Patents Examined by Said Bouziane
  • Patent number: 11171542
    Abstract: A power tool comprising a housing, a motor, and a circuit board residing in the housing is provided. A rectifier that receives an alternating current and converts the alternating current to a direct current, a switching arrangement having a plurality of motor switches connected electrically between the rectifier and the motor, and a capacitor connected electrically between the rectifier and the switching arrangement, are mounted on a rear portion of a planar surface of the circuit board. A switching arrangement and at least one heat sink in thermal communication therewith are mounted on a front portion of the planar surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Vanko, Michael K. Forster, Matthew J. Velderman, John Howson
  • Patent number: 11171595
    Abstract: A method for detecting an imbalance in a synchronous motor drive, the method including reading an output voltage signal, and extracting a signature of a parameter imbalance from the output voltage signal. The parameter imbalance is in the synchronous motor drive. Responsive to extracting the signature of the parameter imbalance, the method further includes identifying a certain parameter having the parameter imbalance based on an operating condition of a synchronous motor controlled by the synchronous motor drive, and determining at least one phase of the synchronous motor in which the certain parameter is manifesting the parameter imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Prerit Pramod
  • Patent number: 11165381
    Abstract: A motor controller includes a current controller configured to generate control signals for driving a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), where the current controller is configured to measure voltage information and current information of the PMSM; a power constant controller configured to receive the voltage information and the current information, and generate a first target speed based on a target power of the PMSM and based on the voltage information and the current information; first signal generator configured to generate a second target speed; a speed constant controller coupled between the power constant controller and the current controller, wherein the speed constant controller is configured to switchably receive the first target speed and the second target speed, and regulate a motor speed of the PMSM based on the received first target speed or the received second target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Long Fei Jian, Toshio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11159112
    Abstract: Disclosed are implementations, including a method that includes obtaining measurement samples relating to electrical operation of an electric motor drive providing power to an electric motor, deriving, based on the samples, instantaneous estimates for parameters characterizing speed and/or position of the motor according to an optimization process based on a cost function defined for the samples, and applying a filtering operation to the instantaneous estimates to generate filtered values of the motor's speed and/or position. The filtering operation includes computing the filtered values using the derived instantaneous estimates in response to a determination that a computed convexity of the cost function is greater than or equal to a convexity threshold value, and/or applying a least-squares filtering operation to the derived instantaneous estimates and using at least one set of previous estimates derived according to the optimization process applied to previous measurement samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: Matthias Preindl
  • Patent number: 11152886
    Abstract: A battery pack and charger system includes a first battery pack having a first set of battery cells and configured to provide only a first operating voltage and a second battery pack having a second set of battery cells and configured to provide the first operating voltage and a second operating voltage that is different from the first operating voltage and a battery pack charger configured to be able to charge the first battery pack and the second battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. White, Matthew J. Velderman, Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11146195
    Abstract: A motor controller includes a power constant controller configured to receive a target power of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and generate a first target speed based on the target power; a first signal generator configured to generate a second target speed; a speed constant controller switchably coupled to the power constant controller and the first signal generator, where the speed constant controller is configured to switchably receive the first target speed and the second target speed, and regulate a motor speed of the PMSM based on the received first target speed or the received second target speed; a first switch configured to switchably couple the speed constant controller to the power constant controller to receive the first target speed or the second target speed; and a first switch controller configured to control a switching state of the first switch based on the motor speed of the PMSM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Long Fei Jian
  • Patent number: 11139763
    Abstract: A motor drive control device has a controller and a driver. The controller generates a control signal for controlling driving of a two-phase stepping motor so as to alternately repeat one-phase excitation in which a coil of one phase in coils of two phases of the two-phase stepping motor is excited and two-phase excitation in which the coils of two phases in the coils of the two phases are excited. The driver drives the coils of the two phases, based on the control signal. The controller determines, based on a back electromotive force generated in the coil that was not excited during the one-phase excitation, a period of performing the one-phase excitation, and determines, based on the period of the one-phase excitation performed before the two-phase excitation, a period of performing the two-phase excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Haruka Miyaji, Kei Yamazaki, Takayuki Matsui, Kazuo Takada, Shigeki Miyaji, Ayaka Shimada
  • Patent number: 11133763
    Abstract: A magnetically de-coupled, separately controlled, electric machine assembly including a radial and one or more axial electric machines, each with rotors mechanically coupled to and arranged to directly drive a single shaft. Each of the electric machines are independently, but cooperatively, controlled by two (or more) inverters respectively. The axial and radial electric machines are contained in a single housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Tula eTechnology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zakirul Islam
  • Patent number: 11125555
    Abstract: A method of detecting blocking of a rotor of a motor driving an actuator member with movement in translation between a first abutment and a second abutment, the method comprising the steps of, during an angular movement of the rotor, estimating at least a position (X) of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, a travel direction of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, and also a travel speed (V) of the actuator member; and on the basis at least of the estimated position of the actuator member, of the estimated travel direction of the actuator member, and of the estimated travel speed of the actuator member, detecting blocking of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Badr Mansouri, Kamal Aouchiche
  • Patent number: 11118904
    Abstract: A method of detecting blocking of a rotor of a motor driving an actuator member with movement in translation between a first abutment and a second abutment, the method comprising the steps of, during an angular movement of the rotor, estimating at least a position (X) of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, a travel direction of the actuator member relative to the two abutments, and also a travel speed (V) of the actuator member; and on the basis at least of the estimated position of the actuator member, of the estimated travel direction of the actuator member, and of the estimated travel speed of the actuator member, detecting blocking of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense
    Inventors: Badr Mansouri, Kamal Aouchiche
  • Patent number: 11114971
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a drive motor of an actuator for actuating a valve, the power of the drive motor is supplied by pulse width modulated voltage controlled by a control frequency to adjust the actuator coupled to a valve into a desired position. The control frequency is changed such that a mixture of frequencies is produced. The control frequency is changed in steps. The frequencies of the mixture of frequencies are selected to be near the nominal control frequency. A drive motor of an actuator is provided that is controlled by the described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SBS-Feintechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Gnauert
  • Patent number: 11101757
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric vehicle, wherein the electric vehicle comprises an electric motor, a controller, and an inverter, wherein the controller receives a control signal with an instruction to operate the electric motor. In one embodiment, the method includes collecting an operational data set on a plurality of output signals of the inverter and a rotation angle of the electric motor. In one embodiment, the method includes computing a voltage change of the inverter and a magnetic flux of the electric motor based on a predetermined data set and the operational data set. In one embodiment, the method includes adjusting an output of the inverter to offset the voltage change and the magnetic flux, the output being provided to the electric motor to control the electric motor in accordance with the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC
    Inventors: Younes Sangsefidi, Geng Niu
  • Patent number: 11101756
    Abstract: A motor control unit that vector-controls a 3-phase brushless motor based on a d-axis voltage command value and a q-axis voltage command value via an inverter with feedback-controlling, comprises: a central processing unit which comprises: a dq-axes dead time compensating section to calculate dq-axes dead time compensation values of the inverter and perform a dead time compensation; and a dq-axes disturbance estimating observer to input a d-axis current command value, a q-axis current command value, a motor rotational number, a motor angular velocity, a d-axis feedback current, a q-axis feedback current, the d-axis voltage command value and the q-axis voltage command value and calculate a d-axis disturbance compensation value and a q-axis disturbance compensation value, which cannot be compensated by the dead time compensation, by respectively adding the d-axis disturbance compensation value and the q-axis disturbance compensation value to the d-axis voltage command value and the q-axis voltage command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takase, Ryo Minaki, Takayoshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11097772
    Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a vector control type motor control unit that compensates a dead time of an inverter without a tuning operation, improves a distortion of a current waveform and responsibility of the current control, and suppresses sound, vibration and a torque ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takase, Ryo Minaki, Hideki Sawada, Takayoshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11095211
    Abstract: A control method and a switching device are provided for a separately excited synchronous machine as a drive in a hybrid or electric vehicle. The switching device converts and/or distributes electrical energy within the vehicle, in particular the hybrid or electric vehicle, wherein an asymmetric full bridge is provided, in the bridge branch of which a rotor of an SSM is arranged. Switches are provided in the asymmetric full bridge in order to provide a pulse width modulation corresponding to a desired motor rotational speed and power of the SSM. The device is characterized in that it has a short-circuit branch extending in parallel with the bridge branch of the asymmetric full bridge, by which short-circuit branch the rotor of the SSM is able to be short-circuited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Herrmann, Michael Reiter, Christoph Sudan
  • Patent number: 11092356
    Abstract: An actuator for a HVAC system includes a base having a motor and a drive device driven by the motor and configured to be coupled to a movable HVAC component for driving the movable HVAC component between multiple positions, and a removable cartridge removably attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Mark A. Thoni, Jeff Papendorf, John T. Pierson, Hyunchul Kim, Thomas Richardson, Scott J. Thorne
  • Patent number: 11088649
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion unit, in which a power smoothing capacitor is configured such that a plurality of unit capacitors as conductive polymer hybrid aluminum electrolytic capacitors are arrayed in a grid pattern and connected in parallel on a circuit board, and also connected to a plurality of unit modules of different phases via positive and negative bus bars arranged on both sides of the circuit board so that each group of several unit capacitors and each unit module are arranged close to each other, to thereby reduce wiring impedance of a power supply circuit and suppress noise generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kitamura, Ryuichi Ishii, Shozo Kanzaki, Toshiyuki Yasutomi
  • Patent number: 11070162
    Abstract: A power tool is provided with a multi-phase brushless motor including a rotor and a stator having stator windings corresponding to at least three phases of the motor. A power switch circuit is provided including high-side and low-side power switches. A power supply interface receives alternating-current (AC) power from an AC power supply or battery direct-current (DC) power from one or more battery packs. A rectifier converts the AC power to a rectified DC voltage on a bus line. A capacitor is disposed across the bus line such that, within each half cycle of the AC power voltage waveform, the power switch circuit draws current from the AC power supply within a first time period and from the capacitor within a second time period, the capacitor having a capacitance value such that the first time period is greater than the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Cox, Michael K. Forster, John C. Vanko, Daniel J. White, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Matthew J. Velderman, Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11070159
    Abstract: A motor apparatus comprises a permanent magnet synchronous motor circuit having a plurality of lanes, each lane comprising a plurality of unbalanced phases. A current demand circuit which receives a torque demand signal having a value equal to the torque that is to be generated by the motor apparatus and generates a respective current demand signal for each lane indicative of the current to be applied to each phase of the lane to achieve the demanded torque. A first drive circuit and a second drive circuit each comprise a plurality of switches which selectively connect the phases of a respective one of the plurality of lanes to a supply such that PWM modulated currents flow in each of the phases that correspond to the demanded current. The current demand circuit is adapted to modify one or both of the current demand signals such that one or both lanes additionally generate a set of radial forces that are applied to the rotor of the motor that do not net to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Connel Brett Williams
  • Patent number: 11070160
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes: a brushless motor having a plurality of stator windings and configured to rotate in accordance with voltages applied to the plurality of stator windings, an induced voltage being generated in accordance with a rotation of the brushless motor; a rectifier circuit configured to rectify an AC voltage; a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the AC voltage rectified by the rectifier circuit to a pulsation voltage having a maximum value larger than the induced voltage and a minimum value smaller than the induced voltage; and an inverter circuit configured to perform switching operations to output the pulsation voltage to the plurality of stator windings by rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Lid.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Iwata, Toshiaki Koizumi