By Pulse Width Or Duty Cycle Modification Patents (Class 388/811)
  • Patent number: 11963657
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a controller coupled to a sensor or a set of sensors that collects and transmits data to a remote computing device. The surface cleaning apparatus can use wireless or networking technology with a protocol for wireless communication with the remote computing device. The remote computing device is configured to identify an event at the surface cleaning apparatus and/or a change in the cycle of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus based on the transmitted data. Sensor data can be transmitted from the remote computing device to a different surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Pruiett
  • Patent number: 11951685
    Abstract: The present application provides a servo motor drive circuit and a 3D printing apparatus, a motion controller is configured to send a drive enable signal to the timer; a pulse period providing unit is configured to send a pulse period value to the timer and the first comparing unit at beginning of each pulse period; the timer is configured to perform initialization in response to the received pulse period value during enabling of the drive enable signal, perform cyclic timing by taking the pulse period value as a timing period, and send a timing duration to the first comparing unit; and the first comparing unit is configured to acquire current level information that satisfies a preset duty ratio according to the preset duty ratio, the pulse period value, and the timing duration, and send a drive signal to a servo motor according to the current level information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZHUHAI SAILNER 3D TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Pingchu Yu
  • Patent number: 11916375
    Abstract: A fault-current limiting device having an input voltage node configured to receive a first voltage signal from an energy source, such as a battery, and an input reference node configured to receive a reference signal from the energy source. The device further includes a first switch coupled between the input voltage node and an output voltage node and a second switch coupled between the input reference node and an output reference node. The device further includes a current sensor circuit coupled to the output voltage node and coupled respectively to the first switch and the second switch wherein the current sensor circuit is configured to open the first and second switches in response to sensing a current signal at the output voltage node that exceeds a threshold current (e.g., a transient fault current).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PowerSecure, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben Otero-De-Leon, Joaquin Aguerre, Bryan Daniels, Marshall Worth
  • Patent number: 11731256
    Abstract: Provided is an electric tool with which work efficiency can be improved. A controller of an electric tool can execute: a first control, whereby during a non-operating state after a motor has started up and before a tip tool is set to be in an operating state, the motor is driven at a slow idling rotation speed, and when the tip tool is set to be in the operating state, the motor is driven at a normal rotation speed which is higher than the slow idling rotation speed; and a second control, whereby in a case where a trigger switch has been turned off in a state where the motor is being driven at the normal rotation speed and the trigger switch is thereafter turned on again under a prescribed condition, the motor is driven at the normal rotation speed regardless of the state of the tip tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Yamada, Hideyuki Hashimoto, Yuta Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11607792
    Abstract: A machine tool device for a portable machine tool in one embodiments includes at least one coupling unit which couples a machining tool and at least one drive unit configured to drive the coupling unit. The machine tool device includes a recuperation unit which provides, in at least one deactivated state of the drive unit, electrical energy which supplies at least one functional unit from a kinetic energy of at least the coupling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Wiker, Daniel Dennis, Matthias Schneider
  • Patent number: 11567477
    Abstract: A fan driving circuit with temperature compensation comprises a power input end, a power output end connected with a fan motor, a first transistor arranged between the power input end and the power output end, a signal adjuster connected with the first transistor and connected with a signal generating circuit, a second transistor connected with the signal adjuster, and a feedback unit. The feedback unit comprises a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series, and a compensation bypass connected in parallel with the first resistor or the second resistor, wherein the compensation bypass comprises a thermistor, a resistance of the thermistor changes along with the temperature and changes a magnitude of a feedback current which is provided to the second transistor, so as to compensate a change of a common emitter current gain in the second transistor generated by the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SEA SONIC ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chien Chou, Chih-Sheng Chang, Cheng-Yung Lo
  • Patent number: 11122816
