Reversing Polarity Of Current Supplied To Armature Circuit Patents (Class 318/293)
  • Patent number: 8228011
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a bi-direction driver IC and a method for bi-directionally driving an object. The method comprises: providing a first and a second integrated circuit (IC) chips, coupled with an object to be driven, wherein each of the first and second IC chips is capable of single-directionally driving the object; providing a reverse current path in each of the first and second IC chips; driving the object in a first direction by the first IC chip, wherein current flows through the reverse current path in the second IC chip; and driving the object in a second direction by the second IC chip, wherein current flows through the reverse current path in the first IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Chip Goal Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hui-Yen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8193746
    Abstract: An automotive electric motor speed control system may include at least one electric motor adapted to cause a moveable element to move, a DC/DC power converter configured to output a voltage to the at least one electric motor that increases to a desired value and subsequently decreases to control the movement of the moveable element, and a controller configured to control the rate of voltage increase and voltage decrease output by the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Jimenez Pino, Juan Luis Castilla
  • Patent number: 8174230
    Abstract: A switch section includes a common terminal connected to a terminal at one end of each of a pair of motors, a first terminal connected to a terminal at the other end of one of the motors and a second terminal connected to a terminal at the other end of the other of the motors, and three-contact switches each including one common contact and two switching contacts. In the switch section two switches corresponding to one direction selected from the up and down directions form a switch group, at least one switch corresponding to the other direction selected from the up and down directions is provided, two switches corresponding to one direction selected from the left and right directions form a switch group, and at least one switch corresponding to the other direction selected from the left and right directions is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Ataka, Tomoaki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8134312
    Abstract: A motor control circuit includes a manipulation unit, a control unit that drives a motor in a normal rotation direction or a reverse rotation direction, a catch detecting unit that detects a foreign substance caught in the opening and closing body, a first relay circuit that connects one of terminals of the motor to a power supply when the motor is driven in the normal rotation direction, a second relay circuit that connects the other terminal of the motor to the power supply when the motor is driven in the reverse rotation direction, a switch element that cuts off connection to the power supply when the normal rotation command is fed into the control unit from the manipulation unit, a detection circuit, and a feed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunori Kigoshi
  • Patent number: 8044617
    Abstract: A motor control circuit for controlling a motor includes a brake circuit and a control circuit. The brake circuit is for making the motor enter a braking state. The control circuit is for detecting a residual energy of the motor in the braking state. When the residual energy conforms to a predetermined criterion, the control circuit makes the motor exit the braking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Leadtrend Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Ching-Tsan Lee
  • Publication number: 20110248655
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply comprises a first rectifier circuit configured to generate a first rectified voltage from an AC input voltage. An inverter generates a second AC voltage from the first rectified voltage. A transformer includes a primary coil coupled to the second AC voltage and a secondary coil. A second rectifier circuit is connected with the secondary coil and generates a second rectified voltage from a third AC voltage present at the secondary coil. The second rectified voltage is coupled to a node of the switched-mode power supply and represents or correlates to an output voltage thereof. A monitoring circuit shuts off the inverter when the second rectified voltage or the output voltage exceeds a predetermined first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Peter Buchmann
  • Patent number: 8022648
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit for full-wave single-phase driving a motor includes a position detection unit, a turn-on signal generation unit, and switching devices that define an H-bridge circuit. The turn-on signal generation unit includes a differential amplifier arranged to produce a trapezoid wave signal, and a square wave generation circuit arranged to produce a square wave signal, wherein the trapezoid and the square wave signals are respectively supplied to control terminals of lower switching devices in the H-bridge circuit. Further, one of the lower switching devices is turned on and off according to a voltage level of the square wave signal, and the remaining lower switching device is turned on and off when a voltage of the trapezoid wave signal becomes higher than an operation voltage of the remaining lower switching device, wherein a non-conducting interval is provided for the motor coil according to the operation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Servo Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Ito, Kenji Sugaya, Kazufumi Yamashita, Toshio Maehara, Shoji Oiwa
