads. The target voltage setting device is configured to set DC-side voltages of the rotating electrical machine controllers to a target voltage defined as a thermal equilibrium voltage which represents the DC-side voltages obtained when the rotating electrical machine controllers are in a thermal equilibrium condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro ITO
  • Publication number: 20120330483
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, rotor temperature estimation is provided for estimating rotor temperatures of an electric motor in an electric vehicle. A method comprises estimating a rotor temperature in a controller for an electric motor of a vehicle using a fast-mode rotor temperature estimator for a time interval, and then deactivating the fast-mode rotor temperate estimator after the time interval and activating a normal-mode rotor temperature estimator in the controller for the electric motor of the vehicle. A system comprises an electric motor, a resistance rotor temperature estimator including a limit value limiting a temperature estimate increase for temperature estimates, and a controller for the electric motor, which uses the temperature estimate and is configured to temporarily increase the limit value of the resistance rotor temperature estimator providing a fast-mode rotor temperature estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC.
    Inventors: Mengwei CAMPBELL, Bon Ho BAE
  • Patent number: 8339762
    Abstract: A method of actuator coil temperature control for actuators that are not continuously operated, wherein when an actuation current is not being applied to the actuator coil, a) sensing a parameter indicative of the resistance of the actuator coil as an indication of the temperature of the actuator coil, b) if the sensed parameter indicates the temperature of the actuator coil is below a first predetermined limit, then initiating a series of successive actuation current pulses to the actuator coil, each actuation current pulse being terminated before actuation of the actuator occurs, and c) periodically repeating a) and b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher North
  • Publication number: 20120299520
    Abstract: Disclosed are alternate embodiments of various components of a barrier operator system. and methods of operation, including of the mechanical drive subsystem with segmented and self-locking rail unit, rail mounting supports, belt and chain drive tensioning, and drive assembly carriage and interface; the electronics and software routines for controlled operation of the various barrier operator functions; wall console communications with the barrier operator; encryption and decryption of access codes; establishment and monitoring of travel limits and barrier speed and force profiles; thermal protection of barrier operator drive motors; and establishment and control of communications from the barrier operator to accessories by way of a wireless adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Leroy G. Krupke, Mark Kenneth Siegesmund, Mark Raymond Wilzbach
  • Publication number: 20120293102
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for heating of robots in cold environments, whereby the robot possesses permanent magnet brushless or three-phase synchronous motors with three motor phases including three stator coils (L1, L2, L3) connected to an inverter controllable by a control-unit and with a rotor with permanent magnet excitation. A current can be applied to at least one phase of the stator coil (L1, L2, L3) of the motor such that, if the motor stands still, a directed magnetic flux (?) is created which interacts with the permanent magnets of the rotor in such a way that the resulting torque will be close to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Sönke KOCK, Jens Hofschulte
  • Patent number: 8310193
    Abstract: A component intended for use in very low temperature situations has an electromechanical actuator with a control for an electric motor. The control receives a temperature signal indicative of a temperature being experienced by the electromechanical actuator. The control is operable to produce a current signal sent to the electric motor which will generate heat without significant torque. A method of operating the electromechanical actuator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Harke
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120274257
    Abstract: A motor control system has a sensor for measuring an operational parameter of a motor and includes means for converting the measured operational parameter into an electrical resistance value. The operational parameter measured by the sensor is the rotational speed of the motor which is converted into a back electro-motive force value. The back electro-motive force value is then used, along with a measured input voltage value and measured motor current value to calculate the electrical resistance as value. The electrical resistance value is then compared to a threshold value and in the case that the threshold value is reached, the current flow in to the motor is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: PG DRIVES TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: David Huw Taylor
  • Patent number: 8294403
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining and displaying a time to overload of a motor in a computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tool are provided. A method includes monitoring a fuse level of a motor in a CNC machine tool and calculating a time to overload of the motor based on the fuse level. The method further includes displaying the time to overload on a user interface based on the fuse level of the motor and a load acting on the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Haas Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene F. Haas, Kurt P. Zierhut
