Having Protection Means (e.g., Switching Circuit Protection, Stall Protection, Failure To Start, "wrong" Direction, Etc.) Patents (Class 318/400.21)
  • Patent number: 10330500
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (7) for operating a resolver (1), which has at least one receiver winding (3, 4) or at least one excitation winding (2), which are/can be associated with a rotatably mounted shaft (5), in particular a rotor shaft of an electric motor, said apparatus also having a device (9) which determines an angular position of the shaft (5) as a function of an induced voltage detected by the excitation winding (2) by means of a desired excitation signal (SES) with a predeterminable frequency and amplitude and by the receiver winding (3, 4). According to the invention, means (10) for limiting an electrical voltage on the excitation winding (2) are associated with the excitation winding (2), wherein the means (10) limit the voltage only above a maximum normal voltage in only one current direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edwin Eberlein, Manfred Kirschner
  • Patent number: 10270378
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a PSM machine having three phases including detecting whether one or more current sensors disposed on a phase of the machine has malfunctioned. If a malfunction is detected, a voltage indicator is calculated from a voltage amplitude and a voltage phase of an input voltage of the machine in a d, q-coordinate system by two different calculations. The first calculation includes calculating the input voltage based on a phase current, target currents, and an electrical angle of the machine. The second calculation includes calculating the input voltage based on target values of a reference voltage amplitude and a reference voltage phase. The method also includes determining the voltage amplitude and the voltage phase of the input voltage of the machine and comparing the values of the respective voltage amplitudes and voltage phases from the input voltage in the first and second calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Hassan Lamsahel
  • Patent number: 10241130
    Abstract: A method for detecting failure of speed measurement of a multi-phase AC motor includes (1) sensing current drawn by the motor, (2) sensing voltage magnitude supplied to the motor, (3) measuring motor speed, (4) calculating motor speed, (5) determining whether the difference between the measured motor speed and the calculated motor speed is greater than a predetermined threshold, if the difference between the measured motor speed and the calculated motor speed is not greater than a predetermined threshold, repeating (1) through (5), if the difference between the measured motor speed and the calculated motor speed is greater than a predetermined threshold, indicating a fault, if a fault is indicated, performing a predetermined number of restart attempts, if the motor is successfully restarted, repeating (1) through (5), if the motor is not successfully restarted, indicating a restart failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corporation
    Inventors: Prakash Reddy, Ashwin Murali, Pinninti Arjun
  • Patent number: 10230320
    Abstract: Provided is a motor drive device capable of adjusting a 0-axis current to a desired value. A motor drive device (inverter device 100) for an open winding type motor 200 in which a stator winding wire includes three-phase independent winding wires 210, 220, and 230 includes a plurality of single-phase inverters 160, 170, and 180 provided for each of the winding wires 210 to 230 to individually apply a voltage to a corresponding winding wire, and a controller 150 that controls each of the single-phase inverters 160 to 180. The controller 150 adjusts a 0-axis current to a predetermined value by alternately and repeatedly generating a first period in which a sum of voltages applied to the respective independent winding wires 210 to 230 is set to a value other than zero to offset the 0-axis current and a second period in which the sum of the voltages applied to the respective winding wires 210 to 230 is set to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshisada Mitsui, Hideki Miyazaki, Seigo Yukutake, Katsuhiro Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10224909
    Abstract: Disclosed are an error elimination amplifier and a motor control circuit using the same. The error elimination amplifier includes an amplification circuit, a switching circuit, a comparison circuit, an output comparator and a calibration circuit. The comparison circuit includes a first comparator and a second comparator. The switching circuit and the first input end of the output comparator are electrically connected to a signal output end of the amplification circuit. A second input end of the output comparator is coupled to a reference voltage. The calibration circuit is electrically connected to the amplification circuit. An offset of the amplifier is eliminated through the amplification circuit, the switching circuit and the calibration circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Jung Tsai, Kun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 10218302
