Patents Issued in February 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9577522
    Abstract: A hybrid power supply circuit includes a digital circuit, a digital-to-analog converter circuit, and an analog compensator circuit (analog control circuit). According to one configuration, the digital circuit includes a digital pre-filter that substantially matches settings of analog filter circuitry present in the analog compensator circuit. During operation, the digital circuit receives control input indicating how to control a magnitude of an output voltage produced by the power supply circuit. The digital circuit passes the received through the digital pre-filter to produce a (filtered) digital reference voltage. The digital-to-analog converter circuit converts the received digital reference voltage into an analog reference voltage (a filtered rendition of the received control input). The analog compensator circuit receives and uses the digitally pre-filtered analog reference voltage as a basis to control the magnitude of the output voltage produced by the power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Saurabh Jayawant, Venkat Sreenivas, Parviz Parto, Robert T. Carroll
  • Patent number: 9577523
    Abstract: A dual mode voltage regulator according to one embodiment includes a passive regulator circuit, a switching regulator circuit, and a controller circuit configured to determine parameters of an external select input. The controller is configured to selectively couple, on a cold boot up, either the passive regulator circuit or the switching regulator circuit between an input voltage port and an output load based on the determination of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Cowley, Andrew D. Talbot, Mark Mudd, Stephen J. Spinks, Keith Pinson, Colin L. Perry, Alan J. Martin, Chi Man Kan, Matthew T. Aitken, William L. Barber, Isaac Ali
  • Patent number: 9577524
    Abstract: It is presented a converter device arranged to convert power between a first high voltage direct current, HVDC, connection, a second HVDC connection and an AC connection. The converter device comprises: a first power converter comprising a phase leg provided between terminals of the first HVDC connection, the phase leg comprising a positive arm, an inductor, an AC connection and a negative arm. Each one of the positive arm and the negative arm comprises converter cells and one of the converter cells is a first host converter cell. Each converter cell comprises two main switching elements and a storage element, the two switching elements being arranged serially in parallel with the energy storage element. The converter device also comprises a power converter section comprising a first converter cell comprising at least two switching elements connected serially in parallel with the energy storage element of the first host converter cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Anirudh Acharya, Dimitris Giannoccaro, Gopichand Bopparaju, Malaya Kumar Sahu, Soubhik Auddy, Subhasish Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9577525
    Abstract: A dead time detector detects when a dead time occurs in a switching regulator comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch and generates an output signal based on a duration of the dead time. A first circuit generates a first turn-on signal to turn on the high-side switch and a first turn-off signal to turn off the low-side switch based on the output signal in response to a first edge of a pulse width modulated pulse. A second circuit generates a second turn-on signal to turn on the low-side switch and a second turn-off signal to turn off the high-side switch based on the output signal in response to a second edge of the pulse width modulated pulse. A controller generates drive signals to drive the high-side and low-side switches based on the first and second turn-on and turn-off signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tonio Biondi, Antonio Magazzu
  • Patent number: 9577526
    Abstract: A voltage adjusting apparatus includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a switch module, and a feedback module. The PWM controller outputs control signals. The switch module receives the control signals, and outputs working voltages accordingly. The feedback module includes a jumper, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor. If the first terminal and the second terminal of the jumper are electrically coupled together, the third resistor is cut off from the feedback module by the jumper, the first resistor and the second resistor are electrically coupled in the feedback module, and the switch module outputs a first working voltage accordingly. If the second terminal and the third terminal of the jumper are electrically coupled together, the first resistor, the second resistor, and the third resistor are all electrically coupled in the feedback module, the switch module outputs a second working voltage accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: HON FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Sheng Chen, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9577527
    Abstract: Current metering for transitioning to low power operation in switching regulators is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes generating pulse width modulated charging cycles that enable current to flow to an inductor to adjust an output voltage, and detecting a skipped charging cycle. The method also includes determining whether a number of charging cycles are skipped over a time interval that begins when the skipped charging cycle is detected. The method also includes transitioning to a low power operating mode if it determined that the number of charging cycles have been skipped over the selected time interval. During the low power operating mode pulse frequency modulated charging cycles are generated that enable the current to flow to the inductor to generate the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc.
