Abstract: A drain cleaning machine includes a brushless direct current (DC) motor configured to rotate a snake about the snake axis. An electronic processor is configured to control power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor. In a first operating range when a load experienced by the brushless DC motor is less than or equal to a predetermined load, the electronic processor is configured to control the power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor at an approximately constant speed regardless of the load experienced by the brushless DC motor. In a second operating range when the load experienced by the brushless DC motor is greater than the predetermined load, the electronic processor is configured to control the power switching elements to drive the brushless DC motor at a decreasing speed as the load experienced by the brushless DC motor increases.

Abstract: A method for transmitting error information of a sensor, in a signal exchanged between the sensor and a master receiver, said signal being designed with a minimum level for supplying electric power to the sensor and carrying measurement data. One disclosed method involves identifying the error in the sensor; switching off a component of the sensor consuming electric power; and transmitting the error information at an error level lying below the minimum level.

Abstract: A motor driving device (100) includes an inverter (20), a speed control unit (40), and a regeneration preventing means (50). The inverter (20) converts supplied DC power to driving power for driving a motor (10), and supplies the driving power to the motor (10). The speed control unit (40) generates a speed control signal group based on a speed command signal Sref and a speed detection signal N, and adjusts the driving power based on a drive control signal VSP1 included in the speed control signal group, thereby controlling the speed of the motor (10).

Abstract: A method of controlling a motorized window treatment provides for continued operation of the motorized window treatment during an overload condition, a low-line condition, or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The motorized window treatment is driven by an electronic drive unit having a motor, a motor drive circuit, a rotational position sensor, a controller, and a memory for storing the command. The controller stores the present position of the motorized window treatment in the memory each time the rotational position of the motor changes by a predetermined angle, such that a plurality of positions are stored in the memory. When the controller is reset due to an overload condition or ESD event, the controller recalls the desired position from the memory, determines the present position, and continues to drive the motor drive circuit in response to the command and the present position.

Abstract: A technique can recover from motor stalls caused by misalignment of motor position sensors such as Hall-effect sensors. In a normal operating mode, a motor controller provides motor drive current to the motor windings based on the sensor signals according to a normal commutation sequence, and monitors for occurrence of a motor stall condition. Upon detecting the motor stall condition, the motor controller first momentarily drives the windings according to one of an advanced commutation state and a delayed commutation state each adjacent to the given commutation state in the normal commutation sequence, and determines whether the motor stall condition persists. If the stall condition persists, then the motor controller next momentarily drives the windings according to the other of the advanced commutation state and the delayed commutation state.

Abstract: In a roller conveyor system for carrying out zone control, a conveyed article can be stopped in an approximately constant position without varying the position where the article is stopped in a desired control zone even if the weight of the article varies. In order to syop the article in a predetermined control zone, such stop control is carried out that a motor is decelerated and stopped in a plurality of braking systems depending on the change in the pulse width of a rotational pulse signal to stop the article with high precision in a predetermined stop position.

Abstract: A control system is provided for the drive system of automotive vehicles. A control determines a combination of torque to be applied from an integrated starter-generator and compression torque to be applied from an engine. The combination of the integrated starter-generator torque and engine compression torque results in a desired deceleration torque. The control preferentially applies torque from the integrated starter-generator over the compression torque, thus maximizing regeneration.

Abstract: A road surface condition determination system for an automotive vehicle comprises wheel-speed sensors, and a control unit being configured to be electrically connected to the wheel-speed sensors for data-processing a wheel-speed data signal. The control unit calculates a wheel-speed fluctuation of each of the road wheels on the basis of a previous value of the wheel-speed data signal and a current value of the wheel-speed data signal, and calculates an absolute value of the wheel-speed fluctuation of each of the road wheels. A integration circuit is provided to produce a first integrated value of the absolute values of the wheel-speed fluctuations of the road wheels. A smoothing circuit is provided to make a smoothing operation to the integrated value to produce a smoothed value. A road-surface condition determining section is also provided to determine a road surface condition on the basis of the smoothed value.

Abstract: A control arrangement for protecting the control circuit for a self propelled, automatically controlled wheeled vehicle having spring applied, electrically released brakes, to enable the vehicle to be manually pushed without damage to the vehicle control circuitry by generation of currents by the DC motors, the arrangement including a manually operable switch disconnecting the DC drive motors from the vehicle control circuit while simultaneously energizing a brake release actuator.

Abstract: To avoid dangerous pressure decreases in antiskid systems, it is necessary to continuously monitor the operability of the electrical components. The present invention ensures maximum reliablity and a simple circuit configuration. Electrical signals are generated during the period of time in which a pressure decrease occurs and/or by the speed of pressure decrease at each wheel of a vehicle axis and are subtracted from one another. If the absolute value of the difference reaches a limiting value, the disturbed part of the system will be prevented from causing a further pressure decrease.

Abstract: A vehicle supported for rolling movement on a track by a first set of wheels driven by an electric motor and a second unpowered set of wheels is provided with an improved braking system. The braking system includes a brake pedal which can be depressed to generate a brake demand signal, a regenerative braking system associated with the electric motor, and a friction braking system attached to the unpowered wheels. Control circuitry which regulates the operation of the two brake systems serves normally to actuate the regenerative braking system in response to the brake demand signal and to actuate the friction braking system only when the brake demand signal exceeds a predetermined level which corresponds normally to the maximum regenerative braking available. Under slippery rail conditions, a detector indicates slippage of the wheels relative to the rails during regenerative braking, and immediately actuates the friction braking system to produce additional braking in proportion to the brake demand signal.

Abstract: A plugging defeat system for use with a reversible electric motor having a motor shaft. A slipping clutch-type mechanism is used to sense the speed and direction of the motor and to selectively open forward or reverse enabling switches when the motor reaches a predetermined speed. If operating in the forward direction, the clutch mechanism will open the reverse enabling switch, once the predetermined speed is reached, preventing motor reversal until the speed has fallen to a safe level, and vice versa.

Abstract: A DC motor control Circuit for providing improved starting and stopping control is provided. The control circuit includes a DC constant voltage source, a control transistor, a DC motor and a switching transistor having a first switching control electrode and two further electrodes defining a current path connected in parallel with the DC motor. The parallel connection of the DC motor and switching transistor electrodes is further connected in series with the DC constant voltage source and control transistor. A drive circuit is coupled to the switching transistor control electrode and is adapted to produce a starting signal for opening said switching transistor current path, and a stopping signal for closing said switching transistor current path in response to the respective application of either a stop signal or a start signal to the driving circuit.

Abstract: A first train of pulses is generated at a first variable rate indicating the vehicle speed and a second train of pulses is generated at a second variable rate lower than the first rate indicating the wheel speed. A counter is provided having an input terminal receptive of the first train of pulses to count the same, a clear terminal receptive of the second train of pulses to clear the count and an output terminal at which a brake release signal is produced when the count reaches a predetermined number before it is cleared by one of the second train of pulses.