Plural, Diverse Or Diversely Controlled Electric Motors Patents (Class 318/34)
  • Patent number: 9035578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for coupling at least one DC source (9) to a controllable energy store (2), which is used for controlling and supplying electrical energy to an n-phase electric machine (1), where n?1. In this case, the controllable energy store (2) has n parallel energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3), which are connectable firstly to a reference rail (T?) and secondly to in each case one phase (U, V, W) of the electric machine (1). An intermediate circuit (10) is connectable on the output side via a controllable coupling circuit (12) to the energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) of the controllable energy store (2) and on the input side to the at least one DC source (9). An associated operating method provides for a current flow from the at least one DC source (9) into the energy supply branches (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) of the controllable energy store (2) or the phases (U, V, W) of the electric machine (1) to be controlled with the aid of the controllable coupling circuit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Feuerstack, Erik Weissenborn, Martin Kessler
  • Patent number: 9018862
    Abstract: An alternating current rotating machine control device that shares information among power conversion devices and instruments. A power conversion system has a top level control device, a master station, multiple power conversion devices, instruments (such as a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor), and the like. The top level control device is connected to two of the power conversion devices by a first communication line. These power conversion devices have two or more communication functions, and are connected to a remaining power conversion device, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor by a second communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Itoigawa
  • Patent number: 9018866
    Abstract: At least one of a current value and a voltage value of an electrical storage device which is charged and discharged is detected with the use of each of a plurality of sensors. A predetermined process is executed on the basis of the detected values of the plurality of sensors The predetermined process is executed without using the detected values of the sensors in the predetermined process when a difference between a frequency of each of the detected values, which varies with a rotation speed of a motor that operates upon reception of an output power of the electrical storage device, and a resonance frequency of a step-up circuit, which varies with operation of the step-up circuit that steps up an output voltage of the electrical storage device and outputs the stepped-up electric power to the motor, is smaller than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinjiro Ashida, Tatsuki Nishimata
  • Patent number: 9013122
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering control device which can realize a more appropriate countermeasure against heat in accordance with a thermal characteristic of a component used to supply a motor current. The electric power steering control device for assisting a steering force of a steering wheel of a vehicle including a control unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Iwami, Takashi Goto, Susumu Zeniya, Daisuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9013121
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for autotensioning conductors of transmission lines. In one embodiment, among others, an autotensioner system includes tensioning assemblies coupled between a structure and corresponding conductors and a tension controller that controls a tensioning assembly to adjust a tension of the corresponding conductor to within a predefined tolerance of a corresponding tension setpoint. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving a current conductor tension for each of multiple conductors and adjusting the conductor tension of one of the conductors by remotely controlling a corresponding tensioning assembly. The adjustment may be based at least in part upon the current conductor tensions and a tension setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Southern Company Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Benton McGuire, Dennis Mize, Stephan Hicks
  • Patent number: 8988017
    Abstract: A mechanical resonator with a closed feed-back damping loop is provided. Displacement in the mechanical resonator is opposed with a damping force determined by the closed feed-back loop that comprises a signal processing filter with associated phase adjustment. An oscillation-free configuration that allows high signal amplification is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heikki Kuisma
  • Patent number: 8981698
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and/or closing a door of a domestic appliance, such as, for example, an oven, a refrigerator and the like, has a drive apparatus for the automatic opening and/or closing of the door and an actuating device which is operable by a user for activating the drive apparatus in order to open or to close the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bruno Fuhge
  • Patent number: 8981682
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to General Synchronized Vibration devices that provide haptic feedback to a user and improve the performance of existing vibratory devices. Different actuator types may be employed to provide synchronized vibration, including linear rotary actuators, rotating eccentric mass actuators including interleaved rotating mass actuators, and rocking mass actuators. A controller sends signals to one or more driver circuits to provide adjustment of vibration magnitude, frequency, and direction of the actuators. The system may apply forces onto an object, and a sensor measures a feature(s) of the object. This information is provided to a vibration device controller, which can then modify the vibration waveform to improve overall system performance. Fourier synthesis can be used to approximate arbitrarily shaped waveforms by controlling the phase and frequency of vibration actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Coactive Drive Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Delson, John Houston, Gabe Graham