    Abstract: To provide a controller and a control method for an electric motor including plural energization systems each composed of an inverter and coils corresponding to plural phases. The controller performs first diagnosis processing for detecting an abnormality in each system under energization control, and second diagnosis processing for detecting an abnormality in each system not under energization control. When the first diagnosis processing detects an abnormality in one system and the second diagnosis processing detects no abnormality in the one system or when the first diagnosis processing detects an abnormality in one system to thereby stop energization control over the one system and in such a state, an abnormality is detected in another system, the energization control over the one system is restarted to drive the electric motor. It is therefore possible to avoid stopping output from a normal system when some of the systems have an abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomonobu Koseki, Tomishige Yatsugi
  • Patent number: 10179575
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic brake system using an integrated sensor, which includes a hydraulic block configured to distribute and supply a fluid to a wheel brake, and having a through-hole penetrated at both sides thereof, a sensor module installed at one side of the hydraulic block having the through-hole, for sensing a linear displacement of a brake pedal and a position of a motor, and an electronic control unit installed to a side of the hydraulic block opposite to the sensor module, in order to determine a movement distance of the pedal, based on the linear displacement of the pedal sensed by the sensor module, and control rotation of the motor depending on the linear displacement of the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sung Hwan Shin, Min Seok Kwon
  • Patent number: 10171018
    Abstract: A method for detecting stall of a multiphase motor operated in a sinusoidal micro-stepped mode. The method comprises: a) measuring at least one phase current and/or measuring the sum of all phase currents at regular time intervals synchronous with the micro-steps, b) calculating the difference between the measured phase current at a first moment and the measured phase current of the same phase at a previous moment and/or the difference between the measured sum of all phase currents at a first moment and the measured sum of all phase currents at a previous synchronous moment, c) analyzing the series of obtained current differences so as to generate a stall detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Marcel Jakobus Gerardus Braat, Marc Lambrechts
  • Patent number: 10158311
    Abstract: An electronic switch control method is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the current working parameters of the electronic switch, then reading duty cycle parameters matching with the current working parameters; conducting a linear calculation with the duty cycle parameters and the working parameters to obtain a new duty cycle; adjusting the current control signal to obtain a PWM signal having the new duty cycle; and controlling the rotation speed of the motor in a load with the PWM signal. By reducing the volume of an electronic switch and achieving a long low-speed travel, the disclosure enables the user to work at an accurate working point with an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Shanghai Baicheng Electric Equipment Manufacture CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhengbing Liu
  • Patent number: 10126800
    Abstract: Electronic architecture (3) for controlling a DC/AC voltage converter (2), said converter (2) comprising a plurality of arms mounted in parallel, each arm comprising two controllable switching cells (21), in series and separated by a mid-point, the arms being paired in H-bridges (20), the architecture (3) comprising: —a main control unit (36), configured to communicate through a potential barrier (61) with a remote control unit (35), and —a plurality of secondary control units (37), each secondary control unit (37) being dedicated to controlling a respective H-bridge (20), and comprising: —a processing unit (40) for processing the information received from the main control unit (36), and —a monitoring unit (41) for monitoring the controllable switching cells (21) of said H-bridge (20), said monitoring unit (41) being configured to modify the state of all or some of said switching cells (21) of said H-bridge (20) at least on the basis of information received from the corresponding processing unit (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventor: Guillaume Caubert
  • Patent number: 10116249
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a wye wound electric machine and a controller. The electric machine is coupled with an inverter. The controller is configured to, in response to an electrical connection between the vehicle and an AC grid, couple a capacitor between a neutral terminal of the electric machine and a negative terminal of the inverter to absorb reactive power from the AC grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ke Zou, Chingchi Chen
  • Patent number: 10075107
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a rotor lock condition in a sensorless permanent magnet synchronous motor. A BEMF observer determines an estimated rotor speed {circumflex over (?)} and a first BEMF voltage value in an estimated rotor-related ?,? reference frame. In addition, a second estimated BEMF voltage value is calculated in a rotor-related d,q reference frame based on at least a first motor constant and an estimated rotor speed {circumflex over (?)}. After generating a BEMF error filter value from the first and second estimated BEMF voltage values and calculating a BEMF error threshold value as a function of the estimated rotor speed {circumflex over (?)} that is subject to a minimum threshold BEMF value, a rotor lock condition is detected based on at least the BEMF error filter value and the BEMF error threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaroslav Lepka, Libor Prokop
  • Patent number: 10066967