    Abstract: A control method for a viscous semi-liquid frozen or hot food dispenser comprising a stirring means configured to stir the food, a motor (50) configured to drive the stirring means to rotate, a refrigerating means or heating means configured to input cold energy or heat energy into the food, a rotation speed sensor (80) configured to detect a stirring speed, and a temperature sensor (13) configured to detect the food temperature, the control method comprising the steps of: a) refrigerating or heating the food by the refrigerating means or heating means; b) comparing the food temperature detected by the temperature sensor (13) with a target preset value of the food temperature, and determining to continue the refrigeration or heating, or to stop the refrigeration or heating and to keep stopping for a preset time; c) intervening by corresponding adjustment of the target preset value when a data set collected from the rotation speed sensor (80) shows that change trend of the rotation speed meets predefined inter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Lin Yang, Rong Chen
  • Patent number: 11095246
    Abstract: A system may be provided that may include an integrated motor drive configured to couple to a motor. The integrated motor drive may include a first converter that may be configured to electrically couple with a winding assembly of the motor. The first converter may include at least first conversion circuitry configured to form a first electrical excitation waveform and second conversion circuitry coupled in parallel to the second conversion circuitry and configured to form a second electrical excitation waveform. The first converter may also include a first transformer configured to form a first summation electrical excitation waveform from the first electrical excitation waveform and the second electrical excitation waveform that drives the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Antonio Caiafa, Di Pan
  • Patent number: 11039723
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a controller coupled to a sensor or a set of sensors that collects and transmits data to a remote computing device. The surface cleaning apparatus can use wireless or networking technology with a protocol for wireless communication with the remote computing device. The remote computing device is configured to identify an event at the surface cleaning apparatus and/or a change in the cycle of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus based on the transmitted data. Sensor data can be transmitted from the remote computing device to a different surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Pruiett
  • Patent number: 10839190
    Abstract: An example gate driver for an array of sensing pixels is disclosed. The gate driver includes a first flip-flop including a first data input and a first data output. The first data output is coupled to a first group of sensing pixels of the array. The gate driver also includes a second flip-flop including a second data input and a second data output. The second data output is coupled to a second group of sensing pixels of the array. The gate driver further includes a first insertion circuit configured to receive a first start signal and to cause, based on the first start signal, the second flip-flop to drive the second group of sensing pixels without the first flip-flop driving the first group of sensing pixels for a scan of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: FINGERPRINT CARDS AB
    Inventors: Guozhong Shen, Ozan Ersan Erdogan
  • Patent number: 10483885
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and apparatus for rotation detection of a brushed DC motor. The method and apparatus may detect switching of the commutators and utilize signals indicative of switching to determine speed and/or rotation information of the motor. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an ADC, a difference circuit, an absolute value circuit, and a comparator connected in series with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Tsutomu Murata
  • Patent number: 10439521
    Abstract: Provided is an identification method for use in an identification apparatus that identifies types of brushless DC motors. Each brushless DC motor includes a circuit board on which at least one terminal with a pull-up resistance incorporated therein is mounted. The pull-up resistances vary among multiple types of brushless DC motors. A power supply voltage is supplied from the identification apparatus to a brushless DC motor, a pull-up voltage value set by the pull-up resistance and outputted from the at least one terminal of the brushless DC motor is inputted to the identification apparatus, and the identification apparatus identifies the type of the brushless DC motor based on the pull-up voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 10222814
    Abstract: A method for controlling a number of phases that are active in a multiphase direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter includes (a) filtering a current signal representing a magnitude of current processed by the multiphase DC-to-DC converter to generate a filtered signal, (b) comparing the filtered signal to a first threshold value, (c) deactivating one or more phases of the multiphase DC-to-DC converter in response to the filtered signal falling below the first threshold value, (d) comparing the current signal to a second threshold value, the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value, and (e) activating one or more phases of the multiphase DC-to-DC converter in response to the current signal rising above the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Volterra Semiconductor LLC
    Inventors: Sombuddha Chakraborty, Yali Xiong, Michael D. McJimsey, Anthony J. Stratakos, Giovanni Garcea, Ilija Jergovic, Andrew Burstein, Andrea Pizzutelli
  • Patent number: 10195959
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a system main relay, a first voltage converter, a second voltage converter, a first diode disposed in a third power line and configured to prevent a reverse flow of a current from the first auxiliary machine to the auxiliary machine battery, and a second diode disposed in a second power line and configured to prevent a reverse flow of a current from the first auxiliary machine to the second voltage converter. Therefore, according to the vehicle, even when the auxiliary machine battery is short-circuited, the first diode can prevent a reverse flow of a current and the second voltage converter can continuously supply electric power to the first auxiliary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10161980
    Abstract: A deterioration detecting apparatus includes: a capacitor that is connected to an insulated electric power source, and is charged and discharged; a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the capacitor; and a deterioration detecting unit that detects a deterioration in insulating resistors of the electric power source on the basis of the voltage of the capacitor detected by the voltage detecting unit, in which the voltage detecting unit can detect the charged negative voltage of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Shota Kawanaka, Sho Tamura
  • Patent number: 10149407
    Abstract: A fan control system includes a fan and a target device. The fan control system includes a controller to control the rotation speed of the fan. The controller controls the rotation speed according to a time-variable rate of current consumed by the target device. Particularly, when the time-variable rate of current exceeds a threshold, the controller controls the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jenseng J S Chen, Jung-Tai Chen, Tsung-Yu Chen, Edward Yu-Chen Kung, Tzongli Lin, Bruce A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10130007
    Abstract: A fan control system includes a fan and a target device. The fan control system includes a controller to control the rotation speed of the fan. The controller controls the rotation speed according to a time-variable rate of current consumed by the target device. Particularly, when the time-variable rate of current exceeds a threshold, the controller controls the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jenseng J S Chen, Jung-Tai Chen, Tsung-Yu Chen, Edward Yu-Chen Kung, Tzongli Lin, Bruce A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10024160
    Abstract: A stepper motor suitable for use in a medical imaging environment has (a) a cylindrical central gear having an external surface with circumferentially distributed and radially directed teeth, (b) a shaft for mounting the central gear such that it is constrained to move in rotational motion about its centerline, (c) a cylindrical hoop gear having a bore with an internal surface having circumferentially distributed and radially directed teeth, (d) level arm crank mechanisms for mounting the hoop gear such that it is constrained to move in translational-circular motion about the central gear's centerline, wherein this central gear is further configured to fit within the hoop gear's bore in such a manner that a plurality of the central gear and hoop gear teeth intermesh and cooperate so that the planetary movement of the hoop gear causes the central gear to rotate, and (e) piston mechanisms for applying a fluid pressure driven force to specified points on the hoop gear so as to cause its movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Dan Stoianovici, Alexandru Patriciu, Dumitru Mazilu, Doru Petrisor, Louis R. Kavoussi
  • Patent number: 9906179
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a motor drive control device includes a PWM control circuit that generates PWM signals corresponding to a predetermined exciting current pattern, an H bridge circuit that is constituted of switch transistors whose on/off is controlled by the PWM signals, a coil to which an exciting current is supplied from the H bridge circuit, and a current detection circuit that detects a current flowing into the coil. A value of a parameter of the exciting current pattern is corrected by using the detection result of the current detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9853590
    Abstract: An electrical motor controller changes the PWM frequency that is used by a motor driver to form the fundamental frequency and voltage magnitude for the electrical power delivered to an electrical motor. The electrical motor controller compares a signal generated by a first sensor that indicates an output speed of the motor to a predetermined speed threshold and compares a signal generated by a second sensor that corresponds to phase currents in the electrical motor to a predetermined motor power threshold. These comparisons are used to set the PWM frequency for the motor driver. The PWM frequency either corresponds to a frequency in a humanly imperceptible audio range or to a frequency that is in a humanly perceptible audio range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Robert K. Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 9735727
    Abstract: A controller for an electric motor includes a protective circuit for limiting current or for polarity reversal protection, the protective circuit including a field effect transistor having a gate. The protective circuit further includes a control unit for providing a control voltage for the gate, a smoothing capacitor for charge storage being provided at the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Rummel, Marcellus Weber, Michael Forscht
  • Patent number: 9562538
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a connector for a fan, a speed adjusting circuit, a speed feedback circuit, a control module, first and second power sources, and a switching module. The speed adjusting circuit is connected to a modulation pin of the connector. The speed feedback circuit is connected to a speed pin of the connector. The control module receives a speed signal from the fan through the speed feedback circuit and outputs signals correspondingly. The switching module selects the first or the second power source to supply power for the fan according to the signals from the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ShenZhen Treasure City Technology Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Tian, Kang Wu
  • Patent number: 9504247
    Abstract: A cooling system for preserving tissue is disclosed. The cooling system comprises a base member, a temperature control sleeve constructed of a thermally conductive material, and a selectively removable lid member. The base member defines a reservoir and receives the temperature control sleeve. The temperature control sleeve at least partially defines a tissue collector chamber that is configured to receive a tissue collector. The temperature control sleeve is in communication with the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to receive a cooling medium. A slit formed within the tissue collection chamber that is sized to receive a tubing connected to the tissue collector therethrough. The lid member is configured to be selectively attached to the base member, and permit access to a tube mount for the tissue collector when the lid is attached to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nico Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Mark, Brian C. Dougherty, Alexandra Schwier, Mick Trompen
  • Patent number: 9437237
    Abstract: A method for detecting power loss on a data storage device (DSD) includes: as part of a device initialization of the DSD, measuring a rotational speed of a spindle of a rotating media; comparing the measured spindle rotational speed to a threshold rotational speed value; and based on the comparison, determining whether the device initialization has been triggered due to a power-on reset of the DSD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng Fatt Yee, Wei San Pang
  • Patent number: 9417672
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing customized thermal control data structures. The default thermal control data structure is typically stored in a first storage device of the IOS module of the information processing system. A custom thermal control data structure is stored on a second storage device that is separately updatable from the first storage device. The thermal cooling module that provides cooling for the information processing system is directed to use the custom thermal control data structure for cooling components of the information processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Marc Richard Pamley, Omar Ali Ali, Cory Allen Chapman, Timothy Samuel Farrow, William Fred Keown, Jr., Albert Vincent Makley, James A. Pfaltzgraff
  • Patent number: 9276516
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit with a compressor, a power module, a refrigerant cooler in contact with the power module, and an IPM motor which drives the compressor. A refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit flows through the refrigerant cooler, and cooling of the power module is performed by dissipating heat to the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant cooler. A controller in the refrigeration apparatus outputs a driving signal to a drive circuit to reduce the number of switching operations of switching elements by performing overmodulation control such that there exists a carrier cycle in which no switching is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Harada, Toshiyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9243918
    Abstract: An indoor navigational system determines a location of a moveable object in an indoor area and displays this location to a user. The system includes an absolute position sensor coupled to a case attached to a moveable object including a motion sensor coupled to a case including a first magnetic field sensor configured to detect a polarity of a magnet as the magnet passes in proximity to the first magnetic field sensor, a code wheel having two or more magnets alternately oriented with north and south polarities facing toward the first magnetic sensor, the code wheel positioned to rotate in unison with a wheel of the moveable object, and encoder circuitry configured to determine an amount of rotation of the wheel of the moveable object based on an output of the first magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: AppLabz, LLC
    Inventors: David Allan Goldman, Nirav Balkrishna Patel
  • Patent number: 9225281
