Responsive To Speed Or Rotation Phase Angle Patents (Class 318/799)
  • Patent number: 7064504
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a brushless DC motor that rotatably drives the brushless DC motor including a rotor having a permanent magnet, and a stator having stator windings of a plurality of phases that generate a rotating magnetic field for rotating the rotor, by a current passage switching device constituted by a plurality of switching elements and performing successive commutation of current to the stator windings. The control apparatus includes: an angular error calculation device for calculating a sine value and a cosine value of an angular difference between an estimated rotation angle with respect to the rotation angle of the rotor and an actual rotation angle, based on a line voltage that is a difference between phase voltages of the plurality of phases on an input side of the stator winding and phase currents of the plurality of phases; and an observer for calculating the rotation angle of the rotor based on the sine value and the cosine value of the angular difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Imai, Yutaka Takahashi, Masato Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 7042186
    Abstract: A method for decoupling a harmonic signal from an input signal wherein the harmonic signal is harmonic relative to a signal other than the input signal. An angular position of the other signal is multiplied by a value representing the harmonic to obtain an angular position multiple. A harmonic decoupling block uses the angular position multiple to obtain correction signals representing the harmonic signal, and subtracts the correction signals from the input current to decouple the harmonic signal from the input signal. This method is useful for decoupling unwanted harmonics from currents into which high-frequency signals have been injected for control of electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Constantin C. Stancu, Silva Hiti, Steven E. Schulz, Nitinkumar R. Patel
  • Patent number: 7023170
    Abstract: An inverter that executes a d q-axis control of a three-phase synchronous motor needs a rotational position sensor that detects rotational positions of an electric motor for mutual conversion between two-phase and three-phase. An angle error of this rotational position sensor affects accuracy in the d q-axis control, so that it is necessary to make a compensation with accuracy. In the conventional method, however, there is a problem of occurrence of an ignorable error due to influence of noise. An origin offset calculation method according to the invention includes a first process of forcibly making d q-axis current command values zero; a second process of multiplying a magnetic flux component voltage command value at this time by a proportional integral gain; and a third process of storing a rotational position sensor phase error when a magnetic flux component voltage command value becomes zero being a result of the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouichi Yasukawa, Shinji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7023166
    Abstract: A method of controlling the torque of a multiphase induction motor includes the step of energizing the stator windings of the motor from a power converter using thyristors, inserted between a multiphase main supply and the windings producing a stator current set point expressed by its amplitude and its phase, predicting phase coincidences between the stator current and the set point, and commanding the power converteer so that the windings receive current waves substantially when such coincidences occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventors: Albert Kohen, GĂ©rald Davy, Claude Caen
  • Patent number: 7009361
    Abstract: Sensorless control of an induction motor, such as for electric vehicles, in which the speed of an induction motor is determined without encoders or other shaft transducers. When the applied frequency is null, the injection of a triad of direct currents in the stator phases supplies a stationing torque that is opposed to motion. The maximum stationing torque depends on the injected current width. It can be too low, such as if the vehicle is loaded and/or on a grade, or too high if the vehicle is on a plane. With embodiments, one can monitor, at defined time intervals, the speed of the vehicle when the applied frequency is null and with which such dichotomy can be solved. Embodiments can be applied generally to every occurrence of vehicle control loss in order to carry out its efficient recovery in line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Zapi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Iotti
  • Patent number: 7005828
