Utilization Or Dissipation Of Stored Or Collapsing Field Energy (e.g., Freewheeling, Discharging One Winding Through Another, Etc.) Patents (Class 318/400.31)
  • Patent number: 11211885
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for braking a translator of a linear multiphase electromagnetic machine. The system detects a fault event, and in response to detecting the fault event, causes the translator to brake using an electromagnetic technique. Braking includes causing the translator to stop reciprocating, by applying a force opposing an axial motion, which may occur within one cycle, or over many cycles. The fault event may include, for example, a fault associated with an encoder, a controller, an electrical component, a communications link, a phase, or a subsystem. The system includes a power electronics system configured to apply current to the phases. The system may use position information, current information, operating parameters, or a combination thereof to brake. Alternatively, the system need not use position information, current information, and operating parameters, and may brake the translator independent of such information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Mainspring Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Da Costa, Matthew Roelle, John Powers, Patrick Gorzelic, Christopher David Gadda
  • Patent number: 10815696
    Abstract: A robot includes a movable unit, a drive part that drives the movable unit, and a power supply part having an insulated power supply that supplies power to the drive part, wherein the drive part is provided in the movable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kojima
  • Patent number: 10594237
    Abstract: A system includes a timer to determine a time interval between successive commutation state changes of a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor. A speed calculator computes a speed of the BLDC motor based on the time interval. A threshold calculator determines a threshold based on the computed speed, the threshold specifying a calculation of back electromotive force (BEMF) and mutual inductance of the BLDC motor at a next state change of the BLDC motor. A state change trigger commands the next state change based on a measured voltage associated with a floating phase of the BLDC motor relative to the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Zachery S. Buckley, Seil Oh
  • Patent number: 10581364
    Abstract: An output control unit controls a drive terminal for a BEMF detection object phase to a high-impedance state in a mask term. A BEMF detection unit detects a voltage of the drive terminal for the detection object phase when a center tap voltage is set as a reference as BEMF in a PWM on-term for remaining two phases per PWM period in the mask term and asserts a zero-crossing signal when the voltage is reduced to zero. A PWM fixing unit fixes the remaining two phases to the PWM on-terms in a first term from a predetermined timing after an amplitude level of BEMF becomes smaller than a BEMF threshold amplitude to assertion of the zero-crossing signal. The BEMF detection unit continuously detects BEMF in the first term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Kurosawa, Kichiya Itagaki
  • Patent number: 10478967
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a servo control system and a robot. The servo control system is applied to a servo and includes a main control module and a driving module including a driving circuit and an electronic switch circuit. The driving circuit is coupled to the main control module. The electronic switch circuit is coupled between the driving circuit and a driving motor of the servo. Wherein, the driving circuit receives a control signal outputted by the main control module and outputs a driving signal according to the control signal. The electronic switch circuit outputs a driving pulse to the driving motor according to the driving signal, to control the rotation of the driving motor. In the above manner, it can be convenient for heat dissipation and strengthens the driving capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Dong Liu, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 10348226
    Abstract: A device and control method for driving a sensorless brushless DC (BLDC) motor, particularly related to a technology configured to increase the accuracy of detection of Zero Cross Point through a non-commutation period in a pulse width modulation (PWM) control. The device for driving a sensorless BLDC motor to switch a current applied to a stator winding based on a position of a rotor includes a three phase inverter configured to convert a DC input voltage into a three phase AC voltage and supply the three phase AC voltage to the BLDC motor; a terminal voltage detector configured to detect a three phase terminal voltage from an output terminal of the three phase inverter; and a controller configured to perform a PWM control of the terminal voltage based on a three phase back electromotive force (EMF) included in the detected terminal voltage. The PWM control includes a non-commutation control in which the switching of the current does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University (IUCF-HYU)
    Inventors: Young Jae Park, In Gun Kim, Hyun Seok Hong, Min Jae Kim, Sin-Ae Kim, Hyo Won Sin, Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 10300609
    Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed within a housing at a joint configured to control motion of a member of a robot; a controller including one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed within the housing and including a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) disposed on a surface of a PCB of the one or more PCBs facing the motor; a rotary position sensor mounted on the controller; a shaft coupled to a rotor of the motor and extending therefrom to the controller; and a magnet mounted within the shaft at an end of the shaft facing the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary John Jackowski, Kyle Rogers, Adam Young