    Abstract: A control system for an electric machine, the control system including a position sensor and a drive controller. The drive controller generates one or more control signals for use in exciting a winding of the electric machine. Control signals for each electrical half-cycle of one mechanical cycle are generated by the drive controller in response to a single edge of a signal output by the position-sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Hanping Dai
  • Patent number: 9160255
    Abstract: A method of preheating a brushless motor that includes sequentially energizing and de-energizing a phase winding over one or more drive periods. The phase winding is energized in the same direction throughout each drive period so as to lock a rotor of the motor at an aligned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Greetham
  • Patent number: 9093933
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an electric motor employing a pulse-type rotational position sensor includes monitoring a signal output from the pulse-type rotational position sensor and a reference signal associated with a control signal for the electric motor. A position of a rotor of the electric motor coincident with the reference signal is determined based upon a nominal rotor position, a nominal rotational speed of the rotor and a time between the reference signal and a falling edge of the signal output from the pulse-type rotational position sensor. The electric motor is controlled based upon the position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jihoon Jang, Yo Chan Son, Steven E. Schulz, Leah Dunbar, Terry Murrell, Daniel L. Kowalewski, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 8981701
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for compensating offset of a current sensor detecting a motor current supplied by an inverter for PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control of a motor, the apparatus including a current controller providing a PWM signal generated based on the motor current detected by the current sensor to the inverter, calculating an offset using the motor current detected by the current sensor in response to presence and absence of the PWM control of the motor, or offset-compensating the motor current detected by the current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gi Young Choi
  • Patent number: 8957617
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a controller and a method for improving motor driving efficiency. According to the present invention, multiple control parameters are inputted to the controller so that the controller can adjust timings of PWM driving signals for driving the motor to advance or delay the turned-ON or turned-OFF points, whereby the motor is driven efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Padauk Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mao-Hsin Cheng
  • Patent number: 8947035
    Abstract: A rotation speed control circuit is disclosed. The rotation speed control circuit includes a temperature-controlled voltage duty generator, a pulse-width signal duty generator, a multiplier and a rotation speed signal generator. The temperature-controlled voltage duty generator converts temperature-controlled voltage to digital temperature-controlled voltage and executes linear interpolation operation according to a first setting data so as to output temperature-controlled voltage duty signal. The pulse-width signal duty generator coverts pulse-width input signal to a digital pulse-width input signal and executes linear interpolation operation according to a second setting data so as to output a pulse-width duty signal. The temperature-controlled voltage duty signal and the pulse-width duty signal are executed for multiplication by the multiplier so as to output mixing-duty signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Sheng Li, Shen-Min Lo, Kun-Min Chen, Chia-Tai Yang, Ming-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 8933653
    Abstract: A motor current detection apparatus in the present invention includes: a current detection unit, a first filter, and a second filter. The detection unit detects a conduction current flowing from a battery to a brushless motor and outputs a conduction current signal corresponding to the detected conduction current. The first filter extracts a first current signal which is included in the conduction current signal outputted from the detection unit and is a signal component in a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined first cutoff frequency. The second filter extracts a second current signal which is included in the conduction current signal outputted from the detection unit and is a signal component in a predetermined frequency band within a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency and having the second cutoff frequency as a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichikawa, Motohiro Omura, Kenya Yanagihara
  • Patent number: 8796977
    Abstract: A voltage regulator for a pair of electric motors has an input for a signal indicative of the desired speed for the motors and a pulse width modulation control circuit device. A control module provides a conditioning signal to the control circuit to output to the motors a square wave voltage having a duty-cycle which varies according to a predetermined function of the signal applied to the input of the regulator. The control circuit device has first and second electronic solid state switches associated with the motor and controlled by the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Gate S.R.L.
