Miscellaneous Patents (Class 318/558)
  • Patent number: 11482468
    Abstract: A method includes disposing a series of protrusions on a rectangular side panel of an open four-sided box-like structure in a frame, and attaching an electronic substrate to the frame. The electronic substrate carries one or more circuit components. The series of protrusions acts as a spring-like compensator to compensate plastic deformation, twisting or warping of the frame, and to limit propagation of stress to the electronic substrate via the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yushuang Yao, Vemmond Jeng Hung Ng, Chee Hiong Chew, Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 11277946
    Abstract: A housing for an inverter includes circuit elements and a cooling system, wherein the housing has four openings and the cooling system includes two channels arranged in the housing, each of which is connected to two different openings, and a condenser is arranged below the housing, wherein two openings from different channels are connected for communication by means of a connecting element arranged outside the housing and the connecting element is of rigid design and extends past the side of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: VALEO SIEMENS EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Schmitt, Alexandros Kourgialis, Anna Kaiser, Andrei Alexandru, Christoph Hoyler, Michael Nobel
  • Patent number: 11193976
    Abstract: A switching device including: a body which has a first side wall and a first end wall, the first side wall being perpendicular in relation to a longitudinal direction, and the first end wall is substantially perpendicular to the first side wall; and a first fixed contact comprising an inner section and an outer section, the inner section having a thickness dimension, the outer section protrudes from the first side wall in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Anu-Riikka Vuorinen, Patrik Rabb, Rainer Kolmonen, Timo Jokiniemi
  • Patent number: 11192444
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle that enables downsizing and cost reduction of an oil supply mechanism to be achieved. The drive unit includes: a first feeding line for supplying a first motor and a differential mechanism with oil discharged from a first oil pump; and a second feeding line for supplying a second motor with oil discharged from a second oil pump, the oil being supplied via an oil cooler that cools the oil. A passage between from the second oil pump to the second motor in the second feeding line and a passage between from the first oil pump to the first motor and the differential mechanism in the first feeding line, are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Hashimoto, Hiroaki Kimura, Tomohito Ono
  • Patent number: 11171593
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor identification method capable of identifying information on a brushless DC motor, particularly without performing any handshaking, includes supplying an input voltage from an identifier to a brushless DC motor including at least one resistor connected between a power supply line and a GND line, reading a resistance value of at least one resistor in a state where the inverter of the brushless DC motor is off, and identifying information on the brushless DC motor based on the read resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 11159101
    Abstract: A modular intermediate circuit for a power converter has at least two or more intermediate circuit capacitor modules connected in parallel and in a chain, each intermediate circuit capacitor module having a first terminal, a second terminal, and at least one first intermediate circuit capacitor, which is electrically connected with the first terminal and the second terminal. First terminals of the intermediate circuit capacitor modules each following immediately one after another in the chain are connected in each case through a first low-resistance, high-inductance connection and a first high-resistance, low-inductance connection that is connected in parallel thereto. Second terminals of the intermediate circuit capacitor modules each following immediately one after another in the chain are connected in each case through a second low-resistance, high-inductance connection and a second high-resistance, low-inductance connection that is connected in parallel thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Manser, Dominik Reinhard, Reinhard Reichelt
  • Patent number: 11088649
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion unit, in which a power smoothing capacitor is configured such that a plurality of unit capacitors as conductive polymer hybrid aluminum electrolytic capacitors are arrayed in a grid pattern and connected in parallel on a circuit board, and also connected to a plurality of unit modules of different phases via positive and negative bus bars arranged on both sides of the circuit board so that each group of several unit capacitors and each unit module are arranged close to each other, to thereby reduce wiring impedance of a power supply circuit and suppress noise generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kitamura, Ryuichi Ishii, Shozo Kanzaki, Toshiyuki Yasutomi
  • Patent number: 11032919
    Abstract: A control box includes a housing defining an interior, the housing including a cover and a stiffener, the stiffener removably connected in contact with the cover, the stiffener including an outer frame and at least one cross-member. The control box further includes a heat sink removably connected in contact with the stiffener. The control box further includes a first circuit board disposed within the interior, the first circuit board positioned between the stiffener and the heat sink, and a second circuit board disposed within the interior, the second circuit board positioned between the cover and the stiffener. The cover, stiffener, and heat sink are stacked along a transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Randall Lee Neuman, Stefano Angelo Mario Lassini, Jason Eggiman
