Patents by Inventor Michael Lacroix

Michael Lacroix 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: 20080024084
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of, and system for, linear speed control for an electric motor, in which a digital to analog converter means is used for converting an 8-bit digital signal to an analog voltage for setting voltage across a motor, a digital state machine means is used for converting the duty cycle of an input signal for output to the digital to analog converter means, and a closed loop feedback loop means is used for monitoring and setting the voltage across the motor. An over-current sense circuit can be used for monitoring the current across the electric motor. An over/under voltage sense circuit can be used for monitoring voltage of the electric motor. The resulting 8-bit digital control signal is converted to an analog voltage for the electric motor. Such methods and systems find particular use in automotive applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Michael LaCroix
  • Publication number: 20060245956
    Abstract: An electric fluid pump includes an upper housing having a fluid inlet and outlet. An impeller is seated within the upper housing for pumping fluid between the inlet and the outlet. The impeller includes at least one magnet secured thereto. A lower housing mates with the upper housing. The lower housing has an upper wall for closing the upper housing and a shaft extending from the upper wall for rotatably supporting the impeller. A stator is seated within the lower housing and spaced from the impeller by the upper wall. The stator includes a plurality of pillars supporting a winding of coils for producing a magnetic field to energize the magnet and rotate the impeller, and a plurality of top plates covering each of the coils and spaced apart by a predetermined gap for maintaining the magnetic field between the stator and the impeller. An end cap closes the stator within the lower housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Lacroix, Dean Bajlon, Malcolm Clough