    Abstract: Corresponding to a target torque, the control device calculates a target value of a feature based on at least one of the length of a long axis of a current vector locus and the length of the short axis and further superimposes a superimposed current on a drive current for the motor, the superimposed current having a frequency different from the frequency of the drive current. Further, the control device detects an actual value of the feature based on at least one of the length of a long axis of a current vector locus of the superimposed current and the length of the short axis of the same and finally detects a phase angle of the motor based on the target value and the actual value for the feature. The manipulation of a detecting phase is performed by feedback of a feature obtained by the magnitude of the superimposed current. That is, when the actual feature is more than the target value, the detecting phase is advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Karikomi
  • Patent number: 7005825
    Abstract: In an electric motor control system according to the present invention, in restarting, after the effect of transient variation has been abated, a phase-reversal-timing detecting means 31 detects the first maximal value V1, the first minimal value V2, and the second maximal value V3, by comparing a value of the integration term of the d-axis component vds* of the 2-phase-voltage command outputted from the d-axis current control means 28 with its previous value, and then outputs a time at which the value of the integration term of the d-axis component vds* of the 2-phase-voltage command becomes below (the first minimal value V2+the second maximal value V3)/2, as the first specific phase at which the current-commanding phase is turned by 180 degrees, to the current phase commanding means 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 6984958
    Abstract: Method for defining quadrature-axis magnetizing inductance of a synchronous machine, the synchronous machine being supplied by an inverter. The method comprises steps, wherein the synchronous machine is started without load or with reduced load; the rotor current of the synchronous machine is kept substantially at zero, the synchronous machine is accelerated to initial angular velocity of measurement, the load angle (ds) of the synchronous machine is guided substantially to 90 degrees, the stator voltage (us), the stator current (is) and the electrical angular velocity (?) of the synchronous machine is defined and the quadrature-axis magnetizing inductance of the synchronous machine (lmq) is defined on the basis of the stator voltage (us), the stator current (is) and the electrical angular velocity (?) of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: ABB OY
    Inventor: Jouko Niiranen
  • Patent number: 6979975
    Abstract: In a conventional rotation state detecting apparatus of a synchronous machine, since short-circuiting must be carried out twice or more when a rotation speed is detected, there have been problems in that it takes a time to detect a rotation state, and it takes a time to start up. A rotation state detecting apparatus for a synchronous machine according to the present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and includes a calculation unit for outputting a voltage vector command and a trigger signal and for outputting a rotation state of a synchronous machine having at least three windings in an idle state, a circuit unit for applying voltages to the respective phases of the synchronous machine on the basis of the voltage vector command, and a detection unit for detecting a current of the synchronous machine on the basis of the trigger signal and outputting a value of the detected current to the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kinpara, Toshiyuki Kaitani
  • Patent number: 6946809
    Abstract: A motor driving system includes a power supply unit, a voltage-stabilizing unit, a signal-generating unit, a comparing unit, and a control unit. The power supply unit provides an input supply voltage to each other unit in the system. The voltage-stabilizing unit includes a voltage-stabilizing element and produces a constant voltage. The signal-generating unit generates an input signal, which varies with high and low levels of the input supply voltage. The comparing unit compares the constant voltage with the input signal to generate a comparison signal. The control unit controls a motor's rotating speed according to the comparison signal generated by the comparing unit. When the input supply voltage is low, a lowest rotating speed is set for the control unit to control the rotating of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shou-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 6943513
    Abstract: A force-applying input device includes a controller including a first rotational angular speed calculating unit for calculating rotational angular speed information of an operation unit by signal pulse output from an encoder, a rotational angular acceleration calculating unit for calculating rotational angular acceleration information of the operation unit by torque information output from a torque calculating unit, a second rotational angular speed calculating unit for calculating rotational angular speed information of the operation unit by the information output from the rotational angular acceleration calculating unit, and a rotational angular speed selecting unit for selecting the information output from the first rotational angular speed calculating unit or that output from the second rotational angular speed calculating unit, the latter being selected when the information output from the first rotational angular speed calculating unit exceeds a predetermined value, and outputted to the torque calculati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 6941785