  • Patent number: 10065508
    Abstract: System (17) for managing a supply voltage (B+A) of an onboard electrical network of a motor vehicle comprises a device (2, 4, 9, 16) for regulating the supply voltage and a device (10, 11) for protecting the onboard electrical network against overvoltages, the two devices together controlling an excitation of an alternator supplying the onboard electrical network. According to the invention, the protection device is separate from the regulating device. An overvoltage signal (OVD) generated by the protection device (11) and controlling the excitation has priority over an excitation signal (EXC) generated by the regulating device. The regulating device and the protection device can be in the form of two separate electronic blocks on separate substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Pierre Tisserand, Pierre Chassard, Laurent De Lamarre, Thibault Arrou
  • Patent number: 9935568
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a rotary electric machine which can be configured so that the upper limit of a vibration torque component, in which the rotary electric machine is made to output, is not limited by a maximum output torque of the rotary electric machine is provided. The rotary electric machine is controlled such that when a vibration maximum value in which an amplitude of a vibration torque command value Tcv from a vibration command calculation section is added to a basic torque command value Tcb from a basic torque command calculation section exceeds an upper limit command value Tcmx, the addition of the vibration torque command value Tcv from the vibration command calculation section is stopped and a basic vibration torque command value Tcvb calculated by a basic vibration torque calculation block is regarded as a final torque command value Tcf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Hideaki Tani, Yasufumi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9831802
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes an inverter and a controller. The inverter converts, based on pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, an input voltage into output voltage signals that are used to drive a multi-phase load. The controller includes: a sequence generating module generating a first switching sequence and at least one second switching sequence based on duty cycle values; a selecting module selecting, to serve as a selected switching sequence, one of the first and second switching sequences that is determined to make phase currents which flow through the multi-phase load due to the output voltage signals have lowest total harmonic distortion; and an output generating module generates the PWM signals based on the selected switching sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jwu-Sheng Hu, Keng-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9748875
    Abstract: A method for operating a three-phase brushless DC motor with a pulse-width modulation controlled electronic commutation in the event of a malfunction. A maximum number (n) of commutation steps, a direction of motor rotation and at least two possible operating end states are specified, and one of the operating end states is chosen. Following indication of a malfunction, the rotor of the brushless DC motor is rotated at the specified maximum number (n) of commutation steps in the specified direction of motor rotation and the brushless DC motor is then set to the operating end state selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Arabackyj, Edgar Jerichow, Mathias Kuhn, Thomas Guertler, Andreas Pschorr, Robert Loerincz
  • Patent number: 9559622
    Abstract: A motor driving device of the present invention includes: a driver that receives supply of a power supply voltage to apply a plurality of phase voltages to a motor; a voltage-division phase voltage generation portion that divides each of the phase voltages to generate a plurality of voltage-division phase voltages; a neutral point voltage generation portion that combines and divides the phase voltages to generate a neutral point voltage; a selector that outputs any one of the voltage-division phase voltages as a selection voltage-division phase voltage; a comparator that compares the selection voltage-division phase voltage and the neutral point voltage to generate a comparison signal; and a controller that generates a selection control signal of the selector and an energization control signal of the driver according to the comparison signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Fujimura, Hirofumi Yuki
  • Patent number: 9523947
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a fuser assembly including a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member thereby defining a fusing nip therewith. A motor is coupled to the backup member for rotating the backup member. A controller coupled to the fuser assembly controls the motor using time-based commutation for a period of time to rotate the backup member at a slower speed relative to a speed for performing a toner fusing operation. In memory, at least one lookup table is stored having entries which, when sequentially accessed by the controller during the time-based commutation, are used to generate one or more drive signals for the motor to cause current flowing through windings of the motor to have a substantially sinusoidal waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David Ross Cutts, Aaron Michael Lambert, Jason W Lawrence, Kevin Dean Schoedinger, Ryan Matthew Smith, Christopher L. Yaeger
