Motor-reversing Patents (Class 318/54)
  • Patent number: 11229325
    Abstract: A motor is generally described. The motor may include an armature and a coil. The coil and armature operatively receive power from a power source. The power induces magnetic fields in the coil and armature to drive the armature. When power is removed, the coils reverse polarity to inductively decelerate the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saifur T. Tareen, David Kolar
  • Patent number: 10064328
    Abstract: A grass mowing machine for high power applications includes a controller monitoring a total implement load of multiple implements connected to lift arms on a grass mowing machine. The controller determines if the total implement load consistently exceeds available power. If the total implement load consistently exceeds available power, the controller disables at least one but not all of the implements, and provides a signal to at least one but not all of the lift arms to raise the implements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert A. Henson
  • Patent number: 9714653
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a wheel drive motor; an inverter that supplies electric power to the motor; a pump that delivers refrigerant to the motor and the inverter; and a controller that controls the pump. When a main switch of the vehicle is at an ON position, the controller limits the pump output at or below a predetermined pump output upper limit value, and, when the main switch is switched to an OFF position while travelling, the controller drives the pump at an output higher than the pump output upper limit value irrespective of the pump output upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9260901
    Abstract: A door opening/closing device for use in a vehicle is provided with a driving member. The driving member has a permanent-magnet motor provided with two terminals and an output member, which is rotationally driven by the permanent-magnet motor. The driving member is mounted on either a vehicle body or a vehicle door and is coupled to the other via the output member. As the output member rotates, the vehicle door opens or closes. The door opening/closing device is also provided with a switching device configured to switch the permanent-magnet motor between an energizable state, in which the permanent-magnet motor can receive electricity through the two terminals, and a brake state, in which the terminals are short-circuited. The switching device switches the permanent-magnet motor into the brake state when the vehicle door is in any position other than the fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ishida, Wataru Otake, Takeshi Nishikibe
  • Patent number: 9121214
    Abstract: An open-close member control apparatus has a function to release a foreign matter pinched to an open-close member. The open-close member is either (i) driven only while a manipulation switch is manipulated or (ii) driven continuously once the manipulation switch is manipulated to a specified position regardless of whether the manipulation is then released. When trapping of a foreign matter is detected under an open movement of the open-close member to an open direction based on an open command signal from the manipulation switch, an electric power supply to a motor is restricted to stop a progress of the trapping. When receiving a close command signal from the manipulation switch after restricting the electric power supply, the electric power is supplied to the motor to drive the open-close member to a close direction under a restricted state of a predetermined operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Sumiya
  • Patent number: 8878465
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Melissa Drechsel Kidd, William James Genaw, Micheal Robert Pasche, Gary Thomas Baase, II, Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Rasmus Fink, Martin Skov Holm
  • Patent number: 8700245
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having two, in particular electrical, drives, a partial torque is in each case intended to be assigned to the individual drives from a demanded total torque, to be precise taking account of the energy efficiency on the one hand and the stability of the vehicle on the other hand. A first controller is responsible for taking account of the energy efficiency, and predetermines a bandwidth of possible partial torques for an individual drive. This bandwidth may be restricted by a second controller, when driving stability requires this. The second controller is coupled to appropriate sensors (yaw rate sensor, lateral acceleration sensor, longitudinal acceleration sensor) and knows the steering angle ?. In the course of interchanging data signals with a first control device, the partial torques are defined with the involvement of the second control device, for which purpose the first control device emits control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Michael Wein, Sebastian Strasser, Martin Werner
  • Patent number: 8480318
    Abstract: A driving force transmitting device for driving a driven unit includes a first driving unit, a second driving unit, a driving force-transmitted portion which is attached to the driven unit and to which driving forces of the first and second driving units are transmitted, and a controlling unit for separately controlling the first and second driving units, wherein driving force transmitting portions of the first and second driving units transmit the driving forces to the driving force-transmitted portion at its different positions, and wherein when the driven unit being driven is to be stopped, the controlling unit causes the first driving unit to drive in a direction reverse to a driving direction while the second driving unit continues to drive, then causes the first and second driving units to stop in a state in which the driving forces of the first and second driving units are balanced with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8436559
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Sta-Rite Industries, LLC, Danfoss Low Power Drives
    Inventors: Melissa Drechsel Kidd, William James Genaw, Micheal Robert Pasche, Gary Thomas Baase, II, Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Rasmus Fink, Martin Skov Holm
