Patents Examined by Eduardo Colon Santana
  • Patent number: 10972031
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method that provides active damping at the input of a motor drive system without the need for the hardware used in conventional and RC damping circuits. According to the disclosure a virtual damping network is realised at the input of the motor drive system based on modification of field-oriented control, FOC. More specifically, a control algorithm creates a virtual damping impedance at the motor drive input by applying a damping algorithm to both q and d components of the motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Virgilio Valdivia Guerrero, Joshua Parkin, Thomas Gietzold, Grzegorz Popek, Daniel Diaz-Lopez
  • Patent number: 10959788
    Abstract: A surgical system for selective connection to a robotic arm includes an instrument drive unit and a surgical instrument detachably coupled to the instrument drive unit. The instrument drive unit includes a first actuator, a linkage member having opposing first and second portions, and a drive member. The first portion of the linkage member is operatively coupled to the first actuator such that actuation of the first actuator moves the first portion in a first direction and the second portion in a second direction opposite of the first direction. The drive member is operatively coupled to the second portion of the linkage member. The surgical instrument includes a driven member operatively associated with the drive member of the instrument drive unit and an end effector operatively coupled with the driven member, wherein translation of the driven member effects a first function of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Simon Grover, Daniel Fuller, Charles Kilby
  • Patent number: 10958157
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an inspection apparatus inspects an inverter circuit including three pairs of arms. The apparatus includes a current controller and a control signal generator. The current controller generates a control output for controlling a current to be output by the inverter circuit. The control output enables the current to approach a target value of the current. The control signal generator generates a first control signal for controlling ON/OFF of a first arm as one of the three pairs of arms based on the control output, a second control signal for fixing a second arm paired with the first arm, in an OFF-state, and a third control signal for fixing at least part of arms other than the first arm and the second arm in an ON-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shigen Yasunaka, Shinji Takakura
  • Patent number: 10958195
    Abstract: A control device for a linear motor is disclosed which is provided with a current limiter and a driver. The current limiter outputs either a target current value or a limiting current command value. When the target current value is output as the current command value, the driver applies a voltage to the linear motor based of the value obtained by multiplying a first proportional gain by the difference between the current value of the current flowing to the linear motor and the current command value. When the limiting current command value is output as the current command value, the driver applies a voltage to the linear motor based of the value obtained by multiplying a second proportional gain, which is greater than the first proportional gain, by the difference between the current value of the current flowing to the linear motor and the limiting current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Nomura, Tsuyoshi Inda, Hideya Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10945799
    Abstract: A manipulator system includes arithmetic logic units for calculating an operation quantity per unit time of a power source mounted on a surgical instrument as a first operation quantity and calculating an operation quantity per unit time of the power source as a second operation quantity. A determining unit is used for outputting a shutoff signal for de-energizing the power source if the first operation quantity is smaller than a first threshold value and the second operation quantity is larger than a second threshold value. A cutoff unit is configured to cut off the drive signal output from the output unit to the power source in response to the shutoff signal output for de-energizing the power source from the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Wada
  • Patent number: 10951149
    Abstract: The present invention disclose a method and apparatus for pulse-width modulation (PWM) of a variable-frequency drive (VFD), the method comprising: for each sector of a space vector graph for PWM of the VFD, identifying at least two possible clamping phases in switching between the vectors in the sector; comparing currents in multiple phases in at least one PWM cycle; in the sector of the space vector graph corresponding to the PWM cycle, determining the possible clamping phase with the maximum current in the at least two possible clamping phases; and clamping the determined possible clamping phase with the maximum current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Yilun Chen, Xiaomeng Cheng
  • Patent number: 10944348
    Abstract: A method (400) of determining equivalent circuit parameters of a three phase induction motor is provided. The method (400) comprises applying (410) a current to a stator winding (362) of an induction motor (360), and varying (420) a voltage applied to the stator winding to regulate the applied current to be a constant current. Application of the current is terminated (430) when the applied voltage has reached a constant voltage. The equivalent circuit parameters are determined (440) from the value of the constant current, the values of the applied voltage, and a time period until the applied voltage attains the constant voltage. The method may provide values for a resistance (210) of the stator winding, a resistance (250) of a rotor winding (364), a magnetizing inductance (230), and a total inductance leakage value (220, 240) for the stator winding and the rotor winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S
    Inventors: Nicolas Trolle, Sanjeet Kumar Dwivedi
  • Patent number: 10917028
