Battery-fed Motor Systems Patents (Class 318/139)
  • Patent number: 11351874
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-channel DC bus assembly comprising a first channel and a second channel, a first electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the first channel, and a second electromechanical device coupled to a positive DC link of the second channel. A first DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the first channel and a second DC-to-AC voltage inverter is coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel. The apparatus further includes a bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the positive DC link of the second channel and a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the first electromechanical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Zhihao Li
  • Patent number: 11349422
    Abstract: A power detecting device includes a vehicle driving system, a battery detecting module and a controlling module. A first stator winding and a second stator winding are synchronized and connected in parallel with each other. A first end of a first current sensor is coupled to a first-phase winding end of the first stator winding for measuring a first-phase current. A first end of a second current sensor is coupled to a second-phase winding end of the first stator winding for measuring a second-phase current. The battery detecting module is coupled to a first power supply for measuring a current signal and a voltage signal. A controller generates a first power according to the current signal and the voltage signal and generates a second power according to a plurality of data from a database. The controller compares the first power with the second power to generate a detecting result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Huang Chen, Su-Hui Wang, Chih-Hung Huang, Lee-Han Lin, Chien-Lin Liu
  • Patent number: 11345243
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit includes a DC converter, an inverter and an electric machine, wherein the inverter is connected on the direct current side to the output of the DC converter and on the alternating current side to the electric machine, wherein the electric machine is operated using a torque specification and/or a rotational speed specification, wherein the level of the output voltage of the DC converter is set as a function of a current torque specification and/or a current rotational speed specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Franz Honkomp, Bastian Heidler
  • Patent number: 11340309
    Abstract: Provided is a method for performing a testing procedure of an electrical power system for a wind turbine by means of a power supply unit, wherein the method includes connecting the power supply unit to a low voltage distribution system of the wind turbine. The method further includes closing a low voltage circuit breaker so that electrical connection is provided between the low voltage distribution system and an auxiliary transformer. Electrical power to a power converter is provided from the power supply unit via the low voltage distribution system thereby energizing a direct current link of the power converter. The power converter is synchronized with an electrical grid, and a main transformer switchgear unit is closed, such that electrical connection is provided between a main transformer and the electrical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jonay Armendariz Lekumberry, Miguel Ángel Sepúlveda Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11336104
    Abstract: A method can be used to perform a state of health (SoH) estimation for a rechargeable battery energy storage system during operation of the rechargeable battery energy storage system. The rechargeable battery energy storage system includes a plurality of parallel strings that are individually controllable. The method includes selecting at least one string from the plurality of parallel strings, placing the selected at least one string into a SoH calibration mode for performing a SoH calibration while concurrently maintaining at least one other string of the plurality of parallel strings in operative mode, and causing the selected at least one string to return to the operative mode after the SoH calibration has been completed for the selected at least one string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Jan Poland, Daniel Chartouni, Alexandre Oudalov, James Ottewill, Erald Pjetri
  • Patent number: 11325484
    Abstract: A method of charging a battery includes coupling an electricity network or subnetwork to the battery using inductive power transfer, transferring electrical energy to the battery from the electricity network or subnetwork and varying the inductive power transfer using a controller of the electricity network or subnetwork according to at least one predetermined criteria of the electricity network or subnetwork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 11325475
    Abstract: Provided are a battery pack, and a transportation apparatus including the battery pack. The battery pack includes a battery module, a battery management system configured to control charging and discharging operations of the battery module, a power supply terminal arranged to supply operation power, and a switch connected between the power supply terminal and the battery management system, and configured to be turned on in response to an abnormal situation of the battery module. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a battery pack, and a transportation apparatus including the battery pack, which may start a suitable protection operation by waking up a battery management system for monitoring a state of the battery pack, and by controlling a charge/discharge operation thereof, by detecting an abnormal situation of a battery module even when the battery management system is in a sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dukjung Kim
  • Patent number: 11327543
    Abstract: A power converter device health check system includes a circuit that connects a power input to a power output, and that includes a first transistor directly coupled to ground and a capacitor in parallel with the first transistor. A controller device is coupled to the circuit and, during boot operations, prevents first power from being provided to the first transistor via the power input, and turns off the first transistor. While preventing the first power from being provided to the first transistor and with the first transistor turned off, the controller device provides second power to a circuit location in the circuit between the first transistor and the capacitor, and then determines whether a charge of the capacitor is below a threshold charge level. If the capacitor is below the threshold charge level, the controller device transmits a power converter warning message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Haifang Zhai, Wei Dong, Xizhi Cui
  • Patent number: 11323112
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an IGBT driving circuit for an electric-motor controller and an electric-motor controller. The IGBT driving circuit includes: a function safety circuit provided on a driver board of the electric-motor controller, and a detection feedback circuit and a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) buffer circuit that are connected to the function safety circuit. The detection feedback circuit is configured to detect an IGBT module of the electric-motor controller, and when a specified malfunction of the IGBT module is detected, send a specified-malfunction signal to the function safety circuit. The function safety circuit is configured to judge according to a preset malfunction treating rule and the received specified-malfunction signal, and then output a corresponding controlling signal to the PWM buffer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Dongping Gu, Fuxiang Wan, Renjun Dong
  • Patent number: 11323061
    Abstract: A control device for an AC rotating electric machine includes: a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of a protection part; a maximum current adjustment unit configured to adjust a maximum current of an AC rotating electric machine so as to prevent the temperature of the protection part from exceeding a set temperature; an allowable torque calculation unit configured to calculate an allowable torque based on the maximum current adjusted; a torque command adjustment unit configured to adjust a torque command value directed to the AC rotating electric machine based on the allowable torque; an upper limit number-of-rotation calculation unit configured to calculate an upper-limit number of rotations of the AC rotating electric machine based on the maximum current adjusted; and a number-of-rotation adjustment unit configured to adjust the number of rotations of the AC rotating electric machine based on the upper-limit number of rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Harada, Keiichi Enoki, Nozomu Kamioka, Tomohisa Shoda, Yoshimasa Nishijima, Kazuhiko Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11323056
    Abstract: To provide a controller for AC rotary electric machine which can reduce an electromagnetic exciting force in the execution region of the magnetic flux weakening control. A controller for AC rotary electric machine, in a specific operating region which is set in an operating region of the magnetic flux weakening control, increases a maximum value of amplitude of fundamental wave components of applied voltages applied to windings more than a normal operating region other than the specific operating region; and calculates dq-axis current command values by the magnetic flux weakening control, in a condition in which the maximum value of amplitude of the fundamental wave components of the applied voltages is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Kumagai, Shinsuke Kayano, Hitoshi Isoda
  • Patent number: 11320490
    Abstract: A shunt resistor for enhancing accuracy of current detection in the process of detecting current flowing through the shunt resistor and an apparatus for detecting current including the same. The shunt resistor includes two busbars made of an electrically conductive material and spaced apart a predetermined distance, a first connection element made of an electrically conductive material and configured to be mounted in a first busbar provided on one side among the two busbars, and a second connection element made of an electrically conductive material and configured to be mounted in a second busbar provided on the other side among the two busbars. The first connection element and the second connection element are configured to have an increase or decrease in an area of direct or indirect contact between the first connection element and the second connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Kyoung-Choon Min
  • Patent number: 11312464
    Abstract: A vessel power supply system for a vessel including a propulsion device that includes an engine and a generator driven by the engine to generate electricity, includes a first battery that supplies power to the propulsion device, a second battery that supplies power to accessories of the vessel, a first open circuit voltage sensor that detects an open circuit voltage of the first battery, a second open circuit voltage sensor that detects an open circuit voltage of the second battery, and a switch that is turned on/off to open and close a current path between the first battery and the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Maejima
  • Patent number: 11305972
    Abstract: A vehicle lift utilizes a locally stored energy source configured to deliver energy at a high rate to a DC motor to provide a fast rise time and to replenish that energy at a lower rate over a relatively longer period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: VEHCILE SERVICE GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Elliot, Michael A. Swartz, Jason E. Matthews, Douglas J. Brown, Brian E. Kelley
  • Patent number: 11299193
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a motor; a braking device for wheel braking, the braking device including a brake fluid pressure generation device; an air-conditioning device; and a battery as a power source for the motor. The vehicle is not provided with a driver seat that allows a user to operate a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal in a state where the user sits on the driver seat, and the vehicle is configured to perform automated driving. A first storage chamber and a second storage chamber are provided in a first end portion and a second end portion of the vehicle in the vehicle front-rear direction, respectively, such that the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber partially overlap a vehicle cabin in the vehicle front-rear direction. A third storage chamber is provided under a floor of the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujimoto, Ikuru Konno, Takenori Kubo
  • Patent number: 11299138
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle, wherein when starting an engine using a first battery, if the residual capacity of the first battery is not enough to start the engine because of the reduced-voltage of the first battery, the engine is started by driving an ACG starter supplied with electricity from a second battery having a voltage rated value different from that of the first battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Shokaku, Ryuichi Takao, Kanichiro Ogiya, Yoshiaki Nedachi
  • Patent number: 11299065
    Abstract: A method for charging an energy store that has at least three energy storage strings each having plural energy storage modules. The energy storage modules have at least one energy storage element that receives and stores energy from an energy source and at least two switching elements. The energy store is connected to an energy source that provides a charging voltage and to an electric machine, and the energy storage modules are supplied with energy by the energy source. A DC voltage source and/or an AC voltage source are used in a selectable manner as energy source and the energy store is matched to properties of the selected energy source by switching the switching elements. Thus, the energy storage modules of a string are connected in parallel and/or in series with one another and/or at least one energy storage module of at least one energy storage string is bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Goetz, Hermann Helmut Dibos
  • Patent number: 11303146
    Abstract: A charging device includes: first and second capacitors connected in series between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of a storage battery; first and second switching elements each including a plurality of switching elements; first and second terminals; first and second changeover switches; and a control circuit controlling opening and closing of the first switching elements and the second switching elements to switch between a first state to charge the first capacitor with an external direct-current power source and a second state to charge the second capacitor with the external direct-current power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Hirotsugu Ohata, Takuya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11296637
    Abstract: A control device includes angular velocity detecting circuitry, feedback circuitry, torque command calculation circuitry, a limiter, a drive controller, and correction circuitry. The angular velocity detecting circuitry detects an angular velocity of a motor. The feedback circuitry obtains a feedback value from the angular velocity. The torque command calculation circuitry obtains a torque command value according to a superordinate torque command value supplied from a superordinate device and the feedback value. The limiter limits the torque command value obtained by the torque command calculation circuitry so as not to exceed a preset torque upper limit value. The drive controller performs a drive control of the motor according to the limited torque command value. The correction circuitry corrects the superordinate torque command value or the torque command value according to the feedback value and the superordinate torque command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: NIDEC CORPORATION, NIDEC ELESYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Linfeng Lan, Tomonari Mori, Ryo Itaba, Tokuji Tatewaki
  • Patent number: 11296621
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling an electric motor having a rotor. The method is carried out after a shutdown of the motor has been initiated. The method includes starting a timer in a motor controller, performing regenerative braking to recapture kinetic energy from the rotor as electrical energy, and using the recaptured electrical energy from the regenerative braking to power the motor controller. If the timer in the motor controller exceeds a predetermined timer value, a flag is set in memory in the motor controller to indicate that the motor has stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Libo Zheng, Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 11290039
    Abstract: An electric motor drive apparatus comprising a voltage converter component arranged to receive a supply voltage signal and output a bus voltage signal, and a motor driver component arranged to receive the bus voltage signal and generate at least one drive signal for an electric motor from the bus voltage signal. The motor driver component is arranged to output a bus voltage feedback signal to the voltage converter component. The voltage converter component is arranged to regulate a voltage level of the bus voltage signal based at least partly on the bus voltage feedback signal output by the motor driver component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Jaroslav Musil
  • Patent number: 11290045
    Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a system including a motor, a battery that provides power to the motor, and control circuitry that provides one or more first current pulses to the motor using power from the battery to cause one or more second current pulses in the battery that heat the battery to a desired temperature while maintaining zero torque in the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Miaosen Shen
  • Patent number: 11267503
    Abstract: To provide a motor control device capable of reducing noise without requiring preparation of a plurality of PWM carrier waves, an offset voltage is added equally to each phase of three-phase voltage command values from an inverter to output modified three-phase voltage command values, which are compared to a PWM carrier wave to output three-phase terminal voltages to a motor, and an offset voltage is switched among n offset candidate voltages (n is a natural number of three or more) having different values at set time intervals for output to vary timings to turn on and timings to turn off the three-phase terminal voltages equally for all phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Cornoration
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Takayuki Kifuku, Akira Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11267346
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second electric machines driven by inverters and coupled to first and second sets of wheels. The vehicle includes switches configured to selectively connect each of the electric machines in one of a wye and a delta connection. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to operate the switches to select a connection for the electric machines and operate the inverters to proportion a torque demand between the electric machines based on speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph, Shehan Haputhanthri
  • Patent number: 11268350
    Abstract: A system may include a top drive coupled to a mast on a drilling rig. Additionally, a common bus may be coupled to the top drive. A drawworks may be coupled to the common bus and the top drive, and the drawworks lowers and raises the top drive throughout the mast. A generator may be coupled to the common bus, and the generator transmits electric power to the drawworks. Further, a controller may be coupled to the top drive, common bus, the generator, and the drawworks. The common bus may transmit the electric power between the top drive, drawworks, and the generator. The controller may manage a transmission of stored power in the top drive to the drawworks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mateo Garcia
  • Patent number: 11271412
    Abstract: A battery management system protects a main contactor from inrush currents, wherein the main contactor opens and closes a charge/discharge path connected between a first battery and an electrical load before pre-charging of a capacitor provided on the side of the electrical load is completed. The battery management system double-checks whether the pre-charging of the capacitor is completed based on a voltage across the capacitor and a voltage across the main contactor. The battery management system keeps a contact of the main contactor in an open operational position when the voltage across the capacitor is less than a first threshold voltage or the voltage across the main contactor is equal to or higher than a second threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventors: Ho-Deuk Choi, Ki-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11254223
    Abstract: An electric propulsion system includes a battery pack and a DC-DC converter. The converter has a bypass switch and semiconductor switches. A traction power inverter module (“TPIM”) rectifies a DC bus voltage on the voltage bus to produce an AC bus voltage. An electric machine is connected to the TPIM and energized via the AC bus voltage. A controller calculates required output power from the converter based on a requested operating mode, and speed and torque of the electric machine. When the output power exceeds a threshold, the bypass switch closes to bypass the converter. When the output power is less than the threshold, the controller uses a minimum loss voltage from a loss map as a target control voltage of the converter to optimize efficiency of the electric propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chengwu Duan, Norman K. Bucknor
  • Patent number: 11245392
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a gate driver circuit. The gate driver circuit receives an input signal and a signal corresponding to a current through a switch, and produces, using the input signal, an output signal for controlling the switch. In response to the input signal being de-asserted, the gate driver circuit may turn the switch off at a normal turn-off rate when the current through the switch is less than an overcurrent (OC) threshold, and at an OC turn-off rate that is slower than the normal turn-off rate when the current through the switch is greater than the OC threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yi-Feng Hsia, Tai-Hua Chen, Kinam Song
  • Patent number: 11233423
    Abstract: A wireless charging apparatus includes a voltage converting circuit, a wireless transmitting circuit, and a first control circuit. The voltage converting circuit is configured to receive an input voltage and convert the input voltage to obtain an output voltage and an output current of the voltage converting circuit. The wireless transmitting circuit is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal according to the output voltage and the output current of the voltage converting circuit to conduct wireless charging on a device to-be-charged. The first control circuit is configured for wireless communication with the device to-be-charged during the wireless charging to acquire battery information of the device to-be-charged and configured to adjust, according to the battery information of the device to-be-charged, a resonant frequency of the wireless transmitting circuit to adjust a transmission power of the wireless transmitting circuit. A device to-be-charged, method and system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Shiming Wan
  • Patent number: 11233281
    Abstract: A battery pack including a first charging contactor and a second charging contactor; a first measurement resistor, a second measurement resistor and a third measurement resistor electrically connected to at least two of one ends and the other ends of the first charging contactor and the second charging contactor; a first measurement contactor, a second measurement contactor and a third measurement contactor electrically connected to at least one of the first measurement resistor, the second measurement resistor and the third measurement resistor; and a control unit configured to control an operation state of at least one of the first measurement contactor, the second measurement contactor and the third measurement contactor based on whether at least one of a charging start request signal and a charging end request signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Sang-Hyeok Ham
  • Patent number: 11228277
    Abstract: A method for determining a system power, which is maximally possible at a point in time, of a photovoltaic system, comprising a plurality of photovoltaic generators, wherein the photovoltaic system is not operated at the maximally possible system power at the point in time, and wherein at least some of the photovoltaic generators of the plurality of photovoltaic generators are operated at different operating points at the point in time, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventor: Mathias Buenemann
  • Patent number: 11223315
    Abstract: A power tool, includes a power supply module for connecting to AC power; a brushless motor including a rotor and a stator winding; a rectifier module configured to receive the AC power from the power supply module and output a DC bus voltage; a position detection module for detecting a position signal of the brushless motor; a MCU chip configured to receive the position signal of the brushless motor detected by the position detection module and output a driving signal according to the position signal, where the MCU chip includes a controller; and a driving circuit configured to receive the driving signal from the MCU chip to drive the brushless motor, where the driving circuit is connected in series between the MCU chip and the stator winding of the brushless motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongwei Wang, Weipeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11218065
    Abstract: A field coil type rotating electric machine includes a rotor where both a series resonant circuit including a first winding and a capacitor and a parallel resonant circuit including a second winding and the capacitor are formed. The first winding is radially located closer than the second winding to a stator. The capacitance of the capacitor and the ratio of the number of turns of the second winding to the number of turns of the first winding are set to have the amplitude of a total resultant magnetic flux lower than the amplitude of a field resultant magnetic flux. The total resultant magnetic flux is the resultant of the field resultant magnetic flux and magnetic flux generated by harmonic currents flowing in phase windings of a stator coil. The field resultant magnetic flux is the resultant of magnetic fluxes generated by harmonic currents flowing in the first and second windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Seguchi
  • Patent number: 11208006
    Abstract: An electric power supply system includes a charger, first and second high electric potential side lines, first and second diodes, a first battery and a first load, a second battery and a second load, a first switch, a second switch, and a control device. The control device is configured to switch the first switch to an open state and maintain the second switch in a close state when the first battery reaches a predetermined level or higher of a state of charge earlier than the second battery after the control device starts charging the first battery and the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11211924
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic circuit includes: a current supply circuit, a detection circuit, a timing generation circuit, a sample hold circuit and a calculation circuit. The current supply circuit supplies a sine wave current for measurement to a gate terminal of a semiconductor switching device. The detection circuit detects a sine wave voltage generated in response to supply of the sine wave current to generate a detection signal. The timing generation circuit counts cycles of the sine wave voltage. The sample hold circuit samples the detection signal at a timing depending on a count value of the timing generation circuit. The calculation circuit calculates a gate resistance of the semiconductor switching device based on the sampled voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Shusuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 11211892
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes: a rectifier; an inverter; a DC link voltage detection unit; an input current detection unit configured to detect input current inputted to the rectifier; a DC link voltage comparison unit configured to compare a DC link voltage with a first voltage threshold value and with a second voltage threshold value; a current comparison unit configured to compare the input current with a current threshold value; and an abnormality detection unit configured, in a case that the DC link voltage is smaller than the first voltage threshold value or that the DC link voltage is greater than the second voltage threshold value, to determine that a first abnormality has occurred when the input current is smaller than the current threshold value and to determine that a second abnormality has occurred when the input current is equal to or greater than the current threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Tagawa
  • Patent number: 11201572
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for motor braking using selectively connectable resistance. The method includes controlling, using a motor controller of the power tool, a power switching network to drive a motor of the power tool in response to actuation of a user input and determining, using the motor controller, a variable tool characteristic. The method further includes determining, using the motor controller, that the user input is de-actuated. The method also includes controlling, using the motor controller, the power switching network to brake the motor when the variable tool characteristic satisfies the tool characteristic threshold and controlling, using the motor controller, a braking circuit to brake the motor when the variable tool characteristic does not satisfy the tool characteristic threshold. The braking circuit includes one or more resistive loads and is selectively coupled to the motor terminals of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy R. Obermann, Alexander Huber
  • Patent number: 11186181
    Abstract: A drive system with one or more electrically driven axles, a transmission subsystem, which is drivingly coupled to the drive gearbox of each of the electrically driven axles, synchronous and asynchronous motors, which are each drivingly coupled to the transmission subsystem, and a controller. Each of the axles has a drive gearbox that transmits rotary power to an associated set of vehicle wheels. The controller controls the synchronous motor and/or the asynchronous motor responsive to at least a torque request and a shaft speed of the synchronous motor and/or the shaft speed of the asynchronous motor. Over a significant portion of the operating range of the drive system, the controller is configured to vary the respective magnitudes of the rotary power provided by the motors to satisfy the torque request in a manner that maximizes a combined efficiency of the motors in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Ronning, John Morgante
  • Patent number: 11161428
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a traction battery that is operated according to a state of charge of the traction battery. A controller is programmed to operate the traction battery according to the state of charge of the traction battery and, in response to completion of a charge cycle of the traction battery, generates an adaptive relaxation time and an adaptive compensation voltage of the state of charge that changes with a temperature and a charge rate of the traction battery. The controller is further programmed to, in response to expiration of the adaptive relaxation time after completion of the charge cycle, update the state of charge to a value corresponding to a voltage defined by a difference between a measured voltage of the traction battery and the adaptive compensation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Xiao Guang Yang, Yuan Zhang, Xu Wang, Xianzhi Gong
  • Patent number: 11148805
    Abstract: An enclosure for a UAS includes a housing having a base and a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base, a motive apparatus coupled to the housing, a platform coupled to the motive apparatus, and a plurality of lids pivotably coupled to the sidewalls and the platform. The platform and the plurality of lids move collectively under control of the motive apparatus (e.g., a linear actuator). Driving the motive apparatus in a first direction causes the platform to raise from a stowed position toward a deployed position and causes each of the plurality of lids to pivot from a closed position toward an open position. Conversely, driving the motive apparatus in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the platform to lower from the deployed position toward the stowed position and causes each of the plurality of lids to pivot from the open position toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Neil E. Cooper, Eric S. Paternoster, Jason A. Schrader, Gary L. Bronstetter
  • Patent number: 11130410
    Abstract: The invention regards a controller for controlling an output power of an electric vehicle, such vehicle and a respective method. The controller is configured to operate in a drive mode controlling electrical energy to a motor generating torque for driving the vehicle based on a throttle input signal. The controller is further configured to receive, in addition to the throttle input signal, a further user controllable signal and to switch the controller in response to such user controllable signal to a maximum power mode for a time interval, wherein in the maximum power mode the maximum electrical energy that can be delivered to the motor is increased compared to the drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Goerick
  • Patent number: 11133767
    Abstract: A variety of methods, controllers and electric machine systems are described for pulse control of electric machines (e.g., electric motors and generators). To improve the energy conversion efficiency of the machine, pulse control involves determining if the machine should operate in a continuous mode or pulse mode, and if the latter, defining a magnitude, duty cycle, and frequency for the pulses. One or more tables, indexing by a wide range of speeds and torque requests, is/are used to define the pulsing frequency or a pulsing frequency pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Tula eTechnology, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Paul Carvell, Adya S. Tripathi
  • Patent number: 11130405
    Abstract: A system and method of powering an external device with a vehicular battery system allows a user to charge electrically-powered devices with the electrical power source of his or her vehicle. The system includes an electrically-driven vehicle which includes a high-voltage battery. The high voltage battery includes a pair of contactors and is contained within a battery casing. The system further includes a junction box which includes an input derived from the pair of contactors, an external output for off-vehicle charging, and an internal output for on-vehicle charging. The system further includes a power modifier, an auxiliary low-voltage battery and at least one external device. The auxiliary low-voltage battery is electrically connected to the high-voltage battery through the junction box and the power modifier. Thus, the auxiliary low-voltage battery is safely charged by the high-voltage battery. The auxiliary low-voltage battery can then be used to power the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Keith Johnson
  • Patent number: 11124074
    Abstract: A control system for handling a fault condition on a utility vehicle includes a lithium battery, a contactor configured to control electrical access to the lithium battery, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the contactor. The control circuitry is configured to detect, while the contactor is closed to provide a set of loads of the utility vehicle with electrical access to the lithium battery, onset of a fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, in response to detection of the onset of the fault condition, a set of remedial operations to address the fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, after a predefined amount of time has elapsed since the onset of the fault condition, a subsequent operation which opens the contactor if the fault condition remains and maintains closure of the contactor if the fault condition does not remain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden, Luke Anthony O'Hara
  • Patent number: 11128251