  • Patent number: 9496810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an electrical machine (10) by means of an inverter (12), in particular for use in a motor vehicle, wherein the inverter (12) has a plurality of controllable circuit breakers (14) which are designed to convert a DC voltage from a voltage source (22), which is coupled to the circuit breakers (14), into an AC voltage for supplying electrical energy to the electrical machine (10), wherein the electrical machine (10) is then switched to a freewheeling mode (32) by opening all the circuit breakers (14) of the inverter (12), wherein a phase current of the electrical machine (10) is detected, wherein the electrical machine (10) is switched from the freewheeling mode (32) to a short-circuit mode (36) as a function of a comparison (34) of the phase current, or of a first variable which is derived from the phrase current, with a first reference value, wherein the circuit breakers (14) which are associated with a first potential of the voltage source (22) are closed in th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Raichle, Markus Merten
  • Patent number: 9444327
    Abstract: A boost PFC converter, a method and a control circuit used for boost PFC converter are discussed in the present invention. The boost PFC converter decreases the switching frequency when a line voltage is around zero, so that the whole operating efficiency is not decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CHENGDU MONOLITHIC POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sicong Lin
  • Patent number: 9315935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a top loading household washer comprising a cabinet supporting a tub which houses a basket being driven by a motor mechanically coupled to an agitator and to said basket, a clutch, an electric control, a level sensor or pressure switch and a rotor position sensor within the motor (preferably a Hall sensor), a spraying system, characterized by a washing method comprising: check on the water level, initiate a load pre-sensing sequence to later initiate a reshuffling of load sequence, act followed by initiating a load sensing sequence, which determines the water level required to admit, once said water level is reached, a normal agitation sequence is begun; once the normal agitation sequence concludes, it is followed by a load reshuffling sequence to continue with the dehydrating and later rinsing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: MABE, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Santiago Alonso Plata Amarillas, Erick Flores Islas, Edgar Rene Aranda Sanchez, Jorge Vega Trejo
  • Patent number: 9035587
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a motor are disclosed. The system comprises a current observer for observing a motor current at a sampling rate and a proportionate-integral controller that provides a proportionate path and an integral path and at least forms part of a proportionate-integral control loop based on the motor current. The current observer observes a motor current of the motor at a sampling rate. The proportionate path calculates, for a present cycle of the sampling rate, a proportionate path term for the proportionate-integral control loop based on the motor current. The system outputs a respective motor output voltage to the motor in conformity with the proportionate path term calculated for the present cycle. In conformity with the motor current, the integral path calculates an integral path term for another respective motor output voltage to be used in a later cycle of the sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventor: John Laurence Melanson
  • Patent number: 8970150
    Abstract: An apparatus detects the position of a rotor of an electric motor having three phases and a plurality of windings. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to connect at least two of said windings between first and second reference voltages according to a first current path disconnect said at least two windings, and allow the current stored in said two windings to be discharged through a second current path. The apparatus comprises a measuring circuit configured to measure the time period between the starting instant of storing the current in the two windings and the final instant of discharging the two windings and a rotor detector configured to detect the rotor position based at least in part on the measured time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Michele Berto Boscolo
  • Patent number: 8963456
    Abstract: A power converter includes a first electric power conversion unit having an inverter for converting a first DC electric power to an AC electric power, an AC circuit connected to the first electric power conversion means; a second electric power conversion unit for receiving the first DC electric power and converting the same to a second DC electric power having a voltage level that differs from the voltage level of the first DC electric power, a power storage unit for storing the second DC electric power of the second electric power conversion unit; and a ripple suppressor having a first inductance for guiding the second DC electric power of the second electric power conversion unit to the power storage means and a second inductance for suppressing the ripple component included in the second DC electric power arranged between the second electric power conversion unit and the power storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsu Sugiura, Masahiro Nagasu, Motomi Shimada, Ryoichi Oishi, Tadanori Sato, Toshio Sekine
  • Patent number: 8901866
