Patents Examined by Zoheb S Imtiaz
  • Patent number: 11101766
    Abstract: A wiper device is provided. A boost control unit, if a duty ratio has reached an upper limit value determined in advance, and if the rotational speed of a motor is less than a target rotational speed, varies an advance angle and an energization angle associated with the energization of the motor in accordance with the target rotational speed. An overtemperature protection unit monitors a load state of the motor, and, upon detecting a high-load state, performs a first protection control for decreasing the rotational speed of the motor. A demagnetization protection unit, upon receipt of an operating signal from a wiper switch when the temperature detected by means of a temperature sensor exceeds a first threshold and the first protection control is being performed, performs a second protection control for fixing the advance angle and energization angle of the motor by prohibiting the operation of the boost control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBA Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tai, Hisashi Azami
  • Patent number: 11101762
    Abstract: A linear motor actuator includes a plurality of stators mounted stationary relative to one another along a common actuation axis. A translator rod is mounted to the stators for linear motion relative to the stators along the actuation axis, wherein each stator is magnetically coupled to the translator rod to drive motion of the translator rod along the actuation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Steven A. Avritch
  • Patent number: 11091195
    Abstract: A motor control device for controlling drive of an electric motor that controls a steering angle of a steering device, the motor device includes: a torque sensor and an electronic control unit. The torque sensor is configured to detect steering torque acting on a steering member. The electronic control unit is configured to: generate a steering angle command value based on the steering torque by using an equation of motion that is a reference model of the steering device; control driving of the electric motor so that an actual steering angle follows the steering angle command value; and limit a virtual reaction force that is a reaction force component of the equation of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Shoji
  • Patent number: 11095241
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a motor control device including a detection circuit, a control circuit and a drive circuit. The detection circuit detects, in a direct current motor with a first coil and second coil, a first parameter related to an induced voltage generated in the first coil and a second parameter related to an induced voltage generated in the second coil. The control circuit changes, according to a difference between the first parameter and the second parameter, at least one of a first amplitude control value of a current of the first coil and a second amplitude control value of a current of the second coil. The drive circuit drives, according to the changed amplitude control value, the first coil and the second coil, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Tsukasa Miura
  • Patent number: 11088648
    Abstract: An intelligent power module and a controller for an air conditioner are provided. For the intelligent power module, an adjust circuit is additionally provided between a respective drive circuit and a respective IGBT transistor. The adjust circuit detects a change in the voltage of a low voltage power supply of the intelligent power module in real time, and disables the output of the module when the voltage is detected to be too low due to fluctuation of the low voltage power supply. This operation releases the charge accumulated in the IGBT transistor, when energy storage of a drive motor causes charge accumulation of the IGBT transistor. The adjust circuit can continue releasing the charge when the low voltage power supply is restored to normal, to prevent the operating reliability of the module from being affected by the impact of the charge on internal circuits of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuxiang Feng
  • Patent number: 11081873
    Abstract: A direct current motor controller includes a housing, a plurality of terminals, a first two-way switch, a second two-way switch, an actuating mechanism, and a remote controller plug. The terminals and remote controller plug traverse out of the housing as the first two-way switch, the second two-way switch, and the actuating mechanism are mounted within the housing. A first output terminal, a first power supply positive terminal, and a third power supply negative terminals from the terminals are electrically connected to the first two-way switch. A second output terminal, a second power supply positive terminal, and the third power supply negative terminal from the terminals are electrically connected to the second two-way switch. The remote controller plug is electrically connected to the second power supply positive terminal. The actuating mechanism operatively couples with the first and second two-way switches to toggle and inversely toggle the first and second two-way switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Stan Smith
  • Patent number: 11081997
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first inverter connected to first ends of windings of each phase of a motor, a second inverter connected to second ends of the windings of each phase, a first phase separation relay circuit to switch between connection and disconnection between the first ends of the windings of each phase and the first inverter, a second phase separation relay circuit to switch between connection and disconnection between the second ends of the windings of each phase and the second inverter, a sub-inverter circuit connectable to the first ends and the second ends of the windings of each phase, a third phase separation relay circuit to switch between connection and disconnection between the first ends of the windings of each phase and the sub-inverter circuit, and a fourth phase separation relay circuit to switch between connection and disconnection between the second ends of the windings of each phase and the sub-inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 11081952
