Motor Or Generator Fault Patents (Class 324/765.01)
  • Patent number: 8405417
    Abstract: A method for off-line testing of an electric motor is disclosed. The motor having at least one stator winding, and a rotor arranged along a rotation axis. The method includes applying a periodic test signal to the at least one stator winding; collecting first measuring data, related to a physical quantity of the at least one stator winding while the rotor is being rotated about the rotation axis, from one or more waveform periods of the test signal, detecting first peak values of the first measuring data; forming second measuring data based on the first detected peak values, detecting second peak values of the second measuring data for the at least one stator winding; determining a mutual relationship between the at least a portion of the second peak values; and, providing, if the mutual relationship deviates from a predetermined relationship, a signal indicating a fault in the rotor. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Subsee Raa AB
    Inventor: Boris Cop
  • Patent number: 8401822
    Abstract: A wellness circuit is for a rotating electrical apparatus having a rated current and being operatively associated with an electrical switching, control, protection or monitoring apparatus structured to provide a number of currents and a number of voltages of the rotating electrical apparatus. The wellness circuit includes a current sensor scaled to the rated current and structured to provide a notch current signal representative of one of the number of currents; an interface to the electrical switching, control, protection or monitoring apparatus, the interface providing the number of currents and the number of voltages; and a processor employing the number of currents and the number of voltages from the interface and the notch current signal to determine wellness of the rotating electrical apparatus. The wellness circuit is structured to be separate from or added to the electrical switching, control, protection or monitoring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Dimino, Ting Yan, Mark A. Verheyen, Thomas M. Ruchti
  • Patent number: 8400181
    Abstract: A wafer is disclosed that includes a plurality of pipeline interconnected integrated circuit dies that form a plurality of pipelines. A plurality of dies in each pipeline is connected to receive scanned output test data from a neighboring die in a pipeline. A wafer level test access mechanism (TAM) transceiver circuitry, located outside the plurality of pipeline interconnected IC dies, is connected in common to each of the pipelines to provide input test data in a parallel fashion to the plurality of pipelines. The wafer level test access mechanism transceiver circuitry also provides output test results from each of the pipelines for evaluation by a computerized test system. In one embodiment, the wafer level test access mechanism transceiver circuitry is wireless so that it wirelessly receives test data to be passed through the multiple pipelines on a wafer and also includes wireless transmit circuitry to transmit test results from each of the pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Sravan Kumar Bhaskarani
  • Publication number: 20130057187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting blocking or sluggishness (M1, M3) of a DC motor (2). The method comprises the following steps: applying a voltage pulse (Uv,t=Os) to the DC motor (2); monitoring a motor current (IMotor) flowing through the DC motor (2); detecting a maximum value of the motor current (IMotor) following the application of the voltage pulse; checking whether a change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds a specific amount; signalling the blocking or the sluggishness (M1, M3) of the DC motor (2) if the change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds the specific amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Malich, Volker Lurk, Gerald Roos, Nikolas Haberl, Frank Fischer, Christian Poddey, Michael Koerner, Jan Van Goethem, Daniel Hofacker, Tobias Stiefel
  • Patent number: 8384338
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the stator winding resistance of AC motors is provided. The system includes an AC motor drive having an input connectable to an AC source and an output connectable to an input terminal of an AC motor, a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter having switches therein to control current flow and terminal voltages in the AC motor, and a control system connected to the PWM converter. The control system generates a command signal to cause the PWM converter to control an output of the AC motor drive corresponding to an input to the AC motor, selectively generates a modified command signal to cause the PWM converter to inject a DC signal into the output of the AC motor drive, and determines a stator winding resistance of the AC motor based on the DC signal of at least one of the voltage and current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Thomas G. Habetler, Pinjia Zhang
  • Patent number: 8378691
    Abstract: Removal of the rotor of a large electrical machine is costly and time consuming, and in particular the outage time of a power plant, which is needed for the removal of a generator rotor, is very expensive and should be minimized. To avoid opening of the generator for inspection and maintenance instrument carriages can be used. A method allows the reliable guidance for an in-situ instrument carrier inside the annular gap of a generator and a corresponding instrument carrier. The method avoids the use of sensors and active control systems for the guidance of the instrument carrier. A passively self-guiding system and method takes advantage of the internal structure of a generator and uses the passive centering properties of magnets to guide the instrument carrier through the annular gap of a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Roland Moser, Jörgen Rönnqvist
  • Publication number: 20130033214
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine for an electric vehicle, installed in a vehicle and driven by an inverter power source, includes: a partial discharge measuring device that measures partial discharges occurring in insulated areas between windings, between phases and between the rotating electric machine and a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Obata, Yutaka Matsunobu