    Abstract: A method for detecting rotor position for a single coil DC motor or 2-coil DC motor with non-parallel windings, with no need of Hall position sensor. The method comprises applying a first respectively second probe pulse for generating a first response pulse having a first direction or polarity and a second response pulse having a second direction or polarity. The probe pulses are adapted so they do not substantially move the rotor with respect to the stator, but affect the magnetic properties of the stator. By comparing the measured effects caused by the probe pulses, the initial position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. A method for start-up, a motor driver circuit, and a motor assembly comprising said motor and driver circuit are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Dirk Leman, Marc Lambrechts, Zuo Xing, Zhang Huowen
  • Patent number: 10053147
    Abstract: A steered-angle command value calculation circuit calculates a steered-angle command value by adding a steering torque to a first assist component that is a sum of a basic assist control amount, a hysteresis control amount and a damping control amount. A steered-angle feedback control circuit calculates a second assist component by angle feedback control based on the steered-angle command value. A compensation control circuit generates the hysteresis control amount and the damping control amount based on a determination flag generated by a hand release determination circuit and indicating whether or not the steering state corresponds to a hand release state. The hand release determination circuit determines whether or not the steering state corresponds to the hand release state based on signs of a steering angle calculated by a steering-angle calculation circuit, a steering angular velocity that is a differential value of the steering angle, and a steering angle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto Matsuo, Terutaka Tamaizumi
  • Patent number: 10053086
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first rotating electrical machine (first MG), a second rotating electrical machine (second MG), a planetary gear mechanism which mechanically couples these devices, a first inverter which drives the first MG, a second inverter which drives the second MG, and a controller. When the controller receives a fail signal from the first inverter, the controller performs shut-down control which brings the first inverter into a gate shut-down state with fuel supply to the engine being stopped. When the absolute value of an engine rotation speed Ne is more than or equal to a predetermined value ? and the absolute value of a rotation speed Nm1 of the first MG is less than a threshold value ? after the shut-down control is started, the controller determines that the first inverter has a short-circuit fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoko Oba, Shohei Oi, Atsushi Nomura
  • Patent number: 10044298
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine drive system includes a rotating electric machine and a drive apparatus. The rotating electric machine includes a Y-connected three-phase stator coil. The drive apparatus supplies electric current to the stator coil and thereby drives the rotating electric machine. In a predetermined high-torque region, the drive apparatus supplies the stator coil with the electric current which has a waveform obtained by superimposing a specific harmonic waveform on a first-order harmonic waveform. The specific harmonic waveform is one of third-order and (3+6n)th-order harmonic waveforms, or a harmonic waveform which is obtained by synthesizing at least two of the third-order and (3+6n)th-order harmonic waveforms, where n is a natural number not less than 1. The specific harmonic waveform takes a negative integral value for a positive half cycle of the first-order harmonic waveform and a positive integral value for a negative half cycle of the first-order harmonic waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10044314
    Abstract: A motor apparatus and a motor driving circuit are provided. The motor apparatus includes a motor module and the motor driving circuit. The motor driving circuit includes a plurality of bridge arm circuits, a temperature sensor, and a control circuit. Each of the bridge arm circuits is controlled by one of the first PWM signals and one of the second PWM signals generated by the control circuit and outputs a driving signal to drive the motor module. The temperature sensor senses a temperature of the bridge arm circuits and provides a temperature sensing value to the control circuit. When the temperature sensing value is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature value, the control circuit increases a duty cycle of the first PWM signal of one bridge arm circuit and a duty cycle of the second PWM signal of the other bridge arm circuits to lower the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FAIRWAY ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lin-Han Yen
  • Patent number: 9859794
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first switching element, a pre-driver, a coil, a second switching element and a capacitor. The first switching element is connected between a power and a load driving circuit and includes a parasitic diode having cathode adjacent to the load driving circuit. The pre-driver drives the first switching element. The coil is connected between the power and the first switching element. The second switching element includes an output terminal connected to a first connection point between the power and the coil, an input terminal connected to a second connection point between the first switching element and the pre-driver, and a control terminal connected to ground. The capacitor has one end connected to a point between the first switching element and the load driving circuit and another end connected to ground. Even when power supply voltage decreases, the semiconductor device can restrict breakage of switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyaki, Yutaka Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9793835
