Patents by Inventor Julie A. Kleinau

Julie A. Kleinau 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).

  • Publication number: 20240079980
    Abstract: A method for determining motor velocity includes receiving motor sensor data from at least one motor sensor associated with an electric motor, the motor sensor data including a plurality of motor sensor measurements and respective time values; determining an average time value based on the respective time values for each motor sensor measurement; generating a first gain value, a second gain value, and a third gain value, the first gain value being generated based on at least the average time value; and estimating a motor velocity based on at least one motor sensor measurement, the average time value, the first gain value, the second gain value, the third gain value, and at least one previously estimated motor velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Gizinski, Julie A. Kleinau, Ashish Verma
  • Patent number: 11892519
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for diagnosing an input power supply providing power to a motor. A method includes: generating a sinusoidal stimulus signal; applying, using the input power supply, the sinusoidal stimulus signal to the motor; measuring a response to the sinusoidal stimulus signal; determining a degraded condition of the input power supply based on the response to the sinusoidal stimulus signal; and performing an action in response to determining the degraded condition of the input power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Gizinski, Julie A. Kleinau, David M. Williams, Clayton D. Larson, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Ashish Verma
  • Publication number: 20230349983
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for diagnosing an input power supply providing power to a motor. A method includes: generating a sinusoidal stimulus signal; applying, using the input power supply, the sinusoidal stimulus signal to the motor; measuring a response to the sinusoidal stimulus signal; determining a degraded condition of the input power supply based on the response to the sinusoidal stimulus signal; and performing an action in response to determining the degraded condition of the input power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Gizinski, Julie A. Kleinau, David M. Williams, Clayton D. Larson, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Ashish Verma
  • Patent number: 11804799
    Abstract: A system for controlling a synchronous motor drive may be configured to receive a command voltage signal and to identify, in the synchronous motor drive, a resistance imbalance signature from the command voltage signal. The system may determine, based on the resistance imbalance signature, respective phase resistances that correspond to phases of a synchronous motor of the synchronous motor drive. Each respective phase resistance may include a phase transistor resistance and a phase winding resistance. The system may identify, based on the phase resistances and an estimated average resistance between the phases of the synchronous motor, one or more phases of the synchronous motor that correspond to one or more phase resistances representing a resistance imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Rakesh Mitra, Darren Qu, Subhra Paul, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20220402544
    Abstract: A method includes receiving motor velocity data, and, in response to a determination that the motor velocity data indicates that a velocity of a motor is below a threshold velocity: calculating a thermal metric corresponding to a phase imbalance of the motor; identifying at least one thermal mitigation parameter based on the thermal metric; generating at least one thermal management motor position command based on the at least one thermal mitigation parameter; and selectively controlling the motor according to the thermal management motor position command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas J. Stutts, Michael A. Eickholt, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Julie A. Kleinau, Prerit Pramod
  • Patent number: 11515813
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a motor control system that provides torque ripple compensation includes a current regulator that receives a first current command corresponding to an input torque command. The current regulator further generates a first voltage command based on the first current command using a first transformation matrix. The current regulator further receives a second current command corresponding to a torque ripple to be compensated. The current regulator further generates a second voltage command based on the second current command using a second transformation matrix. The current regulator further computes a final voltage command using the first voltage command and the second current command, the final voltage command being applied to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 11404984
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for estimating machine parameters of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive. An example method includes determining a region for estimating a machine parameter based on a motor velocity value and a motor current value. The method further includes, in response to the motor velocity value and the motor current value being in the region, estimating an error in estimated voltage command, and estimating the machine parameter using the error in estimated voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Gizinski, Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20220169307
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an input power supply providing power to a motor includes: applying, using the input power supply, a power stimulus to the motor; measuring a response to the power stimulus; calculating, based on the response to the power stimulus, a metric indicative of a status of the input power supply; determining a degraded condition of the input power supply based on the metric indicative of the status of the input power supply; and performing an action in response to determining a degraded condition of the input power supply. The action may include one or more of: limiting an output power supplied to the motor; generating a diagnostic trouble code; and/or notifying an operator of the degraded condition of the input power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Julie A. Kleinau, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Nicholas Gizinski, David M. Williams
  • Patent number: 11139765
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor that generates an output current from an input voltage command. The method receives, from the motor, the output current that includes a direct-axis portion and a quadrature-axis portion, the output current being received as feedback current. The method determines a compensated voltage command by applying, to the feedback current, first gain factors and an inverse of second gain factors. The first gain factors decouple the d-axis portion and the q-axis portion of the compensated voltage command. The inverse of the second gain factors allow the compensated voltage command to be filtered in a manner that preserves decoupling between the d-axis and q-axis. The method determines the input voltage command for the motor by applying the second gain factors to the compensated voltage command to cause the motor to generate the output current with reduced influence of variations of operating parameters of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Varsha Govindu, Julie A. Kleinau, Prerit Pramod
  • Publication number: 20210305929
    Abstract: A system for controlling a synchronous motor drive may be configured to receive a command voltage signal and to identify, in the synchronous motor drive, a resistance imbalance signature from the command voltage signal. The system may determine, based on the resistance imbalance signature, respective phase resistances that correspond to phases of a synchronous motor of the synchronous motor drive. Each respective phase resistance may include a phase transistor resistance and a phase winding resistance. The system may identify, based on the phase resistances and an estimated average resistance between the phases of the synchronous motor, one or more phases of the synchronous motor that correspond to one or more phase resistances representing a resistance imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Rakesh Mitra, Darren Qu, Subhra Paul, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 11091193
    Abstract: A system includes a first module that: receives the output current from the electric motor as a feedback, the output current including a direct axis component and a quadrature axis component; and generates a first voltage command based on a virtual resistance value, the feedback, and a targeted frequency characteristic of the motor control system. The system includes: a second module that: receives a difference between the feedback and a commanded current; and generates a second voltage command based on an estimated inductance value, an estimated resistance value of an electric motor, the virtual resistance value, a targeted frequency response characteristic of the motor control system, and the response of the d-axis component of the output current being decoupled from the response of the q-axis component. The system includes an addition module that generates an input voltage command for the electric motor by adding the first and second voltage commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 10960922
    Abstract: A control system for monitoring operation of an electric motor includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a position of the electric motor, an indirect position estimation module configured to indirectly estimate the position of the motor, and an error monitoring module. The error monitoring module is configured to perform at least one of: comparing a measured position from the plurality of position sensors to an estimated position from the sensor position estimation module, and detecting a failure of at least one of the one or more position sensors based on the comparison; and calculating a difference between the measured position from one of the plurality of position sensors and the measured position from another of the plurality of position sensors, and causing the indirect position estimation module to initiate estimation of the position of the motor based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Rakesh Mitra, Jeffery A. Zuraski, Ashok Chandy, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 10676129
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present invention a steer by wire steering system includes a deviation detection unit configured to determine a deviation signal that is indicative of a disturbance in one or more components coupled to a rack. The steer by wire steering system further includes a handwheel notification module configured to generate a modification signal based on the deviation signal, in response to the deviation signal being detected for at least a predetermined duration. The steer by wire steering system further includes a handwheel control module that generates an input command corresponding to a reference torque generated by a road wheel actuator, a feedback torque for a driver is generated based on the input command. The handwheel control module further modifies the input command using the modification signal, the modification providing a notification corresponding to the disturbance to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Tejas M. Varunjikar, Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau, Michael Eickholt, Rangarajan Ramanujam, Dennis B. Skellenger, Steven D. Klein
  • Publication number: 20200114950
    Abstract: A system includes a first module that: receives the output current from the electric motor as a feedback, the output current including a direct axis component and a quadrature axis component; and generates a first voltage command based on a virtual resistance value, the feedback, and a targeted frequency characteristic of the motor control system. The system includes: a second module that: receives a difference between the feedback and a commanded current; and generates a second voltage command based on an estimated inductance value, an estimated resistance value of an electric motor, the virtual resistance value, a targeted frequency response characteristic of the motor control system, and the response of the d-axis component of the output current being decoupled from the response of the q-axis component. The system includes an addition module that generates an input voltage command for the electric motor by adding the first and second voltage commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20190393818
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for estimating machine parameters of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive. An example method includes determining a region for estimating a machine parameter based on a motor velocity value and a motor current value. The method further includes, in response to the motor velocity value and the motor current value being in the region, estimating an error in estimated voltage command, and estimating the machine parameter using the error in estimated voltage command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Gizinski, Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20190389508
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present invention a steer by wire steering system includes a deviation detection unit configured to determine a deviation signal that is indicative of a disturbance in one or more components coupled to a rack. The steer by wire steering system further includes a handwheel notification module configured to generate a modification signal based on the deviation signal, in response to the deviation signal being detected for at least a predetermined duration. The steer by wire steering system further includes a handwheel control module that generates an input command corresponding to a reference torque generated by a road wheel actuator, a feedback torque for a driver is generated based on the input command. The handwheel control module further modifies the input command using the modification signal, the modification providing a notification corresponding to the disturbance to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Tejas M. Varunjikar, Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau, Michael Eickholt, Rangarajan Ramanujam, Dennis B. Skellenger, Steven D. Klein
  • Publication number: 20190296666
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a motor control system that provides torque ripple compensation includes a current regulator that receives a first current command corresponding to an input torque command. The current regulator further generates a first voltage command based on the first current command using a first transformation matrix. The current regulator further receives a second current command corresponding to a torque ripple to be compensated. The current regulator further generates a second voltage command based on the second current command using a second transformation matrix. The current regulator further computes a final voltage command using the first voltage command and the second current command, the final voltage command being applied to a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: PRERIT PRAMOD, JULIE A. KLEINAU
  • Patent number: 10389289
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor in a motor control system is provided. The method determines a control voltage budget value based on an operating region of the motor. The method adjusts a supply voltage signal based on the control voltage budget value. The method determines a motor voltage command based on the adjusted supply voltage signal. The method applies a voltage corresponding to the motor voltage command to the motor in order to generate a desired motor torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Julie A. Kleinau, Siddharth Ballal
  • Patent number: 10135368
    Abstract: A system for reducing a torque ripple cancellation command is provided and includes a current regulator that provides motor voltage commands to a motor, and a torque ripple cancellation module that generates a torque ripple cancellation command based on input currents to the current regulator. A ramp-down command generator module that provides a ramp-down command to the torque ripple cancellation module is also provided. The ramp-down command is based on a voltage saturation indicator, and a voltage saturation indicator generator that generates a voltage saturation indicator signal. The voltage saturation indicator signal is based on a supply voltage signal and a motor voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Siddharth Ballal, Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 10103667
    Abstract: A system for preventing controller windup in an electric motor includes a limiting module that determines a limited voltage command in response to a commanded voltage exceeding an available voltage of a motor power source, the limited voltage command is applied to an electric motor, a saturation parameter module that determines a saturation parameter based on the limited voltage command, the saturation parameter indicates a magnitude of the commanded voltage exceeding the available voltage, a non-linear processing module that processes the saturation parameter to generate a processed saturation parameter, and a reference current modifier module that generates a modified current command based on the processed saturation parameter, the modified current command is applied to the control system to improve the current command tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau