Patents Examined by Jorge L Carrasquillo
  • Patent number: 12119768
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus driving a motor including a plurality of windings corresponding to each of phases, includes a mode change switch and a plurality of inverters that operate the motor in a closed end winding mode or an open end winding mode; and a controller configured for controlling the mode change switch and the plurality of inverters according to a first mode determination result based on a reverse magnetic flux and a second mode determination result according to an output power limit for each mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jung Mo Yu, Yong Jae Lee, Hyun Jae Lim, Young Ho Chae, Young Kwan Ko, Jang Yoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 12113403
    Abstract: A drive device drives a motor serving as a load. A first upstream switch is disposed upstream from the motor and a first downstream switch is disposed downstream from the motor in a first current path of current flowing via the motor. A second upstream switch is disposed upstream from the motor and a second downstream switch is disposed downstream from the motor in a second current path of current flowing via the motor. A direction of the current flowing in the motor when current flows in the first current path is different from a direction of the current flowing in the motor when current flows in the second current path. The first upstream drive circuit stops flow of current via the first upstream switch when the current flowing through the first upstream switch becomes greater than or equal to a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota Oda, Masayuki Kato, Ryohei Sawada
  • Patent number: 12107411
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a main control unit, a power supply unit, and a driving unit. The main control unit obtains sampling data of a motor and a power supply signal from the driving unit, generates a motor control signal according to the sampling data, and outputs a safety enable signal when determining that motor drive is abnormal according to the sampling data or when determining that power supply to the driving unit is abnormal according to the power supply signal. The power supply unit supplies power to the main control unit, monitors a state of the main control unit, and outputs a safety cut-off signal when the power supply unit or the main control unit is abnormal. The driving unit drives the motor according to the motor control signal, and switches to a safe path when receiving any one of the safety enable or safety cut-off signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Luhui Xu, Yilong Yu, Zhiyong Du, Axi Qi, Guangming Yang
  • Patent number: 12101049
    Abstract: An electric motorization system includes a motorized unit equipped with a motor provided with a rotor and stator assembly including several coils, and a frequency converter which is electrically powered by a power supply. The frequency converter is controlled by a monitoring/control unit for turning on the motor in a variable speed operating mode, or for turning off the motor. The electric motorization also includes a measurement system suitable for measuring at least one condensation parameter which is representative of a condensation of the water contained in an ambient air, and the monitoring/control unit is configured to, depending on said condensation parameter, control the frequency converter during the turning off of the motor so that a preheating electric current flows through the coils to activate a preheating of the motor when it is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE
    Inventor: Frédéric Largy
  • Patent number: 12095397
    Abstract: A controller for controlling flow of coolant to one or more components of a vehicle is disclosed. The controller determines respective amounts of heat expected to be rejected by the one or more components of the vehicle in a steady state of operation at current operating conditions of the one or more components, and generates a feedforward flow control signal based at least in part on the determined amounts of heat and a target temperature for the one or more components. The controller generates a controller output signal based at least in part on the feedforward control signal, and provides the controller output signal to the cooling system to control flow of coolant to the one or more components of the vehicle from the cooling system in accordance with the determined amounts of heat expected to be rejected by the one or more components of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Snyder, Andrew W. Osburn, Anant Puri
  • Patent number: 12095352
    Abstract: A power control system for an electric vehicle comprises N power inverters configured to connect to a battery system of the electric vehicle. Each of the N power inverters includes a plurality of power switches, where N is an integer greater than one. The N power inverters are configured to connect to stator phase windings of N electric machines, respectively. A controller is configured to determine a switching frequency for the N electric machines and (N?1) phase offsets for (N?1) ones of the N electric machines, generate a set of pulse width modulation (PWM) switching signals at the switching frequency for a first one of the N power inverters, and output (N?1) sets of PWM switching signals to the (N?1) ones of the N electric machines based on the set of PWM switching signals and the (N?1) phase offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao
  • Patent number: 12078279
    Abstract: A robot includes a body having first and second segments configured to move relative to each other. Each segment has at least two legs. The legs extend non-parallel to the body and are configured to extend outwardly and retract inwardly relative to the body to enable the body to move within an operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Rebecca Leigh Cook
  • Patent number: 12080188
    Abstract: A mobile robot includes a driver configured to provide a traveling function, a body disposed at an upper side of the driver, and formed to include an inclined surface protruding downward at front and rear surfaces thereof, a body frame disposed in the body, and one pair of displays coupled to the body frame, and disposed at front and rear surfaces of the body. The body frame includes body profiles disposed at left and right sides of the body frame, and formed to extend in a vertical direction, and display supports fixed to the body profiles to extend in forward and backward directions, and respectively coupled to the pair of the displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Iljae Lee, Moonchan Kim, Sangwook Lee, Sanghun Mun, Hyunjae Yang
  • Patent number: 12064384
    Abstract: An overhead lift includes a lift strap, a motor, an electromagnetic brake, and a release assembly. The motor includes a rotatable shaft coupled to the lift strap. The electromagnetic brake is coupled to the rotatable shaft and has an engaged state and a disengaged state. The release assembly is engaged with the electromagnetic brake. The release assembly incudes a release lever engaged with the electromagnetic brake and a release strap. The release lever is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the release lever switches the electromagnetic brake to the disengaged state when in the second position. The release strap is coupled to the release lever. Tensioning of the release strap moves the release lever from the first position to the second position thereby switching the electromagnetic brake to the disengaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: LIKO Research & Development AB
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Jelinek, Jonathan K. Moenter, Jonathan D. Turner
  • Patent number: 12066469
    Abstract: A current measurement apparatus for a three-phase inverter, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a current detection element connected to a lower end of one of three lower switches constituting the inverter; a current measurement unit measuring currents by using the current detection element and the two lower switches that are not connected to the current detection element; and a current correction unit for correcting, on the basis of the relationship between a first current value measured by means of the current detection element and second and third current values measured by means of the two lower switches, the second and third current values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Geun Oh, Beom Jun Park
  • Patent number: 12060744
    Abstract: A method for individually configuring at least one automatic function for a door, in particular in a publicly accessible area, with at least one electrically or electronically controllable actuator for performing the automatic function, includes the steps of receiving configuration information from an electronical device associated to an individual in an approach area of the door, configuring the automatic function based on received configuration information, and controlling the actuator for performing the at least one automatic function according to the configuration. Moreover, a door control device is used for electrically or electronically controlling at least one actuator for performing at least one automatic function of a door, in particular in a publicly accessible area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: DORMAKABA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Alexander Hellwig
  • Patent number: 12047027
    Abstract: A method of protecting a converter of a wind turbine and a respective protection system are provided. The converter is coupled to a generator of the wind turbine to perform conversion of electrical power produced by the generator, the converter including plural semiconductor components that are operational to provide the conversion of the electrical power. The method includes the performing of a step of estimating a junction temperature of at least one of the semiconductor components by determining a current in the converter associated with power loss in one or more of the semiconductor components; estimating power loss associated with the one or more semiconductor components based on the determined current and on a state of the one or more semiconductor components; and using a thermal model to estimate the junction temperature of the semiconductor components based on the estimated power loss. The estimating step is repeatedly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation & Technology S.L.