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes an AC/DC converter which converts AC power supplied from a power supply to DC power, a DC/AC converter which converts DC power to AC power and vice versa, a DC link unit which connects the DC side of the AC/DC converter to the DC side of the DC/AC converter and delivers the DC power from one to the other and vice versa, an energy storage unit which includes at least one capacitor storage unit and at least one flywheel storage unit each of which is connected to the DC link unit and stores or supplies the DC power, and an energy control unit which performs control so that the energy storage unit stores or supplies the DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Koujirou Sakai, Yasusuke Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8760098
    Abstract: An method for driving a motor is provided. A plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals are generated from a commanded voltage signal and a commanded angle signal, and these PWM signal are used to drive a motor (which has a plurality of phases). Currents through the phases of the motor are measured, and a Park transformation is performed on the measured currents to determine a projection current measurement. Based at least in part on the projection current measurement, the adjusting the commanded voltage signal and the commanded angle signal can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ling Qin
  • Patent number: 8730613
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology for retracting a first member in relation to a second member. The first member may be selectively moveable by a first motor and the second member may be selectively moveable by a second motor that operably generates a back electromagnetic force (BEMF) voltage VBEMF. In an embodiment a retract control circuit may control movement of the first member via the first motor in response to a loss of supply power to the second motor. An embodiment of the apparatus may include a backup power source storing a voltage VB after the loss of supply power. Another embodiment of the apparatus may include retract logic operative on the retract control circuit to divide the VB from the VBEMF to energize the first motor by the VBEMF and not the VB when the VB is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage and a loss of the supply power to the second motor is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Shuang Quan Min, June Christian Ang, Tze Ming Jimmy Pang, Kian Keongh Ooi, Paul E. Dienstbier
  • Patent number: 8648554
    Abstract: An embodiment of an electric motor car control system includes a resistor connected parallel to a main motor cut-off switch, or a switch for grounding terminals of the main motor, to discharge electric charges accumulated in stray capacitances of the main motor, whereby the electric motor car control system can prevent electrical shocks due to electric charges accumulated in main motor stray capacitances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koki Kawamura, Satoshi Nakamura, Hiromitsu Ueda
  • Patent number: 8633669
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling electrical current through an inductive load. The electrical current is supplied by one of at least three selectable dual capacitor bank electrical circuits. The method includes storing electrical energy during a charge operating state in first and second capacitor banks of a first dual capacitor bank circuit. The stored electrical energy is then used to drive the inductive load when operating the first dual capacitor bank circuit in a drive operating state. After depleting the stored electrical energy from the first and second capacitor banks, the first dual capacitor bank transitions to a collection operating state that includes collecting electrical energy from the inductive load. A second and third dual capacitor circuits simultaneously transition among the charge operating state, the drive operating state, and the collection operating state during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Marc Henness
  • Patent number: 8614557
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric machine that includes sequentially exciting and freewheeling a winding of the electric machine. The winding is excited in advance of zero-crossings of back emf in the winding by an advance angle, and the winding is freewheeled over a freewheel angle. The method then includes varying the advance angle and the freewheel angle in response to changes in the speed of the electric machine. Additionally, a control system for an electric machine, and a product incorporating the control system and electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Charlton Clothier, Tuncay Celik, Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8502487
    Abstract: A motor energy recycling device is connected to a motor, a voltage regulating power capacitor, and a switch unit, for storing energy released by the motor. The motor energy recycling device include a switching device having first to third ends for being switched to connect the third end with the first end or second end; a first diode unit; a first capacitor connected to the motor and the first diode unit for using energy released by the motor to charge the first capacitor; a first inductor; a second capacitor; a second diode unit; and a second inductor connected between the second end and the second diode and between the voltage regulating power capacitor and the second capacitor for charging the voltage regulating power capacitor via the second inductor to accomplish an energy recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: SuperC-Touch Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiang-Yu Lee, Ping-Tsun Lin
  • Patent number: 8362722
