Abstract: An electric motor controller for controlling an electric motor and methods of determining a loss of phase condition for at least one phase of three-phase input power provided to an electric motor controller are provided. The controller is configured to obtain phase sample data representing an input power electrical characteristic for at least one phase of three-phase power received by the controller and receive direct current (DC) bus data representing a measured DC bus electrical characteristic. The controller is also configured to calculate a ratio between the phase sample data and the DC bus data, and determine that a loss of phase condition exists for a phase of the three-phase power when the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A circuit may be configured to adjust a correction signal for each phase of an electric motor based on a rotational position of a spindle of the electric motor, generate a distorted waveform based on the correction signal, and drive the electric motor in response to the distorted waveform. In some examples, back electromotive force (BEMF) may be determined in order to adjust a motor drive waveform, which may reduce or eliminate motor vibrations. A motor drive signal may be pre-warped (i.e. distorted) such that when the correctional signal and drive signals are combined, there is a reduction in acoustic emissions or motor vibrations. Other parameters, such as cogging torque, may be measured to reduce motor vibration and acoustic emissions.

Abstract: An antenna positioning system includes an outdoor unit with a rotating antenna driven by a motor, and an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit via a communications link, such as a cable or a wireless link, that enables the indoor unit to control the outdoor unit. On startup, the processor of the indoor unit directs the antenna to search for available signals. The resulting signal information is stored and displayed on a user interface on the indoor unit. The user can then select a desired signal and the processor of the indoor unit will automatically rotate the antenna to the appropriate angular position. Both the search procedure and repositioning of the antenna rely on accurate calibration of the antenna's angular velocity to determine the antenna's angular position, rather than relying on a position sensor.

Abstract: An integrated IC provided in an SBW-ECU has plural functions such as a receiving function of receiving output signals of an encoder and a current supply function of supplying current to each phase of the motor. A microcomputer checks individually whether the signal receiving function and the current supply function are potentially abnormal and checks whether the integrated IC is abnormal based on the check results about the signal receiving function and the current supply function. For example, when it is determined that only the signal receiving function of the integrated IC is potentially abnormal, the encoder is determined to be abnormal. When it is determined that the signal receiving function and the current supply function of the integrated IC are both potentially abnormal, the integrated IC is determined to be abnormal.

Abstract: A method for determining the rotor position and the rotational speed of a rotating field machine, including, based on Hall sensor signals, a step of determination of a sector in which a rotor of the rotating field machine is situated and a step of determination of a preliminary rotational speed of the rotating field machine. In a step of determination, the rotor position and the rotational speed are determined based on the sector and on the preliminary rotational speed, an observer of the rotating field machine being used at least for the determination of the rotational speed.

Abstract: A switching apparatus includes an energy store and two measuring devices connected to the control apparatus, the energy store being connected in series between the supply connection and the power supply via the first measuring device, the control apparatus can ascertain if the supply voltage attached to the primary side of the power supply falls short of a first voltage threshold value and, via the second measuring device, if the supply voltage of the power supply attached to the secondary side of the power supply falls short of a second voltage threshold value, the control apparatus evaluates the time between falling short of the first voltage threshold value and falling short of the second voltage threshold value.

Abstract: A motor drive control apparatus according to the present invention includes: a three-phase rectifier to rectify an AC voltage supplied from a three-phase AC source; a booster circuit including a reactor, a switching element, and a backflow preventing element, to boost a DC bus voltage supplied from the three-phase rectifier; a smoothing capacitor to smooth an output of the booster circuit; and an inverter circuit to convert the DC bus voltage smoothed by the smoothing capacitor into an AC voltage and supplying the AC voltage to a motor. During a starting operation of a boosting operation of the booster circuit or a stopping operation of the boosting operation thereof, a rotation speed of the motor is fixed.

Abstract: The invention is a driving mechanism for exerting a pre-determined torque characteristic, comprising a stepper motor (12) having a motor shaft, a rotation measuring device detecting the angular position of the motor shaft (14), a motor control unit effecting the torque characteristic on the basis of the angular position of the motor shaft (14), a drive shaft (10) exerting the torque characteristic and an essentially backlash-free transmission connecting the drive shaft (10) with the motor shaft (14), and the motor control unit is a local motor control unit providing operating signals to the stepper motor (12) and being programmable in at least one parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods associated with an HVAC system and a multi-functional ECM motor for use in the HVAC system are disclosed. The motor controller of the ECM motor includes a microprocessor, a tap detection circuit and a power source portion. The tap detection circuit is coupled to several tap input lines. The motor also includes first and second AC input wires, a common wire, a ground wire, a first jumper wire and a second jumper wire. Each tap input line is coupled to the first input terminal of one current sensing unit. The first jumper wire is coupled to the second AC input wire, and the second jumper wire is coupled to the common wire. By coupling different wires of the ECM motor differently when replacing a PSC motor than when replacing ECM motors, the ECM motor is configured to replace PSC motors and ECM motors in HVAC systems.

Abstract: Provided is a motor drive device which performs switching, with respect to a synchronous motor including a stator around which a motor winding is wound and a rotor holding a permanent magnet, from a synchronous operation in which the synchronous motor is synchronously driven to position-sensorless vector control in which a current supplied to the motor winding is controlled based on a position of the rotor. During the synchronous operation, the present motor drive device calculates, by estimation, an induced voltage error based on the detected current and voltage, performs control of an amplitude of a current instruction such that an error, of a target induced voltage, calculated based on an estimated induced voltage and based on an internal angle becomes equal to the induced voltage error, and switches the mode to the sensorless mode after the error is reduced to be within a range of a predetermined value.

Abstract: A brushless motor comprises: a stator 21 having armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c; a rotor 22 which is rotated by a revolving magnetic field; and a switching element 30a, wherein the brushless motor has a rotation number control unit 33 which switches between low-speed and high-speed mode, wherein in the low-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at predetermined energization timing and controls a duty ratio to control the rotation number of the rotor 22, and in the high-speed mode, the rotation number control unit 33 supplies current to the armature coils 21a, 21b, and 21c at energization timing advanced from the energization timing for the low-speed mode, thereby performing field weakening control of weakening the revolving magnetic field from that of the low-speed mode to control the rotation number of the rotor 22.

Abstract: A reconfigurable converter includes a power circuit receives a direct current (DC) power signal and provides an alternating current (AC) output signal across at least three phases. The power circuit comprises a plurality of legs, each leg comprising an output node. A coupling device provides a first output configuration and a second output configuration for the plurality of legs. In the first output configuration, the coupling device comprises a coupling portion coupling at least two output nodes to provide a common output terminal. In the second output configuration, the coupling device comprises separate output terminals, each connected to one of the at least two output nodes.

Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system motor includes an angle determination module that generates an output rotor angle indicating a desired angle of a rotor of the motor. A control module controls the motor based on the output rotor angle. An estimator module determines an estimated rotor angle. A transition module generates a transition signal in response to convergence of the estimator module. Upon startup, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on a first rotor angle. Upon generation of the transition signal, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the first rotor angle and the estimated rotor angle. After generation of the transition signal, the angle determination module reduces a contribution of the first rotor angle to the output rotor angle over time until the output rotor angle is based on the estimated rotor angle independent of the first rotor angle.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor, an output unit, and a circuit board unit. The motor is accommodated in the housing and has a rotational axis extending in a top-bottom direction. The output unit is disposed above the motor and extends in a front-rear direction. A power cable is configured to be connected to a power source and is connected to the circuit board unit. The circuit board unit is accommodated in the housing. The circuit board unit comprises a switching element for driving the motor, and a rectifying device configured to rectify an alternating current from the power source to a direct current. The circuit board unit is disposed below the motor and extends in the front-rear direction in the housing.

Abstract: A motor-driven appliance includes a motor and a control unit that controls a drive output to the motor. The control unit detects a state amount indicating an operational state of the motor to derive a fluctuation range of fluctuation in the state amount. The control unit detects whether the motor is in an unloaded state or in a loaded state, based on the derived fluctuation range to perform the drive output to the motor, based on the detected result.

Abstract: A centralized motor controller for receiving commands from an application system controller and for controlling operation of a plurality of independent motors. The centralized motor controller includes: a power supply; a microprocessor; and an interface circuit for motor control including at least two inverter units and two rotor position detection units. The power supply supplies power for each circuit part. The motors are controlled by the microprocessor via the interface circuit for motor control. The number of the motors is equal to or more than three, in which, at least two of the motors are permanent magnet synchronous motors in the absence of a motor controller. The permanent magnet synchronous motors are driven by the microprocessor via the inverter units, respectively. Rotor position data of the permanent magnet synchronous motors are transmitted to the microprocessor via the rotor position detection units, respectively.

Abstract: A computer system may determine a target position of the electronic component. The computer system may also determine a current position of the electronic component. The computer system may compare the current position to the target to position to determine whether the electronic component is in the target position. If the electronic component is not in the target position, the computer system may use an electroactive polymer to adjust the position of the electronic component to move the electronic component into the target position.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes a switching control unit that controls respective switching elements constituting a plurality of chopper circuits, a rectified-voltage detection unit, a bus-bar voltage detection unit, and a bus-bar current detection unit. The switching control unit includes an on-duty calculation unit that calculates a reference on-duty of respective drive pulses with respect to the switching elements based on a bus-bar voltage and a bus-bar current, an on-duty correction unit that corrects the reference on-duty to output on-duties of the respective drive pulses based on the bus-bar current, so that change amounts of respective reactor currents become substantially the same, and a drive-pulse generation unit that generates the respective drive pulses, based on the respective on-duties.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a boosting section, a drive voltage output section, a detecting section, a storage section and a determining section. The boosting section generates a post-boosting voltage by boosting an input voltage. The drive voltage output section generates a drive voltage to drive a motor using the post-boosting voltage. The detecting section detects a value of the input voltage or a variation width relative to a reference value of the input voltage as variation power source variation information when there is power source variation. The storage section stores target value association information associating the power source variation information and a boosting target value of the post-boosting voltage. The determining section determines the boosting target value based on the power source variation information and target value association information. The target value association information is determined based on a range of operations of the drive voltage output section.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit for use with motorized window shades includes an antenna connected to a motor controller having a printed circuit board, a receiver or transceiver, a microprocessor and memory that are connected to and operate a motor. The ESD circuit is connected to the line-in between the antenna and the downstream components of the printed circuit board. The ESD circuit includes an inductor in parallel with two anti-parallel diodes in reverse polarity to one another. The ESD circuit shunts damaging signals or ESD events to ground by providing a lower impedance or lower resistance path to ground for these signals, whereas the ESD circuit allows the signals of interest to pass by the ESD circuit as the ESD circuit provides a higher impedance or higher resistance path to ground as compared to the signal of interest passing through the receiver or transceiver of the motor controller.