  • Patent number: 8022647
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling automated activation of a temperature control shaft of a gas valve includes an electric motor having a motor shaft and integral coupler, wired to a relay control circuit and controlled by a standard electric timer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey Pat Davis, Larry Glenn Davis
  • Patent number: 7956559
    Abstract: The invention discloses a motor driving device for generating at least one driving signal according to a clock signal corresponding to the output signal of a hall sensor. The motor driving device also controls rotation of a motor via at least one driving signal, wherein the at least one driving signal includes a first driving signal and a second driving signal and the motor driving device controls the rotation of the motor according to the first driving signal and the second driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Che-Wei Hsu, Chi-Lin Hsu
  • Patent number: 7863841
    Abstract: A method for driving a load by using an output stage amplifier in full bridge configuration whose supply is modulated by means of a fast switching power converter, controlled in order to maintain the stage's output common mode at its minimum voltage, is presented. The modulation of the switching power converter output is obtained by a feedback control system regulating directly the voltage of the bridge output stage terminals. This bridge unipolar class H stage allows driving the load with high accuracy and improved efficiency without introducing switching noise and EMI at the load terminals typical of PWM driving. This method can be applied with the same benefits to class AB, pseudo class AB or to class A output stages. When this method is associated with an imposed current driving approach and with a current oversampling digital to analog converter the resulting advantages are very significant for accurate motor control applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Inventors: Paolo Menegoli, Carl Sawtell
  • Patent number: 7863840
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit comprising: a synchronous rectification driving circuit to carry out synchronous rectification, to energize a driving coil connected between a first connection point at which a first source and first sink side transistors are connected in series and a second connection point at which a second source and second sink side transistors are connected in series; a backflow detecting resistor connected to electrodes of the first and second sink side transistors, the electrodes being on an opposite side of the first and second sink side transistors to the first and second connection points; a backflow detecting comparator to output a comparison signal indicating a result of comparison of voltage between a first and second terminals of the backflow detecting resistor; and a backflow prevention circuit to prohibit the synchronous rectification when the comparison signal indicates that the second terminal is higher in voltage than the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tanabe, Shunji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7781998
    Abstract: A fan system comprising a first switch, a second switch, a coil, and a drive device. The drive device comprises a third switch and a fourth switch. The third switch, the fourth switch, the first switch, the second switch and the coil form a bridge connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Lung Liu, Yi-Chieh Cho, Chia-Feng Wu, Yueh-Lung Huang
  • Patent number: 7741794
    Abstract: A load drive control circuit for controlling a load that includes connection terminals. The load drive control circuit includes bridge circuits respectively connected to the connection terminals of the load. Each bridge circuit includes two semiconductor elements, which are connected between a power supply and ground, and an output terminal. The semiconductor elements are each controlled to be switched between activated and deactivated states. The output terminal of each bridge circuit generates a bridge output that varies in accordance with a combination of the activated and deactivated states of the semiconductor elements in the bridge circuit. A detection circuit detects whether a short circuit is occurring in the connection terminals. A control circuit switches the bridge circuits to electrically disconnect the load from the power supply when a short circuit is occurring during a period in which the load is in a suspended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishibe, Hiroki Kishi
  • Patent number: 7737647
    Abstract: The invention concerns a reversible current rectifier, for connection to part of a polyphase network and to a continuous bus comprising a plurality of rectifier cells each rectifier cell including a rectifying device and a on-way electronic switch connected in anti-parallel with the rectifier device, the rectifying devices of different cells being arranged so as to form one rectifier. Each rectifier cell comprises means for controlling the electronic switch of the cell arranged to control the latter in closure after detecting a conduction of the rectifying device of the cell so as to enable current to be returned to the network. The control means are arranged to receive a signal external to the cell, for controlling the opening of the electronic switch, derived from another rectifier cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Moteurs Leroy-Somer
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Andrejak, Christian Andrieux, Mathias Tientcheu-Yamdeu, Alexandre Lagarde
  • Patent number: 7723932
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a vehicle is provided. The propulsion system includes a first traction drive system and a second traction drive system. The first traction drive system includes a heat engine and a first drive motor. The heat engine supplies energy to the first drive motor to propel the vehicle. The second traction drive system includes a second drive motor and a first energy storage device. The second drive motor both supplies energy to the first energy storage device and receives energy from the first energy storage device. Also provided is a propulsion system for a vehicle that includes the first traction drive system and a propulsion means for supplying energy to a first energy storage device and for receiving energy from the first energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Lembit Salasoo
  • Patent number: 7705549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a series resistor assembly (1) for an electric motor (M), in particular for an electrically driven ventilating fan in a vehicle. Said assembly comprises a series resistor (2) for controlling the RPM of the electric motor (M) in one or more RPM stages (ST1, ST2, to STn) and a thermal link (6) that is optionally connected in series to the series resistor, a reversible switching element (4) for at least one of the RPM stages (ST1, ST2) being integrated into said assembly. The invention also relates to a circuit arrangement (14) comprising a reversible blocking protection and fire protection element for the electric motor (M) and/or the series resistor assembly (1), diverse status signalling lines (24a to 24c) being used to evaluate and control the ventilating fan system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Bielesch
  • Patent number: 7688011
    Abstract: A control circuit for an electronically commutated motor (120), having a power stage (122) that comprises at least two semiconductor switches (216, 218) to influence the motor current. The semiconductor switches are controllable by way of commutation signals. The control circuit comprises a current measuring element (170) to make available a motor current control variable (I) dependent on the motor current, a base diode (240) that is arranged in series with the current measuring element and between the current measuring element and the at least two semiconductor switches, and a motor current setting element (180) with which the commutation signals can be influenced as a function of the motor current control variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hansjörg Berroth, Frank Jeske, Volker Mauch, Arnold Kuner
  • Patent number: 7683557
    Abstract: An interlocking device for controlling clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of a motor is connected with a clockwise rotation module and a counterclockwise rotation module at both ends thereof to form a loop by cooperating with a power-supply terminal and an earth terminal. The clockwise rotation module includes a clockwise rotation trigger switch and a clockwise rotation relay. The counterclockwise rotation module includes a counterclockwise rotation trigger switch and a counterclockwise rotation relay. By such arrangements, the loop collision caused by mis-touch can be avoided by a cross connection of the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation relays with the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation trigger switches, thus preventing the man-made careless mistake and maintaining the smoothness of the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventor: Tai-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 7656111
    Abstract: A circuit is adapted to activate a writer head of a data storage media drive during both the boost periods as well as the steady state periods. The current supplied to the writer head during the boost periods exceeds the steady state current and flows between positive and negative voltage supplies so as to provide the required magnetic flux change in the inductor disposed in the write head. During the steady state periods, a switch circuit is turned on to provide a second current path across the writer head. During the steady state periods, the current flows between the positive voltage supply and the ground to reduce power consumption. The switch circuit is turned off during the boost periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Kong Chan, Kien Beng Tan, Xiao Yu Miao
  • Patent number: 7629758
    Abstract: A driving apparatus and a driving method for a single phase motor utilizes a driving transistor unit, and an auxiliary driving transistor unit to provide two driving currents with the same direction as the single phase coil. Next, a control unit is used to control the conducting and shutting down of the driving transistor unit and the auxiliary driving transistor unit according to the location of the rotating device of the single phase motor. Thereby, the driving current on the single phase coil recirculates to reduce the vibration and noise of the single phase motor, and prevent the problem of the single phase motor not turning on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Holtek Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Ying-Chen Hsiao, Yi-Chen Chen, Yi-Chen Lin, Juh-Gua Shiau
  • Patent number: 7629756
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling first and second motors. A controller includes a processor supplying a control signal for driving the motors and a logic circuit coupled to the processor. The processor produces a first trigger coordinated with the rate of the first motor and a second trigger coordinated with the rate of the second motor. The logic circuit produces a third trigger from a combination of the first and second triggers. The processor includes a converter for sampling the currents of the motors in response to the third trigger. The processor further produces a modified pulse width in the first trigger if a period between the first and second triggers is less than a predetermined limit and directs the converter to consecutively sample the currents in response to the modified pulse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Murrell, Daniel L. Kowalewski