    Inventors: Narasimhan Trichy, James Allen Kohout
  • Patent number: 9577528
    Abstract: A power converting circuit includes a converter. The converter receives and converts an input power to provide power for a load. The converter includes a power storage unit, a switch unit, a capacitor unit, and a current sampling unit. The power storage unit includes input and output terminals. The switch unit includes first and second switches, which are series connected at a common terminal, and the common terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the power storage unit. The capacitor unit includes first and second capacitors. The first capacitor and the switch unit are parallel connected to form a capacitor-switch parallel structure. The second capacitor capacitance is more than ten times larger than the first capacitor capacitance. The current sampling unit and the capacitor-switch parallel structure are series connected to form a capacitor-sampling unit series structure. The capacitor-sampling unit series structure and the second capacitor are parallel connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Li-Ping Sun, De-Sheng Guo, Chao Yan
  • Patent number: 9577529
    Abstract: An energy harvesting circuit is based on a switch mode inductive DC-DC converter circuit. The inductor current is sensed and a duration of an on-time is controlled in dependence on the sensed inductor current. A duration of an overall switching period of the converter circuit is controlled in dependence on an on-time set by a first timing control circuit and input and output voltages. This converter circuit enables independent control of the on-time and a full period of a converter cycle. Very rapid switching can be avoided which can give rise to very high energy consumption. The full cycle period can be set to achieve a desired constant value of an input resistance of the DC-DC converter, and thereby maximize power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventor: Stefano Stanzione
  • Patent number: 9577530
    Abstract: A power converter circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a capacitor connected across first and second output terminals, an inductor configured to receive current from a power source, and a main switch configured to selectively conduct current from the inductor to a ground. The circuit also includes a diode configured to conduct current from the inductor to the capacitor, and a second switch connected in parallel with the diode, where the second switch is configured to selectively conduct current from the capacitor to the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Ribarich, Jason Zhang
  • Patent number: 9577531
    Abstract: A buck-boost converter and a control circuit thereof are disclosed. When an input voltage is close to an output voltage (i.e., the buck-boost converter operates in a buck-boost mode), the control circuit of the buck-boost converter generates specific switching signals. Four switches of a switching regulator are switched by the switching signals, so that the four switches are not turned-on or turned-off frequently because of the input voltage closing to the output voltage. Accordingly, the buck-boost converter and the control circuit thereof of the disclosure can reduce switch noise of the four switches and switching loss of the whole circuit, to improve conversion efficiency of the buck-boost converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9577532
    Abstract: A switching regulator circuit can include multiple switching regulator stages coupled to an output. A first switching regulator stage may be operated at a different frequency than a second switching regulator stage. In some cases, one switching regulator stage is operated at a different duty cycle. The switching regulator circuit may also include multiple switching regulator stages that cancel ripple at an output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Gazelle Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: David Christian Gerard Tournatory, Nicolas Stephane Monier
  • Patent number: 9577533
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a control circuit configured for an interleaved switching power supply having first and second voltage conversion circuits, can include: a feedback compensation signal generation circuit that generates a feedback compensation signal; a first power switch control circuit that activates a first on signal when a first voltage signal that represents an inductor current of the first voltage conversion circuit is less than the feedback compensation signal, a first power switch of the first voltage conversion circuit being turned on based on the first on signal, and turned off after a predetermined time; and a second power switch control circuit that activates a second on signal after half of a switching period from a rising edge of the first on signal, and a second power switch control signal to turn on a second power switch of the second voltage conversion circuit based on the second on signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventors: Feng Yu, Chen Zhao
  • Patent number: 9577534
    Abstract: Malfunctions of a switching device included in a power factor corrector are reduced when an instantaneous voltage drop or an instantaneous power failure occurs. If the instantaneous voltage drop or the instantaneous power failure occurs in an AC power source while the power factor corrector is performing a power factor correction operation by boosting an input voltage, an instantaneous power failure controller turns off the switching device included in the power factor corrector so that the power factor correction operation stops. When the commercial power source recovers, too, the power factor corrector suspends the power factor correction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishizeki, Kentarou Taoka, Masahide Fujiwara, Motonobu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9577535
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a switch circuit which drives switching elements based on a control signal, a feedback section which performs feedback control, a signal output section which outputs the control signal based on a controlled variable of the feedback control, an output value detecting section which detects an output value outputted from the switch circuit, and an operation determining unit which has an operation stop determination section which determines whether to stop operation of the switching elements based on a rate of change of the output value, and an operation start determination section which determines whether to start operation of the switching elements based on the controlled variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Norihito Kimura, Kimikazu Nakamura, Yuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9577536
    Abstract: System controller and method for protecting a power converter. The system controller includes a first controller terminal configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a first current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter. The power converter further includes a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding, and the drive signal is associated with one or more switching periods. Additionally, the system controller includes a second controller terminal configured to receive a sensing voltage from a sensing resistor. The sensing voltage represents a magnitude of the first current flowing through the primary winding of the power converter. The system controller is configured to process information associated with the sensing voltage and a reference voltage, and determine whether an average output current of the power converter is larger than a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongze Yang, Xiaomin Huang, Xiaozhi Kang, Yuan Lin, Huawei Lyu, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9577537
    Abstract: System and method for regulating an output voltage of a power conversion system. The system includes a sampling component located on a chip, which for example, receives an input voltage through a terminal. The sampling component, for example, samples the input voltage and generates a sampled voltage. Additionally, the system includes an error amplifier which for example, processes information associated with the sampled voltage and a threshold voltage and generates a first output signal, and a first signal generator which for example, generates a second output signal and one or more third output signals. Moreover, the system includes a comparator which for example, receives the first output signal and the second output signal and generates a comparison signal, and a gate driver directly or indirectly coupled to the comparator. The gate driver, for example, generates a drive signal based on at least information associated with the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Lieyi Fang
  • Patent number: 9577538
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes controller of a switching power converter to control the switching power converter and determine one or more switching power converter control parameters. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter utilizes a transformer to transfer energy from a primary-side of the transformer to a secondary-side of the transformer. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter control parameters includes a secondary-side conduction time delay that represents a time delay between when the primary-side ceases conducting a primary-side current and the secondary-side begins to conduct a secondary-side current. In at least one embodiment, determining and accounting for this secondary-side conduction time delay increases the prediction accuracy of the secondary-side current value and accurate delivery of energy to a load when the controller does not directly sense the secondary-side current provided to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Yanhui Xie, Michael A. Kost, John L. Melanson, Zhaohui He, Chris M. Franklin
  • Patent number: 9577539
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a transformer, a rectification smoothing circuit having positive and negative output ends that rectifies and smoothes an induced voltage at a secondary winding of the transformer so as to generate a direct current voltage between positive and negative output terminals, a serial connection terminal to which another power supply device is connectable and is connected to the positive output end, the negative output terminal is connected to the negative output end, the reverse flow prevention rectifying device is connected between the positive output end and the positive output terminal, its forward direction faces toward the positive output terminal, and the bypass rectifying device is connected between the positive output end and the negative output end, its forward direction faces toward the positive output end. Therefore, a plurality of power supply devices are easily connected in series without providing external diodes for each power supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouichi Sakita
  • Patent number: 9577540
    Abstract: A multi-stage flyback circuit is provided for a wide range of DC input voltage applications. An intermediate circuit is coupled across a DC source which may be for example an output from a diode bridge rectifier. A first flyback stage includes a primary winding of a flyback transformer and a first switch coupled in series between a midpoint of the intermediate circuit and a negative DC terminal. A second flyback stage includes a second primary winding and a second switch coupled in series between the midpoint of the intermediate circuit and a positive DC terminal. A secondary winding of the flyback transformer is coupled to a DC load. The first and second switches are operated synchronously, wherein the voltage stress on each of the first and second switches is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Wei Xiong