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant power system architecture for aircraft electric propulsion. The fault-tolerant systems continue to operate in the event of the failure of (or one or more faults within) some component. The fault-tolerant design enables the system to continue its intended operation, possibly at a reduced level, rather than failing completely, when some part of the system fails. When a turn-to-turn fault in an AC motor is detected, a motor controller will short three top or three bottom switches in the inverter together (effectively shorting the associated stator windings) to divert fault current from the motor windings to the motor controller, where cooling is available. Also, when a fault in or at the input to a motor controller is detected, the motor controller cuts off power to the motor by issuing a command that causes an upstream contactor with high-voltage DC bus input to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eugene V. Solodovnik, Frederic Lacaux, Kamiar J. Karimi
  • Patent number: 11121653
    Abstract: In an inverter generator having a generator unit including three phase windings driven by an engine, a converter having multiple switching elements and configured to convert alternating current outputted from the generator unit to direct current, an inverter configured to convert direct current outputted from the converter to alternating current and output the alternating current to a load, and a converter control unit configured to determine PWM control ON-time period and drive the multiple switching elements so that inter-terminal voltage of direct current outputted from the converter stays constant with respect to increase/decrease of the load, the converter control unit is configured to detect, with respect to voltage waveforms occurring in the three-phase windings in cycle (t?n), crossing angle between voltage waveform of one phase and voltage waveform of a phase adjacent thereto and to drive the multiple switching elements of either the one phase and the adjacent phase in cycle (t) such that the detecte
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Onoe
  • Patent number: 11114960
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electric drive train comprising:—a rotor or propeller shaft (R),—an electric motor assembly (GEMD) configured to drive the rotor or propeller shaft (R), the electric motor assembly (GEMD) comprising a plurality of stacked electric motor elements (Ee1, Ee2, Ee3, Ee4),—a power branch of a first topology feeding a stacked electric motor element (Ee1) of the electric motor assembly (GEMD), said power branch (b1) comprising a RESS and an electric generator (G) supplying a power signal to said power branch (b1),—a power branch (b3) of a second topology dissimilar from the first topology, said power branch feeding another stacked electric motor element of the electric motor assembly (GEMD), said power branch (b3) comprising: # an electric generator (G) supplying a power signal to said power branch, a matrix converter (Mc3) feeding the another stacked electric motor element (Ee3), # or, an electric generator supplying Direct Current to said power branch and a motor controller feedin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Pascal Chretien
  • Patent number: 11104323
    Abstract: A system includes a power source and a memory to store an event that is predicted to occur, an action to be performed by the power source to increase efficiency of the power source during the stored event, and a mis-prediction counter indicating a count of mis-predictions. The system further includes an ECU designed to predict that the stored event will occur and to control the power source to take the action when the stored event is predicted to occur. The ECU is further designed to update the mis-prediction counter and to adjust at least one of the stored event that is predicted to occur, the stored action to be performed by the power source, or a prediction horizon of the prediction when the mis-prediction counter reaches or exceeds a threshold quantity of mis-predictions to increase efficiency of the power source during a subsequent prediction of the stored event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Geoffrey David Gaither
  • Patent number: 11097614
    Abstract: A ride-on toy with electronic speed controller for superior user experience is described herein. A ride-on toy as described herein may be in the form of a ride-on toy car, truck, jeep, motorcycle or the like and may be used with up to a 24-volt power source as opposed to a 12-volt power source as is common in the art. An electronic speed controller of the present disclosure provides variable speed control to at least one and preferably at least two motors from separate accelerator and brake mechanisms such as pedals. Conventional ride-on toys such as those described herein typically contain a single-pole switch such as pedal that provides all-or-nothing power to a motor as opposed to modulation of two motors by two actuation means. A ride-on toy as described herein may combine various controller components in unique ways to achieve the superior results as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ML Toys, LLC
    Inventor: Alan Placer
  • Patent number: 11097715
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for calculating a control setpoint of a hybrid powertrain of a motor vehicle, the hybrid powertrain including an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE) that is equipped with a gearbox and that is supplied with fuel. The method includes: acquiring a value relative to a power requested at the vehicle's drive wheels; and determining the contribution of the electric motor and the ICE in order to satisfy the request for power at the drive wheels. The determination step involves calculating a triplet of three values, one value relating to the electromechanical power that the electric motor must provide, one value relating to the thermomechanical power that the ICE must provide and one value relating to the ratio that needs to be engaged in the gearbox, this triplet minimising the fuel consumption of the ICE and the current consumption of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: RENAULT S.A.S., UNIVERSITE D'ORLEANS
    Inventors: Souad Hadj-Said, Ahmed Ketfi-Cherif, Guillaume Colin