    Abstract: A pump diagnostic system and method comprising current sensing probes clamped on electrical motor leads of a pump for sensing only current signals on incoming motor power, a signal processor having a means for buffering and anti-aliasing current signals into a pump motor current signal, and a computer having a means for analyzing, displaying, and reporting motor current signatures from the motor current signal to determine pump health using integrated motor and pump diagnostic parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Howard D. Haynes, Daryl F. Cox, Donald E. Welch
  • Patent number: 6914408
    Abstract: A synchronous motor controlling apparatus which can be applied to the carrier synchronized position estimating method as well and have protection-related functions such as detection of inverted magnetic pole position of a motor in a simple method, and an electric motor using the synchronous motor control apparatus. A controller controls a voltage applied to an AC motor with a PWM signal. A magnetic pole position detector of the controller detects a current of the AC motor to estimate a pole position of the AC motor. A fault detector detects a fault in the estimated magnetic position of the AC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takefumi Sawada, Satoru Kaneko, Ryoso Masaki, Mitsuyuki Hombu, Hiroshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 6914409
    Abstract: A current detection method for an electric motor which detects phase currents of the electric motor driven by a power converter that provides ON/OFF control of bridge-connected switching elements, based on a pulse-width modulation excitation pattern, to convert a direct current into poly-phase alternating currents. The method includes connecting a current detecting element which produces a signal corresponding to a current value at the direct current side of the power converter and changing the pulse-width modulation excitation pattern by executing a shift of time of any of the phases of the pulse-width modulation excitation pattern so that a signal directly or indirectly corresponding to the phase currents is produced at the current detecting element. The method also includes detecting the phase currents of the electric motor based on the signal produced at the current detecting element and the excitation pattern which has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Harunobu Nukushina
  • Patent number: 6909257
    Abstract: A magnetic flux estimator 7 of a controller used for sensorless vector-controlling of an induction motor computes an estimated speed ?rest and an estimated phase ?lest from input ?-phase and ?-phase voltage instructions V?*, V?* and ?-phase and ?-phase currents is?, is?. A speed corrector 8 receives these information items and determines a difference between a differential value output from a phase estimator and an additionally input slip angular speed; that is, a deviation ??res. Further, a primary delay integral value is determined by subtracting a slip angular frequency ?s from the deviation, and the primary delay integral value is multiplied by a correction gain, to thereby produce a correction to be made on the estimated speed ?rest. Thus, a more accurate estimated speed ??rest is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Masanobu Inazumi
  • Patent number: 6906494
    Abstract: A motor is equipped with a magnetic-flux detector, which detects magnetic fluxes from magnets of the motor. A position signal converter finds a position of the motor using a value detected by magnetic-flux detector. A speed controller throws the motor in sine wave drive using the detected motor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadahiro Matsuura, Yasushi Kato
  • Patent number: 6870333
    Abstract: Asynchronous motors are controlled by way of two- or three-phase controllers that include at least two pair of thyristors connected in antiparallel and fired at certain intervals. According to the inventive method, a fundamental wave with the desired frequency is defined for the first phase and in the other phase a respective fundamental wave is defined that has the same frequency as that in the first phase, but phase-shifted by corresponding values. For every phase, firing intervals are marked that have the same polarity as the respective fundamental wave. Those intervals of the potential firing intervals are used for every phase at which there is a potential firing interval in one of the two other phases. These intervals are used as the actual firing intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerd Griepentrog, Lynn Johnson, Diethard Runggaldier
  • Patent number: 6864662