  • Patent number: 8970144
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an electric traction drive system, which comprises an electric motor and a battery with a plurality of battery strings having battery modules. Each battery module is configured to be connected selectively with respect to output terminals of a respective battery string with positive polarization or negative polarization or to be bridged in the respective battery string, such that each battery string is configured to produce an adjustable output voltage. The battery modules are each monitored for proper functioning. When a technical fault in at least one battery module is detected, the at least one battery module is bridged and the traction drive system is transferred to a transition state in which the electric motor continues to be supplied and actuated by the connected battery modules in the battery module string such that a presently generated torque is maintained unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 8963473
    Abstract: A system comprising a motor controller for providing a plurality of first power signals and a single common second power signal to a motor module comprising a plurality of potentiometers connectable to a plurality of DC-motors. The power signals and feedback signals are sent over a wire interface having less than three wires per motor. A position feedback signal is read when a motor is being powered. The power signals may be DC-signals, pulsed or tri-state signals. The circuit may have a voltage divider consisting of two or three resistors. The actual motor position can be derived from the position feedback signals using one of two formulas or curves. A motor controller, and a method for driving a plurality of DC-motors is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Melexis Technologies NV
    Inventors: Bart Lauwaert, Marc Lambrechts
  • Patent number: 8963466
    Abstract: A fan array vibration control system may include a fan array having a plurality of fans, and a control unit operatively connected to the fans. The control unit is configured to operate the plurality of fans and detect a phase relationship among the plurality of fans. The control unit is configured to reduce the phase relationship among the plurality of fans in order to reduce vibrations within the fan array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Huntair, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence G. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8963465
    Abstract: A multi-pressure-quantity fan control system for a computer system is provided. The multi-pressure-quantity fan control system includes a controller. The controller provides a pressure-quantity control signal to a fan of the computer system, in order to set the fan to operate in one of a first pressure-quantity setting and a second pressure-quantity setting, wherein under a predetermined rotating speed, the fan has a first pressure-quantity curve for the first pressure-quantity setting and a second pressure-quantity curve for the second pressure-quantity setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Charlie C C Chiu, Edward Y C Kung, Tzongli Lin, Bruce A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8952636
    Abstract: A data reception unit carries out reception of data, which consists of a combination of switching noise resistant states and switching noise nonresistant states, over a fixed serial communication time a plurality of times for each fixed serial communication period same as the one or a plurality of the switching periods. A serial communication time setting unit sets the serial communication time different from one or a plurality of the switching periods, based on the switching period, the serial communication period, and the communication speed of the data communication device, so that the starts of all of the switching periods within the serial communication time are consistent with the time of reception of the switching noise resistant state at the time of at least one of the reception of the data among a plurality of times of the reception of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Tateda, Hiroyasu Sato
  • Patent number: 8947034
    Abstract: A system and a method of automatically determining an electric motor type are provided. An electric motor drive controller is configured to be coupled to an electric motor and to determine running parameters of the drive controller for the electric motor. The drive controller includes a memory device, a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device and to a user interface wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored on the memory device that cause the processor to automatically measure electrical characteristics of the electric motor, identify the electric motor using the measured electrical characteristics, load pre defined running parameters selected based on the identification into the memory device, and control an operation of the electric motor using the controller and the loaded running parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian L. Beifus, Michael R. Koller, Norman C. Golm, Jr., Gregory P. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8941344
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, a vehicle wiper control system includes an actuator and a controller. The actuator is coupled to the wiper and operable to selectively move the wiper from a normal operating position engaged with a vehicle surface to be wiped and to a deployed position not engaged with said vehicle surface. The controller is communicated with the actuator and with a source of weather information regarding one or more weather factors, the controller being operable to cause the actuator to move the wiper from its normal position to its deployed position when one or more of the weather factors are at or beyond a threshold for said one or more weather factors. This may cause, for example, a wiper blade to be moved off of a vehicle surface if the current or predicted weather is indicative of possible snow fall or ice formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Chester Wilson