    Abstract: A motor driving control device has a motor driving unit configured to selectively energize coils with a plurality of phases of a motor, a control circuit unit configured to control an operation of the motor driving unit by outputting a driving control signal to the motor driving unit, and a position detector configured to output a position signal which corresponds to any one phase of the plurality of phases and a phase of which changes depending on a position of a rotor of the motor. the control circuit unit detects a transition of values of a back electromotive force induced in the one phase in a detection period corresponding to a change timing of the position signal when beginning to start up the motor, and determines a rotational state of the motor including a rotational direction of the motor based on a detection result of the transition of the values of the back electromotive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Xiao Zhou, Hiroyuki Kaidu, Masato Aoki, Mitsunari Terada
  • Patent number: 10915072
    Abstract: A servo control device to execute an operation in a discrete time system may include a velocity feedback path having a difference means calculating a pseudo-velocity from a detected position and a lowpass filter, and a PI control means executing a proportional integration control operation on a deviation between the pseudo-velocity and the position deviation to create a drive command for the driver. The velocity feedback path includes a first gain means applying a first gain to the pseudo-velocity, a delay means delaying the pseudo-velocity, and a second gain means applying a second gain to the delayed pseudo-velocity. A sum of an output of the first gain means and the second gain means is inputted to the lowpass filter, and “Fa(z)=1/(1?z?1Fb(z))” is satisfied where a transfer function of the PI control means is Fa(z), and a transfer function of the lowpass filter is Fb(z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 10913363
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller configured to inject a voltage into the electric machine. The controller measures the currents caused by the voltage and processes the currents using a discrete Fourier transform to determine positive and negative sequence currents. A phase rotation sequence is identified by comparing the sequence currents to expected positive and negative sequence currents that are associated with possible phase rotation sequences. The electric machine may be controlled according to the identified phase rotation sequence. A cable swapped diagnostic may be output when the phase rotation sequence is different than an expected phase rotation sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Xu, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Patent number: 10910984
    Abstract: A control unit is configured to generate a first switching signal based on a voltage command value and a first carrier and a second switching signal based on the voltage command value and a second different carrier, and a characteristic calculation unit estimates and calculates at least one of a resistance value of an electric motor and a dead time error, which is the difference between an effective value of a dead time and a set value of the dead time, based on a first operating characteristic of a power conversion unit obtained when switching elements are driven with the first switching signal and a second operating characteristic of the power conversion unit obtained when the switching elements are driven with the second switching signal. The resistance value of the electric motor and the dead time error can be quickly calculated and estimated by a common structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sho Kato, Yoshinori Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10910982
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes: a power generating unit that generates drive power for driving the air conditioner; an output unit that drives a motor; a detecting unit that detects a DC voltage applied to the output unit; a motor drive control unit that controls the output unit based on a detection result from the detecting unit; a drive power supply unit that supplies an operating power source to the output unit and the motor drive control unit; a main body control unit that outputs a motor drive command or a motor drive stop command to the supply unit; a power circuit unit that supplies operating power to the main body control unit and the supply unit; and an input changeover switch that inputs the detection result to the motor drive control unit as the motor is driven, and cuts off input of the detection result as the motor stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihito Ono
  • Patent number: 10900582
    Abstract: A zone valve control system for a flow valve comprising a direct current rotary electric motor connected to a valve shaft, an electronic control system comprising a microprocessor, an electric measuring device for signaling the presence of a predetermined electrical stall current, a rectifier and a regulator to convert and regulate external AC voltage to a desired DC power output; and an electrical storage system having a total storage capacity sufficient to power the DC electric motor to move the valve between the closed and opened positions; an external sensor for signaling when a certain condition exists in an external zone; the microprocessor controlling the flow and polarity of DC current to the motor; whereby the electronic control system controls movement of a valve operably connected to the output shaft to open or close a valve to maintain a desired predetermined condition in the external zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Taco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kellicker, Richard F. Brindamour, Jr., Robert J. Carreiro
  • Patent number: 10903765
    Abstract: A power tool that includes a brushless DC motor, one or more motor sensors, and a controller, such as, for example, an electronic speed control (ESC) circuit. The controller is adapted to provide instructions to control the operation of one or more parameters of the brushless DC motor. The controller is also adapted to receive feedback from one or more motor sensors that reflect whether the motor is attaining the one or more parameters. The controller may also be adapted to have a learning mode, in which feedback provided during use of the power tool is stored by the controller as a program so that the same operating parameters may be subsequently replicated by using the program to operate the tool. The controller may also use the feedback to adjust the operation of the motor so that the motor maintains one or more selected or programmed operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
    Inventors: Colin G. Knight, Milos Coric
  • Patent number: 10897218
    Abstract: The present application provides a control system and method for a permanent magnet synchronous traction and transmission system. A The control system comprises a sampling unit and a controller; the sampling unit collecting an operation excitation current and an operation torque current, a input capacitor voltage and a rotor frequency; the controller acquires a target torque instruction issued to the traction and transmission system, calculates a target excitation current value and a target torque current value, and generates an excitation current regulation value and a torque current regulation value; a regulation unit is configured to generate a torque current regulation value according to the target torque current value and an operation torque current value and generate a target modulation ratio and a modulation frequency according to the excitation current regulation value and the torque current regulation value output from the regulation unit and finally output a PWM modulation wave control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG ROLLING STOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD. (CN)
    Inventors: Jingbin Bi, Meng Xia, Hu Cao, Fanfei Zeng
  • Patent number: 10897220
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a control initiation-stop determiner which receives an initiation-stop request signal for controlling initiation and stop of a motor and information on the number of revolutions of the motor and which outputs a state signal for switching a state of a drive voltage among three states of control stop, control initiation, and control start; and a drive voltage controller which gradually increases a phase current supplied to the motor by using a PWM signal while the state signal causes the state of the drive voltage to transition from control stop to the control initiation and then to the control start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10892698
    Abstract: In a current detection apparatus, an arm current detection unit detects each of at least first and second phase currents having respective amplitudes and flowing in a multiphase rotary electric machine based on a potential difference between input and output terminals of the corresponding one of first and second detection switches during the corresponding one of the first and second detection switches being on. A bus current detection unit detects each of at least bus-based first and second phase currents corresponding to the first and second phases of the multiphase rotary electric machine based on a current flowing through one of first and second buses. An amplitude correction unit corrects the first and second phase currents based on the bus-based first and second phase currents such that the amplitudes of the respective first and second phase currents match with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Aoki, Yosuke Matsuki, Hideji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10882627
    Abstract: An aircraft drive device (10) for creating propulsion and/or lift of an aircraft, the drive device comprising a rotating shaft (12), a rotating shaft bearing (14, 16), a rotating shaft drive machine (18) for rotationally driving the rotating shaft (12), and a housing (20), wherein the rotating shaft bearing (14,16) and the rotating shaft drive device (18) are arranged in an interior of the housing (44) and the rotating shaft (12) protrudes to the outside of the housing (20) through a housing opening (42) of the housing (20), wherein in the region of the housing opening (42) an overvoltage arrester device (52) is arranged which is designed for diverting an overvoltage present at the rotating shaft (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Steinwandel, Michael Hofmann, Michael Judas
  • Patent number: 10886764
    Abstract: A power tool includes: a battery connecting part to which one of a first battery pack and a second battery pack having capacity smaller than that of the first battery pack is detachably attachable; a motor driven by electric power supplied from the battery pack; current detection means configured to detect a discharge current flowing from the battery pack to the motor; cut-off controlling means configured to cut off the discharge current when the discharge current becomes equal to or larger than a current threshold; and battery type discrimination means configured to discriminate the battery pack connected to the battery connecting part. The current threshold when the second battery pack is connected to the battery connecting part is lower than that when the first battery pack is connected to the battery connecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kawano, Kazuhiko Funabashi, Toshiaki Koizumi, Hironori Mashiko
  • Patent number: 10879925
    Abstract: A method produces a digital signal from an analog signal. The method includes: producing a pulse-width-modulated actuation signal by a frequency converter, wherein the pulse-width-modulated actuation signal is produced over a number n of periods of the pulse width modulation such that the signal curve of the pulse-width-modulated actuation signal is identical in the respective periods; applying the actuation signal to a load; producing a bitstream with a predetermined bit repetition duration depending on an analog signal to be measured by a sigma-delta modulator, wherein the analog signal to be measured depends on the actuation signal and on the load, wherein a number m of bits are produced and stored with the predetermined bit repetition duration over a respective period of the pulse-width-modulated actuation signal; and summing corresponding bits of the respective periods in order to form the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Lenze Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Wempe, Dirk Duesterberg