  • Patent number: 10978989
    Abstract: A mobile solar collecting device, system and method is disclosed. The system includes an angle adjustable solar collecting device, an electronic storage unit to store electric energy collected by the mobile solar collecting device, a first power connecter to electrically engage with a second power connector affixed to a structure to feed electricity to an electric power grid, a transport unit to move the mobile solar collecting device, a controller. The controller directs the transport unit to periodically move the adjustable solar collecting device to optimum solar collecting locations, provides an indication to adjust an orientation of the adjustable solar collecting device to obtain maximum energy from a sun, and directs the transport unit to move the mobile solar collecting device to a location where the first power connector electrically engages with the second power connector to discharge energy in the electronic storage unit to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CNC Holdings Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Robin Jakobsen, Christopher David Burns, Raymond Lee Dickens
  • Patent number: 10879770
    Abstract: A motor, a PDU that is disposed above the motor and that supplies driving electric power to the motor, and a cooling device that cools the motor and the PDU are accommodated in a casing. The cooling device includes an oil cooling system that drips cooling oil onto the motor and a water cooling system that cools the motor and the PDU by using cooling water. The oil cooling system includes a storage chamber that temporarily stores the cooling oil and that has a plurality of dripping holes for dripping the cooling oil. The storage chamber is disposed above the motor and below the PDU, and the cooling oil stored in the storage chamber is coolable by the cooling water of the water cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Manabu Sakurada
  • Patent number: 10862365
    Abstract: A motor unit includes a motor, a housing including a housing space to house the motor, oil in a vertically lower region of the housing space, and an oil passage to lead the oil from the vertically lower region of the housing space through the motor to the vertically lower region of the housing space. The oil passage includes a first oil passage extending through an inside of the motor, and a second oil passage extending through an outside of the motor. One of the first oil passage and the second oil passage includes a cooler to cool the oil therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Yamaguchi, Takayuki Migita, Yuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10833626
    Abstract: Apparatus features a matrix converter having a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about a motor winding temperature sensed inside a motor when the motor is not being required to produce torque and rotation; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a controlled direct current (DC) level for applying to at least one motor winding of the motor in order to provide a desired level of heating to the motor, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor or processing module provides the corresponding signaling so controlled DC signaling is sent to the at least one motor winding of the motor. The signal processor or processing module also provides the corresponding signaling so alternating controlled DC signaling is sent to all three motor windings of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventor: Dean Patrick Williams
  • Patent number: 10827654
    Abstract: A cooling device which can arrange a cooling water tank in parallel near an electric power control device, and can more effectively utilize a space inside the engine room, and by which the miniaturization of the engine room is realized, and temperature increase of the wiring can be suppressed. The cooling device is a cooling device for cooling a device of a vehicle including an electric power control device to control an input-output voltage of the vehicle and a wiring connected to the electric power control device, and includes cooling water for cooling the device of the vehicle and a cooling water tank for accommodating the cooling water; the cooling water tank has a dented side surface wall along an external shape of the wiring, and has a shape which covers at least a portion of the wiring by closely disposing the wiring along the dented side surface wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Kimura, Yoshinaka Hirata
  • Patent number: 10396631
    Abstract: A split-flow coolant system is provided. The split-flow coolant system may include a single inlet and multiple coolant distribution channels arranged inside a housing, or cooling plate, of the inverter. The coolant distribution channels may include a coolant chamber connected to the inlet and a coolant path running adjacent to various portions of the inverter. The coolant chamber splits into two separate coolant paths in the inverter housing, or cooling plate, that are then diverted to each of the motors. A first coolant path is diverted to the first motor where the coolant path is arranged to cool the first motor and a second coolant path is diverted to the second motor to cool the second motor. The separate coolant paths may connect to a common outlet at the end of the cooling path for the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Herb