  • Patent number: 8264184
    Abstract: A low-pin count fan speed control system and a method thereof include primarily an activation unit to drive a fan to operate. When the fan starts completely, the fan slows down to a pre-determined rotation speed through an idle speed regulation unit. After achieving a pre-determined temperature through a temperature transition unit, the fan speed beings to increase from the idle speed. When the fan is operating, the rotation speed is properly increased in proportion to the temperature, using a positive temperature regulation slope unit. Therefore, through this method, the rotation speed will not be decreased by foreign objects when the fan is operating and a computer host can be provided with proper heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Grenergy Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Hui Wang, Chang-Ling Sha, Ko-Ming Lin, Ko-Yen Lee
  • Patent number: 8258726
    Abstract: A system for cooling a battery mounted on a vehicle using air within a vehicle, independently of the travelling state of the vehicle. The air within a vehicle compartment is guided to a battery mounted on a vehicle to cool the battery. A controller determines a basic fan speed v of the cooling fan based on a battery temperature and an ambient temperature. Further, the controller calculates an increment ?v of the fan speed in accordance with the vehicle speed and the degree of window opening and determines a final fan speed V according to V=v+?v, to drive the cooling fan. By controlling the fan speed to increase, it is possible to cool the battery even when the base pressure of the inlet-side static pressure of the cooling fan becomes negative pressure compared to when the windows are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okuda, Toshiaki Nakanishi, Norihito Yuno
  • Patent number: 8253362
    Abstract: An apparatus which estimates the temperatures of a motor without using a temperature sensor can achieve overheat protection by proper control. In an example, a heat generation amount calculation section calculates a heat generation amount of a motor. A current upper limit map has a current upper limit value corresponding to a temperature estimated value and a ratio map has a ratio corresponding to the temperature estimated value. A lower one of limited current values, determined using the two maps, controls energization of the motor. The heat generation amount calculation section includes a heat generation correction term, and a heat radiation correction term for calculating a function of the difference between the integrated value of the heat generation amount and a motor ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature becomes equal to or higher than a comparison temperature, then the heat generation amount is calculated without the heat radiation correction present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomokazu Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8253364
    Abstract: A method for controlling fan speed is disclosed. Firstly, a number of temperature ranges are defined. Each temperature range is associated with a corresponding fan speed. Each two adjacent temperature ranges overlap. The temperature of an electronic system is measured and is compared with the defined temperature ranges to determine whether it enters into a new range. If the measured temperature exceeds any one of the limits of a temperature range associated with the current fan speed, it enters into a new temperature range. The fan speed is adjusted to which is associated with the new entered temperature range. The overlap of each two adjacent temperature ranges covers the fluctuation of the temperature of the electronic system caused solely by the adjustment of fan speed caused by the traversing of the measured temperature between the two adjacent temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Fu Chen, Wan-Neng Su
  • Patent number: 8248739
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus is for another apparatus including a number of insulators, a number of temperature sensors operatively associated with the number of insulators, and a number of conductors operatively associated with the number of insulators. The electrical switching apparatus includes a number of separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a number of sensors structured to sense a number of currents flowing through the separable contacts and through the conductors, a processor structured to input the sensed currents from the sensors, and an output. The processor calculates at least one of: (a) a thermal age of the other apparatus from a number of sensed temperatures from the temperature sensors, and (b) the thermal age of the other apparatus from the sensed currents. The output includes the thermal age of the other apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence B. Farr
  • Publication number: 20120194118
    Abstract: A method for operating a controller includes receiving a first accumulated thermal value of an electrical machine and an associated first time stamp from a memory, initializing a processor of the controller with the first accumulated thermal value and the associated first time stamp, determining whether a second time stamp has been received, calculating a difference between the second time stamp and the first time stamp responsive to determining that the second time stamp has been received, calculating a second accumulated thermal value as a function of the first accumulated thermal value, the first time stamp, and the second time stamp, and updating the first accumulated thermal value with the second accumulated thermal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nataniel Barbosa Vicente, Torsten Brandt, Todd Elliott Greenwood, Joachim Mueller
  • Patent number: 8222849
    Abstract: A motor control method for an MDPS system makes it possible to provide smoother and easier steering operation at a low cost by improving the OHP performance while supplying appropriate controlling electric current to a motor, without changing the motor or a decelerator used in an MDPS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kisung Park, Soobo Park
  • Patent number: 8219248
    Abstract: A hybrid ECU executes a program including the steps of: setting a fan driving level F for a cooling fan, as based on a high voltage battery's temperature TB, SOC and input and output currents, and a vehicular cabin's internal temperature and background noise; detecting from a signal transmitted from a voltage sensor the voltage of an auxiliary battery serving as a power supply for the cooling fan; and setting a duty command value for the cooling fan from fan driving level F and the auxiliary battery's voltage so that the duty command value is smaller as a voltage of the auxiliary battery is higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Aridome, Yusuke Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120146563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement having an electric machine, comprising a stator (4) and a rotor (1) and an infrared temperature sensor, wherein the detection field of the infrared temperature sensor is directed at an outer surface of the rotor (1). The infrared temperature sensor is a thermopile (6) for radiometrically contactlessly detecting a temperature of the rotor (1), the thermopile being arranged in a slot of the stator (4) and being compatible with standard slot-sealing-wedge components of the electric machine with regard to assembly, and thus enables the operational monitoring of the thermal state of an electric machine in a novel manner, such that adapted power states can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Jürgen Zettner
  • Publication number: 20120143465
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling a motor that determines whether or not to control the motor in order to control a variable valve lift device by using a measurement value of a valve lift and a target value of the valve lift; compares a predetermined base temperature with a temperature of an engine room in order to control the motor; determines a temperature factor corresponding to the temperature of the engine room when the temperature of the engine room is larger than the base temperature; and determines a driving signal value for the motor by applying the temperature factor to a predetermined base signal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Chongwon KIM
  • Publication number: 20120133314
    Abstract: A vehicle having a vehicle system is provided with a motor having a housing and a stator. The motor is configured to provide motor torque for vehicle propulsion. The vehicle system is also provided with at least one controller that is configured to receive input indicative of at least one of the housing temperature and the stator temperature, and control the motor torque based on a comparison of the input to predetermined thermal data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Terri Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20120133313
    Abstract: An electric drive machine includes an electric drive system including an internal combustion engine and an electrical power generator coupled to the internal combustion engine. An electronic controller is in control communication with the electric drive system and is configured to determine an estimated temperature of a rotor of the electrical power generator at least in part by determining a rotor temperature rise estimation, compare the estimated rotor temperature to a rotor temperature threshold, and initiate an excessive temperature action if the estimated rotor temperature is greater than or equal to the rotor temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Bo Xie, Suresh B. Reddy, Matt Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8174228
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a motor, a control portion controlling the motor, estimating a heating temperature of the motor on the basis of an electric current value and an energizing time period or a stopping time period of the motor, and restricting an electrification of the motor in a case where the estimated heating temperature becomes equal to or greater than a limit value, and a temperature sensing device for detecting a temperature of a predetermined portion of a vehicle, wherein the control portion estimates an initial temperature of the motor when an engine is started on the basis of a temperature signal outputted from the temperature sensing device and determines the limit value on the basis of the estimated initial temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ozawa, Takahiro Tsuchiya, Yo Kawakami, Masayuki Arai
  • Publication number: 20120097783
    Abstract: A cable handling system mounted to a mobile robot to dispense and retrieve cable at zero tension includes a cable reel drive and a downstream tension roller drive that includes an idler. As a cable passes through the tension roller drive, position along the length of the cable and/or the cable speed is monitored accurately by a sensor attached to the idler. A system controller in communication with the sensor controls the cable reel drive and the tension roller drive for dispensing and retrieving cable downstream of the tension roller drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Todd Pack, Tyson Sawyer, Chikyung Won, Grinnell More
  • Patent number: 8140196