    Abstract: An electric power steering assist system for an automotive vehicle comprises a brushless electric motor and a control module for regulating the motor based upon space vector modulation. In response to a steering command, the control module determines a desired quadrature axis current component to provide torque assist in turning the wheels. Also, the control module determines a desired direct axis current component based upon the motor speed such that the desired direct axis current component is zero when the motor speed is less than or equal to the maximum design motor speed, and is negative when the motor speed exceeds the maximum design motor speed. By utilizing a negative direct axis current component, the control module implements a field weakening effect within the motor that allows the motor speed to be temporarily increased greater than the maximum design motor speed to react to rapid steer commands by the operator, such as encountered in evasive maneuvers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrel Alan Recker
  • Patent number: 6859008
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a three phase AC motor controller linked to a three phase motor, the controller receiving a torque command signal and generating a voltage phase angle as a function of the torque command signal, the voltage phase angle in turn used to generate modulating waveforms to drive a PWM inverter that provides voltages on three motor supply lines, the method comprising the steps of during a commissioning procedure, identifying at least one compensation angle that, when mathematically combined with the voltage phase angle, drives the motor to zero operating frequency when a zero torque command is received and, during normal operation and when a zero torque command is received, mathematically combining the compensation angle and the voltage phase angle to generate a compensated phase angle and using the compensated phase angle to generate the modulating waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 6844690
    Abstract: A dc offset compensator receives a three phase ac current signal as an input and provides a dc offset signal correction voltage as an output. The dc offset compensator comprises a processor configured to sample the ac current signal, generate a rotating vector (r) from the sample, extract a dc offset from the sample and to generate a dc offset signal correction voltage from the dc offset. A method of compensating for dc offset in a three phase ac current signal is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Kalman, Colin Huggett
  • Patent number: 6841969
    Abstract: A control system includes a field oriented controller that receives a torque command and that generates phase voltages for an electric machine. A first transformation module receives stator terminal currents and generates d-axis and q-axis stationary frame currents. An open loop flux observer receives d-axis and q-axis stationary frame voltage commands and the d and q-axis stationary frame currents. The open loop flux observer includes a vector cross product calculator that generates an error signal that is proportional to an angular difference between an estimated stator flux and a computed stator flux and a proportional integral controller that generates an estimated rotor angular position based on the error signal. A second transformation module receives the d-axis and q-axis stationary frame currents and the estimated rotor angular position and generates d-axis and q-axis synchronous reference frame feedback currents that are output to the field oriented controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Nitinkumar R. Patel
  • Patent number: 6836086
    Abstract: A starting system and method for a gas turbine engine includes a controlled starter system and a controlled fuel system. The controlled starter motor is accelerated along an acceleration profile to a dwelling point. Concurrently with the starter motor spinning up the gas turbine engine rotor, the fuel system controller commands the pump motor to drive the fuel pump at a speed which fills the fuel line volumes and establishes adequate pressure for fuel atomization at light off. As the fuel pump motor and starter motor are independently controlled and coordinated the starter motor maintains the gas turbine engine at the predetermined dwelling point until ignition occurs. The starter motor also provides a controlled amount of assisting torque during acceleration of the gas turbine to minimize thermal transients which thereby increased the gas turbine engine operational life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Lester Goldberg, Tarrence L. Mack
  • Patent number: 6831441
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic pulse width modulation (PWM) regulator of a low frequency rectangular wave signal serving to control the speed of a direct current motor. The invention aims at simplifying the design of said regulator by eliminating the classical inductive element so that the motor continuously operates as a filter of the output signal provided by the switching component. The invention also aims at preventing noises caused by switching. To this end, subsonic switching frequencies of less than 50 Hz are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nagares, S.A.