  • Patent number: 10348216
    Abstract: An electric power converting apparatus includes: a first controlling circuit board disposed inside a housing; and a second controlling circuit board disposed inside the housing on an opposite side of the first controlling circuit board from a power module, wherein: an inner plane of the first controlling circuit board is fixed to a cooler or the housing by a first fixing member on an opposite side of the first controlling circuit board from the second controlling circuit board; an inner plane of the second controlling circuit board is fixed to the housing by a second fixing member on an opposite side of the second controlling circuit board from the first controlling circuit board; and the first controlling circuit board and the second controlling circuit board are electrically connected on facing inner planes of the first controlling circuit board and the second controlling circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Komei Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10291144
    Abstract: An intelligent power module includes at least one power semiconductor module including a semiconductor device, and a sealing body sealing an outer periphery of the semiconductor device, a driving circuit part mounted on the sealing body and configured to drive the power semiconductor module, and a cooling part on which the sealing body is mounted, and configured to cool the power semiconductor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Sawada
  • Patent number: 10289087
    Abstract: A motion controller has an axis control part and a communication control part. The motion controller includes: a control function storage part that stores a control function received from a higher-level control device by the communication control part; a control function execution part that executes the control function regarding at least one of information of a motor and information of a sensor as an input; and a control information changing part that changes the motor control information based on a result of execution of the control function stored in the control function storage part, the execution of the control function being performed by the control function execution part. The motor control information changed by the control information changing part serves as an input to the axis control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Saitou
  • Patent number: 10243499
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus and a home appliance including the same. The motor driving apparatus includes a temperature sensing unit to sense a compressor temperature, an inverter including a plurality of switching elements to convert a direct current (DC) voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage and to supply AC voltage to a motor used to drive the compressor, and a controller to control the inverter. The controller performs control to apply motor preheating current for preheating of the motor during a first period before startup of the motor, and varies depending on the sensed temperature a time during which the motor preheating current is applied or a current application level. A reduction in power consumption during the preheating of the compressor is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Cheonsu Park
  • Patent number: 10069453
    Abstract: Methods and systems for replacing HVAC blower motors and other electric motors are disclosed including systems and methods for gathering and storing information about motors that may need to be replaced, systems and methods for selecting replacement motors, and systems and methods for programming the replacement motors. The systems and methods allow a select few replacement motors to be programmed to replace nearly any original motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Durfee, Charles L. Geiler, Chetan O. Modi, Tarris A. Reed, Scott M. Schroer
  • Patent number: 9977858
    Abstract: Methods, computer-readable storage mediums and systems provide for designing a motor drive power system including switching mode power conversion equipment. According to aspects of the disclosure, a resonant point is shifted to a shifted resonant point by changing impedance of at least one of a feeder or a motor. An EMI filter is designed for the shifted resonant point that is at a higher frequency such that the EMI filter for the shifted resonant point is lighter as compared to an EMI filter designed for the resonant point before it is shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eugene V. Solodovnik, Kamiar J. Karimi
  • Patent number: 9571028
    Abstract: Methods and systems for replacing HVAC blower motors and other electric motors are disclosed including systems and methods for gathering and storing information about motors that may need to be replaced, systems and methods for selecting replacement motors, and systems and methods for programming the replacement motors. The systems and methods allow a select few replacement motors to be programmed to replace nearly any original motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Durfee, Charles L. Geiler, Chetan O. Modi, Tarris A. Reed, Scott M. Schroer
  • Patent number: 9425707
    Abstract: A compact inverter device that includes a power module having a switching element and a smoothing capacitor that converts electric power between DC power and AC power. The inverter is configured with a plate-like DC bus board to which the smoothing capacitor is fixed, a fixing member that maintains a relative positional relation between the DC bus board. The DC bus board has a plurality of connection positive terminals that are electrically connected to the positive electrode pattern and that are respectively electrically connected to the positive terminals of the plurality of power modules. The DC bus board and power modules are fixed to the fixing member by connection positive terminal and positive terminals through a common fastening member, and similarly on the negative terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Mutsuura, Tatsuya Kondo, Makoto Morita