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling temperature of a computer system is disclosed. The computer system contains multiple modules and at least one cooling fan. The method contains the steps of collecting thermal data from a first set of modules, calculating an initial fan speed, collecting thermal data from a second set of modules, and recalculating the fan speed to adjust cooling of modules to desired operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: James A. Rozzi, Peter Hansen
  • Publication number: 20120019183
    Abstract: A rotary breaker that interrupts a transmission of a driving force from a motor to a drive mechanism unit is provided between the motor having a permanent magnet incorporated therein and the drive mechanism unit of an electric vehicle. A second controller controls the rotary breaker based on operation states of a power converting unit that has a power converter that drives the motor by converting a direct-current voltage or an alternate-current voltage into an alternate-current voltage with an arbitrary frequency and a first controller that controls the power converter, operation states of the motor and the rotary breaker, and an operation state of the second controller itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masamichi Sakane, Kenta Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20120007532
    Abstract: A system and method including a runtime thermal model that estimates individual component temperatures, permitting the system to only limit power when necessary or desirable. A power-limiting system for a vector-controlled AC induction motor includes a torque command system for generating a torque command; a thermal protection system determining a runtime estimate for a temperature of a component of a rotational electro-magnetic component of the vector-controlled AC induction motor; and a controller configured to generate a motor control signal for the vector-controlled AC induction motor responsive to the torque command, wherein the thermal protection system determines the runtime estimate responsive to a multi-node thermal model of the vector-controlled AC induction motor, and wherein the controller limits a power of the vector-controlled AC induction motor to maintain a component temperature below its critical temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew David Baglino, Greg Grant Solberg, Yifan Tang
  • Publication number: 20120001579
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a motor control apparatus includes a timer to measure a period in which a job is not executed, a sensor to detect a temperature of a physical object, an acquisition part to acquire time information measured by the timer and temperature information detected by the sensor, and a drive control part that determines a current value of a motor provided in the physical object based on the time information and the temperature information acquired by the acquisition part, and controls the motor current value by applying a voltage level corresponding to the determined current value to a drive element of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shinya MORI
  • Patent number: 8084981
    Abstract: In a rechargeable electric power tool, upon changeover of a trigger switch, a microcomputer determines the magnitude relation between the detected temperature outputted from the first thermistor and the first temperature threshold value, the second temperature threshold value and the third temperature threshold value, and the magnitude relation between the first calculated temperature increase rate and the first preset temperature increase rate. If the detected temperature is determined to be greater than the first temperature threshold value or if the first calculated temperature increase rate is determined to be greater than the first preset temperature increase rate after the detected temperature has been determined to be greater than the second temperature threshold value, the microcomputer is set in a limited operation mode in which the revolution number of the motor is limited to a predetermined value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miwa, Kazuhiko Nishii, Atsumasa Kubota, Kazuto Toyama, Masaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8084979
    Abstract: A method for testing an electric motor which is connected to a valve element by at least one component comprises starting the motor, measuring a movement parameter of at least one of the motor and the component without moving the valve element, and stopping the motor when the measured movement parameter indicates that the valve element is about to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS
    Inventor: Vidar Sten-Halvorsen
  • Publication number: 20110285339
    Abstract: An electrical machine having a rotor component configured to rotate with respect to a stator component includes a sensing arrangement to sense electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical machine parameters during machine operation. The electrical machine also includes a fluid sprayer coupled to a cooling controller. The cooling controller activates the fluid sprayer to spray cooling fluid on a portion of the electrical machine in response to in response to the sensed electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical machine parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110279074
    Abstract: An electric motor system includes an electric motor comprising a stator with windings and a rotor configured to operate at a motor speed; a cooling system comprising coolant configured to cool the rotor and the stator, the coolant having a coolant flow rate and a coolant temperature; an inverter module coupled to the electric motor and configured to provide current to the windings based on inverter control signals; a current regulated torque controller coupled to the inverter module and configured to generate the inverter control signals in response to a derated torque command; and a temperature estimation controller coupled to the current regulated torque controller and configured to generate the derated torque command based on an initial torque command and an estimated stator winding temperature. The temperature estimation controller is configured to estimate the estimated stator winding temperature based on the motor speed and the coolant flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: CHIA-CHOU YEH, STEVEN E. SCHULZ
