Abstract: A phase gating controller includes a thyristor/triac having a control terminal and two power terminals, a sampling device for sampling a voltage present across the power terminals of the thyristor/triac and a control device configured to provide a control voltage at the control terminal in order to trigger the thyristor/triac. The control device is further configured to switch off the control voltage at the triggered thyristor and to detect an unexpected turning-off of the thyristor/triac if the sampled voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a detected portion that rotates a front wheel, a detector that detects the rotation of the detected portion, and a holder that is fixed to one of a body frame and the front wheel so as not to rotate, wherein the holder supports the detector and the detected portion so as to rotate relative to each other.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled vehicle relay for high capacity HVAC systems in large high occupancy vehicles is provided that can be configured in different ways to provide a number of operational functions for improved safety as well as greater motor and/or compressor longevity.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing an impact of an unbalanced short circuit event that occurs in a polyphase permanent magnet generator of a wind turbine. According to the method, an unbalanced short circuit event is detected in the generator of the wind turbine, and, in response to detecting the unbalanced short circuit event, at least one phase of the generator is shorted at a switch-point between the generator and a converter of the wind turbine to create a balanced short circuit in the generator. By doing so, the torque response of the generator is altered to avoid high amplitude torque oscillations that would otherwise occur as a result of the unbalanced short circuit event.

Abstract: An inverter control apparatus performs PWM control of a 3-phase inverter connected to a rotary machine, by operating switching devices corresponding to respective phases. In each of successive processing periods, the PWM control is applied such as to satisfy first and second conditions. The first condition is that the state of switching devices corresponding to a highest-voltage phase of the inverter during the processing period is held fixed throughout the processing period. The second condition is that switching devices corresponding to a lowest-voltage phase of the inverter undergoes a greater number of switching operations during the processing period than switching devices corresponding to an intermediate-voltage phase of the inverter. The frequency of harmonic components in AC currents flowing in the rotary machine can thereby be raised above the audible range, to suppress audible mechanical noise, without significantly increasing the amount of switching losses.

Abstract: A brushless motor for an electric power steering device that assists a steering operation includes: a stator having a plurality of winding sets for a plurality of systems respectively; and a rotator having a ferrite magnet. In the motor, a maximum current flowing without any demagnetization at high temperature is large. Hence, the torque of the motor is easily ensured at high temperature. In particular, when a failure occurs in one system, it is easy to ensure the torque of the normal system even at high temperature.

Abstract: An ECU, which acts as a “electrical rotating machine controller”, controls driving of a motor unit having two winding sets. In the ECU, components having different heat dissipation properties are used as switching elements between two systems of inverters (electric power conversion circuit). For example, “component X” is used as switching elements of a first inverter acting as a “normal circuit”, and “component Y” which has superior heat conductivity is used as switching elements, different from the switching elements of the first inverter, of a second inverter acting as a “particular circuit”. As a result, the switching element (component Y) of the second inverter is more likely to have a longer lifespan than the switching element (component X) of the first inverter. Accordingly, the likelihood of both systems failing at the same time may be reduced.

Abstract: An electrical gear configured to supply electrical drive power to a machinery to be rotated at high speed, such as a subsea motor/pump or a subsea motor/compressor assembly, the electrical gear including a high input voltage AC-motor having a low pole number, the AC-motor drivingly connected to a medium output voltage AC-generator having inverted design, wherein in the AC-generator the field windings are supported on a rotor which is journalled for rotation inside an outer stator carrying a high number of magnet poles, the AC-motor is configured to run on high voltage alternating current at a first frequency, and the AC-generator is configured to deliver medium voltage alternating current at a second frequency, higher than said first frequency, to an AC-motor to be energized having a low pole number.

Abstract: A plurality of motors, which drive plurality of axes of multi-axis robot, respectively; plurality of power converters, which control operation of plurality of motors, respectively, by supplying and controlling electric power to plurality of motors; drive circuits, each of which drives first semiconductor switching elements included in a corresponding one of power converters by outputting drive signals to control terminals of first semiconductor switching elements in accordance with control signals for controlling operation of the motors; shut-off circuit provided at non-end position in an electrical path, through which first operating power is supplied to drive circuits; and shut-off control circuit, which outputs shut-off signals to shut-off circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a control system includes a first voltage domain circuit. The first voltage domain circuit includes circuitry for operating in a first voltage domain. The control system includes a second voltage domain circuit. The second voltage domain circuit includes circuitry for operating in a second voltage domain. The second voltage domain circuit includes a driver circuit. The driver circuit for providing a control terminal driving signal to make conductive a power switch. The second voltage domain circuit includes a replication circuit, the replication circuit having an output to provide a replicated signal of the control terminal driving signal. The control system includes a galvanic isolation barrier signal path between the first voltage domain circuit and the second voltage domain circuit. The replicated signal is provided by the second voltage domain circuit to the first voltage domain circuit via the galvanic isolation barrier signal path.

Abstract: A drive system for a brushless DC motor having a rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a stator including at least one phase winding. The system has a drive circuit including a switch associated with the winding for varying the current passing through the winding; a rotor position sensor arranged to sense the position of the rotor; and a controller arranged to provide drive signals to control the switch. The drive system is further arranged to receive a temperature signal that has a value dependent upon the temperature of the at least one magnet of the rotor. The controller is arranged to vary the phase of the current passing through the winding relative to the rotor position dependent upon the temperature of the rotor magnet.

Abstract: A drive device for controlling an electric motor, including a processor, and a non-transitory storage medium containing program instructions, execution of which by the process causes the drive device to provide functions of a customization unit and a core unit. The customization unit receives, from an external device, a command value designating an operating state of the electric motor, converts the command value using a predetermined reference value, and outputs the converted command value. The core unit receives the converted command value from the customization unit, recovers a physical quantity from the received converted command value, and controls the electric motor in accordance with the recovered physical quantity.

Abstract: The power conversion device includes a power-supply shunt resistance provided between an inverter and the negative-voltage side of a DC power supply, respective-phase lower-arm shunt resistances provided between the power-supply shunt resistance and respective-phase lower-arm switching elements, a first overcurrent detection unit performing overcurrent detection on a current that flows through the power-supply shunt resistance on the basis of a power-supply shunt-resistance voltage, and a second overcurrent detection unit performing overcurrent detection on each current that flows through the respective-phase lower-arm shunt resistances on the basis of respective-phase lower-arm voltages, wherein overcurrent detection is performed on each phase current using either one of the overcurrent detection result of the first overcurrent detection unit and the overcurrent detection result of the second overcurrent detection unit.

Abstract: Brushless direct-current (“BLDC”) motor and control for a power tool. A BLDC motor of a power tool is controlled in either a pulse-width modulation (“PWM”) commutation mode or a centerline commutation mode. When the motor is rotating slowly, the motor is operated using PWM commutation. When the motor is rotating at a speed greater than a threshold speed value, the operation of the motor is transitioned to the centerline commutation mode. When operating in the centerline commutation mode, the high-side field-effect transistors (“FETs”) and low-side FETs can each be used for motor speed control. By switching between speed control using the high-side FETs and speed control using the low-side FETs, the heat generated by freewheeling currents can be approximately evenly distributed among the high-side and low-side FETs.

Abstract: Techniques for motor magnet degradation controls and diagnostics are disclosed. An exemplary technique determines q-axis current, d-axis current, q-axis voltage, and/or d-axis voltage of a permanent magnet motor based upon sensed current and voltage information of the motor. This information is utilized to determine flux information. The flux information is utilized in evaluating collective state conditions of a plurality of motor magnets and evaluating localized state conditions of a subset of the plurality of motor magnets. The evaluations can be used to identify degradation or damage to one or more of the magnets which may occur as a result of elevated temperature conditions, physical degradation, or chemical degradation.

Abstract: An electromechanical system includes an inverter drive, a component arranged during operation to generate a variable force having one or more periodic frequency components, and processing circuitry arranged to determine the power output of the inverter drive, measure a difference between the power output and a reference power output, and control an output frequency of the inverter drive as a function of the measured difference, so as to stabilize the power output during operation of the component. Other example electromechanical systems, inverter drives and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a motor and a drive device driven by the motor. The drive device is coupled to a movable HVAC component for driving the movable HVAC component between multiple positions. The actuator further includes a main actuator controller. The main actuator controller includes end stop location memory that stores one or more end stop locations indicating expected locations of the one or more end stops. The main actuator controller further includes an end stop location recalibrator that runs an automatic recalibration process to determine and set recalibrated end stop locations. The end stop location recalibrator runs the automatic calibration process in response to detecting that the drive device has unexpectedly stalled at a location other than a stored end stop location.

Abstract: A motor drive controller includes: a phase current detection circuit including: an RC network circuit in which a resistor and a capacitor are connected in series, the RC network circuit being configured to be connected in parallel with one or more coils of each phase of a motor; and a filter circuit that smooths a signal based on a voltage signal across the capacitor, wherein the phase current detection circuit generates a DC voltage signal that corresponds to a change in a value of a phase current flowing in the coils; a motor driver that drives the motor by applying a voltage to each phase of the motor; and a controller that receives the DC voltage signal from the phase current detection circuit and controls the motor driver based on the DC voltage signal.

Abstract: A motor includes a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted onto the frame, and at least one disc mounted onto the shaft. At least one permanent magnet is mounted on the disc, and at least one electromagnet and at least one coil are mounted to the frame in rotational magnetic proximity to the permanent magnet. A battery is connectable to the electromagnet and the coil for energizing the electromagnet and for receiving electrical current from the coil for charging the battery. A relay switch controls the transmission of electrical power from the battery to the electromagnet. A sensor generates a signal to the relay switch to activate electrical power to the electromagnet upon sensing that the permanent magnet is positioned with respect to the electromagnet such that a magnetic force generated by the electromagnet would be effective for inducing movement of the permanent magnet and consequent rotation of the disc.

Abstract: The invention broadly contemplates a safety arrangement that transitions a moving component, for example a cooling fan housed within a chassis of an electronic device, between a first operating mode or condition and a second operating mode or condition. The first operating mode is a normal operating mode, allowing the component (fan) to operate (rotate) at full speed. The second operating mode is a safety or service mode, allowing the component (fan) to operate (rotate) at a reduced speed such that it is compliant with applicable safety regulations.