  • Patent number: 8368420
    Abstract: A method is specified for fault identification when operating a rotating-field motor by means of a pulse-controlled inverter, wherein electromagnetic state variables of the rotating-field motor are determined by means of a mathematical model in space-vector form, and wherein the pulse-controlled inverter is operated electronically using space-vector variables. In this case, the invention provides that, during the operation of the rotating-field motor, the space vector of an uncontrolled state variable of the rotating-field motor is formed, in that the space vector that is formed is analyzed for a spectral component at twice the frequency of the rotating field, and in that, if the spectral component at twice the frequency is present, a partial turns short is deduced in the stator windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Zeh, Nicola-Valeriu Olarescu
  • Patent number: 8368404
    Abstract: A discharge amount measuring device includes a power source, first and second sensors, a calibration wire, and a measuring portion. The power source applies a voltage to a coil of a rotational electric machine. The first sensor detects a current flowing through the coil. The calibration wire has an end connected to the coil. The second sensor detects a current flowing through the calibration wire. The measuring portion forms a calibration line based on a first waveform detected by the first sensor and a second waveform detected by the second sensor. The measuring portion calculates a discharge amount based on the calibration line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Wakimoto, Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Shinji Kouda
  • Publication number: 20130013231
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle having plural electric motors includes generating motor electrical signatures for the motors. The motor electrical signatures represent one or more characteristics of electrical energy that is supplied to the motors. The method also includes identifying one or more fault measures of each of the motor electrical signatures. The fault measures are indicative of mechanical characteristics of the motors. The method further includes comparing the one or more fault measures of each motor with the one or more fault measures of the other motors in the same vehicle and predicting an impending mechanical failure of one or more of the motors based on comparing the fault measures of the motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Arijit Banerjee, Rupam Mukherjee, Ajith Kumar, Somakumar Ramachandrapanicker, Srilatha Boyanapally, Mohan Kumar Katta
  • Patent number: 8339142
    Abstract: In an abnormality diagnosing system for first and second current sensors for measuring a current, an obtaining unit obtains at least one pair of measured values of the first and second current sensors. The at least one pair of measured values is measured by the first and second current sensors at a substantially same timing. A diagnosing unit diagnoses whether there is an abnormality in at least one of the first and second current sensors based on a function defining a relationship between the at least one pair of measured values of the first and second current sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takahumi Oowada
  • Publication number: 20120319723
    Abstract: The grounding quality of an electric machine should be better monitored. Therefore, an electric machine is proposed, comprising a stator (1), a rotor (2), a shaft (3), to which the rotor (2) is fastened, and a grounding device (5) for grounding the shaft. The electric machine also has a measuring device (6) for measuring a ground current of the grounding device (5) and for providing a corresponding measured value. The electric machine also has a monitoring device (7) for monitoring the grounding function of the grounding device (5) on the basis of the measured value. In this way, the state of a grounding brush in regard to soiling and wear, for example, can be continuously monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jörg Hassel, Carsten Probol, Arno Steckenborn, Oliver Theile, Hans Tischmacher
  • Publication number: 20120319722
    Abstract: A method for detecting whether the stator in a vehicle alternator has a turn-to-turn short circuit. The method includes determining an output current or voltage signal of the alternator, where the output current or voltage signal includes a ripple current frequency as a result of an AC-to-DC conversion. The method determines the speed of the alternator and a current output of the alternator. The method then determines the ripple current frequency of the alternator from the alternator speed, and determines a winding frequency from the ripple current frequency. The method performs an FFT analysis on the voltage and current signal, determines an amplitude of the winding frequency and compares the amplitude of the winding frequency to a predetermined amplitude, where if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, a turn-to-turn short circuit is likely occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yilu Zhang, Siwei Cheng, Mutasim A. Salman
  • Publication number: 20120313662
    Abstract: A method for testing rotation speed of a fan receives a duty cycle ratio related to the fan sent from a dial switch on a test board connected to the fan. The method transmits a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on the duty cycle to the fan to power rotation of the fan, then detects the PWM signal transmitted to the fan and a tachometer (TACH) signal transmitted from the fan. The method gathers the duty cycle ratio related to the fan from the PWM signal and an actual rotation speed of the fan from the TACH signal, and displays the duty cycle ratio and the actual rotation speed together on the test board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: BO TIAN, KANG WU
  • Patent number: 8319517
    Abstract: An example generator test assembly includes a testing module operative to test a generator according to a test procedure. At least one connector is configured to couple the generator to the testing module. The generator has a generator identifier. The test module is configured to select the test procedure from a plurality of potential test procedures based on the generator identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Anwar Salah Elshaer
