Patents Examined by Paul Ip
  • Patent number: 9007004
    Abstract: A controller for an AC electric motor, includes a Feed Forward Torque Controller and a load model. The Torque controller directly derives a torque related component of applied motor voltages from a signal representing a torque command input T* and at least one motor parameter. The load model derives a motor speed value including a model of motor speed behavior of the AC electric motor to provide an output signal which represents the motor speed of the AC electric motor. This motor speed output signal is used in determining a frequency of rotation of an applied motor voltage vector. Where an input to the load model is the signal representing the torque command input T*, the load model uses the signal representing the torque command T*, at least over a part of an operating speed range of the AC motor which includes zero speed, to determine the motor speed output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: University of Technology, Sydney
    Inventor: Gregory Peter Hunter
  • Patent number: 9003826
    Abstract: The motor (1) of the present invention is fed by the mains voltage (Vac), and comprises a main winding (MW), an auxiliary winding (AW), a first triac (2) connected in series to the auxiliary winding (AW) which provides to start up the motor (1) by being actuated at the moment of start up in order to operate the motor (1), a second triac (3) connected in series to the main winding (MW) which provides the motor (1) to continue operating and a control unit (4) which controls the start up and operation of the motor (1) by actuating the triacs (2 and 3) when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Oner Hatipoglu, Ahmet Ihsan Yuce, Mustafa Yuksel, Mucahit Bacaksiz
  • Patent number: 9000695
    Abstract: A sensorless control apparatus may include: a speed command unit configured to output a speed command to an electric motor; a current detector unit configured to detect electric current flowing through the electric motor if a voltage being output according to the speed command is supplied to the electric motor; a rotor angle calculation unit configured to calculate a magnetic flux of a rotor of the electric motor based on the detected electric current and the voltage being output according to the speed command, and to calculate an angle of the rotor from the calculated magnetic flux; and/or an out-of-step sensing unit configured to sense an out-of-step of the rotor according to a comparison of the calculated angle of the rotor with an angle of the rotor estimated based on a sensorless control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh Hyuk Kwon, Young Doo Yoon, Ho Sun Yoo, So Hee Han
  • Patent number: 9000690
    Abstract: A method for driving a piezoelectric transducer is provided. An input signal is received. At least one of a plurality of modes is selected for a buck-boost stage from a comparison of a desired voltage on a capacitor to a first threshold and a second threshold, where the desired voltage is determined from the input signal. The piezoelectric transducer is then driven substantially within the audio band using the desired voltage on the capacitor using an H-bridge that changes state with each zero-crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mayank Garg, David J. Baldwin, Boqiang Xiao
  • Patent number: 9000701
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for generating voltage commands used to control operation of a permanent magnet machine. For example, a control system is provided that generates voltage command signals for controlling a permanent magnet machine during a transition from an initial operating condition to a final operating condition. The control system includes a processor configured to execute software instructions, and a memory configured to store software instructions accessible by the processor. The software instructions comprise a voltage command generator module. Based on an electrical angular frequency of the permanent magnet machine, and synchronous reference frame current signals, the voltage command generator module is configured to generate ramped voltage command signals that each change linearly in accordance with a slope during a transition period that is set to a rise time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Bon Ho Bae, Konstantin S. Majarov, Yo Chan Son
  • Patent number: 9000706
    Abstract: A system comprising an actuator and a controller configured to drive the actuator with a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. The controller is configured to limit a duty cycle of the PWM signal in response to a current supplied by the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Dontha, Daniel E. Boewe, Niraj Desai, Hari Donepudi, Mike Menkedick
  • Patent number: 8994310
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motor controller having one or more multi-functional pins. The motor controller includes a plurality of pins but does not include a dedicated pin for transmitting a clock signal and a dedicated pin for transmitting a motor specification database setting signal, wherein the clock signal and the motor specification database setting signal are for setting motor specification data. The clock signal and the motor specification database setting signal are transmitted through two of the plural pins which are multi-functional function pins shared by other functions in a normal operation mode. In a motor specification database setting mode, these multi-functional function pins are used for transmitting the clock signal and the motor specification database setting signal. In the normal operation mode, these multi-functional function pins are used for other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Kuang Wu, Wei-Hsu Chang
  • Patent number: 8994306
    Abstract: The system and method disclose for the controlling of sequential phase switching in driving a set of stator windings of a multi-phase sensorless brushless permanent magnet DC motor. A motor controller controls a power stage that drives two windings of a set of three windings in the motor with pulse width modulated signal. A plurality of voltage values on an undriven winding of the set of three windings are sampled within a window of time, wherein a period beginning when the driven windings are energized and ending when the driven windings are de-energized encompasses the window of time. The sampled voltage values are processed. When the processed voltage values exceed a threshold, the motor controller changes which two windings are driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc John Kobayashi, Jason William Lawrence, Stephen James Sanchez, John L. Melanson, Miroslav Olijaca
  • Patent number: 8994312
    Abstract: A method includes determining whether a robot is walking and a direction in which the robot is walking; measuring an amount of time taken for a sole of a foot of the robot to step on the ground; calculating an imaginary reaction force applied to the sole using a trigonometric function having, as a period, the measured amount of time taken for the sole to step on the ground; and applying the calculated imaginary reaction force to a Jacobian transposed matrix and converting the imaginary reaction force into a drive torque for a lower extremity joint of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seok Won Lee, Woo Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 8994302