    Inventors: Andres Agudo Araque, Victor Bermejo Hernandez, Fernando Vazquez-Prada Simon
  • Patent number: 12040725
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a switching signal generation unit that generates switching signals so that time points of at least one of pairs synchronize with each other. A first pair includes a rising time point at a first junction point of a first single-phase leg, and a falling time point at a second junction point of a second single-phase leg. A second pair includes a falling time point at the first junction point and a rising time point at the second junction point. The switching signal generation unit determines time points to turn on or turn off for upper arm switching element and a lower arm switching element based on phase currents respectively at a rising time point and at a falling time point of the terminal voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shota Hanioka, Masahiro Iezawa
  • Patent number: 12034346
    Abstract: A brushless DC motor (1) comprises a rotor comprising magnetic elements twining poles of the electric motor (1) and a control magnet comprising a number of pole pairs equal to three times that of the electric motor (1), a stator having electromagnetic excitation coils, at least one first and one second Hall-effect sensor (17, 17?) configured to detect predetermined angular positions of the rotor, and a control unit configured to apply a predetermined sequence of excitation signals to the coils, wherein the Hall-effect sensors are spaced apart by an angle greater than or equal to 10°, the first Hall-effect sensor (17) is used to determine the switching times of the excitation signals and the second Hall-effect sensor (17?) is used, in combination with the first Hall-effect sensor (17), to determine the direction of rotation of the rotor when the motor starts up, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Jose-Luis Herrada
  • Patent number: 12034349
    Abstract: A transfer apparatus includes a first linear transfer part which moves a slider in a first direction by using a first fixed linear module fixed on a first base; a module moving part which moves a module holding member holding a movable linear module in a second direction different from the first direction, to position the movable linear module at a first coupling position to couple with the first fixed linear module and cause the slider to transfer between the movable and first fixed linear modules; a linear scale having a scale extending in the second direction and a sensor which detects the scale; and a controller which acquires first module position information indicating a position of the movable linear module relative to the first fixed linear module in the second direction and controls movement of the module holding member based on the first module position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Katayama, Shunsuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 12028004
    Abstract: A stator of a rotating electrical machine has a slot-less structure. The rotating electrical machine includes a controller. The controller determines a value of a q-axis command current in accordance with requirement information and an input command value for a controlled variable of the rotating electrical machine. The requirement information includes a relationship between values of the q-axis command current and corresponding command values for the controlled variable. The controller performs a task of correcting the value of the q-axis command current to thereby restrict temperature change in a magnet unit from having an influence on the relationship between the command values for the controlled variable and the corresponding values of the q-axis command current. The controller controls an inverter to thereby adjust a value of the q-axis current flowing through an armature winding member to the corrected value of the q-axis command current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 12028003
    Abstract: A torque estimation method according to the present disclosure estimates a value of shaft torque of a rotary motion transmitting mechanism. The torque estimation method includes: a step of specifying a maximum value of a torsion angle between an input shaft and an output shaft from the time when a measurement value of the torsion angle is zero to the time when the value of the shaft torque is estimated; and a step of specifying the maximum value of the torsion angle. In the step of specifying the maximum value of the torsion angle, the maximum value of the torsion angle is specified based on a difference between the measurement value of the torsion angle subjected to low-pass filter processing at a first cutoff frequency and the measurement value of the torsion angle subjected to low-pass filter processing at a second cutoff frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Hatano, Taro Takahashi, Naoki Mima
  • Patent number: 12018885
    Abstract: A refrigerator is proposed. When a drawer of the refrigerator is completely opened, the center of an opening-detection magnet provided at the lower surface of the drawer may be disposed by exceeding the center of the sensor of a reed switch, in a moving direction of the drawer, installed at the bottom surface of the inside of the cabinet. Accordingly, the sensor may accurately detect the magnet, and even if external impact is applied to the drawer in the completely opened state of the drawer, the malfunction of the drawer which is closed unintentionally may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Sun Kook Ji
  • Patent number: 12020833
    Abstract: A wire harness includes a first connector portion that matingly connects to a second connector portion. A power cable carries electrical power from a power supply to one or more motors, and includes power segments connecting the first connector portion and the power supply, and the second connector portion and the motor. Power terminals are received within the first and second connector portions, for establishing an electrical connection between the power segments. One or more communication cables carry control signals from a control system to the motor(s) and include communication segments connecting the first connector portion and the control system and the second connector portion and the motors. Optical terminals are received within the first and second connector portions for each communication cable, for establishing a digital optical connection between each of first and second communication segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Buyers Products Company
    Inventor: Miroslaw Bogdanowicz
  • Patent number: 12021476
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive rectification for preventing current inversion in motor windings are provided. In the method and apparatus, first and second half bridges of a plurality of half bridges are operated to synchronously rectify and permit passage of current, through the windings of the motor, in a first direction. A change of direction of the current from the first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction is detected. In response to detecting that the current changed direction to the second direction, the first and second half bridges of the plurality of half bridges are operated to quasi-synchronously rectify and block passage of the current through the windings in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Enrico Poli, Vincenzo Marano