  • Patent number: 8928269
    Abstract: A power system that supplies electrical power to at least one load is disclosed. The power system may include an electrical power generator, current sensors configured to provide current signals representative of currents output from the electrical power generator to the load, and voltage sensors configured to provide voltage signals representative of voltages output from the electrical power generator to the load. The power system may also include a controller configured to receive the current signals and the voltage signals, compare the current signals and the voltage signals to a predetermined map, determine whether a short circuit exists inside the electrical power generator based on the comparison, and send a command to turn off the electrical power generator when the short circuit exists inside the electrical power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Curtis Pawelski, Ryan Christopher Byrd
  • Patent number: 8917039
    Abstract: The car power source apparatus is provided with a driving battery having a plurality of connected batteries, battery-switches that connect the driving battery to the vehicle-side load, a control circuit that controls the battery-switches, and an auxiliary battery that supplies operating power to the control circuit power supply line. The power source apparatus is provided with a supplementary power supply circuit that supplies operating power to the control circuit power supply line from batteries in the driving battery to maintain control circuit operation in the event of an auxiliary battery voltage drop condition. In an auxiliary battery voltage drop condition, the supplementary power supply circuit supplies operating power to the control circuit power supply line and maintains control circuit operation to maintain control of the battery-switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yugo
  • Patent number: 8912745
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive motor of a drive system, including the following: providing a control variable, which is ascertained as a function of one or multiple state variable(s) of the drive system and as a function of a default variable, to an output stage for operating the drive motor; reading the control variable previously provided to the output stage back from the output stage to obtain a read-back control variable; ascertaining a back-calculated torque from the read-back control variable; comparing the back-calculated torque and a predefined monitoring torque; and providing the control variable or an alternative control variable ascertained from the monitoring torque to the output stage as a function of a result of the comparison for the purpose of operating the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Ruland, Oliver Heim
  • Patent number: 8907609
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a fan of a second electronic device. A first electronic device controls a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the second electronic device to return parameter values, the returned parameter values including temperature values of the second electronic device, and actual speed values of a fan of the second electronic device. The first electronic device records the returned parameter values and returned time of the returned parameter values. Upon acquiring standard speed values corresponding to the temperature values, the first electronic device draws a graph representing a relation between the actual speed values and the determined standard speed values corresponding to the returned time to monitor the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-Chi Yang
  • Patent number: 8907605
    Abstract: A circuit structure applied to a motor and enabling upgraded MOS transistor heat dissipation ability is disclosed. The circuit structure includes a motor driving unit and a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit is connected to the motor driving unit for maintaining a first and a third switch of the motor driving unit at a constant turn-on voltage and boosting turn-on voltages of a second and a fourth switch of the motor driving unit, so as to effectively upgrade the heat dissipation ability of the first, second, third and fourth switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components (China) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bao-Lin Yao, Qing-Wu Hu
  • Patent number: 8896250
    Abstract: A method to avoid a single point of failure in a system that includes at least two monitoring devices, at least two power supplies and a switching device coupled between the monitoring devices and the power supplies. The method includes performing a test that can determine if two monitoring devices are receiving power from the power supply, generating an error code and varying a position of one or more switches in a switching device based on the error code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Pai Brahmavar
  • Patent number: 8890445
    Abstract: A drive control device includes a signal generation unit, a position detection unit, a speed detection unit, and a drive control unit. Based on at least one light receiving signal inputted from at least one light receiving unit of an encoder, the signal generation unit digitizes the at least one light receiving signal to generate at least one non-interpolated digital encoder signal, and digitizes and interpolates the at least one light receiving signal to generate at least one interpolated digital encoder signal. The position detection unit detects a position of an object based on the at least one interpolated digital encoder signal. The speed detection unit detects a speed of the object based on the at least one non-interpolated digital encoder signal. The drive control unit performs a drive control of the object based on the above-detected position and speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki Hazeyama
  • Patent number: 8890455