  • Patent number: 8278848
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of motors, a controller which generates control signals to control the plurality of motors and output the control signals, and a plurality of motor drivers which control corresponding motors among the plurality of motors if the enable signal among the control signal is input, and does not control the motors although the common signal is input if the enable signal is not input. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus may control a plurality of motors which is not necessary to be driven at the same time using an enable signal and thus the motors may be effectively controlled with low expense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-bin Hwang
  • Patent number: 8093851
    Abstract: A fan module, especially a fan module which may reduce a rotating speed of a fan automatically when an object with static electricity gets into the fan is provided. The fan module includes a frame, a fan, an electrostatic induction unit and a controller. The fan is disposed in the frame, and the electrostatic induction unit is disposed on the frame and adjacent to the fan. The controller is electrically coupled to the electrostatic induction unit. When an object with static electricity gets into the electrostatic induction unit, the electrostatic induction unit outputs a sensing value to the controller. The controller determines whether to reduce the rotating speed of the fan according to the sensing value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Asustek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Jia-Lin Yang, Fou-Ming Liou
  • Patent number: 7821418
    Abstract: This invention relates to a safety system comprising an elongate signal carrying device having a first end and a second end. At least a part of the elongate signal carrying device is selectively manipulable at a manipulation point to generate a measurable non-electric signal that can be carried by the signal carrying device. The safety system further comprises an output device for causing an audible or visible alarm signal or an electric signal to be outputted in response to the non-electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Cronapress Limited
    Inventors: Ian Parker, Ken Naylor, Fred Keery, Christopher M Butler
  • Patent number: 7797915
    Abstract: A system to clear stuck reels on a grass mowing machine with a reversible electric or hydraulic motor connected to a cutting reel. The reel motor can rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction. A controller provides electric signals to the reel motor, and commands the motor to reverse direction if the reel motor does not rotate in the forward direction at a rotational speed at least as high as a preset minimum speed, or rotate a pre-specified number of revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jacob C. Kallara, Clement V. Godbold
  • Patent number: 7672760
    Abstract: A searchlight (3) on board a vessel (1) arranged for illuminating a point (2p) and maintain said point (2p) illuminated regardless of the movements of said vessel (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Aptomar AS
    Inventors: Lars Andre Solberg, Jonas Aamodt Moræus
  • Patent number: 7460946
    Abstract: A preceding vehicle following cruise control is configured to shift automatically from a low speed following cruise control mode to a high speed following cruise control mode when a vehicle speed changes from a low speed region to a high speed region while a vehicle speed setting is set. Alternatively, the preceding vehicle following cruise control system is configured to shift automatically from the low speed following cruise control mode to the high speed following cruise control mode when the vehicle speed changes from the low speed region to the high speed region while a history of mode switching operation history indicating that the following cruise control mode has been changed from the low speed following cruise control mode to the high speed following cruise control mode is stored in a memory section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Shima
  • Patent number: 7432674
    Abstract: A transmission path delay is set in a shift setting register. A slave unit generates a PRE_ITP signal in response to a timing signal (ITP signal) issued by a master unit. The phase difference between this PRE_ITP signal and the ITP signal unique to the slave unit is loaded into a period modification counter. A timer corrects a reference value, outputs position/speed control period signals (SYN signals) and counts down the period modification counter with these SYN signals until the period modification counter reaches zero. Furthermore, the ITP signal unique to the slave unit is outputted every time a predetermined number of the SYN signals are outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Aoyama, Kunitaka Komaki, Minoru Nakamura, Takaaki Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20070182348
    Abstract: A voltage measuring circuit 11 measures a voltage of a block B1. Then, a voltage measuring circuit 12 measures a voltage of a block B2. Then, the voltage measuring circuit 11 measures again the voltage of a block B1. A low voltage CPU judges that an in-vehicle battery is abnormal if the measured voltage is out of predetermined upper and lower limits, or a voltage difference between the block B2 and the block B1 measured again is more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Ooishi, Satoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7230393
    Abstract: In response to detection of a skid of drive wheels based on an increase in angular acceleration ? of a rotating shaft of a motor, the control procedure of the invention refers to a map representing a variation in maximum torque Tmax against the angular acceleration ? and sets torque restriction of the motor to limit the torque level of the motor to the maximum torque Tmax corresponding to a peak value of the angular acceleration ?. When the torque restriction sufficiently lowers the angular acceleration ? to detect convergence of the skid, the control procedure cancels the torque restriction to a certain level of the maximum torque Tmax corresponding to a torque restoration limit ?1, which is set according to the degree of the skid. The torque restoration limit ?1 (that is, the maximum torque Tmax) is cancelled in a stepwise manner by a cancellation rate and a cancellation time corresponding to an additional accelerator depression relative to an accelerator opening at the time of detection of the skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Hommi, Kiyotaka Hamajima, Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 7157871
