By Voltage Or Current Modification Patents (Class 388/815)
  • Patent number: 11955920
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor including a mechanical commutator, includes determining points in time at which commutation takes place by a sensor or without a sensor. The method further includes controlling the electric motor by a supply voltage signal having a sequence of pulses. The method further includes modulating the supply voltage signal by a modulation signal to reduce the magnitude of the supply voltage signal at the commutation points in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Elmos Semiconductor SE
    Inventor: Jörg Hartzsch
  • Patent number: 11728751
    Abstract: A controller is adapted to be coupled to a brushless direct current (DC) motor and includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a computing device, and a driver. The ADC is configured to receive an analog back electromotive force (BEMF) waveform from the brushless DC motor and sample the analog BEMF waveform to produce a digital BEMF waveform. The computing device is coupled to the ADC and is configured to receive the digital BEMF waveform and determine a position and a speed of the rotor based on the digital BEMF waveform. The driver is coupled to the ADC and the computing device and is configured to receive the position and the speed of the rotor and provide a drive signal based on the position and the speed of the rotor of the brushless DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ganapathi Hegde, Prasad Kulkarni, Venkata Pavan Mahankali, Sameer Pradeep Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11482952
    Abstract: A method for determining zero crossing occurrence in an alternating current (AC) signal with constant frequency of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) includes: sampling the AC signal to obtain a plurality of data points; starting to count a number of consecutive data points that have sampled values with a same sign in a detection range, to generate a count value, wherein the consecutive data points are included in the plurality of data points; determining whether the count value is equal to a zero crossing determination value; and in response to the count value being equal to the zero crossing determination value, determining that a zero crossing occurs at a last data point of the consecutive data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Elite Semiconductor Microelectronics Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Wang, Yong-Yi Jhuang, Ming-Fu Tsai
  • Patent number: 11371912
    Abstract: A drive train bench system has two dynamometers that are connected in series to a specimen. The mechanical characteristics estimation method has: a first measurement step for measuring a response to a first excitation torque input signal when the first excitation torque input signal overlaps a first torque current command signal while a measurement control circuit controls the two dynamometers; a second measurement step for measuring a response to a second excitation torque input signal when the second excitation torque input signal overlaps a second torque current command signal while the measurement control circuit controls the two dynamometers; and a mechanical characteristics transfer function estimation step for using the results from the first and second measurement steps to estimate a mechanical characteristics transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takao Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11332150
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a wheel slip of a vehicle without using a reference speed is provided. The system includes a speed detector that detects a speed of a driving device for operating the vehicle and a controller that determines a torque calibration command based on a torque command of the driving device, and a current speed and a past speed of the driving device detected by the speed detector. The torque command of the driving device is calibrated using the determined torque calibration command, and a driving device is operated based on the calibrated torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Won Oh, Jeong Soo Eo
  • Patent number: 10968676
    Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Buescher, Mike Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10723357
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a traction control system and a control method thereof. The traction control system includes a communicator configured to receive acceleration of a vehicle; and a controller configured to decrease output torque in response to a decrease of the received vehicle acceleration, wherein the controller outputs second torque smaller than first torque corresponding to the decreased vehicle acceleration and then increases the second torque to the first torque during a predetermined first threshold time when the controller determines that the vehicle is traveling on a low-friction road surface into which a high-friction road surface changed on the basis of the vehicle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seung-Yong Sung
  • Patent number: 10696288
    Abstract: A method for an assist mode in a motorized vehicle includes receiving signals from a plurality of vehicle sensors monitoring respective conditions of the vehicle; an assist mode circuit determining whether a loss-of-traction condition is being experienced by the vehicle using information in the signals received from at least one of the plurality of vehicle sensors; activating an assist mode of the vehicle if the assist mode circuit determines that a loss-of-traction condition is being experienced, wherein the assist mode alters vehicle drive train characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Gaither, Shinichiro Tomoda