  • Patent number: 8310272
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for testing electric automotive drive systems are provided. The methods may be implemented with components with components that are used during normal operation of the automobile, such an inverter, an electric motor, and an electronic control system. One such method includes adjusting the frequency of a current pulsed input provided to an electric motor while monitoring the winding currents. Another method includes monitoring current flow during and after a direct current (DC) pulse is generated by switches within an inverter. A further method includes monitoring current flow while a deactivation signal is provided to the switches and during individual activation of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Mark Quarto
  • Patent number: 8310271
    Abstract: An alternator and starter tester system having a starter current zero test. The current is measured before and after a solenoid of a starter motor is energized and deenergized to determine if the starter motor should be failed. This allows the operator to quickly determine if the starter motor is stuck on during normal starter motor testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Raichle, Scott Krampitz, Weixing Xia
  • Patent number: 8310273
    Abstract: An inspecting ECU 4 and a GD substrate 3 are connected to an inverter circuit 100 for converting a power to be supplied from a voltage source 2 and outputting the converted power to a motor 5, and switch a conducting state of each of the elements in the inverter circuit 100. A conducting state of the element is switched in accordance with a driving condition for inspection corresponding to a whole active region of the element in a state that an inspecting load 50 is connected to the inverter circuit 100. A phase current flowing in the element and a voltage between terminals of the element through a voltage detector 11 and a current detector 12 are detected to obtain a correlation of an ON time of the element and a phase current value based on the current and the voltage which are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Irie, Tetsu Yamada, Hitoshi Saito
  • Publication number: 20120280709
    Abstract: A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Nagaraj Jayanth, George Ramayya
  • Patent number: 8299813
    Abstract: A system includes a switching power supply, an electric load connected to the switching power supply, a voltage regulation circuit, and a detect device. The voltage regulation circuit is connected to the electric load and configured to output a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal to regulate a voltage supplied to the electric load. The detect device is connected to the switching power supply for detecting whether the switching power supply is powered off when a current flowing to the electric load exceeds a preset tolerance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ling-Yu Xie
  • Publication number: 20120259563
    Abstract: A method for analyzing electrical shorts in field windings of a synchronous machine having a rotor using a magnetic flux probe, the method includes: monitoring flux signals generated by the flux probe wherein the flux signals are indicative of magnetic flux emanating from the field windings; electronically storing flux data obtained from the monitored flux signals and indicative of electrical shorts in the field windings; automatically analyzing the stored flux data to identify field windings having the shorts and to count the shorts in each identified field winding, and automatically displaying information identifying the field windings with shorts and a number of shorts in each field winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Keith Franklin Beatty
  • Patent number: 8283942
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool for an auxiliary power unit comprising an alternating current generator having an exciter winding and an output winding and an automatic voltage regulator for providing control over the excitation winding of the generator includes a harness with plug connectors allowing the diagnostic tool to be directly introduced between the generator and automatic voltage regulator replacing the conventional connections without affecting operation of the auxiliary power unit. The diagnostic tool has a plurality of multimeters between the automatic voltage regulator and the alternating current generator providing voltage readings across and resistance readings for the generator's stator exciter winding and main and auxiliary output windings. A protocol relates voltage and resistance readings taken with the multimeters when the auxiliary power unit is on and off to possible faults in the generator or with the automatic voltage regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: David C. Stanton
  • Publication number: 20120206162
    Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the condition of a laminated core of an electric machine, and including a first yoke wound with a first winding and having a first pair of arms spanning between a first pair of teeth of the laminated core, and a second yoke wound with a second winding and having a second pair of arms spanning between a second pair of teeth. A power supply provides power to an electrical circuit defined by one of the first and second windings to produce a magnetic flux in the yoke corresponding to the one of the first and second windings and defining an excitation yoke. A monitoring module provides a measurement of a characteristic of an electrical circuit defined by the other one of the first and second windings to identify a fault corresponding to an eddy current between individual laminations in the laminated core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Leonov
  • Publication number: 20120206163
    Abstract: A test setup for a permanent magnet motor provides a method for identifying symmetry or asymmetry in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets. The setup comprises a test circuit that includes a fixed reference node that provides a stable reference to which the motor's common node can be compared. Observing the waveform of the voltage between the two nodes while the motor is running helps identify an imbalance in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: David M. Foye, Nathan T. West
  • Patent number: 8234036
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the state of health of a starter motor to notify a vehicle driver of a potential starter motor failure before the failure actually occurs. The starter motor includes an armature and motor brushes each providing a resistance, and an armature coil providing an armature inductance. Further, the starter motor has a back EMF because of the starter motor being coupled to a flywheel and the vehicle engine. The system and method monitor the combined resistance of the armature and the motor brushes, the inductance of the armature and a back EMF constant of the motor, and provide a signal indicating a potential starter motor failure if any of these three values significantly deviates from nominal values. In one embodiment, the analysis of the motor resistance, armature inductance and back EMF constant is provided by a regression model to determine estimated motor parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Kwang-Keun Shin
  • Publication number: 20120182040
    Abstract: In a rotating electrical machine, a conductive foil or conductive rubber is applied to the surface of insulation layer of a conductor series connection area or to the surface of insulation layer of a turn conductor of coils of rotating electrical machine winding, waveforms of grounding voltages of the individual turn conductor portions are measured through the medium of an electrostatic capacitance of the insulation layer of coil conductor series connection area or through the medium of the insulation layer of coil turn conductor, and a partial discharge is measured while measuring a voltage developing in the coil or across a winding turn in the coil from a difference between the waveforms of grounding voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Koji OBATA, Yutaka Higashimura, Keiji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120169369
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing number of turns, used for testing the number of turns of a winding coil on an electrical machine stator with concentrated winding, comprising: a base (6); a rod-shaped rotor bracket (4) around one end of which an excitation coil (1) is wound and around the other end of which a standard coil (2) is wound; a joining member for joining the base (6) with the rotor bracket (4) so that the base (6) and the rotor bracket (4) can rotate relative to each other, wherein the plane of the base (6) is parallel to the rotor bracket (4); a fixing member for fixing the electrical machine stator (5) with concentrated winding to the base (6) so as to make the stator (5) concentric and coplanar with the rotor bracket (4); a galvanometer (17) connected to the standard coil (2), which is connected to the tested coil (3) of the stator (5) in reverse polarity to form a loop during testing. Also provided is a method for using the apparatus to test the number of turns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Wei Cai, Weimin Zhang, Jiangtao Wang
  • Patent number: 8212583
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for ground testing of a yaw system of a nacelle (3) prior to erection of a wind turbine (1). A portable transformer box (10) is provided which will allow the nacelle preparation team to operate the yaw and hydraulic systems while the nacelle is grounded prior to erection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Donald J. Oswald
  • Publication number: 20120161810
    Abstract: The method of detecting the failure of the excitation circuit of a polyphase alternator controlled by a regulator comprises the following steps: a) electrical information (Iexc) is continuously taken from the excitation circuit (1); b) the electrical information taken in step a) is continuously compared with a predetermined threshold value (Iref); c) a logic state (LT) is continuously determined according to the result of the comparison made in step b); and d) if the logic state (LT) determined in step c) persists for a time at least equal to a predetermined delay time (6), an electrical continuity fault of said excitation circuit is signalled. This method is particularly suitable for machines having a rotor equipped with permanent magnets or having a high remanence of the magnetic circuit of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Pierret, Philippe Masson
  • Publication number: 20120146683
    Abstract: Under a condition that rotor rotation speeds ?es are equal, winding wire currents Id, Iq are equal, and winding wire inductances Ld, Lq are equal in first and second electric motors (1, 2), a magnet temperature anomaly detector (30) provided in a microcomputer (5) calculates a change ratio d(|?ml??mr|)/dt of a magnetic flux difference between the first and second electric motors (1, 2) based on the difference Vql*?Vqr* between a q-axis voltage command value Vql* corresponding to the first electric motor (1) and a q-axis voltage command value Vqr corresponding to the second electric motor (2), and then when the change ratio d(|?ml??mr|)/dt of the magnetic flux difference is more than a predetermined threshold Sh1, it is determined that a permanent magnet of at least any one of the electric motors (1, 2) has a temperature anomaly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanimoto, Tomoya Imazu, Yoshinori Nakano
  • Patent number: 8179157
    Abstract: A test setup for a permanent magnet motor provides a method for identifying symmetry or asymmetry in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets. The setup comprises a test circuit that includes a fixed reference node that provides a stable reference to which the motor's common node can be compared. Observing the waveform of the voltage between the two nodes while the motor is running helps identify an imbalance in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Foye, Nathan T. West
  • Publication number: 20120105098
    Abstract: An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin A. Hancock, Markus F. Hirschbold, John Charles Eggink, Peter Cowan
  • Patent number: 8143901
    Abstract: A test apparatus includes an up counter, a down counter, a selector that selects either an up counter output from the up counter or a down counter output from the down counter, an inversion circuit that inverts either the counter output selected by the selector or the counter output nonselected by the selector, and a comparison circuit that compares the counter output inverted by the inversion circuit and the other counter output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Chikahiro Deguchi, Yutaka Sekino, Shogo Shibazaki, Shinkichi Gama, Takeshi Nagase, Hideyuki Negi
  • Patent number: 8143910
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a first path that includes a first logic circuit; a second path that includes a second logic circuit; and a subsequent-stage circuit that is connected to an output of the first path and is connected to an output of the second path, in which the second path further includes a first internal path that is selected as a propagation path during a normal operation period; and a second internal path that is selected as a propagation path during a test operation period and includes a delay circuit having a delay amount larger than a delay amount of the first internal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobatake
  • Patent number: 8134384
    Abstract: A method for testing a noise immunity of an integrated circuit; the method includes: determining a value of a power supply noise regardless of a relationship between the power supply noise value and a phase sensitive signal edge position resulting from an introduction of the power supply noise; receiving, by the integrated circuit, a phase sensitive signal; introducing jitter to the phase sensitive signal by a circuit adapted to generate a substantially continuous range of power supply noise such as to alter edges position of the phase sensitive signal; providing the jittered phase sensitive signal to at least one tested component of the integrated circuit; and evaluating at least one output signal generated by the at least tested component to determine the noise immunity of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Weizman, Yehim-Haim Fefer, Sergey Sofer
  • Publication number: 20120049886
    Abstract: An example generator test assembly includes a testing module operative to test a generator according to a test procedure. At least one connector is configured to couple the generator to the testing module. The generator has a generator identifier. The test module is configured to select the test procedure from a plurality of potential test procedures based on the generator identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Anwar Salah Elshaer
  • Patent number: 8125238
    Abstract: A coupling line is provided for coupling a signal generator to a device under test and includes a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode. The first Zener diode and the second Zener diode are coupled in an antiserial manner. They are adapted to couple the signal generator to the device under test when the signal generator is active and decouple the signal generator from the device under test when the signal generator is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Adrian Stenzel
  • Patent number: 8125239
    Abstract: A self-calibrating current sensor for sensing the state of the current passing through a load line enclosed within a housing comprises a sensor disposed adjacent the load line for sensing a current passing through the load line, the sensor having an output at which a signal indicative of the level of current passing through the load line is present, the sensor being positioned with the housing, a binary input circuit configured to generate at least one binary signal, the binary input circuit being configured to change the level of the at least one binary signal without the need of opening the housing, and a controller circuit having a first input coupled to the output of the sensor for receiving the signal indicative of the level passing through the supply line and having a second input coupled to the binary input circuit for receiving the at least one binary signal, the controller being configured to provide a signal indicative of the status of the current in the load line on an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Functional Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Rittmann
  • Patent number: 8115494
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring rub detection in a machine are provided. An alternating current voltage signal may be transmitted or communicated to at least one component of the machine. The transmitted signal may be monitored in the at least one component and at least one characteristic associated with the monitored signal may be compared to an expected value for the at least one characteristic. Based at least in part on the comparison, a rub condition or potential rub condition may be identified between the at least one component and another component of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wesley Donald Franklin
  • Publication number: 20120022828
    Abstract: A rotary encoder device for scanning a rotatable shaft includes a microgenerator circuit, which converts the kinetic energy of the shaft into an electrical voltage, and a monitoring circuit, which is designed to output an error signal that indicates a malfunction of the microgenerator circuit. The error signal is issued when the electrical voltage meets a predetermined criterion with respect to a reference threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Schneider, Jochen Wilhelmy
  • Publication number: 20120019281
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products (i.e., software) for electric motor testing and analysis. Electric motor winding resistance and motor temperature are measured. The resistance measurement is normalized to a common temperature and electronically displayed in a resistance versus time graph including one or more previously normalized resistance values from previous resistance and temperature measurements. Based on information from the graph, a prediction or estimation can be made as to the remaining acceptable or satisfactory operating time of the electric motor. Such prediction or estimation may be used as an indicator for replacing or refurbishing the electric motor, or as an indicator for performing preventative maintenance on the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: David M. Barbour, II
