Abstract: A standard three-phase induction motor wherein two motor windings are connected across a single phase power supply, and a center-tapped autotransformer is connected between the third motor winding and one of the other motor terminals. A capacitor provides an injected current of a suitable phase angle for the third motor winding by being connected between the center tap and the second one of the other motor terminals. This same concept can also be used for a rotary-phase converter to generate three-phase voltage from a single phase line. The three-phase voltage can be used to supply several three-phase motors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used with a motor controller that detects load imbalance at a relatively low speed and, if the degree of load imbalance is greater than a predetermined acceptable maximum degree, produces an alarm signal that indicates an imbalanced load. If the degree of load imbalance is greater than the predetermined acceptable maximum value, the present invention may either attempt to rebalance the load or stops the motor until the balance can be manually adjusted.

Abstract: A method for the electronic monitoring and control of the opening and closing processes of an electrically driven device with an anti-jam facility for use in motor vehicles. The device includes an electric motor connected to a vehicle electrical system and an electric motor being operable in two directions assigned to the device. The device is capable of influence directly by means of electric operating elements or indirectly by means of a sensor apparatus which determines the parameters associated with the device.

Abstract: An electronic musical tone controller having an input operator for inputting a degree of a sensory expression representing the quality of a musical tone and generating an input parameter, a controller for controlling an electrical parameter and a circuit parameter for controlling a waveform of a signal of the musical tone, a musical tone signal generator for generating a signal of the musical tone in accordance with the electrical parameter and the circuit parameter, and a logical calculation unit for performing a fuzzy calculation and generating an output parameter for controlling the electrical parameter and the circuit parameter, by using the input parameter generated by the input operator unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides for detecting rotor speed through the use of sense coils on the stator teeth. Voltage ripples caused by the rotor slots is detected by combining the signals of several such sense coils so that the fundamental voltage signal is cancelled or rejected and only the ripple voltages remain, a signal proportional to rotor speed. Several alternative methods for implementing that technique are discussed herein. At low induction motor speeds, the present invention filters out the voltage ripples and incident third harmonics and instead estimates rotor speed from the fundamental voltage. When the induction motor is already being driven by a prime mover, the present invention selects a proper initial frequency command for initial motor start by identifying rotor speed from the PWM inverter. Further, the present invention provides for using a generator to control voltage to the induction motor, with a PWM inverter to control frequency signals to the induction motor.

Abstract: A position control circuit having a demodulator with automatic tuning capability for use in an electro-hydraulic positioning system used to position a servo device. The position control circuit includes the demodulator, an analog to digital converter with an input voltage range, and a microcontroller. The demodulator has a gain and is operable to convert a feedback signal from the servo device to a position signal having a lower voltage value when the servo device is at its 0% position and an upper voltage value when the servo device is at its 100% position; the lower voltage value and upper voltage values being a function of the demodulator gain.

Abstract: A plurality of capaciflector proximity sensors, one or more of which may be overlaid on each other, and at least one shield are mounted on a device guided by a robot so as to "see" a designated surface, hole or raised portion of an object, for example, in three dimensions. Individual current-measuring voltage follower circuits interface the sensors and shield to a common AC signal source. As the device approaches the object, the sensors respond by a change in the currents therethrough. The currents are detected by the respective current-measuring voltage follower circuits with the outputs thereof being fed to a robot controller. The device is caused to move under robot control in a predetermined pattern over the object while directly referencing each other without any offsets, whereupon by a process of minimization of the sensed currents, the device is dithered or "wiggled" into position for a soft touchdown or contact without any prior contact with the object.

Abstract: A MOSFET is used to protect a battery driven load against the effects of a reverse-connected battery. This invention is particularly suitable for use with loads, such as those commonly found in motor vehicles, which contain semiconductor devices that may be severely damaged by a reverse voltage. The source of the MOSFET is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and a gate driver circuit is used to provide a gate to source voltage sufficient to turn the MOSFET on when the battery is properly connected. If the battery is connected in reverse, the gate driver turns the MOSFET off, and the intrinsic body-drain diode in the MOSFET prevents a reverse current flow through the load. In conjunction with the MOSFET, a sensing device sends out a warning signal which may be used, for example, to turn off a portion of the load if the output of the battery falls below a level necessary to maintain the MOSFET in a fully on condition.

Abstract: A rotor position encoder for an electric motor includes a discate member mounted to rotate with the rotor shaft. The encoder has a set of radially extending features formed with angularly evenly spaced leading edges and unevenly spaced trailing edges. The leading edges induce a signal in a sensor that corresponds to the relative timing of power switches for each motor phase. The trailing edges define a cyclical code by which motor controlling circuitry is able to determine the phase of rotation of the rotor and thus establish the correct power switch actuation sequence. An electric motor control system and methods of starting electric motors are also shown.

Abstract: An electrical generation system and method for switching a plurality of isolated circuits between a generator and an electrical source. A current signal of each isolated circuit is sensed and the current signal is emitted to a computer. A generator output signal is sensed and emitted to the computer. An available power signal of the electrical source is sensed and also emitted to the computer. The computer or a microprocessor computes, as a function of the sensed load signals, a sensed generator output signal, and the sensed available power signal, whether each solid state load switch should be individually switched to connect each corresponding isolated circuit to either the generator or the electrical source. The computer or microprocessor then emits a switching signal to each solid state load switch for electrically connecting each corresponding isolated circuit to either the generator or the electrical source.

