Abstract: A circuit arrangement for powering a load having n terminals includes n branches. One of the terminals of the load is switchably connected to a first or a second terminal of a voltage source by each of the branches resulting in a voltage vector having n components being applied to the load. The vector components can each assume two values based on the voltage of the voltage source. A control circuit sets the n components of the voltage vector to one of the two values. When all n components assume the same value within some portion of a given period of time (referred to as null vector) and provided that at least one of the components of the voltage vector during this given period of time reamins at this same value, the control circuit sets all components of the voltage vector to the other value so as to form a second null vector.The circuit arrangement prevents a voltage on a terminal of the load from being sustained at a given voltage beyond a given period of time without corrective action being taken.

Abstract: A motor control system with a motor having an essentially cylindrical casing and a control system having a processor and power control elements. The control system generates the driving current for the motor based on an external command signal fed to the control system, transmits the driving current to the motor via a line, and receives signals which indicate the status of the motor. The control system is mounted directly on a housing. The housing is connected to the casing by narrow webs bridging the air interspace formed between the casing of the motor and the housing of the control system, thereby mitigating mechanical and thermal influences of the casing of the motor and the housing.

Abstract: A wiper motor and window washer control system for controlling the wiper motor and window washer pump of a window cleaning system. The wiper motor and window washer control system includes an electronic circuit for controlling the application of window washing fluid by the window washer pump and for controlling the operation of window wipers driven by the wiper motor. The electronic circuit relies on a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) for controlling the current applied to the window washer pump. A wash circuit controls the duration of the application of wash fluid according to an R-C network. A wiper control circuit controls the window wipers during the application of the window washer fluid and during operation of the window wipers during normal and intermittent operation. A wiper/wash circuit generates a signal used by the wiper control circuit during application of the window washer fluid.

Abstract: An electric motor controller is disclosed that controls the torque of a switched reluctance motor with an angle controller that eliminates the need for a look-up table. In one example, the electric motor controller includes an angle controller that employs edge-triggered monostables to generate a single pulse firing signal which is synchronized with rotor position and whose pulse length varies with torque demand. An angle firing circuit utilizing freewheeling is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid state motor speed control is described that is capable of controlling a motor so that it operates quietly, eliminating annoying buzzing noises that would otherwise be generated by the motor's windings. The invention provides for motor speed control with infinitely variable speed control settings. Rather than use triacs that generate RFI noise and cause motor windings to buzz due to their inherent avalanche switching, the invention utilizes power FETs or IGBTs to provide the switching function to control power delivery to the motor load . The power switches are controlled by an oscillator that generates a pulse train with a duty cycle controllable by the user. A filter shapes this signal into a trapezoidal control signal that drives the gate input of the power FET or IGBT switch. A kick start circuit turns the motor on initially for two to three seconds to overcome the inertia of the motor and its load.

Abstract: An arrangement for operating a wiper includes a sensor for detecting a wetting state of a pane and outputting a sensor signal based thereon, an evaluator for receiving the sensor signal from the sensor, and evaluating the sensor signal, and an actuator for actuating the wiper, the actuator being actuated by the evaluator to produce one of a plurality of wiping modes, including a stage II wiping mode for heavy wetting conditions. The evaluator includes an evaluation stage for determining whether a degree of wetting corresponding to a stage II wiping condition occurs after a prolonged wiping break, for example after passing through a tunnel, and a processing stage. If a degree of wetting corresponding to a stage II wiping condition is determined to occur after a prolonged wiping break, the processing stage is actuated by the evaluation stage to cause a change-over to stage II wiping within a shorter time period than in a case where a prolonged wiping break is not present for a comparable degree of wetting.

Abstract: A robot body has an articulated manipulator arm having a welding tool. The robot body is installed on a base stand housing electric circuits including a welding power source. The electric circuits provide for driving and controlling the welding tool. The robot thus provided minimizes the space needed for installation thereof and requires less time for installation and fewer parts, whereby it becomes possible to reduce the manufacturing cost, simplify the robot installation operation and obtain a stable welding performance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of controlling an automatic door opening/closing apparatus for a washing machine that includes the steps of determining whether or not there is an error in an automatic door opening or closing operation carried out in response to a command to open or close the washing machine's door; determining if the erroneous operation has been repeated more than a predetermined number of times according to consecutive incoming commands to open or close the door; and when erroneous operation has repeated more than the predetermined number of times, ignoring a subsequent command to open or close the door.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting the position, direction of rotation and rotational speed of a rotatably seated part, which are employed, for example, in particular in externally-operated locking parts of motor vehicles (e.g., with an electric window opener with protection against jamming). The method allows a reduction in the number of components and installation space. The method of the present invention has the feature that control commands and the state of the motor are provided to a logical evaluation device. Either the high and low edges of the digitized signal, or one of the high or low edges, together with the signal level at the time of motor start or reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor are assigned to the one or the other direction of movement (direction of rotation).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an AC servo motor control is disclosed, in which a voltage command is produced from the deviation between a current command and feedback current for the AC servo motor control according to the voltage command thus produced. Whenever the voltage command becomes zero, feedback-current data is collected for a predetermined period of time. Offset amount is calculated for updating according to the collected feedback-current data. Subsequently, the feedback current is corrected by using the new offset amplitude during revolution of the AC servo motor. A voltage command to the AC servo motor is produced according to the deviation between the current command and the compensated feedback current.

Abstract: A deformation detection system including an elongated element having a hollow deformable wall member that defines a radiation transmission path. A sound radiation transmission source positioned at one end of the elongated member transmits acoustical radiation into the radiation transmission path. A sound radiation detector positioned at an opposite end of the radiation transmission path is responsive to and detects the acoustical radiation transmitted from the radiation source. Deformation of the wall member at least partially interrupts the radiation transmission path such that transmitted acoustical radiation from the sound radiation source is attenuated, and the attenuated acoustical radiation is detected and assessed by the radiation detector. The detection system has particular applicability to monitor a body opening of a motor vehicle in which a closure member, such as a window, is movable towards a peripheral edge of the body to close the opening by an electrically operated drive mechanism.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor drive apparatus according to the invention comprises a stator and a rotor, the stator including multi-phase armature windings which are connected in a star formation and generate a plurality of terminal voltages at respective terminals of the armature windings, and the rotor including a plurality of permanent magnets which form pairs of magnetic poles. The motor drive apparatus also includes an inverter coupled to the rotor for adjusting the speed of the rotor, a rotor position detection means for detecting the terminal voltages generated in the armature windings and for generating a position signal indicative of a magnetic pole position of the rotor. The rotor position detection means includes a line voltage generation means for generating line voltages corresponding to the terminal voltages of the armature windings and comparison means for comparing signals derived from the line voltages in predetermined combinations and outputting comparison signals as the positional signal.

Abstract: A torque command value is calculated in response to a command. A torque current is calculated on the basis of the calculated torque command value. The torque current is to be driven through an armature winding of the brushless DC motor, and is in phase with an electrical angle of the brushless DC motor. Calculation is made as to a phase advance current to be driven through the motor armature winding. The phase advance current has a phase advance of 90.degree. with respect to the motor electrical angle. A target current is calculated from the calculated torque current and the calculated phase advance current. An actual current through the motor armature winding is controlled in response to the calculated target current. An upper limit of the phase advance current is calculated on the basis of at least one of a speed command and a rotational speed of the brushless DC motor. A determination is made as to whether or not the actual current through the motor armature winding follows the target current.

Abstract: A drive control system for a binding line having first and second separate binding-line segments, includes a first motor for driving the first binding-line segment, a second motor independent of the first motor for driving the second binding-line segment, and a controller coupled to the first and second motors. The controller is operable in an independent or asynchronous mode for controlling the first and second motors so that the first and second binding-line segments operate independently, and is also operable in a synchronous mode for controlling the first and second motors so that the first and second binding-line segments operate in synchronism with one another.

Abstract: A digital motor control is described which is programmable and has dual digital phase with sliding proportionality such that the motor control adaptively alters a speed of a motor by both changing sign and altering motor speed proportionally to an amount of motor speed error.

Abstract: A time-compensated overcurrent detection circuit shuts off a D.C. motor during large overcurrent conditions caused by actual constraints on the motor. The circuit prevents premature motor shut off by establishing a minimum activation time for shutting off the D.C. motor. An overcurrent time compensator establishes a minimum time period for activating a motor reset signal after sensing an overcurrent condition. The circuitry uses a relatively small capacitor that provides quick response to overcurrent conditions.

Abstract: A process for the closed-loop control and thus for the limitation of the maximum allowable force on the primary and secondary closing edges of an automatic door. This object is achieved by conducting a verification of the drive system before each movement of the door panel. During this verification, the actual value of the motor current during the startup phase is verified by means of a stored motor torque characteristic.

Abstract: A speed controller for a generator having a rotor includes a speed control input port for receiving a speed command signal, a proportional gain stage electrically connected to said speed control input port for amplifying the speed command signal to create an amplified signal, a turbine speed integrator operatively connected to the speed control input port for integrating the speed control signal to create an integrated signal, an adder for adding the amplified signal and the integrated signal to create a torque signal, a speed estimator for estimating the rotational speed of the rotor of the generator whereafter the speed estimator generates a rotational speed signal and a multiplier electrically connected to the adder and the speed estimator to multiply the rotational speed signal and the torque signal to create a power signal to be output by the speed controller.

Abstract: In an inverter driving circuit and an air conditioner having the same, the circuit elements constituting the inverter driving circuit are arranged and connected through wirings along a power supply path so that those circuit elements and wirings which are located at the front stage of a noise filter are spatially separated from those circuit elements and wirings which are located at the rear stage of the noise filter. A power source of a controller for the inverter driving circuit is supplied with an alternating power from a neutral point and one of three phases (R,S,T) of the noise filter, and a high-frequency noise occurring in a transistor module is intercepted by a smoothing circuit and a rectifying circuit, so that the noise contamination into the controller can be prevented. The voltage to be supplied to the controller may be a low voltage.

Abstract: A film driving circuit that is capable of normal driving and reverse driving to drive-control a first motor and a second motor each rotating in only one direction. The motor driving circuit is structured so the first motor driving and the second motor driving is controlled by four switching elements composing a bridge circuit. The first motor connects to the connecting points of two of the switching elements. The second motor connects to the connecting points of the other two of the four switching elements. A CPU controls the first motor and the second motor by controlling the on-off status of the four switching elements.