  • Patent number: 7630616
    Abstract: A coil load driving circuit in which generation of radiation noise when a motor is stationary is minimized, includes output buffers that output a PWM pulse to both terminals of a motor; a transfer voltage generating circuit that outputs transfer voltages VTR1, VTR2 proportional to the difference between an input control voltage VIN and input reference voltage VREF; PWM comparators that output PWM signals PW1, PW2 corresponding to the transfer voltages VTR1, VTR2; and an output PWM pulse synthesis circuit that controls the output buffer in accordance with an AND signal of the PWM signal PW1 and an exclusive OR signal EX of the PWM signals PW1 and PW2, and controls the output buffer in accordance with an AND signal of the PWM signal PW2 and the exclusive OR signal EX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 7615954
    Abstract: A pump control system incorporates one or more solid state level sensors as well as solid state pump control switches. Elimination of mechanical or electrode-mechanical parts by using ultrasonically based fluid level sensors as well as solid state switches for motor control enhances reliability and results in reduced power consumption and dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Metropolitan Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Potter, Anton Belehradek, Adam Pleticha
  • Patent number: 7612512
    Abstract: In order to control an electromotive drive, a control unit has control modules for controlling half-bridge end power stages. Two of the control modules are pre-configured for alternatively controlling a commutator motor or a brushless electric motor via two half-bridge end power stages. A third control module can be subsequently configured to control a third half-bridge end power stage or two individual switching elements. An electromotive drive ideally can be configured with the stated control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Josef Loibl, Thomas Maier
  • Publication number: 20090243529
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit includes a control device, a detection module and a driving module. The control device is controlled by a control signal and is coupled to a motor. The control device includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein a driving current flowing through the motor flows through the first terminal and the second terminal. The detection module is used for detecting a voltage of the first terminal. The driving module is used for generating the control signal to control the driving current, wherein the detection module adjusts the driving capability of the driving module, thereby adjusting a slew rate of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Ching-Tsan Lee
  • Patent number: 7592763
    Abstract: A motor receives power through two or more relays connected to a power source. A switch-operated logic circuit is powered by a relay power source and connects to the relays. To start the motor, the switch is pressed, causing the logic circuit to close the relays sequentially. When all the relays are closed, the motor will start. If the motor starts before the logic circuit closes all of the relays, the motor is stopped and an indication is provided that the relays that have not yet been closed have failed. Otherwise, the motor runs until the switch is pressed again, causing the logic circuit to open the relays and stop the motor. The sequence in which the relays are closed is then changed. Each relay is alternately made the last in the closing sequence, therefore testing each relay in turn for failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: David A. Stingl
  • Publication number: 20090160374
    Abstract: A motor control device operable to rotate a motor based on an actuated direction of an operation knob of an operation switch in a direction corresponding to the actuated direction has direction selector switches provided corresponding to respective actuated directions of the operation knob, and open/close elements provided between the direction selector switches and a power supply. Each of the open/close elements is turned on when a control current is supplied thereto. When the operation knob is actuated, the direction selector switch corresponding to the actuated direction is turned on, a control current is supplied from the power supply to the open/close element connected to the relevant switch, and the predetermined open/close element is turned on. A drive current that flows from the power supply into the motor through a current carrying path of the open/close element is controlled according to a ON/OFF status of each of the open/close elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 7525271
    Abstract: A power cutter, an oscillator, a counter, a S-R latch, and a Hall bias are further disposed inside a DC motor driving circuit so that current consumption of the DC motor driving circuit is reduced significantly under a standby mode. When the counter detects that a received pulse width modulation signal stays at a low electrical level over a predetermined time, the counter triggers the S-R latch so as to activate a disabling signal of the power cutter for shutting down most elements until the pulse width modulation signal returns to a high electrical level. With the aid of the built-in Hall bias, space for externally coupling the Hall bias is saved, and moreover, a Hall sensor retrieves a dynamically-adjusted power and currents so that remarkable current consumption is saved under a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Min Chen, Ching-Sheng Li, Shiue-Shr Jiang
