Patents by Inventor Howard Slater

Howard Slater 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).

  • Patent number: 11374510
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor is described herein. The method comprises setting a current limit, a speed limit and a torque limit. The method also comprises sensing a DC link current, comparing the sensed DC link current with the current limit and adjusting the torque limit based on the comparison with the current limit to provide an adjusted torque limit. The method also comprises sensing the speed of the electric motor, comparing the speed with the speed limit and further adjusting the adjusted torque limit based on the comparison with the speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Gateshead Limited
    Inventors: Richard Hellinga, Jason Wiseman, Howard Slater, Chris Pearce
  • Patent number: 11370307
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor is described herein. The method includes setting a current limit, a speed limit and a torque limit. The method also includes sensing a DC link current, comparing the sensed DC link current with the current limit and adjusting the torque limit based on the comparison with the current limit to provide an adjusted torque limit. The method also includes sensing the speed of the electric motor, comparing the speed with the speed limit and further adjusting the adjusted torque limit based on the comparison with the speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Borg Warner Gateshead Limited
    Inventors: Richard Hellinga, Jason Wiseman, Howard Slater, Chris Pearce
  • Publication number: 20220149756
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switched reluctance motor is disclosed herein. The motor composes a stator carrying a plurality of phase windings and a rotor. The method comprises activating the phase windings in a sequence selected to apply torque to the rotor. Wherein during a cycle of rotation of the rotor the phase windings switch between an active state in which current in the phase winding applies torque to the rotor and an inactive state, applying a voltage to a selected phase winding whilst the selected phase winding is in the inactive state to provide a flux in the selected phase winding: determining the current in the selected phase winding; determining the rotor angle based on the current and the flux, and controlling said activating based on the rotor angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Howard Slater, David Hodgson
  • Publication number: 20220098650
    Abstract: Methods of measuring chimerism in a biological sample use informative copy number variations (CNV) in genetically distinct cell populations. Chimerism describes the co-existence of cells originating from more than one individual. Assessing CNV polymorphisms in genomic DNA provides a useful in-vitro method of measuring chimerism. The accuracy of the methods can be validated using an internal validation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventor: Howard Slater
  • Patent number: 11228260
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switched reluctance motor is disclosed herein. The motor comprises a stator carrying a plurality of phase windings and a rotor. The method comprises activating the phase windings in a sequence selected to apply torque to the rotor, wherein during a cycle of rotation of the rotor the phase windings switch between an active state in which current in the phase winding applies torque to the rotor and an inactive state; applying a voltage to a selected phase winding whilst the selected phase winding is in the inactive state to provide a flux in the selected phase winding; determining the current in the selected phase winding; determining the rotor angle based on the current and the flux; and controlling said activating based on the rotor angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Turntide Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Slater, David Hodgson
  • Patent number: 11059372
    Abstract: An electric motor controller adapted to provide anti-lock braking of an electric traction motor for an electric vehicle is disclosed herein. The electric motor controller comprises a torque demand input for receiving a torque demand input signal based on a request from an operator of the electric vehicle and a torque demand adjuster adapted to adjust the torque demand input signal and to provide an adjusted torque demand signal. The torque demand adjuster is configured to adjust the torque demand signal such that the motor is controlled to reduce the difference between a motor speed and an estimated speed of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: David Hodgson, Howard Slater
  • Publication number: 20200239942
    Abstract: Methods of measuring chimerism in a biological sample use informative copy number variations (CNV) in genetically distinct cell populations. Chimerism describes the co-existence of cells originating from more than one individual. Assessing CNV polymorphisms in genomic DNA provides a useful in-vitro method of measuring chimerism. The accuracy of the methods can be validated using an internal validation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Howard Slater
  • Publication number: 20190305697
    Abstract: A method of controlling a switched reluctance motor is disclosed herein. The motor comprises a stator carrying a plurality of phase windings and a rotor. The method comprises activating the phase windings in a sequence selected to apply torque to the rotor, wherein during a cycle of rotation of the rotor the phase windings switch between an active state in which current in the phase winding applies torque to the rotor and an inactive state; applying a voltage to a selected phase winding whilst the selected phase winding is in the inactive state to provide a flux in the selected phase winding; determining the current in the selected phase winding; determining the rotor angle based on the current and the flux; and controlling said activating based on the rotor angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Sevcon Limited
    Inventor: Howard Slater
  • Patent number: 10333437
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an AC power supply for an electric motor, said AC power supply being derived from a DC voltage. The apparatus including a comparer configured to provide a comparison of a modulation index of a motor control signal with a reference value. This current data provider is configured to provide current data based on a torque demand signal; a speed signal indicating the speed of rotation of the AC motor; and an indication of the DC voltage modified on the comparison for control of the motor control signal which is based on the motor current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: Peter Barrass, David Hodgson, Howard Slater
  • Publication number: 20190111804
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor is described herein. The method includes setting a current limit, a speed limit and a torque limit. The method also includes sensing a DC link current, comparing the sensed DC link current with the current limit and adjusting the torque limit based on the comparison with the current limit to provide an adjusted torque limit. The method also includes sensing the speed of the electric motor, comparing the speed with the speed limit and further adjusting the adjusted torque limit based on the comparison with the speed limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: Richard Hellinga, Jason Wiseman, Howard Slater, Chris Pearce
  • Publication number: 20180327820
    Abstract: Methods of measuring chimerism in a biological sample use informative copy number variations (CNV) in genetically distinct cell populations. Chimerism describes the co-existence of cells originating from more than one individual. Assessing CNV polymorphisms in genomic DNA provides a useful in-vitro method of measuring chimerism. The accuracy of the methods can be validated using an internal validation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Howard Slater
  • Publication number: 20180086208
    Abstract: An electric motor controller adapted to provide anti-lock braking of an electric traction motor for an electric vehicle is disclosed herein. The electric motor controller comprises a torque demand input for receiving a torque demand input signal based on a request from an operator of the electric vehicle and a torque demand adjuster adapted to adjust the torque demand input signal and to provide an adjusted torque demand signal. The torque demand adjuster is configured to adjust the torque demand signal such that the motor is controlled to reduce the difference between a motor speed and an estimated speed of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: David Hodgson, Howard Slater
  • Publication number: 20180006587
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an AC power supply for an electric motor, said AC power supply being derived from a DC voltage. The apparatus including a comparer configured to provide a comparison of a modulation index of a motor control signal with a reference value. This current data provider is configured to provide current data based on a torque demand signal; a speed signal indicating the speed of rotation of the AC motor; and an indication of the DC voltage modified on the comparison for control of the motor control signal which is based on the motor current data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: Peter Barrass, David Hodgson, Howard Slater
  • Patent number: 9793834
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an AC power supply for an electric motor, said AC power supply being derived from a DC voltage. The apparatus comprises a comparer configured to provide a comparison of a modulation index of a motor control signal with a reference value. This current data provider is configured to provide current data based on a torque demand signal; a speed signal indicating the speed of rotation of the AC motor; and an indication of the DC voltage modified on the comparison for control of the motor control signal which is based on the motor current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: Peter Barrass, David Hodgson, Howard Slater
  • Publication number: 20170205778
    Abstract: An electric motor controller having a front face and a rear face, the front face carrying a plurality of AC output couplings and the controller carrying a converter configured to convert a received DC supply into an output AC supply for controlling an electric motor, the AC output couplings being disposed symmetrically about an axis of symmetry of the controller on the front face of the controller. Also described is an apparatus comprising: a DC series motor; and a first current supply configured to supply a first current to an armature of the DC series motor; a second current supply configured to supply a second current to a field winding of the DC series motor; and a controller configured to control the first current supply to supply the first current based on a required torque output for the motor, and to control the second current supply to supply the second current based on the first current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: Peter Barrass, Gary Squire, Robert Taylor, Howard Slater, David Hodgson, Philip Eagleton
  • Patent number: 9654032
    Abstract: An electric motor controller having a front face and a rear face, the front face carrying a plurality of AC output couplings and the controller carrying a converter configured to convert a received DC supply into an output AC supply for controlling an electric motor, the AC output couplings being disposed symmetrically about an axis of symmetry of the controller on the front face of the controller. Also described is an apparatus comprising: a DC series motor; and a first current supply configured to supply a first current to an armature of the DC series motor; a second current supply configured to supply a second current to a field winding of the DC series motor; and a controller configured to control the first current supply to supply the first current based on a required torque output for the motor, and to control the second current supply to supply the second current based on the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sevcon Limited
    Inventors: Peter Barrass, Gary Squire, Robert Taylor, Howard Slater, David Hodgson, Philip Eagleton
  • Publication number: 20140055077
    Abstract: An electric motor controller having a front face and a rear face, the front face carrying a plurality of AC output couplings and the controller carrying a converter configured to convert a received DC supply into an output AC supply for controlling an electric motor, the AC output couplings being disposed symmetrically about an axis of symmetry of the controller on the front face of the controller. Also described is an apparatus comprising: a DC series motor; and a first current supply configured to supply a first current to an armature of the DC series motor; a second current supply configured to supply a second current to a field winding of the DC series motor; and a controller configured to control the first current supply to supply the first current based on a required torque output for the motor, and to control the second current supply to supply the second current based on the first current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SEVCON LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Barrass, Gary Squire, Robert Taylor, Howard Slater, David Hodgson, Philip Eagleton
  • Publication number: 20090310139
    Abstract: A method for detection of biological materials is described, comprising allowing a substance to be detected to bind to a ligand provided on the surface of a material within which light can undergo attenuated total internal reflection; transmitting light within the material; and detecting any bound substances by a change in light within or adjacent the material. Apparatus for performing the method is also described. The biological materials may be nucleic acids, or an antibody/antigen combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Howard Slater
  • Patent number: 7303923
    Abstract: We describe an assay device which comprises (a) a substrate comprising: (i) a porous material capable of chromatographically transporting a liquid and (ii) one or more test reagents for an assay provided on the porous material; and (b) a water-impermeable coating polymer attached to the porous material so as to define a continuous bibulous compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Diamatrix Limited
    Inventors: David John Hardman, James Howard Slater, Adam G. Reid, William Kenneth Lang, James Richard Jackson
  • Publication number: 20030103869
    Abstract: We describe an assay device which comprises (a) a substrate comprising: (i) a porous material capable of chromatographically transporting a liquid and (ii) one or more test reagents for an assay provided on the porous material; and (b) a water-impermeable coating polymer attached to the porous material so as to define a continuous bibulous compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: DIAMATRIX LIMITED
    Inventors: David John Hardman, James Howard Slater, Adam G. Reid, William Kenneth Lang, James Richard Jackson