Voltage Injection Detection (e.g., Voltage Injected At Startup To Determine Position, Etc.) Patents (Class 318/400.33)
  • Publication number: 20140184120
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for estimating angles in a synchronous machine (11), having an angle sensor device (15) which is designed to determine event-discrete measured values for a rotor angle (?) of a rotor of the synchronous machine (11) and to output a measurement signal dependent on the determined measured values, an estimation device (16) which is designed to record current and/or voltage signals from the synchronous machine (11), to calculate a deviation (??) of the rotor angle (?) of the rotor of the synchronous machine (11) from an expected rotor angle on the basis of the recorded current and/or voltage signals and to output a deviation signal dependent on the calculated deviation (??), and a combining device (17) which is designed to receive the measurement signal and the deviation signal and to calculate an estimated value ({circumflex over (?)}) for the rotor angle (?) of the rotor of the synchronous machine (11) from a combination of the measurement signal and the deviation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Lingenfelser, Eckart Mayer-John, Gunther Goetting
  • Publication number: 20140145660
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine control device that applies a high frequency current to a rotating electrical machine including a rotor having saliency, estimates a magnetic pole direction of the rotor on the basis of a high frequency component contained in a voltage command as a response component to the high frequency current, and controls the rotating electrical machine. A high frequency superimposing section sets an estimated d-q axis rotating coordinate system, and a magnetic pole direction adjusting section sets a high frequency coordinate system having a phase difference of the high frequency current command with respect to the estimated d-q axis rotating coordinate system. A steady estimation error correcting section calculates a magnetic flux interference estimation error as an error of the estimated value of the magnetic pole direction which is caused by the d-q axis magnetic flux interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Arinori Shimada, Subrata Saha
  • Publication number: 20140145659
    Abstract: A method for determining the rotary position of the rotor of an electric machine, which includes star-connected phase conductors, wherein a measurement signal representing the rotary position of the rotor within a magnetic half-period is determined from the potential at the star point. At a measurement time a specified voltage is applied to the ends of all the phase conductors by forcing the star point to a specific potential. At a time following the measurement time a voltage that deviates from the specified voltage is applied to the ends of one of the phase conductors. Then the measurement signal is derived from the current that develops from the measurement time in a connection of the star point to the specified potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventor: Rolf Strothmann
  • Patent number: 8736210
    Abstract: Speed of a motor, generator or alternator, more particularly the speed of an alternating current (AC) induction motor is determined. Problems associated with previous devices are overcome by providing a speed monitoring device that is readily retrofitted to an existing motor. A test signal is superimposed onto an input voltage, which voltage in use is applied to at least one winding of the stator of a motor (the test signal is at a frequency substantially equal to the rotor frequency). The test signal frequency is varied so that it varies from a minimum frequency to a maximum frequency. A current monitor monitors a resultant current, in the at least one stator winding. and deriving from the resultant current is a signal indicative of the rotor frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Raymond John Peto
  • Publication number: 20140117901
    Abstract: A method of estimating an initial rotor position of a switched reluctance (SR) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The method may comprise the steps of driving a phase current in each of a plurality of phases of the SR machine to a predefined limit, performing an integration of a common bus voltage associated with each phase, determining a flux value for each phase based on the integrations, and determining the initial rotor position based on the flux values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Jesse Gerdes, Jackson Wai, Mark Hartman, Ahmed Khalil, Carlos Nino Baron
  • Patent number: 8710780
    Abstract: A technique is provided for verifying the proper selection, installation, communication and operability of components in power electronic systems, such as motor drives. A processing circuit is coupled to multiple components or subsystems that identify themselves to the processing system. An identification code is stored that is compared to a similar code built based upon the information reported by the components at the time of commissioning, operation or servicing. If the comparison indicates that all components are properly installed, and communicating and operative, operation may continue. The technique may be applied in parallel motor drives at a power layer level to allow separate and parallel verification of component and component operation in the parallel drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Kasunich, Stephen E. Denning, Richard H. Radosevich
