Patents Issued in May 20, 2008
  • Patent number: 7375449
    Abstract: An electrical machine having a magnet assembly with a magnet carrier ring with an even number of permanent magnets mounted in the carrier ring around a circular locus, and a conductor assembly with one or more conductor circuits wound in a double helix wave winding around a flat conductor support ring with the conductor circuits having uniformly curved conductor segments of involute or arcuate configuration wherein the magnet assembly and conductor assembly are contained in a housing with the magnet assembly rotating relative to the conductor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: Paul D. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 7375450
    Abstract: A hub unit for use in electrically assisted bicycles has an improved effect to radiate heat from a stator. A hub (7) has inner teeth (66a) meshable with planetary gears (65) and a fixing support shaft (57) projecting from opposite ends of the hub and provided fixedly relative to a motor housing (5). The motor housing (5) has no cylindrical wall (8) covering the outer peripheral surface of the stator (3) but leaves the stator outer peripheral surface exposed to effectively release the heat generated by the windings of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Tanaka, Kazuhiro Tomoshige, Ryohei Adachi
  • Patent number: 7375451
    Abstract: Electric motor (1) comprising a stator (2), a magnetic induction core (3) constrained to said stator, at least one magnetic excitation coil (4a, 4b) associated to said induction core, a rotor (5) of substantially cylindrical shape comprising at least one permanent magnet adapted to form on said rotor at least two magnetic poles of opposite polarity, said core and said coils being adapted to form at least two magnetic induction poles of opposite polarity on said stator core of contiguous poles united in a single body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Faber S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Patarchi
  • Patent number: 7375452
    Abstract: A commutator for an electrical machine, in particular for an electric motor for actuating drives in motor vehicles, has a commutator body that supports commutator laminations. To reduce the electromagnetic radiation, emitted into the environment as interfering radiation, that is engendered by spark development in the commutation operation, the commutator body is embodied as a hollow cylinder, and the commutator laminations are disposed on the inner jacket face of the commutator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Kuechen, Claus Schmiederer
  • Patent number: 7375453
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave substrate includes: a diamond layer; a piezoelectric layer of aluminum nitride; and a titanium nitride-based buffer layer sandwiched between the diamond layer and the piezoelectric layer. The titanium nitride-based buffer layer includes a graded structure or includes a first sub-layer of titanium and a second sub-layer of titanium nitride sandwiched between the first sub-layer and the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Tamkang University
    Inventors: I-Nan Lin, Jin-Hua Huang, Cheng-Hsien Chou
  • Patent number: 7375454
    Abstract: [Problems] To provide a surface acoustic wave excitation device for efficiently exciting the surface acoustic wave on the surface of a material such as glass having free size and shape for making mechanical vibration available. [Means to Solve the Problems] The surface acoustic wave excitation device according to the present invention comprises a non-piezoelectric member 30 such as glass, a piezoelectric member 20, interdigital transducers 11 interposed between the non-piezoelectric member 30 and the piezoelectric member 20, and pre-pressurizing means 42 for pressing the piezoelectric member 20 onto the non-piezoelectric member 30 by way of the interdigital transducers. Alternating voltage is applied to the interdigital transducers 11 for exciting the surface acoustic wave on the non-piezoelectric member 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: National University Corporation Saitama University
    Inventor: Masaya Takasaki
  • Patent number: 7375455
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor drive device capable of prolong the service life of an ultrasonic motor by preventing the motor from being unstably operated when the motor is driven at a lower speed of at least two speeds. When the ultrasonic motor (3) is driven at a rather low speed in normal driving, the motor can be prevented from being unstably operated by its driving at a rather low speed by driving the motor at a rather high speed for each specified interval. Thus, the service life of the ultrasonic motor can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koizumi, Kazuyoshi Irioka, Masao Onozuka
  • Patent number: 7375456
    Abstract: The HID lamp mount has a discharge tube with two ends. A shroud surrounds the tube. Shroud clips position the shroud ends. The shroud clips have arcuate portions engaging the shroud periphery and transverse portions spanning the shroud diameter and grasping and positioning the tube ends. A shroud rod attaches between the clips to maintain their positioning. An electrical lead-in connects the second electrode terminus and has a first leg extending transversely from the terminus and a second leg extending parallel to the electrode. An offset electrical lead-in connects the first electrode terminus, and has a first section extending transversely to the first electrode, a second section extending parallel to the shroud, a third section extending toward the shroud, and a fourth section extending parallel to the shroud. An offset electrical lead-in retaining clip is affixed to the shroud and the fourth section of the offset electrical lead-in retaining clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Collins, John A. Scholz, Kenneth J. Rochon