  • Patent number: 9577541
    Abstract: An electrical power converter includes a circuit with a single switching transistor that is electrically connected to a direct current power source, a first inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit electrically connected to the single switching transistor, a second LC circuit electrically connected to the first LC circuit and configured to provide an output signal to a load. A controller is operatively connected to the single switching transistor. The controller identifies an error between the output signal of the circuit and a reference signal and adjusts a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching signal to switch the single switching transistor at a predetermined frequency with the adjusted duty cycle to reduce the identified error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Afshin Izadian
  • Patent number: 9577542
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a constant on-time isolated converter comprising a transformer with a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is connected to an electronic switch and secondary-side is connected to a load and a processor. The processor is connected to a driver on primary side through at least one coupling element and to the electronic switch. The processor receives an output voltage or an output current across the load generating a control signal accordingly. The driver receives the control signal through the coupling element and accordingly changes the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch, regulating the output voltage and the output current via the transformer, where the duration of the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch is determined between the moment control signal changes from negative to positive and the moment it changes from positive to negative to achieve a high-speed load transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor (Cayman), Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Chi Lin, Chih-Yuan Liu, Yung-Chuan Hsu, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 9577543
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a constant on-time isolated converter comprising a transformer with a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is connected to an electronic switch and secondary-side is connected to a load and a processor. The processor is connected to a driver on primary side through at least one coupling element and to the electronic switch. The processor receives an output voltage or an output current across the load generating a control signal accordingly. The driver receives the control signal through the coupling element and accordingly changes the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch, regulating the output voltage and the output current via the transformer, where the duration of the ON/OFF state of the electronic switch is determined between the moment control signal changes from negative to positive and the moment it changes from positive to negative to achieve a high-speed load transient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alpha & Omega Semiconductor (Cayman), Ltd.
    Inventors: Tien-Chi Lin, Chih-Yuan Liu, Yueh-Ping Yu, Pei-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 9577544
    Abstract: A device for connecting an electric power generator to an HVDC transmission system is provided, the device having (a) a first unit for converting an AC output voltage from the electric power generator to a DC input voltage for the HVDC transmission system, the first unit having a transformer and a full-bridge rectifier, and (b) a second unit for generating control voltages and/or control currents in the transformer and/or in the electric power generator, the second unit having a PWM full-bridge converter adapted to receive the AC output voltage from the electric power generator or an AC voltage based on said AC output voltage. Furthermore, a system and a method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jesper Elliot Petersen, Arwyn Thomas, Zhan-Yuan Wu, Zhen Ping Xia
  • Patent number: 9577545
    Abstract: A power circuit, a converter structure and a wind power generation system thereof are disclosed. The power circuit includes a first converter having an AC input side and a DC output side, a second converter having a DC input side and an AC output side, and a DC bus storage unit electrically connected to the DC output side of the first converter and the DC input side of the second converter. A level number, a switching valve type and/or a circuit connection of the first converter are different from those of the second converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jing-Tao Tan, Zhi-Jian Zhou, Zhi Li, Shuo Huang, Wei-Xing Liu
  • Patent number: 9577546
    Abstract: An AC-DC power converter is provided with two pairs of self-driven synchronous rectifier switches in addition to, or in place of, diode bridge rectifiers for boosting efficiency and reducing cost. An AC sensing circuit is coupled to AC input terminals, and a DC level shifting circuit applies a DC offset to an AC input signal received via the sensing circuit. A comparator circuit determines positive and negative half waves of the AC input signal relative to the DC offset value. Gate drive signals are provided for driving a first set of parallel rectifier switches during a positive half cycle of the AC input signal, and for driving a second and opposing pair of parallel rectifier switches during a negative half cycle of the AC input signal. In an embodiment, high side gate drive signals may be electrically isolated from the active rectifier control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: PAI CAPITAL LLC
