Patents by Inventor David E. Lass
David E. Lass has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11502573Abstract: A motor assembly for powering a fluid blower includes a stator, a rotor rotatable relative to the stator about an axis of rotation, and an inner shell. The inner shell includes axially opposite first and second shell ends and encloses, at least in part, the stator and the rotor. An outer housing at least partly surrounds the inner shell such that an axially extending fluid channel is defined between the inner shell and the outer housing. A motor controller is positioned within the outer housing and is configured to control at least one operational parameter of the motor assembly. Furthermore, the motor assembly includes a flow-directing endshield located within the outer housing and adjacent the first shell end. The rotor is supported, at least in part, by the flow-directing endshield. The flow-directing endshield is fluidly interposed between the fluid channel and motor controller and is configured to direct a fluid flow between the fluid channel and the motor controller.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: David E. Lass, Gregory A. Davis, Michael E. Williams, Dale R. Wilson
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Patent number: 11387750Abstract: A system and method for facilitating regenerative charging of a battery by a motor drive when the battery is properly physically connected to a drive circuitry and blocking current when the battery is improperly physically connected. The system includes drive circuitry, a battery and motor drive connected to the drive circuitry, an N-channel MOSFET connected to a high side of the drive circuitry, and a FET controller including a charge pump connected to a gate terminal of the N-channel MOSFET. When the battery is properly physically connected to the drive circuitry, the charge pump is switched on and the N-channel MOSFET allows reverse current to flow from the motor drive to recharge the battery. When the battery is improperly physically connected to the drive circuitry, the charge pump is switched off and the N-channel MOSFET blocks current from flowing and damaging the battery.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: David E. Lass, Priscilla K. Dobbin
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Publication number: 20210351725Abstract: A system and method for facilitating regenerative charging of a battery by a motor drive when the battery is properly physically connected to a drive circuitry and blocking current when the battery is improperly physically connected. The system includes drive circuitry, a battery and motor drive connected to the drive circuitry, an N-channel MOSFET connected to a high side of the drive circuitry, and a FET controller including a charge pump connected to a gate terminal of the N-channel MOSFET. When the battery is properly physically connected to the drive circuitry, the charge pump is switched on and the N-channel MOSFET allows reverse current to flow from the motor drive to recharge the battery. When the battery is improperly physically connected to the drive circuitry, the charge pump is switched off and the N-channel MOSFET blocks current from flowing and damaging the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: David E. Lass, Priscilla K. Dobbin
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Publication number: 20210320553Abstract: A motor assembly for powering a fluid blower includes a stator, a rotor rotatable relative to the stator about an axis of rotation, and an inner shell. The inner shell includes axially opposite first and second shell ends and encloses, at least in part, the stator and the rotor. An outer housing at least partly surrounds the inner shell such that an axially extending fluid channel is defined between the inner shell and the outer housing. A motor controller is positioned within the outer housing and is configured to control at least one operational parameter of the motor assembly. Furthermore, the motor assembly includes a flow-directing endshield located within the outer housing and adjacent the first shell end. The rotor is supported, at least in part, by the flow-directing endshield. The flow-directing endshield is fluidly interposed between the fluid channel and motor controller and is configured to direct a fluid flow between the fluid channel and the motor controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: David E. Lass, Gregory A. Davis, Michael E. Williams, Dale R. Wilson
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Patent number: 10686389Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass
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Publication number: 20190165700Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass
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Patent number: 10236800Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass
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Patent number: 10164505Abstract: A motor assembly is provided for powering a blower operable to generate fluid flow. The motor assembly includes a motor, a controller assembly, and a flow director. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a rotatable support body, a plurality of arcuately spaced apart magnets, and a magnet retention ring at least in part securing the magnets relative to the support body. The controller assembly includes a controller and a controller case at least substantially housing the controller. The controller extends lengthwise to present opposite first and second sides at least in part spaced from the controller case. The flow director and the controller case cooperatively direct fluid received from the blower along a flow path that at least in part extends along each of the first and second sides of the controller.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: David E. Lass, Gregory A. Davis, Michael E. Williams, Dale R. Wilson
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Patent number: 10050568Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass
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Publication number: 20170284013Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: GREGORY A. PETERSON, DAVID E. LASS
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Publication number: 20170207681Abstract: A motor assembly is provided for powering a blower operable to generate fluid flow. The motor assembly includes a motor, a controller assembly, and a flow director. The motor includes a rotor rotatable about an axis. The rotor includes a rotatable support body, a plurality of arcuately spaced apart magnets, and a magnet retention ring at least in part securing the magnets relative to the support body. The controller assembly includes a controller and a controller case at least substantially housing the controller. The controller extends lengthwise to present opposite first and second sides at least in part spaced from the controller case. The flow director and the controller case cooperatively direct fluid received from the blower along a flow path that at least in part extends along each of the first and second sides of the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: David E. Lass, Gregory A. Davis, Michael E. Williams, Dale R. Wilson
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Publication number: 20170141705Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass
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Patent number: 9559619Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass
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Patent number: 9531308Abstract: A fan having one fan blade; a fan motor for rotating the fan blade; a motor control electrically coupled with the fan motor for controlling operational characteristics of the fan motor; and a power supply having a step-down high efficiency buck converter, a step-down low drop-out linear regulator, and/or a step-down switching regulator are described. The power supply may receive a first input voltage and lower the first input voltage to a second lower voltage. The fan motor is electrically coupled to be driven by the first input voltage and the motor control is electrically coupled to operate using the second lower voltage from the power supply. The motor control may include a microcontroller, level shifters electrically coupled to the microcontroller, and drivers electrically coupled to the level shifters and configured to drive the fan motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Nidec Motor CompanyInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, Keith M. Kolmos, Carolyn S. Schaefer, Mile Bozic, David E. Lass, William J. Taylor
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Publication number: 20150381086Abstract: A fan having one fan blade; a fan motor for rotating the fan blade; a motor control electrically coupled with the fan motor for controlling operational characteristics of the fan motor; and a power supply having a step-down high efficiency buck converter, a step-down low drop-out linear regulator, and/or a step-down switching regulator are described. The power supply may receive a first input voltage and lower the first input voltage to a second lower voltage. The fan motor is electrically coupled to be driven by the first input voltage and the motor control is electrically coupled to operate using the second lower voltage from the power supply. The motor control may include a microcontroller, level shifters electrically coupled to the microcontroller, and drivers electrically coupled to the level shifters and configured to drive the fan motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, Keith M. Kolmos, Carolyn S. Schaefer, Mile Bozic, David E. Lass, William J. Taylor
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Publication number: 20150376829Abstract: A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Gregory A. Peterson, David E. Lass