  • Patent number: 7498755
    Abstract: A single low side power transistor switch is used to efficiently control a brushed motor in a forward rotational direction. A boost voltage power supply is used to supply voltage to the brushed motor in a reverse rotational direction and/or braking from the forward rotational direction. A digital device controls the brushed motor rotational speed and rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Julicher, John Charais, Keith Curtis
  • Patent number: 7411363
    Abstract: A capacitor, inductor, and power line are arranged in a series parallel combination tank circuit that operates over four quarters of a complete cycle. During the first quarter cycle: power is applied to the tank circuit, current flows through the inductor to the capacitor, current is stored in the inductor, and the capacitor is charged. During the second quarter cycle; current is released from the inductor as the capacitor discharges current to another parallel inductor or resistive load. During a third quarter cycle: current flows in the capacitor from the opposite direction, the capacitor is charged, current pushes out from the capacitor to the incoming power line, and current is stored in the inductor. During the fourth quarter cycle: the capacitor discharges in the opposite direction, current parallel to another inductor or resistive load flows in the opposite direction, and the inductor releases current to incoming power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Dat D. Lam
  • Patent number: 7408313
    Abstract: A circuit is adapted to activate a writer head of a data storage media drive during both the boost periods as well as the steady state periods. The current supplied to the writer head during the boost periods exceeds the steady state current and flows between positive and negative voltage supplies so as to provide the required magnetic flux change in the inductor disposed in the write head. During the steady state periods, a switch circuit is turned on to provide a second current path across the writer head. During the steady state periods, the current flows between the positive voltage supply and the ground to reduce power consumption. The switch circuit is turned off during the boost periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan Sang Kong, Kien Beng Tan, Xiao Yu Miao
  • Patent number: 7400106
    Abstract: A battery-powered tool indicates to an operator that a torque limit has been reached. The tool comprises a driver circuit for generating motor interface driving signals, a motor interface circuit coupled to a motor to selectively couple power to the motor in accordance with the motor driving signals, a torque limit signal generator for generating a torque limit signal, a motor torque signal generator for generating a torque signal corresponding to a torque generated by the motor, and a microcontroller for comparing the motor torque signal to the torque limit signal and for generating a torque limit indicating signal in response to the torque signal being equal to or greater than the torque limit signal so the driver circuit operates the motor to vibrate to alert an operator that the torque limit has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: John DeCicco, Illya Kovarik
  • Publication number: 20080158923
    Abstract: In a device and a method for controlling an electromechanical power converter (10), particularly of an electric motor and/or generator, comparatively cost-effective switches (14, 18) can be used without drastically decreasing the serviceable life of the entire system. A number of controllable switches (14, 18) can be used for controlling the converter (10), and dividing up a switching load, which is caused when connecting e.g. short-circuiting converter connections (21, 22), to a number of switches (14, 18) over the serviceable life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS VDO AUTOMATIVE AG
    Inventors: Steffen Hopf, Manfred Ringlstetter
  • Patent number: 7358696
    Abstract: During PWM control in which an actuator (9) is connected between the output terminals of a bridge circuit made up of switching elements (121, 122, 221, 222) and power is applied to the actuator (9) with signals G1U, G1L, G2U and G2L, driving timing signals are generated with a time interval (dead time) during which the switching elements (121, 122) and the switching elements (221, 222) are simultaneously turned off, and the actuator (9) is driven so as to have no overlapping dead time between a pair of half-bridge circuits, achieving response even with a differential input PWM signal (S51-S52) having a small time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayako Iwanaga, Tomokazu Furuno
  • Patent number: 7355361
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus can protect circuit elements in an appropriate manner while preventing an incorrect abnormality determination when a motor is in regeneration operation, etc. The apparatus includes a target current calculation section (51), a drive control section (52) that generates a drive signal based on a current deviation ?I between a target current (IMT) and a detected current (IMS), an abnormality determination section (53) that generates an abnormality determination signal based on the target current (IMT) and the detected current (IMS), and a regeneration operation determination section (59) that determines whether the motor (4) is in a regeneration operation state. When it is determined that the motor (4) is in a regeneration operation, a determination threshold of the abnormality determination section (53) is set to a value larger than a determination threshold during power running operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kifuku, Masaki Matsushita, Hiroyuki Kozuki