  • Patent number: 10209268
    Abstract: A method of determining a corrected rotational speed signal for an electric motor, comprising determining a periodic rotational angle signal that has a periodic rotational angle error that is dependent on the rotational angle, determining a half period duration of an interference ripple of a raw rotational speed signal, averaging of at least one pair of sampled values of the raw rotational speed signal, converting a rotational angle signal to a digital raw rotational speed signal that includes an interference ripple, determining an average value in response to at least one pair of sampled values of the raw rotational speed signal, forming a correction value dependent on a sampling period duration and on a frequency of the interference ripple of the raw rotational speed signal for consideration of a discretization error, and forming the corrected rotational speed signal from a difference between the average value and the correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Benjamin Kaufner
  • Patent number: 9929688
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises an electric machine configured with at least one controller issuing torque commands with the use of a voltage bus. The controller may be configured to respond to a torque requests based on multiple vehicle system inputs including vehicle speed, position of the accelerator pedal and brake pedal, and various other vehicle data. The controller may respond to a torque request that exceeds a threshold value by issuing torque commands for the electric machine based on a speed of the electric machine and a voltage on the bus. Based on the speed of the electric machine and voltage on the bus, the controller may issue a constant torque output by the electric machine as the speed and voltage vary. Calculating a ratio using speed of the electric machine to voltage on the bus to determine torque capability may result as a constant torque when the ratio is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Luedtke
  • Patent number: 9438114
    Abstract: Methods and systems for energy recycling are described. One example energy recycler includes an input to receive an input voltage, an output to couple to an inductor, a resonant tank, a switching circuit coupled between the input, the output, and the resonant tank, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit. The controller is configured to control the switching circuit to selectively couple the input voltage to the output, and couple an induced voltage from the inductor to the resonant tank when the input voltage is decoupled from the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Warren Allen Williams
  • Patent number: 9425713
    Abstract: Method and device for starting a motor (12) in weak grids, especially asynchronous motors, which motor after start-up is supplied by a supply grid (13). The device (11) includes a frequency converter (14), which is rated in relation to the size of the motor (12) and arranged to bring the motor (12) up in speed, arranged to synchronize output voltage with voltage from the supply grid (13), and arranged for connecting the motor (12) to the supply grid (13) after the voltage of the motor is synchronized with the voltage of the supply grid (13). The main object is to do this with as low costs as possible and in the most space-saving manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Marine AS Power Electric Systems Bergen
    Inventor: Torbjörn Haugland
  • Patent number: 9413281
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a controller performs, as a calculation of d- and q-axis values of a current vector, a first task and a second task. The first task expands one of a measured first phase current and another phase current into Fourier series of the corresponding phase current as a function of an electric rotational angle of an AC motor. The first task extracts a first-order component from the Fourier series to obtain first and second Fourier coefficients of the first-order component. The second task calculates the d-axis value as a first sum of the first and second Fourier coefficients to which temporally-invariant constants of a first pair have been multiplied, and the q-axis value as a second sum of the first and second Fourier coefficients to which temporally-invariant constants of a second pair have been multiplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Takahumi Oowada
  • Patent number: 9114542
    Abstract: Implementations of a method for determining a degree of dirtiness of a cutting tool that is driven in a back and forth motion by an electric motor include evaluating a parameter that corresponds to the motion of the cutting tool and that is used for controlling the electric motor. The degree of dirtiness is determined based on the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Holger Hild, Thomas Hohmann
  • Patent number: 8836261
    Abstract: A detection control system includes a sensing unit, a control module and a driving module for a motor including a rotor and a stator. The sensing unit electrically connects the motor to sense a first and a second magnetic pole of the rotor cross a chip disposed between the rotor and the stator; a third magnetic pole is alternated to a forth magnetic pole of the stator to generate a sensing signal. A detection unit of the control module detects a kickback voltage value generated by a first current value changing to a second current value to calculate a minimum current value to generate a detecting signal. A timing unit receives the sensing and the detecting signal to calculate a first and a second period of time, and a discharging time. The driving module drives the rotor by receiving a control signal the control unit generates by controlling an alternating time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Feeling Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsiang Yen, Hsuan-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8725440