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion device, including a fault determination unit (11) for determining, based on phase voltages of a polyphase dynamo-electric machine (4) detected by phase voltage detection units (10), a power, earth, or open fault of armature windings of the polyphase dynamo-electric machine (4). The fault determination unit (11) determines, in a state that all power semiconductor switching elements (2) are in an off state and no induction voltage is generated in the armature windings of the polyphase dynamo-electric machine (4), the power fault when all the phase voltages are substantially equal to an anode potential of a DC power supply (3), the earth fault when all the phase voltages are substantially equal to a cathode potential of the DC power supply (3), and the open fault when all the phase voltages are not substantially the same potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujie, Katsuya Tsujimoto, Takamasa Asai
  • Patent number: 9787240
    Abstract: To provide a controller and a control method for a motor equipped with a plurality of energization systems each including a coil set of coils corresponding to a plurality of phases and an inverter for outputting a current to each of the phases in the coil set. The controller stops the inverter of a first energization system if the total phase current in the first energization system is an outlier. During a predetermined period after stopping the inverter of the first energization system, even if the total phase current in any other energization system is an outlier, the controller continues to operate the inverter of the other energization system. This makes it possible to continue to operate the inverter of a normal energization system as required as possible while stopping the inverter of an energization system having an abnormality such as a short-circuit or short-to-ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomonobu Koseki, Tomishige Yatsugi
  • Patent number: 9725054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a component (12), in particular a battery, of a motor vehicle having a first control unit (14) for monitoring the component (12) and a second control unit (16) for monitoring the component (12), wherein the second control unit (16) is arranged at a distance from the first control unit (14) and communicates with the first control unit (14), wherein the second control unit (16) is connected to the component (12) via a line (20), in particular a hardware line, comprising the steps of transmitting operating data to the first control unit (14) by means of the second control unit (16), checking the operating data in the first control unit (14), transmitting data from the first control unit (14) to the second control unit (16), switching off the component (12) by means of the second control unit (16) if interference is detected by means of the first control unit (14) and/or the second control unit (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Rupp, Stefan Cermak, Jens Werneth
  • Patent number: 9722415
    Abstract: A safety device for an actuator that can modulate power to an electric motor in response to a fault condition (e.g., stall). In one embodiment, the actuator can include a motor with a shaft, a sensor disposed in proximity to the shaft, and a control processor coupled with the sensor and the motor. The control processor can be configured to receive a signal from the sensor that conveys operating data that relates to rotation of the shaft, use the operating data to identify a fault condition on the motor, and change the motor from an energized condition to a de-energized condition in response to the fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Logan Perkins
  • Patent number: 9669812
    Abstract: A microcomputer o n EPS performs failure diagnosis of a motor or a motor driving circuit after an ignition switch is turned on and before an ECU starts control of power supply to the motor. When an angular velocity of the motor rotatable with a steering wheel is greater than a predetermined value, the failure diagnosis is not made. Thus, a period from the turn-on of the ignition switch to the start of current supply control is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihide Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9654037
    Abstract: A multi-phase motor control method controls a multi-phase motor which includes multiple nodes respectively receiving a corresponding number of driving voltage signals to control a rotation of a rotor. The motor control method includes: sensing a signal phase of a current signal corresponding to at least one node, for example by sensing a zero-crossing point of the current signal; determining a reference phase for the current signal; calculating a phase difference between the signal phase and the reference phase; and controlling a phase switching frequency of the stator according to the phase difference, such that the signal phase is close to or in phase with the reference phase, to thereby obtain an optimum rotation speed of the rotor corresponding to a given driving voltage. The present invention also provides a multi-phase motor control device using the motor control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuo-Chung Lee, Wei-Hsu Chang, An-Tung Chen, Chun-Wen Wang
