Patents Examined by Gabriel Agared
  • Patent number: 12249941
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a control unit and a generation-method changer. The control unit generates a driving signal for driving a motor in accordance with a command signal and an encoder signal and outputs the generated driving signal to the motor, the command signal being a signal for setting the position of a moving part connected to the motor to a target position, the encoder signal indicating the position of the motor detected by an encoder. The generation-method changer changes a method used by the control unit to generate the driving signal in accordance with a position sensor signal indicating a detected target position that is the target position detected by a position sensor mounted on the moving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Murakami, Atsuki Kyuhata, Kento Yoshino, Yosuke Majima, Benpei Kimura
  • Patent number: 12249935
    Abstract: A motor control device performs driving control of a motor via a drive circuit that converts a power supply voltage of a direct current power supply into a drive voltage of the motor. The motor control device includes a voltage measurement circuit that measures the power supply voltage. The motor control device acquires a detection signal correlated with a current value that is output from a current detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Seo
  • Patent number: 12240353
    Abstract: A technique provides power-limiting regenerative braking to a utility vehicle. The technique involves detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in a forward direction at a first speed. The technique further involves applying a first regenerative braking power level to the utility vehicle in response to detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in the forward direction at the first speed. The technique further involves detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in the forward direction at a second speed which is less than the first speed. The technique further involves applying a second regenerative braking power level to the utility vehicle in response to detecting that the utility vehicle is moving in the forward direction at the second speed. The second regenerative braking power level is lower than the first regenerative braking power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Russell William King, Kevin Douglas Grove
  • Patent number: 12237794
    Abstract: A method for protecting a motor from overheating, includes: running a motor in a given parameter P and detecting a real-time temperature R of the motor; comparing the real-time temperature R with a plurality of set temperatures, the plurality of set temperatures including an overheating protection temperature Rm, shutdown temperature Rmax and recovery operation temperature Rmin, Rmin<Rm<Rmax; according to a comparison result, controlling the motor to operate at an initial current value I0, or operate in a reduced current value with respect to the initial current value I0, or stop running; and when the real-time temperature R meets the condition: Rm<R<Rmax, running the motor in an overheating protection mode, where the motor operates in a current value I lower than the initial current value I0, and the current value I decreases with the increase of the real-time temperature R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaosan Xu, Hairong Sun, Wei Lei, Jie Zhang
  • Patent number: 12235491
    Abstract: A diagnostic voltage or current path can be used for each MEMS actuator control channel to detect and diagnose faults in the actuator control signal path. Multiple measurement points provide additional capabilities of isolating faults among multiple subassemblies or components in the control signal path. The diagnostic voltage or current path uses ADC(s) and multiplexers to monitor multiple control channels and/or multiple measurement points in each control channel. Digitized voltages, or currents in the case of magnetic actuators, read from the diagnostic ADC are compared to expected values to detect and isolate faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Yen, Scott McCauley, Kevin Yasumura
  • Patent number: 12237791
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and control system are described for operating a multiphase motor drive system including a rotary electric machine and an inverter. An AC choke filter is arranged proximal to output leads from the inverter. A reference temperature associated with the AC choke filter is determined along with an operating point of the electric machine. Operation of the inverter is controlled based upon a temperature of the AC choke filter, the reference temperature, and an operating point of the electric machine. This includes modifying a switching frequency and a PWM type in a manner that reduces the AC choke filter temperature by reducing the occurrence of switching events to protect the AC choke filter based on temperature feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brent S. Gagas, Kerrie M. Spaven, Brian J. Gallert, Daniel J. Berry, Brian A. Welchko
  • Patent number: 12231010
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control engine speed of a power system are disclosed. An example power system includes: an engine; an air compressor configured to generate and store air pressure in an air storage tank based on mechanical power provided by the engine; and control circuitry configured to: monitor the air pressure in the air storage tank; determine a rate of air pressure change based on the monitoring of the air pressure; in response to the rate of air pressure change satisfying a threshold rate, incrementally increasing a speed of the engine; detecting a load on an AC auxiliary output; and in response to detecting the load on the AC auxiliary output, overriding an engine speed based on the air compressor, and controlling the speed of the engine to be the predetermined speed to output the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan F. Smith, Richard Joyce