    Abstract: In order to process a motor signal (Ia, Um) of a DC motor (4), in particular of an adjustment drive of a motor vehicle, the armature current (Ia) and the motor voltage (Um) of the DC motor (4) are detected and used for determining the back-emf (E) of the DC motor (4), wherein the determined back-emf (E) is used to generate a useful signal (Sf, SEFL), which is in particular speed-proportional, from the armature current signal (Ia) for position sensing or for evaluating an excess force limitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co., KG., Hallstadt
    Inventors: Jovan Knezevic, Wolfgang Uebel, Thorsten Fuchs, Detlef Russ, Stefan Diestler
  • Patent number: 8604726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electronically commutated motor (10) that comprises a rotor (12), a stator (14) having a multi-strand winding arrangement (16) for whose energization a power stage (18) is provided, a first lead (30) and a second lead (32) for connecting the power stage (18) to a voltage source (24), and a first controller. A first signal (U—34; U—38) is sensed, which signal characterizes a current (I_IN; I_IN?; I_M; I_M?) flowing through at least one of the leads (30; 32); the first controller generates at least one clocked signal (PWM) and outputs it to the power stage (18) in order to influence the first value, permitted current. The invention also relates to a corresponding motor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: EBM—Papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerald Hogg, Arno Karwath
  • Publication number: 20130026962
    Abstract: A control system for a motor includes an inverter coupled to the motor. The control system further includes a microcontroller coupled to the inverter. The microcontroller includes a processor programmed to measure an input voltage and acquire a back EMF voltage of the motor. The processor is also programmed to control the inverter to regulate the motor voltage based on the input voltage and the back EMF voltage to facilitate controlling the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Roger Carlos Becerra, Ludovic Andre Chretien, Mark A. Brattoli, Glen C. Young
  • Patent number: 8344674
    Abstract: A fan speed control circuit includes a voltage input terminal, a thyristor, a thermistor, and first and second switches. The terminal is grounded through a first resistor and the thermistor, connected to an anode of the thyristor, and connected to a second terminal of the second switch through a second resistor. A node between the resistor and the thermistor is connected to a control terminal of the first switch. A second terminal of the first switch is grounded. A first terminal of the first switch is connected to a control terminal of the thyristor through a third resistor. A fourth resistor is connected between the anode and control terminal of the thyristor. A control terminal of the second switch is connected to the control terminal of the thyristor. A first terminal of the second switch is connected to a cathode of the thyristor and a voltage pin of a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8280559
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes an input configured to receive a first control signal and an output module configured to generate an output signal based at least on the first control signal and a second control signal generated based at least on a measured temperature of the IC. The output signal is configured to control a cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Herman, Sagheer Ahmad
  • Patent number: 8159172
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor by using the PWM technique including the steps of: applying to the clamps of the electric motor an electric voltage varying in time, which displays a square waveform and consists of a sequence of pulses having a uniform wave period and a variable width; adjusting the average value of the electric voltage by varying the width of the pulses; determining the overall required width variation; subdividing the overall required width variation in a determined number of partial variations, the overall sum of which is equivalent to the overall required width variation; and gradually varying the width amplitude of the pulses of the electric voltage by applying in a sequence a corresponding partial variation to each pulse, so that the difference between the width amplitude of a pulse and the width of a following pulse is equivalent to the corresponding partial variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marcello Sciuto, Sergio Vigna, Piero Carbonaro, Francesco Del Mese
  • Patent number: 8035333
    Abstract: A fan motor speed control circuit includes: a driving circuit configured to drive a fan motor so as to run at a rotation speed corresponding to a drive signal; a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal for matching a rotation speed of the fan motor with a target rotation speed, based on a reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and a speed signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan motor; and a selection circuit configured to output to the driving circuit the drive signal corresponding to one signal out of the reference signal and the comparison signal, the one signal being a signal by which the fan motor is driven at a higher rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshitomi, Takashi Harashima
  • Patent number: 7949234
