Patents Examined by Kawing Chan
  • Patent number: 11848592
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control engine speed of a power system are disclosed. An example power system includes: an engine; a generator configured to generate electrical power from mechanical power delivered by the engine; a switched-mode power supply configured to convert the electrical power from the generator to output power; and control circuitry configured to: monitor an input current to the switched-mode power supply; and in response to the input current exceeding a threshold current, incrementally increasing a speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan F. Smith, Richard Joyce
  • Patent number: 11843334
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine includes a magnetic field-producing unit, an armature with a multi-phase armature winding, and a rotor. The magnetic field-producing unit includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is located closer to a d-axis in a d-q axis coordinate system than the second position is. The second position is located closer to a q-axis in the d-q axis coordinate system than the first position is. The magnetic field-producing unit is magnetically oriented to meet a condition where an angle which an easy axis of magnetization of the first portion makes with the d-axis is smaller than an angle which an easy axis of magnetization of the second portion makes with the q-axis. The magnetic field-producing unit is configured to have an intrinsic coercive force of 400 kA/m and also have a remanent flux density of 1.0 T or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Makoto Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11843343
    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: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Kameyama
  • Patent number: 11834887
    Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Buescher, Mike Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11835900
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: a current supply unit configured to supply coil current to a plurality of coils of a motor by controlling, based on a first command value of excitation current and a second command value of torque current, voltage to be applied to the plurality of coils; a first setting unit configured to set the first command value; a second setting unit configured to set the second command value; and a control unit configured to use first control in starting of rotation of a rotor of the motor, and switch control to second control after rotation speed of the rotor becomes greater than predetermined speed. The first setting unit is further configured to set a value greater than 0 as the first command value before the control unit switches control from the first control to the second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatoshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 11831258
    Abstract: A circuit with a Safe-Torque-Off (STO) functionality and a frequency converter including the same are provided. According to embodiments, the circuit may include a first STO channel configured to control on/off of power supply to a high-side driver of a frequency converter based on a first STO signal, a second STO channel configured to control on/off of power supply to a low-side driver of the frequency converter based on a second STO signal, and a third STO channel configured to control supply of a drive control signal from a controller of the frequency converter to the high-side driver and the low-side driver based on a result of a logical operation of the first STO signal and the second STO signal, wherein the logical operation is configured to make the result active in response to at least one of the first and second STO signals being active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Zhejiang Holip Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoran Xu, Liang Xiao
  • Patent number: 11821952
    Abstract: A method of estimating a d-q axis inductance of a permanent magnet synchronous motor includes the following steps. First, building an equivalent motor control block through enabling two of the three phases, and disabling the remaining one of the three phases, and locking a rotor. Afterward, incorporating a back EMF observer into a DC motor control block, and making the DC motor control block correspond to the back EMF observer by commanding an angular speed of the DC motor control block to be zero. Afterward, introducing the equivalent motor control block into the DC motor control block, and using the back EMF observer to estimate the back EMF, and repeating above steps taking turns to disable one phase so as to obtain three sets of motor inductances respectively. Finally, estimating the d-q axis inductance by introducing the three sets of equivalent motor inductances into an inductance relational equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Mi-Ching Tsai, Ting-Chung Hsieh, Lung-Jay Cheng, Yao-Sheng Wu, Chun-Ju Wu
  • Patent number: 11813960
    Abstract: A system and method for speed control as a function of battery capability in an electric aircraft is illustrated. The system comprises a battery pack coupled to the electric aircraft, a sensor coupled to the battery pack and configured to detect a battery pack output, and a computing device coupled to the sensor. The computing device is configured to receive the battery pack output from the sensor and adjust a maximum speed of the electric aircraft as a function of the battery pack output and a battery pack output threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua E. Auerbach, Nicholas Moy, Collin Freiheit
  • Patent number: 11811348
    Abstract: An inverter controller is used to control an inverter circuit, which drives a vehicle on-board electric motor using a vehicle on-board electricity storage device. A rotation controlling unit of the inverter controller executes a process that derives two-phase voltage command values based on an external command value delivered from an external device and an actual rotation speed, and a process that derives three-phase voltage command values based on the two-phase voltage command values. In a case in which a voltage utilization factor is less than or equal to a utilization factor threshold, the rotation controlling unit derives, by switching at a switching period, sets of three-phase voltage command values of which the line voltages of the vehicle on-board electric motor are the same and the variation ranges are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi Ogami, Takashi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11804787
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus includes: a reactor that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being connected to an alternating-current power supply; a bridge circuit that is connected to the second terminal of the reactor, includes at least one or more switching elements, and converts an alternating-current voltage output from the alternating-current power supply into a direct-current voltage; a power-supply current detecting unit that detects a current from the alternating-current power supply; and a control unit that controls ON and OFF of the switching elements depending on a current value detected by the power-supply current detecting unit, in which two or more current thresholds for controlling ON and OFF of the switching elements are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Uemura, Satoru Ichiki, Takuya Shimomugi, Koichi Arisawa, Kenji Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 11804794