  • Publication number: 20110247652
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling an electric motor (2), wherein an operating voltage and an operating current is supplied to an electric motor (2), and at least one measurement variable (4, 6, 7, 8) characterizing the electric motor temperature is recorded, wherein the torque discharged by the electric motor during operation is maintained nearly constant regardless of the temperature of the electric motor (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20110241458
    Abstract: A coolant flow reduction monitoring system for a rotary electric machine having stator coils within a plurality of slots of a stator thereof is provided. The stator coils are cooled by a coolant flowing in a plurality of passages provided in the stator coils. The system includes an outlet temperature sensor for measuring a coolant outlet temperature of the coolant in an outlet of at least one of the plurality of passages, a slot temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in at least one slot at a location along a length of each slot and outside of the stator coils, and an inlet temperature sensor for measuring a coolant inlet temperature of the coolant. A coolant flow reduction monitor generates an alarm indicating a coolant flow reduction based on the at least one coolant outlet temperature, the at least one slot temperature and the coolant inlet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sudhanshu Rai, Nicola Piccirillo, Subrat Kumar Sahoo, Ravikumar Sandrana
  • Patent number: 8013565
    Abstract: The temperature of a stator coil is measured by a temperature sensor (14), amplified by a stator coil temperature amplifier (21), and transmitted to a vehicle control section (23). Further, motor cooling oil (17) for cooling the outer periphery of the stator cools the stator coil (16) along an end coil section of the stator coil (16). The temperature of the motor cooling oil raised by the stator coil (16) is measured by a temperature sensor (15) and transmitted also to the vehicle control section (23) via a motor cooling oil temperature amplifier (22). The vehicle control section (23) estimates the temperature of a rotor magnet based on a thermal model (relationship between temperature, a heat production amount, and heat resistance) of the motor cooling oil, the stator coil, and the rotor magnet by using the motor cooling oil temperature and the stator coil temperature as input values and sends a control instruction to a motor control section (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Miura
  • Publication number: 20110213518
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric motor is provided. The method includes receiving a torque request; determining long term torque capabilities and short term torque capabilities of the electric motor; generating a torque command based on the torque request and at least one of the long term torque capabilities or the short term torque capabilities; and controlling the electric motor in accordance with the torque command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: BRIAN A. WELCHKO, NITINKUMAR R. PATEL, LEAH DUNBAR, WILLIAM R. CAWTHORNE, STEVEN E. SCHULZ
  • Publication number: 20110169439
    Abstract: A component intended for use in very low temperature situations has an electromechanical actuator with a control for an electric motor. The control receives a temperature signal indicative of a temperature being experienced by the electromechanical actuator. The control is operable to produce a current signal sent to the electric motor which will generate heat without significant torque. A method of operating the electromechanical actuator is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Michael C. Harke
  • Publication number: 20110144843
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is controlled based on direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature-axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes estimating permanent magnet flux linkage based on q-axis voltage and electrical angular speed, and estimating permanent magnet temperature based on permanent magnet flux linkage and the temperature coefficient of the permanent magnet. The vehicle is controlled based on the estimated permanent magnet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ji Wu, Franco Leonardi, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner, Daniel Luedtke
  • Patent number: 7952305
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a rotatable wheel (e.g., three rotatable wheels), a forward drive mechanism including a forward drive motor (e.g., an internal combustion engine), and a reverse drive mechanism. The reverse drive mechanism includes a reverse drive motor (e.g., an electric motor) adapted to move the chassis in the rearward direction, and a reverse drive control programmed to inhibit operation of the reverse drive mechanism when the forward drive motor is off. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a battery for operating the reverse drive motor, and the reverse drive control is programmed to inhibit operation of the motor when a characteristic of the battery (e.g., an output voltage) falls below a threshold. The vehicle can further include a temperature sensor for the reverse drive motor. In this embodiment, the reverse drive control is programmed to inhibit operation of the reverse drive motor when the temperature of the motor exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Fischer, Richard Parisey, Jay M. Klubertanz, Steven P. Pertzsch