  • Patent number: 8704479
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the start position of a motor. According to an embodiment, a voltage pulse signal may be generated across a pair of windings in a motor. A current response signal will be generated and based upon the position of the motor, the response signal will be greater in one pulse signal polarity as opposed to an opposite pulse signal polarity. The response signal may be compared for s specific duration of time or until a specific integration threshold has been reached. Further, the response signal may be converted into a digital signal such that a sigma-delta circuit may smooth out glitches more easily. In this manner, the position of the motor may be determined to within 60 electrical degrees during a startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Frederic Bonvin, Davide Betta, Agostino Mirabelli, Andrea Di Ruzza
  • Patent number: 8674638
    Abstract: Determination of an estimated initial angular position of the rotor of an AC motor includes application of voltages corresponding to a high frequency reference signal vector to the stator windings of the motor and production of an estimated initial angular position of the rotor as a function of the resulting q-axis stator current component iq_HF, adjustment of transformation of signal vectors from stationary to rotating coordinates and vice versa using the estimated angular position and production of an adjusted estimated angular position of the rotor as a function of the q-axis stator current component as adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Balazovic, Roman Filka
  • Patent number: 8674639
    Abstract: During operation of a 3 phase BLDC motor it is driven by use of a PWM waveform applied to one of the driven phase (curve a). The other driven phase is connected thereto but no driving signal is applied (curve b). The third phase is left floating (curve c). This allows the back EMF in the third phase to be monitored for the purpose of determining rotor position by detection of zero crossing points. The rapid switching of the PWM pulses causes ringing in the back EMF signal indicated for one pulse by the ringed portions 1 of curve c. The ringing in the back EMF signal introduces inaccuracy into position calculations derived from back EMF signal measurement. In order to reduce this ringing, in the present invention, a reverse pulse is applied to the other driving coil shown (curve b) prior to a PWM on pulse. The reverse pulse has a polarity such that it drives the phase current through the linked coils in a direction opposite to that caused by the PWM on pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Melexis Technologies NV
    Inventors: Christian Paintz, Thomas Freitag
  • Publication number: 20140070747
    Abstract: A method and a device for establishing the rotor angle of a synchronous machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Arun Siddalingappa, Sebastian Paulus
  • Publication number: 20140070746
    Abstract: A method for establishing the rotor angle of a synchronous machine. The method includes determining a first estimated value for the d-axis of the synchronous machine, feeding at least one refinement voltage pulse pair into the stator of the synchronous machine, the refinement voltage pulse pairs each distanced from the first estimated value for the d-axis of the synchronous machine by the same angular value in different directions, detecting the angle-dependent refinement current responses to the refinement voltage pulses, determining the angle-dependent refinement phase differences on the basis of the respective detected refinement current response, determining first estimated curves on the basis of at least some of the angle-dependent refinement current responses, determining second estimated curves on the basis of at least some of the angle-dependent refinement phase differences. and determining a refined estimated value for the d-axis of the synchronous machine on the basis of the estimated curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Arun Siddalingappa, Sebastian Paulus
  • Patent number: 8624535
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes two half bridge circuits, a controller and two terminals for connecting a motor. The controller includes a signal input terminal, a phase inverter, a wiring board having four soldering pads, and two conductors. The four soldering pads are connected to the signal terminal, an output terminal of the phase inverter, control terminals of lower switches of the two half bridge circuits. Two ends of the first conductor are connected to the first and the fourth soldering pads and two ends of the second conductor are connected to the second and the third soldering pads. Alternatively, two ends of the first conductor are connected to the first and the third soldering pads and two ends of the second conductor are connected to the second and the fourth soldering pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: En Hui Wang, Chi Ping Sun, Fei Xin
  • Publication number: 20130342146
    Abstract: The system and method disclose for the controlling of motor switching. The system includes a controller unit having a control signal generator, a memory device, a processing unit, a signal acquisition device, and an analog-to-digital converter. A power stage has a plurality of switches and receives a control signal from the control signal generator and a power signal from a power source. The power stage drives two windings of the set of three stator windings with a multi-state pulse and leaves one stator of the three stator windings undriven. The processing unit acquires a demodulated measured voltage on the undriven winding. The processing unit communicates with the power stage to change which two windings of the three stator windings are driven when the demodulated measured voltage surpasses a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Cirrus Logis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason William Lawrence, Marc John Kobayashi, John L. Melanson, Miroslav Oljaca
  • Publication number: 20130342145
    Abstract: The system and method disclose for the controlling of sequential phase switching in driving a set of stator windings of a multi-phase sensorless brushless permanent magnet DC motor. A motor controller controls a power stage that drives two windings of a set of three windings in the motor with pulse width modulated signal. A plurality of voltage values on an undriven winding of the set of three windings are sampled within a window of time, wherein a period beginning when the driven windings are energized and ending when the driven windings are de-energized encompasses the window of time. The sampled voltage values are processed. When the processed voltage values exceed a threshold, the motor controller changes which two windings are driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc John Kobayashi, Jason William Lawrence, Stephen James Sanchez, John L. Melanson, Miroslav Oljaca
  • Publication number: 20130342141
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling motor switching in a sensorless BLDC motor having a set of three stator windings. A controller unit includes a control signal generator, a memory device, a processing unit, a signal acquisition device, and an analog-to-digital converter. A power stage having a plurality of switches receives a control signal from the control signal generator and a power signal from a power source. The power stage drives two windings of the set of three stator windings with an asymmetric pulse width modulation signal and leaves one stator of the three stator windings undriven. The processing unit acquires a demodulated measured voltage on the undriven winding. The processing unit also communicates with the power stage to change which two windings of the three stator windings are driven when the demodulated measured voltage surpasses a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason William Lawrence, Marc John Kobayashi, Stephen James Sanchez, John L. Melanson, Miroslav Oljaca
  • Publication number: 20130320890
    Abstract: Phase voltage setting means defines an actual current phase region including a current phase error range based on parameters including an individual difference of at least any one of a motor and an inverter, defines a stable operation current phase region in which a rotor position can be detected through sensorless control, and sets, as a target current, an electric current obtained by adding a predetermined phase difference corresponding to the number of revolutions detected by revolution number detecting means to an electric current set by current vector control such that the actual current phase region is within the stable operation current phase region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Takeo Tsukamoto, Daisuke Hirono
  • Publication number: 20130314017
    Abstract: A system for controlling motor switching in a sensorless BLDC having a stator with three stator windings and a permanent magnet rotor. The system includes a controller unit comprising a control signal generator, a memory device, a processing unit, a signal acquisition device, and an analog-to-digital converter. A power stage controlled by the controller unit has a plurality of switches and drives two windings of the three stator windings with a pulse width modulation signal and leaves one stator of the three stator windings undriven. The processing unit acquires a demodulated measured voltage on the undriven winding. The processing unit calculates a threshold at which the power stage will change which two windings of the three stator windings are driven when the demodulated measured voltage surpasses the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen James Sanchez, Marc John Kobayashi, Branislav Pjetar, John L. Melanson
  • Publication number: 20130314009
    Abstract: The system discloses structure for synchronizing sequential phase switching in driving a set of stator windings of a multi-phase sensorless brushless permanent magnet DC motor. A drive voltage drives a plurality of the stator windings thereby producing a magnetic field. On an undriven stator winding among the stator windings, a voltage induced by the magnetic field is sampled. The induced voltage changes as a function of a magnetic rotor transitioning across a plurality of angular positions. A first value corresponding to the sampled voltage induced on the currentless winding is compared with a commutation threshold to determine a proper commutation point. The system is switched to a next drive configuration of the sequence when the first value surpasses the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen James Sanchez, Marc John Kobayashi, Branislav Pjetar
  • Patent number: 8593095
    Abstract: An example method of initiating operation of a wound field synchronous machine in a motoring mode includes estimating an initial position of a rotor of a wound field synchronous machine using a carrier injection sensorless stimulation signal. The method tracks an operating position of the rotor based on current harmonics of the wound field synchronous machine. The method also calibrates the tracking using the initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Albert L. Markunas, Dhaval Patel
  • Patent number: 8587250
    Abstract: A method for the identification without a shaft encoder of magnetomechanical characteristic quantities, in particular the mass moment of inertia J and the permanent magnetic flux ?PM between rotor and stator of a three-phase synchronous motor, comprising:—constant voltage supply U1d in the d flux axial direction;—test signal voltage supply U1q in the q transverse flux axial direction;—measuring signal current measuring I1q of the q transverse flux axial direction;—identification of magnetomechanical characteristic quantities of the synchronous motor on the basis of the test signal voltage U1q and of the measuring signal current I1q; whereby the rotor can execute deflection movements with pre-definable maximal amplitudes. Method use also for control of electrical drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Heiko Zatocil
  • Patent number: 8587234
    Abstract: Identification without shaft encoder of electrical equivalent circuit parameters of a three-phase asynchronous motor comprising: -standstill position search of the rotor, so that the d flux axial direction of the rotor is aligned opposite the cc axial direction of the stator; -test signal voltage supply U1d in the d flux axial direction of the motor whereby the q transverse axial direction remains without current; -measuring signal current I1d of the d flux axial direction of the motor; -identification of equivalent circuit parameters of the motor based on the test signal voltage U1d and on the measuring signal current I1d in the d flux axial direction; whereby the rotor remains torque-free. The method used to control electrical drives. An identification apparatus for a synchronous motor and a motor control device comprising the apparatus, whereby identified equivalent circuit parameters can be used to determine, optimize and monitor a motor control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Heiko Zatocil
  • Patent number: 8587239
    Abstract: Identification of electrical equivalent circuit parameters (15) of a three-phase asynchronous motor (09) without a shaft encoder. The method comprises—Assumption of a standstill position of the rotor (11);—Equidirectional test signal infeed U1?, U1? in ? and ? in the stator axis direction of the asynchronous motor (09);—Measuring of a measuring signal I1?, I1? of the ? and ? axial direction of the asynchronous motor (09); and—Identification of equivalent circuit parameters of the asynchronous motor (09) on the basis of the test signal voltages U1?, U1? and of the measuring signal currents I1?, I1?; whereby the test signal feed allows the rotor (11) to remain torque-free. Determination of equivalent circuit parameters (15) of an asynchronous motor (09) as well relates to a motor control device (35), whereby the identified equivalent circuit parameters (15) can be used for the determination, optimization and monitoring of a motor control and for control of electrical drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Heiko Zatocil
  • Patent number: 8575878
    Abstract: An energy converter includes a magnetism generation mechanism unit that generates a magnetic field when connected to an AC electrical power source, and a rotating mechanism unit having a single turn coil array member in which a plurality of single turn coils is disposed at a predetermined interval and a soft magnetic metal plate disposed on a side of the single turn coil array member opposite to the magnetism generation mechanism unit. The rotating mechanism unit is structured such that the single turn coil array member faces the magnetism generation mechanism unit across a predetermined magnetic gap and rotary driven by the magnetic field. Here, a drive signal period of the electrical power source is a period that maximizes an eddy current generated in the soft magnetic metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: TBK Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuo Sekiya, Kiyotsugu Narita
  • Publication number: 20130272899
    Abstract: A drive system of a synchronous electrical motor includes a synchronous electrical motor; a power converter that is connected to the motor with a plurality of switching elements; a controller that outputs a voltage instruction to the power converter; a voltage detection unit for open phases upon application of respective positive and negative pulse voltages between respective two phases out of three-phase windings of the motor; an induced voltage difference for calculating an induced voltage difference that is a difference between an induced voltage detected by the voltage detection unit at each of the open phases upon application of the positive voltage pulse between the corresponding two phases and an induced voltage detected by the voltage detection unit at the open phase upon application of the negative voltage pulse between the two phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoichi TAKAHATA, Yoshitaka IWAJI, Shigehisa AOYAGI, Kazuaki TOBARI
  • Patent number: 8552671
