Patents Examined by Bradley Brown
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Patent number: 10103678Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a drive device of a power steering system, in which a temperature sensor senses the temperature of the drive device and transmits information about the temperature of the drive device to an evaluation unit, the evaluation unit estimates the temperature of a gearbox based on the temperature of the drive device, and, based on the estimated temperature of the gearbox, the evaluation unit adjusts a requested torque of the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignees: TRW Limited, TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Peter Hambloch, James Owen Patrick Farrelly
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Patent number: 10097126Abstract: An electronic device may include a motor to operate at a first frequency during a first time period and to operate at a second frequency during a second time period, and an accelerometer to obtain first data relating to operation of the motor at the first frequency and to obtain second data relating to operation of the motor at the second frequency. The electronic device may also include a processor to determine a desired resonant frequency of the motor based on the first data and the second data.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Howard D. Millett
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Patent number: 10086706Abstract: A vehicle includes: at least one rotary electric machine; an inverter that drives the rotary electric machine; a capacitor connected between a paired electric power lines that is connected to the inverter; and a control unit. When a vehicle collision is detected, the control unit executes first control for discharging electric charges stored in the capacitor by performing a switching operation of the inverter so as to prevent a flow of a q-axis current but cause a flow of a d-axis current to the rotary electric machine. The control unit stops the first control in a specified case and executes second control for performing the switching operation of the inverter so as to reduce the current flowing through the rotary electric machine to be lower than that during execution of the first control. The control unit executes third control for shutting down the inverter after execution of the second control.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Nomura
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Patent number: 10090784Abstract: An electric hand tool is provided. The electric hand tool receives a shutdown signal issued by a shutdown element under control during an operation process of the electric hand tool, so as to request a driving module to stop providing a driving signal to a plurality of coils provided at the electric motor, and to conduct a brake loop connected to the coils and the driving module. Thus, a short circuit is formed between the coils and the driving module to cause the electric motor to temporarily enter a power generating state to generate a sensing current. The coils receive the sensing current to establish a first magnetic field. The first magnetic field interferes with a second magnetic field produced by a plurality of permanent magnets to form an interfering repulsive force that stops the rotor from rotating, thereby achieving an object of braking promptly.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: X'POLE PRECISION TOOLS INC.Inventor: Bach Pangho Chen
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Patent number: 10075107Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a rotor lock condition in a sensorless permanent magnet synchronous motor. A BEMF observer determines an estimated rotor speed {circumflex over (?)} and a first BEMF voltage value in an estimated rotor-related ?,? reference frame. In addition, a second estimated BEMF voltage value is calculated in a rotor-related d,q reference frame based on at least a first motor constant and an estimated rotor speed {circumflex over (?)}. After generating a BEMF error filter value from the first and second estimated BEMF voltage values and calculating a BEMF error threshold value as a function of the estimated rotor speed {circumflex over (?)} that is subject to a minimum threshold BEMF value, a rotor lock condition is detected based on at least the BEMF error filter value and the BEMF error threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.Inventors: Jaroslav Lepka, Libor Prokop
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Patent number: 10064302Abstract: A power inverter assembly provides a balanced power flow to each of a plurality of electrical machines. The power inverter assembly includes at least one heat sink having a top side and a bottom side, a plurality of pairs of power semiconductor modules mounted along the top and bottom sides of a heat sink for thermal exchange with the heat sink, and a plurality of gate driver boards configured to control the supply of DC power to each of the plurality of pairs of power semiconductor modules. A first pair of semiconductor modules is symmetrically arranged relative to second and third pairs such that the arrangement of the first, second, and third pairs of power semiconductor modules forms a geometric pattern with at least one of the second and third pairs at least partially overhanging the first pair.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason Friedlund, Paul Thomas Schmidt, Vincent Arguelles, Saravanan Desigan, Edo Duheric, Todd Nakanishi
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Patent number: 10056852Abstract: Rotation speed control systems for an Electronically Commutated (EC) motor and method for controlling rotation speed of an EC motor are described. An rotation speed control system includes a phase detector for detecting a period, an ON time interval, an OFF time interval, and zero crossing time points of the phase cut AC signal; a voltage regulator for converting the phase cut an AC signal into a DC signal; a controller for generating a compatible waveform to drive the EC motor with a rotation speed instructed by the controller, in accordance with an ON/OFF time ratio determined based on the ON time interval and OFF time interval of the phase cut AC signal; and an EC motor interface, powered by the DC signal, for driving each of a plurality of windings of the EC motor with the compatible waveform.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Canarm Ltd.Inventors: Douglas Matthews, Claude Bouchard, Nora Wolske