    Inventor: Herminio Navalon Carretero
  • Patent number: 6832127
    Abstract: A motor controller comprising a machine system (12) having a load machine (1), a transmission mechanism (2) for transmitting power, and a motor for driving the load machine through the transmission mechanism; a simulator unit (11) having a numeric model (9) including the machine system, a simulation control section (19) for giving a torque command to the numeric model by using an observable quantity of state of the numeric model, and an evaluating section (10) for sending a control parameter to the simulation control section and an actual control unit; and the actual control unit (18) having an actual control section which receives an observable quantity of state of an actual system and has the same structure as that of the simulator unit and adapted to supply a torque signal to the motor serving as a drive source. Therefore the control gain of a motor controller can be automatically adjusted quickly and optimally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Shuang-Hui Hao, Ryuichi Oguro, Hidekazu Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 6831440
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a controller that uses a flux angle position value to control a three phase induction machine, the method for determining an instantaneous flux angle position value in the machine where the machine is characterized by a system specific dominant harmonic frequency number DH that is at least two, the method comprising the steps of injecting a high frequency voltage signal having a high frequency value into the machine thereby generating a high frequency current within the stator windings, obtaining a high frequency feedback signal from the machine, mathematically combining the high frequency value and the dominant harmonic number DH to provide an instantaneous modified angle, using the feedback signal to identify X consecutive calculating instances during each Y consecutive feedback signal cycles where Y is at least two, at each of the X different calculating instances, identifying an instantaneous flux angle position value by mathematically combining a shift angle with the i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Mark M. Harbaugh
  • Patent number: 6831431
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for regulating the rotation speed, of a motor with which a digital rotation speed controller is associated and which, during operation, furnishes an actual-value signal for the rotation speed in the form of a rotation speed frequency signal, toward a target rotation speed setpoint defined in the form of a setpoint frequency signal, having the following steps: in a first time segment, a first numerical frequency value that characterizes the rotation speed of the motor is ascertained from the rotation speed frequency signal; in a second time segment that is substantially simultaneous with the first time segment, a second numerical frequency value that characterizes the frequency of the setpoint frequency signal is ascertained from the setpoint frequency signal; by means of the first and second numerical frequency values, the rotation speed of the motor is regulated in the digital rotation speed controller to a rotation speed that is associated with the setpoint frequency signal a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Papst-Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Dieterle, Alexander Hahn, Hermann Rappenecker
  • Patent number: 6828751
    Abstract: An induction motor drive system and method estimates a motor power factor based on the AC power output to the motor phase windings and estimates the rotor speed based on the estimated power factor. The estimated rotor speed is compared to a rotor speed command signal to generate a speed error, and the voltage and frequency input to the motor are adjusted in response to the speed error. Rotor speed is estimated based on estimated rotor slip, which is estimated based on the applied voltage, frequency, estimated power factor and estimated motor power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Vinodkumar Sadasivam, Darko Marcetic, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6819074
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a driving speed of a motor comprises a motor controller provided in the motor controlling apparatus detecting the motor driving speed in response to pulses outputted from an encoder. The motor controller adjusts a detection period for the pulses according to the motor driving speed, thereby measuring the motor driving speed. The motor controller sets the detection period so that a number of four-multiplied pulses can be a multiple of four. Although a phase difference between pulses outputted from an encoder is not constant, the motor controlling apparatus can obtain a desired response characteristic by excluding effects of a phase error between the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Sun Yoo
  • Patent number: 6819077
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a controller that samples a command frequency and provides modulating waveforms to a PWM inverter as a function of the sampled command frequency, the inverter also receiving a carrier signal having a carrier frequency, the method for reducing distortions in the modulating waveforms that result from sampling characteristics of the controller, the method comprising the steps of sampling the command frequency at a sampling frequency to generate a series of sampled signals, integrating the sampled signals to generate a phase angle, identifying a correction angle as a function of the sampling frequency, adding the correction angle to the phase angle to generate a corrected phase angle and using the corrected phase angle to generate the modulating waveforms to be provided to the PWM inverter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Seibel, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 6777897
    Abstract: When a switch between sine wave voltage drive and rectangular wave voltage drive is effected based upon the motor rotation speed and a motor torque command value, an AC voltage forming an intermediate wave is generated by combining the sine wave and the rectangular wave and is applied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Murai
  • Publication number: 20040155622
    Abstract: A motor starter system comprises solid state switches for connection between an AC line and motor terminals for controlling application of AC power to the motor. A voltage sensor senses AC line voltage and the motor terminal voltage. Current sensors sense motor current. A control circuit controls operation of the solid state switches. The control circuit limits switch current during a start mode and detects a stall condition responsive to sensed AC line voltage and motor terminal voltage and selectively boosts motor current during the start mode if a stall condition is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Scott Mayhew, Scott Wakefield, Daniel Zuzuly
  • Publication number: 20040130287
    Abstract: An induction motor drive system and method estimates a motor power factor based on the AC power output to the motor phase windings and estimates the rotor speed based on the estimated power factor. The estimated rotor speed is compared to a rotor speed command signal to generate a speed error, and the voltage and frequency input to the motor are adjusted in response to the speed error. Rotor speed is estimated based on estimated rotor slip, which is estimated based on the applied voltage, frequency, estimated power factor and estimated motor power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Vinodkumar Sadasivam, Darko Marcetic, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 6753670
    Abstract: A power controller for applying power to an induction motor or similar AC load has a variable drive circuit for staring and switching a portion of the AC input line power. In one mode, the input line power is fed straight through to the load. In another mode, the AC waveform is reshaped to improve the power factor or to boost its RMS value, e.g., for brownout protection. In a further mode the output power can be provided at a different frequency from the input line power. Vector control increases efficiency through power optimization, with sensing of load requirements. Sensing of regeneration pulses at the commencement of a half cycle can be employed for direct sensing of motor speed or load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Andrew S. Kadah
  • Publication number: 20040108830
    Abstract: The invention deals with the field of Sensorless control (without encoders or other shaft transducers) of an induction motor for handling electric vehicles. More precisely, it provides a process for determining the speed of an induction motor when the applied frequency is null.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Zapi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Iotti
  • Patent number: 6741063
    Abstract: Induction voltage command Em* is obtained from inverter's primary frequency command &ohgr;1* and torque boost voltage commander produces torque boost voltage command &Dgr;Vz* in accordance with &ohgr;1* while integrator produces reference phase command &thgr;d*. uvw/dq converter detects motor excitation current Id (equivalent of no-load current). Next, deviation of excitation current limitation level command Idmax* and detected Id is inputted to limiter processing unit to produce torque boost voltage compensation value &Dgr;Vc for varying &Dgr;Vz* so that Id is smaller than or equal to Idmax*. Inverted &Dgr;Vz* is set up as a lower limiter value of the limiter processing unit. Next, &Dgr;Vc and &Dgr;Vz* are added to produce final compensated torque boost voltage command &Dgr;Vt* and &Dgr;Vt* and Em* are added to produce q-axis voltage command Vq* of the inverter output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Sakai, Toshiaki Okuyama, Kinya Nakatsu, Hiroyuki Tomita, Junji Kato, Teiichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6717384
    Abstract: A frequency regulator protection circuit for controlling acceleration of electric vehicle comprises a power unit, a display unit, a protection unit, a control unit, a sensor unit, a data processor unit, a trigger unit, a regulator unit, and an output unit. The control unit receives a rotation speed signal from a motor. The sensor unit detects whether there is a current overload and delivers a corresponding overload signal to the data processor unit that consequently outputs a frequency change signal to the trigger unit which, in turn, delivers a first regulation signal to the regulator unit. The output unit further delivers a second regulation signal to the regulator unit, corresponding to different situations of insufficiency of pedal control, brake control, over-speed control, or motor overload. The regulator unit consequently effectuates an adequate cutoff of power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kentfa Electric Motorbike Corporation
    Inventor: Angel Lin
  • Patent number: 6713986
    Abstract: A speed controller for a single phase motor such as a permanent split capacitor motor allows the motor to be operated at a first speed, n1, and a lower speed, n2. High speed motor operation is produced by passing a single phase AC current through both the main and auxiliary windings of the motor. For low speed operation, the controller passes first and second reduced frequency AC waveforms through the motor's auxiliary and main windings, respectively. The first waveform bypasses the motor's auxiliary winding capacitor and is phase shifted 90 degrees from the second AC waveform. A split source capable of generating an AC signal and its inverted signal can be used by the controller to generate the reduced frequency waveforms. Specifically, the controller uses selected half cycles from each split source signal to produce the reduced frequency waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Energy Savers International
    Inventors: Tumkur S. Jayadev, James C. Sprout
  • Patent number: 6708134
    Abstract: A method to estimate motor speed for extended stabilized rotational control of an induction motor at all speeds including slow speeds. The speed estimator supplies real-time time motor control feedback information for a variable speed motor drive controller without a mechanical encoder. The speed estimator is based on an optimized fast orthogonal search algorithm with control of the carrier drive frequency to reduce computation time. The reduced processing time provides for an update rate to the motor controller sufficient to maintain motor stability to near zero the motor rated base speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventors: Donald R. McGaughey, Mohammed Tarbouchi, Ken Nutt
  • Patent number: 6703809
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating flux angle position in an induction machine, the method including the steps of providing high frequency injection voltage signals to a three-phase motor, obtaining frequency feedback signals from machine supply lines, converting the feedback signals to two-phase stationary high frequency signals, converting the stationary signals to synchronous signals using a high frequency angle estimate, negating one of the resulting synchronous signals, stepping up the negated signal to generate a low frequency spectrum signal, adding the low frequency spectrum signal and the high frequency injection signal to generate a combined spectrum signal and integrating the combined spectrum signal to generate the high frequency angle estimate, dividing the low frequency spectrum by a system specific DHN to generate a stator frequency estimate and integrating the stator frequency estimate to generate the flux angle estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Semyon Royak, Russel J. Kerkman, Mark M. Harbaugh
  • Patent number: 6700348
    Abstract: Disclosed is a single-phase switched reluctance motor (SRM) driving apparatus and method which enables a high-speed and high-efficiency SRM and can minimize the switching frequency of elements for driving the SRM. The SRM driving apparatus includes a smoothing circuit section for smoothing an input power supply, a motor driving section for receiving a voltage smoothed by the smoothing circuit section and supplying the voltage to a motor in accordance with a control signal, a plurality of sensors for sensing a rotating speed and a phase of the motor, and a microcomputer for receiving one selected among signals sensed by the plurality of sensors and outputting the control signal for controlling the motor driving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-young Lim
  • Patent number: 6700339
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit for regulating a power supply. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a signal generator for generating a square wave signal that varies in magnitude between a first voltage and a second voltage, and a voltage regulation circuit. A duty cycle of the square wave generated by the signal generator varies according to a signal provided to the signal generator. The voltage regulation circuit, coupled to the signal generator, outputs a DC voltage in response to the circuit receiving the square wave signal. The magnitude of the DC voltage varies between the first voltage and a third voltage, wherein the third voltage is greater than the second voltage, and wherein the magnitude of the DC voltage varies directly with the duty cycle of the square wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Nikolai V. Vyssotski, Christian L. Critz
  • Patent number: 6680589
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the state of relay contacts is especially useful for controlling motor windings in air conditioning systems. When a first relay switch, which is operative to supply power to a first motor winding does not open as desired, a switch monitoring module responsively controls the second relay switch energization to prevent the second relay switch from being closed. This prevents power that would be supplied to a second motor winding from being also supplied to the first motor winding and causing potential damage to the first motor winding. A disclosed example includes an opto isolator that is energized only when the first relay switch is open as desired. The opto isolator controls an output signal to a second relay control portion, which only operates the second relay if the first relay has opened as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: A-l Components, Corp.
    Inventors: David D. Neranjan, Mark O. Gerwig
  • Patent number: 6677724
    Abstract: Initial magnetic pole estimating apparatus for an AC synchronous motor equipped in an AC synchronous motor controller, which has a speed gain control unit, mode section determining means, first command torque calculating means for selecting a first or a second cyclic section in accordance with the result in the mode section determining means, and determining whether or not a command speed is in a data acquisition speed section when the first cyclic section is selected, and calculating first command torque data from a command torque in the data acquisition speed section, second command torque calculating means for determining whether or not the command speed is in the data acquisition speed section when the second cyclic section is selected, and calculating second command torque data from the command torque in the data acquisition speed section, and estimated initial magnetic pole calculating means for calculating an estimated initial magnetic pole position using information on the first command torque data an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Tae-Woong Kim, Junichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6650074
    Abstract: The speed of a fan motor is controlled by varying a DC voltage to the fan motor. A series pass transistor is used to vary the DC voltage to the fan motor. A power management controller sets the fan motor speed by outputting pulses to a pulse-to-DC voltage converter that changes the pulses to a proportional DC control voltage for controlling the series pass transistor. A tachometer output amplifier circuit is used to remove DC components and amplify to useful logic levels a low level tachometer output signal from the fan motor. The amplified tachometer signal is used by the power management controller in controlling the rotational speed of the fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Nikolai Vyssotski, Christian L. Critz
  • Patent number: 6646410
    Abstract: Disclosed is control circuitry for providing controlling a motor responsive to feedback signals. The control circuit includes a velocity sensor for coupling with the motor for providing a velocity feedback signal responsive to the velocity of the motor, and circuitry for providing a feedback signal responsive to a voltage associated with the motor, such as the back emf of a coil associated with the motor. The control circuitry can be used enhance the Z-axis control of a tool of a work apparatus for performing work operations on a work material, such as a cutting apparatus for cutting a sheet of vinyl having a releasable backing for generating graphic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard G. Rich, Raymond Phillips
  • Patent number: 6633149
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for digital control of a universal motor, in particular for electrical household appliance, comprising steps which consist on: measuring said engine (21) rotation speed; determining the difference between the measured speed and a set speed; and controlling the motor on the basis of said difference. Said method further comprises a step (24, 25) which consists in estimating at least one of the values of the resisting torque (C) and the current (i) in the motor windings. The invention is useful for controlling washing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Crouzet Appliance Controls
    Inventor: Phillippe Foureys
  • Patent number: 6605920
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing digital signal processing method for controlling the speed and phase of a motor involves inputting a reference signal having a frequency and relative phase indicative of a time based signal; modifying the reference signal to introduce a slew-rate limited portion of each cycle of the reference signal; inputting a feedback signal having a frequency and relative phase indicative of the operation of said motor; modifying the feedback signal to introduce a slew-rate limited portion of each cycle of the feedback signal; analyzing the modified reference signal and the modified feedback signal to determine the frequency of the modified reference signal and of the modified feedback signal and said relative phase between said modified reference signal and said modified feedback signal; and outputting control signals to the motor for adjusting said speed and phase of the motor based on the frequency determination and determination of the relative phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: Chris R. Rose, Ronald O. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6605919
    Abstract: A method of establishing motor speed control, the method comprising the acts of generating a desired speed command, indirectly measuring the slip of the motor, and adjusting the speed command in response to the slip to maintain a constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: A.O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Branecky
  • Patent number: 6598008
    Abstract: A method of estimating the speed of an induction motor and the magnetic flux of a rotor is disclosed. The method consists of the steps of a) obtaining some measurable or calculable variables for estimating the speed of the induction motor and the magnetic flux of the rotor; b) calculating a parameter as a counter-electromotive force of the motor derived from the variables obtained in the step a); c) estimating the speed of the motor by use of the parameter calculated in the step b), an estimated value of the parameter, and the obtained variables; and d) estimating the magnetic flux of the rotor by use of an estimated value of the speed estimated in the step c) and the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: RE38486
    Abstract: An electric motor control circuit that prevents lowering of a motor's rotation speed when a load is applied in the case where a rotation speed is adjusted within a range that doesn't exceed a predetermined upper limit of rotation speed. When a base current of a transistor Q1 starts to flow in response to operation of a trigger switch 3, transistor Q1 turns on and a setting signal output from a switch S2 which sets the upper limit rotation of a motor M is bypassed via a bypass way 22 by transistor Q1. Thus, a signal level of the setting signal inputted to an operational amplifier 7 is changed, and output timing of a pulse signal output from a phase control circuit 5 to a gate pulse output circuit 9 is changed and a conducting angle of a triac Q2 is controlled. Because the trigger switch 3 does not adjust an output level of operational amplifier 7, the rotation speed of motor M does not decrease when the load is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Ichio Sakabe