Patents Examined by Kawing Chan
  • Patent number: 11356050
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first inverter, a second inverter, first and second controller to control the first and second inverters, and a driving circuit to apply a control signal to turn on the low side switch elements of the first inverter when a fault occurs on the first inverter side, and apply a control signal to turn on the low side switch elements of the second inverter when a fault occurs on the second inverter side. The first power voltage generated on the first inverter side is supplied to the driving circuit when a fault occurs on the second inverter side, and the second power voltage generated on the second inverter side is supplied to the driving circuit when a fault occurs on the first inverter side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motoki Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11356036
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a drive circuit to provide control signals turning on low-side switch elements in the first inverter to the low-side switch elements when a failure has occurred on a first inverter side, and provide control signals to turn on low-side switch elements in the second inverter to the low-side switch elements when a failure has occurred on a second inverter side, and a control circuit. When a failure has occurred on the second inverter side, a first power supply voltage generated on the first inverter side is supplied to the drive circuit, while when a failure has occurred on the first inverter side, a second power supply voltage generated on the second inverter side is supplied to the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motoki Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11349430
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of an inverter to manage voltage upon a direct current (DC) bus and regenerative power (current) provided to a battery. A control system and method are provided to control operation of an electric machine using a controller. More specifically, the controller is configured to calculate a current-based torque limit to satisfy a regenerative current limit, and a voltage-based torque limit to satisfy a voltage limit constraint of the DC bus. The controller is configured to calculate a torque limit to satisfy the regenerative current and voltage limits of the DC bus, and to command a plurality of switches within the inverter to generate a direct-axis current from the electric machine corresponding to a torque demand and according to the torque limit. The proposed system and method provide for motor current that exceed a demagnetizing current limit of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Krishna Namburi, Zhe Zhang
  • Patent number: 11349427
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive comprising Ni low-voltage power cells connected in series for each phase among multiple phases, i being a phase index. The method comprises repeating P iterations comprising: activating at least one cell of one or more phases and deactivating the other power cells of the variable speed drive, wherein the at least one activated cell is selected on the basis of predefined activation controls depending on an iteration index; and receiving at least one output voltage of the variable speed drive across the terminals of the electrical device for at least one phase. The method further comprises, at the end of the P iterations, determining, from the measured output voltages, values of rectified voltage at the output of respective rectification stages of the power cells, and storing the rectified voltages obtained, which are respectively associated with the power cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11347188
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relates to a stepper motor for use in a rotary control assembly of an input device. The stepper motor includes a shaft; a magnet coupled to the shaft and operable to rotate with a rotation of the shaft, the magnet generating a first magnetic field; a first coil arranged on a rotational path of the magnet; and a first current source configured to supply a first current to the first coil to cause the first coil to generate a second magnetic field, a main direction of the second magnetic field being substantially parallel with a main direction of the first magnetic field while the magnet rotates and passes the first coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Greenslade
  • Patent number: 11342804
    Abstract: An electric machine (21) having a stator (20) and having a rotor (29) rotatably mounted to the stator (20) is specified. The stator (20) comprises a stator winding (24), at least three teeth (23), and at least three grooves (22). In each case, one tooth (23) of the stator (20) is arranged between two grooves (22) along a circumference of the stator (20), and the stator winding (24) has at least three coils (25), wherein each of the coils (25) is wound around a tooth (23) of the stator (20), so that the stator winding (24) is a concentrated winding. In addition, the winding direction of all coils (25) is the same, each of the coils (25) is designed to be fed with its own phase current, and the stator (20) is designed to generate at least two rotary fields having different numbers of pole pairs independently of each other, in particular simultaneously. In addition, an activation unit (40) for the electric machine (21) and a method for operating an electric machine (21) are specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FEAAM GMBH
    Inventor: Gurakuq Dajaku
  • Patent number: 11329577