    Abstract: Rotation of a capstan motor is detected by a frequency detector, and supplied to a CPU as a rotation detection signal CFG. The CPU derives a period of the rotation detection signal CFG, calculates an average rotational speed of the capstan motor on the basis of the derived period, derives an attenuation value of the rotational speed on the basis of the calculated average speed, and thereby sets a braking time interval. As a result, calculation of the braking time using a highly accurate zero point detection with a frequency detector of one system becomes possible. The apparatus scale can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuki Azuma
  • Patent number: 7098616
    Abstract: A control device includes a control module controlling a polarity switching unit connected electrically to a motor unit of a food processor to provide a first current path for an input power signal through the motor unit when the control module is operated in a processing mode, and further controlling the polarity switching unit to provide a second current path for the input power signal through the motor unit when the control module is operated in a braking mode. A power control unit is connected electrically to the motor unit and the control module, and controls the power control unit such that the power control unit reduces an amount of the input power signal that flows through the second current path during a braking period when the control module is operated in the braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Ya Horng Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Feng Tsai, Fu-Wen Yu, Chia-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 7023152
    Abstract: A driving control device for an actuator comprises a driving device to drive an actuator having an electric motor (30) and a driving control device (50) to control the rotation of the electric motor (30) by controlling the driving device. The driving control device includes an H bridge circuit constructed by four switching semiconductor elements (Tr1 to Tr4), and rotates the electric motor in normal and reverse directions by turning on and turning off the switching semiconductor elements (Tr1 to Tr4). The driving control device (50) conducts to activate and to stop the electric motor (30) by applying a PWM signal to the switching semiconductor elements (Tr3 and Tr4) constructing the lower arm of the H bridge circuit (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sunaga, Kaoru Tanaka, Futoshi Araki, Eiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6794837
    Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a panel movable between at least two positions by an electric motor having a rotatable armature. The control generates time periods for the rotation of the armature over a constant angular distance. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods and compared with a threshold time period to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the closure. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples to detect an obstacle. A compensation factor is used to adjust a threshold upon detecting a start-up transient during an initial movement of the motor armature coupled to the panel to delay activation of obstacle detection until the start-up transient diminishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Whinnery, Jon C. Everhart, Jr., Thierry Caussat, David M. Wenrick
  • Publication number: 20040124794
    Abstract: A switch apparatus of the invention can avoid contact damage without inviting a drastic increase in a size even when applied to a high power source voltage and does not deteriorate return feeling to a neutral state. The switch apparatus includes a switch A for cutting off connection between one side driving input of a DC motor and a negative plate side power source, a switch B for cutting off connection between the other side driving input and the negative plate side power source, and a switch C for cutting off connection between the one side driving input and the positive plate side power source and connection between the other side driving input and the positive plate side power source, wherein the switch A and the switch B are normally-closed type switches and the switch C is a normally-open type switch. The switch C is opened at a predetermined time before the switch A or the switch B is closed, and cuts off in advance a power source route to avoid the occurrence of dead short-circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Keiichi Shimizu, Yasuhide Tanaka, Kiyotaka Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6756750
    Abstract: An electric vehicle driven by a pair of left and right electric motors is provided. The vehicle includes a controller for controlling the start of the vehicle. The controller performs such control as avoiding brake drag caused by the operation of the electric motors before the elimination of the braking of a pair of left and right parking electromagnetic brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Yoshinori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6731092
    Abstract: A stepper motor is initialized so that the exciting signal is applied to coils with the step shifted by half of one electric cycle from the rebounding step being synchronized with the timing when the stopper piece is brought into contact with a fixed stopper. The rebounding step, in which the rotor of the stepper motor reverses its rotating direction, can be easily detected. If the rebounding step can be detected, the position for initializing can be easily defined in the angle shifting manner as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 6694095