    Abstract: A motor controller comprises a switch circuit and a control unit. The motor controller is used for driving a motor, where the motor has a coil. The switch circuit is configured to supply a coil current to the coil. The control unit is configured to generate a plurality of control signals to control the switch circuit. The motor controller enables a floating phase time to be a variable value, where the floating phase time has a stable interval and a detecting interval. The motor controller enables a zero point of the coil current to appear in the stable interval, so as to detect a phase switching time point in a stable way and avoid a noise problem. The motor controller detects a zero crossing point of a back electromotive force in the detecting interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Global Mixed-mode Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Chien-Lun Chu
  • Patent number: 11804793
    Abstract: A method of speed control based on a self-learning model of load torque and a moment inertia is applied to a controller of controlling a motor. The method includes steps of: establishing a relationship between the load torque and the moment inertia by a self-learning manner, correspondingly acquiring a value of the moment inertia according to a value of the load torque, and adjusting parameters of the controller to control rotation of the motor according to the value of the moment inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shao-Kai Tseng, Pai-En Cheng, Chen-Yeh Lee
  • Patent number: 11804797
    Abstract: A PWM signal generator of a motor controller 100-1 divides, upon occurrence of a condition in which one among a count incrementing period and a count decrementing period for a carrier is greater than or equal to a threshold, in conjunction with a condition in which the other among the count incrementing period and the count decrementing period is less than the threshold, an on time period of any one among a first PWM signal, a second PWM signal, and the third PWM signal into given on time periods and to add a given divided on time period to an energizing time period that is less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Oba
  • Patent number: 11796831
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and systems for position stabilization. The methods and systems for position stabilization may be integrated within an electronic device. An exemplary system may include a driver circuit responsive to a gyro sensor and a feedback signal from an actuator. The driver circuit may be configured to calibrate a gain applied to a drive signal based on the posture of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 11799405
    Abstract: In sensorless control for a rotary machine, when variations in inductances for U, V, W phases due to manufacturing error are great, imbalance occurs among detected currents for the respective phases. Thus, estimation error of a magnetic pole position of a rotor increases, so that positioning accuracy is reduced. Correction filters for imparting gains in accordance with rotary machine constants for the respective phases are provided to control means or magnetic pole position calculation means, thereby correcting the imbalance occurring among the detected currents for the respective phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hachiya, Masato Ito, Akihiro Maruyama, Kunihiro Kawahara
  • Patent number: 11799401
    Abstract: A master device of a drive system transmits identification information of each first period and a first transmission synchronization signal for each first period of a reference period. A first controller adjusts a phase of each first control period such that the first control period is synchronized with a timing associated with a specific first synchronization signal. A second controller adjusts a phase of each second control period such that the second control period is synchronized with a timing associated with a specific second synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Ichikawa, Masashi Nakamura, Takumi Ito
  • Patent number: 11799404
    Abstract: A motor controller circuit having a rotational speed locking mechanism is provided. Each time when a motor commutates, a first signal generating circuit resets a first waveform signal and a second signal generating circuit resets a second waveform signal. An output signal generating circuit outputs a waveform output signal according to the first waveform signal and the second waveform signal. A motor controller circuit outputs an on-time signal according to the waveform output signal. A motor driving circuit outputs a driving signal to the motor to drive the motor to rotate according to the on-time signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ming-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 11791752
    Abstract: A motor circuit for driving a motor having two independent sets of windings forming 3 or more phases, wherein each phase of a first set is paired with a respective phase of a second set. A first bridge driver circuit has a top side switch and a bottom side switch driving each phase of the first set, and a second bridge driver circuit has a top side switch and a bottom side switch driving each phase of the second set. First and second current determining means determine current flowing in each respective sets of windings independent of the current flowing in the other set of phase windings. A third current determining means is configured to determine the sum of the current flowing in each pair of the N pairs of phases of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive UK Limited
    Inventors: Nathanael Rice, Maciej Kudanowski
  • Patent number: 11791619
    Abstract: A combination motor control device includes a power circuit (180) structured to sense voltage and/or current flowing through the combination motor control device, a semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) including a number of solid state transistors and being operable to turn on to allow power to flow through the combination motor control device and to turn off to stop allowing power to flow through the combination motor control device, and a control circuit (190) structured detect faults in power flowing through the combination motor control device based on the sensed voltage and/or current, to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) to provide a motor starter and/or motor controller functionality, and to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) to turn off in response to detecting a fault in power flowing through the combination motor control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Huaqiang Li, Thomas Ruchti
  • Patent number: 11788349
    Abstract: A motorized shade comprising a motor adapted to lower or raise a shade material for selectively covering an architectural opening based on a position of the sun. The motorized shade comprises a controller adapted to drive the motor phase according to a startup sequence by ramping up amplitude form an initial amplitude to a startup amplitude and ramping up frequency from an initial frequency to a drive frequency, drive the motor phase according to a full drive sequence to move the shade material by driving the motor phase according to a sinusoidal waveform at a set maximum amplitude and at a drive frequency, and drive the motor phase according to a wind down sequence by reducing frequency from the drive frequency to an end frequency and reducing the amplitude from the maximum amplitude to an end amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Campagna, Benjamin Slivka, Luis J. Rivera