    Abstract: The regulator/brush-holder assembly (1) comprises a support (2) and an electrical circuit (5, 6) comprising a regulating element (5) connected by microwires to a trace circuit (6). The electrical circuit further includes a filtering circuit (10) separate from the regulating element and connected by microwires to the trace circuit. According to one particular embodiment, the filtering circuit comprises an insulating substrate (11) and surface-mounted components (C1, C2, S1, S2, V). A ground plane (19) and/or one or more ground pads may be provided for connection to a ground trace of the trace circuit. The filtration frequencies of the filter circuit extend from 100 kHz to 1 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Pierre Tisserand, Christophe Porte, Sebastien Moreau, Laurent De Lamarre, Olivier Grammont, Fabrice Sangiovanni, Brice Lecole
  • Patent number: 8994316
    Abstract: A method for controlling multiple stepper motors with a single micro-controller output set uses a demultiplexer to split a single micro-controller output set into individual control signals for a plurality of stepper motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael Cobas Asensio, Marco Antonio Santacruz Motte
  • Patent number: 8988022
    Abstract: The present invention includes a voltage applying step of applying an applied voltage including a DC component and a plurality of frequency components to a PM motor, a motor current detecting step of detecting a motor current flowing depending on the applied voltage, and a current control gain adjusting step of calculating a current control gain based on frequency characteristics of the applied voltage and the motor current. In this manner, a stable current control gain having a high current response can be adjusted within a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Tazawa, Masaru Nishizono
  • Patent number: 8988019
    Abstract: An electric operating machine comprising a motor and a power circuit driving the motor by the electric power supplied from a battery. The power circuit comprises a voltage conversion part converting an input voltage entered in accordance with a voltage of said battery to generate an output voltage and outputting said generated output voltage to said motor. The power circuit is structured so that the voltage value of said output voltage of said voltage conversion part is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Funabashi, Nobuhiro Takano
  • Patent number: 8988026
    Abstract: Single-phase voltage operation techniques are provided for a three-phase drive system. A drive system may include a rectifier configured to couple to a three-phase AC voltage source. The rectifier may be configured to convert AC voltage from the three-phase AC voltage source to a direct current (DC) voltage. The drive system may also include a controller configured to send a plurality of switching signals to a plurality of switches in the rectifier such that the plurality of switching signals minimizes a current provided to the rectifier when only a single-phase of the three-phase AC voltage source is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Brian J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 8988016
    Abstract: A control method comprises determining wheel creep of a wheel operably coupled to a traction motor and limiting a rate of change of an excitation frequency applied to the traction motor to drive the wheel, based on the determined wheel creep. According to one aspect, the rate of change of the excitation frequency is limited if the wheel creep exceeds a wheel creep threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Louis Daigle, Jeremy McGarry
  • Patent number: 8981697
    Abstract: The motor monitoring system of the present disclosure uses several calculated monitoring values to determine a status of a motor and take a predetermined action when a threshold corresponding with the monitoring value is exceeded. The threshold may be calculated by an intelligent electronic device (IED) monitoring the motor. The predetermined action may include further monitoring of the motor. The predetermined action may include monitoring equipment not directly monitored by the IED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark L. Zeller
  • Patent number: 8981681
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling blind systems and other systems with moving parts are disclosed. Certain systems and methods couple to a blind system, and include one or more transceiving, processing, sensor, motion delivery, power delivery, and various other components for collectively or individually controlling a blind system to open or close its blinds. Certain systems and methods utilize preprogrammed control instructions stored locally, or user-initiated control signals received from remote devices to control the blind system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Gholamali Malekpour
  • Patent number: 8975856
    Abstract: An electric motor (40) has a permanent-magnet rotor (46) and an apparatus for generating a three-phase sinusoidal current (i202, i204, i206) for supplying current to said motor (40), also a microprocessor (95) for executing the following steps: while the motor (40) is running at a substantially constant load, the motor is operated firstly at a predetermined operating voltage (U), and an amplitude of a current flowing to the motor is iteratively sampled, stored, and compared as applied voltage is decreased. If it is found, in this context, that the current flowing to the motor has not decreased as a result of reduction in the voltage amplitude, the motor (40) is operated at that current. If, however, it is found that the current flowing to the motor has decreased as a result of the reduction in the voltage delivered to the motor (40), the measurements and the comparison are repeated, optionally multiple times, in order to identify values for optimized efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Hirt
  • Patent number: 8975851
    Abstract: A temperature estimating unit includes an energy calculating unit that calculates a heat generation energy rate of a motor on the basis of a difference between power input to the motor and power output from the motor, a heat radiation energy calculating unit that calculates a heat radiation energy rate from a target member on the basis of a difference between a previous temperature estimation value Tm of the target member and an ambient temperature, and a thermal coefficient of the target member, and an amount calculating unit that calculates a temperature increase rate of the target member on the basis of a difference between the heat generation energy rate and the heat radiation energy rate, and an estimation value calculating unit that calculates a current temperature estimation value of the target member on the basis of the temperature increase rate and the previous temperature estimation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadayoshi Usami, Nobuhiko Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8975838
    Abstract: An electric motor controller includes controller electronics configured to control an electric motor. The electric motor controller also includes a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the controller electronics. The thermoelectric cooler is configured to receive a braking current associated with braking of the electric motor and provide cooling to the controller electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Versailles, Robert D. Klapatch, Kerry R. Querns