  • Patent number: 7375458
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to continuous carbon-nanotube filaments of radiation-emitting devices and methods for fabricating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Pavel Kornilovich, James Stasiak, Robert Bicknell
  • Patent number: 7375459
    Abstract: This invention is intended to overcome the problems with conventional phosphor materials, specifically to overcome the problems of insufficient luminance and of color impurity on the screens of color display units when green phosphor materials have blue or red light emission. This invention is intended to provide vacuum ultraviolet excited green phosphor materials that include terbium, gadolinium-doped rare-earth aluminum scandium borate represented by the following general formula: (Y1-x-yGdxTby)Al3-zScz(BO3)4 (0?x?0.5, 0<y<0.5, 0<z?3). The phosphor materials of this invention can be used for light-emitting devices. Using the phosphor materials in combination with blue phosphor materials and red phosphor materials enables the formation of white emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Yoshida, Ryo Yoshimatsu
  • Patent number: 7375460
    Abstract: There is provided an electron emitting device, including a substrate, a pair of electrodes formed on the substrate and spaced apart from each other, a pair of electrically conductive layers formed on the electrodes, respectively, a distance between the electrically conductive layers being shorter than a distance between the electrodes, and an electron emitting layer formed between the electrically conductive layers and containing carbon and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiki Ishizuka, Katsuyuki Naito, Masahiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7375461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passive matrix-driven display based on electroluminescent polymers having a structured matrix of pixels and a structured second electrode with electrode connectors, having the following features: the functional polymers are delimited by windows of an insulating layer and contact a first electrode structured in the shape of strips and a second electrode, running parallel to the first electrode and also strip-shaped, which is in contact with electrode connectors; additional windows are disposed in the insulating layer and are positioned over the electrode connectors for the second electrode, or areas of the insulating layer are disposed between the electrode connectors; an encapsulation is provided that covers the insulating layer with the functional polymers and the second electrode, but leaves one end of each electrode connector exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Birnstock, Joerg Blaessing, Karsten Heuser, Matthias Stoessel, Georg Wittmann
  • Patent number: 7375462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device comprising a UV stabilizer and provides an organic electroluminescent display device whose characteristics are not degraded by ultraviolet rays even after being exposed to sunlight by providing an organic electroluminescent display device comprising a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, a light emitting layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the upper part of the light emitting layer, wherein the light emitting layer is doped with a UV stabilizer, and the UV stabilizer has an absorption range of 420 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Chul Suh, Nam-Choul Yang, Mu-Hyun Kim, Byung-Doo Chin, Seong-Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 7375463
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first waveguide layer in which multiple-beam interference occurs, a second wavelength layer which includes a back surface facing the first waveguide layer and a front surface as a light output surface, and an outcoupling layer which is disposed on a back side of the second waveguide layer and faces the first wave guide layer, wherein the outcoupling layer includes a first portion as a layer with light transmission property and second portions which are dispersed in the first portion and differ in optical property from the first portion, and wherein an array of the second portions forms a triangular lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Uemura, Satoshi Okutani, Hirofumi Kubota, Muneharu Akiyoshi, Naotada Okada, Junichi Tonotani
  • Patent number: 7375464
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display having red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow color modulation layers. The organic light emitting display includes a substrate, a first electrode arranged on the substrate, a second electrode arranged on the first electrode, an organic functional layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, the organic functional layer comprises at least an emission layer, and red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow color modulation layers separated from each other, wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is transparent and is arranged between each color modulation layer and the emission layer. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain white balance even for an aged display while having enhanced color reproducibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Doo Chin, Min-Chul Suh, Mu-Hyun Kim, Hye-Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 7375465