    Abstract: A motor speed control circuit includes: a voltage generating circuit configured to change either a reference voltage corresponding to a target rotation speed of a motor or a speed voltage corresponding to a rotation speed of the motor, according to a temperature, and output the reference voltage and the speed voltage, either one of which is changed; a comparison circuit configured to compare the speed voltage output from the voltage generating circuit with the reference voltage output from the voltage generating circuit; and a driving circuit configured to drive the motor so as to match a level of the speed voltage to a level of the reference voltage, based on a comparison result from the comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Harashima, Koichiro Ogino
  • Patent number: 7903955
    Abstract: A driving device is provided for controlling rotation of a motor. The driving device comprises an inputting module, a comparing module and a processing module. The inputting module includes a first current source, a first voltage source and a first capacitance. The first capacitance is coupled between the first current source and the first voltage source for charging/discharging and generating a voltage signal. The comparing module is coupled to the inputting module for comparing a selecting signal with the voltage signal and generating a comparing signal. The processing module is coupled to the comparing module and generates a control signal according to a clock signal and the comparing signal, wherein the driving device controls the rotation of the motor by the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chi-Lin Hsu, En-Hsun Hsiao, Meng-Hsun Lee
  • Publication number: 20110033322
    Abstract: An electrical motor activation method for an electric motor including a rotor, connected to a motor shaft, and a stator having brushes. The stator comprises multiple commutator laminations for the commutation of windings disposed on the rotor and is activated by a pulsed or linearly controllable power source. The motor shaft is connected to a radially driven load, in particular a pump, which has a nonlinear torque curve via a motor revolution. A waviness signal is obtained from a voltage potential applied to the motor and/or from the motor current and rotor position information is obtained from the curve of said waviness signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Dieter Barthel, Andreas Heise, Ralf Hartmann, Christian Bitsch, Daniel Schmitz, Andreas Richter
  • Patent number: 7835630
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for controlling a DC motor is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes at least one digital position and speed circuit (DPS) for providing measurements of speed, position, and direction of the motor, the DPS being in signal communication with the motor for receiving a pair of signals having a quadrature relationship; and at least one programmable gain amplifier (PGA) electrically coupled to the motor, the PGA being configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of current flowing through the motor and to apply a second signal to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor; and at least two analog-to-digital converters (A/D), one A/D being used to quantize the output of the PGA for an off-chip processor; and another A/D to provide motor reference position from an analog sensor, such as a potentiometer; and at least two digital-to-analog converters (D/A), one D/A used to set the motor voltage; and another D/A used to set the motor current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Peter Kazanzides, Ndubuisi John Ekekwe, Ralph Etienne-Cummings
  • Patent number: 7796867
    Abstract: A drive circuit of a fan motor is provided. In an embodiment of the drive circuit, a first PWM comparator compares a temperature detection voltage with a cyclic voltage, and outputs a first PWM signal. A second PWM comparator compares a minimum frequency setting voltage indicating a minimum frequency of the fan motor, with the cyclic voltage, and outputs a second PWM signal. The drive circuit combines the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal by a logical operation, to drive the fan motor. The drive circuit includes a first logic gate which generates a logical sum of the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal, and a second logic gate which generates a logical product of the first PWM signal and an inverted signal of the second PWM signal. The drive circuit switches drive mode based on the first logic gate and the second logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyajima, Hiroaki Hayashi, Tomofumi Mishima
  • Patent number: 7697826
    Abstract: A hand-guided or stationary power tool has a drive unit having a motor that includes a rotor having a permanent magnet and a stator and has a motor control designed to trigger the motor in a first rotational speed range according to a voltage-controlled mode and to trigger the motor in a second rotational speed range following the first rotational speed range in the direction of a higher rotational speed according to a field-weakening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Reutlinger, Volker Bosch
  • Patent number: 7684682
    Abstract: A fan speed control circuit is used for controlling rotation speed of a fan. The fan speed control circuit receives a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a system and comprises a programmable control unit and a current control unit. The programmable control unit receives the PWM signal, is connected to a Hall element for receiving a voltage signal therefrom, and provides a control signal. The current control unit takes the control signal to control current flowing through a stator coil unit of the fan so as to control the speed of the fan. The programmable control unit has a program written for the PWM signal, and when the fan speed control circuit is used in another system with a different PWM signal, the programmable control unit can be given a new program for the different PWM signal for controlling the speed of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Rong Huang