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electric vehicle control device which can distribute the heat generated by the semiconductor devices in the DC/AC converter efficiently. Also disclosed herein are methods of converting DC to AC while keeping the heat value of the semiconductor devices stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Toda, Ikuo Yasuoka, Yosuke Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8878465
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a variable frequency drive system and a method of controlling a pump driven by a motor with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system and method can provide one or more of the following: a sleep mode, pipe break detection, a line fill mode, an automatic start mode, dry run protection, an electromagnetic interference filter compatible with a ground fault circuit interrupter, two-wire and three-wire and three-phase motor compatibility, a simple start-up process, automatic password protection, a pump out mode, digital input/output terminals, and removable input and output power terminal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Melissa Drechsel Kidd, William James Genaw, Micheal Robert Pasche, Gary Thomas Baase, II, Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Rasmus Fink, Martin Skov Holm
  • Patent number: 8872451
    Abstract: A motor device includes an electric motor operated when supplied with power from a rechargeable battery, a voltage detection unit that detects voltage of the rechargeable battery, a determination unit that performs an abnormality determination based on a comparison of the voltage of the rechargeable battery, which is detected by the voltage detection unit, and a determination value, a control unit that controls the operation of the electric motor in accordance with the determination result of the determination unit, and a temperature detection unit that detects the usage environment temperature. The determination unit changes the determination value in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and performs the abnormality determination based on the changed determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Ikeda, Norihiro Iwamura
  • Patent number: 8872447
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an operation of a power door of a vehicle are presented. An activation of a user interface device associated with the power door is detected. A cue is provided using a notification device after detecting the activation of the user interface device. In one implementation, the notification device includes an audible alarm. When the user interface device is activated for greater than a predetermined time period, the power door is caused to be in a power mode of operation, and the notification device is used to indicate a current operational mode of the power door. In one implementation, when the user interface device is deactivated within the predetermined time period, the power door is caused to be in a manual mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael D Oakley, Craig T Kline, Dean A. Scott, Jr., Hideaki Arai, Joseph P Whinnery, Saeed Namakydoost, Yoshitomo Ihashi, Trevor Scott Whitten, Makoto Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8866420
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power consumption control system for a factory where a plurality of machine tools (Mi, Mp1, Mp2) are installed. A machine tool (Mi) is provided with a control device (10) whereby either the rotational acceleration/deceleration (Pi) for the motor for the machine tool and/or the rotational speed (Si) thereof is controlled on the basis of information regarding electric power consumption (Wt) in the factory so that electric power consumption will not exceed a specified value (We). This electric power consumption control system is also provided with electric power detection instruments (11, 12, 13) and an electric power monitoring instrument (20) which measure the electric power consumption of all the machine tools installed in the factory, thereby obtaining the electric power consumption of the factory, and provide information regarding the electric power consumption to the control device of the machine tool equipped with the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunji Mishina
  • Patent number: 8866432
    Abstract: A motor control device comprises: a motor control unit that controls a motor; and a signal output unit that outputs a signal according to rotation of the motor, wherein the motor control unit controls the motor based on an output signal of the signal output unit so that a driven object driven by the motor is displaced to a target stop position. The motor control unit is configured to function as: a first control unit that estimates a upper current limit and controls the motor according to the upper current limit; a second control unit that controls motor according to an operated amount of at least one of the motor or the driven object; a switching unit that switches between the first control unit and the second control unit; a first calculating unit that calculates an amount necessary for stop; and a second calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Iesaki
  • Patent number: 8866418
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling electrical machines including a controller component which receives a first signal providing a measured parameter of the electrical machine and a second signal providing a reference parameter of the electrical machine, using the first and second signals being used to produce a first control signal. A first filter component receives the first signal from the electrical machine and uses the first signal to produce a second control signal. A second filter component receives a third signal which relates to a reference parameter of a second electrical machine and uses the third signal to produce a third control signal. The system and second control signals are used to produce a first output control signal for provision to the first electrical machine, and the first and third control signals are used produce a second output control signal for provision to the second electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Keller, Mehmet Mercangoez, Georgios Papafotiou
  • Patent number: 8860334
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the antenna control field, and discloses a device for remotely controlling a multi-band antenna and a multi-band antenna system. The device for remotely controlling a multi-band antenna includes an antenna panel 100, where the antenna panel 100 is disposed with a control board 101 and at least two motor modules 102; each of the motor modules 102 includes a connector 1022, each of the motor modules 102 electrically connects, via its connector 1022, to the control board 101 to receive a control command sent by the control board 101. In the embodiments of the present invention, an adjustment to a downtilt of a multi-band antenna may be implemented, and an occupied space of the antenna panel and a cost for adjusting a downtilt may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhixiong Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140292231
    Abstract: In a control unit for a robot, an inverter which drives a motor installed in a robot. A control circuit controls drive of the motor. A drive power circuit supplies DC power to the motor, and a control power circuit DC power to the control circuit. A backup power circuit supplies backup DC power to the control circuit when the DC power from the control power circuit to the control circuit is shut down. A first switch is arranged between the backup power circuit and the inverter, the first switch being selectively switched on and off to open and close. A first switch control section switches on the first switch such that the DC power in the backup power circuit is supplementarily supplied to the inverter when the motor is driven to be accelerated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Motoki KANADA
  • Patent number: 8836252
    Abstract: An exemplary piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric transducer that exhibits displacements when energized with corresponding voltages. A control system is electrically connected to the piezoelectric transducer so as to provide the transducer with the voltages. The control system includes feedback of displacements of the transducer as functions of respective voltage commands and feed-forward of electrical currents passing through the transducer as functions of the respective voltages applied to the transducer. The control system further has a feedback controller connected to receive transducer-displacement data corresponding to the voltages applied to the transducer. The control system further can include a current-feed-forward amplifier connected to receive transducer-current data corresponding to the voltages applied to the transducer. Such a control system facilitates reduction of hysteresis in controlled actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Ping Hsin, Susumu Isago, Bausan Yuan
  • Patent number: 8829840
    Abstract: A condition monitoring method for an electrical machine is provided. The method includes providing at least one first sensor element embedded in or disposed on at least one substrate element located in a stator core for obtaining a first set of data. The method also includes providing at least one second sensor element for obtaining a second set of data from the electrical machine. Further, the method includes generating signals indicative of changes in characteristics of the first sensor element based on the second set of data. Finally, the method includes refining the first set of data by combining the first set of data with the generated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emad Andarawis Andarawis, Ertugrul Berkcan, Brock Matthew Lape, David Richard Esler
  • Patent number: 8823292
    Abstract: An electric compressor, wherein an inverter device, which controls the operation of an electric motor by commands from an external control unit, is provided with a drive IC which computes drive signals of the electric motor based on the same, a switching circuit which converts the drive signals to rotation control signals of the electric motor, and an output signal control IC which cuts off input of the drive signals to the switching circuit at the time of an abnormality and wherein, furthermore, the drive IC is provided with a comparator which compares drive signals which are input to the switching circuit and computed values of the drive signals at a control unit inside the drive IC and, when the drive signals and the computed values do not match, the comparator makes the output signal control IC cut off input of the drive signals to the switching circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sumi, Hiroshi Amano
  • Patent number: 8810164
    Abstract: In a vehicle door, an opening/closing control device is provided. In the device, a controller is connected to an input current path connected to a vehicle battery. By a switching relay circuit, electricity is supplied from the vehicle battery to a closing motor or a release motor selectively. Between the switching relay circuit and the closing motor, a closing relay circuit is provided. If electricity is supplied to the closing motor, the closing relay circuit will be switched to ON where electricity is supplied to the closing motor or OFF where electricity is not supplied to the closing motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Kamiya
  • Patent number: 8810165
    Abstract: A fan control system includes a fan and a fan control circuit. The fan control circuit includes a connector, a control unit, a switch unit, and a delay unit. The control unit is connected to the connector to receive a rotation speed control signal, and connected to the fan. The switch unit is connected to the connector to receive a voltage signal, and connected to the control unit. The delay unit is connected to the connector to receive the rotation speed control signal, and connected to the switch unit. When the delay unit receives the rotation speed control signal, the delay unit outputs a control signal to turn on the switch unit after a time delay, the voltage is transmitted to the control unit through the switch unit, the fan operates, the control unit controls rotation speed of the fan according to the rotation speed control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang Wu, Bo Tian
  • Publication number: 20140225535
    Abstract: In a system for driving a three-phase rotating electrical machine of drive sources for applying separate drive forces to a rotary shaft, a phase of the rotating electrical machine, a current of which is detected by a current sensor and capable of being used for control of the rotating electrical machine, is defined as an effective sensor-phase of the rotating electrical machine. When the number of the effective sensor-phases is one, the rotating electrical machine is driven in a one-phase control mode based on the current of the effective sensor-phase under a condition where a rotation speed of the rotating electrical machine is greater than a predetermined positive threshold, and driven by the drive forces of the other drive sources under a condition where the rotation speed is not greater than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuji OMATA, Takeshi ITOH, Hirofumi KAKO
  • Patent number: 8796959
    Abstract: A linear motor system includes a discontinuous linear motor and motor control device. The discontinuous linear motor includes a mover and a plurality of individual motors spaced from each other along a movement path of the mover. Each of the individual motors functions as an armature on a primary side of one independent linear motor. A sensor, arranged to act as a linear scale, is disposed for each individual motor and detects a position of the mover. The motor control device includes a plurality of individual motor control units and a multiple unit controller to comprehensively control the individual motor control units. The individual motor control units control the individual motors disposed in curved path sections, and each of the individual motor control units includes a curved-line correspondence corrector to correct a detection value obtained from the sensor according to a relationship between a curved line of the path and a position of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoki Sato
  • Patent number: 8791660
    Abstract: In some preferred embodiments, a motor control circuit 1 for controlling driving of a plurality of motors 3 and 4 includes a serial communication circuit configured to perform serial communication with an outside, a received data storage 15 configured to store data from the serial communication circuit, a motor mode setting holding circuit 16 configured to store motor mode settings which decide operations of the motors, and a detection circuit 24 configured to detect changes in driving pulse of the motor. Depending on the detected result of the detection circuit 24, the data stored in the received data storage 15 is transferred to the motor mode setting holding circuit 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Ryoichi Takahashi, Hiroshi Inoue, Masatoshi Komada
  • Patent number: 8786237
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided which includes a microprocessor, and a built-in temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the microprocessor as a reference temperature. The apparatus further includes external temperature sensors, where at least one of the external temperature sensors is configured to measure the temperature of the microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to make an external temperature calibration using the reference temperature measured by the built-in temperature monitor. Each of the external temperature sensors is configured to monitor temperature information of a component and provide the temperature information to the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Sato, Isao Shimura, Tsutomu Kawano
  • Patent number: 8766567
    Abstract: A method, system and device for discharging power or validating protective elements of a power source to ensure proper functioning of a tool at various temperatures. The power source communicates with a switch using handshake signals to establish a scheme for power distribution depending on the temperature of the power source. The power source can discharge power at a normal start-up rate or a slower start-up rate depending on the temperature of the power source. Handshake signals can also be used to validate protective elements, where the protective elements respond to wake-up signals with respective handshake signals indicating that the protective elements are functioning property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Anil P. Ghode, Thomas P. Becker, Donald Herres
  • Publication number: 20140132185
    Abstract: In a motor control system, a controller generates a single control signal for a motor control unit in a first electric motor and another motor control unit in a second electric motor. The motor control units in the first and second electric motors operate the first and second electric motors at a first rate in response to the control signal being at a first level. The motor control unit in the first electric motor operates the first electric motor at a second rate and the motor control unit in the second electric motor operates the second electric motor at a third rate in response to the control signal being at a second level, the third rate being different than the second rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: NIDEC MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: James L. Skinner, Prakash B. Shahi
  • Patent number: 8725438
    Abstract: A linear actuator comprises a reversible electric motor (2) which, via a transmission, is capable of driving a spindle (4) having a spindle nut (5) secured against rotation and comprises a power supply and a controller. The actuator moreover comprises a memory unit for collecting at least one set of data from the operation, indicating how long and how hard the actuator has worked. It is hereby possible to obtain an overview of the mechanical state of the actuator and thereby prevent unfortunate occurrences and accidents as a consequence of wear-out of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Svend Erik Knudsen Jensen