  • Patent number: 12231071
    Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent magnet motor includes determining a motor operating target. The method includes comparing the motor operating target to a set of pre-determined excitation timing parameter relationships. The method includes operating the motor in accordance with an excitation timing parameter relationship determined from the set of pre-determined excitation timing parameter relationships to provide a motor operating response close to the motor operating target. The method includes measuring a measured motor operating response, comparing the measured motor operating response to the motor operating target, and applying a correction factor to an excitation timing parameter of the motor when the measured motor operating response does not match the motor operating target, such that the measured motor operating response moves toward the motor operating target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Neil William Hodgins, Libo Zheng
  • Patent number: 12227080
    Abstract: A motor driving system and a method of controlling same can protect a user by converting a driving mode into a dual inverter driving mode so that a vehicle can keep being driven when a transfer switching unit breaks down while the motor is operated in a Y-connection single inverter driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Hyeon Bin, Byung Oh Tak, Seon Mi Lee, Sang Woo Park
  • Patent number: 12224571
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for damping vibrations in electrical lines (10) through which modulated currents flow has at least one sound or vibration sensor (102) oriented towards the line (10) or attached to the line, at least one actuator (104) connected to the line, and a control circuit (200) which is supplied, via respective signal lines (108), with signals generated by the at least one sound or vibration sensor (102) that represent sound or vibrations. The control circuit controls the at least one actuator (104) via respective control lines (110) such that this actuator counteracts the vibration of the line (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Michael Feneis, Helmut Steinberg
  • Patent number: 12212269
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: an excitation unit configured to excite a plurality of excitation phases of a motor; a measurement unit configured to measure a physical amount that changes according to an inductance of at least one of a plurality of coils that make up the plurality of excitation phases by exciting each of the plurality of excitation phases, and generate measured data that includes measurement values of the physical amount measured for the plurality of excitation phases; and a determination unit configured to determine, based on the measured data, a rotational position of a rotor of the motor and whether or not at least one of the motor and the excitation unit has a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Kameyama
  • Patent number: 12212268
    Abstract: A motor control device drives first and second motors for outputting torque in braking or non-braking direction in a vehicle brake device, includes: an electric power converter that includes first to third legs having positive and negative switch elements; and a control unit. When the control unit energizes from the positive switch element of the first or third leg to the negative switch element of the second leg, the first and second motors output the torque in a same direction. When an absolute value of current flowing or estimated to flow in at least one of the first motor and the second motor exceeds a current threshold, the control unit drives the positive and negative switch elements of the second leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Shibata, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 12212224
    Abstract: Provided is a driving apparatus that drives a switching device, the driving apparatus including a reference potential line, a first switching control unit configured to switch whether to connect a control terminal of the switching device to the reference potential line, a first resistor element arranged in series to the first switching control unit in a path from the control terminal of the switching device to the reference potential line, a first capacitor provided in parallel with the first resistor element in the path from the control terminal of the switching device to the reference potential line, and a discharge control unit configured to control whether to discharge the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoga Kiguchi, Hiromu Takubo
  • Patent number: 12212258
    Abstract: To provide a controller for rotary electric machine and an electric power steering apparatus which can increases decreases an increase amount of the current of d-axis in the negative direction appropriately, and can perform the weakening magnetic flux appropriately, irrespective of increase and decrease in the rotational angle speed, without using the information on the inductance and the interlinkage flux of the rotor. A controller for rotary electric machine, in a case where the current command value of q-axis is a positive value, changes the current command value of d-axis, based on a deviation between an offset q-axis current command value obtained by subtracting the q-axis offset value of the positive value from the current command value of q-axis, and the current detection value of q-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Kitagawa, Tatsuya Mori, Masahiko Orii, Kenta Kubo, Kenta Sawada