  • Patent number: 9041320
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable work apparatus having a housing and a work tool which is driven by an electric motor via a gear assembly. A flywheel which rotates about a rotational axis is arranged in the drive train between the electric motor and the gear assembly, which flywheel is connected fixedly to an output shaft so as to rotate with it, which output shaft protrudes into a gear assembly space and has a drive pinion. The output, shaft and the flywheel are mounted in the housing by two bearing locations, the rotational axis of the flywheel and a motor shaft of the electric motor lying coaxially with respect to one another, and the motor shaft of the electric motor being connected fixedly to the flywheel so as to rotate with it. The electric motor is fixed in the housing exclusively via a torque support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arne Untermann, Markus Maier, Ante Hamersmit, Christian Renz, Johannes Menzel, Ina Schneider, Jochen Luz, Jens Kloeker, Harald Mang, David Hampe, David Kraetzig
  • Patent number: 9035578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for coupling at least one DC source (9) to a controllable energy store (2), which is used for controlling and supplying electrical energy to an n-phase electric machine (1), where n?1. In this case, the controllable energy store (2) has n parallel energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3), which are connectable firstly to a reference rail (T?) and secondly to in each case one phase (U, V, W) of the electric machine (1). An intermediate circuit (10) is connectable on the output side via a controllable coupling circuit (12) to the energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) of the controllable energy store (2) and on the input side to the at least one DC source (9). An associated operating method provides for a current flow from the at least one DC source (9) into the energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) of the controllable energy store (2) or the phases (U, V, W) of the electric machine (1) to be controlled with the aid of the controllable coupling circuit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Feuerstack, Erik Weissenborn, Martin Kessler
  • Patent number: 9018866
    Abstract: At least one of a current value and a voltage value of an electrical storage device which is charged and discharged is detected with the use of each of a plurality of sensors. A predetermined process is executed on the basis of the detected values of the plurality of sensors The predetermined process is executed without using the detected values of the sensors in the predetermined process when a difference between a frequency of each of the detected values, which varies with a rotation speed of a motor that operates upon reception of an output power of the electrical storage device, and a resonance frequency of a step-up circuit, which varies with operation of the step-up circuit that steps up an output voltage of the electrical storage device and outputs the stepped-up electric power to the motor, is smaller than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Ashida, Tatsuki Nishimata
  • Patent number: 9013121
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for autotensioning conductors of transmission lines. In one embodiment, among others, an autotensioner system includes tensioning assemblies coupled between a structure and corresponding conductors and a tension controller that controls a tensioning assembly to adjust a tension of the corresponding conductor to within a predefined tolerance of a corresponding tension setpoint. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving a current conductor tension for each of multiple conductors and adjusting the conductor tension of one of the conductors by remotely controlling a corresponding tensioning assembly. The adjustment may be based at least in part upon the current conductor tensions and a tension setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Southern Company Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Benton McGuire, Dennis Mize, Stephan Hicks
  • Patent number: 9013122
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering control device which can realize a more appropriate countermeasure against heat in accordance with a thermal characteristic of a component used to supply a motor current. The electric power steering control device for assisting a steering force of a steering wheel of a vehicle including a control unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Iwami, Takashi Goto, Susumu Zeniya, Daisuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150091485
    Abstract: A system for controlling a disconnect switch via a network may include a disconnect switch and a drive. The disconnect switch may receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power supply, and the drive may then receive the AC power via the disconnect switch. The drive may include a processor that may communicatively couple to the disconnect switch. As such, the processor may control a drive operation that corresponds to the drive and control a disconnect operation that corresponds to the disconnect switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Lemberg, Darshini Mehta, Robert Breitzmann, Mark M. Harbaugh