  • Patent number: 7352145
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and drive the connected motors in response to the error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Moller, Philip K. Schneider, Salvador A. Canales
  • Patent number: 7348740
    Abstract: A motor control circuit for forward/reverse rotation comprises a driving circuit, a switching circuit and a motor coil winding. The driving circuit has a driving source, a Hall IC and a driving IC. The driving source provides a signal to enable the Hall IC to output a control signal to the driving IC and the driving IC generates a driving signal after receiving the control signal. The switching circuit is applied for changing the transmitting direction of the control signal or the driving signal. The motor coil winding receives the driving signal and decides motor rotating direction according to the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Adda Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Cheng Ma, Hsin-mao Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7342369
    Abstract: Method and system of monitoring operations of an electric motor. The method and system being applicable to any number of motors of the type used to drive moveable members, including but not limited to motors used to drive automatic vehicle windows and motors used to drive automatic vehicle seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Jimenez Pino, Montserrat Angles
  • Patent number: 7294983
    Abstract: Two systems consisting of an on-off control section corresponding to the saturation drive system and a constant voltage control section corresponding to the constant voltage drive system are provided as a circuit for controlling the conduction state of a transistor QP11 provided at the output section. The constant voltage unit comprises an operational amplifier A1, which monitors the output voltage Vout and feedback-controls the gate voltage of QP11. On the other hand, the on-off control section delivers a control signal for turning on and off QP11 corresponding to an input signal input to IN-U through inverters 40 and 42. Switches 46 and 48 for selectively applying the output from the control unit of either one of these two systems are provided to select the switch to be turned on based on a mode signal input to SW. This configuration enables the realization of different drive systems and restricts increase in circuit size while commonly using the output unit configured with comparatively large transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Yokoo
  • Patent number: 7271993
    Abstract: A PWM controller for a bridge driver circuit for controlling current in an inductive load such as a motor, can set the driver into a forward mode, a slow decay mode or a fast decay mode, and can switch from slow decay mode into forward mode or into fast decay mode for the duration of pulses at controlled time intervals to provide pulse width modulated control of the current. This is a simpler control scheme avoiding complex switching schemes related to mixed mode decay. By using a controlled PWM frequency, it is easier to avoid the problems of variable frequency such as increased heat dissipation or acoustic noise generation. It can have a selector for selecting top or bottom sense switching, enabling a wider range of stable PWM duty-cycles to be used (e.g. 0% to 100%), which is useful to compensate for Back emf influence on coil-drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA
    Inventors: Jan Plojhar, Bart De Cock
  • Patent number: 7239099
    Abstract: A circuit configuration for driving an electric motor, in particular of a washing machine, includes power switches connected to connection terminals of the electric motor and to a voltage intermediate circuit. A driver circuit is connected to the voltage intermediate circuit and to the power switches. A control unit, in particular a micro controller, is connected to the driver circuit. The control unit generates control signals for controlling at least one rotation speed of the electric motor. The driver circuit generates short-circuit control signals for driving the power switches, which bring about a short circuit of the connection terminals connected to the power switches, independently of the control signals from the control unit. The driver circuit generates the short-circuit control signals as a function of a detection of an overvoltage of the voltage intermediate circuit over a desired voltage range. A method for controlling an electric motor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Weinmann
  • Patent number: 7190132
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling motors using relays is disclosed. The invention includes causing rotation of the motor in a first rotation direction if a first control signal is asserted and causing rotation of the motor in a second rotation direction if a second control signal is asserted. The invention further includes impeding rotation of the motor if both the first control signal and the second control signal are asserted, or if both the first control signal and the second control signal are negated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: E. Carl Goodman, Kevin Banta, D. George Field
  • Patent number: 7145299
    Abstract: A master controller installed in a master controller box and slave controllers installed in car doors to open and close window glasses of a car are connected by a single wire to each of slave controllers for enabling to send control signals through such a single wire so that the master controller applies DOWN current signal, UP current signal and no flow of current to slave controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Noro, Toru Namiki, Kenji Shioiri
  • Patent number: 7126296
    Abstract: A directional load is capable of operating in multiple directions. For example, a directional motor may rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. A directional load driver generates output signals causing the directional load to operate in one of the directions, thereby providing a requested function. The requested function is identified using an input signal, such as a state-encoded input signal. The state-encoded input signal could be received by the directional load driver over a single wire or through a single input pin. Under the control of the directional load driver, the directional load could perform any of a wide variety of functions. In automotive applications, the directional load could open or close a window, lock or unlock a door, or open or close a door. In other applications, the directional load could be used with a residential door lock, a home automation system, or an industrial control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Burlak, Marian Mirowski
  • Patent number: 7122982
    Abstract: A rotation information detection device detects rotation information of a DC motor based on a surge component waveform superimposed on a voltage waveform between the terminals of the DC motor or a current waveform of the DC motor, a circuit is provided which supplies a current of a current value Ipwm 45% during motor forward rotation or Ipwm 55% during reverse motor rotation to the motor over the period from when the motor starts braking operation to when it stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takanari Sasaya, Michiru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7064506
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle power seat motor including the steps of generating at least one control signal using a controller, and adjusting the speed of the motor in response to the at least one control signal such that speed of the motor is maintained to a predetermined curve. Maintaining the speed of the motor to the predetermined curve reduces at least one of mechanical wear, erratic motion, and noise of a respective seat mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Stewart, Eric K. Honsowetz, Stephen A. Harrison, Mark Alan Jay
  • Patent number: 7064509
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining angular positions of DC motor includes a capacitor connected in parallel with the DC motor. The current flowing through the capacitor, at any given time, is an AC ripple current responsive to a commutation event of the DC motor. The capacitor partially sources the motor current ripples during commutation and recharges itself during the off-commutation period. Since the number of commutation events per mechanical revolution is pre-determined once the DC motor is designed, the frequency of the AC ripple currents through the capacitor corresponds to the frequency of commutation, and thus a motor position of the DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenxing Fu, Karienne A. Yockey, Frank J. Aiello, James R. Winkelman, Frank J. Haas
  • Patent number: 7049772
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit which have a first source-side transistor and a first sink-side transistor connected in series; a second source-side transistor and a second sink-side transistor connected in series; and a control circuit supplying the first source-side transistor, the first sink-side transistor, the second source-side transistor, and the second sink-side transistor with control signals for supplying a current in one direction or the opposite direction to a coil connected between a connection point of the first source-side transistor and the first sink-side transistor and a connection point of the second source-side transistor and the second sink-side transistor based on a plurality of input signals that complementarily change at a predetermined frequency. The control circuit, during each time period between timings of complementary switching of the plurality of input signals, outputs control signals for turning on and off the transistors in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juichi Uno, Kazuyoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7038410
    Abstract: A method of dynamically damping an electric motor (12) that is controlled by an H-bridge driver (16) by interdigitating power pulses with braking pulses by switching from a power switch mode to a shorting circuit mode with switches (22 and 26) closed that brakes the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dany Paul Delaporte
  • Patent number: 7034479
    Abstract: A digital interface for driving at least one complementary pair of first and second power elements connected in an inverter configuration between first and second voltage references is provided. The digital interface includes a first input terminal for receiving a PWM input signal, a first counter stage connected to the first input terminal, and a second counter stage connected to an output of the first counter stage. A toggle stage is connected to the first input terminal and to an output of the second counter stage. A first output terminal is connected to an output of the toggle stage, and is to be connected to a control terminal of the first power element. A second output terminal is connected to the output of the first counter stage for receiving a delayed PWM output signal therefrom, and is to be connected to a control terminal of the second power element. The toggle stage generates a second PWM output signal for the first output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Francesco Bombaci, Alessandro Inglese