  • Patent number: 7945985
    Abstract: Windshield wiper device (10), particularly for a motor vehicle, having at least an electric motor drive (24) is proposed. This comprises an electric motor drive, which can be driven with at least one first speed (V1) and one second speed (V2). According to the invention, a temperature detection means (40) for detecting the operating temperature of the drive (24) and at least one switching means (50) are provided, which, when operating the drive (24) at the second speed (V2), switches the drive (24) from the second speed (V2) to the first speed (V1) when a predetermined operating temperature (T1) is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Stubner
  • Publication number: 20110101904
    Abstract: An apparatus which estimates the temperatures of a motor without using a temperature sensor can achieve overheat protection by proper control. In an example, a heat generation amount calculation section calculates a heat generation amount of a motor. A current upper limit map has a current upper limit value corresponding to a temperature estimated value and a ratio map has a ratio corresponding to the temperature estimated value. A lower one of limited current values, determined using the two maps, controls energization of the motor. The heat generation amount calculation section includes a heat generation correction term, and a heat radiation correction term for calculating a function of the difference between the integrated value of the heat generation amount and a motor ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature becomes equal to or higher than a comparison temperature, then the heat generation amount is calculated without the heat radiation correction present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomokazu SAKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7936141
    Abstract: A motor driver system includes an excess current sensing device configured to compensate a sensing value depending on a temperature of a motor, and to output the compensated sensing value, the sensing value being obtained from a current value associated with the motor; and a controller configured to stop the motor when the compensated sensing value exceeds a preset excess value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Hoon Lee, June Hee Won, Gil Su Lee, Jun Ho Ahn, Jae Yoon Oh
  • Publication number: 20110095716
    Abstract: A motor driver for a machine tool, which comprises a fan motor, configured to drive a cooling fan for cooling a radiator or the interior of the motor driver, estimates a rate of heat release within a heating element or the motor driver, based on information obtained from a motor current detector used for motor control or from an input current detector of the motor driver, and adjusts a fan motor power supply voltage to control a rotational speed of the fan motor in accordance with the estimated heat release value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Shigeki HANYU, Shinichi HORIKOSHI, Yasusuke IWASHITA
  • Publication number: 20110095717
    Abstract: An electric vehicle employs an oil commonly used as a lubricating oil for gears and a coolant for a motor and is propelled by transmitting the rotational torque of the motor to wheels through the gears, the motor being partly immersed in the oil. It is determined whether the motor is in a state prior to being started or not. If it is judged that the motor is in the state prior to being started, coils of the motor are energized alternately with a first current supplied to the motor at an advanced angle for no torque to generate a magnetic flux, and a second current supplied to the motor at another advanced angle for no torque to generate a magnetic flux in a direction opposite to the magnetic flux generated by the first current, thereby heating the oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daijiro TAKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 7928679
    Abstract: Thermistor monitoring arrangement of an alternating-current electric motor controlled by a power transformer, such as a frequency converter, for at least one thermistor monitoring the temperature of the motor, in which is a power transformer (200), in which is a power stage (203) and a control unit (204), controlling an alternating-current electric motor (201) provided with a thermistor (202), and into which power transformer, such as a frequency converter, an input circuit connected to a thermistor located in the motor is integrated, to which input circuit a safety circuit (a so-called Safe Stop circuit) that prevents unexpected starting or ensures safe stopping of the frequency converter is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Vacon Oyj
    Inventors: Kimmo Rajakangas, Paavo Merilinna, Hans Carlsson
  • Publication number: 20110084638
    Abstract: Methods, system and apparatus are provided for sensorless control of a vector controlled motor drive system that includes an electric motor used to drive an auxiliary oil pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: NITINKUMAR R. PATEL, YO CHAN SON
  • Publication number: 20110056707
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a fire-extinguishing system and method for injecting foamant into a stream of water. The system can include a flow meter determining a flow rate of the stream of water and a foam pump having an inlet coupled to a supply of foamant and an outlet coupled to the stream of water. The system includes a servo motor driving the foam pump. The servo motor includes a sensor used to determine a rotor shaft speed and/or a rotor shaft torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Jonathan Gamble, Ron Flanary, Robert L. Hosfield, Harold McCabe, Martin Piedl, Charles Ford, Troy Anderson