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Patent number: 10050571Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes an inverter to convert a direct current (DC) voltage into an alternating current (AC) voltage through a switching operation and to output the AC voltage to a motor, an output current detector to detect an output current flowing in the motor, and a controller to control the inverter, wherein, at the time of starting the motor, the controller controls a first current, including a DC component and a high-frequency component, to be supplied to the motor during a first period for alignment of the motor, and controls a second current, including a DC component and a high-frequency component, to be supplied to the motor during a second period for alignment of the motor, and the controller calculates the stator resistance and inductance of the motor based on the first current and the second current. Consequently, it is possible to easily calculate the stator resistance and inductance of the motor during the alignment of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Minho Jang
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Patent number: 10038399Abstract: A motor-control device includes: a command generation unit; an operation detection unit; a drive control unit outputting a drive control signal, a speed signal, and a drive force signal; a current control unit outputting a drive current and the drive current detection value; a mechanical characteristic estimation unit outputting a mechanical characteristic estimation value; an integration unit outputting an integrated drive time or drive amount integrated value of a drive unit; a set period determination unit outputting a signal indicating a set period for a mechanical characteristic permissible threshold output unit; a mechanical characteristic permissible threshold output unit outputting a mechanical characteristic permissible threshold; and a mechanical characteristic abnormality detection unit detecting a mechanical characteristic abnormality.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Sekiguchi, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Yuji Igarashi
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Patent number: 10031506Abstract: A motion control method includes: (a) obtaining a current position and a current velocity of a control object at a current time; (b) obtaining a current acceleration based on the current position and the current velocity, wherein the current acceleration has a positive correlation with a difference between the current position and a target position as well as a negative correlation with the current velocity; (c) controlling a motor for driving the control object utilizing the current acceleration; and (d) iteratively performing the steps (a)-(c) until the control object reaches the target position. A motion trajectory planning method and a motion control device are further provided. Through the above-mentioned way, the present disclosure could realize the smooth acceleration and smooth deceleration of the motor. As a result, smooth motion trajectory, less vibration, and stable motor with less overshoot could be achieved.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.Inventors: Wenhua Fan, Lifu Zhang, Xi Bai, Youjun Xiong
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Patent number: 10023055Abstract: A rotational speed command output unit receives and outputs a command value of a motor rotational speed inputted from outside. A PWM duty calculator calculates a PWM duty based on the command value and an actual rotational speed of a motor. A maximum speed estimator estimates, based on the actual rotational speed measured, a parameter representing a controlled state of the motor, a current PWM duty and a predetermined upper limit of the PWM duty, a maximum rotational speed of the motor to be reached under PWM control with the upper limit of the PWM duty. The command value inputted from outside is restricted not to exceed the maximum rotational speed. In this way, when a motor is PWM-controlled, abrupt changes in the rotational speed of the motor due to supply voltage fluctuations can be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Hideo Sawaoka
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Patent number: 10024095Abstract: In a power window apparatus, which controls a lifting mechanism to drive a window glass from an opening position toward a closing position, a control unit is capable of executing: an automatic closing process that controls the lifting mechanism such that the lifting mechanism keeps driving the window glass until the window glass reaches the closing position; and a normal closing process that controls the lifting mechanism such that the lifting mechanism drives the window glass toward the closing position only throughout a time period of receiving a user operational input through an operation switch. The control unit executes only the normal closing process between the automatic closing process and the normal closing process when the operation switch receives the user operational input while the window glass is located within a predetermined section in a movable range of the window glass.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Inventor: Kazuto Kitou
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Patent number: 9993069Abstract: A circuit controls a height-adjustable table. A current load acts on the table plate and is measured by a force-sensitive sensor and serves as control signal of a control according to the invention. Derived from this signal, a collision of the electrically height-adjustable table with fixed objects is recognized. Control signals are also detected, which are inputted by an operator of the table in the form of applications of force onto the table plate. Here, the table or respectively the control device is situated in a state of rest until the user of the table exerts a brief force impulse onto the table plate, i.e. presses once onto the table plate. Thereafter, the control changes from a state of rest into an operating state and waits for control inputs. When the user now presses from above onto the table plate, the latter moves electrically downwards.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: KESSEBĂ–HMER PRODUKTIONS GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Melf Hansen
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Patent number: 9985571Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit that includes a configuration register and configured to receive a configuration setting across an external bus. The configuration setting encodes a first voltage state for the apparatus. The control circuit includes an input configured to be coupled to an external electrical device. The control circuit is configured to determine a value of the external device that maps to a second voltage state for the apparatus. The control logic is configured to transition the apparatus to a safe mode upon a determination that the first voltage state does not match the second voltage state.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Toshio Yamanaka, Shyamsunder Balasubramanian, Toru Tanaka, Mayank Garg
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Patent number: 9966881Abstract: A motor controller, including: a Bluetooth communication unit and a motor control unit. The Bluetooth communication unit includes: a power supply part, a Bluetooth module, and an interface circuit. The motor control unit includes an input port of a rotational speed adjusting signal. The power supply part supplies power to the Bluetooth module and the interface circuit. The Bluetooth module enables the motor control unit to communicate with an external device. The Bluetooth module inputs a PWM signal into the input port of the rotational speed adjusting signal of the motor control unit via the interface circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Inventors: Qiang Fang, Wenqing Bian, Songfa Tang, Qingmei Jiao, Lijuan Li
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Patent number: 9960727Abstract: A stall diagnosis apparatus for a motor of an air conditioning actuator includes: a resistor connecting from a first door actuator of a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle to the ground; a resistor connection circuit connecting from a VCC power terminal to the resistor; a switch disposed on the resistor connection circuit; a first circuit and a second circuit branched from a motor connection circuit connecting from the VCC power terminal to a motor of the first door actuator through a motor driver and the resistor connection circuit, respectively; a current sensing circuit unit including an input terminal connected to the first circuit and the second circuit and outputting a current signal corresponding to a voltage value between the motor connection circuit and the resistor connection circuit; and a controller for controlling the motor and determining whether or not the motor is stalled.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: June Kyu Park, Dong Ho Kwon, Soon Myung Kwon, Jin Kim, Yong Chul Kim, Gee Young Shin
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Patent number: 9950908Abstract: A system and method for determining the load in a material handling system is disclosed. The load weight detection system measures torque at four operating conditions both at constant speed and during acceleration. The level of torque generated by the motor under each of these operating conditions is stored in the motor drive. The motor drive also receives a signal corresponding to the speed of the hoist motor. Based on the measured torque, as well as the expected torque at no load and at rated load for the measured speed, the motor drive then determines the load present on the hoist. In some systems, two or more hoists are required to operate in tandem to lift a load. Each motor drive determines the weight of the load supported by its respective hoist motor and determines a total weight of the load based on the weights determined by each motor drive.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Magnetek, Inc.Inventors: Kurtis L. Verheyen, Aaron S. Kureck
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Patent number: 9935573Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable storage devices for a four quadrant voltage limiter that limits a commanded phase voltage to within a volt second capability of an inverter by maintaining a rotor flux and folding back a torque under both motoring and regeneration torque commands. In one embodiment: (a) in a motoring operation, an upper limit for a q-axis voltage is enforced; and (b) in a regeneration operation a lower limit for the q-axis voltage is enforced.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Vovos, Arthur P. Lyons
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Patent number: 9912265Abstract: Invention is related to a method for controlling an alternating current electric machine with a frequency converter including a controllable machine bridge and a controllable line bridge, and a corresponding frequency converter. The method comprises calculating a line bridge control signal, controlling line current through the line bridge using the line bridge control signal, measuring or estimating rotor pole position of the electric machine, calculating a machine bridge control signal as a function of the rotor pole position, updating the machine bridge control signal when the rotor pole position changes, and controlling current of the electric machine through the machine bridge using the machine bridge control signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Kone CorporationInventor: Lauri Stolt
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Patent number: 9887648Abstract: A variable frequency motor drive comprises a converter including a rectifier having an input for connection to an AC power source and converting the AC power to DC power. A DC bus is connected to the rectifier circuit. At least one bus capacitor is across the DC bus. An inverter receives DC power from the DC bus and converts the DC power to AC power to drive a motor. A controller is operatively connected to the converter. The controller comprises a speed control controlling the inverter responsive to a speed command to maintain a desired motor speed. A speed foldback control measures DC bus ripple voltage and regulates the speed command responsive to the measured DC bus ripple voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Yaskawa America, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Raymond Pottebaum, John Alan Cairo, Brian W. Geoffrey, William C. Phillips