  • Patent number: 8988017
    Abstract: A mechanical resonator with a closed feed-back damping loop is provided. Displacement in the mechanical resonator is opposed with a damping force determined by the closed feed-back loop that comprises a signal processing filter with associated phase adjustment. An oscillation-free configuration that allows high signal amplification is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heikki Kuisma
  • Patent number: 8981683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high power battery system having a battery system monitoring electronics and battery modules being electrically connected in series via an operating current line. At least one battery module is a bypass battery module comprising a bypass switch and a bypass line for electrically bypassing the battery module. For each bypass battery module a module monitoring unit of the monitoring electronics monitors the assigned battery module and detects a fault state. In the fault state, the battery system monitoring electronics measures the current flow in the operating current line connecting the battery modules and switches the bypass switch of the bypass battery module concerned from a normal operating position to a bypass position at a time when the current flow in the operating current line is lower than a predetermined limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alevo Research AG
    Inventors: Guenther Hambitzer, Joachim Heitbaum, Markus Borck, Christiane Ripp
  • Patent number: 8970144
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an electric traction drive system, which comprises an electric motor and a battery with a plurality of battery strings having battery modules. Each battery module is configured to be connected selectively with respect to output terminals of a respective battery string with positive polarization or negative polarization or to be bridged in the respective battery string, such that each battery string is configured to produce an adjustable output voltage. The battery modules are each monitored for proper functioning. When a technical fault in at least one battery module is detected, the at least one battery module is bridged and the traction drive system is transferred to a transition state in which the electric motor continues to be supplied and actuated by the connected battery modules in the battery module string such that a presently generated torque is maintained unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 8947034
    Abstract: A system and a method of automatically determining an electric motor type are provided. An electric motor drive controller is configured to be coupled to an electric motor and to determine running parameters of the drive controller for the electric motor. The drive controller includes a memory device, a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device and to a user interface wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored on the memory device that cause the processor to automatically measure electrical characteristics of the electric motor, identify the electric motor using the measured electrical characteristics, load pre defined running parameters selected based on the identification into the memory device, and control an operation of the electric motor using the controller and the loaded running parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian L. Beifus, Michael R. Koller, Norman C. Golm, Jr., Gregory P. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8928269
    Abstract: A power system that supplies electrical power to at least one load is disclosed. The power system may include an electrical power generator, current sensors configured to provide current signals representative of currents output from the electrical power generator to the load, and voltage sensors configured to provide voltage signals representative of voltages output from the electrical power generator to the load. The power system may also include a controller configured to receive the current signals and the voltage signals, compare the current signals and the voltage signals to a predetermined map, determine whether a short circuit exists inside the electrical power generator based on the comparison, and send a command to turn off the electrical power generator when the short circuit exists inside the electrical power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Curtis Pawelski, Ryan Christopher Byrd
  • Patent number: 8917045
    Abstract: Methods and systems for replacing HVAC blower motors and other electric motors are disclosed including systems and methods for gathering and storing information about motors that may need to be replaced, systems and methods for selecting replacement motors, and systems and methods for programming the replacement motors. The systems and methods allow a select few replacement motors to be programmed to replace nearly any original motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Durfee, Charles L. Geiler, Chetan O. Modi, Tarris A. Reed, Scott M. Schroer
  • Patent number: 8917039
    Abstract: The car power source apparatus is provided with a driving battery having a plurality of connected batteries, battery-switches that connect the driving battery to the vehicle-side load, a control circuit that controls the battery-switches, and an auxiliary battery that supplies operating power to the control circuit power supply line. The power source apparatus is provided with a supplementary power supply circuit that supplies operating power to the control circuit power supply line from batteries in the driving battery to maintain control circuit operation in the event of an auxiliary battery voltage drop condition. In an auxiliary battery voltage drop condition, the supplementary power supply circuit supplies operating power to the control circuit power supply line and maintains control circuit operation to maintain control of the battery-switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yugo