    Abstract: A plasma display panel includes a first and a second substrate, a plurality of first sustain electrodes and second sustain electrodes formed in parallel on the first substrate, a plurality of address electrodes formed on the second substrate, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) having a plurality of bonding pads formed at one side of the FPC. The first sustain electrodes and second sustain electrodes form a plurality of sustain electrode pairs. The first sustain electrodes have a plurality of first electrode terminals and the second sustain electrodes have a plurality of second electrode terminals formed on one end of the first substrate. The address electrodes extend in a direction intersecting the plurality of first sustain electrodes and second sustain electrodes. The plurality of bonding pads formed at one side of the FPC are coupled to the plurality of first electrode terminals and second electrode terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventor: Bi-Hsien Chen
  • Patent number: 7375466
    Abstract: A plasma display panel where the address electrodes are designed to have perforated portions in the vicinity of display electrodes to prevent the build up of unwanted wall charges in the vicinity of the display electrodes to thus prevent mis-discharge in the plasma display panel. The perforations can be quadrilateral in shape, and can be made to different sizes depending on the color of the phosphor in the vicinity of the perforation. As a result, drive voltage margin quality between the different colors can be improved to produce a more reliable display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Ik Kwon, Tae-Kyoung Kang, Eun-Gi Heo
  • Patent number: 7375467
    Abstract: A plasma display panel in which a sustain discharge is generated as an opposed discharge, thereby reducing a discharge firing voltage and improving efficiency. The plasma display panel includes first and second substrates. Address electrodes are formed on the first substrate in a first direction and first electrodes and second electrodes are formed in a second direction crossing the first direction. Each of the first electrodes and the second electrodes has base portions that correspond to discharge spaces of discharge cells and a crossbar portion that connects the base portions along the second direction. The base portions of the first and the second electrodes face each other across a gap in each discharge cell. The length of the portions of the base portions near the first substrate is different from that of the portions of the base portions near the second substrate in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Hur, Hyea-Weon Shin, Hoon-Young Choi, Sang-Geon Park
  • Patent number: 7375468
    Abstract: A plasma display panel comprising a first panel having a plurality of discharge sustaining electrode pairs, and a second panel having a plurality of address electrodes and facing the first panel. A discharge sustaining electrode pair includes a scan electrode and a sustain electrode having discharge surfaces facing each other, and the scan electrode is closer to the address electrode than the sustain electrode. The plasma display panel requires a reduced address voltage and discharge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Sung Ko
  • Patent number: 7375469
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved electrode structure of planar lamp, which applies to the planar lamp that has a gas-discharge cavity with at least a bending channel and with a discharge gas and a fluorescent material equipped thereinside. Via disposing an electrically conductive element, which traverses the bending channels, onto the discharge electrodes on the external wall of the gas-discharge cavity, the input area of the power output by the discharge electrodes is increased, and thus, the light uniformity of the planar lamp is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Chou, Ying-Nan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7375470
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetron. The magnetron comprises an anode cylinder, upper and lower magnets provided to upper and lower portions of the anode cylinder, and upper and lower magnetic poles connected to the magnets, respectively. Each of the magnets has an inner diameter of 19˜21 mm, a thickness of 11.5˜12.5 mm, and an outer diameter of 50˜54 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chae Hyun Baek, Jong Soo Lee, Yong Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7375471
    Abstract: A charging circuit has a battery 12, switching element 14, and resistor 16 for current detection arranged on the primary side of transformer 10. Diode 18 and capacitor 20 for storing electric power are arranged on the secondary side of transformer 10. In a normal state, the ON/OFF states of switching element 14 are repeated corresponding to output signals U1, U2 of two comparators 28, 30. However, if switching element 14 stays on or off longer than a prescribed period of time for some reason, the status of switching 14 will be switched forcibly by an auxiliary sequence of the logic parts in control logic 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Yasuo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7375472
    Abstract: A circuit according to the present invention is used for driving a photoflash diode and comprises a current sink, a feedback circuit, and a DC-DC converter. The current sink is coupled to the photoflash diode for controlling the current through the photoflash diode. The feedback circuit receives a feedback signal indicative of the electrical condition of said first current regulator. The DC-DC converter is coupled to an external power source and the feedback circuit for powering the photoflash diode so as to control the electrical condition of the current sink to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: 02Micro International Limited
    Inventors: Footshen Wong, Vlad Popescu-Stanesti, Mingkwong Han, Xiachua Hou, ChunHsi Lin
  • Patent number: 7375473
    Abstract: An OLED area illumination apparatus, comprising an OLED device, a variable power controller connected to the OLED device for providing variable power to the OLED device and responsive to a control signal, a feedback circuit for measuring the resistance of the OLED device and using the measurement signal for providing a control signal to control the variable power controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 7375474
    Abstract: The apparatus for driving a backlight includes a plurality of lamps each of which has first and second electrodes, a transformer for receiving an AC waveform to provide high voltage AC waveform to drive the plurality of lamps, a detection circuit for generating a detection voltage corresponding to the high voltage AC waveform, an accumulation operation unit for accumulating the detection voltage from the detection circuit and generating a shutdown signal voltage, and a controller for receiving an input voltage to provide the AC waveform to the transformer and for receiving the shutdown signal voltage to shutdown the plurality of lamps in response to the shutdown signal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 7375475
    Abstract: A lamp contains a voltage conversion circuit that converts a line voltage to an RMS load voltage and includes a switch and a microcontroller that operates the switch to define the RMS load voltage. The microcontroller senses a load voltage of the lamp, compares the sensed load voltage to a reference RMS voltage, and operates the switch in response to the comparison so that the RMS load voltage is substantially constant at the reference RMS voltage over an operating range of the line voltage and so that the RMS load voltage decreases with decreasing line voltage at line voltages less than the operating range. The operating range of the line voltage is defined to have a minimum that is a non-zero line voltage at which a load current is a predetermined maximum. The voltage conversion circuit may be a phase clipping circuit or a pulse width modulation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Weyhrauch, Matthew B. Ballenger, George B. Kendrick, Brent J. Eastwood
  • Patent number: 7375476
    Abstract: A lighting device (132) includes a circuit having a power supply and a plurality of light emitting diodes (120) connected in series with the power supply. The plurality of light emitting diodes (120) includes at least two groups of series-connected light emitting diodes, the groups of series-connected light emitting diodes being connected in series. A different optically isolated field effect transistor (U3-U5) is connected in parallel with each group of series-connected light emitting diodes, for selectively shunting around the group of series-connected light emitting diodes. A different capacitor (C8-C10) can also be connected in parallel with each group of series-connected light emitting diodes. A controller (U2) is connected to a gate of each of the optically isolated field effect transistors (U3-U5) for selectively turning the optically isolated field effect transistors (U3-U5) on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Walter, Robert E. Corbett, Richard G. Matsui, Ben A. Beer
  • Patent number: 7375477
    Abstract: A CCFL (cold-cathode fluorescent lamp) driving system for multiple CCFL loads includes a transformer, a CCFL circuit, and a controlling circuit coupled between the transformer and the CCFL circuit. The CCFL circuit includes multiple CCFL loads. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, with the primary winding coupled to a voltage source and the secondary winding coupled to the CCFL loads. The controlling circuit includes a part for generating a predetermined voltage signal to power the CCFL loads during a warm-up stage and another part for generating a modulation signal. With such circuit arrangement, each of the multiple CCFL loads is powered from an off state to an operationally-on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Hong Hsieh, Shin-Hong Chung, Wei-De Bao
  • Patent number: 7375478
    Abstract: A servo drive with high speed wrapping function is applied for servo control of wrapping wire and method for the same. The servo drive includes a wrapping mechanism, a rotation control unit for controlling rotation of the wrapping mechanism, a lateral motion control unit for controlling lateral movement of the wrapping mechanism, a potentiometer, and an upper-layer controller. The lateral motion control unit of the servo drive cooperates with a command processor such that an inverter command of an inverter is calculated by wrapping parameter, external activating signal and a thickness detection signal. The induction motor is activated to drive the wrapping mechanism and an encoder linked with the induction motor moves the wrapping mechanism for lateral movement such that the wire is guided between two ends of wrapping cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: T. S. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7375479
    Abstract: A apparatus processes an object (19), such as a semi-conductor wafer at accurately controlled positions. The object (19) is supported by a working platform (12) that is moveable along a path. A suspension actuator part (14) attached to the working platform (12), contains a soft magnetic core (24) with poles facing the surface of a soft magnetic element (34) on the support structure along the path and a winding (20) for application of a current to generate a magnetic field that runs through the core (24) v the poles and returns via the soft magnetic element (34). A sensor (17) senses a measured position of the suspension actuator part (14) relative to the position reference element (16). A control circuit comprises an outer control circuit (40) and an inner control circuit (42). The outer control circuit (40) receives a sensing result and determines force set point information to regulate the measured position of the actuator part (14) to a required value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Van Eijk, Arjan Franklin Bakker, Dennis Erwin Bos, Johan Cornelis Compter, Angelo Cesar Peter De Klerk, Franciscus Martinus Roes, Hubert Gerard Jean Joseph Amaury Vroomen, Thomas Petrus Hendricus Warmerdam
  • Patent number: 7375480
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the production of two-channel or multi-channel pulse-width-modulated rectangular pulses. According to the invention, exactly one pulse is discharged within a period in each channel. The inception of a pulse in relation to the moment of inception is delayed by an actual dead time. The dead time is respectively kept constant for at least one period and a new value for the dead time is produced for a modulation of the pulse width and/or a new value is produced for the duration of the period and the actual dead time and/or the actual duration of the period is set at the beginning of the desired period according to the new value of the dead time and/or duration of the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erik Berger, Martin Eisner, Martin Meschik, Navid Rahmanian Shahri
  • Patent number: 7375481
    Abstract: The invention relates to motor vehicles which are equipped with an electric power steering system. Using a known method, the value of the maximum current that is allowed to travel through the electric assist motor is calculated at each instant (t), and a threshold value is determined for said maximum calculated current. Once the value of the maximum calculated current at each instant reaches the threshold value, a gradually-decreasing percentage is applied to the assist current calculated as a function of the torque (C) applied to the steering wheel. In this way, the assist current is reduced before the assist motor thermal protection procedure is activated, such that the driver is not surprised by a sudden lack of power assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Kasbarian, Virginie Perichon, Bertrand Rousseau
  • Patent number: 7375482
    Abstract: An object is to provide a driving device capable of smoothly shifting from a starting state to a sensor-less vector control, in a case where the device drives a motor by the sensor-less vector control, and the device includes a voltage detecting circuit which detects an induced electromotive voltage of the motor. A control circuit starts the motor by rectangular wave control. A magnetic pole position of a rotor is detected based on an induced electromotive voltage of one remaining phase of the motor detected by the voltage detecting circuit. The control circuit controls a main inverter circuit based on the detected magnetic pole position, and accelerates the motor by the rectangular wave control. In a case where a predetermined shift revolution speed is reached, the control circuit shifts to vector control by the sensor-less in which the magnetic pole position detected during the rectangular wave control is used as an initial value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Kubo, Kenji Nojima, Kazuhisa Otagaki, Yoshio Tomigashi, Keiji Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 7375483
    Abstract: In the present invention, several polyphase devices are connected together: an inverter, and electrical rotating machine, and a resistive load or braking resistor. The purpose of the resistive load is to dissipate excess electrical power which may be produced when the inverter acts to slow down the rotating machine, causing the rotating machine to act as a generator. In common art, this resistive load is a single DC resistor coupled to the DC link of the inverter via a separate resistor control transistor. In the present invention, the resistive load is a mesh connected array of resistors, and is electrically connected to the same inverter output terminals that the rotating machine is connected to. When it is desired that the resistors absorb energy, for example from a braking operation, then the harmonic content of the inverter output is adjusted, thus placing voltage differences across the resistor array and causing current to flow in the resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Sidney Edelson
  • Patent number: 7375484
    Abstract: A system and method for unattended control of an access barrier comprises a barrier operator having a timer capable of being updated at predetermined intervals. The barrier operator is configured to receive an auto-close signal that is periodically sent from a wall station, keyless transmitter, or remote transmitter that is compatible with the barrier operator. When the auto-close mode is invoked, the barrier operator initiates the timer when it detects that the access barrier has been opened. As such, the access barrier is closed via the barrier operator when both the timer has expired, and the auto-close signal is received by the barrier operator from one of the transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventor: James S. Murray
  • Patent number: 7375485
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a rotating electromagnetic machine. The rotating machine, such as a permanent magnet motor or hybrid switched reluctance motor, includes a stator having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. A drive is connected to the phase windings for energizing the windings. A controller outputs a control signal to the drive in response to inputs of demanded torque, rotor position and/or speed. Control methods include calculating a scaled torque demand from the received torque demand to obtain substantially constant torque over a range of motor speeds, calculating an optimal dr-axis injection current using a cost function and a starting method that switches from speed control mode to torque control mode at a predetermined rotor speed or at predetermined start-up timing intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Prakash B. Shahi, Arthur E. Woodward, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Michael I. Henderson
  • Patent number: 7375486
    Abstract: A method of controlling a rotational speed of a fan motor for a heat generating electronic component includes the following steps: (1) obtaining an original PWM pulse in response to an internal die temperature of the electronic component, the original PWM pulse having a first duty cycle which corresponds to a first rotational speed for the fan motor; (2) obtaining an ambient temperature surrounding the electronic component; (3) generating a new PWM pulse based on the original PWM pulse and the ambient temperature, the new PWM pulse having a second duty cycle which corresponds to a second rotational speed for the fan motor; and (4) controlling the fan motor to operate at the second rotational speed. In this method, both the internal die temperature of the electronic component and the ambient temperature surrounding the electronic component are taken into consideration in determining the rotational speed of the fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Long Ku, Chin-Wen Yeh
  • Patent number: 7375487
    Abstract: A motor encoder is mounted on a motor shaft of a geared motor 1, and the origin position is detected by using a Z-phase signal. An absolute value encoder with a precision that allows the number of motor rotations to be determined is mounted on an output shaft 4 of a reduction gear, and the absolute rotational position thereof is detected. When the first Z-phase signal generated in conjunction with the rotation of the motor shaft 2a is obtained at startup and at other times, the mechanical starting point at which the motor shaft and output shaft are both positioned at the origin can be calculated based on the absolute rotational position of the reduction-gear output shaft obtained from the output-side absolute value encoder. Since the mechanical starting point is obtained by rotating the motor shaft a single rotation at most, the time required to calculate the mechanical starting point is short in comparison with conventional examples, and extraneous rotational movements can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kunio Miyashita, Junji Koyama, Muneo Mitamura, Yasuo Sawamura
  • Patent number: 7375488
    Abstract: A system for controlling the speed of a brushless repulsion motor having a series of switches mounted on a rotating armature for shorting circumferentially spaced armature coils comprising first stationary signaling means and a plurality of rotating detectors for activating said switches; second stationary signaling means for speed control; a plurality of markers on the rotating armature; a speed detector for detecting the speed of the rotating markers and generating a speed feedback signal; means for generating a speed command signal; an error calculator for comparing the speed feedback and speed command signals and generating an error signal; and a controller for controlling the signaling means based on the error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Dynamoters, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Jones
  • Patent number: 7375489
    Abstract: An apparatus generates sine waves of electromotive force (i.e. alternating current) from a battery. The battery includes a given number of cells connected in series. A stator and commutator is formed by a multiple of segments. Each of the segments is connected in sequence to a respective cell of the battery. The apparatus can be incorporated in a rotary switching device that further includes a rotor having at least one brush contacting the segments of the stator and commutator to carry a step waveform approximating a sine wave. The rotary switch can be included in various setups to provide a backup or alternate generator that provides alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Differential Power LLC
    Inventor: Herbert Pardo
  • Patent number: 7375490
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a system comprising a plurality of Active Front End units adapted to be electrically coupled to a direct current (DC) bus. Each of the plurality of Active Front End units can be adapted to be electrically coupled to a separate winding of a transformer of a plurality of transformers. Each of the plurality of Active Front End units can be adapted to convert alternating current (AC) voltage to a DC voltage. Each of the plurality of Active Front End units can be adapted to supply the DC voltage to the DC bus. The DC bus can be adapted to be electrically coupled to a plurality of inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Furem
  • Patent number: 7375491
    Abstract: A charge circuit having multi charge stages for charging at least one battery includes: a first current generating circuit for generating a first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage to charge the at least one battery; a voltage generating circuit connected to the first current generating circuit for controlling the first charge power having a first charge current in pulse form with a first frequency and a first charge voltage; a voltage control circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a first constant voltage and/or a second constant voltage; and a second current generating circuit connected to the voltage generating circuit for generating a variant power comprising a variant current in pulse form with a second frequency wherein a charge voltage included in the variant power varies with the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sunjett Corporation
    Inventor: Sheng-Chan Lin
  • Patent number: 7375492
    Abstract: An inductive charging systems transfers energy by inductively coupling a source coil on a charging source to a receiver coil on a charging portion of a battery pack. The source current is received in the battery pack and converted to direct current for storage in the battery pack cells. Communication between a charging source and the charging portion is provided. A wireless communication arrangement provides for authentication of devices that are allowed by a source to be charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Charles Calhoon, Leroy B. Keely, William Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7375493
    Abstract: An inductive charging system transfers energy by inductively coupling a source coil on a power source to a receiver coil for a battery charger. Source current may be received in the battery charger and converted for charging a battery pack. A wireless communication arrangement may also provide for authentication of devices that are allowed by the source to be powered or otherwise charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: John Charles Calhoon, Leroy B. Keely, William Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7375494
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery assembly comprises a rechargeable battery unit and a data and power connector plug. The battery assembly has a deployed configuration in which the battery assembly has the general form of and functions as a conventional battery format, and a recharge configuration in which the data and power connector plug is made accessible to enable said connector to be connected to a suitable receptacle on a computing or peripheral device for recharging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Moixa Energy Holding Limited
    Inventors: Simon Richard Daniel, Christopher Verity Wright
  • Patent number: 7375495
    Abstract: A method for determining the charge drawn by an energy storage battery starting from an initial state of charge at the start of the drawing of the charge includes determining the charge drawn as a function of an exponential function with a time constant. The time constant is defined at least as a function of the energy storage battery type and of the temperature of at least one of the battery temperature and the electrolyte temperature. The method may be carried out utilizing a monitoring device or a computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: VB Autobatterie GmbH
    Inventors: Gerolf Richter, Ingo Koch
  • Patent number: 7375496
    Abstract: It is known that reforming implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The present invention relates to methodologies for significantly minimizing, if not entirely eliminating, the occurrence of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth in the about 35 % to 70 % DOD region by subjecting Li/SVO cells to novel discharge regimes. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Gan, Noelle Waite, Kenneth Syracuse, Esther S. Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7375497
    Abstract: A battery control module for a battery system comprises a voltage measuring module that measures battery and a current measuring module that measures battery current. A state of charge (SOC) module communicates with the current and voltage measuring modules and estimates SOC at least one of when an accumulated charge swing during charge is greater than or equal to an accumulated discharge swing during a prior discharge and a negative of a charge current is within a predetermined window of a negative of a retained discharge current during the prior discharge and/or when an accumulated discharge swing during discharge is greater than or equal to an accumulated charge swing during a prior charge and a negative of a discharge current is within a predetermined window of a negative of a retained charge current during the prior charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Cobasys, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Melichar
  • Patent number: 7375498
    Abstract: A battery pack that determines battery temperature via a protection circuit which detects electrical resistance change in a temperature sensor thermally joined with the rechargeable batteries. The protection circuit is provided with a timing circuit that sets timing for battery temperature detection, or it is provided with a current detection section that detects current flowing in the batteries and detects battery temperature when battery current is greater than a set current. A protection circuit, provided with a timing circuit, measures battery temperature with a fixed period. A protection circuit with a current detection section, detects battery temperature when battery current is larger than the set current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7375499
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant synchronisation source for excitation control of a three-phase generator system that combines point of regulation (POR) signals representing parameters comprising voltage and current for each phase at the POR to generate a fault-tolerant synchronisation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay K. Maddali, Michael J. Hanson