Abstract: A switched reluctance motor includes a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis, and having a plurality of rotor poles, and a stator surrounding the rotor and including first, second and third stator phases. The motor also includes energizing means for sequentially energizing the stator phases with an energy source to cause rotation of the rotor, based on rotor position information, the energizing means causing one phase to be energized and then deenergized to near a zero current level prior to a point where the rotor pole breaks away from the stator pole. The energizing means further includes limited current turn on means connected to switch operating means for operating a switch on the one phase to permit flow of limited current through the one phase after it reaches a near zero current level but before the break away point.

Abstract: This invention prevents a power window from trapping a hand or the like during manual opening and closing of the window as well as during automatic opening and closing of the window. A current-flowing unit 56 flows a current in a closing direction in a power window motor 58 by turning on a sub-switch 57 for a passenger's seat window. While a catching detector 61 generates a detecting signal when an obstacle is present, a breaker 63 breaks a current flowing in a closing direction in the motor 58 through the unit 56 by turning off a master switch 39 for the passenger's seat. A reversing unit 65 rotates the motor 58 in a reverse direction by flowing a current in an opening direction in the motor 58. Even if an obstacle is present during an operation of closing the manual sub-switch 57, it is possible to release window, thereby freeing the obstacle.

Abstract: A disk device, such as an optical disk or magnetic disk, for a computer is mounted on the computer or inserted in a slot in the computer. The computer or host device provides a power supply for the disk device that is used to drive the disk in rotation and power the seek operation for read and write. When the disk device is in an idle mode in which the disk media is not spinning, the disk(s) must first be driven to the access speed of rotation during a spin up or start of rotation time period. The current supplied by the external main power source for the computer provides the start current for the spindle motor that drives the disk(s) in rotation. An auxiliary power source provides an additional current that is added to the current provided by the main power source to decrease the time in which the start operation is executed or to ensure start up when only a limited amount of current is available from the main power source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an operation control apparatus and a method for a commutatorless motor by which current flows in at least one of the windings of the motor during driving to maintain a large torque. The operation control apparatus and the method according to the present invention allow pulse signals to be output for driving the commutatorless motor in response to signals output from a revolution establishing unit and a rotor position detecting unit, whereby the pulse signals are output so that the delay time for controlling RPM can be obtained in order to allow the current to flow in one of the windings before the current flowing in another winding of the commutatorless motor is interrupted.

Abstract: An electronic delay turn off switch including a bridgelike array of four diodes disposed between an alternating current power source and a load wherein the diodes have anodes and cathodes in opposing disposition and having an SCR with anode connected to the interconnected cathodes and with cathode connected to the interconnected anodes. A gate isolation diode, a switch, a resistor-capacitor charge mode timer, and a DIAC are interconnected between the SCR anode and gate thereby providing an SCR turn on whenever the switch contacts are closed, and a delayed SCR turn off whenever the switch contacts are opened. In an alternate embodiment a variable resistor is added to enable user selection of the duration of turn off delay.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for a vehicle is provided. The anti-theft device includes a group of relays that are interconnected to the vehicle's circuit to be protected. The relays have their terminals B and C connected to the vehicle's circuit device and a pair of diodes or bridge diode. The cathode of one group of diodes are connected to a sensor, and the anode of another group of diodes are connected to the ground of said anti-theft device. By the one way conduction of the diodes, the battery voltage from the circuit being protected serves as an auxiliary power connection while not jeopardizing the normal function of the circuit being protected.

Abstract: A motor vibration control device includes a speed adjusting unit for outputting a driving torque reference value based on the difference between a speed reference value to a motor and a detected speed value of the motor; a current adjusting unit for adjusting the current to be provided for the motor and outputting a driving torque value based on the current; a compensation torque calculator for calculating a compensation torque value based on the detected speed value, the driving torque reference value, and the driving torque value; an amplifying unit for amplifying the compensation torque value; and an adder for adding the driving torque reference value to the amplified compensation torque value and outputting the sum to the current adjusting unit. With this simple circuit configuration, the device suppresses the torsional vibration generated by an operating motor.

Abstract: A switched reluctance motor includes a rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor shaft axis and a stator surrounding the rotor and having at least three electrically independent stator phases. The motor includes an electronic circuit for selectively energizing the phases in succession with a run current to generate a torque on the rotor and thereby rotate the rotor. The circuit includes switch operating means for selectively operating switches connecting an energy source to the phases. The circuit also includes current sensing means for sensing the amount of current in each of the phases, and timing means for determining the amount of time for the current in each phase to reach a predetermined current level threshold.

Abstract: A control device for detecting the presence of an obstacle on the basis of the current absorbed by the motor controlling the window in the course of an opening or closing stroke. For effectively distinguishing an obstacle from other factors, such as defects on the window guide resulting in a regular, local increase in current absorption, the current measurement is integrated and compared with threshold values varying within the stroke and describing a reference line consisting of a number of line portions, each equal in value to the integral of the current in a respective portion of the stroke in the absence of an obstacle.

Abstract: A method for estimating rotor position of a switched reluctance motor during rotor start-up or low speed operation includes applying a sequence of relatively high frequency, short duration electric probing pulses to at least two inactive excitation phase windings of a multi-phase motor. The voltage and current at each of the two inactive excitation phase windings are measured and the resultant values used to compute an estimated rotor/stator linkage/flux in each of the two excitation phase windings. The computed linkage/flux and measured phase current of the two inactive excitation windings is then used in a model to determine the rotor position. In one form, rotor position is determined by establishing a table of values representing rotor position as a function of phase current for each of a plurality of values of motor phase linkage/flux and selecting from the table a value of rotor position corresponding to the measured phase current and computed linkage/flux for the phase.