  • Patent number: 7667421
    Abstract: A torque compensation method and system for a DC brushless motor. When the DC brushless motor coupled with an asymmetric load is rotating, the difference between an instant current and an average current of a shunt resister is an index of adjusting control signals within an absolute rotor position for the purpose of approaching the corresponding instant current to the average current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7656110
    Abstract: A control and motor arrangement in accordance with the present invention includes a motor configured to generate a locomotive force for propelling the model train. The control and motor arrangement further includes a command control interface configured to receive commands from a command control unit wherein the commands correspond to a desired speed. The control and motor arrangement still further includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect speed information of the motor, and a process control arrangement configured to receive the speed information from the sensors. The process control arrangement is further configured and arranged to generate a plurality of motor control signals based on the speed information for controlling the speed of said motor. The control and motor arrangement yet still further includes a motor control arrangement configured to cause power to be applied to the motor at different times in response to the motor control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lionel L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Denen, Neil P. Young, Gary L. Moreau, Martin Pierson, Robert Grubba
  • Patent number: 7609016
    Abstract: A control system includes a controller configured to provide a drive signal, and a switching device configured to generate an output control signal as a function of the drive signal in an on-state mode of operation. The control system also includes a timing network configured to receive the drive signal and output a gated signal to the switching device, wherein the gated signal maintains a relationship with a predetermined threshold during the on-state of operation of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Richard Alan Kraus
  • Patent number: 7583042
    Abstract: A driving device is provided for controlling the rotation of a motor. The driving device comprises an input module, a comparing module and a processing module. The input module includes a voltage generating unit and a voltage adjusting unit to generate a comparing voltage. The voltage generating unit generates a voltage signal according to a basis voltage. The voltage adjusting unit is coupled to the voltage generating unit for adjusting the voltage signal and generating the comparing voltage according a reference voltage. The comparing module is coupled to the input module for comparing a selecting signal with the comparing voltage and generating a comparing signal. The processing module is coupled to the comparing module and generates a control signal according to the comparing signal. The driving device controls the rotation of the motor according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Meng-Hsun Lee, Chi-Lin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7557526
    Abstract: A power-saving, high-performance, low-noise brushless motor control circuit assembly is disclosed formed of a power supply circuit, a booster and compensation circuit, a voltage regulator circuit, a microprocessor, a back electromagnetic force sensor, three driver circuits, and three output circuits. By means of detecting back electromagnetic force, the magnetic pole position of the brushless motor is known accurately, ensuring accurate operation control. By means of providing a high voltage to drive the drive circuits, the field effect transistors of the output circuits are operated under full conduction, saving much power consumption and lowering the working temperature of the brushless motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Air Cool Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien-Meng Lee
  • Publication number: 20090169188
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a type of fan and controlling the fan, the fan providing during operation a tachometer signal indicating a speed of the fan, the apparatus includes: a direct current (DC) generator for coupling to the fan and configured to provide a first voltage to the fan; a resistor for providing, while the DC generator provides the first voltage, a sensed voltage relating to the type of the fan, wherein the resistor is connected to a reference voltage and for coupling to a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control terminal of the fan; an input judgment component coupled to the resistor to receive the sensed voltage, the input judgment component being configured to determine whether the fan is a 4-wire PWM fan with an internal pull-up resistor based on the sensed voltage and to provide a judgment signal indicating the determination; a PWM generator coupled to the input judgment component to receive the judgment signal, the PWM generator being configured to provide to the fan a PWM control signal to co
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Shih-Feng Huang, Chia-Ching Lu, Ming-Che Hung
  • Patent number: 7550940
    Abstract: An overload current control circuit for a DC motor comprises: a DC motor, a DC power source, a power semiconductor assembly, and a sampling resistor that are connected in series. The overload current control circuit further comprises a voltage polarity switching circuit that is connected to a circuit between the sampling resistor and the overload protection and detection circuit to control the single polarity of the sampling voltage of the first and second terminals of the sampling resistor, so as to provide constant voltage potential to the overload protection and detection circuit, thus providing overload protection to the DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Hsin Liu, Wei-Yun Chiang
  • Publication number: 20090154906
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiple cooling fans is presented. The circuitry for directly driving each of the motors is removed from the motor casings, thus increasing air flow and reducing replacement costs should a motor fail. The system includes a common processor for centrally controlling the speeds of the motors and monitoring the performance of each of the multiple motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Frankel, Nigel Strike, Eric Hardt, Takashi Shinano
  • Publication number: 20090129760
    Abstract: A method for controlling a heat-dissipating fan for an electronic component includes the steps of: detecting a temperature of the electronic component, and outputting a first control signal corresponding to the temperature thus detected; receiving a load current of the electronic component, and converting the load current into a second control signal; and controlling a rotating speed of the heat-dissipating fan with reference to the first control signal and the second control signal. A device employing the method includes a current detecting module adapted for detecting a load current, a temperature control circuit adapted for detecting a temperature, and a logic circuit unit coupled to the current detecting module and the temperature control circuit and controlling a rotating speed of a heat-dissipating fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yi-Tung Chiang, I-Huei Huang, Nien-Yu Liao
  • Patent number: 7529608
    Abstract: A drive control device is provided with a determining section and a voltage increasing section. The determining section determines if the actual acceleration is deficient in comparison with the acceleration requested by the driver or if the generator output is deficient in comparison with the acceleration requested by the driver. The voltage increasing section increases the voltage supplied to the electric generator from a vehicle mounted electric power source when the determining section determines that the actual acceleration or the generator output is deficient. As a result, the generator output deficiency is eliminated and the required motor torque is produced, thereby enabling the vehicle to start into motion appropriately in accordance with the acceleration requested by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20090096398
    Abstract: A method for starting a blower motor with a locked rotor condition, the motor having one or more speed settings, each speed setting having a reference voltage and reference current value associated therewith, the method comprising, from a motor off condition, applying the reference voltage to the motor, the reference voltage associated with a desired speed setting; measuring current flowing through the motor to define a measured current value; comparing the measured current value to the reference current value associated with the desired speed setting to determine if a locked rotor condition exists; if a locked rotor condition exists, increasing the motor speed from the desired speed setting until either the output speed is at a maximum speed or the locked rotor condition ceases to exist; and adjusting the motor output speed value to the desired speed setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown, Ibrahim Mohammed Issa
  • Patent number: 7509032
    Abstract: A motor drive control circuit includes a rotation control amplifier that compares the lower of a voltage limiting reference voltage of a reference voltage source and a rotation speed control voltage, which controls the rotation speed of the motor, on a terminal with a peak voltage from an impedance element that detects a drive current of a motor. The motor drive control circuit further includes a rotation limiting comparator that compares a voltage that is substantially equal to the voltage limiting reference voltage with the peak voltage, a synthesis circuit that amplifies rotation position detection signals from the motor according to the output voltage of the rotation control amplifier, a PWM output comparator that compares the outputs of the synthesis circuit with a triangular wave voltage and outputs PWM signals, and a motor-driver control circuit that removes an output period of the rotation limiting comparator from the ON period of each PWM signal and controls a motor driver that drives the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Jami
  • Patent number: 7495402
    Abstract: A fan motor controller comprised of a power supply unit, three driving circuits, three power output circuits, a microprocessor, a voltage raising and compensation circuit, a Back-EMF sensing circuit, a current-limit protection circuit, and a speed control circuit. The fan motor controller eliminates the use of a Hall sensor, enables the field effect power transistor of the works in full conduction of each power output circuit to work in full conduction so as to lower the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignees: Air Cool Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien-Meng Lee
  • Patent number: 7489855
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a control system. A control system includes a controller configured to generate a drive signal as a function of a comparison between a first control signal and a second control signal, wherein the first control signal differs from the second control signal. A switching device is configured to generate an output control signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the drive signal. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Infinson Technologies AG
    Inventor: Richard A. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20090025170
    Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper motor controller (10) includes a control circuit (15) and a power circuit. The power circuit can operate in dual modes, using a low cost MOSFET as the power switch during normal operation of the wiper motor, and a relay as the power switch during motor lugging and stall conditions. The controller (10) is part of a vehicle wiper system which includes a conventional wiper blade assembly positioned on the vehicle to engage the windshield or other window surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Vernon D. Price, Alex Irkliy
  • Publication number: 20090022483
    Abstract: A driving device is provided for controlling the rotation of a motor. The driving device comprises an input module, a comparing module and a processing module. The input module includes a voltage generating unit and a voltage adjusting unit to generate a comparing voltage. The voltage generating unit generates a voltage signal according to a basis voltage. The voltage adjusting unit is coupled to the voltage generating unit for adjusting the voltage signal and generating the comparing voltage according a reference voltage. The comparing module is coupled to the input module for comparing a selecting signal with the comparing voltage and generating a comparing signal. The processing module is coupled to the comparing module and generates a control signal according to the comparing signal. The driving device controls the rotation of the motor according to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Meng-Hsun Lee, Chi-Lin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7474068
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and simultaneously driver motors in response to the error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Moller, Philip K. Schneider, Oscar M. Alcantara, Salvador A. Canales
  • Patent number: 7466906
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a target value computation device which computes a target value of a current to be passed through a motor, a current detection device which detects a current passed through the motor, a command value computation device which computes a command value to the motor based on a deviation between the target value and the current value, a motor drive circuit which drives the motor based on the command value, a boosting circuit which boosts a voltage supplied to the motor, a judgment device which judges whether the command value exceeds a predetermined threshold, a rate-of-charge computation device which computes a rate of change of the command value to time, and a boosting control device which controls an boosting operation of the boosting circuit based on a result of the judgment device and the rate of change of the command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Mayumi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20080292291
    Abstract: A motor control method and a motor control device are provided. The control method includes the steps of receiving a current feedback signal from a coil switching circuit, while the motor is rotating, for generating a separate signal, and comparing the current feedback signal and the separate signal for generating a motor control signal so as to control the operation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Chung-Hung TANG, Chin-Fa Chiu, Chun-Lung Chiu
  • Publication number: 20080247735
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for controlling a DC motor is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes at least one digital position and speed circuit (DPS) for providing measurements of speed, position, and direction of the motor, the DPS being in signal communication with the motor for receiving a pair of signals having a quadrature relationship; and at least one programmable gain amplifier (PGA) electrically coupled to the motor, the PGA being configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of current flowing through the motor and to apply a second signal to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor; and at least two analog-to-digital converters (A/D), one A/D being used to quantize the output of the PGA for an off-chip processor; and another A/D to provide motor reference position from an analog sensor, such as a potentiometer; and at least two digital-to-analog converters (D/A), one D/A used to set the motor voltage; and another D/A used to set the motor current limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Kazanzides, Ndubuisi John Ekekwe, Ralph Etienne-Cummings
  • Publication number: 20080204491
    Abstract: A motor driving device, which drives a DC motor, includes a motor driving unit, a status determination unit, and an initial value renewal unit. The motor driving unit repeatedly performs a change-over, wherein the motor driving unit changes an amount of a current inputted into the DC motor to an initial value at a predetermined timing, and then gradually increases the amount of the current from the initial value, in order to slowly move a driving target, driven by rotational force of the DC motor, in a moving direction. The status determination unit determines whether or not the driving target is in a predetermined status. The initial value renewal unit changes the initial value when the status determination unit determines that the driving target is in the predetermined status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Iesaki