Plural, Diverse Or Diversely Controlled Electric Motors Patents (Class 318/34)
  • Publication number: 20040140779
    Abstract: Device for actuating a plurality of actuators (1) in a transportation device, which has a plurality of output stages (2, 3, 4, 5) and a control circuit for actuating the output stages (2, 3, 4, 5), the output stages (2, 3, 4, 5) each connecting through the current in order to activate the actuators (1) and each output stage (2, 3, 4, 5) being connected in electrically conductive fashion to an actuator (1, 9). A plurality of output stages (2, 3, 4, 5) is additionally connected to in each case, one further actuator (1, 9) by the control circuit. The control circuit is actuated in such a way that an output stage (2, 3, 4, 5) can actuate either the first or the further actuator (1, 9) with the output stages (2, 3, 4, 5) being interconnected to one another and/or to the actuators (1, 9) in the manner of a matrix so that a plurality of row lines (6) and a plurality of column lines (7), at whose points of intersection (8) the actuators (1) are arranged, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Stefan Diesner, Mirko Horbaschek, Juergen Huertgen, Werner Kopmeier, Lorenz Slansky, Markus Thoben
  • Patent number: 6759817
    Abstract: A window lifter system comprises a first window lifter motor and a master control device for the first window lifter motor. The master control device is able to detect a position of a window pane driven by the first window lifter motor and to drive the first window lifter motor at a variable speed. The system further comprises at least one second window lifter motor and a slave control device for the second window lifter motor. The slave control device is able to detect a position of a window pane driven by the second window lifter motor and to drive the second window lifter motor at a variable speed. A bus system is provided by means of which the master and slave control devices are able to communicate with each other. There is also proposed a method of controlling such a window lifter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Mersch
  • Patent number: 6759818
    Abstract: To realize structure simplification and reduction in manufacturing cost without lowering power transmission efficiency and reliability. The present invention includes a first motor 5 and a second motor 6, and a lead 2 of a ball screw 12 is disposed coaxially with a motor rotary shaft 5a on a first motor 5 side and a nut 3 of the ball screw 12 is disposed coaxially with a motor rotary shaft 6a on a second motor 6 side so that the first motor 5 and the second motor 6 are connected to each other via the ball screw 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Oyori
  • Patent number: 6756749
    Abstract: A motion control system comprises both a stepper motor and a DC motor. The motors are coupled, and may be operated independently or in concert for various scan types. The stepper motor may be used as an encoder for measuring the position of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William Robert Haas, Kirk Tecu, David W. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20040113571
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the occurrence of an actual locked condition in a locomotive system having a locomotive operating in an isolated mode of operation. The locomotive has a plurality of AC traction motors for propelling the locomotive system during normal operations. The AC motors are reconfigurable to operate as AC generators and are connected to a common DC bus. When a potential locked condition in a first motor is detected, the DC bus is energized with an initial voltage using an alternate source of power. The DC bus voltage is regulated with a second motor by reconfiguring the second motor to operate as a generator. The torque produced by the first motor is then measured at a plurality of levels of electromagnetic flux in the first motor. Based on the measured torque, it is determined whether the potential locked condition is an actual locked condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Publication number: 20040090204
    Abstract: A permanent magnet generator generates a variable voltage/variable frequency electric current to power electric induction motors. These motors, in turn, may be used to power electric motor driven engine accessories. The permanent magnet generator is powered directly by a gas turbine engine. A ratio of the variable voltage to the variable frequency remains substantially constant throughout all operating conditions of the gas turbine engine. The relationship of engine speed to accessory speed will remain fixed as the engine speed varies, similarly to the relationship realized when a gearbox was employed. The resulting power system is useful in supplying power from a gas turbine engine to various induction motor driven accessories in aircraft, ground based vehicles, and the like, particularly when the engine has no gearbox. The power system requires no motor controllers and may be used to supply any induction motor driven equipment, including equipment which is not traditionally engine or gearbox mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ray M. McGinley
  • Patent number: 6734645
    Abstract: In an electrically driven automobile, a dynamo-electric generating device(s) is attached to one or more free-running wheels of the vehicle, which are not connected to the power drive of the vehicle. The free-running wheels are rotated by contact with the road surface as the vehicle is powered forward. The free-running wheels rotate one or more electric generating devices to produce electrical energy which is stored alternately in one or more electrical storage systems. The other non-charging electrical storage system(s) concurrently provides power to the electric motor which drives the vehicle through one or more of the wheels connected to the power train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Seymour Auerbach
  • Patent number: 6734644
