Patents by Inventor Kazuaki Tobari

Kazuaki Tobari 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: 7528568
    Abstract: A vector controller for a permanent magnet synchronous motor according to the present invention has a motor constant identifying unit for identifying motor constants of the permanent magnet synchronous motor, which is connected to an electric power converter in the vector controller, by using a second d-axis current command value, a second q-axis current command value, a detected output current of the electric power converter, and motor constant settings. The vector controller uses the motor constants identified by the motor constant identifying unit in vector control calculation so as to control the driving of the permanent magnet synchronous motor. Thereby, the vector controller achieves torque control with high accuracy and superior responsiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endo, Yoshiki Ito
  • Patent number: 7521887
    Abstract: A vector controller for a permanent magnet synchronous motor uses current command values and detected currents of the d-axis and q-axis, a calculated frequency, and motor constant settings to control the output voltage of a power converter; the motor constants are identified by use of active or reactive power obtained from the output voltage and detected current of the power converter, the calculated frequency, and the detected current immediately before or during an actual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endo
  • Publication number: 20090058331
    Abstract: A semiconductor power converter includes a power converter for converting direct current to three-phase alternating current or vice versa; a means for detecting a current in an alternating current side of the power converter; a means for providing a current reference in the alternating current side of the power converter; a current controller for calculating a voltage reference in the alternating current side of the power converter to match the current reference and a value of the detected current; and a pulse width modulation means for controlling the power converter through pulse width modulation based on the voltage reference, wherein the current reference is used in place of the value of the detected current for at least one phase current among three phase currents in the alternating current side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Shigehisa Aoyagi, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Kazuaki Tobari, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Donsheng Li
  • Publication number: 20080265809
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus which controls an output voltage reference for an inverter driving a permanent magnet synchronous motor based on d-axis and q-axis current references, d-axis and q-axis current detected values, and a computed frequency value. When a torque reference specifying torque greater than maximum torque that the motor can output is input, a limit value for a phase angle that is a deviation between a rotation phase reference of control and a rotation phase value of the motor is varied depending on a quantity of the predetermined state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Kentaro Ol, Kazuaki Tobari, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tatsuo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7443120
    Abstract: A field weakening vector controller is disclosed which calculates a d-axis current command value for a power converter to drive a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The field weakening vector controller includes a stabilization calculator, a d-axis current command calculator, a q-axis current command calculator, and a phase calculator. The d-axis current command calculator corrects the d-axis current command value, while the stabilization calculator calculates a product of the phase error and the d-axis command value. The q-axis current command calculator corrects the q-axis current command value using this product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Daisuke Maeda, Tsunehiro Endo
  • Publication number: 20080157709
    Abstract: Current command values are used instead of detected current values to estimate axis error by calculation. An axis error command value is generated according to a speed command value, and a difference between the generated axis error command value and the estimated axis error value is used to control an estimated frequency value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Daigo Kaneko, Hajime Uematsu, Masakazu Hase
  • Publication number: 20080157710
    Abstract: In a driving system for an inverter that uses a diode rectifying circuit to convert a single-phase or three-phase AC voltage to a desired DC voltage and drives a permanent magnet motor, a DC-voltage pulsating frequency is estimated from a pulsating frequency setting calculated from the power supply frequency of an AC voltage and the detected current values of the inverter, and the resulting estimated pulsating frequency value and detected current values are used to correct the output voltage of the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Hajime Uematsu, Masakazu Hase
  • Patent number: 7388341
    Abstract: A vector control system for a permanent magnet synchronous motor, using a current control equivalent output value, a frequency instruction value, a current detection value, an inference phase error value, and a motor constant, identifies a motor resistance equivalent or a resistance setting error equivalent. Next, the vector control unit, using the identified value, corrects a set value R* equivalent of a voltage instruction calculation unit and a n inference phase error calculation unit. Thereby, a vector control system for a permanent magnet synchronous motor can realize a robust control characteristic for changing of a resistance constant of a motor in a low rotation speed area under position sensor-less control. Further, a vector control system for a permanent magnet synchronous motor can be applied in common in a system performing inexpensive current detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Tsunehiro Endo, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Yukio Kawabata, Shigehisa Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20080079378
    Abstract: A controller and a constant measuring apparatus have a means for supplying a synthesized current, resulting from superimposing an AC current to a DC current, from an inverter and for changing the DC current component of the synthesized current continuously or discontinuously. Accordingly, the controller and constant measuring apparatus can measure inductances, which are electric constants of the AC motor, with high accuracy and can use the measured inductances for control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: JUNNOSUKE NAKATSUGAWA, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Kazuaki Tobari
  • Publication number: 20080048606
    Abstract: In a system in which current is detected in an inexpensive manner or in a system in which a position detector is omitted, the present invention provides a high-efficiency vector controller for a permanent magnet motor that can minimize current at the same torque even when there is setting error (R?R*) in resistance. Even when a current value commanded for the d-axis is set to zero, a virtual inductance value calculated from a detected q-axis current value is used for output voltage value calculation and phase error estimation calculation; so even if there is setting error (R?R*) in resistance, current can be minimized at the same torque and thereby the present invention can provide a high-efficiency vector controller for a permanent magnet motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Terutaka Endo, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Daisuke Maeda, Shigehisa Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20070216342
    Abstract: A vector control apparatus for a permanent magnet motor operated in the region of weak magnet field, wherein when the output voltages of the power converter saturate, the phase error command value represented by the difference between the angular position of the reference axis for control and the angular position of the motor magnetic flux axis is generated on the basis of the difference between the q-axis current command value and the detected value of the q-axis current, and the command values for the output voltages of the power converter are corrected by using the phase error command value, whereby a highly responsive torque control with high precision can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Kentaro Ohi, Yoshitaka Iwaji
  • Publication number: 20070159130
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the drive of an electric motor, having a current detector for detecting the current through an externally connected electric motor; a controller for generating a control signal to control the electric motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector and the speed command for specifying the rotational speed of the electric motor; wherein the apparatus includes a load estimator for estimating the mechanical load condition associated with the electric motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector and the speed command, and the controller controls the electric motor current on the basis of the detected current, the speed command and the estimated load condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Daigo Kaneko, Takahiro Suzuki, Tsunehiro Endo, Kazuaki Tobari, Hajime Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20070126391
    Abstract: A vector controller for a permanent magnet synchronous motor uses current command values and detected currents of the d-axis and q-axis, a calculated frequency, and motor constant settings to control the output voltage of a power converter; the motor constants are identified by use of active or reactive power obtained from the output voltage and detected current of the power converter, the calculated frequency, and the detected current immediately before or during an actual operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endo
  • Publication number: 20070085507
    Abstract: A stable motor control characteristics can be accomplished by correcting a q-axis current command value by a product of a d-axis current command value (or a detected current value) calculated by field weakening control and a sine signal which is a phase difference between the reference axis of control and the reference axis of the motor. Thereby, a “field weakening vector controller for the permanent magnet synchronous motor” which accomplishes a high-precision, high-response, and high-stability motor torque control even in a field weakening region and which is applicable both to an inexpensive current detecting system and to a system without a pole position detector is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Daisuke Maeda, Tsunehiro Endo
  • Publication number: 20070035269
    Abstract: A vector controller for a permanent magnet synchronous motor according to the present invention has a motor constant identifying unit for identifying motor constants of the permanent magnet synchronous motor, which is connected to an electric power converter in the vector controller, by using a second d-axis current command value, a second q-axis current command value, a detected output current of the electric power converter, and motor constant settings. The vector controller uses the motor constants identified by the motor constant identifying unit in vector control calculation so as to control the driving of the permanent magnet synchronous motor. Thereby, the vector controller achieves torque control with high accuracy and superior responsiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endo, Yoshiki Ito
  • Publication number: 20070024232
    Abstract: A motor controller capable of suppressing a large speed change generated at the time of changeover from a synchronous operation mode to a position feedback operation mode and implementing even acceleration characteristics regardless of the load torque by estimating a torque of a permanent magnet motor in the synchronous operation mode for driving the permanent magnet motor and setting an initial value of a current command value in a position sensor-less operation mode on the basis of information of the torque estimated value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Takahiro Suzuki, Tsunehiro Endo, Kazuaki Tobari, Daigo Kaneko, Daisuke Maeda, Akira Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7148651
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a permanent magnet synchronous motor by accurately detecting 3-phase motor currents from a DC input current in a full voltage range are provided. In the motor control apparatus for detecting the 3-phase motor currents on the basis of the value of the current detected at a DC side of a PWM inverter, when a difference width between PWM pulse signals of two of three phases of the 3-phase PWM inverter which cannot detect the motor currents is not larger than a predetermined value or when the output voltage of the 3-phase PWM inverter is low, the apparatus automatically reduce the carrier frequency of the PWM inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endo, Hidefumi Shirahama, Yoshiki Itou
  • Patent number: 7075266
    Abstract: A method controls a torque of an a. c. motor which does not cause a shortage of torque by using an economical current detection which estimates d- and q-axis currents Idc, Iqc from d. c. current IDC flowing through an input d. c. bus line of a power converter. A value of d- and q-axis motor currents Id, Iq of a rotational coordinate system are estimated from detected input d. c. current IDC flowing through the bus line of the power converter to which power is input from a d. c. power source 21. A output voltages of the power converter 2 are controlled so that the estimated currents Idc, Iqc are equal to respective current instruction values Id*, Iq*. Errors of motor constants are determined from information on the motor currents and the rotational phase errors by an operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endou, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Hidefumi Shirahama, Yasuo Notohara
  • Publication number: 20060055362
    Abstract: A vector control system for a permanent magnet synchronous motor, using a current control equivalent output value, a frequency instruction value, a current detection value, an inference phase error value, and a motor constant, identifies a motor resistance equivalent or a resistance setting error equivalent. Next, the vector control unit, using the identified value, corrects a set value R* equivalent of a voltage instruction calculation unit and a n inference phase error calculation unit. Thereby, a vector control system for a permanent magnet synchronous motor can realize a robust control characteristic for changing of a resistance constant of a motor in a low rotation speed area under position sensor-less control. Further, a vector control system for a permanent magnet synchronous motor can be applied in common in a system performing inexpensive current detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Tsunehiro Endo, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Yukio Kawabata, Shigehisa Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 6954050
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to inhibit the axial displacement caused by the insufficiency of a control response angular frequency of a frequency arithmetic unit of a synchronous motor and realize high-precision torque control also in acceleration/deceleration. To achieve the object, the axial displacement of the synchronous motor caused by the insufficiency of the control response angular frequency of the frequency arithmetic unit is estimated in consideration of the control response angular frequency and input ??c3 (=??c1+??c2) including an estimated value ??c2 in addition to an axial displacement operated value ??c1 to the frequency arithmetic unit is acquired. Hereby, even if the frequency arithmetic unit has an insufficient control response angular frequency, the quantity of axial displacement which will be caused by the insufficiency is estimated as a second axial displacement signal ??c2, is added and input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Tobari, Tsunehiro Endo, Hidefumi Shirahama, Yoshiyuki Taguchi, Tomofumi Okubo