  • Patent number: 8723454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an architectural window covering having a programmable electric motor. The programmable electric motor is housed within a roller for raising and lowering the window covering, and includes dual stacked motors and light-transmitting control actuation buttons In one embodiment an architectural window covering, composing a shade, a roller defining a bore coupled to the shade, and at least two motors axially aligned and electrically coupled in parallel and positioned at least partially in said bore and rotatably coupled to the roller is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Skinner, Richard Langille, Philip Chermak
  • Patent number: 8723455
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade conduit having an outer surface upon which a shade is attached and an inner surface defining an inner cavity. The motorized shade also comprises a motor disposed within the inner cavity along with a controller coupled to the motor that controls the motor. The motorized roller further comprises a power supply sleeve having an interior space, wherein the power supply sleeve is disposed within the inner cavity, wherein the power supply sleeve is coupled to the motor. The sleeve may be accessed by an access port that extends between the outer surface and the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Richard Scott Hand, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Publication number: 20140117885
    Abstract: A driving circuit comprises three switch groups, each comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch. The first and the second switches are coupled in series. The third switch is serially coupled to the fourth switch and coupled between the first and the second switches. An ith inductor of a first driving device is coupled between the third and the fourth switches, wherein i ranges between 1˜3. In high speed mode, the first and the third switches of one of the switch groups are turned on, the second and the fourth switches are turned off, the first and the third switches of another of the switch groups are turned off, the second switch is turned on, and the fourth switch is turned on or off to raise voltage of the a driving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Jian-Feng TSAI, Yong-Kai LIN
  • Patent number: 8700245
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having two, in particular electrical, drives, a partial torque is in each case intended to be assigned to the individual drives from a demanded total torque, to be precise taking account of the energy efficiency on the one hand and the stability of the vehicle on the other hand. A first controller is responsible for taking account of the energy efficiency, and predetermines a bandwidth of possible partial torques for an individual drive. This bandwidth may be restricted by a second controller, when driving stability requires this. The second controller is coupled to appropriate sensors (yaw rate sensor, lateral acceleration sensor, longitudinal acceleration sensor) and knows the steering angle ?. In the course of interchanging data signals with a first control device, the partial torques are defined with the involvement of the second control device, for which purpose the first control device emits control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Michael Wein, Sebastian Strasser, Martin Werner
  • Patent number: 8680804
    Abstract: A method according to an example of the present invention is a servo control method to be applied to a feed drive mechanism configured to drive an object to be driven by using a plurality of motors, in which velocity control of the object to be driven is carried out by using a signal obtained by mixing velocity feedback signals of the motors with each other, and a torque instruction obtained by the velocity control is used for drive of all the motors. By this example, there is provided a servo control system capable of preventing a phenomenon in which a transfer function changes depending on the position of the object to be driven, and the phase abruptly lags to make the operation unstable, thereby making it difficult to increase the gain, from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Fujita
  • Patent number: 8680895
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a power chain in an electronic device can be used in either of two different applications. The first application requires the controller to produce drive signals for driving discrete power MOSFETs within the power chain. The second application requires the controller to produce an output PWM signal to control an integrated circuit having power MOSFETs integrated with MOSFET drivers within the power chain. The controller generally includes a sensor that detects which of the two applications the controller is in. The controller also generally includes outputs that produce, when the controller is in the first application, the drive signals for driving the discrete power MOSFETs. But when the controller is in the second application, one of the outputs is used to produce the output PWM signal for controlling the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Ashley Carpenter, Tetsuo Tateishi
  • Patent number: 8680793
    Abstract: A machine has a rotor and includes a converter-controlled drive and a working machine, wherein the drive and the working machine are connected such that a torque is transmitted. A frequency converter is electrically connected to the drive. The frequency converter is embodied such that in a Campbell diagram intersection points are based on the natural torsional frequency of the rotor and V-shaped symmetrical straight lines of the inter-harmonic exciter frequency for output frequencies. The output frequencies are grouped into a plurality of concentration ranges based upon a rotational speed of the machine, wherein each concentration range comprises output frequencies which are close to one another and which respectively have a common output point on the abscissa of the Campbell diagram. Each concentration range defines a blocking range, wherein the machine has an operating rotational speed range which lies outside the blocking ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Hütten, Norbert Wagner