    Abstract: A conventional method used for a startup mode for a brushless direct current (DC) motor employed complementary inductive rise times. Specifically, inductive rise times rise times for a driving state and its complementary state were compared to one another such that when the inductive rise times cross a switching point had been reached. This methodology, however, significantly affects the efficiency of the driving torque and power consumption. Here, however, a derivative of the inductive rise time is employed, which can determine the switching event without the need for a use of a complementary state, improving motor performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Triet M. Tieu
  • Patent number: 8552670
    Abstract: A control circuit controls an electric motor and includes: a measuring device configured to measure a first phase current of the motor and provide a corresponding first analog signal; an analog-to-digital converter structured to convert the first analog signal into a first digital signal; a conversion module for generating a first converted digital signal representative of the first digital signal expressed in a rotating reference system; a node structured to compare the first converted digital signal into a first reference signal and generate a first error signal; and a measure control circuit structured to provide a timing signal of the analog-to-digital converter depending on the first error signal and a time delay introduced by the measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuseppe D'Angelo, Giovanni Moselli, Virginia Clemente, Vincenzo Buccino, Carolina Verde
  • Publication number: 20130241454
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of an armature of a synchronous machine relative to a stator of the synchronous machine includes the steps of applying to the synchronous machine a plurality of test current vectors, with each test current vector having identical current magnitude and a different angle in relation to an armature-related d,q coordinate system, during application of the test current vectors to the synchronous machine, determining values of a physical response quantity of the armature proportional to the q component of the test current vectors, determining a first harmonic of the determined values of the physical response quantity as a function of the angle, and determining the position of the armature relative to the stator as a zero crossing of the first harmonic where a first derivative of the first harmonic is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Mihaly Nemeth-Csoka
  • Patent number: 8531144
    Abstract: A synchronous-machine starting device includes an induction voltage operating unit calculating an induction voltage induced to an armature of a synchronous machine based on an estimated phase representing a position of a rotor, an estimated rotational speed of a rotor, an AC voltage signal, and an AC current signal, and outputting an induction voltage signal representing the calculated induction voltage, a selection unit selecting and outputting one of the induction voltage signal received from the induction voltage operating unit and the AC voltage signal received from the AC voltage detection unit, and a feedback operating unit outputting a speed signal representing the calculated estimated rotational speed based on calculated phase error to the induction voltage operating unit, and outputting a position signal representing the calculated estimated phase to the electric power conversion control unit and the induction voltage operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinzo Tamai, Yosuke Fujii, Akinobu Ando, Yasuhiko Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8519656
    Abstract: A synchronous machine starting device in which AC power is supplied to an armature of a synchronous machine, the supplied AC voltage is detected to determine a rotor position of the synchronous machine, and the supplied power is controlled based on the detected rotor position. To detect rotor position, a first position signal indicating a timing at which a level of AC voltage supplied to the armature of the synchronous machine reaches a prescribed value is output. An error of an estimated phase is calculated based on the estimated phase indicating the rotor position and the detected AC voltage, and the estimated phase is calculated based on the calculated error to produce a second position signal indicating the calculated estimated phase. A selected of first and second position signals is output to indicate the rotor position of the synchronous machine for control of AC power supplied to the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinzo Tamai, Yosuke Fujii, Akinobu Ando, Yasuhiko Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8508164
    Abstract: An electrical machine device is disclosed, the electrical machine device including an electrical machine and a converter electrically coupled to the electrical machine. A configuration of the electrical machine generates a first vibration component in the electrical machine and the converter generates a second vibration component in the electrical machine. The electrical machine and the converter are adapted to each other such that the first vibration component and the second vibration component at least partially interfere destructively. Further, respective methods and computer programs for controlling a converter or operating a converter are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jean Le Besnerais
  • Publication number: 20130193888
    Abstract: A rotor position determination and tracking system for a dynamo electric machine includes a first AC power supply to inject a carrier wave into a main stator of the dynamoelectric machine and a second AC power supply to inject an excitation voltage or current into an exciter stator of the dynamo electric machine. A plurality of current sensors and voltage sensors located at the exciter input lines sense current and voltage thereat. A first control logic receives the sensed current and voltage and outputs an estimated rotor position. A second control logic receives an estimated exciter field voltage or current rotating wave form angle and filtered sensed current or voltage signals from the first control logic and utilizes a known main stator carrier frequency to determine the rotor position. The rotor position is input into the first control logic to calibrate the first control logic for tracking of the true rotor position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Albert L. Markunas
  • Patent number: 8493011
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the run-up of an electronically commutated electric motor (1) to drive a tool. A rotor (7) rotates in the rotating field (21) of the stator (2). The field windings (3, 4, 5) alternately have a supply voltage applied thereto via an actuation unit (10) in order to obtain an advancing motor rotating field. For advancing the rotating field in the rotational direction (29) of the rotor (7), the inductance of the arrangement of the field coils (3, 4, 5), which is ascertained via a changing measuring current (IM), is evaluated and the advancement is carried out upon reaching a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: René Wichert
  • Patent number: 8487570
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an electric motor (2) having a phase angle control with the following steps: Applying an AC voltage to a series connection of the electric motor (2) and a switching element (4), particularly a triac, wherein the switching element (4) connects through by applying an ignition signal and suppresses the flow of a current if the amount of current falls below a holding current; determining the time of a zero crossing of a virtual motor current that would flow if the switching element (4) were connected through; and turning on the switching element (4) at an activation time that is dependant on the time of the zero crossing of the virtual motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Walter, Jacek Wiszniewski, Michael Maercker, Klaus Dengler
  • Patent number: 8446114
    Abstract: A control apparatus for use with an electric power conversion system which is equipped with a dc/ac converter connected to an electric rotating machine and a capacitor joined to input terminals of the dc/ac converter. The control apparatus stores an angle of rotation (i.e., start angle ?0) of the electric rotating machine before start of control of energization of the electric rotating machine to discharge the capacitor and determines command currents idr and iqr which will result in zero (0) torque in the electric rotating machine. The control apparatus includes a command current correcting circuit which corrects the command currents idr and iqr by a difference between a current angle ? of rotation of the electric rotating machine and the start angle ?0, thereby avoiding constant rotation of the electric rotating machine when the capacitor is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroya Tsuji, Tatsuru Morioka, Hiroshi Inamura, Takahumi Oowada
  • Publication number: 20130106333
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes a controller configured to control operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor. The controller is configured to calculate or receive values representing changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times or measurements proportional thereto, and calculate an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor. And the controller is configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor, and control operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Robert Durkee
  • Patent number: 8432123
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an electric motor. The electric motor has at least two phases and a rotor. In the method, a current angular position (phipos) of the rotor is ascertained and, as a function of that, in at least one of the two phases, a potential is applied in such a way that a desired angular position (phiposreq) is achieved. From the current angular position (phipos) and the desired angular position (phiposreq) a setpoint angular velocity (dphides) is ascertained, which is used for influencing the potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael-Juergen Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20130093375
    Abstract: A position sensorless control methodology for electrical machines using high frequency flux vector signal injection in the estimated rotor flux rotational reference frame is provided. In one aspect, the estimated position error function is derived directly from the stator flux equation without any simplification. The method is applicable for electrical generator motoring mode operation from standstill and power generation mode operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Shu Yu CAO, Bing LI, Anshuman TRIPATHI, Lars HELLE
  • Patent number: 8405330
    Abstract: A control system includes a position control module, a power control module, and a diagnostic module. The position control module applies a driving current for positioning a rotor of a motor at one of first and second positions. The power control module applies a first voltage to one of first and second phases of the motor to generate a first current after the position control module applies the driving current to position the rotor at the first position. The power control module applies a second voltage to one of the first and second phases to generate a second current after the position control module applies the driving current to position the rotor at the second position. The diagnostic module determines when the rotor is restricted from rotating based on the first and second currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Foo Leng Leong, Edy Susanto, Cheng Yong Teoh
  • Patent number: 8400088
    Abstract: A controller (100) for controlling a salient-pole machine (200) is disclosed. The controller (100) is adapted to determine at least one operational parameter of the salient-pole machine (200), such as for example a rotor position, a rotor angle or a steady-state voltage. The controller (100) comprises a calculating unit for calculating test pulse properties for test pulses for supply to phase inputs of the salient-pole machine. The test pulse properties thereby comprise a pulse width and the calculating unit (110) is adapted for determining the pulse width in an adaptive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Frederik De Belie, Jan Melkebeek
  • Patent number: 8400092
    Abstract: A technique is provided for verifying the proper selection, installation, communication and operability of components in power electronic systems, such as motor drives. A processing circuit is coupled to multiple components or subsystems that identify themselves to the processing system. An identification code is stored that is compared to a similar code built based upon the information reported by the components at the time of commissioning, operation or servicing. If the comparison indicates that all components are properly installed, and communicating and operative, operation may continue. The technique may be applied in parallel motor drives at a power layer level to allow separate and parallel verification of component and component operation in the parallel drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Kasunich, Stephen E. Denning, Richard H. Radosevich
  • Patent number: 8395339
    Abstract: A motor control device that has a high-frequency component, and a DC bias component that has a magnitude which causes a motor to be magnetically saturated and take on a certain value over a predetermined period, and is positively and negatively symmetrical are impressed as an observation command on a d-axis current command. The polarity of the magnetic pole of a permanent magnet is identified based on a relationship of large and small magnitudes between a first amplitude, which is attained during a period during which a DC bias component takes on a positive certain value, among amplitudes of a high-frequency component contained in a d-axis response voltage computed based on a feedback current respondent to the observation command, and a second amplitude attained during a period during which the DC bias component takes on a negative certain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kato, Keisuke Nishimura, Zhiqian Chen, Subrata Saha
  • Patent number: 8390234
    Abstract: A method for automated startup and/or for automated operation of controllers of an electrical drive system with vibrational mechanics with the following steps: (a) determining a preliminary value of at least one parameter; (b) determining a model of the electrical drive system by determination of initially a non-parameterized model through the recording of frequency data during operation of the drive system subject to the utilization of the preliminary value of at least one parameter and the subsequent determination of parameters of the electrical drive system based on the frequency data and subject to optimization of at least one preliminary value of at least one parameter by a numerical optimization method on the basis of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and (c) parameterizing at least one controller of the electrical drive system by at least one of the determined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Villwock
  • Publication number: 20130043817
    Abstract: A driving apparatus including an inverter unit for energizing the coil by switching ON and OFF of the switching element, an energization pattern determination unit for selecting a plurality of energization patterns, each of which indicates a direction of a current that flows through the coil, one by one when driving of a motor is started, and energizing the coil by switching ON and OFF of the switching element based on a selected energization pattern at a duty ratio corresponding to a value of a maximum current capable of being supplied by the power supply apparatus, a current applied time measurement unit for measuring an energization time, which is a time until a value of the current flowing through the coil reaches a predetermined target current value for each energization pattern, and a rotor stop position estimation unit for estimating a position at which the rotor stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji SHIBUYA, Tamotsu IWAZAKI, Sadami HINO
  • Patent number: 8362728
    Abstract: A method of operating a WFSM in a motoring mode determines a relative position of a PMG rotor with respect to the WFSM rotor. A PMG is coupled to the WFSM via a coupling shaft. A relative difference between the WFSM rotor position and the PMG rotor position is determined based on carrier injection sensorless (“CIS”) stimulation signals. The relative difference between the PMG rotor and the WFSM main machine in conjunction with the PMG rotor position is used to determine the WFSM rotor position during motoring operation of the main machine. A stator of the WFSM main machine is energized to maintain operation of the WFSM in response to the detected main rotor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Albert L. Markunas, Michael C. Harke
  • Patent number: 8362738
    Abstract: A frequency converter and a method for determining the position of the rotor of an electric machine are provided. The frequency converter includes a load bridge and a control of the load bridge, for supplying electricity between the load bridge and an electric machine connected to the load bridge. The frequency converter includes a determination for at least one electrical parameter of the electric machine, and includes a determination for the position of the rotor of the electric machine. The load bridge is fitted to supply a first alternating electricity excitation signal, which is formed in relation to the electrical angle of the electric machine, to the electric machine. The frequency converter is further fitted to determine the first alternating electricity response signal corresponding to the first alternating electricity excitation signal, and the position of the rotor is determined on the basis of the first alternating electricity response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Tuukka Kauppinen, Lauri Stolt
  • Patent number: 8362730
    Abstract: In a synchronous machine starting device, an AC voltage detection unit detects AC voltage supplied to an armature of a synchronous machine through an electric power line from a power conversion unit. The AC voltage detection unit has a first output end and a second output end isolated from the electric power line, transforms AC voltage supplied through the electric power line at a first ratio to output the transformed voltage from the first output end, and transforms AC voltage supplied through the electric power line at a second ratio and then limits the transformed voltage to a prescribed positive voltage value or lower and a prescribed negative voltage value or higher for output from the second output end. Then, a detected voltage selection unit selects one of the voltage received from the first output end and the voltage received from the second output end, and outputs the selected one to a rotor position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinzo Tamai, Yosuke Fujii, Akinobu Ando, Yasuhiko Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8339081
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for startup of a permanent magnet alternating current (AC) motor. The method comprises the steps of detecting startup of the permanent magnet AC motor; detecting a mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor when startup of the permanent magnet AC motor is detected; and, in response to detection of the mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor when startup is detected, suppressing the mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nitinkumar R. Patel, Yo Chan Son
  • Patent number: 8330403
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the position of a rotor flux vector of an electric motor (M), comprising a step of injecting a first current vector into a first reference frame (x+, y+) rotating at a first frequency (?) relative to a reference frame (d, q) synchronous with the rotation of the motor, and a second current vector into a second injection reference frame (x?, y?) rotating at a second frequency opposite to the first frequency, a step of determining a first stator flux induced voltage delivered at the output of a first integrator module (12) synchronous with the first reference frame (x+, y+) and a second stator voltage delivered at the output of a second integrator module (13) synchronous with the second reference frame (x?, y?), a step of regulating the position of the rotor flux vector by minimizing the error (?) between a real position and an estimated position (?S) of the rotor flux vector, the error being determined based on the second induced voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Duro Basic, Francois Malrait, Pierre Rouchon
  • Patent number: 8324851
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a rotor in a permanent magnet synchronous motor includes applying voltage pulses to the windings at successive electrical angles while the motor is at a standstill. The resultant current is sampled. The position of a maximum current is determined by identifying an segment of an electrical cycles which includes the maximum current, and using a spline interpolation to model the current flow in this segment. The maximum current is then correlated to the position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Matsuo, Thomas J. Rehm
  • Publication number: 20120299515
    Abstract: An example method of initiating operation of a wound field synchronous machine in a motoring mode includes estimating an initial position of a rotor of a wound field synchronous machine using a carrier injection sensorless stimulation signal. The method tracks an operating position of the rotor based on current harmonics of the wound field synchronous machine. The method also calibrates the tracking using the initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Albert L. Markunas, Dhaval Patel