  • Patent number: 9577568
    Abstract: A method recognizes a wire-break fault during operation of a brushless DC motor. A switch-on delay duration of a transition of an electrical phase potential that rests on the stator winding phase from a switch-off potential to a switch-on potential and a switch-off delay duration of the transition of the phase potential from the switch-on potential to the switch-off potential are detected for a stator winding phase of the stator winding of the motor during each pulse width modulation cycle period. Moreover, a lower deviation limit is defined for a deviation of detected switch-off delay durations from detected switch-on delay durations. A wire-break fault is deduced if the deviations of the detected switch-off delay durations from the detected switch-on delay durations fall below the lower deviation limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Istvan Loerincz, Andreas Schnell
  • Patent number: 9571016
    Abstract: A motor control system is disclosed. The motor control system includes a level-shifting unit, a motor unit and a control unit. The level-shifting unit receives an original pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to generate an output PWM signal. When a first high level of the original PWM signal is larger than a first reference value, the level-shifting unit shifts a second high level of the output PWM signal to a set high level. When a first low level of the original PWM signal is lower than a second reference value, the level-shifting unit shifts a second low level of the output PWM signal to a set low level. The control unit controls the speed of the motor according to the output PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Hao Chang, Yueh-Lung Huang, Yen-Hung Chen, Shih-Yuan Chiang, Feng-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 9564841
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion device, including a fault determination unit (11) for determining, based on phase voltages of a polyphase dynamo-electric machine (4) detected by phase voltage detection units (10), a power, earth, or open fault of armature windings of the polyphase dynamo-electric machine (4). The fault determination unit (11) determines, in a state that all power semiconductor switching elements (2) are in an off state and no induction voltage is generated in the armature windings of the polyphase dynamo-electric machine (4), the power fault when all the phase voltages are substantially equal to an anode potential of a DC power supply (3), the earth fault when all the phase voltages are substantially equal to a cathode potential of the DC power supply (3), and the open fault when all the phase voltages are not substantially the same potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujie, Katsuya Tsujimoto, Takamasa Asai
  • Patent number: 9509242
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct current (DC) motor is shown and described. The method includes generating a first pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a first duty cycle, providing the first PWM signal as a PWM DC output for the DC motor, and adjusting the first duty cycle to control a speed of the DC motor. The method further includes sensing an electric current output to the motor using a current sensor and, when the sensed current exceeds a threshold, holding the PWM DC output off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Russell W. Diamond, Gary A. Romanowich, David R. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 9410792
    Abstract: A resolver device (14) includes: a microcomputer (1) for outputting a control signal for driving a motor (4) to a drive circuit (3); a sensor section (5) (resolver) for outputting detection values (a sine signal and a cosine signal) in accordance with a rotation angle of the motor (4); and a signal circuit (13) provided between the microcomputer (1) and the sensor section (5). The microcomputer (1) determines an abnormality when the detection values of the sensor section (5) are out of a first normal range and then determines return of the sensor section (5) to normal when the detection value is present within a second normal range and in a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the first normal range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Shunichi Wada, Katsuya Ikemoto, Chiaki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9392732
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is equipped with a semiconductor module having a semiconductor chip electrically connected to the first circuit pattern and the second circuit pattern. A resin body is wrapped around the semiconductor chip. A first metal plate has a side connected to the semiconductor chip and an other side connected to the first circuit pattern. A radiator projects toward and is connected to the first circuit pattern by a first heat conductor. As a result, heat generated by the semiconductor chip is transmitted to the radiator through the first metal plate, the first circuit pattern, and the first heat conductor during operation of the semiconductor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Hara, Toshihisa Yamamoto, Takahiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9290106
    Abstract: A power control system includes a battery, a converter which converts a direct-current voltage of the battery to a different level of direct-current voltage by the switching of switching elements, a second inverter, a second MG which is an electric motor, an engine, and an ECU which is a controller. When there is a warm-up request for the battery, the ECU causes a carrier frequency in the switching control of the switching elements to be lower than a carrier frequency in the case where there is no warm-up request for the battery. When there is a warm-up request, the ECU causes the carrier frequency at which the engine is in operation to be lower than the carrier frequency at which the engine is out of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoji Sato
  • Patent number: 9236818
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device and a drive method for a brushless motor. In a drive method in which a switching timing of energization patterns is detected by comparing a pulse induced voltage of a non-energized phase with a voltage threshold, when the pulse induced voltage does not reach the voltage threshold, the pulse induced voltage at an angle of switching the energization patterns is measured. Discrimination between a demagnetization failure and a lock failure is performed based on whether the measured pulse induced voltage satisfies a predetermined condition or not. When it is the demagnetization failure, motor control continues after changing the voltage threshold. When it is the lock failure, the motor control stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9209739
    Abstract: A brushless motor device controlled by a carrier of DC positive and negative power wires comprises a controller. The controller outputs a positive DC wire for outputting a positive DC voltage and a negative DC wire for outputting a negative DC voltage. The positive and negative DC voltages include a carrier signal. The controller is connected to a driver which is applied to receive the carrier signal and control a rotating mode of a brushless DC motor according to the carrier signal. Therefore, the carrier signal allows the driver and the controller to be connected by the positive and negative DC wires and attains the object of transmitting the signal, thereby reducing the material of the signal wire and the manufacture cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventors: Mei-Chun Liu, Hui-Yen Chu
  • Patent number: 9166504
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a motor-generator includes a stator including multi-phase coils, a rotor, a multi-phase inverter one arm of which includes a switch element and a free-wheeling element, and a power supply connected between a neutral point of the coils and a negative electrode of the inverter. When the switch elements are driven by rectangular wave, the low-side switch element connected to the high-side switch element is subject to PWM switching control while the high-side switch element is off. When a time point, at which the high-side switch element is turned off, is defined as a base point, if ? is defined as a time when switching of the low-side switch element starts, and ? is defined as a time when the switching ends, ?-? is 120 degrees in electrical degree or more, ? is more than 0 degrees, and ? is less than 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Kouichi Nagata, Masahiko Osada
  • Patent number: 9143075
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motor drive control device provided with a shutoff circuit employing semiconductor relays and configured to drive a motor by a duty ratio control of an inverter, which stably drives the motor even in an operation state that drive duty ratio of phases are uneven. In the motor drive control device, output lines of three phases of the inverter circuit are connected to phases of the motor and further connected to a booster circuit, an output boosted by the booster circuit at a time of drive of the motor is distributed to semiconductor relays connected to respective phases of the motor, and furthermore, a switching circuit for stopping actuation of the booster circuit to shut off drive of the motor, is interposed in a line for supplying an electric power to the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomio Sakashita, Hiroshi Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 9136782
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a motor. The motor comprises windings. A switch bridge comprising a plurality of switches is configured to couple a power source to the windings. A motor controller is configured to control the plurality of switches. An undesired condition identifier is configured to identify an undesired condition when the motor is providing power to the power source, wherein the undesired condition is defined with respect to a characteristic of the power source. An undesired condition reducer is configured to reduce the undesired condition in response to identifying the undesired condition by the undesired condition identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Pete Benson, Douglas C. Cameron
  • Patent number: 9112446
    Abstract: The present application discloses a device, method and system for controlling a rotation speed of a motor. The device includes: a reference voltage generating module generating a reference voltage; a PWM signal converting module converting a PWM signal into a voltage signal; a first comparator outputting a first level or a second level; a first switching element having a control terminal connected with an output terminal of the first comparator and a first terminal input with a first signal, and being turned on when receiving the second level and being turned off when receiving the first level; a follower having an input terminal connected with the PWM signal converting module; and a control signal outputting terminal outputting the first signal or the voltage signal. The device, method and system are capable of controlling the rotation speed of the motor to jump at a specific duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Dongguan) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongyuan Yang, Yuanhao Liu, Dongming Zhang, Zhijia Wang