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is basically composed of a driving circuit for driving a plurality of loads contained in a plurality of motors, and a control circuit for controlling the driving circuit to sequentially drive the plurality of the motors. The driving circuit has at least two channels which are controlled by the control circuit concurrently with each other. Each channel is controlled by the control circuit such as to selectively drive the loads. The channel is provided with at least (n+1) number (n: integer of 2 or greater) of output terminals to connect at most n number of the loads. The control circuit controls the driving circuit to perform an intra-channel driving mode in which one pair of the output terminals are selected from one channel and allocated to drive one load, and an inter-channel driving mode in which another pair of the output terminals are selected from two channels and allocated to drive another load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Kohno
  • Patent number: 6366040
    Abstract: An apparatus 10 for controllably moving a vehicle window, which is deployed upon a vehicle 12 of the type having a cab 14 including a rear or “backlight” window 16. Apparatus 10 includes a conventional controller 22 having a memory unit 24, a conventional window actuating motor 26, which is operatively coupled to window 16 and to controller 22, and a user operated switch 28, which is coupled to controller 22. Controller 22 receives signals from switch 28 and utilizes the received signals, in combination with data describing the current state/position of the ignition switch 36 and of motor 26, to selectively provide commands to motor 26, thereby selectively and controllably moving and/or positioning window 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. McLennan, David J. Jaworski, Gwen L. Woods, Robin Lynn Rivard, Steven M Sundberg, Scott W. Westermann, Fred Lupton
  • Patent number: 6344719
    Abstract: The motor driving apparatus comprises a plurality of motors for displacing the position of the control object member, semiconductor switch pairs, a plurality of motor driving units for connecting the motors to the power supply and a control unit for ON/OFF controlling the semiconductor switch pairs. The motors form two sets of motors with each set being formed of two motors. One end of the motors and forming each set is connected to the common motor driving unit having the semiconductor switch pair and the other end of the motors and forming each set is connected to the motor driving units having the semiconductor switch pairs in each set. When the motors of each set are driven simultaneously, the control unit turns ON and OFF two semiconductor switch pairs and drives the motors of each set on the time division basis to provide inverse output polarities of the two semiconductor switch pairs connected to the motors of each set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Shibazaki, Masaaki Tanaka, Toshiyuki Hoshi, Satoshi Terashita, Ken Mizuta
  • Patent number: 6288509
    Abstract: In an opposed wiping type wiper apparatus, left and right wiper blades which perform wiping operations with a predetermined preceding-following relationship maintained are layered vertically at their lower returning positions. A wiper drive control unit controls preceding-following relationships between the left and right wiper blades to prevent locking and stopping of the wiper blades when the relationship has changed by replacing left and right control forms for the blades. When the timer of the wiper blade which is to be in the follower side during normal operation is not reset but overflows among timers which are respectively reset pulse signals generated in accordance with rotations of motors, the output of the motor which drives the wiper blade which is to be in the follower side during normal operations is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Amagasa
  • Patent number: 6094019
    Abstract: The common contact 5a of a power source circuit side relay 2a is connected to the common contact 15a of a motor circuit side relay 12a. The common contact 5b of a power source circuit side relay 2b is connected to the common contact 15b of a motor circuit side relay 12b. And, the switching contacts 6a and 6b, and 16a and 16b of the power source circuit sides relays 2a and 2b and the motor circuit side relays 12a and 12b are tripped in response to relay switching signals provided by an ECU. The power source circuit side relays 2a and 2b are selectively switched, so that the directions of flow of currents in the motor circuits 21 through 24 are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shinichi Saiki
  • Patent number: 5965993
    Abstract: This system for controlling the operation of reversible motor-speed reducer modules for adjusting in position elements of a motor vehicle seat structure is characterized in that the motor-speed reducer modules (1,2) are connected in parallel to common supply means (3), whose output voltage direction is piloted by a control module (4), and to this control module (4) through a multiplexed network (5) for the transmission of data piloting said motor-speed reducer module to permit the actuation or non-actuation, in one direction of rotation or the other, of each motor-speed reducer module (1,2) for adjusting in position each element of the seat structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ecia-Equipements et Composants pour l'Industrie Automobile
    Inventors: Philippe Bak, Pierre Laporte
  • Patent number: 5936375
    Abstract: A method for energy storage and recovery for load hoisting equipment driven by an inverter controlled first induction motor and having a second inverter controlling a second induction motor which drives a flywheel whereby, utilizing rest power such as reverse power from the first induction motor when lowering a load and unused power at small load or idle to accelerate rotation of a flywheel, whereby energy is stored, and the system is reversed when a load is lifted and power is consumed whereby the flywheel causes the second motor to generate power and deliver it to the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Paceco Corp.
    Inventor: Masamitsu Enoki
  • Patent number: 5627438
    Abstract: A pulsing drive system delivers pulsed power signal of the driven wheels of a vehicle for improving the efficiency internal combustion or an electric motor driven vehicles. A controller receives signals such as velocity and demand, and communicates to a means for selectively communicating energy wherein the means for selectively communicating energy converts the pulse signal to a correspondingly conditioned power pulse for powering the vehicle. When combined with a plurality of motors sized with optimal horsepower ranges according to a binary array, an arrangement of such motors provides for an optimally efficient operation of the vehicle by bringing on-line strategically selected combinations of the motors. A control system selectively brings on-line the multiple motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Robert D. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5534758
    Abstract: The present invention resides in that two of three drivers are BTL-operated in pair to drive the motor for driving the tray and one of the two drivers and a remaining one driver are BTL-operated in pair to drive the other motors. Therefore, it is possible to construct a driver circuit for driving various drive motors within an optical disk drive device by adding only one driver to a conventional driver circuit and, thus, it becomes possible to make the drive circuit as a single chip IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yamamoto, Shinichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5491391
    Abstract: Automatic start up of a continuous sine-wave commutated, brushless, direct current motor in a predetermined direction is done by applying a ramped armature current to the direct current motor to generate an armature field. The resulting armature field is rotated independent of angular position of the shaft. Upon rotation of the motor shaft beginning, the direction of rotation of the shaft is determined. Responsive to rotation of the shaft in an undesired direction, the direction of rotation of the armature field is reversed. A base angle of rotation of a shaft in the direct current motor is determined from an index mark as it rotates by an index mark detector. Responsive to detection of the index mark, rotation of the armature field and the angular position of the shaft are synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Allen A. Bahr, Du V. Nguyen, Gary A. Teichman
  • Patent number: 5453671
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromotive actuator with a housing for a central door locking system of a motor vehicle having a first slide adjustable by a first electric motor between two end positions. The first slide can be connected with a door lock of the motor vehicle independently of the end position and is preferably decoupled from the electric motor in the end positions, so that the first slide is manually adjustable between its end positions. Such an electromotive actuator is provided with a theft protection capability in the sense that, after a windshield of a motor vehicle is smashed in, an unlocking of the door by the inside locking handle is no more possible because the parts of the actuator are not actuated by operating the inside locking handle. Finally, an unlocking operation initiated from the outside is possible when the theft protection is put into operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Baier, Udo Baumeister, Heiner Bayha, Uwe Fortwingel, Ronald Frey, Rainer Johannsmeier, Heinz Leiter, Dieter Losch, Rudolf Watzka
  • Patent number: 5369342
    Abstract: A method and firmware motor calibration system for measuring average system voltage of operating electric motors and time of movement between physical stops of mechanical structures coupled to the output shafts of the electric motors. The system calibrates motors arranged to operate as hybrid closed and open loop motor control systems. Data concerning position of the shafts is determined for the closed loop motor control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Rudzewicz, Michael A. Dahl, Thomas G. Dunn, Kenneth J. Wenzel, Ronald A. Muckley
  • Patent number: 5315218
    Abstract: An electrically actuated shifting mechanism includes a reversible rail select electric motor and a reversible in-gear electric motor. Three groups of switches are provided to effect one-at-a-time operation of the motors with a center group of switches being used to effect operation of either the rail select or the in-gear motor and to determine the direction of operation of the motor. In one embodiment of the invention, the motor control circuitry also controls the operation of a main clutch motor. Four groups of switches are used to effect operation of the in-gear, rail select and clutch motors in desired directions. Pulse width modulation is used to effect simultaneous and out-of-phase operation of the in-gear and main clutch motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn C. Fortune, William L. Kelledes
  • Patent number: 5252897
    Abstract: A motor vehicle glass wiper system includes first and second motor assemblies and respective first and second wiper blades. Each motor assembly is effective to move its respective wiper blade through a wipe pattern that is bounded by an outboard direction reversing position and an inboard direction reversing position. The wipe patterns of the first and second wiper blades overlap to establish an interference zone of potential wiper blade contact which is adjacent both inboard direction reversing positions and bounded thereby. A wiper motor control monitors a respective key position sensor for each wiper blade. The control energizes each one of the wiper motors to move its respective wiper blade to the inboard direction reversing position and back to the outboard direction reversing position each time the key position sensor of the other one of the wiper blades indicates a transition out of the interference zone thereby inhibiting interference between the wiper blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene B. Porter, Thomas W. Holmes
  • Patent number: 5220257
    Abstract: A motor control circuit, in which the motor is driven to rotate by a driving current according to a torque control signal and the motor rotation is stopped by generating a torque on the motor in the reversing direction when a stop signal for stopping the motor is received, further being provided with a level inverting circuit disposed between a torque control signal generating circuit and a drive circuit for inverting the level of the torque control signal with respect to a predetermined reference level, a level inverted torque control signal by the level inverting circuit is outputted to the drive circuit when the stop signal is received, and further provided with a reference signal generating circuit generating a reference signal corresponding to a reference rotational speed of the motor as well as generating another reference signal corresponding to a rotational speed lower than that of the reference rotational speed when the stop signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Yoshino, Norio Fujii
  • Patent number: 5126640
    Abstract: A centralized control unit that includes supply circuits for supplying various motors for controlling movements of parts of a vehicle seat, an in-board power source for feeding the supply circuits, an inverting device for enabling a control with inversion in a rotation direction of the various motors, and a study carrying wheel having a set of studs for enabling a selection of each of the various motors, with each of the set of studs being connected to a circuit of one of the various motors for controlling one of the parts of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Bertrand Faure Automobile
    Inventor: Yannick Leroy
  • Patent number: 4900995
    Abstract: A pair of wiper blades on a vehicle window are oscillated in opposing movement from an overlapping inner wipe arrangement, with upper and lower overlapped blades, outward to separated outer wipe positions and inward to the overlapping inner wipe arrangement with the positions of the blades reversed. Since the upper blade on the way out becomes the lower blade on the way back, it does not need to pause in its outer wipe position and it thus does not need to be subjected to a large acceleration in maintaining fast wipe cycles on large vehicle windshields. This reduces stress on the arm and blade and blade end whip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Wainwright
  • Patent number: 4900996
    Abstract: A pair of wiper blades on a vehicle window are oscillated in opposing movement between an overlapping inner wipe arrangement, in which one of the blades overlaps the other, and separated outer wiper positions. In dynamic symmetrical overlap (DSOL) operation, the first blade during each cycle to reach its outer wipe position is brought back first to be overlapped by the other for the start of the next cycle. This will normally produce alternating symmetrical overlap (ASOL) operation with its advantages of lower maximum blade acceleration and stress, since the overlapping blade precedes the other on the way out. However, if the leading blade is occasionally slowed, the other blade will not be forced to wait in its outer wipe position; and the cycle time will be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Wainwright
  • Patent number: 4857813
    Abstract: A motor control circuit is disclosed, which comprises an operation switch to issue the forward rotation or reverse rotation signal, driving means to operate the motor to the forward or reverse direction in response to the forward rotation or reverse rotation signal from said operation switch, rotation detecting means to detect the rotating condition of the motor, and stopping means to cut off the power to said motor when, during the operation of the operation switch, the rotation detecting means continues to detect, for a certain period of time, that the rotation of the motor has been stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuki Matsumoto, Masaru Kato
  • Patent number: 4774441
    Abstract: A motor control system for controlling operation of a plurality of motors. The motor control system is composed of a microcomputer for performing sequential control of the motors. A plurality of integrated circuits are provided to drive the motors, respectively, in response to signal output from the microcomputer. Each integrated circuit has two input terminals connected respectively to two output ports of the microcomputer and two output terminals connected respectively to one terminals of the motors. Additionally, a change-over circuit is provided to change over the rotational direction of the motors in response to signals from the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Toyomasu, Kazuo Sato
  • Patent number: 4766356
    Abstract: A device for opening and closing a vehicle top by rotations of drive shafts rotatably provided with both right and left sides of the vehicle, comprises two individual motors which actuate the individual drive shafts through speed reduction mechanisms, switching relays which switch the direction of rotation of both said motors respectively, switching relay actuation transistors which individually actuate both the switching relays, top-open and top-close command switches which command the opening and closing of said vehicle top, a switch command determination means which ascertains whether the top-open or top-close command switches are operated, an actuation means which conducts the top opening or closing by actuation of said switching relays via said switching relay actuation transistors on the basis of a signal from the switch command determination means when the top-open or top-close command switches are operated, rotation synchronization sensors which are possessed by at least one of the two motors and gene
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignees: Asmo Co., Ltd., Mazda Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Handa, Takahiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4733145
    Abstract: A drive control system for driving an electrically driven window or sun roof is disclosed. A control unit drives a vehicle mounted device until it reaches a limit position when an ignition key is not inserted and when a door of the vehicle closes. Accordingly, a usual operation by a driver of the vehicle which occurs when he stops and gets out of the vehicle involves stopping the engine, withdrawing the ignition key, opening the door to get out of the vehicle, and closing the door. When it is desired to leave the window or sun roof in a half-open condition in order to prevent the parked car from overheating, the control unit stores any drive of a vehicle mounted device in response to an input when the ignition key is not inserted into the receptacle of the ignition switch, and controllably drives the vehicle mounted device until it reaches a limit position in response to a combination of the absence of the ignition key inserted into the receptacle, a closing of the door and the absence of stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Fujitsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Ohashi, Tomio Yasuda, Ryuji Iizawa, Kiyomi Hori
  • Patent number: 4698560
    Abstract: In vehicular electric door lock arrangement the running time of a first adjusting unit is longer than the worst possible running times of the other adjusting units. The first adjusting unit operates a switching unit via which the running time of the other adjusting units is preset. The separate timing element for the control of the various adjusting units used in prior systems can be omitted, because this timing function is provided by one of the adjusting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Marcel Andrei-Alexandru, Wolfgang Kofink, Eckhardt Schmid, Volker Tietz
  • Patent number: 4677355
    Abstract: Electric-powered actuating device usable for the positioning control of valves and the like, featuring a motor, mechanical and spring means capable of driving said valve or other attached devices into a predetermined safety position in case of electrical signal or power failure; said actuating device having electrical amplifying means capable of providing pulsed current to drive said motor in one direction in response to an input signal, a constant current to hold said motor in a selected position, or no power, to allow the mechanical and spring means to reverse the motor direction; additional means are provided to limit the travel to a selected position despite further increases in input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Inventor: Peter H. Baumann
  • Patent number: 4670693
    Abstract: A photographic camera exposes a film to an image of an object through a lens. The camera comprises means provided with a first motor for controlling the optical characteristic of the lens through the function of the first motor, means provided with a second motor for advancing the motor through the function of the second motor, and first, second and third serial circuit means each of which is provided with a pair of serially connected switching means and which are mutually connected in parallel manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K. K.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kazami, Toshiyuki Nakamura