Patents by Inventor Willliam Vail

Willliam Vail 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).

  • Rotor position encoder having features in decodable angular positions
    Patent number: 5539293
    Abstract: A rotor position encoder for an electric motor includes a discate member mounted to rotate with the rotor shaft. The encoder has a set of radially extending features formed with angularly evenly spaced leading edges and unevenly spaced trailing edges. The leading edges induce a signal in a sensor that corresponds to the relative timing of power switches for each motor phase. The trailing edges define a cyclical code by which motor controlling circuitry is able to determine the phase of rotation of the rotor and thus establish the correct power switch actuation sequence. An electric motor control system and methods of starting electric motors are also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Switched Reluctance Drives Limited
    Inventors: Steven P. Randall, David M. Sudgen, Willliam Vail, Geoffrey T. Brown