Patents Examined by Charles S Laughlin
-
Patent number: 10571304Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes an inductive sensor, a conductive target, and a controller. The conductive target has multiple different portions that become aligned with the inductive sensor as a position of the actuator changes. Each of the multiple different portions have a different inductance. The controller receives a signal from the inductive sensor indicating an observed inductance of the portion of the conductive target aligned with the inductive sensor. The controller uses a stored relationship between the observed inductance and the position of the actuator to determine the position of the actuator based on the observed inductance. The controller operates the actuator to change the position of the actuator based on the determined position.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology CompanyInventors: Robert K. Alexander, Gary A. Romanowich, Russell T. Jenks, Cory C. Strebe, Kevin A. Weiss
-
Patent number: 10554151Abstract: A novel motor drive system has been described for use in electrostatic generator/motor systems based on the time variation of capacity of a rotating condenser comprised of segmented rotor and stator elements. It takes advantage of the fact that the motor action of such a system depends only on the rms value of the drive pulses, which therefore can be formed simply by periodically interrupting a high-frequency ac wave train. This new circuitry simplifies the drive system and takes advantage of recent developments of devices used in the art of inversion of dc voltages to high-frequency (tens of kiloHz) ac.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Richard F. Post, Edward G. Cook
-
Patent number: 10547262Abstract: In some examples, a controller device includes processing circuitry configured to determine an alpha voltage and a beta voltage based on time durations for control signals for power-conversion circuitry that drives an electric motor including a rotor. In some examples, the controller device also includes a flux estimator configured to estimate a speed of the rotor and an angle of the rotor based on the alpha voltage and the beta voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AGInventor: Wei Wu
-
Patent number: 10527049Abstract: A system and method for controlling bending modes of a rotor assembly is disclosed. The rotor assembly can be supported by one or more bearings in an integrated machine. The method can include accelerating the rotor assembly to a first rotational speed via a first torsional force applied to the drive shaft and then removing the first torsional force. The method can also include obtaining first measurements of the rotational speed and frequency of one or more bending modes of the rotor assembly during a first rotary machine coast down period from the first rotational speed. The process can be repeated to determine a relationship between rotational speed, bending mode frequency, and gain. The one or more bearings can then be controlled based on the measurements and the relationship. The system can have one or more processors or controllers to implement the method.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Lei Zhu, Jason Wing-bin Fong
-
Patent number: 10525596Abstract: A remote controlled, tele-operated welder includes a multi-axis robot arm, video cameras, sensors a specialized control station that allows an operator to perform flood-fill welding operations at a remote location to avoid the heat, smoke and other environmental effects produced through typical flood-welding operations. The operator accesses the control unit (OCU) using a GUI and mouse, keyboard, joystick, or other custom controls, and observe the piece via the cameras (visual, thermal, or other) placed in the welding station via a feed displayed on the OCU display(s). Audio, video, and/or tactile feedback may be provided to indicate arm, welder, or other system status, for collision warning and arm motion singularity avoidance. Augmented reality informational graphic/textual overlays may provide guidance to an operator, and the apparatus may further include the ability to repeat series of steps needed to handle flood-weld on a given piece, repeatedly across many pieces.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Inventor: Darryl Hammock
-
Patent number: 10520898Abstract: A driving processor for driving a motor having a rotor and one or more coils for rotating the rotor is configured to generate a detection pulse for detecting whether or not the rotor has rotated; cause the generated detection pulse to be applied to at least one of the one or more coils; receive a signal indicating a detected value of current flowing in the at least one of the one or more coils after the detection pulse has been outputted to the at least one of the one or more coils; and determine whether or not the rotor has rotated to one or more prescribed positions on the basis of the detected value of current.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventor: Yuta Saito
-
Patent number: 10518599Abstract: Provided is a damper with which the energy efficiency for attenuating input vibration corresponding to the unsprung resonance frequency and the sprung resonance frequency can be improved. Also provided is a method for manufacturing this damper. In this damper the electrical resonance frequency, as specified by the inductance of an electromagnetic motor and the capacitance of a capacitor, is set within ±20% of the unsprung resonance frequency, thereby enabling the input vibration corresponding to the sprung resonance frequency as well as the input vibration corresponding to the unsprung resonance frequency to be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobuharu Kuriki