    Inventors: Maurizio Barbero, Franco Quagliata
  • Patent number: 8796978
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present method and system permit an effective method for determining the optimum selection of pulse width modulation polarity and type including determining machine parameters, inputting the machine parameters into a predicted duty cycle module, determining the optimum polarity of the pulse width modulation for a predicted duty cycle based on a pulse width modulation generation algorithm, and determining the optimum type of the pulse width modulation for a predicted duty cycle based on the pulse width modulation generation algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventor: Zaher Abdallah Daboussi
  • Patent number: 8680807
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus for controlling a DC motor includes a first detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity of the DC motor, a driven member configured to be driven by the DC motor, a control unit configured to perform, during start-up of the DC motor, feed forward control for changing a control value used for controlling drive of the DC motor from a first control value corresponding to an angular velocity smaller than a target angular velocity to a second control value corresponding to the target angular velocity, and to change the feed forward control to feedback control for controlling the control value based on a detection result by the first detection unit to keep the DC motor at the target angular velocity, and a second detection unit configured to detect whether the driven member has been replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoritsugu Maeda
  • Patent number: 8674640
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes: a motor; a manipulation input receiving unit which receives a user manipulation input for rotating the motor; a mode changeover unit that has one manipulation portion which manipulated by the user; a rotation drive force transmitting unit that switches a transmission mechanism to one of the transmission mechanisms corresponding to the set position of the manipulation portion and transmits a drive force of the motor to a tool output shaft via the switched transmission mechanism; an electric signal output unit that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the set position of the manipulation portion; and a motor control unit that sets the control method of the motor to a control method preset for the electric signal, among a plurality of different types of control methods, based on the electric signal, and controls the motor by the set control method, based on manipulation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Suda, Takuya Kusakawa
  • Patent number: 8653775
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling and/or regulating an electric motor. Such electric motors are used for example in motor vehicles in the form of pump motors. In general, the electric motor is supplied with electrical energy from a battery and/or using a generator. The controlling and regulation take place using a high-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM). When the electric motor is started, the PWM is used to continuously increase the motor current required for the operation of the electric motor, e.g. beginning from 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Schanzenbach, Juergen Hachtel, Markus Baumert
  • Patent number: 8648552
    Abstract: A control system for an electric machine, the control system including a position sensor and a drive controller. The drive controller generates one or more control signals for exciting a winding of the electric machine in response to edges of a signal output by the position sensor. Moreover, the drive controller generates control signals in response to an edge that occurs within a time window. The time window starts at a time when control signals are generated and has a length less than the electrical half-cycle period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Hanping Dai
  • Patent number: 8633667
    Abstract: A motor speed determining circuit determining a rotation speed of a motor is provided and a processing of generating motor driving waveform is switched in accordance with the rotation speed of the motor. A resolver signal outputted from a resolver 2 is converted to a digital value by an R/D converter 3, and inputted to a computing circuit of resolver value correction 5 via an R/D conversion interface 4. A current value of a motor M is converted to a digital value by an A/D convertor 8. The computing circuit of resolver value correction 5 computes a resolver correction value of the inputted digital signal and calculates positional data from a corrected resolver value. The computing circuit of motor control computes a current instruction value from a motor current value subjected to digital conversion by the A/D converter 8 and a motor current instruction value etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hisaaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8633780
    Abstract: The PWM control circuit is provided. The PWM control circuit includes: a PWM control signal generator that generates a PWM period signal defining a period of a PWM signal and a PWM resolution signal specifying a resolution in one period of the PWM period signal; and a PWM unit that generates the PWM signal based on the PWM period signal and the PWM resolution signal, wherein the PWM control signal generator changes a frequency of the PWM resolution signal while keeping a frequency of the PWM period signal unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8624538
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is provided that performs AC/DC conversion by suppressing harmonics of the input at the time of normal operation, while on the other hand, allowing system operation to continue in the event of an overload by avoiding system stoppage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Yoshida, Takashi Harada, Shinichi Horikoshi, Yasusuke Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8618754