    Inventors: Andrej Teren, Marian Vranka, Martin Pietka, Lee Tai Keung
  • Patent number: 9577547
    Abstract: A power conversion device converts three-phase AC power into DC power by two-arm PWM modulation control and includes a main circuit that is constituted by a plurality of switching elements that are bridge-connected therein; a voltage-command generation unit that generates a voltage command value for the main circuit; a current detection unit that detects at least one of output currents of the main circuit; a power-factor calculation unit that calculates a power factor on the basis of the output current and the voltage command value; a carrier-signal generation unit that generates a carrier signal of a frequency corresponding to the power factor; and a PWM-signal generation unit 6 that compares the voltage command value and the carrier signal to generate a PWM signal that executes switching control on the switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Taira
  • Patent number: 9577548
    Abstract: Embodiments related to the conversion of DC power to AC power are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a power conversion system, comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) power sources, a plurality of power output circuits connected to one another in a parallel arrangement, each power output circuit being connected to a corresponding DC power source to receive power from the corresponding DC power source and to selectively discharge power received from the corresponding DC power source, a power combiner configured to combine power received from the plurality of power output circuits to form a combined power signal, an output stage configured to convert the combined power signal into an AC signal or a DC signal, and a controller in electrical communication with each power outlet circuit and the power combiner to control the output of power by the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: IgrenEnergi, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunit Tyagi, Hemanshu Bhatt
  • Patent number: 9577549
    Abstract: A reversible matrix converter circuit is provided with n levels per phase including n conversion arms exhibiting on one side n ends for generating or receiving respectively n intermediate DC voltage levels, and exhibiting on another side n ends linked at a common point of AC signal input or output. The circuit includes: —two external arms linked respectively to the highest level of positive voltage and to the lowest level of negative voltage, these two external arms each having a single IGBT transistor or two power transistors, linked by their emitter, —two IGBT power transistors, linked in series by their emitter on each of the n?1 internal arms, —filtering capacitors disposed respectively between the n intermediate voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE DE LORRAINE
    Inventor: Ignace Rasoanarivo
  • Patent number: 9577550
    Abstract: Provided is a vibration actuator including: an electromechanical transduction member that transduces electric power to a mechanical vibration; a transmission member that transmits the vibration from the electromechanical transduction member as a driving force; and an abutting portion that abuts on the transmission member and moves relative to the transmission member in response to the driving force. One of the transmission member and the abutting portion includes pores in its surface contacting the abutting portion or the transmission member at an area occupancy of 2% or higher. In this vibration actuator, the average area of the pores may be 3 ?m2 or larger. The other of the transmission member and the abutting portion may include iron in its surface contacting the one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Nakazumi, Masaaki Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9577551
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus that controls a current flowing through a coil of a motor, including a comparing section that compares the current flowing through the coil to a control current input thereto; an operation selecting section that selects an operational state according to a comparison result of the comparing section; a driving section that receives a designation signal designating a current mode and a stop mode, drives the coil in the operational state selected by the operation selecting section when the designation signal designating the conductive mode is received, and drives the coil in the braking state when the designation signal designating the stop mode is received; and a setting section that controls a start of the designation signal designating the stop mode or a start of a period during which the control current is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Masami Aiura
  • Patent number: 9577552
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor having a stator and a rotor. The motor controller includes a power input for receiving AC power from a power source; a control input for receiving a control signal from a control; and circuitry for switching power from the power source to the electric motor in response to the control signal. The circuitry is operable to: apply a braking waveform to the stator while the rotor is rotating; monitor a reactive power of the stator; detect an increase in the reactive power of the stator to determine the rotor has substantially stopped rotating; and remove the braking waveform from the stator in response to detecting the increase in the reactive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Darko Marcetic, Thomas J. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 9577553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive arrangement for the motor-operated adjustment of an adjusting element in a motor vehicle, wherein the drive arrangement comprises two electrical drives having in each case a drive motor and a control device, wherein in the assembled state the drives act in the same manner on the adjusting element and are embodied in an essentially identical manner apart from deviations that are a result of tolerances, wherein the control device influences the two drive motors by a pulse width modulation voltage (“PWM” voltage). It is proposed that the control device influences the two drive motors by PWM voltages having PWM switching frequencies that vary continuously during the adjustment process in such a manner that the PWM switching frequencies that are allocated to the two drive motors are different from each other at least for periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Juergen Eggeling, Dirk Hellmich, Klaus Duenne
  • Patent number: 9577554
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus for a washing machine, in which a motor is a washing machine motor with a double stator and a double rotor respectively having first and second U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase stator coils, includes: a motor controller for generating a drive signal in accordance with a washing mode, a rinsing mode and a dewatering mode; an inverter for generating a three-phase alternating-current (AC) power, in which any one-phase AC power of the three-phase AC power is applied in common to any one-phase stator coil of the first and second U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase stator coils for the washing machine motor; and a switching unit for switching to apply the remaining two-phase AC power of the three-phase AC power to any two-phase stator coils of the remaining two-phase stator coils of the first and second U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase stator coils for the washing machine motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AMOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Soo Kim, Hyung Hwan Ko
  • Patent number: 9577555
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a method of estimating a position of a rotor in a motor. The method includes obtaining a current regulation quality index based on a current command and a measured current, determining an estimated position of the rotor based on the current regulation quality index and position estimation data and controlling the motor based on the estimated position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: DEERE & COMPANY, THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
    Inventors: Long Wu, Yue Zhao, Wei Qiao
  • Patent number: 9577556
    Abstract: A motor controller coupled to a motor is provided. The motor controller is configured to transmit a first instruction to the motor to perform a first start attempt utilizing at least one parameter in a first set of parameters. The motor controller is additionally configured to receive feedback associated with the first start attempt from the motor, and transmit, in response to the feedback, a second instruction to the motor to perform a second start attempt utilizing at least one parameter in a second set of parameters, wherein the second set of parameters differ from the first set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Sullivan, Bryan J. Stout, Brian L. Beifus, Aldo Sebastian Bertoncini, Michael R. Koller
  • Patent number: 9577557
    Abstract: A turbine generator system includes a doubly-fed alternating-current (AC) generator having a first poly-phase circuit (e.g., a stator circuit) and a second poly-phase circuit (e.g., a rotor circuit), a poly-phase AC-to-AC converter circuit coupled between the first and second poly-phase circuits, a poly-phase transformer having input windings coupled to the first poly-phase circuit and having output windings, and a uni-directional rectifier circuit coupled to the output windings of the poly-phase transformer and configured to convert poly-phase AC from the transformer output windings to direct current (DC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Sandeep Bala, Darren Tremelling
  • Patent number: 9577558
    Abstract: A power management system having automatic calibration is disclosed. The power management system may have an alternator and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit may be configured to determine a reference voltage based on at least one measured operating condition of the alternator. The reference voltage may correspond to an overloading threshold of the alternator. The electronic control unit may be further configured to monitor a voltage of the alternator and, when the monitored voltage is less than the reference voltage, perform a corrective action to increase a power output of the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Kresca, Brett Michael Nee, Matthew J. Urbanc
  • Patent number: 9577559
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling power generation of a vehicle includes an alternator for generating electricity using an engine torque. A controller is configured to calculate a difference between a first duty value and a second duty value and to transmit a control signal based on the difference. The first duty value is an output duty value of the alternator before reaching a predetermined time, and the second duty value is a current output duty value of the alternator. A regulator gradually increases the amount of power generated by the alternator during a delay time based on the control signal received from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORP.
    Inventor: Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9577560
    Abstract: A synchronous machine control device is provided with a magnet state outputter that estimates a magnetic flux of a permanent magnet forming the magnetic field of a synchronous machine. In a magnet state correction value calculation mode, the magnet state outputter calculates a magnet state correction value. In a magnet state estimation mode, the magnet state outputter obtains, from a magnet state estimation device, a magnetic flux estimation value of the permanent magnet under a given condition of a magnetic flux command and a ?-axis current command and controls a magnet state corrector to correct the magnetic flux estimation value of the permanent magnet obtained by the magnet state estimation device, by use of the magnet state correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Kobayashi, Kiyoharu Anzai, Noriyuki Wada, Daiki Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9577561
    Abstract: A method for suppressing a speed fluctuation of a permanent magnet synchronous motor is provided in the present disclosure, including: obtaining a target speed ?_ref, a feedback speed, a fluctuation speed ??, a q-axis inductance Lq and a permanent magnet flux linkage ?f of the permanent magnet synchronous motor; performing a PI adjusting on ?? to obtain a q-axis reference current Iq_ref, and obtaining a q-axis target voltage U*q according to Iq_ref, ?_ref, ?? and ?f; performing a PI control on a q-axis actual voltage according to U*q to obtain a q-axis compensation current Iq_add; obtaining a d-axis target voltage U*d according to Iq_ref, Iq_add, ?_ref, ?? and Lq; performing a PI control on a d-axis actual voltage according to U*d to obtain a d-axis compensation current Id_add; superposing Iq_add and Iq_ref to perform a feedforward compensation on a q-axis current and superposing Id_add and the d-axis reference current to perform a feedforward compensation on a d-axis current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Guangdong Meizhi Compressor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Siqing Liao, Xinjie Ren, Wanjie Song, Weimin Xiang, Jijiang Yu, Cheng Zhang, Hong Guo, Jingtao Yang
  • Patent number: 9577562
    Abstract: A method includes driving a component in an electromagnetic actuator back and forth during one or more cycles of the actuator, where the actuator includes a voice coil. The method also includes identifying a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage of the voice coil during at least one of the one or more cycles. The method further includes determining whether a stroke of the component is substantially centered using the back EMF voltage of the voice coil. In addition, the method includes, based on the determination, adjusting one or more drive signals for the voice coil during one or more additional cycles of the actuator. Determining whether the stroke of the component is centered could include determining whether the back EMF voltage of the voice coil is substantially maximized or determining whether times between extremes in the back EMF voltage are substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Theodore J. Conrad, Dawson R. Bruckman
  • Patent number: 9577563
    Abstract: In a method for activating an electric machine having a rotor, a stator winding having multiple phases and a rectifier having multiple half-bridges corresponding to the number of phases, which each have active switching elements, alternating current signals, which are phase-offset to one another by switching the switching elements, are applied to the phases in a first motor operating mode in which the rotor rotates above a limiting speed, and in a second motor operating mode, in which the rotor rotates below the limiting speed, constant direct-current signals are at least partially applied to the phases by switching the switching elements as a function of an instantaneous angle position of the rotor, the direct-current signals being selected in such a way that a current flow does not exceed a predefined maximum current absolute value through any of the phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Julian Roesner
  • Patent number: 9577564
    Abstract: A drive system with energy store and method for operating a drive system, an inverter powering an electric motor, the inverter being supplied from a unipolar DC-link voltage, an energy store being connected in parallel to the inverter, in particular, a film capacitor being connected in parallel to the inverter, the DC-link voltage being generated by a DC/DC converter which is supplied from an AC/DC converter, especially a rectifier, in particular, an electric current being able to be supplied to the DC link by the DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Schiffmann, Josef Schmidt, Matthias Hauck, Christian Lampert, Daniel Tritschler, Thomas Zöller
  • Patent number: 9577565
    Abstract: When detecting an amount of noise current generated in an inverter and flowing into a noise filter, sampling the detection values with an interval of a carrier frequency, determining whether envelope curves of respective sampled values are deemed to be constant, and in a case where the envelope curves of the sampled values are deemed to be constant, the motor control device changes the carrier frequency to another frequency that does not overlap a cutoff frequency fr of the noise filter, or to another frequency that is not close to the cutoff frequency fr of the noise filter. Due to this configuration, even when the noise filter incorporated in the motor control device is a noise filter that is manufactured without demanding any special measures to be taken to the manufacturers and is manufactured with specifications of noise filter manufacturers, a desired noise reduction effect can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Otsubo