    Abstract: A method (and apparatus) includes that a duty ratio of a driving voltage output to each wiper motor be required to be set according to several conditions. That is, while each wiper blade is moved in an interval from a starting position to a predetermined first wiping position in an upward operation, the duty ratio of a wiper motor on a driver's seat side is set so that the duty ratio is larger than the duty ratio of a wiper motor on a passenger seat side. Also, while each wiper blade is moved in another interval from each upper return position to a predetermined second wiping position in a return operation, the duty ratio of the wiper motor on the passenger seat side is set so that the duty ratio is larger than the duty ratio of the wiper motor on the driver's seat side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Kaneko, Koji Aoki
  • Patent number: 6727666
    Abstract: An XY table used in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including lower (X table) fixed to an X movable element and an upper table (Y table) fixed to a Y movable element, in which the upper table (Y table) is supported movably in a Y direction and immovably in an X direction on the lower table (X table), the X movable element is immovable in the Y direction with respect to the X motor main body, the Y movable element is movable in the X direction with respect to the Y motor main body. Furthermore, the Y motor main body is provided with a permanent magnet that covers an entire region of movement of a magnetic action component (coils) of the Y movable element in the X direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Ryuichi Kyomasu, Hiroto Urabayashi, Minoru Torihata, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Toshimichi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 6724161
    Abstract: The invention concerns an improvement of a drive system of a color image forming apparatus. The color image-forming apparatus includes a plurality of image-forming elements; a plurality of first driving motors, each of which corresponds to each of the image-forming elements, to drive the plurality of image-forming elements; an intermediate transfer element that is disposed opposite the plurality of image-forming elements; a second driving motor to drive the intermediate transfer element; and a controlling section to control the plurality of first driving motors and the second driving motor. In the color image-forming apparatus, the controlling section controls the plurality of first driving motors and the second driving motor independently of each other, so that a first peripheral speed of each of the image-forming elements coincides with a second peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ueda, Hiroyuki Maruyama, Kenji Izumiya, Ryuji Okutomi, Eiji Nishikawa, Satoshi Ogata, Shinobu Kishi
  • Patent number: 6717378
    Abstract: A control system for preventing a sudden change in the passengers' feeling for the acceleration. After determining whether the assistance using the motor is permitted with respect to each of different control modes, an amount of assistance for each mode is calculated. If the output assistance is permitted in any mode, the maximum amount of assistance is selected, and a previous value of the maximum amount of assistance is compared with the current value of the maximum amount of assistance. A shift value is obtained by subtracting a predetermined assistance value from the previous value when the current value is less than the previous value, and the amount of assistance is set to the shift value until the shift value becomes equal to or less than the current value, so as to gradually shift the amount of assistance from the previous value to the current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitajima, Atsushi Matsubara, Teruo Wakashiro, Toshinari Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6694095
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is basically composed of a driving circuit for driving a plurality of loads contained in a plurality of motors, and a control circuit for controlling the driving circuit to sequentially drive the plurality of the motors. The driving circuit has at least two channels which are controlled by the control circuit concurrently with each other. Each channel is controlled by the control circuit such as to selectively drive the loads. The channel is provided with at least (n+1) number (n: integer of 2 or greater) of output terminals to connect at most n number of the loads. The control circuit controls the driving circuit to perform an intra-channel driving mode in which one pair of the output terminals are selected from one channel and allocated to drive one load, and an inter-channel driving mode in which another pair of the output terminals are selected from two channels and allocated to drive another load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Kohno
  • Patent number: 6686712
    Abstract: A motor network control system is provided which is capable of reducing the wiring length of a power cable and in which upon replacement of a motor or an inverter of a specific motor unit, no adverse influence is exerted on the other motor units. A power cable 7 and a communication cable 8 connecting between a plurality of motor units 30a-30c, each of which includes a motor 4, an inverter 5 and a communication part 6, extend successively from a power supply 1 and a network control computer 2, respectively, to the respective motor units 30a-30c in such a manner that the motor units are connected with each other in a cascade manner from a preceding one to a following one. In addition, each of the motor units includes a connection board 11 on which an inverter 5 and a communication part 6 are installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Numaguchi, Hiroaki Watano, Daisuke Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6680589
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the state of relay contacts is especially useful for controlling motor windings in air conditioning systems. When a first relay switch, which is operative to supply power to a first motor winding does not open as desired, a switch monitoring module responsively controls the second relay switch energization to prevent the second relay switch from being closed. This prevents power that would be supplied to a second motor winding from being also supplied to the first motor winding and causing potential damage to the first motor winding. A disclosed example includes an opto isolator that is energized only when the first relay switch is open as desired. The opto isolator controls an output signal to a second relay control portion, which only operates the second relay if the first relay has opened as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: A-l Components, Corp.
    Inventors: David D. Neranjan, Mark O. Gerwig
  • Patent number: 6653810
    Abstract: A motor controller circuit for controlling an electric motor in response to motor commands from a host controller. The controller circuit includes a motor driver circuit for providing motor driver signals to the motor in response to motor driver commands. A control logic circuit is responsive to command words from the host controller for generating motor drive control signals, the controller has an associated motor identification, each command word having associated therewith a motor identification portion and a motor command portion. The control logic compares the motor identification portion of the command word to the motor identification, and converting the motor command portion into motor driver control signals if the motor identification portion corresponds to the motor identification. Multiple motors can be interfaced to a host controller, either in parallel or in a cascaded manner. Each motor has an unique address, and can interpret a command word and execute a command addressed to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Clement C. Lo
  • Patent number: 6646403
    Abstract: The present invention is a motor controller. An encoder manipulates the motor controller in a manner that is new and novel. The encoder tracks movement of a material along an assembly line and reports the results of the tracking through electronic signals. Those electronic signals are used to manipulate the motor controller to produce unique and responsive control signals to manipulate the motors, particularly during the acceleration and deceleration of the motors. Other motor control systems have used encoders as a part of a feedback loop, but none allow encoders to exert the level of control over the motors as accomplished in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Stephen Nabarowsky
  • Publication number: 20030197480
    Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus includes a bicycle component control unit having one of a control transmitter and a control receiver; a computer control unit having the other one of the control transmitter and the control receiver; and a transmission path coupled to the bicycle component control unit and to the computer control unit. The control transmitter communicates both power and data to the control receiver over the transmission path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6636009
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant electromechanical actuating device for converting an electrical actuating signal into a mechanical output actuating value for use in vehicles, having two mutually independent control loops. Each loop has at least one controller and at least one electric motor which is driven by this controller and which, in each case via a self-locking transmission, drives the input to a summing transmission, which superimposes the actuating values of the actuating motors to form the output actuating value. The fault tolerance or reliability of the actuating device is ensured by a comparator controller, which monitors the functions of the other controllers. Interfaces between the controllers and between the subsystems ensure stringent isolation of electrical potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Renk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alexander Walter
  • Patent number: 6633143
    Abstract: An articulating probe head includes motors 12 and 18 for driving respective output shafts 14 and 20 about respective orthogonal axes z and x to move a stylus 22 over the surface of a workpiece under the control of a controller 26. At least one of the motors is inertia balanced by mounting the stator 32 of the motor on bearings 42 to allow it to rotate in opposition to the rotation of the rotor 34. Control of the speed of the spinning stator is achieved by connecting it to the winding assembly 46 of an additional “back-to-earth” motor 47 the magnet assembly 48 of which is connected to the housing. The motor 47 acts as a brake to prevent overspeeding of the rotatable stator, and can have power supplied to it to ensure that the stator does not slow down excessively when the main motor is running at constant angular velocity. Control of the power supply to the motors is achieved by the controller 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Weston, Kenneth C-H Nai, Geoff McFarland, David R McMurtry
  • Publication number: 20030178954
    Abstract: A device is presented having a first and a second motor control device. The first and the second motor control devices control rotation speed of a motor. The first or the second motor control devices continue to control rotation speed of the motor upon failure of either the first or the second motor control device. Also presented is a device having at least one motor. The at least one motor having at least one pair of bifilar windings. A further device is presented having at least one motor. The at least one motor having at least eight magnetic lobes. Another device is presented having a first motor connected to a shaft. A second motor is connected to the shaft. A fan hub is connected to the shaft. A fan blade is connected to the fan hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Casey R. Winkel, Robert J. Fite, Tomm V. Aldridge, Donovan D. Van Sleet
  • Patent number: 6624601
    Abstract: A control device for a plurality of rotating electrical machines has a single current control device with an inverter, gate driver, and a motor controller, which supplies a control current to each rotating electrical machine allowing rotation control in response to the rotational phase of the rotor. In this control device, the current control device determines the control current of each rotating electrical machine based on the target torques and rotational angular velocities of all rotating electrical machines, and supplies a composite current obtained by combining the determined control currents for each rotating electrical machine to all rotating electrical machine. In this control device for a plurality of rotating electrical machines, the required voltage does not exceed the voltage of the power source and the peak value of the composite current does not exceed the permitted range of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Arimitsu, Masaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 6611116