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a multiaxial motor control system for controlling motors for a plurality of shafts included in a multiaxial machine, and including a plurality of motor control devices and a controller. The controller is connected with the motor control devices, and transmits a command signal to the motor control devices. Each motor control device includes a communication controller, a rotation controller, and a drive unit, and drives a motor of a corresponding shaft. The communication controller transmits and receives signals including the command signal, and determine whether the command signal is received normally. The rotation controller generates a torque command to operate the corresponding motor. The drive unit generates a drive voltage for electrification to drive the corresponding motor in accordance with the torque command. When a motor control device detects failure in reception, the motor control device outputs a torque command for braking torque to stop the corresponding motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Mishima, Akinobu Tomita, Yoshiaki Ikeuchi, Mitsutaka Okura
  • Patent number: 11327460
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an encoder that is easier to use. An encoder 1 used in a numerical control device includes a signal generation unit configured to generate a digital signal, and a configuration information output unit configured to output configuration information that determines operation of the signal generation unit, in which the configuration information output unit includes a voltage level acquisition unit that acquires a voltage level to be input, a configuration information selection unit that selects configuration information according to the acquired voltage level among a plurality of types of configuration information, and a configuration information transmission unit that transmits the selected configuration information to the signal generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Youhei Kondou
  • Patent number: 11323052
    Abstract: Automated speed ramp control of stepper motor acceleration and deceleration using direct memory access (DMA) and core independent peripherals (CIPs) comprises a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) controlled through direct memory access (DMA) transfers of prescale values used in combination with a clock oscillator to generate clock pulses that are a function of the clock oscillator frequency and the prescale values. This automates changing the frequency of the NCO, thereby controlling steeper motor speed, without requiring computer processing unit (CPU) overhead. The DMA module is enabled during a first number of clock pulses for step speed acceleration, disabled during a second number of clock pulses for normal operation at full step speed, and then re-enabled during a third number of clock pulses for step speed deceleration. A table in memory may store and provide a plurality of acceleration and deceleration prescale values for DMA transfers to the NCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Keith Edwin Curtis
  • Patent number: 11316461
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus (2) according to the present disclosure is configured to control motors (#1-#3), automatically acquire identification information of a plurality of encoders (#1-#5), the encoders (#1-#5) being configured to be connected in series under a control of the motor control apparatus (2) and to detect position information of the motors (#1-#3) or position information of a mechanical apparatus configured to be driven by the motors (#1-#3), and store the identification information and the motor control unit in a non-volatile memory (11) in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Isamu Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11309823
    Abstract: The three phase motor control with variable RPM and variable synchronized PWM is a new concept or method to drive a DC/AC invertor is a triggering pulse revolving circuit having a variable speed of revolving output triggering pulses to rotate commutating and duty cycling circuits to enable/disable power mosfets and to rotate current directions in three phase induction motor stator coils. The RPM control and PWM control are simplified using this method. All interconnections between circuits are conventional, not traditional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Yefim Tservil
  • Patent number: 11305809
    Abstract: A motor control device controls driving of a motor, which outputs torque to a rack shaft as a load by rotation of a shaft fixed to a rotor. The motor control device has a rotation stress check unit for determining a rotation stress indicating a rotation stress, which is applied inversely from the load to a protection target member such as a shaft, bearing and oil seal related to the rotation of the shaft or torque transmission to the load. The rotation stress check unit determines the rotation stress is excessive based on that an absolute value of a rotation evaluation value exceeds a stress threshold value. The stress threshold value is set to be larger than an absolute value of an upper limit value realized in normal drive control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Murakami, Toru Oiwa, Koji Isogai
  • Patent number: 11300946
    Abstract: A method for determining an adapted master value of a master axis, wherein a setpoint slave value for a slave axis is derivable from the adapted master value via a synchronism function and a drive on the slave axis is operated in synchronism with the master axis based on the setpoint slave value, where the adapted master value is determined based on a base master value of the master axis and a time difference of operative times of determinable events on the master axis and slave axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Raimund Kram
  • Patent number: 11303239
    Abstract: A magnetic pole initial position detection device includes: a direct-current excitation command generation section configured to generate a first command for causing a constant excitation current with a current phase fixed to a first phase to flow through the synchronous motor; a torque-zero determination section configured to determine whether a torque generated in the rotor of the synchronous motor is zero when the excitation current based on the first command flows through the synchronous motor; and a magnetic pole initial position acquisition section configured to acquire the magnetic pole initial position of the rotor of the synchronous motor on a basis of a rotor actual position at or near a point in time when the torque-zero determination section determines that the torque is zero; a number of pole pairs of the synchronous motor; and an excitation phase during direct-current excitation under the first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuuki Morita