  • Patent number: 12202358
    Abstract: A power supply system 1 includes: a variable voltage power supply 7 that outputs power of a variable voltage E1 from a pair of secondary-side input/output terminals 72p and 72n; a first power line 21 and a second power line 22 that connect the pair of secondary-side input/output terminals 72p and 72n and a load 4; a first switch unit 31 that is provided on the first power line 21; a third power line 23 that connects both ends of the first switch unit 31; and a bypass line 25 that connects the pair of secondary-side input/output terminals 72p and 72n, a first DC power supply 38 is provided on the third power line 23 to output DC power, and a bypass diode 33a is provided on the bypass line 25 to allow an output current of the first DC power supply 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinari Tsukada
  • Patent number: 12199544
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a first motor including first windings respectively corresponding to phases, a second motor including second windings respectively corresponding phases, a first inverter including first switching elements and connected to a first end of each of the first windings, a second inverter including second switching elements, a first changeover switch including third switching elements respectively connected to a second end of each of the first windings at one end and connected to each other at the other end, a second changeover switch including switches selectively connecting the second inverter with the second end of each of the first windings or the second inverter with a first end of each of the second windings, and a controller configured for controlling the states of the first switching elements, the second switching elements, the third switching elements and the switches based on preset conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Han Geun Jang, Nae Chun Park, In Ho Kim, Sang Cheol Shin, Choul Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 12187604
    Abstract: Techniques to be described herein are based upon the combination of a digital lock-in amplifier approach with a numerical method to yield accurate estimations of the amplitude and phase of a sense signal obtained from a movement sensor associated with a resonant MEMS device such as a MEMS mirror. The techniques described herein are efficient from a computational point of view, in a manner which is suitable for applications in which the implementing hardware is to follow size and power consumption constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Raffaele Enrico Furceri, Luca Molinari
  • Patent number: 12174256
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device monitoring technique having little restriction even on application to an already-existing device or facilitating monitoring even when a device to be monitored is in variable speed operation or under load variation. One of the representative device monitoring devices of the present invention monitors a device system using, as a power source, an AC electric motor driven by an inverter and is provided with a torque current estimation unit and a state estimation unit. The torque current estimation unit acquires information about AC currents of at least two phases and excitation current of the AC electric motor and calculates a torque current estimated value of the AC electric motor on the basis of the AC currents and the excitation current. The state estimation unit estimates the state of the device system from information including at least one of the feature amounts extracted from the torque current estimated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Koichiro Nagata
  • Patent number: 12172531
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes: a power storage device; a motor; a first inverter; a second inverter; an external AC terminal; a third inverter including a DC terminal and an AC terminal; a transformer connected to the AC terminal of the third inverter; a first switch capable of switching the AC terminal of the first inverter to a state of being connected to either the first winding connection portion or the external AC terminal; a second switch capable of switching the AC terminal of the second inverter to a state of being connected to either the second winding connection portion or the transformer; and a third switch capable of switching the power storage device to a state of being connected to either the DC terminal of the first inverter and the DC terminal of the second inverter or the DC terminal of the third inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusaku Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12170469
    Abstract: An electric drive (20) comprising an electric machine (10) is specified. The electric machine (10) comprises a stator (21) and a rotor (22) mounted so as to be movable with respect to the stator (21), wherein the stator (21) comprises at least two first conductor sections (23) and at least two second conductor sections (24), the stator (21) comprises at least one first short-circuiting means (25) and at least one second short-circuiting means (26), the first conductor sections (23) are electrically connected to the first short-circuiting means (25), the second conductor sections (24) are electrically connected to the second short-circuiting means (26), and the first conductor sections (23) and the second conductor sections (24) are each designed to be supplied with a separate electric phase. Moreover, a supply system (46) for the electric drive (20) and a method of operating the electric drive (20) are specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: MOLABO GMBH
    Inventors: Oleg Moros, Florian Bachheibl, Adrian Patzak, Benjamin Rubey