  • Publication number: 20120001652
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator inspection device, including a driver to PWM control an electric power input to a drive coil of an electromagnetic actuator to PWM drive the electromagnetic actuator; a PWM drive controller to output a PWM signal to the driver; a voltage detector to detect a voltage generated in the drive coil of the electromagnetic actuator when pausing its PWM drive; and a determiner to determine at least one of whether the electromagnetic actuator is connected to the driver and whether the drive coil is disconnected, based on the voltage detected by the voltage detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroshi OKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20110304351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for off-line testing of a multi-phase alternating current machine. The method comprises determining, at a first rotor position, a physical stator quantity of each stator winding by applying a test signal to each stator winding, and determining a first joint physical stator quantity by summing the determined physical stator quantities of the stator windings. There is also provided a method and apparatus for off-line testing of a multi-phase alternating current machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Boris Cop
  • Patent number: 8072169
    Abstract: A method of controlling a washing machine and a motor determines whether a BLDC motor is in a normal state in software without hardware and a user is notified of an abnormal state of the BLDC motor if the BLDC motor is in an abnormal state, thereby ensuring safety. When the motor is rotated, the state of the motor is determined by applying harmonics to a voltage that is applied to a motor and analyzing an output frequency characteristic. When the motor is stopped, the state of the motor is determined by estimating the temperature of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung Chul Kim, Tae Ho Yoon, Hyun Bae Kim, Sang Jun Lee
  • Publication number: 20110295558
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for operating an electrical machine. The method includes the steps of, providing a brushless excitation system including a diode rectifier having at least one diode, sensing heat energy generated by at least one resistor connected in parallel with the diode, and detecting a deviation of the generated heat energy from the at least one resistor. Another step generates a signal indicating an error in a diode or a failed or faulty diode if the deviation in generated heat energy exceeds a predetermined threshold deviation level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Earl Fish, John Harold Parslow, Albert Eugene Steinbach
  • Patent number: 8063626
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the precise measurement of dependency on amplitude and phase of a plurality of high frequency signals, preferably in the synchrotron accelerator of elementary particles. The essence of the solution according to the invention lies in that with a single measuring device and without any aliasing it is achieved a resolution of 0.2 micron and repeatability of measurements of 1 micron down to the lower frequency limit of a few MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Instrumentation Technologies d.d.
    Inventors: Borut Solar, Primoz Lemut, Vladimir Poucki, Borut Baricevic, Tomaz Karcnik
  • Patent number: 8061893
    Abstract: A testing system for testing a temperature characteristic of a first motor includes a second motor, a controller, a driver, a load, a temperature sensor, and a temperature recorder. The controller provides a drive command for the driver to drive the second motor. The second motor drives the first motor via a coupling. A current of the first motor is determined by adjusting the resistance of the load. The temperature sensor senses the temperatures of the first motor every a determined time and sends the temperatures to the temperature recorder. The temperature recorder records and transmits the temperatures to the controller for the temperature characteristic test of the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Cheng Su, Yin-Jao Luo, Shao-Chung Yuan, An-Zheng Yang, Chia-Ching Lin, Han-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 8058894
    Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting for a step loss condition. A back electromagnetic force signal is measured and compared to a reference voltage. The motor continues operating and the back electromagnetic force signal is measured again and compared to the reference voltage. If the measured levels of the back emf voltages are less than the reference voltage, a step loss condition has occurred and the stator field is repositioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Bart De Cock
  • Patent number: 8054084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for identifying a fault condition in stator windings in an electric motor. A method comprises applying a first signal at a first electrical angle to the stator windings and measuring a second signal from the stator windings in response to the first signal. The method further comprises determining a measured response for the electric motor at the first electrical angle based on the second signal and obtaining a nominal response for the electric motor at the first electrical angle. A fault condition is identified when a magnitude of the difference between the measured response and the nominal response is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Khwaja M. Rahman, Chia-Chou Yeh
  • Patent number: 8049528
    Abstract: An electrical drive system includes an electrical machine controlled by an electronic controller, which requires feedback of signals representing quantities associated with the operation of the electrical machine. These signals may represent, for example, flux, current and/or rotor position. The integrity of these signals is validated by setting suitable thresholds for the signals and confirming that both are present at the appropriate time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec SR Drives Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Richard Mayes