Patents by Inventor Thomas Devos

Thomas Devos 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: 11843338
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a variable speed drive driving an electric motor. The variable speed drive is connected to an electric power source and comprises a passive DC-link and an inverter stage controlled by a first controller of the variable speed drive. The passive DC-link is connected to the inverter stage. The method comprises running the electric motor to reach a steady-state operating point, measuring a plurality of values of current or voltage of the passive DC-link, and computing, by a second controller, a frequency spectrum of the DC-link based on the plurality of values of current or voltage measured. The method further comprises detecting a specific resonance frequency by comparing amplitudes of the frequency spectrum to a predetermined pattern, and modifying filter parameters of a digital filter of the DC-link or control parameters of a control law of the electric motor based on the specific resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Mohamad Koteich, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 11811343
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a synchronous motor using a variable speed drive. The motor includes a permanent magnet rotor generating a magnetic flux. The method includes applying a predefined electrical command signal to the motor and estimating a motor speed in response to the applying of the predefined electrical command signal. The method also includes reaching a desired estimated motor speed and, in response to reaching the desired estimated motor speed, estimating a parameter related to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet rotor. The method further includes recording the estimated parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11722084
    Abstract: Examples include a method of control implemented in a variable speed drive for controlling an electric motor during backspin, wherein the method includes: determining, by the variable speed drive, a mechanical power value occurring at a backspin speed and an estimated load torque; determining, by the variable speed drive, a specific electrical losses profile occurring at a motor flux level, wherein the specific electrical losses profile coincides with the mechanical power value; determining, by the variable speed drive, a flux reference and a speed reference to be applied to the motor to coincide with the specific electrical losses profile; and controlling, by the variable speed drive, the backspin speed of the motor to maintain the coincidence with the specific electrical losses profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Alain Dutrey, Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20230243889
    Abstract: A diagnostic process for a cabling of a three phase motor in a “delta-inside” configuration with a soft starter to a three phases power supply including, after cabling a soft starter with the thyristor outputs of the soft starter to the motor windings inputs, cabling the motor windings outputs to the main phases and powering the power supply or prior to startup of the motor, at least a test process including: measuring with voltage sensors connected to the Mains inputs, voltage sensors connected to the motor outputs of the thyristors of the soft starter and observer functions within the soft starter the frequency, voltage and phase angle of the Mains and motor lines in order to compare such voltages and phases without triggering the thyristors; calculating the differential angle ?? between the motor electric rotation angle ?M and the Mains rotation angle ?A; comparing the calculated differential angle ?? with known differential angles corresponding to a correct cabling differential angle and faulty cablings d
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, Simon Gervais, Saïd Talbi
  • Publication number: 20230006597
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a variable speed drive driving an electric motor. The variable speed drive is connected to an electric power source and comprises a passive DC-link and an inverter stage controlled by a first controller of the variable speed drive. The passive DC-link is connected to the inverter stage. The method comprises running the electric motor to reach a steady-state operating point, measuring a plurality of values of current or voltage of the passive DC-link, and computing, by a second controller, a frequency spectrum of the DC-link based on the plurality of values of current or voltage measured. The method further comprises detecting a specific resonance frequency by comparing amplitudes of the frequency spectrum to a predetermined pattern, and modifying filter parameters of a digital filter of the DC-link or control parameters of a control law of the electric motor based on the specific resonance frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Mohamad Koteich, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 11509252
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive supplying power to an electric motor, the variable speed drive comprising a plurality of at least Ni low-voltage power cells connected in series, comprising: upon reception of a speed command, determining a number Mi of cells sufficient to supply power to the motor at a target voltage V that is determined based on the speed command; and activating the Mi power cells from among the Ni power cells, and deactivating the Ni-Mi other power cells in order to supply power to the motor in accordance with the speed command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Emmanuel Frappe, François Malrait, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 11404982
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical motor taking in account slip frequency. The method including determining amplitude, phase and frequency of the stator voltage from voltage measurements, determining estimates for current components from current measurement and stator voltage phase, determining estimate for torque from voltage amplitude, frequency, current amplitude and motor data, determining estimate for speed from torque, frequency and motor data, and determining over-estimation of speed from speed estimate, torque estimate and slip frequency. The over-estimation may be used to improve functional safety of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François Malrait, Thomas Devos
  • Publication number: 20220200489
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a motor soft-starter for starting an electric motor on a three-phases electric network in order to compensate a misbalance between the windings of the electric motor due to a misbalance between the phases of the electric network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11356046
    Abstract: An electronic determination device is configured for determining at least one characteristic parameter of an electric machine with P phases, P?3, connected to an electric starter and including at least P-1 switching arms, each switching arm being connected to a respective phase of the electric machine. The determination device comprises a control module configured to control respective switching arm(s) to close and the other switching arm(s) to open, so as to generate a current injection on two phases of the electric machine; an acquisition module configured to acquire measurements of respective current(s) and voltage(s) for said two phases, further to the generation of the current injection; and a calculation module configured to calculate at least one characteristic parameter of the electric machine according to the respective current(s) and voltage(s) measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11349427
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive comprising Ni low-voltage power cells connected in series for each phase among multiple phases, i being a phase index. The method comprises repeating P iterations comprising: activating at least one cell of one or more phases and deactivating the other power cells of the variable speed drive, wherein the at least one activated cell is selected on the basis of predefined activation controls depending on an iteration index; and receiving at least one output voltage of the variable speed drive across the terminals of the electrical device for at least one phase. The method further comprises, at the end of the P iterations, determining, from the measured output voltages, values of rectified voltage at the output of respective rectification stages of the power cells, and storing the rectified voltages obtained, which are respectively associated with the power cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20220077801
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a synchronous motor using a variable speed drive. The motor includes a permanent magnet rotor generating a magnetic flux. The method includes applying a predefined electrical command signal to the motor and estimating a motor speed in response to the applying of the predefined electrical command signal. The method also includes reaching a desired estimated motor speed and, in response to reaching the desired estimated motor speed, estimating a parameter related to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet rotor. The method further includes recording the estimated parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20220077803
    Abstract: Examples include a method for controlling a variable speed drive of an electric motor. The variable speed drive is connected to a torque sensor for sensing a torque supplied by the electric motor. The method includes performing, by the electric motor, a predetermined torque sequence. The method also includes measuring, by the torque sensor, a measured torque sequence corresponding to the predetermined torque sequence, and comparing the predetermined torque sequence and the measured torque sequence. As a result of the comparison, one or more torque sensor transfer function parameters are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Al Kassem Jebai, Thomas Devos
  • Patent number: 11251733
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive arranged for powering an electric motor, the variable speed drive comprising a power part and a control part. The method comprises a preliminary phase of storing a set of predetermined levels of flux of the electric motor. Then, during a current phase, the method comprises selecting a level of flux from among the set of predetermined levels of flux and controlling the power part of the variable speed drive based on the selected level of flux as reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François Malrait, Thomas Devos
  • Publication number: 20220045639
    Abstract: Examples include a method of control implemented in a variable speed drive for controlling an electric motor during backspin, wherein the method comprises includes: determining, by the variable speed drive, a mechanical power value occurring at a backspin speed and an estimated load torque; determining, by the variable speed drive, a specific electrical losses profile occurring at a motor flux level, wherein the specific electrical losses profile coincides with the mechanical power value; determining, by the variable speed drive, a flux reference and a speed reference to be applied to the motor to coincide with the specific electrical losses profile ; and controlling, by the variable speed drive, the backspin speed of the motor to maintain the coincidence with the specific electrical losses profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Alain Dutrey, Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Patent number: 11095236
    Abstract: A method for configuring a variable speed drive in charge of power supply of an electric motor. The method comprises the application of a sequence of motor voltages to the electric motor by the variable speed drive and the obtaining, in parallel, of measurements of motor current. The method then determines a feature of the electric motor on the basis of the measurements of motor current and determines a type of electric motor at least as a function of the feature. The variable speed drive is then set up on the basis of the determined type of electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François Malrait, Thomas Devos, Al Kassem Jebai
  • Publication number: 20210167711
    Abstract: An electronic determination device is configured for determining at least one characteristic parameter of an electric machine with P phases, P?3, connected to an electric starter and including at least P-1 switching arms, each switching arm being connected to a respective phase of the electric machine. The determination device comprises a control module configured to control respective switching arm(s) to close and the other switching arm(s) to open, so as to generate a current injection on two phases of the electric machine; an acquisition module configured to acquire measurements of respective current(s) and voltage(s) for said two phases, further to the generation of the current injection; and a calculation module configured to calculate at least one characteristic parameter of the electric machine according to the respective current(s) and voltage(s) measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, François Malrait
  • Publication number: 20210135612
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical motor taking in account slip frequency. The method including determining amplitude, phase and frequency of the stator voltage from voltage measurements, determining estimates for current components from current measurement and stator voltage phase, determining estimate for torque from voltage amplitude, frequency, current amplitude and motor data, determining estimate for speed from torque, frequency and motor data, and determining over-estimation of speed from speed estimate, torque estimate and slip frequency. The over-estimation may be used to improve functional safety of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François MALRAIT, Thomas DEVOS
  • Publication number: 20210067076
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed drive arranged for powering an electric motor, the variable speed drive comprising a power part and a control part. The method comprises a preliminary phase of storing a set of predetermined levels of flux of the electric motor. Then, during a current phase, the method comprises selecting a level of flux from among the set of predetermined levels of flux and controlling the power part of the variable speed drive based on the selected level of flux as reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François MALRAIT, Thomas DEVOS
  • Patent number: 10892693
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor, implemented in a variable speed drive, the variable speed drive being connected to the electric motor through a transformer, the method including; executing an identification sequence of the transformer for determining gain data corresponding to an inverse function of a transfer function of the transformer; generating a transfer module based on said determined gain data; determining a start-up sequence of the electric motor to be implemented by the variable speed drive by executing the transfer module on a reference current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Thomas Devos, Al Kassem Jebai, Francois Malrait
  • Publication number: 20200295679
    Abstract: A method for configuring a variable speed drive in charge of power supply of an electric motor. The method comprises the application of a sequence of motor voltages to the electric motor by the variable speed drive and the obtaining, in parallel, of measurements of motor current. The method then determines a feature of the electric motor on the basis of the measurements of motor current and determines a type of electric motor at least as a function of the feature. The variable speed drive is then set up on the basis of the determined type of electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: François MALRAIT, Thomas DEVOS, Al Kassem JEBAI