Patents by Inventor Eric Hardt
Eric Hardt 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: 8374716Abstract: A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor to interact with a user to obtain fan motor operating parameters and conditions. Motor operation is then controlled in accordance with the user-provided operating parameters and conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Masaaki Matsubara, Nigel Strike, Yukihiro Tanada
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Patent number: 7902777Abstract: Method and system for motor oscillatory state detection. According to various embodiments, the present invention presents a method for determining whether a motor is in an oscillatory state. The method includes powering up a motor for a period of time and then monitoring the movement of the motor during a period after the power if turned off. Based on the movement of the motor and/or impeller during a time period after the power is turned off, whether the motor is in an oscillatory state is determined. The method also includes initiating a process for handle error if the motor is in the oscillation state.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jerome Pierre, Nigel Strike, Eric A. Hardt
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Patent number: 7889977Abstract: Disclosed is a drive circuit for generating the drive current used to energize the windings of a motor. The drive circuit includes a data processing unit that produces two outputs used to control an H-bridge and generation of the drive current. One output, a commutation signal, controls the timing of generation of drive current. The drive current in turn is determined based on the other output, a speed signal. The speed signal waveform includes blanking portions to avoid occurrences of shoot through in the H-bridge.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nigel Strike, Eric Hardt
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Patent number: 7714524Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiple cooling fans is presented. The circuitry for directly driving each of the motors is removed from the motor casings, thus increasing air flow and reducing replacement costs should a motor fail. The system includes a common processor for centrally controlling the speeds of the motors and monitoring the performance of each of the multiple motors.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Nigel Strike, Eric Hardt, Takashi Shinano
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Patent number: 7711439Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel D. Strike
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Patent number: 7676302Abstract: A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor, via the communication interface set a speed of a fan within the remote housing, set an alarm condition for the fan within the remote housing, set a temperature threshold for the fan within the remote housing, capture the cooling specifications of the fan for the remote housing, the cooling specification including a measured temperature; and increase the speed of the fan if the temperature threshold is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Peter Martin, Eric Hardt
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Patent number: 7605556Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel D. Strike
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Publication number: 20090251085Abstract: Method and system for motor oscillatory state detection. According to various embodiments, the present invention presents a method for determining whether a motor is in an oscillatory state. The method includes powering up a motor for a period of time and then monitoring the movement of the motor during a period after the power if turned off. Based on the movement of the motor and/or impeller during a time period after the power is turned off, whether the motor is in an oscillatory state is determined. The method also includes initiating a process for handle error if the motor is in the oscillation state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jerome Pierre, Nigel Strike, Eric A. Hardt
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Patent number: 7573220Abstract: A self-calibrating, continuous variable speed fan for use in cooling electronic circuitry is disclosed. Upon initial power-up, in an environment of known temperature, the self-calibrating fan accommodates for the tolerances of its electronic components by reading a voltage from its thermistor array and comparing the actual value to an expected value for the given temperature. The difference is then stored in the non-volatile memory of a microcontroller for use in adjusting future voltage readings from the thermistor array. During normal operation, adjusted readings from the thermistor array are then converted by the microcontroller into a control signal for driving the motor of a cooling fan. A quickly cycling stochastic process between adjustments to fan motor speed and temperature readings is then established, thereby maintaining a high degree of control over the device to be cooled.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eric A. Hardt, Scott Frankel
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Publication number: 20090154905Abstract: Disclosed is a drive circuit for generating the drive current used to energize the windings of a motor. The drive circuit includes a data processing unit that produces two outputs used to control an H-bridge and generation of the drive current. One output, a commutation signal, controls the timing of generation of drive current. The drive current in turn is determined based on the other output, a speed signal. The speed signal waveform includes blanking portions to avoid occurrences of shoot through in the H-bridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nigel Strike, Eric Hardt
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Publication number: 20090154906Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiple cooling fans is presented. The circuitry for directly driving each of the motors is removed from the motor casings, thus increasing air flow and reducing replacement costs should a motor fail. The system includes a common processor for centrally controlling the speeds of the motors and monitoring the performance of each of the multiple motors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Nigel Strike, Eric Hardt, Takashi Shinano
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Patent number: 7521883Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating a drive signal that is applied to a coil in a motor. The drive signal is applied during a period (commutation period) between a commutation event and the immediately following commutation event when the coil is energized. The drive signal comprises pulses which vary over the duration of the commutation period.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuichi Otsuka, Eric Hardt
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Publication number: 20070285042Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: December 13, 2007Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel Strike
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Patent number: 7305316Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel D. Strike
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Publication number: 20070219756Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: September 20, 2007Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel Strike
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Publication number: 20070156292Abstract: A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor, via the communication interface set a speed of a fan within the remote housing, set an alarm condition for the fan within the remote housing, set a temperature threshold for the fan within the remote housing, capture the cooling specifications of the fan for the remote housing, the cooling specification including a measured temperature; and increase the speed of the fan if the temperature threshold is exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Peter Martin, Eric Hardt
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Publication number: 20070156361Abstract: A self-calibrating, continuous variable speed fan for use in cooling electronic circuitry is disclosed. Upon initial power-up, in an environment of known temperature, the self-calibrating fan accommodates for the tolerances of its electronic components by reading a voltage from its thermistor array and comparing the actual value to an expected value for the given temperature. The difference is then stored in the non-volatile memory of a microcontroller for use in adjusting future voltage readings from the thermistor array. During normal operation, adjusted readings from the thermistor array are then converted by the microcontroller into a control signal for driving the motor of a cooling fan. A quickly cycling stochastic process between adjustments to fan motor speed and temperature readings is then established, thereby maintaining a high degree of control over the device to be cooled.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2007Publication date: July 5, 2007Applicants: Minebea Co., Ltd., NMB (USA) Inc.Inventors: Eric Hardt, Scott Frankel
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Patent number: 7202624Abstract: A self-calibrating, continuous variable speed fan for use in cooling electronic circuitry is disclosed. Upon initial power-up, in an environment of known temperature, the self-calibrating fan accommodates for the tolerances of its electronic components by reading a voltage from its thermistor array and comparing the actual value to an expected value for the given temperature. The difference is then stored in the non-volatile memory of a microcontroller for use in adjusting future voltage readings from the thermistor array. During normal operation, adjusted readings from the thermistor array are then converted by the microcontroller into a control signal for driving the motor of a cooling fan. A quickly cycling stochastic process between adjustments to fan motor speed and temperature readings is then established, thereby maintaining a high degree of control over the device to be cooled.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eric Hardt, Scott Frankel
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Patent number: 7117054Abstract: A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor, via the communication interface set a speed of a fan within the remote housing, set an alarm condition for the fan within the remote housing, set a temperature threshold for the fan within the remote housing, capture the cooling specifications of the fan for the remote housing, the cooling specification including a measured temperature; and increase the speed of the fan if the temperature threshold is exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Scott Frankel, Martin Peter Gilbert, Eric Hardt
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Publication number: 20060142901Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2004Publication date: June 29, 2006Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel Strike