Patents Examined by Charles S Laughlin
  • Patent number: 11213361
    Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed including a surgical tool, a motor operably coupled to the surgical tool, and a control circuit coupled to the motor. The control circuit is configured to receive an instrument motion control signal indicative of a user input, cause the motor to move the surgical tool in response to the instrument motion control signal, receive an input signal indicative of a distance between the surgical tool and tissue, and scale the movement of the surgical tool to the user input in accordance with the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Clinton W. Denlinger, Gregory W. Johnson, Charles J. Scheib, Jeffrey S. Swayze
  • Patent number: 11207234
    Abstract: An actuating device for orthosis includes a transmission that is operatively connected to a motor such that the motor provides power to the transmission. The transmission includes a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage. Each of these stages includes at least two sprockets and a drive belt tensioned between the two sprockets. The transmission also includes a first shaft and a second shaft. A sprocket of each of the first, second, and third stages of the transmission is attached to the first shaft. An actuating arm is operatively connected to the third stage of the transmission such that the power provided to the transmission by the motor causes the actuating arm to provide an output torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Jerzy T. Sawicki, Curt A. Laubscher, Ryan J. Farris, Steven J-S Etheridge
  • Patent number: 11189891
    Abstract: An energy storage apparatus includes: an external terminal connected to an energy storage device; a current cut-off device disposed on a current path connecting the energy storage device and the external terminal to each other; a voltage applying circuit that applies a voltage to the external terminal using the energy storage device or another circuit as a power source; and a control device. The control device is configured to perform: current cut-off processing for cutting off flowing of a current into the energy storage device by bringing the current cut-off device into an OPEN state; detecting processing for detecting a voltage of the external terminal to which a voltage is applied by the voltage applying circuit during a period in which the flowing of the current is cut off by the current cut-off processing; and determining processing for determining a presence or a non-presence of a short-circuiting object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: GS YUASA INTERATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukushima, Yuki Imanaka
  • Patent number: 11159109
    Abstract: A vibration generation device includes a stator, and a rotor rotatable around a predetermined axis with respect to the stator and having a weight having a gravity center at a position shifted from the predetermined axis. A control section controls a start-up period maximum voltage value, which is a maximum voltage value of a drive signal to be applied to the vibration generation device in a start-up period, to become larger than a steady operation period voltage value, which is a voltage value of the drive signal to be applied to the vibration generation device in a steady operation period. The control section selects at least one of a pluraity of voltage values as the steady operation period voltage value and sets the duration of the start-up period based on the steady operation period voltage value selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventor: Akihiro Iino
  • Patent number: 11128243
    Abstract: A drive apparatus of an electric motor which does not include a position detection sensor, the drive apparatus includes drive portion configured to drive the electric motor on the basis of a command value inputted from outside, a number-of-rotations detection portion configured to detect a number of rotations of the electric motor driven by the drive portion, an out-of-phase judgement portion judging that the electric motor is out of phase in a case where the number of rotations detected by the number-of-rotations detection portion is less than a predetermined threshold value, and the predetermined threshold value being configured to be changed on the basis of the command value inputted from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Koichi Aizawa
  • Patent number: 11121651
    Abstract: Provided are a driving force control method and device for a hybrid vehicle, each capable of effectively absorbing torque fluctuation of an engine while suppressing deterioration in energy efficiency. The driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises a PCM configured to: estimate an average torque output by an engine; estimate a torque fluctuation component of the torque output by the engine; set a countertorque for suppressing the estimated torque fluctuation component; and control an electric motor to output the set countertorque, wherein the PCM is operable, under a condition that an engine speed is constant, to set the countertorque such that, as the average torque output by an engine becomes larger, the absolute value of the countertorque becomes smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nishimura, Tsuyoshi Goto, Kentaro Furusho, Yuta Enokizono, Wataru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11108352
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor configured to provide propulsion for a mobile platform includes determining whether to activate a preheat mode based on a temperature of a motor and, upon determining to activate the preheat mode, controlling a preheat current provided to the motor to enable self-preheating of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiu Lan, Changxing Zhou
  • Patent number: 11108346
    Abstract: The method for detecting a position error of an electronically commutated actuator drive between an assumed position and an actual position of the actuator drive includes performing a position control procedure for the position of the actuator drive. The method further includes providing data with regard to the assumed position of the actuator drive. The method further includes forming an electric space vector value to generate a component of a stator magnetic field that extends parallel with a direction of an exciter magnetic field that prevails in the case of the assumed position of the actuator drive. The method further includes detecting whether a movement of the actuator drive has occurred as a result of generating the component of the exciter magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Malchow, Udo Sieber, Dieter Schwarzmann, Tobias Mauk, Andreas Ortseifen
  • Patent number: 11108348
    Abstract: In a method for generating a blocking moment in a standstill state of an electrically commutated electric motor having at least two windings, on which electric motor a possibly varying load moment acts from outside in the standstill state, first, a blocking current is supplied at a maximum value into a first winding. This blocking current is successively reduced to, possibly, a minimum value. From that moment the inductivity of the electric motor is controlled, namely by controlling the blocking current if the control deviation between the actual value and the set value of the inductivity exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thereby, it is possible to control the blocking current in an adaptive manner insofar as, despite a varying load moment, the standstill state of the electric motor can be maintained by varying the blocking current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: ELMOS SEMICONDUCTOR SE
    Inventor: Jörg Hartzsch
  • Patent number: 11085227
    Abstract: A vehicle opening and closing apparatus that opens and closes an opening and closing body provided on a vehicle includes: an electric motor that drives the opening and closing body; a position detection part that detects a position of the opening and closing body; a measurement part that measures a current value which flows in the electric motor when the opening and closing body arrives at a predetermined position; a counter that counts up a count value based on the current value; and a determination part that stops, for a predetermined period of time, the next and subsequent opening and closing operation of the opening and closing body when the count value exceeds a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Roppongi, Takayuki Ikeda, Masahiro Fueki, Yasunori Noro
  • Patent number: 11075573
    Abstract: A method for moving a stage includes coupling a stage mover to the stage, and directing current to the stage mover with a control system. The stage mover includes a magnet array and a conductor array positioned adjacent to the magnet array. The conductor array includes a first layer of coils and a second layer of coils, with the first layer of coils being closer to the magnet array than the second layer of coils. The control system directs current to the first layer of coils and the second layer of coils independently. Further, the control system directs more current to the first layer of coils than the second layer of coils during a movement step to reduce the power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Research Corporation of America
    Inventors: Neyram Hemati, Michael B. Binnard
  • Patent number: 11075599
    Abstract: A brushless motor includes: a motor rotor; a stator coil section which has a plurality of energization phases, which includes a first stator coil and a second stator coil that are provided to each phase, and which is arranged to generate a magnetic field, and thereby rotate the motor rotor; and a connection switching section configured to switch a connection of the first stator coil and the second stator coil from a serial connection to a parallel connection, or from the parallel connection to the serial connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohtaro Shiino, Mitsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11050370
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for detecting a magnetic field location in an electric motor, said method making it possible to lower costs using simple hardware and software, and instantaneously detect permanent-magnet field location. As a means for solving said problem, an MPU (51) sequentially selects one from six conduction patterns using a phase at which one-phase conduction occurs without branching at a neutral point among three-phase coils as a phase to be measured, applies a sensing current to the three-phase coils, and uses a timer (56) to measure a pulse-width time until the coil current detected by a current sensor (53) reaches a current threshold, and stores the same as measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HOKUTO CONTROL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11038444
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit provides a drive signal to an electronically commutated motor. A control circuit the motor drive circuit based on calibration data. The calibration data indicate a relationship between an actual angular position of a rotor of the motor in response to the drive signal and an expected angular position of a rotor of an ideal motor in response to the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hafner, Leo Aichriedler, Gerald Wriessnegger
  • Patent number: 11025184
    Abstract: A rotation electric machine controller that is applied to a system including a rotation electric machine and a power converter is provided. The rotation electric machine controller includes: a d-axis command value set portion that sets a negative d-axis current command value; and an operation portion that operates the power converter to control a d-axis current to the d-axis current command value. The d-axis command value set portion increases an absolute value of the d-axis current command value in response to that the q-axis parameter is larger than the target value. The d-axis command value set portion decreases the absolute value of the d-axis current command value in response to that the q-axis parameter is less than the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Otake
  • Patent number: 10998841
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first inverter connected to first ends of m (m is an integer equal to two or more) coil groups, a second inverter connected to second ends of the m coil groups, m?1 separation relay circuits connected between two adjacent coil groups of the m coil groups, m?1 first neutral point relay circuits provided between two adjacent coil groups of the first inverter side of each of the m?1 separation relay circuits, and m?1 second neutral point relay circuits provided between two adjacent coils of the second inverter side of each of the m?1 separation relay circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10988160
    Abstract: A controller for an actuator includes a lock detecting unit configured to detect a lock state of a motor and an abnormality detecting unit configured to detect an abnormality of the actuator. The abnormality detecting unit determines that an abnormality of the actuator is detected when it is determined that an operating position of the actuator does not change between a first lock position at which the lock state of the motor in a first rotation direction is detected and a second lock position at which the lock state of the motor in a second rotation direction is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Makimura, Akitsugu Funahashi, Shin Murao
  • Patent number: 10988165
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power assisted steering (EPS) system comprising one or more inverter bridges each connected to a multi-phase motor configured to provide power assist to steering of a vehicle, each inverter comprising a plurality of switching elements each associated with a phase of the motor, is provided. The method comprises, preventing current flow in said one or more affected inverters by applying a gate-source voltage to one or more of the switching elements of the affected inverter bridge(s) in response to detecting a predefined event affecting current flow in one or more of the inverter bridges. A control system for an electric power assisted steering apparatus comprising one or more inverter bridges and a control means configured to control the switching elements in accordance with the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Tamas Terdy, Charles Mahendhrarajah, Nathanael Rice, Maciej Kudanowski
  • Patent number: 10992242
    Abstract: A motor driving control device includes an induced voltage detecting unit configured to detect an induced voltage of a motor, a controller for generating a PWM signal, and an inverter circuit for outputting a driving signal to the motor based on the PWM signal. The controller is configured to detect a position detection signal, to measure a zero-cross point of the induced voltage of the motor based on a detected timing of an edge of the position detection signal, to stop output of the driving signal only for a predetermined period containing the zero-cross point of the induced voltage, to measure a pulse width of a regenerated voltage in the period, to calculate a zero-cross point of coil current based on the measurement result, and to adjust the energization timing based on the calculation result. The predetermined period is a period of one cycle of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Murakami
  • Patent number: 10974836
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system (10) comprises at least first and second electrical generators (15a, 15b), each being configured to provide electrical power to a respective first and second AC electrical network (16a, 16b). The system (10) further comprises at least first and second AC electrical motors (19a, 19b) directly electrically coupled to a respective AC network (16a, 16b) and coupled to a respective propulsor (4), and a DC electrical network electrically coupled to the first and second AC networks (16a, 16b) via respective first and second AC to DC converters (17a, 17b), and to a further electrical motor 19c), the further electrical motor (19c) being coupled to a propulsor (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Harwood, Kalyani G Menon, Chloe Jo Palmer, Ivan Popovic