Patents by Inventor Ludovic Andre Chretien

Ludovic Andre Chretien 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: 12378969
    Abstract: A control system for an electric motor in a compressor system includes a processing system configured to control an inverter to supply variable frequency power to the electric motor from the inverter. The processing system is configured to determine when to transition from supplying variable frequency power to supplying line frequency power to the electric motor. The processing system is configured to engage a pressure equalization mechanism to at least partially reduce a pressure differential developed between a suction portion and a discharge portion of the compressor system. The processing system is configured to apply line frequency power to at least one winding of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 12270572
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure includes a fluid moving system. The fluid moving system includes a fluid moving apparatus configured to convey a fluid through a housing from an inlet to an outlet. The fluid moving system includes an active cleaning device configured to neutralize or remove at least a portion of an undesired matter from the fluid conveyed through the housing. The fluid moving system includes an electric motor including a rotor coupled to the fluid moving apparatus and configured to turn the fluid moving apparatus upon application of electric power to a stator of the electric motor. The fluid moving system includes a motor controller communicatively coupled to the electric motor and configured to control at least one of a speed output or a torque output thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamad Khalil Dahouk, Roger Carlos Becerra, Zachary Joseph Stauffer, Ludovic Andre Chretien, Michael David Smith, Scott A. Coonrod, Ramin Rezaei
  • Patent number: 12231069
    Abstract: An electric motor system is described. The electric motor system includes a drive circuit including an inverter configured to supply variable frequency current and a contactor configured to supply line frequency current. The electric motor system also includes an electric motor coupled to the drive circuit wherein the electric motor is communicatively coupled to a controller. The controller is configured to control the inverter to supply variable frequency current to the electric motor, thereby operating the electric motor at a motor speed, and determine, based upon at least one input parameter, a maximum potential motor speed the inverter can achieve. The controller is also configured to receive a command to operate the electric motor at line frequency current and control the drive circuit to transition from supplying variable frequency current to supplying line frequency current before the maximum potential motor speed the inverter can achieve is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Lester Benjamin Manz
  • Patent number: 12224693
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes an inverter configured to supply current to stator windings of the electric motor. The motor controller further includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate a sensor signal in response to detecting a parameter. The sensor signal represents a measured parameter. The motor controller further includes a processor coupled in communication with the inverter and with the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to, in a first mode, transmit a control signal to the inverter to operate the electric motor at a first frequency. The processor is further configured to receive the sensor signal from the plurality of sensors. The processor is further configured to determine a first fault condition is present at the electric motor based on the measured parameter represented by the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian Lee Beifus, Michael R. Koller
  • Patent number: 12212253
    Abstract: An electric motor system is provided. The electric motor system includes a drive circuit including an inverter configured to supply variable frequency current over a first duration and a switch configured to supply line frequency current over a second duration. The electric motor system further includes an electric motor coupled to the drive circuit and a controller communicatively coupled to the drive circuit. The controller is configured to control the inverter to supply variable frequency current to the electric motor over the first duration, determine to control the drive circuit to transition from supplying variable frequency current to supplying line frequency current, measure at least one parameter of the inverter, compute, based on the at least one measured parameter, an adjustment to a default parameter to enable the inverter to reach a threshold output frequency, and operate the inverter based on the computed adjustment to the default parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Koller, Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 12191788
    Abstract: An electric motor system is described. The electric motor system includes a drive circuit configured to supply variable frequency current and a contactor configured to supply line frequency current, wherein the drive circuit includes a three-phase inverter and an H-bridge including two phases of the inverter. The electric motor system also includes an electric motor and a controller. The controller is configured to control the inverter to supply variable frequency current to the electric motor over a first duration and determine to control the drive circuit to transition from supplying variable frequency current to supplying line frequency current. The controller is also configured to determine a polarity of a sensed alternating current (AC) voltage, disable at least two switches of the H-bridge, and control the contactor to close, thereby preventing the contactor and the inverter from energizing the electric motor at the same time once the contactor is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Publication number: 20240396409
    Abstract: A system including an electric motor of a compressor system and a controller is disclosed. The electric motor includes an inverter and a contactor to operate the electric motor at variable frequency power and line frequency power, respectively. The controller is configured to determine that the electric motor needs to be operated using the line frequency power instead of the variable frequency power in accordance with a load condition on the system. The controller is configured to determine a time to generate a signal to close the contactor by energizing a coil of the contactor, and initiate transition of the electric motor to operate using the line frequency power instead of the variable frequency power by applying the signal to close the contactor at the determined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Md Naim Miah, Michael R. Koller, Ludovic Andre Chretien, Mehrzad Mohammadi Bijaieh
  • Publication number: 20240388236
    Abstract: A system including an electric motor of a compressor system and a controller is disclosed. The electric motor includes a switch configured to provide line frequency power to the electric motor to drive the electric motor at a full speed, and an inverter to provide variable frequency power to the electric motor to drive the electric motor at a variable speed. The controller is configured to determine whether the switch is closed in response to powering up the electric motor and before supplying the variable frequency power to the electric motor from the inverter. The controller is configured to prevent supply of the variable frequency power to the electric motor from the inverter to prevent damage to the inverter based on the determining that the switch is closed and generate an alert notification to notify a user of a fault in the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael R. Koller, Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 12140345
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a multi-capacity compressor, and a control system for the multi-capacity compressor are described herein. The control system includes an AC line voltage source, a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and a processor. The AC line voltage source is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The variable-voltage variable-frequency drive is coupled to the AC line voltage source and is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor at a variable speed. The processor is coupled to the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and is configured to selectively couple the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to the multi-capacity compressor to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The processor is further configured to transmit a capacity control signal to the multi-capacity compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Norman C. Golm, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12074549
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes a voltage limiting circuit configured to be coupled to an alternating current (AC) source and is configured to limit a voltage at an output node of the AC source, a filter configured to be coupled to the AC source and is configured to produce a filtered line frequency AC signal, a rectifier coupled to the filter and configured to produce a direct current (DC) signal from the filtered line frequency AC signal, an inverter coupled to the rectifier and configured to produce an AC signal on an input node of the electric motor, and a line contactor coupled between the AC source and the input node of the electric motor and configured to supply the input node of the electric motor directly from the AC source to energize stator windings therewith when the inverter is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 12021462
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor using a motor controller including a processor are provided. The method includes transmitting, by the processor, a no-spin signal commanding the electric motor not to spin, receiving temperature information associated with a temperature of the electric motor, comparing the temperature information to a predetermined threshold temperature to determine whether the temperature is at a sufficient level to prevent icing, and adjusting current applied to the electric motor when the temperature measurement is below the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Joseph Stauffer, Mark Lyon Klopp, David Allen Clendenen, Ronald William Blotkamp, Maung Saw Eddison, Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Publication number: 20240204698
    Abstract: An electric motor system is provided. The electric motor system includes a drive circuit including an inverter configured to supply variable frequency current over a first duration and a switch configured to supply line frequency current over a second duration. The electric motor system further includes an electric motor coupled to the drive circuit and a controller communicatively coupled to the drive circuit. The controller is configured to control the inverter to supply variable frequency current to the electric motor over the first duration, determine to control the drive circuit to transition from supplying variable frequency current to supplying line frequency current, measure at least one parameter of the inverter, compute, based on the at least one measured parameter, an adjustment to a default parameter to enable the inverter to reach a threshold output frequency, and operate the inverter based on the computed adjustment to the default parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Michael R. Koller, Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 11959679
    Abstract: A fan drive circuit for a variable speed fan motor in a cooling system, includes an inverter configured to supply a current signal to stator windings of the variable speed fan motor, a frequency detection circuit coupled to an output stage of an inverter of a compressor motor of the cooling system and configured to detect a first frequency of a compressor current signal at the output stage of a variable speed compressor drive circuit and generate a frequency signal, and a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to the inverter and the frequency detection circuit. The DSP is configured to receive the frequency signal corresponding to the first frequency from the frequency detection circuit, select a second frequency corresponding to the first frequency at which to operate the variable speed fan motor, and transmit control signals to the inverter to supply current to the stator windings at the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Mullin, Daniel E. Thompson, Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 11881801
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling hybrid motor drive circuits configured to drive a motor are provided herein. A controller is configured to drive the motor using an inverter when a motor commanded frequency is not within a predetermined range of line input power frequencies, and couple line input power to an output of the inverter using a first switch device when the motor commanded frequency is within the predetermined range of line input power frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Roger Carlos Becerra, Kamron Mark Wright, Lester Benjamin Manz
  • Publication number: 20240014763
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes an inverter configured to supply current to stator windings of the electric motor. The motor controller further includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate a sensor signal in response to detecting a parameter. The sensor signal represents a measured parameter. The motor controller further includes a processor coupled in communication with the inverter and with the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to, in a first mode, transmit a control signal to the inverter to operate the electric motor at a first frequency. The processor is further configured to receive the sensor signal from the plurality of sensors. The processor is further configured to determine a first fault condition is present at the electric motor based on the measured parameter represented by the sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian Lee Beifus, Michael R. Koller
  • Publication number: 20230421086
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes a voltage limiting circuit configured to be coupled to an alternating current (AC) source and is configured to limit a voltage at an output node of the AC source, a filter configured to be coupled to the AC source and is configured to produce a filtered line frequency AC signal, a rectifier coupled to the filter and configured to produce a direct current (DC) signal from the filtered line frequency AC signal, an inverter coupled to the rectifier and configured to produce an AC signal on an input node of the electric motor, and a line contactor coupled between the AC source and the input node of the electric motor and configured to supply the input node of the electric motor directly from the AC source to energize stator windings therewith when the inverter is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventor: Ludovic Andre Chretien
  • Patent number: 11815279
    Abstract: Described herein is an electric motor assembly for an environmental control system. The electric motor assembly includes a fan configured to rotate to circulate air within a controlled environment chamber of the environmental control system, and an electric motor coupled to the fan and configured to rotate the fan. The electric motor includes a motor controller configured to receive a braking control signal from a sensor associated with the controlled environment chamber. The braking control signal indicates an entrance to the controlled environment chamber is about to be opened. The motor controller is also configured to initiate braking the electric motor in response to receiving the braking control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Leonard Theodore McElhose, Mohamad Khalil Dahouk, Paul Steven Mullin
  • Publication number: 20230344379
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling hybrid motor drive circuits configured to drive a motor are provided herein. A controller is configured to drive the motor using an inverter when a motor commanded frequency is not within a predetermined range of line input power frequencies, and couple line input power to an output of the inverter using a first switch device when the motor commanded frequency is within the predetermined range of line input power frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Roger Carlos Becerra, Kamron Mark Wright, Lester Benjamin Manz
  • Publication number: 20230341153
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a multi-capacity compressor, and a control system for the multi-capacity compressor are described herein. The control system includes an AC line voltage source, a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and a processor. The AC line voltage source is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The variable-voltage variable-frequency drive is coupled to the AC line voltage source and is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor at a variable speed. The processor is coupled to the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive and is configured to selectively couple the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to the multi-capacity compressor to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The processor is further configured to transmit a capacity control signal to the multi-capacity compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Norman C. Golm
  • Patent number: 11791760
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes an inverter configured to supply current to stator windings of the electric motor. The motor controller further includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate a sensor signal in response to detecting a parameter. The sensor signal represents a measured parameter. The motor controller further includes a processor coupled in communication with the inverter and with the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to, in a first mode, transmit a control signal to the inverter to operate the electric motor at a first frequency. The processor is further configured to receive the sensor signal from the plurality of sensors. The processor is further configured to determine a first fault condition is present at the electric motor based on the measured parameter represented by the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian Lee Beifus, Michael R. Koller