  • Patent number: 9093884
    Abstract: An integrated motor and control system has an electric motor. A control controls operation of the motor. A housing substantially covers at least two sides of the control. The housing has an opening and a liquid guide for guiding liquid toward a predetermined position in the opening to prevent liquid from contacting the control. The control is mounted on at least one of the electric motor and the housing. A heat sink can be extended through the opening in the housing to cool the control. The liquid guide can facilitate natural convection over the portion of the heat sink exterior of the housing. The integrated motor and control system can suitably be used in a washing machine or other appliance where liquid may be encountered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Major, Gregory A. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20150145448
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine driver apparatus and an electric power steering apparatus using the same includes a controller section that obtains a detected current value and generates a high-side instruction signal and a low-side instruction signal to switch an upper arm element and a lower arm element based on the detected current value. An abnormality detector determines a simul-OFF abnormality which is an abnormality of a pair made up of the high-side and low-side instruction signals being simultaneously switched off based on a condition that switching off of the high-side instruction signal for the upper arm element and the low-side instruction signal for the lower arm element pair continues for at least a simul-OFF abnormality determination time. In such manner, the simul-OFF abnormality of the instruction signals is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiko MUKAI, Hideki KABUNE
  • Patent number: 9041326
    Abstract: A method for operating a brushless electric motor, the windings being energized by an inverter with the aid of six switches. A detection unit for detecting defective switches, a unit for measuring voltage at the outputs of the inverter, and a microcontroller for controlling the switch and for generating a pulse width modulated voltage supply for the windings are provided. A short-circuited switch causes a torque in the electric motor opposite the actuating direction of the electric motor. The method proposes that after detecting a short-circuited switch, the windings (U. V. W) are energized to generate a motor torque that is, on the whole, positive. An actuating period of the electric motor is divided into a plurality of sectors, wherein, in accordance with the defective switch, individual sectors are deactivated for the actuation of the windings (U, V, W), while other sectors are used to actuate the windings (V, W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Gunselmann, Mathias Fernengel, Nicolas Bruyant, Lionel Guichard, Michel Parette
  • Patent number: 9035586
    Abstract: A motor driving device for protecting inrush current is disclosed, where the motor driving device includes a resistor, a capacitor, an electronic switch, a rectifier and a driving circuit. The capacitor is connected to the resistor in series. The electronic switch is connected to the resistor in parallel. The rectifier is connected to the resistor and the capacitor in parallel and is electrically connected to a power source. The driving circuit is connected to the resistor and the capacitor in parallel and is electrically connected to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Wen-Han Lan
  • Patent number: 9035585
    Abstract: A motor-drive circuit includes a detection circuit to detect a reverse current to flow in a direction from a first sink-side transistor to a second source-side transistor or in a direction from a second sink-side transistor to a first source-side transistor, a disable circuit to disable a detection output of the detection circuit during a predetermined time period from a start of detection of the reverse current performed by the detection circuit, a first inhibit circuit to inhibit synchronous rectification according to a detection output of the detection circuit when the predetermined time period has elapsed from a start of detection of the reverse current performed by the detection circuit, and a second inhibit circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Takamori, Masashi Muragi
  • Publication number: 20150130380
    Abstract: A ripple current that flows into a main-circuit capacitor is estimated based on a system impedance and output power to a motor, thereby making it possible to always perform ripple-current estimation and life estimation computation for the main-circuit capacitor online. Because data of the system impedance which largely affects the ripple-current estimation for the main-circuit capacitor is used, the capacitor ripple current can be estimated according to the magnitude of the system impedance. This enables highly-accurate life estimation computation of the main-circuit capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Kato
  • Publication number: 20150130379
    Abstract: In the ground fault detecting circuit, one terminals of first to third resistance elements are connected to first to third AC lines, respectively, the other terminals of the first to third resistance elements are commonly connected to one terminal of a fourth resistance element, and the other terminal of the fourth resistance element is connected to a line of a ground voltage. On the basis of a voltage across the terminals of the fourth resistance element, the ground fault detecting circuit detects whether a ground fault has occurred or not. Since a current does not flow through the fourth resistance element in the normal state and flows through the fourth resistance element after the occurrence of a ground fault, it is possible to detect the occurrence of the ground fault at a high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinobu Ando, Hiroyuki Ogino, Yasuaki Matsumoto, Shigeyuki Nakabayashi, Yasuhiko Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20150130381
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a processor (708) for controlling an emergency operation of a multiphase induction machine (701) upon an interruption of a first phase current (724-1; 724-2; 724-3) of a first phase of the induction machine (701). The processor (708) is designed to determine a control current setting (716-1; 716-2; 716-3), corresponding to the emergency operation, for a second phase of the induction machine (701) in a coordinate system fixed to the stator through a combination of a first target current setting (706-1; 706-2; 706-3), corresponding to a normal operation of the electric engine, for the first phase and a second target current setting (706-1; 706-2; 706-3) for the second phase in a coordinate system fixed to the stator. This distinguishes a phase angle and an amplitude of the control current setting (716-1; 716-2; 716-3) for the second phase from a phase angle and an amplitude of the second target current setting (706-1; 706-2; 706-3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Hassan Lamsahel
  • Patent number: 9024564
    Abstract: The invention provides a drive control device that comprises: inverters that are connected to a motor; a variable resistive element that is connected between the motor and each of the inverters; a current/voltage detection device connected between the motor and each of the inverters; and a controller that, when detecting a fault of an inverter that drives the motor based on a detection signal from the current/voltage detection device, gradually increases a resistance value of a variable resistive element provided between the faulty inverter and the motor at a velocity of a resistance variation such that a surge voltage has a voltage value for which the variable resistive element and the motor are not damaged, and executes drive control of the motor by a normal inverter other than the faulty inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kinouchi, Kosuke Nakano
  • Patent number: 9013124
    Abstract: A method is provided. A command to correspond to a target speed of a motor is received. A rotational speed of the motor is measured, and a brake-to-off ratio for a braking interval is calculated based at least in part on the rotation speed, the target speed, a braking parameter. An off state for an inverter that is coupled to motor is induced during an off portion of the braking interval, and a brake signal is applied to the inverter during a braking portion of the braking interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kazunori Itoh, Yasushi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9013133
    Abstract: A method of detecting a stall condition in a stepper motor with very little movement of an instrument pointer coupled to the stepper motor. The stepper motor rotates the instrument pointer in a first direction towards a pointer stop by a plurality of micro-steps. The stepper motor then rotates the pointer in the first direction at least one additional micro-step while monitoring a back electro-motive force (EMF) produced by the stepper motor. If the instrument pointer is abutting the pointer stop, then the stepper motor will be compressed slightly. If the back EMF is below a predetermined threshold, then the stepper motor is in a stall condition. The instrument pointer can then be micro-stepped in a second direction opposite the first direction to a micro-rotor offset value (?ROV) position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Paul Russ
  • Publication number: 20150097502
    Abstract: A method for estimating a motor parameter in a load commutated inverter arrangement, including the steps of: measuring a motor side ac-voltage; detecting commutation interval information of the measured motor side ac-voltage; estimating a motor parameter based on the detected commutation interval information; and indicating when the estimated motor parameter deviates from a monitoring parameter thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Jan Wiik, Edgar Jellum, Trond Haugen, Harald Fretheim
  • Publication number: 20150096826
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a power steering system having at least three windings is described, wherein a control unit applies a current to the windings of the electric motor to generate a total torque having a value which is ascertained by the control unit from a set-point torque for steering assistance and a set-point torque for damping. A damping set-point circuit ascertains the set-point torque for damping and a steering assist set-point circuit ascertains the set-point torque for steering assistance. A monitoring circuit monitors the function of the windings of the electric motor. In the event of a malfunction of any of the windings, the monitoring circuit outputs an error signal, upon which the set-point torque for steering assistance is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Eden, Keiwan Kashi, Timothy Sworn, Chris Mantjios