Patents Examined by Walter Benson
  • Patent number: 8405344
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating a rotation speed of an electric motor supplied by an inverter, by determining a time derivative of a stator current vector of the electric motor during a zero vector state of the inverter; and determining an estimate of the rotation speed of the electric motor on the basis of the determined time derivative of the stator current vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Samuli Heikkilä
  • Patent number: 8400098
    Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of axles whose drives are connected for exchanging energy, in particular by connecting intermediate circuits of the converters respectively comprised by the drives, prior to the start of the movement, a predictive determination of the sequence of movements being performed, in the process of which first the time-critical axle is determined, then the travel profile of the time-critical axle is defined, then a respective total energy consumption is assigned to the possible travel profiles of additional axles, from these, the profile is selected that has the smallest total energy requirement associated with it, and then the movement is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Ewert, Andreas Steinsdörfer
  • Patent number: 8400093
    Abstract: A system for detecting a backspin condition of a motor in an electrical submersible pump is disclosed herein. The system comprises a sensor mounted proximate to the motor, the sensor outputting a signal, a power cable connected between a motor and a controller, the power cable supplying a three phase AC voltage to the motor, one phase of the three phase signal having a control signal thereon; electronics connected to the sensor, the electronics receiving the signal and propagating the signal to the controller; and a computer defining the controller, the controller having a non-transitory memory, a computer processor, and a computer program product stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the computer program product performing a process of controlling the variable speed drive of the motor and a process of monitoring the signal from the sensor to determine if the motor is backspinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Dick L. Knox, Robert H. McCoy, Jerald R. Rider
  • Patent number: 8400085
    Abstract: Current source converter (CSC) based motor drives and control techniques are presented in which DC link current is regulated to a level set by the output inverter during dynamic braking operation by pulse width modulation of a braking resistance connection signal to maintain control of motor torque and speed while mitigating or preventing line side regenerative currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ghodratollah Esmaeili Rineh, Sang Woo Nam, Manish Pande, Zhongyuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 8400087
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for determining the rotation speed of a motor fed by an inverter, the arrangement comprising means for determining the rotation speed of the motor in at least two alternative manners, whereby the means for determining the rotation speed of the motor comprise one of the at least two alternative manners of performance: means for measuring the frequency of the voltage fed to the motor by the inverter; and means for estimating the rotation speed of the motor on the basis of the measured frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Reijo Virtanen, Osmo Pasuri
  • Patent number: 8400099
    Abstract: A meter system includes: an indicator including a pointer, a step motor, a stopper mechanism and a driving controller; and a flasher function unit including a flasher switch, a flasher and a flasher controller. The driving controller has: a stopper position detection operation executing element for executing a pointer moving away operation when a stopper position detection operation executing condition is satisfied and for executing a voltage detection type zero point stopper position detection operation when the executing condition is satisfied, and the flasher switch does not turn on and off, and a zero point return enforcement type zero point stopper position detection operation when the executing condition is satisfied, and the flasher switch turns on and off; a zero point setting element; and an applying element for applying the driving signal having the zero point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nakane, Masaaki Niwa, Takashi Mizutani, Hironori Watarai, Teruyuki Anjima
  • Patent number: 8395345
    Abstract: In opening/closing control for the valve mechanism to which the return torque is applied in an opening direction or a closing direction of the valve, provided are a position control system for outputting a q-axis current command based on a position deviation between a target position command directed to the brushless DC motor and the coarse present position of the motor obtained by using the position detection sensor of a pulse output type, and a current control system in which a virtual current feedback is built for outputting a phase voltage command without a current sensor based on the q-axis current command and the coarse present position of the motor obtained by using the position detection sensor of the pulse output type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Imamura, Masahiro Iezawa, Satoshi Kawamura, Yoshitaka Onishi
  • Patent number: 8395347
    Abstract: In an induction motor group control system, magnetic energy recovery switches (3) are connected in series to an induction motor (2) directly driven by a commercial power supply, and a plurality of induction motor control devices (10) enabling voltage control and reactive power control of the induction motor 2 are employed to control generation of reactive power so as to maximize a power factor of the entire plurality of AC loads including the induction motor or compensate variations in voltage of an AC power supply (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fukutani, Hideo Narisawa, Ryuichi Shimada, Takanori Isobe, Tadayuki Kitahara
  • Patent number: 8395338
    Abstract: A control system controls a multiphase rotating machine by a 120° energization process and a PWM process. In the 120° energization process, respective ones of switching elements of a high side arm and switching elements of a low side arm of a power conversion circuit are turned on. In the PWM process, the switching elements of the power conversion circuit turn on/off so that two phases that are connected to the switching elements that are in the on-state are alternately rendered conductive to the high potential side input terminal and the low potential side input terminal of the power conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kuroda, Hiroshi Taki, Nobumasa Ueda
  • Patent number: 8395334
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a drawer having a door and a receiving box attached thereto. The drawer may be automatically moved in forward and backward directions. A supply of standby voltage may be intercepted by a drawer driving mechanism when the door is closed so as to reduce power consumption and improve response time to drawer opening and closing commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Hwan Eom, Myung Keun Yoo, Hyoun Jeong Shin, Ok Sun Yu, Young Jin Kim, Seung Do Han
  • Patent number: 8395335
    Abstract: A drive system for an electric drive machine having an engine, a generator, a motor, final drive wheels and auxiliary devices is provided. The drive system may include an inverter circuit and an auxiliary driver. The inverter circuit may be coupled to each of the generator and the motor. The auxiliary driver may be coupled to each of the generator and the auxiliary devices. The inverter circuit and the auxiliary driver may be configured to automatically communicate power from the engine and any power from the auxiliary devices to the motor in a propel mode, and automatically communicate power from the motor to the engine, and optionally to a hybrid system if applicable, in a dynamic braking mode so as to minimize fuel consumption during the dynamic braking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Marchand, Dustin Selvey