  • Publication number: 20140333234
    Abstract: In some preferred embodiments, a motor control circuit 1 for controlling driving of a plurality of motors 3 and 4 includes a serial communication circuit configured to perform serial communication with an outside, a received data storage 15 configured to store data from the serial communication circuit, a motor mode setting holding circuit 16 configured to store motor mode settings which decide operations of the motors, and a detection circuit 24 configured to detect changes in driving pulse of the motor. Depending on the detected result of the detection circuit 24, the data stored in the received data storage 15 is transferred to the motor mode setting holding circuit 16.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Ryoichi Takahashi, Hiroshi Inoue, Masatoshi Komada
  • Patent number: 8872451
    Abstract: A motor device includes an electric motor operated when supplied with power from a rechargeable battery, a voltage detection unit that detects voltage of the rechargeable battery, a determination unit that performs an abnormality determination based on a comparison of the voltage of the rechargeable battery, which is detected by the voltage detection unit, and a determination value, a control unit that controls the operation of the electric motor in accordance with the determination result of the determination unit, and a temperature detection unit that detects the usage environment temperature. The determination unit changes the determination value in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and performs the abnormality determination based on the changed determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Ikeda, Norihiro Iwamura
  • Publication number: 20140292247
    Abstract: A motor driver includes at least two terminals suitable for being coupled to a motor controller and to receive a motor command signal and transmit a motor status signal when the motor driver is controlling a motor. A serial data communication circuit may be configured to send and receive serial data over the at least two terminals when the at least two terminals are idle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chee-Kiong Ng, Christopher Alger, Timothy Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20140265990
    Abstract: A system and a method of automatically determining an electric motor type are provided. An electric motor drive controller is configured to be coupled to an electric motor and to determine running parameters of the drive controller for the electric motor. The drive controller includes a memory device, a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device and to a user interface wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored on the memory device that cause the processor to automatically measure electrical characteristics of the electric motor, identify the electric motor using the measured electrical characteristics, load pre defined running parameters selected based on the identification into the memory device, and control an operation of the electric motor using the controller and the loaded running parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian L. Beifus, Michael R. Koller, Norman C. Golm, JR., Gregory P. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20140265985
    Abstract: An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module includes an input device, and a processor coupled to the input device. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device, and transmit the command signal to a plurality of motors, wherein the command signal controls an operating point of each of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Guy Bonner, Jr., Scott A. Coonrod, Gregory P. Sullivan, Harry Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 8836252
    Abstract: An exemplary piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric transducer that exhibits displacements when energized with corresponding voltages. A control system is electrically connected to the piezoelectric transducer so as to provide the transducer with the voltages. The control system includes feedback of displacements of the transducer as functions of respective voltage commands and feed-forward of electrical currents passing through the transducer as functions of the respective voltages applied to the transducer. The control system further has a feedback controller connected to receive transducer-displacement data corresponding to the voltages applied to the transducer. The control system further can include a current-feed-forward amplifier connected to receive transducer-current data corresponding to the voltages applied to the transducer. Such a control system facilitates reduction of hysteresis in controlled actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Ping Hsin, Susumu Isago, Bausan Yuan
  • Patent number: 8766584
    Abstract: A distributed motor drive system includes a power management module and multiple inverter modules integrated with the motors and located on a machine or process remote from the power management module. The power management module distributes DC voltage and command signals to each of the inverters, where the DC voltage is distributed between modules via a DC link cable. The integrated inverters execute switching routines to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage suitable for controlling the motor. Each of the power management module and the inverters includes a portion of the DC bus. The current on the DC link cable is monitored and general bus utilization as well as overload conditions are reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Gries, Mark R. Cooper, Rangarajan Tallam, Garrett B. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 8749182