  • Patent number: 11300118
    Abstract: An operation controlling apparatus of a reciprocating compressor includes: a detector configured to detect a torque output by a motor of the reciprocating compressor, a rotation speed of the motor, a counter electromotive voltage of the motor, and a current applied to the motor; a controller configured to determine a mode switching time point for switching an operation mode of the reciprocating compressor based on the torque, the rotation speed, the counter electromotive voltage, and the current of the motor, and output a control signal for changing a wire ratio of the motor corresponding to the operation mode; and a driver configured to change the wire ratio of the motor based on the control signal and operate the reciprocating compressor in the operation mode among at least two operation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jangsik Kim, Daeho Choi
  • Patent number: 11296637
    Abstract: A control device includes angular velocity detecting circuitry, feedback circuitry, torque command calculation circuitry, a limiter, a drive controller, and correction circuitry. The angular velocity detecting circuitry detects an angular velocity of a motor. The feedback circuitry obtains a feedback value from the angular velocity. The torque command calculation circuitry obtains a torque command value according to a superordinate torque command value supplied from a superordinate device and the feedback value. The limiter limits the torque command value obtained by the torque command calculation circuitry so as not to exceed a preset torque upper limit value. The drive controller performs a drive control of the motor according to the limited torque command value. The correction circuitry corrects the superordinate torque command value or the torque command value according to the feedback value and the superordinate torque command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: NIDEC CORPORATION, NIDEC ELESYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Linfeng Lan, Tomonari Mori, Ryo Itaba, Tokuji Tatewaki
  • Patent number: 11296640
    Abstract: Control circuitry of a motor drive provides commands for operation of power circuitry in cooperation with peripheral circuits and devices, such as converters, inverters, feedback precharge circuits, feedback devices, interfaces, and so forth. The communications with the devices is handled by fiber optic communications circuitry that implements a flexible scheme of dynamic interval communication depending upon the capabilities and design of the peripheral circuit or device. The communication may be in accordance with a plurality of predetermined schemes, each having different data transfer rates, data allocations, and so forth. The schemes may each set communications protocols (e.g., timing) over a high speed interface between the fiber optic communications circuitry on one side and over fiber optic cables to the peripherals on another side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Campbell, Chris K. Radtke, Joseph D. Riley
  • Patent number: 11296642
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, a rotor position sensor, an inverter, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to propel the vehicle. The electric machine has a stator and a rotor. The inverter is disposed between the battery and the electric machine. The inverter is configured to convert DC electrical power from the battery into AC electrical power. The inverter is configured to deliver the AC electrical power to the electric machine. The controller is programmed to adjust the offset position of the rotor position senor and control the torque of the electric machine based on the offset position of the rotor position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Sameer Khan, Wei Xu
  • Patent number: 11286983
    Abstract: An electrical drive includes an electrical machine, a first converter stage connected to terminals of stator phase-windings of the electrical machine, and a second converter stage connected to intermediate points of the stator phase-windings. A control device determines first component currents and second component currents so that torque is generated in accordance with electrical machine control and magnetic levitation force is directed to a rotor of the electrical machine in accordance with levitation control when portions of the phase-windings between the terminals and the intermediate points carry both the first and second component currents and the other portions of the phase-windings carry the first component currents. The reference currents for the first converter stage are determined based on the first and second component currents, and the reference currents for the second converter stage are determined based on the second component currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LAPPEENRANNAN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO
    Inventors: Rafal Jastrzebski, Pekko Jaatinen
  • Patent number: 11283389
    Abstract: A motor system includes first and second solid-state relays disposed between an inverter configured to control energization to a first coil set of a motor and an in-vehicle battery for supplying power to the inverter, and connected in series in this order in a direction from the inverter to the battery. The first solid-state relay has a first diode of which a forward direction is from the battery to the inverter. The second solid-state relay has a second diode of which a forward direction is from the inverter to the battery. Motor relays, each having a third diode of which a forward direction is from the neutral point to the inverter, are connected to the phase coils of the first coil set. When power supply from the battery to the inverter is interrupted, the first solid-state relay is turned off after the motor relays are turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kimura, Masaki Itabashi