  • Patent number: 9577566
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit is provided, which selects a Hall sensor or a Sensor-less controller to achieve the phase commutation of a magnetic pole of a motor through a hall positive terminal and a hall negative terminal of a hall control device. When the hall positive terminal and the hall negative terminal receive a first hall signal and a second hall signal generated by the Hall sensor, the motor driving circuit selects the Hall sensor and then accordingly drives the motor. When the hall positive terminal and the hall negative terminal are floating, or one of them receives a high-voltage, the motor driving circuit selects the sensor-less controller and then accordingly drives the motor. Accordingly, the motor driving circuit can select different sensing devices to achieve the phase commutation of the magnetic pole of the motor according to the motor characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 9577567
    Abstract: An electric motor in a work apparatus has a power characteristic line which runs between a lower rotational speed of the electric motor and an upper rotational speed of the electric motor. The power characteristic line has a power characteristic with a pronounced maximum (M) and an operating plateau (AP) which lies in a working rotational speed range (AD) of the work apparatus. A method for operating the electric motor provides for configuring the position of the operating plateau (AP) to be variable with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor to achieve stable operating points over a wide rotational speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Oerding, Rene Wichert, Christian Renz, Gernot Liebhard
  • Patent number: 9577568
    Abstract: A method recognizes a wire-break fault during operation of a brushless DC motor. A switch-on delay duration of a transition of an electrical phase potential that rests on the stator winding phase from a switch-off potential to a switch-on potential and a switch-off delay duration of the transition of the phase potential from the switch-on potential to the switch-off potential are detected for a stator winding phase of the stator winding of the motor during each pulse width modulation cycle period. Moreover, a lower deviation limit is defined for a deviation of detected switch-off delay durations from detected switch-on delay durations. A wire-break fault is deduced if the deviations of the detected switch-off delay durations from the detected switch-on delay durations fall below the lower deviation limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Istvan Loerincz, Andreas Schnell
  • Patent number: 9577569
    Abstract: A motor control system of an electric vehicle, a controlling method for the motor control system and an electric vehicle are provided. The motor control system includes: an IGBT module, connected with a motor of the electric vehicle; a detection module, configured to detect a motor speed; a drive module, configured to drive IGBTs in the IGBT module to turn on or off so as to control the motor to work or stop working; a first control module; a second control module communicated with the first control module; and a channel selection module, configured to select a channel of the second control module when the first control module has a fault. When the second control module is selected, it sends a second control signal to the drive module according to the motor speed at a predetermined time before the first control module has the fault, so as to control the motor to stop working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Caifang Guo, Bingjian Huang
  • Patent number: 9577570
    Abstract: Disclosed are drive systems for a vehicle trailer maneuvering drives, some embodiments having a motor unit and a voltage source for supplying the motor unit, wherein the motor unit comprises a brushed electric motor with motor shaft and a motor controller that may include a speed detection unit for detecting the speed of the motor shaft and a control and regulating unit for the motor, for its voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Truma Geraetetechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Thiel
  • Patent number: 9577571
    Abstract: A solar panel mounting apparatus for use in securing a frame with a solar panel stored therein to a roof of a building includes a non-hollow member with a lower cross-sectional profile and enhanced strength. The apparatus includes a rail coupled to the frame and the roof, the rail having a cross-sectional profile comprising an upper cavity, a first side cavity, a second side cavity and a third side cavity, a first set of fasteners coupled to the frame and the upper cavity, and a second set of fasteners coupled to the roof and the first side cavity or the second side cavity. The upper cavity has a substantially pentagonal cross-sectional shape, the first side cavity has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, the second side cavity has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and the third side cavity has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Moti Atia, Natanel Levi