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling performance of electric motors in a system having two or more electric motors, the motors adapted for being coupled to two or more wheels of an electric vehicle, each of the electric motors having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, the armatures being connected in series to the voltage source include detecting a condition in the system indicating that one of the wheels is slipping, reducing power delivered to one of the motors that is associated with the slipping wheel in response to the detection of the condition, providing power to the one or more motors that are not associated with the slipping wheel after the power delivered to the motor associated with the slipping wheel is reduced, and restoring the power delivered to the one of the motors associated with the slipping wheel in response to a recovery event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Curtis Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bachman, Gevorg Nahapetian, Bill May
  • Publication number: 20030146726
    Abstract: In a load driving arrangement, electric power is supplied from an auxiliary battery to a main power supply when the power stored by charging in the main power supply is scarce at the startup of the system. The power is supplied to the main power supply by closing relays to connect the auxiliary battery to the neutral point of an auxiliary motor, operating a switching transistor of a bottom arm of an auxiliary-related inverter based on a command from a control circuit, stepping up the voltage from the auxiliary battery by using a coil of the auxiliary motor as a reactor, and supplying the step-up voltage to the main power supply thereby charging the main power supply. At this time, a drive-related inverter and a DC/DC converter are stopped. When the main power supply is charged to a sufficient degree, the relays are opened to drive each load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hiroshi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 6600278
    Abstract: A N pulse variable frequency drive for driving two or more motors that is the combination of two or more variable frequency drives with each drive driving an associated one of the two or motors. One application is a decanter centrifuge which has a main motor to drive the bowl and a back motor to drive the conveyor. One of the two variable frequency drives drives the main motor and the other drive drives the back motor. The variable frequency drives are connected to a common buss and to a N pulse phase shifting transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Bretzius
  • Patent number: 6593711
    Abstract: A motorized assembly comprises first and second bridge circuits across which respective drive motors are connected. At least one auxiliary motor or actuator is connected between one arm of the first bridge circuit and one arm of the second bridge circuit and electronic control means are arranged to control the operation the drive motors and the or each auxiliary motor or actuator by operating electronic switches of the bridge circuits and an electronic switch connected in series with the or each auxiliary motor or actuator. Such an arrangement obviates the requirement for independent control circuitry for controlling the operation of the or each auxiliary motor or actuator, resulting in a reduction in the overall cost of the motorized assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: PG Drives Technology Limited
    Inventor: Richard Peter Brereton
  • Patent number: 6590359
    Abstract: A method for the synchronized control of a plurality of stepping motors SM1, SM2 . . . SMn which serve as drives in a feed system, wherein the stepping motors SM1, SM2 . . . SMn are controlled with a base frequency fa and a cycle of the base frequency fa is proportional to a given step length SL. Different step lengths SL1, SL2 . . . SLn are triggered fith each cycle of the same base frequency fa in the individual stepping motors SM1, SM2. . . SMn, wherein a specific step length SL1 is associated with stepping motor SM1, a specific step length SL2 is associated with stepping motor SM2, and so forth. Accordingly, it is no longer required to provide separate control frequencies for every stepping motor. All stepping motors can now be controlled at the same frequency and only a counter unit or timer unit is required for all stepping motors of the positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Kaufhold, Ralf Joram
  • Patent number: 6590354
    Abstract: A seat adjusting system having a motor assembly with an integrated sensor and control electronics assembly for adjusting a vehicle seat. The integrated electronics assembly performs electronic memory seat module functions. The integrated electronics assembly includes a multiplex link for communicating data between the integrated sensor and control electronics assembly and an external switch. The integrated electronics assembly further includes motor control relays positioned between the motors of the motor assembly for controlling the motors to adjust the seat. The integrated electronics assembly also includes seat position sensors for monitoring the position of the seat. In contrast to typical seat adjusting systems having an external electronic memory seat module, the seat adjusting system needs only a minimal set of wires connecting the seat adjusting system to an external switch as the integrated electronics assembly performs electronic memory seat module functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Hein
  • Publication number: 20030117094
    Abstract: A control for DC motors, in particular actuators driven by a DC motor for adjustment of furniture, such as tables, beds, chairs, etc. inlcudes a pseudomotor which is capable of supplying a voltage that corresponds to the motor speed on the basis of the current and voltage supplied to the motor. The voltage of the pseudomotor is supplied to an adjustable power supply, where it is compared with an internal reference voltage and adjusts the voltage difference down to the smallest possible difference between the voltage of the pseudomotor and the internal reference voltage. For greater accuracy, the control additionally includes a compensation circuit configured to evaluate a dominating frequency in the commutator noise. Thus, there is provided a simple and low cost control for parallel running of two or more actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Jeppe Bastholm
  • Publication number: 20030117093
    Abstract: A motor circuit includes a first brush-type motor, a second brush-type motor, a switch, and a pulse width modulation circuit. The first brush-type motor has a first voltage connection and a second voltage connection, the second voltage connection adapted to be coupled to a source of DC voltage. The second brush-type motor has a third voltage connection and a fourth voltage connection, the fourth voltage connection adapted to be coupled to the source of DC voltage. The switch has a control input, a first contact and a second contact, the first contact coupled to the source of DC voltage, and the second contact coupled to the first voltage connection and the third voltage connection. The switch is operable to selectively connect the first contact to the second contact based on a voltage at the control input. The pulse width modulation circuit is operable to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: John E. Makaran, Dragan Radavcovic
  • Patent number: 6583590
    Abstract: A string drawing electrical device for a racquet has a casing, a string holder, an actuating device and a control unit. The string holder is rotatably attached to a panel of the casing. The actuating device is mounted in the casing and provides two functions, feeding and reversing, to the string holder. The control unit is mounted in the casing for controlling the actuating device to act. Accordingly, the string drawing electrical device can tighten and loosen the string, and the tensile force of the string of the racquet can be accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: David Chu
  • Publication number: 20030111970
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aligning apparatus in a semiconductor device test handler enabling to reduce a time taken for loading semiconductor devices on a test tray by means of an aligner and a lower pushing unit which are driven to operate independently to align the semiconductor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: MIRAE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Hyuk Cho
  • Patent number: 6580244
    Abstract: Two motors are used to provide motion control in a transport drive system. A primary motor, or a primary and secondary motor, provides primary power for accelerated motion. PWM signals are used to drive the motors according to predetermined fixed functions related to acceleration, deceleration and hold of a load. Alternatively, during onset of large or high speed moves, the primary and secondary motors are on in tandem. During deceleration of a move, the torque provided by the secondary motor is reversed, providing active braking and ensuring the drive train remains loaded wherein backlash is eliminated. During a driver hold phase, the primary and secondary motor push against each other to actively control positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Rick M Tanaka, Christopher M Lesniak, Richard Alan Kelley
  • Publication number: 20030107335
    Abstract: A control system for preventing a sudden change in the passengers' feeling for the acceleration. After determining whether the assistance using the motor is permitted with respect to each of different control modes, an amount of assistance for each mode is calculated. If the output assistance is permitted in any mode, the maximum amount of assistance is selected, and a previous value of the maximum amount of assistance is compared with the current value of the maximum amount of assistance. A shift value is obtained by subtracting a predetermined assistance value from the previous value when the current value is less than the previous value, and the amount of assistance is set to the shift value until the shift value becomes equal to or less than the current value, so as to gradually shift the amount of assistance from the previous value to the current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitajima, Atsushi Matsubara, Teruo Wakashiro, Toshinari Shinohara
  • Patent number: 6574535
    Abstract: A propulsion system designed for hybrid vehicles utilizing a first torque path from a coupled motor generator system and internal combustion engine through and automatically shifted manual transmission having a secondary torque path from a secondary torque source to the wheels. The system incorporates the high-efficiency of a manual transmission with the smoothness of the most advanced automatic transmissions by utilizing a second torque path to maintain driver requested torque during shifts and braking requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Morris, Kevin S. Kidston, Richard C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6566836
    Abstract: In a controller where a contour machining is performed through a synchronous control between a mechanically movable portion (servo axis) driven by a servo motor and a main shaft (spindle axis) driven by a spindle motor, the position of the servo axis and the position of the spindle axis are collected at the same timing for each predetermined cycle and are stored. The position data of the servo axis and the spindle axis stored are converted to obtain a machining contour shape data, and the shape obtained is displayed on a display device of a personal computer or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Matsubara, Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita
  • Publication number: 20030085674
    Abstract: A motor network control system is provided which is capable of reducing the wiring length of a power cable and in which upon replacement of a motor or an inverter of a specific motor unit, no adverse influence is exerted on the other motor units. A power cable 7 and a communication cable 8 connecting between a plurality of motor units 30a-30c, each of which includes a motor 4, an inverter 5 and a communication part 6, extend successively from a power supply 1 and a network control computer 2, respectively, to the respective motor units 30a-30c in such a manner that the motor units are connected with each other in a cascade manner from a preceding one to a following one. In addition, each of the motor units includes a connection board 11 on which an inverter 5 and a communication part 6 are installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Numaguchi, Hiroaki Watano, Daisuke Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20030085675
    Abstract: A matrix-connected driver for multiple two-phase motors includes circuit rows and columns of input and output connections for the phases of networked two-phase motors. Phases of multiple motors share the same input line and phases of multiple motors share the same output line but no motor phase shares both the same input and the same output. Buffers that may be transistors power each input and output line. The input and output lines may be alternatively positively powered high or grounded low using the buffers. In this fashion individual phases may be singly powered using selected pairs of the buffers without causing the other phases to be powered whether high or low. A processor such as a microprocessor drives the buffers. The usage of common input and output lines or otherwise referred to as columns and rows allows the same number of motors to be single phase mode driven with much less wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventor: Richard L. Weinbrenner
  • Publication number: 20030080700
    Abstract: A motorized assembly comprises first and second bridge circuits across which respective drive motors are connected. At least one auxiliary motor or actuator is connected between one arm of the first bridge circuit and one arm of the second bridge circuit and electronic control means are arranged to control the operation the drive motors and the or each auxiliary motor or actuator by operating electronic switches of the bridge circuits and an electronic switch connected in series with the or each auxiliary motor or actuator. Such an arrangement obviates the requirement for independent control circuitry for controlling the operation of the or each auxiliary motor or actuator, resulting in a reduction in the overall cost of the motorized assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Peter Brereton
  • Patent number: 6548969
    Abstract: An automotive steer-by-wire system is disclosed that includes a first network. The first network connects a first set of controllers for controlling a first set of motors. The steer-by-wire system further includes a second network that is independent of the first network and connects a second set of controllers for controlling a second set of motors. The steer-by-wire system includes a third network that connects the first set of controllers and the second set of controllers for controlling the first or second set of motors if the first or second network is inoperative, whereby information is transmitted via the third network independent of the first network and the second network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Ewbank, Craig A Hennings, Scott A. Millsap, Kevin Michael Deasy
  • Publication number: 20030062858
    Abstract: In an industrial robot having a plurality of arms, each arm is coupled with other elements such as a mounting base, another arm, a robotic hand, and revolved by a motion of the revolute joint. A motor for moving the revolute joint, an encoder for sensing a rotation angle of a drive shaft of the motor, and a control circuit for controlling the driving of the motor are provided on the same arm. A signal cable for transmitting a sensing signal of the encoder to the control circuit is terminated at the control circuit on the same arm. There is no need to align the signal cable from the encoder to a main control circuit provide in the mounting base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Shinji Shimizu, Noriyoshi Kikuchi, Katsuhiro Yamazoe, Takahiro Kobiki
  • Patent number: 6538400
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling multiple vehicle systems includes a single power supply that provides a direct current source. The power supply is comprised of a thirty-six volt (36 V) battery power distribution system. A converter is electrically connected to the power supply to convert direct current to alternating current. A plurality of induction motors are used to operate various vehicle systems. The motors receive alternating current via electrical connections between the converter and the motors. A central processor is connected to relays sending power to each of the motors and provides control signals to the motors based on input from control members used to activate each of the various vehicle systems. At least one sensor is associated with each of the motors to monitor voltage or current of the respective motor and to generate a diagnostic signal that is sent to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Rae Fowler, Jerome Quere, Dennis A. Kramer, Enrico Fin, George Chene, Ira B. Goldberg, Stephen Chiu, Charles Hopson, Pascal Garrido, David M. Barry, Dan Rogovin
  • Publication number: 20030030392
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the state of relay contacts is especially useful for controlling motor windings in air conditioning systems. When a first relay switch, which is operative to supply power to a first motor winding does not open as desired, a switch monitoring module responsively controls the second relay switch energization to prevent the second relay switch from being closed. This prevents power that would be supplied to a second motor winding from being also supplied to the first motor winding and causing potential damage to the first motor winding. A disclosed example includes an opto isolator that is energized only when the first relay switch is open as desired. The opto isolator controls an output signal to a second relay control portion, which only operates the second relay if the first relay has opened as required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: David D. Neranjan, Mark O. Gerwig
  • Publication number: 20030025469
    Abstract: A moving body drive control device characterized by mutually balancing a magnitude of driving force TK and a magnitude of braking force TB, both of the forces being generated by a motor, to approximate a moving speed of a moving body 100 to a target speed highly precisely without being affected by a disturbance and the like in a state where the drive control device always applies at least any force of the driving force TK and the braking force TB to the moving body 100 to always apply a driving load thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Zhenjia Zhou, Osamu Kawanobe
  • Patent number: 6501239
    Abstract: A single position-detecting means for detecting rotation positions of electric motors is provided. Positions of a plurality of driven members are detected (estimated) based on the detection results. When a request of simultaneously operating the plurality of driven members is made, by sequentially operating the plurality of driven members one by one, the rotation positions of the plurality of electric motors can be detected by the single position-detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Katsumi Nishikawa, Tokuhisa Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20020195978
    Abstract: To realize structure simplification and reduction in manufacturing cost without lowering power transmission efficiency and reliability. The present invention includes a first motor 5 and a second motor 6, and a lead 2 of a ball screw 12 is disposed coaxially with a motor rotary shaft 5a on a first motor 5 side and a nut 3 of the ball screw 12 is disposed coaxially with a motor rotary shaft 6a on a second motor 6 side so that the first motor 5 and the second motor 6 are connected to each other via the ball screw 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: IHI AEROSPACE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Oyori
  • Publication number: 20020190671
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system powering a group of machines (2, 3, 4) each fitted with a rectifying unit (6), the inputs (7) of the control devices (8) of the machine' drive motors being interconnected by an electrical bus (14) which implements a power exchange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Walter Bilcke
  • Publication number: 20020180386
    Abstract: An XY table used in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including lower (X table) fixed to an X movable element and an upper table (Y table) fixed to a Y movable element, in which the upper table (Y table) is supported movably in a Y direction and immovably in an X direction on the lower table (X table), the X movable element is immovable in the Y direction with respect to the X motor main body, the Y movable element is movable in the X direction with respect to the Y motor main body. Furthermore, the Y motor main body is provided with a permanent magnet that covers an entire region of movement of a magnetic action component (coils) of the Y movable element in the X direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Ryuichi Kyomasu, Hiroto Urabayashi, Minoru Torihata, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Toshimichi Miyahara
  • Publication number: 20020180399
    Abstract: The invention relates to powering the electric drive motors (8) of a group of at least two machines (2, 3, 4), said motors operating in periodic motions, said periodic motions being mutually coordinated in a manner so as to control a parameter which is representative of the operations of the machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Walter Bilcke
  • Publication number: 20020167286
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling multiple vehicle systems includes a single power supply that provides a direct current source. The power supply is comprised of a thirty-six volt (36 V) battery power distribution system. A converter is electrically connected to the power supply to convert direct current to alternating current. A plurality of induction motors are used to operate various vehicle systems. The motors receive alternating current via electrical connections between the converter and the motors. A central processor is connected to relays sending power to each of the motors and provides control signals to the motors based on input from control members used to activate each of the various vehicle systems. At least one sensor is associated with each of the motors to monitor voltage or current of the respective motor and to generate a diagnostic signal that is sent to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Rae Fowler, Jerome Quere, Dennis A. Kramer, Enrico Fin, George Chene, Ira B. Goldberg, Stephen Chiu, Charles Hopson, Pasal Garrido, David M. Barry, Dan Rogovin
  • Patent number: 6476570
    Abstract: A device and a process for controlling the motor drives (121) of textile machines, comprising at least one “encoder” (101), capable of controlling the number of revolutions of each motor (121), and at least one central electronic unit (111) processing the data originating from all the motor drives (121), based on an application program containing the synchronizing data between the individual motors (121) and the technological operating parameters of the textile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Marzoli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Battista Pasini, Cesare Marella, Gian Mario Baitelli