  • Patent number: 8390239
    Abstract: A control circuit for a single-phase AC motor of a dryer, including at least an electronic starting circuit including at least a starting control unit, a first drive circuit, and a bidirectional triode thyristor, a second drive circuit, and a mechanical switch K. The bidirectional triode thyristor is serially connected to a starting winding and a starting capacitor of the motor, and connected to an AC input. The starting control unit is connected to a control end of the bidirectional triode thyristor via the first drive circuit. The mechanical switch K is serially connected to an electrical heating wire, and is connected to the AC input. The starting control unit is connected to a control end of the mechanical switch K via the second drive circuit. The first drive circuit and the second drive circuit are interlocked with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Zhao
  • Patent number: 8390236
    Abstract: A drive system is disclosed for operating an electric device. The drive system includes an electric motor having a permanent magnet rotor connectable to the electric device for controlling the operation of it by a limited-angle rotation, the electric motor further including a stator winding. The drive system includes a drive circuit connected to the stator winding. The permanent magnet rotor can be arranged to be aligned to a magnetic field created by the stator winding when supplied with current from the drive circuit, so that a maximum torque can be applied to the rotor and thereby to the movable part within an interval of ±25 degrees around a middle position between two end positions of the limited-angle rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Magnus Backman, Stefan Valdemarsson
  • Patent number: 8390219
    Abstract: A door operator with an electrical back check feature is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention are realized by a motorized door operator that electrically creates a back check force for an opening door. The door operator simulates the back check normally created by hydraulic means in convention door closers, but without the use of pistons, springs or hydraulic fluid. The door operator includes a motor disposed to operatively connect to a door so that the door will open when the motor moves, and a position sensor to determine a position of the door. A processor is programmed to exert a closing force on the door in the back check region. In some embodiments, the closing force is exerted by injecting a voltage into the electric motor of the door operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventor: Blue Houser
  • Patent number: 8390240
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an automotive drive system using an absolute position sensor for field-oriented control of an induction motor. An automotive drive system comprises an induction motor having a rotor, and a position sensor coupled to the induction motor. The position sensor is configured to sense an absolute angular position of the rotor. A processor may be coupled to the position sensor and configured to determine a relative angular position of the rotor based on a difference between the absolute angular position and an initial angular position obtained when the induction motor is started. A controller may be coupled to the induction motor and the processor and configured to provide field-oriented control of the induction motor based on the relative angular position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Constantin C. Stancu, Silva Hiti, Robert T. Dawsey, Erik Hatch, Matthew D. Laba, Peter J. Savagian
  • Patent number: 8390222
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a brushless motor driving circuit capable of clamping an output voltage at a proper voltage, even when a power source voltage changes. Namely, a pre-driver circuit generates a voltage for driving a brushless motor from a source voltage by turning on/off first and second PMOS transistors and first and second NMOS transistors in an H bridge circuit of a drive voltage generating circuit, and applies the voltage to a coil of the brushless motor. A first clamp circuit turns on/off the first NMOS transistor on the ground side so that the output voltage at a first output terminal becomes equal to or lower than the source voltage. A second clamp circuit turns on/off the second NMOS transistor on the ground side so that output voltage at a second output terminal becomes equal to or lower than the source voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Seki, Kazutaka Inoue, Hiroyuki Kikuta, Yuichi Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 8390220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unique improvement (23) in an electronic motor drive (20) having an LC filter (21) to reduce conducted emissions from a motor (M) back to a voltage source (V1). The improvement broadly includes diode (24) in series with the inductor (L1) of said filter to prevent transmission of regenerative power from the motor to said voltage source; and a bypass switch (25) arranged in parallel with the diode and selectively operable to enable transmission of regenerative power from the motor to said voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Underhill
  • Patent number: 8390234
    Abstract: A method for automated startup and/or for automated operation of controllers of an electrical drive system with vibrational mechanics with the following steps: (a) determining a preliminary value of at least one parameter; (b) determining a model of the electrical drive system by determination of initially a non-parameterized model through the recording of frequency data during operation of the drive system subject to the utilization of the preliminary value of at least one parameter and the subsequent determination of parameters of the electrical drive system based on the frequency data and subject to optimization of at least one preliminary value of at least one parameter by a numerical optimization method on the basis of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and (c) parameterizing at least one controller of the electrical drive system by at least one of the determined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Villwock
  • Patent number: 8390238
    Abstract: A softstarter for starting and stopping an asynchronous motor having three phases, including two pairs of semiconductor devices of the type turning off at zero-crossing of the current therethrough, wherein each of the two pairs of semiconductor devices is connected in anti-parallel, and the first pair of the semiconductor devices is adapted to control the voltage of one of the phases of the motor and the second pair of the semiconductor devices being adapted to control the voltage of another of the phases of the motor, a DC reducing unit associated with the two pairs of semiconductor devices, a first voltage measuring unit for measuring voltages across the two pairs of semiconductor devices, and a first zero-crossing detecting unit configured for detecting zero-crossings of the measured voltages across the two pairs of semiconductor devices and providing zero-crossing signals to the DC reducing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Magnus Ek, Heinz Lendenmann, Jesper Kristensson
  • Patent number: 8390224
    Abstract: A drive device for an adjusting device for adjusting a vehicle component of a vehicle includes an electronically commutated motor and an electronic control device which actuates the electronically commutated motor with an actuating voltage. The electronic control device can adapt the signal form of the actuating voltage on the basis of at least one operating parameter in order to optimize the power output, the acoustics, the electromagnetic irradiation and/or the heating of the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventor: Uwe Klippert