    Abstract: An actuator system having an actuator with an auxiliary switch. Make and break connection positions of the auxiliary switch relative to a rotative position of an output shaft coupling may be adjusted electronically according to an adjustment signal. The adjustment signal may be conveyed to the actuator from a computer or controller via a two-wire polarity insensitive bus. The adjustment signal may instead be provided an auxiliary potentiometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Torrey William McNallan, Daniel Waseen, Adrienne Thomle, Scott McMillan
  • Patent number: 8674642
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring partial discharge within a remotely located and inaccessible electric motor. One embodiment comprises a downhole electric motor of an electric submersible pump system positioned in a well. The motor includes a partial discharge monitoring system coupled to the motor's power terminals. The partial discharge monitoring system includes a filter subsystem, a processing subsystem, and a communication subsystem. The filter subsystem allows higher frequency signals to pass from the terminals to the processing subsystem. The processing subsystem identifies signal constituents that are associated with partial discharge, and may perform various types of processing or analysis of the signal received from the processing subsystem. The partial discharge information generated by the processing subsystem is passed to the communication subsystem, which communicates the information to remotely located surface equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Clark D. Shaver, Thomas M. Scott, Ignacio Martinez, Sean A. Cain
  • Patent number: 8629638
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus including a lock protection unit, a standby mode control unit, and a motor control circuit is provided. The lock protection unit receives a motor speed signal representing the rotation of the motor and generates a lock signal accordingly. The standby mode control unit receives a PWM signal and the lock signal and generates a standby mode control signal accordingly. The lock protection unit decides whether to stop generating the lock signal or not accordingly to the standby mode control signal. The motor control circuit controls the rotation of the motor according to the PWM signal and changes the operation mode according to the standby mode control signal and the lock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Jung Chang, Wei-Line Chang
  • Publication number: 20140009098
    Abstract: Systems and methods of interacting complex electric fields and static electric fields to effect motion are disclosed. An example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting a relative velocity electric field based on charge of a moving first charged object and a static charge on a second charged object in a different inertial frame of reference. Another example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting an acceleration generated electric field based on acceleration of a first charged object and a static charge on a second charged object in a different inertial frame of reference. Another example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting a scalar electric potential and static electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Banduric
  • Publication number: 20140009099
    Abstract: A method of preheating a brushless motor that includes sequentially energising and de-energising a phase winding over one or more drive periods. The phase winding is energised in the same direction throughout each drive period so as to lock a rotor of the motor at an aligned position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen GREETHAM
  • Publication number: 20130328515
    Abstract: A method for pre-charging a motor drive system includes: pre-charging a motor drive through a motor DC bus where desired, pre-charging an add-on capacitive module through a resistor after a time delay, pre-charging the add-on capacitive module and bypassing the resistor, and disconnecting the add-on capacitive module from the motor DC bus when a fault condition has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jeremiah John Kopiness
  • Patent number: 8593090
    Abstract: A motor drive is provided that includes a control circuit or board and a one or more functional circuits or option boards coupled to the control board, and a profile that includes a configuration for the option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes loading a profile for a option board coupled to a control board of the controller, wherein the profile comprises a configuration for the option board. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Campbell, John Howard Stuedemann, Gary A. Kabitzke, Ronald Rudy Hrlevich
  • Patent number: 8587245
    Abstract: A motor, including: a stator, a rotor, and a motor controller. The motor controller is connected to a network interface circuit (NIC). The motor can be directly connected to a network, which makes it possible for technicians to facilitate remote control, debugging, remote diagnosis, and troubleshooting. The motor is easy to be identified, and features improved functions, wider application range, and more convenient use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Zhao