-
Patent number: 10498281Abstract: A motor control system includes a motor, a driving module and a control module. A first coil is electrically connected to a first node where a first control signal is provided, a second coil is electrically connected to a second node where a second control signal is provided, and a third coil is electrically connected to a third node where a third control signal is provided. An constant value of the first control signal is not zero, and a lower signal voltage limit of the first control signal is larger than or equal to zero.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Ming-Jung Tsai, Li-Wei Chen
-
Patent number: 10495682Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for predicting a fault state of an inverter. The apparatus for predicting a fault state of an inverter includes: an inverter converting DC power into AC power; a switching element provided in the inverter; and a controller extracting a fault sign factor based on an output signal output from the inverter and predicting a fault of the switching element based on the fault sign factor.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul National University R&DB FoundationInventors: Deog Hyeon Kim, Yong Un Cho, Yongchae Lim, Byeng Dong Youn, Hyunseok Oh, Junmin Lee
-
Patent number: 10498266Abstract: To correct a frequency deviation generated in an input signal to an analog filter according to the rotation of a rotor in a resolver, a resolver correction device includes a phase shifter which shifts the phase of a first phase signal of the resolver, with respect to the signals at least having two phases and more, detected by the resolver. The phase-shifted first phase signal and a second phase signal are added, as a phase modulation signal with the excitation signal modulated by a rotation angle of the rotor in the resolver. A phase difference correction signal is generated based on a phase difference between the phase modulation signal of the resolver and the excitation signal. The adjusting amount of the phase shifter is calculated based on the phase difference correction signal, in which the phase shifter adjusts a phase shift amount according to the adjusting amount.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshifumi Ikenaga
-
Patent number: 10491095Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a traction battery, traction motor and power inverter therebetween. The power inverter converts the DC power of the traction battery to AC power to drive each phase of the traction motor. The power inverter includes Insulated Gate Bipolar junction Transistors (IGBTs) to modulate the power to the traction motor. The speed at which the IGBTs are modulated impacts the system performance including power loss, voltage overshoot and current overshoot. Using a dual emitter IGBT to provide a current mirror of the drive current, circuitry may be used with the gate drive circuitry such that the gate drive speed may be dynamically adjusted based on characteristics including temperature and traction motor rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lihua Chen, Dong Cao, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Shahram Zarei, Hongjie Wu, Yuqing Tang
-
Patent number: 10491149Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a controller that is configured to limit the rate of change of speed of a motor (e.g., the acceleration or deceleration) regardless of the operating mode of the motor (e.g., speed, torque, or power control mode). The controller can include an acceleration estimator which monitors the output speed of a motor and provides an acceleration-limited speed set point. The output of the acceleration estimator may be limited to a range of acceptable acceleration values that correspond to the required limits of acceleration and deceleration. The acceleration estimator can be configured such that it causes the speed regulator to override the torque and/or power regulators when the acceleration range is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc.Inventor: David J. Gritter
-
Patent number: 10483884Abstract: An electric tool control circuit includes a central control module, a motor drive module, a motor, and a working parameter detection module. The working parameter detection module is separately electrically connected to the motor and the central control module, and the working parameter detection module can return a parameter that is detected when the motor works to the central control module. The motor drive module is separately electrically connected to the motor by using first and second switch modules, and the motor drive module controls the first and second modules to be discontinuously on and off. The features of first switch module and the second switch module being on and off are always contrary, that is, when a first switch is on, a second switch is off, and when the first switch is off, the second switch is on.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Suzhou Cleva Electric Appliance Co., LtdInventor: Fufei Wu
-
Patent number: 10483881Abstract: A method for torque compensation of a motor associated with a medical instrument includes determining a torque profile for a motor, the torque profile defining torque output as a function of rotor angle and during operation of the motor, compensating for deviations in the torque profile by adjusting an input signal to the motor, the compensating being based on the torque profile and rotor position.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Hsien-Hsin Liao, Niels Smaby, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Pushkar Hingwe, Amir Chaghajerdi
-
