Patents Examined by Rina I. Duda
  • Patent number: 11977096
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a structural condition of a machine is described. The method includes determining a position of a portion of a machine, a rotating shaft, a fluid transfer system, or a reciprocating machine in operation; collecting an image of the portion with an image collector; synchronizing the determined position of the portion with the collected image of the portion; amplifying the synchronized image; and storing the amplified image to a memory. Related apparatuses, systems, storage media, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian F. Howard
  • Patent number: 11973454
    Abstract: A system includes a driver monitor system configured to receive information about driver operation, a relationship table comprising information about an expected relationship between driver operation and a preload force, and a driver controller configured to control a driver in response to the information about driver operation and according to the relationship table. A method of managing a preload force includes providing a first component, providing a second component for compression against the first component, operating a driver to move the first component into contact with the second component, monitoring an operation of the driver, and determining an expected preload force in response to the operation of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Reynolds, Charles Eric Covington, Carlos Alexander Fenny, Brady G. Atkins
  • Patent number: 11973458
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a controller of a stepping motor includes a table generating unit and a current controlling unit. The table generating unit generates a data table of a threshold by using values of induced voltage at frequencies of switching signal that changes a set value of a drive current, the threshold being proportional to a frequency of the switching signal within an operation region in which the frequency of the switching signal is lower than a predetermined frequency, the values of the induced voltage including a first induced voltage generated at a first frequency of the switching signal and a second induced voltage generated at a second frequency of the switching signal. The current controlling unit controls a value of the drive current in accordance with a comparison result between the threshold and an induced voltage that is detected at a frequency lower than the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Kimura
  • Patent number: 11967914
    Abstract: A vibration actuator control device includes a control unit and a driving unit. The control unit outputs a first control signal for controlling driving of a first vibration actuator including a first vibrating body and a first contact body, and outputs a second control signal for controlling driving of a second vibration actuator and including a second vibrating body. The driving unit (i) outputs a first alternating-current voltage in a first plurality of phases set based on the first control signal, and (ii) outputs a second alternating-current voltage in a second plurality of phases set based on the second control signal. The control unit individually sets a phase difference of the first alternating-current voltage based on the first control signal and sets a phase difference of the second alternating-current voltage based on the second control signal, and commonly sets a first alternating-current voltage frequency and a second alternating-current voltage frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Morita, Shinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11955914
    Abstract: Voltage fluctuations on a power feeding path for feeding power to a motor controller are reduced. A processing apparatus reduces voltage fluctuations on a power feeding path for feeding power from a direct current power supply to at least one motor controller. The apparatus includes a filter circuit and a controller. The filter circuit includes a plurality of predetermined units each including a circuit element and a semiconductor switch. The circuit element includes at least one predetermined passive element. The semiconductor switch controls a current to be fed to the circuit element. The filter circuit is connected to the power feeding path. The controller controls switching of the semiconductor switch included in each of the plurality of predetermined units in the filter circuit to reduce voltage fluctuations or current fluctuations of direct current on the power feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Kiribuchi
  • Patent number: 11929699
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a double wound motor and a control method therefor, and comprises: a first inverter and a second inverter for supplying phase currents respectively to a first winding unit and a second winding unit of the double wound motor; a gate driver for driving switches respectively included in the first inverter and second inverter and detecting whether there is a switch abnormality in the first inverter or second inverter and whether there is a winding abnormality in the first winding unit and second winding unit; and a motor control unit for outputting a current command to attenuate a torque ripple in response to a torque ripple pattern according to the switch or winding abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Sang Park
  • Patent number: 11926493
    Abstract: Methods are presented which include moving a self-stabilizing platform assembly with product disposed on a deck of the self-stabilizing platform assembly. The self-stabilizing platform assembly includes multiple torque-generating devices, a stability control system to control operation of the multiple torque-generating devices, and the deck to support the product being moved. The methods also include adjusting, by the stability control system, operation of one or more torque-generating devices of the multiple torque-generating devices to produce during the moving a stabilization torque within the self-stabilizing platform assembly to facilitate stabilizing the self-stabilizing platform assembly and product during moving of the self-stabilizing platform assembly and product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suraush Khambati, Budy D. Notohardjono, Shawn M. Canfield, Richard M. Ecker
  • Patent number: 11923797
    Abstract: A motor driving device and an air conditioner having the same of the present disclosure limits the switching of a winding switching device when there is a possibility that the winding switching device is deteriorated, in order to increase the life of winding switching device of a motor and prevent malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghwa Lee, Songhee Yang, Jeongeon Oh
  • Patent number: 11916491
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a plurality of power modules, a capacitor, a positive bus bar, and a negative bus bar. Each of the power modules includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal on a side facing the capacitor. Leading ends of the positive terminal and negative terminal are parallel to the side. The positive bus bar includes a positive/negative base plate joined to a positive/negative electrode of the capacitor and a positive/negative flange bent from the positive/negative base plate. The positive/negative flange is joined to the positive/negative terminals of the power modules. The positive flange and the negative flange extend in directions away from the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Miyamoto, Yohei Imai
  • Patent number: 11909341
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a power conversion device capable of suppressing an increase in a current flowing through a motor even if a voltage command exceeds the amplitude of a carrier wave. In order to achieve the above object, the power conversion device controls the driving of a motor by converting a DC voltage into a voltage based on a voltage command by an operation of a switching circuit and includes: a modulated wave generator that generates a first modulated wave from the voltage command; and a control signal generator that generates a control signal for controlling the operation of the switching circuit from the first modulated wave and a carrier wave. The modulated wave generator generates a square wave based on a voltage command norm as the first modulated wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusaku Onuma, Takuya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11906349
    Abstract: A method for determining a resonance frequency of a mechanical system including an electric motor coupled to a mechanical load. The method includes starting the motor by providing a supply voltage using a motor controller, and once the electric motor is running at a predefined target rotational speed, applying a first excitation signal comprising a voltage pulse superimposed to the supply voltage. The method further includes measuring a mechanical response of the mechanical system, using a measurement system coupled to the motor, and analyzing the measured response, to determine at least one resonance frequency of the mechanical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Mohamad Koteich
  • Patent number: 11888420
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for control loop performance monitoring in a variable frequency drive. A set of data is inputted to one or more control loop performance monitoring algorithms comprised in the variable frequency drive, wherein the set of data comprises at least a measured value of a process variable, a target value for the process variable, a set of controller input parameters, and a controller output. An output from each of the one or more control loop performance monitoring algorithms is obtained based at least partly on the set of data. One or more key performance indicator values indicative of control loop performance are determined based at least partly on the output from each of the one or more control loop performance monitoring algorithms. The set of controller input parameters is adjusted based at least partly on the one or more key performance indicator values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Sten Grüner, Vesa Mäkelä
  • Patent number: 11888423
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a motor that includes control circuitry configured to generate, for a phase of the motor, a switching signal indicating to couple the phase to a first terminal of a supply for an entire portion of each switching cycle of a first plurality of switching cycles corresponding to a first range of electrical angles for the rotor and to couple the phase to a second terminal of the supply for a portion of each switching cycle of a second plurality of switching cycles corresponding to a second range of electrical angles for the rotor. The control circuitry is further configured to control the motor based on the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Jahn, Stanislav Gerber, Bastian Schindler, Michael Brückner
  • Patent number: 11881800
    Abstract: To achieve a size reduction by on-off controlling non-contact switching devices with a microcomputer. When a three-phase alternating-current electric motor is to be used, lead wires of the three-phase alternating-current electric motor are connected to output terminals of a control board. When a single-phase alternating-current electric motor is to be used, two supply terminals of the control board are electrically connected together through a first connecting member, and one end of the first connecting member is defined as a single-phase alternating-current power supply terminal. A second connecting member is connected to a supply terminal, and one end of the second connecting member is defined as a single-phase alternating-current power supply terminal. A main winding of the single-phase alternating-current electric motor is connected to the output terminals, and an auxiliary winding is connected to the output terminal and the second connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KITO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusaku Ido, Tadashi Yamano, Takuma Isshiki
  • Patent number: 11876471
    Abstract: A motor controller integrated circuit (IC) includes a storage device containing software. The IC also includes a processor core coupled to the storage device. The processor core has an output adapted to be coupled to a motor. The processor core is configured to execute the software to implement a resonant controller at a frequency that is a harmonic of a speed of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Prasad Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 11860007
    Abstract: An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takada, Yasushi Yoshida, Shiro Yoshidomi, Masanobu Harada, Yasuhiro Matsutani, Daisuke Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11853037
    Abstract: A control device that controls an electric hoisting machine includes: a tension sensor that detects tension of a pulling member; a mode input unit that inputs a mode switch signal to switch between a winding mode and an unwinding mode; and a control unit that controls the operation of a electric motor. The control unit, when set in the unwinding mode, controls the electric motor in accordance with a detection signal from the tension sensor to cause the rotating body to be inversely rotated when the tension of the pulling member is not less than a predetermined threshold value, and to prevent the rotating body from being inversely rotated when the tension of the pulling member is lower than the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBERIDE, INC.
    Inventor: Hiromu Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11855523
    Abstract: A power conversion device is provided, which includes a power conversion circuit configured to convert primary power to secondary power and supply the secondary power to a pump and a control circuit configured to cause the secondary power to follow a control command by the power conversion circuit the control circuit being configured to further execute evaluating, on the basis of the secondary power, an amplitude of a driving force of the pump, setting, on the basis of a relationship between an evaluation result of the amplitude and a driving speed of the pump, an amplitude threshold value profile indicating a relationship between an amplitude threshold value and the driving speed, and detecting an abnormality in the pump in response to the evaluation result of the amplitude exceeding the amplitude threshold value based on the amplitude threshold value profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Ryo Takahashi, Hideaki Ike
  • Patent number: 11843339
    Abstract: A system and method estimate the fault severity index and consequently the number of shorted turns in permanent magnet motors (PMSM) with inter turn short circuit fault (ITSC). In this method, the machine is excited with DC current at stand still conditions to obtain the winding resistance seen by the d-axis of the machine. The estimated d-axis resistance contains useful information pertaining to the fault severity index, and is used to extract the fault severity index and the number of shorted turns in the faulty motor. The method enables the estimation of fault severity index without complex modeling with different machine prototypes, or FEA models to analyze the relationship between machine currents and short circuit current. To enhance the accuracy of the estimation method, this disclosure addresses issues associated with inverter non-linearity effects such as distortion voltage due to dead time effects and voltage drops across the switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Bilal Akin, Kudra Baruti, Vigneshwaran Gurusamy, Feyzullah Erturk
  • Patent number: 11833688
    Abstract: Legged robots and methods for controlling legged robots are disclosed. In some examples, a mobile robot includes a frame, legs, and a control system. The mobile robot includes, for each leg, a motor coupled to the frame, the motor comprising a motor arm and a spring attachment point, the motor being configured to rotate the motor arm and the spring attachment point. The mobile robot includes, for each leg, a spring coupled to the spring attachment point of the motor and the leg, wherein the leg includes a track shaped to receive the motor arm, and wherein the leg is coupled to the spring such that the motor arm is within the track. The control system is configured, e.g., by virtue of appropriate programming, to control the motors to cause the mobile robot to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Rongzhong Li