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus that controls a DC motor includes a detection unit configured to detect angular speed of the DC motor, a driven member configured to be driven by the DC motor, and a control unit configured to increase, when starting to drive the DC motor, a control value for controlling driving of the DC motor from a first control value to a second control value at a predetermined increase rate, wherein the control unit detects a start-up characteristic of the DC motor based on a detection result of the detection unit, and corrects the first control value or the increase rate according to a result of comparing a detected start-up characteristic and a predetermined start-up characteristic such that the start-up characteristic of the DC motor becomes closer to the predetermined start-up characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoritsugu Maeda
  • Patent number: 8602746
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, an electrical system for a pump includes a power supply and a controller coupled to the power supply, the controller supporting a plurality of pump cycle levels. If a voltage of the power supply drops below a first threshold, the controller automatically causes the pump to operate at a lower pump cycle level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: TXAM Pumps, LLC
    Inventors: Brady Gallwey, Roy Tilford Jackson, Duy D. Nguyen, C. Tom Brannon
  • Patent number: 8552669
    Abstract: A duty ratio control device includes a duty ratio calculation unit and a parameter setting unit. The duty ratio calculation unit, when an acceleration manipulation is performed, calculates a control duty ratio per predetermined timing based on a value of at least one parameter so that a rotation speed of a motor mounted on an electric power tool reaches a target rotation speed corresponding to the acceleration manipulation. The control duty ratio is calculated to be larger as the value of the at least one parameter is larger. The parameter setting unit sets the value of the at least one parameter. The value of the at least one parameter set for a reacceleration manipulation is larger than the value of the at least one parameter set for an initial acceleration manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Kusakawa
  • Patent number: 8541971
    Abstract: When applying a high frequency voltage which alternates on positive and negative sides to a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a driving system of synchronous motor switches the applied voltage phase by 120 degrees successively and applies resultant voltages to three phases. A pulsating current generated by applying a high frequency voltage is detected at timing of elapse of a predetermined time ?t since an output voltage of at least one phase has changed from a state in which all output voltages of the three phases of a power converter are positive or negative. Current detection is conducted by using a DC resistor or a phase current sensor provided on a DC bus. A magnetic pole estimation unit calculates the rotor magnetic pole position of the permanent magnet synchronous motor on the basis of differences between positive side and negative side change quantities in three-phase currents obtained from detected current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Sakai, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Yoshiyuki Taguchi, Daigo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8519649
    Abstract: A control device of a synchronous machine is disclosed. The control device includes an inverter configured to provide an output current to a synchronous machine. A controller configured to control the output current and to estimate a voltage command, at least in part, by using pulse width modulation to choose a non-zero vector at a time when the inverter is not driving the synchronous machine with the output current. The estimating the voltage command is performed without using a zero vector. A phase angle and angular velocity estimating section configured to estimate a phase angle and an angular velocity of a rotor of the synchronous machine based, at least in part, on an inductance value, an induction voltage value, the voltage command, and the output current. The controller is further configured to control the output current based, at least in part, on the phase angle and the angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Taniguchi, Kazuya Yasui, Kazuaki Yuuki, Yosuke Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8494349
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a negative pressure generated by a suction pump of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system. The method includes the steps of disconnecting a drive voltage from a pump of the TNP system, determining an EMF generated by a free-wheeling element of the pump, selecting a new drive voltage for the pump and reconnecting the new drive voltage to the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Gordon
  • Patent number: 8425201
    Abstract: A control circuit is electrically connected to at least one fan device. The fan device has a motor and generates a sensing signal. The control circuit receives a power-source signal and the sensing signal and includes a power converting unit, a control unit and a switch unit. The power converting unit receives the power-source signal and thus respectively outputs a first power-source signal and a second power-source signal according to the power-source signal. The control unit receives the first power-source signal and the sensing signal and thus generates a control signal according to the sensing signal. The switch unit receives the control signal and generates at least one switch signal according to the control signal. The fan device receives the second power-source signal and the switch signal and drives the motor according to the switch signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee-Long Chen, Chi-Chen Shen