Patent number: 10464534Abstract: A method for washing a window of a vehicle, using at least one wiper blade member and a liquid projector that projects liquid for washing the window onto a wiping surface has a first wiping cycle including a first step of actuating the wiper blade member to move over the window in a first direction from a first starting position to a wiping end position, while projecting the liquid onto the wiping surface, and a second step of actuating the wiper blade member to move over the window in a second direction opposite the first direction from the wiping end position to the first starting position, and a second wiping cycle including a third step of actuating the wiper blade member to move over the window in the first direction from the first starting position to the wiping end position, while projecting the liquid onto the wiping surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'EssuyageInventor: Denis Thebault
-
Patent number: 10468948Abstract: An electric motor is controlled by means of pulse-width modulated control signal having edge transitions occurring at certain transition count values of the pulses of a clock signal which is frequency-modulated with a step-wise frequency modulation (e.g., SSCG or Spread Spectrum Clock Generation). A frequency unmodulated clock signal is provided having a fixed period indicative of the period of the pulse-width modulated control signals. The transition count values are set as a function of a predicted count value and/or a predicted frequency value for the frequency-modulated clock signal. Prediction occurs as a function of the frequency unmodulated clock signal, so that the transition count values are compensated against the step-wise (e.g., SSCG) frequency modulation.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Giuseppe D'angelo, Michele Bisogno, Virginia Clemente
-
Patent number: 10459033Abstract: A method for protecting a nonmobile work machine driven by an electric motor includes determining, via a measuring unit, at least one measured value of a time-critical parameter of the work machine. The work machine is switched off when the determined measured value of the time-critical parameter is outside a predefined setpoint range. The determined measured value of the time-critical parameter is quantized in a level signal and transmitted as a first signal to an evaluation unit via an interface, and a second signal for further information concerning the work machine, to be transmitted from the measuring unit to the evaluation unit, is modulated to the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: KRIWAN INDUSTRIE-ElEKTRONIK GMBHInventors: Christian Ellwein, Xiaoming Peng, Christian Grub
-
Patent number: 10447191Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for reducing harmonics resulting from the rotation of a motor and generated in a power supply current. This power converter device includes a compensation current generator (52) configured to control compensation currents (Icr, Ics, Ict) flowing between itself (52) and an AC power supply (12), and a compensation controller (60; 260) configured to obtain output voltage instruction values (Vid, Viq) such that the compensation currents (Icr, Ics, Ict) cancel a harmonic component in load currents (Ir, Is, It) flowing from the AC power supply (12) into a rectifier (22) and resulting from the rotation of the motor (16) and a harmonic component in the load currents (Ir, Is, It) and dependent on a period (Ts) of a voltage of the AC power supply (12).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Reiji Kawashima
-
Patent number: 10439541Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a multiphase electrical machine, a first onboard electrical sub-system having a first nominal DC voltage, and a second onboard electrical sub-system having a second nominal DC voltage. The electrical machine includes a rotor, a first stator system and a second stator system. The first onboard electrical sub-system includes a first inverter with a first link capacitor. The first stator system is associated with the first inverter. The second onboard electrical sub-system includes a second inverter with a second link capacitor. The second stator system is associated with the second inverter. The first stator system is configured in a star configuration. The second stator system is configured in a star configuration or in a delta configuration. A transfer circuit connects the star point of the first stator system to a higher potential of the second onboard electrical sub-system.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Daniel Findeisen, Dominik Hecker, Matthias Gorka
-
Patent number: 10432115Abstract: A motor driving control apparatus in embodiments includes: a first signal generator to generate a first signal representing any one rotation angle section of plural rotation angle sections according to a sensor signal that changes every predetermined rotation angle of a rotor; a measurement unit to measure a period of each of the rotation angle sections; a prediction unit to predict a period of a next rotation section based on one or plural measured rotation angle sections; a second signal generator to generate a second signal representing a relative rotation angle of the rotor in the next rotation angle section for each period obtained by dividing the predicted period by a predetermined number; and a third signal generator to generate a third signal corresponding to a rotation angle of the rotor based on the first and second signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignees: MICROSPACE CORPORATION, TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.Inventors: Masato Tanaka, Hiromi Hagiwara, Kazuo Asanuma, Hirokazu Shirakawa