    Abstract: A power converter device for achieving a stable braking operation, preventing excessive current to flow therein, when conducting DC braking on a permanent synchronous motor, comprises: a switching circuit for converting DC to AC; a PWM controller means, for controlling ON or OFF of said switching circuit; a means for detecting or estimating current flowing through a permanent magnet synchronous motor; and a means for executing DC braking of said permanent magnet synchronous motor, wherein there are provided a DC braking maximum current setup value, which is determined from an outside or is determined in advance within an inside, and a PWM all-phases cutoff function and a zero vector output function within said PWM controller means, within said PWM controller means, whereby the PWM all-phases cutoff and the zero vector output are repeated within said PWM controller means, if a current value, which is obtained by said means for detecting or estimating the current, exceeds said DC braking maximum current setup v
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusaku Onuma, Yusuke Arao
  • Patent number: 8253361
    Abstract: A device for controlling electric drives in machinery includes an electronic control unit for calculating in advance the electric power required by the at least one electric drive as a function of motion profiles of the electric drive. A printing material processing machine having the drive, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Kleibaumhüter, Jürgen Kunz, Helmut Meyer, Josef Reiter, Andreas Schulz
  • Patent number: 8143830
    Abstract: A blushless direct current (BLDG) motor apparatus includes: a stator which is provided with a plurality of windings corresponding to N phases and wound in parallel independently of each other; a rotor which has a plurality of poles corresponding to the plurality of windings and rotates with respect to the stator by excitation of the windings; a switching unit which is provided in the form of a full H-bridge with respect to each phase, comprises a pair of upper switching devices corresponding to a (+) side of the winding and a pair of lower switching devices corresponding to a (?) side of the winding, and performs a switching operation to supply or not to supply driving power to the winding; a first sensing device which senses the phase of the rotor with respect to the stator to determine whether to turn on or off the upper switching device; a second sensing device which is provided in the latter part than the first sensing device and senses the phase of the rotor with respect to the stator to determine whethe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Creation & Motor Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Gil Ha, Ji Seok Park
  • Patent number: 8076877
    Abstract: An electrically commutated actuator and control system has a stator and a shaft that is movable with respect to the stator. A plurality of magnets movable with the shaft provide a first magnetic flux, and an electric current in at least one coil defined on the stator provides a second magnetic flux. The second magnetic flux is controlled in response to the first input so that the second magnetic flux has a predetermined phase with respect to the first magnetic flux. The second magnetic flux is controlled in response to the second input so that the phase of the second magnetic flux with respect to the first magnetic flux varies from the predetermined phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventors: David G. Oteman, James A. Parison, Lawrence D. Knox
  • Patent number: 8040094
    Abstract: A circuit for use with a stator winding of a rotating or linear electrical machine, the stator winding having a number of coils linked by the same number of points of common coupling, includes an electronic commutator circuit having the same number of switching stages, each connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second main dc lines. Each switching stage includes first and second reverse blocking semiconductor power devices. A voltage clamping circuit includes the same number of clamping stages, each connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second auxiliary dc lines. Each clamping stage includes first and second diodes and first and second capacitors common to the various clamping stages. A dc to dc converter selectively discharges the first and second capacitors to the first and second main dc lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Allan David Crane, David Nicholas Lee
  • Publication number: 20110193507
    Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-phase motor includes withholding energization of a first phase of the motor for a non-zero period when the first phase's dwell time begins. Energization of the first phase is activated upon the expiration of the non-zero period. Energization of the first phase is deactivated for the remainder of the dwell time at a deactivation time occurring before or at the expiration of the dwell time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Krishnan Ramu
  • Patent number: 7965053
    Abstract: A method for determining the speed of rotation of an unpowered, coasting electric motor, driven, when powered, by an electronic inverter, and without activating switches of the inverter. The steps include determining an electrical frequency of a back emf signal generated at a terminal of the motor or switching node of the inverter when the motor is coasting and determining the mechanical motor frequency and thus speed of rotation by dividing the electrical frequency by the number of motor pole pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Ana Borisavljevic
  • Publication number: 20110101902
