Patents Examined by Paul Ip
  • Patent number: 9287745
    Abstract: There is provided a single motor which performs plural driving characteristics and can expand output range thereof. Three coils are wounded around each of the stator teeth A to F, and provided to each stator tooth A to F are switches for providing a concentrated winding state by connecting the three coils in series in each stator tooth A to F, and switches for providing a distributed winding state by connecting in series the coils of any one of units through the stator teeth A to F Depending on the rotating speed, the torque or the like, the coils are changed between the concentrated winding state and the distributed winding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SHIBAURA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kan Akatsu, Hiroki Hijikata
  • Patent number: 9281770
    Abstract: Cordless power tools include a pistol housing having an upper portion that merges into a downwardly extending handle, a DC motor residing in the upper portion of the housing, the DC motor having a rotor that drives an output shaft; a torque transducer on board the tool in communication with the output shaft; and a dynamic motor control circuit residing in the housing in communication with the motor and torque transducer. The dynamic motor control circuit includes a Kelvin resistor in communication with the motor for measuring motor current and digital hall switches in communication with the motor for measuring motor speed. The motor current can vary by at least 100 A during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Wood, William M. Ball, Jr., Christopher John Taylor
  • Patent number: 9276514
    Abstract: A fan motor, including: a variable speed motor and a motor controller. The motor controller includes: a microprocessor, an inverter unit, a gear detection unit, and a power supply unit. The power supply unit supplies power for each circuit. The gear detection unit is connected to a plurality of power input lines. Each power input line receives AC power from an AC power supply. The gear detection unit includes: a plurality of voltage detection circuits, and a plurality of thermal resistors. Each power input line is connected to a thermal resistor in series and matches up with a voltage detection circuit. Each voltage detection circuit includes a thermo-sensitive resistor that is bound to the corresponding thermal resistor via a thermal conductive element. The thermo-sensitive resistor detects a temperature signal of the thermal resistor and adjusts the voltage of the output end of the voltage detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD., HUBEI QUEEN-OCEAN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE MANUFACTURE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9263979
    Abstract: A method of conducting smooth motor startup is provided and includes operating a motor in an open loop control scheme at startup, operating the motor in a closed loop sensorless control scheme at a time after startup and transitioning between the open loop control scheme and the closed loop control scheme by reducing a difference between an estimated rotor angle of the motor and a commanded ramping angle of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Da Zhang, Thomas Gietzold, Subbarao Varigonda, Salih Baris Ozturk
  • Patent number: 9257895
    Abstract: The invention comprises a high frequency inductor filter apparatus coupled with an inverter yielding high frequency harmonics and/or non-sixty Hertz output. For example, an inductor/converter apparatus is provided that uses a silicon carbide transistor to output power having a carrier frequency, modulated by a fundamental frequency, and a set of harmonic frequencies. A filter, comprising an inductor having a distributed gap core material and optional magnet wires, receives power output from the inverter/converter and processes the power by passing the fundamental frequency while reducing amplitude of the harmonic frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Grant A. MacLennan
  • Patent number: 9257935
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus and method are provided. The motor control apparatus may include a power supply device supplying power to a motor, a power control device selectively blocking current supplied to the motor depending on whether or not the current supplied from the power supply device to the motor is greater than a reference current value, a controller that controls an intensity of the current supplied from the power supply device to the motor, and a load torque detector that detects a load torque generated by the motor as the motor rotates. The controller controls a maximum value of the current to be supplied to the motor so that the maximum value is less than the reference current value when the maximum value of the load torque detected by the load torque detector is greater than a maximum motor output due corresponding to the reference current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Juhyoung Lee, Jinhee Noh
  • Patent number: 9252698
    Abstract: An inverter device includes a power supply unit and a switch controller. The power supply unit supplies AC power to an AC motor whose electric characteristics in response to a rotation speed are switchable between low speed characteristics and high speed characteristics. The switch controller switches the electric characteristics of the AC motor. The switch controller executes switching control that alternately switches the electric characteristics of the AC motor between the low speed characteristics and the high speed characteristics on the basis of the rotation speed of the AC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Tsuneo Kume, Hidenori Hara, Koji Higashikawa
  • Patent number: 9236824
    Abstract: A system for controlling an electric motor is disclosed herein. In particular, the system receives a user input indicative of a desired performance parameter for the electric motor. Based on the desired performance parameter, the system determines a control parameter that defines an operational range. The system then adjusts the electric motor according to the control parameter so that the electric motor generates constant output power over the operational range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Fingleton, Ryan Elliott Bergener, Thayer Barakat
  • Patent number: 9233624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method (30) for actuating an electric machine (14) in the motor starting mode by means of a power electronic system (10), in particular for application in a motor vehicle, wherein the power electronic system (10) has a multiplicity of controllable power switches which are designed to supply the electric machine (14) with electric current (l_s), wherein a total amount of energy (50) which is required to reach a predefined rotational speed (n_crit) and a time period (t—0) for reaching the predefined rotational speed (n_crit) is estimated (38), wherein a setpoint torque (M) for starting the electric machine (14) is determined (42) on the basis of the estimated total amount of energy (50) and the estimated time (t—0), and wherein the power electronic system (10) is actuated (46) in accordance with the setpoint torque (M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Ahlgrimm, Markus Peter, Michael Menzel
  • Patent number: 9236067
    Abstract: The back EMF (BEMF) of a motor is sensed and compared to a target back EMF (BEMF) to generate an error control signal. The circuit supply voltage is also sensed. A PWM motor control signal is generated in response to a comparison of the error control signal to a ramp signal having a variable slope. The variable slope is selected in response to the sensed circuit supply voltage. The motor is then driven in response to the PWM control signal. The sign of the error control signal is used to selectively short one of motor terminals to a reference voltage supply node while the other motor terminal is driven in response to the PWM control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Lorenzo Ferrario, Kaufik Linggajaya
  • Patent number: 9236822
    Abstract: An electromotive drive for furniture, includes a power supply device, a manual control, and a control device. The power supply device has an disconnecting unit that can be controlled by means of a control line, the electrical control signal of said control line being able to be modified by a switching contact of the manual control such that, when the manual control has not been actuated, the power supply device can be switched into the “disconnection” operating state, said disconnecting unit being connected to a signal feedback arrangement of a control circuit of the power supply device and being integrated in a path of said signal feedback arrangement, or said disconnecting unit being set in, or placed on, an input path or an output path of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: DEWERTOKIN GMBH
    Inventors: Armin Hille, Christian Müller
  • Patent number: 9225271
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus according to an embodiment includes a brushless motor. The motor driving apparatus includes a position sensor that outputs a position detection signal in synchronization with a phase of an induced voltage of a coil of the brushless motor. The motor driving apparatus includes a semiconductor integrated circuit that controls driving of the brushless motor by supplying a pseudo sine-wave driving voltage from an energization terminal to the coil of the brushless motor based on the position detection signal and a command signal that prescribes driving of the brushless motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Naoki Oomura, Kazunobu Nagai, Toshimitsu Aizawa, Sadao Ikeda, Jun Sodesawa, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 9225225
    Abstract: An electrical machine includes a stator having a stator winding and a secondary transformer coil. A rotor is operatively connected to rotate relative to the stator, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of embedded permanent magnets. A primary transformer coil is wound on the rotor and is operatively connected to form a rotating transformer with the secondary transformer coil. An inverter/active rectifier component is operatively connected to the stator winding and the secondary transformer coil to control the stator winding based on a sense in the secondary transformer coil received from the primary transformer coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 9223335
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a reference voltage generation circuit to which a power source voltage is applied; an output terminal for outputting an output voltage; a determining circuit connected to the reference voltage generation circuit and the output terminal for generating the output voltage according to a determination target voltage; and a constant electric current source connected to the determining circuit and a ground potential for generating a constant electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lapis Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Patent number: 9225269
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an EHC (electrical heated catalyst), a first MG (motor generator) generating a counter electromotive force at the time of vehicle collision, a battery, a PCU (power control unit) having a converter and an inverter performing power conversion between the battery and the first MG, and an ECU. The PCU is connected to the battery through an SMR (system main relay). The EHC is connected between the converter and the inverter through EHC relay. The ECU determines whether or not vehicle collision has occurred. When the vehicle collision has occurred, the ECU opens the SMR to electrically separate the battery and the PCU and closes the EHC relay to electrically connect the EHC and the first MG, so that the counter electromotive force generated in the first MG at the time of vehicle collision is consumed at the EHC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9225276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a control method for the same, and a motor state detector are provided. An aspect is to detect out-of-step of a motor using only an electric circuit configuration without additional mechanical devices, such as an encoder, a light-emitting device, and a light-receiving device, and to predict and prevent out-of-step of the motor. To this end, the image forming apparatus includes a motor state detector that acquires a current detection signal by detecting phase current of a motor and that generates an output signal in which a duty ratio in a current chopping section of the current detection signal is involved, and a controller that judges a normal state, out-of-step entry, and an out-of-step state of the motor based on the output signal of the motor state detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Ho You
  • Patent number: 9219434
    Abstract: A motor control device according to the present invention includes: a boost converter circuit 30 that boosts a direct-current voltage; an inverter 40 that generates a drive pulse for a motor 50 from the direct-current voltage of the boost converter circuit 30; and a control section 60 that presets a set value Id_hold obtained by multiplying a set value Id_max by an intermediate current threshold coefficient ?, controls a pulse width of the drive pulse of the inverter 40 based on a speed deviation, controls a d-axis current in the motor 50 based on the speed deviation so that the pulse width of the drive pulse of the inverter 40 does not exceed a threshold value, and controls the direct-current voltage of the boost converter circuit 30 based on the speed deviation so that the d-axis current in the motor 50 does not exceed the set value Id_hold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kashihara, Hiroshi Yoshida, Kouji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9219433
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor generator generating driving power for running, and an ECU. The ECU performs driving power variation operation on the motor generator in which the motor generator is switched between a first state (acceleration running) and a second state (inertial running) when power requested by a user varies within a prescribed range to run the vehicle. In the first state, the motor generator generates driving power. In the second state, the motor generator generates driving power smaller than the driving power in the first state. The ECU controls the motor generator in such a manner that the driving power during the acceleration running has a non-rectangular shape. As a result, gradual variation in driving power can be provided at the time of switching between the acceleration running and the inertial running, to improve drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9214889
    Abstract: There is provided a motor drive control apparatus that includes a resistor, which directly or indirectly detects a driving current supplied to a motor and generates a voltage corresponding to the driving current, converts, with an AD converter, the voltage corresponding to the motor driving current detected by the resistor into a numerical value, and reflects the motor driving current converted into the numerical value on driving control for the motor, wherein a plurality of the resistors is connected in series to form a resistor string, and voltage between arbitrary two points of the resistor string is AD-converted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shuya Sano, Kiyonari Kawajiri, Toshiki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9214879
    Abstract: A soft start device for a power cutting machine tool, a control circuit group includes two end, one of which is connected with an input power source and the other is connected with each of two control switches. When the input power source provides a working voltage for the control circuit group, the control circuit group outputs a low-level signal to the control switches to enable a light emitting circuit group to lighting gradually from dark to light, whereby a resistance of a trigger circuit group decreases gradually to make motor setup the working voltage. Next, the control circuit group outputs a high-level signal after a period of time, to turn on the control switches for inputting voltage to the motor directly. The soft start device can not only decrease the noise during activation of the motor but effectively protect the internal components of an electronic device from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DURQ MACHINERY CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Chang Lin, Chia-Sheng Liu