    Abstract: An actuator driver for a voice coil motor (VCM) includes a digital converter configured to convert a VCM driving control code into a plurality of conversion codes including at least a first to nth conversion codes, during a predetermined period of time, a digital-to-analog converter configured to sequentially generate an analog signal according to each of the plurality of conversion codes during the predetermined time to actuate a VCM actuator to a target position, and a current amplifier configured amplify the analog signal to generate a driving signal and provide the driving signal to the VCM actuator, wherein the sequential generation of the analog signal includes increasing a level of the analog signal in response to one of the conversion codes and decreasing a level of the analog signal in response to another one of the conversion codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Jae Heo
  • Patent number: 11075589
    Abstract: Current imbalances between parallel switching devices in a power converter half leg are reduced. A gate driver generates a nominal PWM gate drive signal for a respective half leg. A first feedback loop couples the nominal PWM gate drive signal to a gate terminal of a respective first switching device. The first feedback loop has a first mutual inductance with a current path of a first parallel switching device and has a second mutual inductance with a current path of a second parallel switching device. The first and second mutual inductances are arranged to generate opposing voltages in the first feedback loop, so that when all the parallel switching devices carry equal current then the voltages cancel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhuxian Xu, Chingchi Chen
  • Patent number: 11066060
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a control circuit to manage the energy flow for an integrated motor generator (IMG), such as an integrated starter generator (ISG) system. The circuit regulates the output voltage of the IMG when the IMG operates in generator mode. The circuit includes an additional switch for each phase connected in anti-series with the half-bridge circuit for the phase, e.g., the drain of the additional switch connects to the drain of the high-side switch. When the ISG is in generator mode, the additional switches are controlled, e.g., to charge the battery at a constant voltage and current throughout the speed range of the ISG (i.e. high rpm and low rpm). In generator mode, the high-side switches may be turned off, which configures the high-side switches to act as a diode and block battery discharge for low rpm operation when the phase voltages are lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Ramdas Rangnath Ugale
  • Patent number: 11046199
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a main battery, a power converter, a relay, and a controller. The power converter is a device that converts power of the main battery to drive electric power for a motor. The power converter includes a voltage sensor that measures an input voltage. The relay is connected between the main battery and the power converter. The controller stores an output value of the voltage sensor as an offset value at time after a vehicle main switch is turned on and before the relay is closed. The controller controls the power converter based on a value acquired by subtracting the offset value from the output value of the voltage sensor after the relay is closed. The controller opens the relay when a value acquired by subtracting the offset value from the travel-time output value exceeds a first voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Maeda
  • Patent number: 11048060
    Abstract: Actuators for carrying and actuating a lens having a first optical axis, the lens receiving light folded from a second optical axis substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis, comprising first and second VCM engines coupled to the lens and first and second linear ball-guided rails operative to create movement of the lens in two substantially orthogonal directions upon actuation by respective VCM engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gil Bachar, Itay Yedid, Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Itay Jerby
  • Patent number: 11040625
    Abstract: A regenerative braking controller for an AC motor. To determine an electromagnetic torque for slowing or stopping the motor, the regenerative braking controller accesses a lookup table to retrieve an braking torque value corresponding to a current estimate of rotor velocity. The retrieved braking torque may correspond to a maximum or minimum torque level at which regenerative braking will occur at the current rotor velocity, or to a torque level at which charging current during regenerative braking will be maximized. If an external mechanical brake is present, the regenerative braking controller can forward an external braking torque signal to a controller so that the mechanical brake can apply the remainder of the braking force beyond that indicated by the regenerative braking torque. A method for establishing the braking torques to be stored in the lookup table is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Aravind Samba Murthy, David Patrick Magee
  • Patent number: 11038341
    Abstract: A load driving device, wherein a logic portion for switching on/off a switch element connected to a load includes: a switch signal generation circuit for generating a switch signal so that the switch element is left on by default in a time duration from when power is turned on until an external reset release is performed by a microcomputer; an overcurrent protection circuit for performing, after the external reset release, an output restriction of the switch signal so as to forcibly switch the switch element off in response to an overcurrent detection signal; and a latch circuit for performing, in the time duration from when power is turned on until the external reset release is performed by the microcomputer, an output restriction of the switch signal so as to forcibly switch the switch element off with the overcurrent detection signal serving as a latch trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakashima, Yohei Okuno
  • Patent number: 11038402
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to operate an electric motor from a rechargeable battery pack. The control unit has a circuit board with electronic components for driving the electric motor. Furthermore, an electrical braking circuit having a braking resistor and also a braking switch is provided. The receiving surface of the circuit board is spatially divided into a first surface region and a second surface region. The first surface region serves to receive electronic components; the second surface region serves to receive the braking resistor, wherein the braking resistor is configured as a conductor track which is formed on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kay-Steffen Gurr, Gernot Liebhard, Lothar Lehmann, Rudolf Saemann
  • Patent number: 11031900
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes: inverter modules equivalent in number to phases of a motor; and a control unit that generates a PWM signal for driving the inverter modules by using PWM. Each of the inverter modules includes: a plurality of pairs of switching elements, each pair of switching elements including two switching elements connected in series; a drive circuit; and a protection circuit. The plurality of pairs of switching elements is connected in parallel, and power GNDs that are reference terminals of the plurality of pairs of switching elements, a control GND that is a reference terminal of the drive circuit, and a terminal for overcurrent fault input in the protection circuit are independently exposed to the outside. The power GNDs and the control GND are connected to a single point on a printed circuit board by a wiring pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Norikazu Ito, Shigeo Umehara, Katsuhiko Saito, Katsuyuki Amano, Masahiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11025179
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a plurality of inverters each configured to be connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of motors, a plurality of current samplers coupled to the plurality of inverters, respectively, and each configured to sample a phase current of a corresponding one of the plurality of motors to generate a phase current signal for the corresponding one of the plurality of motors, and an operation controller including an analog-digital (AD) sampling circuit. The operation controller is configured to synchronously generate a plurality of triangular carrier signals each corresponding to one of the plurality of motors, and sample the phase current signals of the plurality of motors in a time sharing manner through the AD sampling circuit in rising half cycles or falling half cycles of the plurality of triangular carrier signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: GD MIDEA AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Huo, Zhaobin Huang
  • Patent number: 11015829
    Abstract: An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module is operably connected to a power supply for providing power to a motor. The electronic control module includes an input device, a processor coupled to the input device, and first and second current supply lines. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device and transmit the command signal to the motor. The command signal controls an operating point of the motor. The first and second current supply lines are operably connectable to the motor and the processor. At least one of the current supply lines, the input device and the processor are adapted to utilize the current supply lines both to transmit power to the motor and to transmit the command signal to the motor over the current supply lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Steven Mullin, Michael David Smith, Katie Da-Nelle Hamilton, Srinivas Chandu Kutcherlapati
  • Patent number: 10998842
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first inverter connected to first ends of windings of each phase of a motor, a second inverter connected to second ends of the windings of each phase, a phase separation relay circuit to switch between connection and disconnection between the first ends of the windings of each phase and the first inverter, a neutral point relay circuit connected to the first ends of the windings of each phase and to switch between connection and disconnection between the first ends of the windings of each phase, a first switching element to switch between connection and disconnection between the second inverter and a power supply, and a second switching element to switch between connection and disconnection between the second inverter and a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Wada, Hiromitsu Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10992245
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described herein for position estimation of permanent magnet synchronous machines through vibration induced saliency. An example permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) includes a motor control system to provide input command to the motor to cause a position of the motor to change. The PMSM further includes a motor position estimation module configured to estimate the position of the motor. The estimation includes measuring a current Iabc across the motor. The estimation further includes extracting a filtered current Iabc_inj at a predetermined frequency from the current Iabc. The estimation further includes estimating the position of the motor based on the filtered current Iabc_inj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Zhe Zhang, Prerit Pramod