    Abstract: The brushless electric machine includes a first drive member (30U) having a plurality of permanent magnets (32U); a second drive member (10) having a plurality of electromagnetic coils and capable of movement relative to the first drive member (30U); and a third drive member (30L) disposed at the opposite side from the first drive member (30U) with the second drive member (10) therebetween. The second drive member (10) has magnetic sensors (40A, 40B) for detecting the relative position of the first and second drive members. The third drive member (30L) has at locations facing the permanent magnets of the first drive member (30U) a plurality of magnetic field strengthening members (32L) for strengthening the magnetic field at the location of the second drive member (10) in conjunction with the permanent magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kesatoshi TAKEUCHI, Mamoru SUGIMOTO, Yojiro OKAKURA
  • Patent number: 7880418
    Abstract: The following invention is an electromechanical system (1) that is to be connected to an electricity supply (7), comprising: an electric machine (2) that can operate as an independent generator with a rotating shaft, and a switching system (9) allowing i) in the first configuration, the electric machine to operate as a motor in the case where the connected device (4) is normally driven or as a generator in the case where the coupled device is normally driving, and ii) in the second configuration, the electric machine to operate as an independent generator, the electrical energy generated by the electric machine (2; 22) being dissipated in the machine and in a dissipative load (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Moteurs Leroy-Somer
    Inventor: Christian Petit
  • Patent number: 7800327
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing improved sensorless control of permanent magnet motors is described. Induced electricity from at least one winding set is used to determine rotor position and provide feedback to a commutation circuit driving at least another winding set isolated from the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt-Whitney Canada Corp
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Publication number: 20100134059
    Abstract: A blushless direct current (BLDG) motor apparatus includes: a stator which is provided with a plurality of windings corresponding to N phases and wound in parallel independently of each other; a rotor which has a plurality of poles corresponding to the plurality of windings and rotates with respect to the stator by excitation of the windings; a switching unit which is provided in the form of a full H-bridge with respect to each phase, comprises a pair of upper switching devices corresponding to a (+) side of the winding and a pair of lower switching devices corresponding to a (?) side of the winding, and performs a switching operation to supply or not to supply driving power to the winding; a first sensing device which senses the phase of the rotor with respect to the stator to determine whether to turn on or off the upper switching device; a second sensing device which is provided in the latter part than the first sensing device and senses the phase of the rotor with respect to the stator to determine whethe
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicants: CREATION & MOTOR INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Gil Ha, Ji Seok Park
  • Publication number: 20090309527
    Abstract: A method of dynamic motor braking is disclosed herein. The method comprises: dissipating reverse energy in a motor within motor windings during a non-current supplying period of a commutation sequence by intermittently shorting the motor windings. The motor windings are shorted by simultaneously turning on all switches that are connected to a voltage source or to ground in a three-phase bridge motor control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: B. Anuradha, Monika Chawla, Arun Satapathy
  • Publication number: 20090146596
    Abstract: A circuit for use with a stator winding of a rotating or linear electrical machine, the stator winding having a number of coils linked by the same number of points of common coupling, includes an electronic commutator circuit having the same number of switching stages, each connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second main dc lines. Each switching stage includes first and second reverse blocking semiconductor power devices. A voltage clamping circuit includes the same number of clamping stages, each connected between a respective one of the points of common coupling and first and second auxiliary dc lines. Each clamping stage includes first and second diodes and first and second capacitors common to the various clamping stages. A dc to dc converter selectively discharges the first and second capacitors to the first and second main dc lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Allan David Crane, David Nicholas Lee
  • Patent number: 7408318
    Abstract: A motor drive unit is adapted to detect a motor lock-up condition (in which an electric motor is accidentally locked during driving) based on the fact that motor drive current increases in that event. Then, a capacitor for generating a voltage signal is charged with an arbitrarily adjustable charging current to overcome the motor lock-up. To do this, an IC is formed to incorporate therein such components as a first discharging circuit for discharging the electric charge of the capacitor and a hysteresis-type comparison circuit for comparing the charging current with a threshold level to thereby adjust the charging current suitable for the motor used. Such a versatile IC as described above enables adjustment of the motor startup trial period for individual motors having different characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakamura