Patents Examined by Devon A Joseph
  • Patent number: 9787212
    Abstract: Motor drive power conversion systems are provided including a rectifier and a switching inverter, wherein the switching devices of the rectifier, the inverter and/or of a DC/DC converter are silicon carbide switches, such as silicon carbide MOSFETs. Driver circuits are provided for providing bipolar gate drive signals to the silicon carbide MOSFETs, including providing negative gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode low side drivers and positive gate-source voltage for controlling the off state of enhancement mode high side drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Baumann, Richard Lukaszewski, Rangarajan Tallam, Lixiang Wei, Lee Gettelfinger, Garron Morris, Bruce Weiss, Neil Gollhardt, Navid R. Zargari, William Brumsickle, Robert Wright Reese, Stephen E. Denning
  • Patent number: 9755558
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operating speed and the torque of an electric motor using an operational model are described. An operational model for the electric motor, including a plot of engine performance parameters, is used for reference, and a most efficient output path, which may pass through an optimal operation region in the operational model, is selected. The most efficient output path may be determined, for example, according to locations of a current output state and a to-be-reached target state in the operational model, enabling the operating state of the motor to reach the target state from the current operating state. By selecting a more efficient output path, the operating efficiency of the motor may be optimized, the life of a battery improved and/or the operating mileage of the vehicle may be increased, without significantly reducing the driving experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Sheng-Fu Lai
  • Patent number: 9746893
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying, for each of multiple circuits of an electrical device, a discharge time that indicates an amount of time previously taken for a voltage level of the circuit to decrease from a normal operating voltage to a specified voltage level after power was removed from the circuit. A delay time period is determined for the electrical device based on each discharge time. A command is received to cycle power to one or more components of the electrical device. In response to receiving the command, power is removed from the circuits for an amount of time that corresponds to the delay time period and power is restored to the circuits in response to the amount of time lapsing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Sizikov, Richard Roy
  • Patent number: 9735715
    Abstract: A controller configured to be coupled to an electric motor. The controller including a processor programmed to receive a signal indicating a stopping command of the electric motor, and control a current such that a capacitor coupled to the electric motor is not overcharged by regenerative energy when a stopping of the electric motor has commenced, wherein controlling the current includes one of the following: upon receiving the signal indicating the stopping command of the electric motor, ramping the current down below a threshold level, or upon receiving the signal indicating the stopping command of the electric motor, forcing the current to circulate in motor windings to prevent regeneration of energy in the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Roger C. Becerra
  • Patent number: 9716451
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that controls a motor driving device. The semiconductor device includes: a position detection section that detects changes in a turning position of a rotor provided at a motor and outputs detection signals corresponding to the changing turning position; a first switching section that, in accordance with the detection signals, outputs ground switching signals, which switch which end portion of a coil is connected to a ground side, to a first switching circuit; and a second switching section that, in accordance with the detection signals, outputs connection switching signals, which switch which end portion of the coil is connected to a driving power supply side, to a third switching circuit that controls the switching of connections between the end portions of the coil and the driving power supply side by a second switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9688249
    Abstract: An apparatus of detecting a position of a rotating member includes a cam plate connected to the rotating member. The cam plate includes a plurality of segments that are spaced apart from each other. The plurality of segments are disposed in an annular shape. A fixed ring is disposed between the cam plate and the worm wheel. A first contact point is in contact with an interior portion of any one of the segments and maintaining a fixed state. A second contact point is formed at an external circumferential portion of any one of the segments and is in contact with the fixed ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sang Woo Chun, Jin Gyu Hong
  • Patent number: 9647513
    Abstract: An actuator unit, a robot including the same, and a reducing apparatus, the actuator unit including a driving unit; a sensor unit; a control unit; and a frame unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-jun Park, Byeong-sang Kim, Kang-min Park, Jae-chul Hwang
  • Patent number: 9647597
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a voltage regulator to execute a voltage increase mode to increase a voltage applied to an induction motor from a lower limit of a first range over time. A frequency regulator executes a frequency decrease mode to decrease a frequency of the voltage from an upper limit of a second range over time. The frequency regulator limits decrease of the frequency when a bus voltage of a bus exceeds a first threshold in the frequency decrease mode. The bus supplies DC power to an inverter to drive the motor. A mode changer alternatively changes the voltage increase mode and the frequency decrease mode to control the motor to change from a free running state to a state in which the voltage and the frequency satisfy a relationship. The determinator determines whether the voltage and the frequency satisfy the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shuji Matsuda, Hideaki Iura
  • Patent number: 9647590
    Abstract: A phase compensation apparatus in an inverter output voltage in a system is provided, whereby performance of an inverter can be enhanced by compensating a time delay of measured voltage of inverter output voltage detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seungcheol Choi, Anno Yoo
  • Patent number: 9641120
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a voltage regulator to execute a voltage increase mode to increase a voltage applied to an induction motor from a lower limit of a first range over time. A frequency regulator executes a frequency decrease mode to decrease a frequency of the voltage from an upper limit of a second range over time. When a current through the motor exceeds a first threshold in the voltage increase mode, a mode changer changes the mode to the frequency decrease mode. When the current through the motor becomes smaller than a second threshold in the frequency decrease mode, the mode changer changes the mode to the voltage increase mode to control the motor to change from a free running state to a state in which the voltage and the frequency satisfy a relationship. A determinator determines whether the voltage and the frequency satisfy the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shuji Matsuda, Hideaki Iura
  • Patent number: 9628000
    Abstract: A method controls a motor using pulse width modulation (PWM). The method involves measuring the PWM frequency; determining the carrier frequency of a set radio transmitter; and matching the PWM frequency to the carrier frequency of the radio transmitter in such a manner that an integer multiple of the PWM frequency corresponds to the carrier frequency or an integer multiple of the PWM frequency lies in the middle between two carrier frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: AUDI AG, CONTI TEMIC MICROELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Schwantner, Georg Kaeufl
  • Patent number: 9621097
    Abstract: A linear conveyor includes: a linear motor stator which includes a plurality of electromagnets and in which each predetermined section can be individually controlled for conduction; a plurality of conveyance carriages each of which includes a linear motor mover; a linear scale which includes scale members secured to each of the conveyance carriages, and detectors disposed along a conveyance path; a plurality of motor controllers which individually controls conduction of electromagnets for each section based on the results of detecting the scale members by the detectors; and a data storage unit which stores position correction data for each conveyance carriage, determined based on the movement error of each conveyance carriage measured in advance using a common measurement jig. Each motor controller controls conduction of the electromagnets using the position correction data stored in the data storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 9621102
    Abstract: A duty ratio calculation section (5a) of this device calculates target duty ratios of respective phases on the basis of a motor current value. When the target duty ratio of an arbitrary phase (U-phase) has become an uncontrolled duty ratio (for example, 5% or lower or 95% or higher), a duty ratio correction section (5b) obtains corrected duty ratios by either adding or subtracting a differential duty ratio, that is, the difference between the target duty ratio of the arbitrary phase (U-phase) and a controllable duty ratio (for example, 0% or 100%), to or from the target duty ratios of the other phases (V-phase, W-phase). A PWM output section (5c) applies a PWM signal, which is based on the controllable duty ratio and the corrected duty ratios, to the power device (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru Itani
  • Patent number: 9612600
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to controllers of linear motion devices and control methods of the same, in particular, to a controller of a linear motion device and a control method of the same capable of controlling the position of the linear motion device accurately, in a case where a misalignment of the mounting position of a magnetic sensor or a magnetizing variation of a magnet occurs, or in a case where a magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor receives an interference of the magnetic field generated by a driving coil of the linear motion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9575126
    Abstract: An item of furniture includes at least one movable element and an actuating system for adjusting the movable element. The actuating system includes at least one linear actuator, a power supply unit and a manual control device. The power supply unit and the manual control device are electrically connected to the linear actuator, which has a diagnostic system having at least one illuminated indicator for indicating the functioning of the three components. The diagnostic system allows the user or a repair service to determine which of the three components is faulty, so that only the faulty component has to be replaced. Repair costs can be reduced significantly. The replacement of one of the three components can also then be carried out without difficulty by the user or a repair service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ciar S.P.A.
    Inventor: Egidio Marcantoni
  • Patent number: 9559625
    Abstract: A solid state relay for controlling a three-phase AC motor running direction is provided, a driver module, power components module, phase sequence detection module, phase lack detection module, and automatic phase correction and phase lack protection logic module. The input of the phase sequence detection module is connected to the three-phase power supply, and the output is connected to the automatic phase correction and phase lack protection logic module, to provide phase sequence detection and a phase sequence signal to the automatic phase correction and phase lack protection logic module. The input of the phase lack detection module is connected to the three-phase power supply, and the output is connected to the automatic phase correction and phase lack protection logic module, to detect a lack of phase and provide the lacking phase signal to the automatic phase correction and phase lack protection logic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: KUDOM ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiantao Yang, Zhiming Zeng, Fangzeng Chen
  • Patent number: 9543749
    Abstract: In a driver, a clamping module executes a clamping task that clamps an on-off control terminal voltage to be equal to or lower than a clamp voltage for a predetermined time during charging of the on-off control terminal of the switching element. The clamp voltage is lower than an upper limit of the voltage at the on-off control terminal of the switching element. A measuring module measures a parameter value correlated with a sense current correlated with a current flowing between input and output terminals of the switching element. A limiting module discharges the on-off control terminal to limit flow of the current between the input and output terminals if the value of the parameter exceeds a threshold. A setting module variably sets a length of the predetermined time as a function of the parameter value during charging of the switching element's on-off control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeyasu Komatsu, Tsuneo Maebara
  • Patent number: 9541916
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a error calculation unit which calculates a error between a first position detection value of a movable part and a second position detection value of a driven part, a storage unit which stores the errors when the movable part engages with the driven part in a first and second drive direction, as a first initial error and a second initial error, respectively, and a compensation calculation unit which calculates the amount of compensation to correct backlash and an elastic deformation. The compensation calculation unit calculates a command error based on the first initial error and the second initial error and a predetermined constant which is larger than 0 and not greater than 1 and calculates the amount of compensation by subtracting the current error calculated by the error calculation unit from the command error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9525368
    Abstract: A control system included in a speed selector connected by output phases to a synchronous electric motor, the synchronous electric motor being controlled according to a control law implemented by the speed selector. A first speed of the synchronous electric motor is determined by a first speed estimator. A second speed estimator is used to determine a second speed of the synchronous electric motor. The system includes a signal generator module configured to apply, to the output phases, voltages taking account of a non-constant current signal. The second speed estimator is configured to recover the current response on the output phases, to deduce therefrom the second speed of the synchronous electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER TOSHIBA INVERTER EUROPE SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Defaix, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 9520823
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an actuator control circuit includes a driver circuit connected to a ringing characteristic determination circuit. A signal generator that is configured to generate an output signal having first period that has first and second portions where the first portion longer than the second portion is connected to the ringing characteristic determination circuit. Another embodiment includes a method for controlling an actuator by determining a resonant frequency and a ringing amplitude of an actuator signal; generating a control signal in response to the resonant frequency and the ringing amplitude of the actuator signal; and causing the actuator to move in response to the second drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Tabuchi, Tomonori Kamiya