With Sensor Structure (e.g., Tachometer, Reed Switch, Cam-controlled Switching, Etc.) Patents (Class 318/400.37)
  • Patent number: 11190065
    Abstract: A flux machine includes a stator and a rotor. A set of electrical coil assemblies with side surfaces and sets of plural permanent magnets are arranged circularly on the stator and the rotor. Pole faces of the magnets are positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from side surfaces of permeable cores of the coil assemblies. In each coil assembly a pair of like pole faces of the magnets mutually face across the permeable core and a third magnet pole face faces transversely relative to the mutually facing pole faces of the pair of magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ClearWater Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keith Klontz, Haodong Li
  • Patent number: 10926404
    Abstract: A robot arm comprising a joint mechanism for articulating one limb (310) of the arm relative to another limb (311) of the arm about two non-parallel rotation axes (20, 21), the mechanism comprising: an intermediate carrier (28) attached to a first one of the limbs by a first revolute joint having a first rotation axis and to a second one of the limbs by a second revolute joint having a second rotation axis; a first drive gear (33) disposed about the first rotation axis and fast with the carrier, whereby rotation of the carrier relative to the first limb about the first rotation axis can be driven; a second drive gear (37) disposed about the second rotation axis and fast with the second one of the limbs, whereby rotation of the second one of the limbs about the second rotation axis relative to the carrier can be driven; at least one of the first and second drive gears being a sector gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: CMR SURGICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Bates Jackson, Edward John Mottram, Gordon Thomas Deane, Keith Marshall, Paul Christopher Roberts, Ricardo Michael Henderson Da Silva
  • Patent number: 10856452
    Abstract: A shield for an inductive position sensor is configured in shape to avoid compromising the inductive field variations related to the sensor's moving target. Said shield is shaped as at least one conductive strip and is laid along the direction of motion of the moving target. Said shield is arranged to prevent induced current in the shield that could affect the part of the inductive field used by the sensor. Improvements are also conferred by a demodulator circuit implementing a zero phase oscillator which simultaneously measures the inductance and the temperature of the sensor windings to reduce and compensate for the effects of the shield. Said conductive shield may also provide for the electrical connection to the far end of the winding. For multi-layer windings, connection of the winding closest to the shield to the lower impedance side of the demodulator also reduces the effect of the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventor: David Fiori, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10837799
    Abstract: There is provided a driving apparatus including: a rotation unit configured to be rotated about a center shaft by driving of a motor; a rotation angle acquisition unit configured to acquire information of a rotation angle of the rotation unit, as information proportional to the rotation angle; and a control unit configured to control the driving of the motor on the basis of the information of the rotation angle acquired by the rotation angle acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Yu Shigeta, Masahiro Shimase, Kazuaki Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 10637331
    Abstract: A servo (1) includes a power input device (14), a gear assembly (15) drive-connected to the power input device (14), a power output frame (13) that is driven to rotate by the gear assembly (15), an output shaft (131) arranged at the power output frame (13), a magnetic encoding assembly (121) that is arranged at a rotation center axis of the power output frame (13) and used to detect a rotation angle of the output shaft (131) relative to the rotation center axis, and a circuit board (12) connected to the magnetic encoding assembly (121) and the power input device (14). The magnetic encoding assembly (121) does not tend to be affected by environment, to accurately detect the rotation angle of the output shaft (131) relative to the rotation center axis. Meanwhile, the magnetic encoding assembly (121) is simple to structure and light in weight, which facilitates it to be fixed to the servo (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Xuchao Du, Xinpu Chen, Meichun Liu, Lefeng Liu, Wenquan Shu, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 10312774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a synchronous machine (1) including a stator (2) and a rotor (3). Said machine is provided with at least one sensor (1a) of the angular position of the rotor (3) and is characterized in that the stator (2) includes a winding provided such as to be supplied with polyphase current by an electronic power device. The rotor (3), which includes permanent magnets (4), is provided such as to rotate about the stator (2). The angular position sensor (1a) extends away from the rotor (3) and is in alignment with the latter at the permanent magnets (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Lohr Electromecanique
    Inventor: Pierre Dumas
  • Patent number: 10193477
    Abstract: The present invention has for object a method for estimating the angular position of a rotor in relation to a stator in a rotary electric machine, such as an electric machine of an electric or hybrid motorization system, comprising: estimating the angular position and/or of the rotation speed of the rotor by a method of injecting high frequency signals as long as the absolute value of the rotation speed of the rotor, derived from said angular position, is less than a first predefined threshold; estimating the angular position and/or of the rotation speed of the rotor by a model coming from a learning method as long as the absolute value of the rotation speed of the rotor, derived from said angular position, is greater than a second predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Siemens eAutomotive France SAS
    Inventors: Keyu Chen, Wided Zine, Lingfei Yu, Zaatar Makni
  • Patent number: 10100902
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson, Joshua M. Biro
  • Patent number: 10037022
    Abstract: A method for adjusting print speed during an additive manufacturing process may include receiving at an additive manufacturing machine, information including at least a current layer print speed. The method may further include determining a current layer print time based on at least the current layer print speed and adjusting the current layer print speed to an adjusted current layer print speed based on at least the current layer print time and a minimum layer cooling time. Further, the method may include printing a layer of a part at the adjusted current layer print speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas Vote, Scott G. Vaal
  • Patent number: 9819290
    Abstract: A power tool and a motor drive circuit thereof are provided. The motor drive circuit includes an inverter, a controller and a current sensor. The inverter includes a plurality of semiconductor switches and configured to convert a voltage from a power supply into an alternating current for an electric motor. The controller is configured to output detecting signals and drive signals for the inverter. The current sensor is configured to sample a current flowing through the motor, the current comprising a plurality of driving current portions corresponding to the drive signals and a plurality of position detecting current portions corresponding to the detecting signals. The controller determines the drive signals at least based on the position detecting current portions of the current so as to control power modes of the semiconductor switches in the inverter in a starting stage of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC S.A.
    Inventors: Hai Bo Ma, Yong Gang Li, Yong Sheng Gao, Jin Yun Gan, Yuk Tung Lo, Wei Long Lan
  • Patent number: 9297361
    Abstract: A device for generating electrical power from fluid flow energy comprising a shaft member; at least one sleeve, wherein the shaft member passed through the at least one sleeve; a stationary stator, wherein the stationary stator coupled to the shaft member, and wherein the stationary stator comprising a first stator and a second stator, wherein the first stator is positioned adjacent to the second stator; and at least one moving stator, wherein the at least one moving stator positioned in concentric relation to the stationary stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Mehboob Lakhani
  • Patent number: 9129759
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting individual positions of a plurality of electrical contactors, including a plurality of modules each including a contactor having k separate contact positions each connected in series to a resistor associated with an integer status value between 1 and k and separate from other status values of a same module, each module being associated with a weighting coefficient and the weighting coefficients following a geometric progression of no less than k+1, the electrical conductance value of each resistor being equal to the status value thereof multiplied by the weighting coefficient of the module thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Maxime Storn
  • Patent number: 9004027
    Abstract: A cam-data creation device includes: a waveform generating/processing unit that generates at least one of a stroke waveform and a velocity waveform of a follower for each piece of cam data from cam data stored in a cam-data storage unit, a cam-data waveform-image processing unit that converts a waveform for each piece of cam data generated by the waveform generating/processing unit into image data, and a screen generating/processing unit that generates a list display window that collectively displays the waveform for every piece of cam data having been converted into image data by the cam-data waveform-image processing unit and displays the generated list display window on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Suematsu
  • Patent number: 8994303
    Abstract: During displacement of an actuating element to a target position, a brushless direct-current motor is driven by a driving commutation pattern derived from rotor position signals. After the target position is reached the brushless direct-current motor is transferred to a holding mode in which it is driven by a commutation pattern providing a required holding torque. In the holding mode the holding current necessary for providing the required holding torque is minimized by an iterative holding current reduction method to a holding current value guaranteeing the required holding torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adrian Huwiler, Ladislav Kucera, Daniel Schoop, Martin Zurfluh
  • Publication number: 20150084564
    Abstract: A control device of a fan motor includes: a voltage sensor that detects a voltage applied to a fan motor; a switching portion that selectively connects to each of coils of the fan motor and a rectifier circuit; and a switching control portion that reduces a duty ratio of a driving pulse applied to the switching portion if the voltage detected by the voltage sensor exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Takahisa TODA, Takashi KAISE, Jiro WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20150054438
    Abstract: A control device of a three-phase AC motor includes: an inverter; a current sensor for a sensor phase current; and a controller switching a switching element of each phase of the inverter and having a current estimation device, which calculates a sensor-phase-standard current phase according to ? and ? axis currents and a current estimated value of another phase. The current estimation device calculates the ? axis current at every switching and intermediate timings, calculates a first differential value of the ? axis current at every switch timing, calculates the ? axis current according to the first differential value, calculates a second differential value of the ? axis current at every intermediate timing, and calculates the ? axis current according to the second differential value. The intermediate timing is set to have an unequal interval between two adjacent switch timings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Ryuji OMATA, Takahumi OOWADA
  • Patent number: 8937446
    Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent-magnet motor that includes rectifying an alternating voltage to provide a rectified voltage having a ripple of at least 50%, and exciting a winding of the motor with the rectified voltage. The winding is excited in advance of zero-crossings of back EMF by an advance period and is excited for a conduction period over each electrical half-cycle of the motor. The advance period and/or the conduction period are then adjusted in response to changes in the speed of the motor and/or the RMS value of the alternating voltage so as to maintain constant average power. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor system that incorporates the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Charlton Clothier, Stephen Greetham
  • Publication number: 20150015170
    Abstract: A system for determining the angular position of a synchronous motor includes an encoder with a friction wheel engaging a rotating surface of the motor. The friction wheel is spun by the rotation of the motor, and the encoder generates a signal corresponding to the angular position of the friction wheel. An independent, sensor is provided to generate a pulse once per revolution of the motor. The independent sensor detects the presence of a target on the rotating surface of the motor and generates the pulse when the target is proximate to the sensor. A controller receives the signal corresponding to the angular position of the friction wheel as well as the pulse generated by the independent sensor to determine the angular position of the motor. The controller compensates the angular position of the motor each time the pulse is generated, correcting accumulated position error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: John Backman, Garry Anderson
  • Publication number: 20150008857
    Abstract: A motor assembly that includes a motor (102) having a rotatable shaft, a hub coupled to the rotatable shaft, the hub having a propeller indexer to receive a propeller (104), when the propeller is present, a sensor trigger rotatable with the shaft (100) and positioned at a propeller offset angle ?PROP from the propeller indexer, and a sensor coupled to the motor and positioned to detect the sensor trigger so that the propeller indexer may be positioned at the propeller offset angle ?PROP from the sensor through rotation of the shaft so that said sensor is proximate to the sensor trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Allen Firanski, Justin Bates McAllister, Ronald Howard Olch, Lane Dennis Dalan, Emil Ghapgharan
  • Patent number: 8901862
    Abstract: A commutated electric drive has an electric motor having a sensor assembly which has a permanent magnet on a shaft of the electric motor and an analog Hall sensor situated stationary relative to the stator of the electric motor opposite to the permanent magnet. A controller for controlling the windings of the electric motor has a memory for storing a calibration Hall signal of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet, measured using the Hall sensor, over one revolution of the shaft. The controller has a device for comparing the calibration Hall signal with an instantaneous Hall signal of the instantaneous magnetic field of the permanent magnet, measured using the Hall sensor. Temperature effects and aging effects may be recognized and taken into account when determining the rotor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Antoine Chabaud
  • Publication number: 20140346992
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating electrical energy comprises driven permanent magnets mounted tangentially on a freely rotating disk attached to a relatively stationary platform, and driver permanent magnets mounted on the platform radially to the disk. As the disk rotates, as a driven magnet approaches a driver magnet, their respective opposite poles attract, accelerating the disk. After the driven magnet passes the driver magnet, their like poles repel, also accelerating the disk. When the two permanent magnets are in close proximity, such that repulsion between like poles would decelerate the disk, an electromagnet is engaged between the two permanent to counteract this counterproductive force. One or more coils generate electricity through electromagnetic induction when the driven magnet passes them. A portion of this electricity powers the electromagnet, and the balance is the net energy generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Lawrence Ashley Farwell
  • Publication number: 20140327381
    Abstract: A rotating electromechanical machine has a rotor having at least one current-carrying winding and at least one rotor-mounted sensor configured to sense a machine property or parameter during machine operation. Rotor-mounted circuitry dynamically modifies at least one property of the current-carrying winding during machine operation in response to the sensed machine property or parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: RODERICK A. HYDE, JORDIN T. KARE, LOWELL L. WOOD, JR.
  • Patent number: 8829836
    Abstract: In a driver, a charging module stores negative charge on the gate of a switching element via a normal electrical path to charge the switching element upon a drive signal representing change of an on state to an off state. This shifts the on state of the switching element to the off state. An adjusting module changes a value of a parameter correlating with a charging rate of the switching element through the normal electrical path as a function of an input signal to the driver. The input signal represents a current flowing through the conductive path, a voltage across both ends of the conductive path, or a voltage at the gate. A disabling module disables the adjusting module from changing the value of the parameter if the drive signal represents the on state of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Fukuta, Tsuneo Maebara, Yoshiyuki Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8816624
    Abstract: A rotating electromechanical machine has a rotor having at least one current-carrying winding and at least one rotor-mounted sensor configured to sense a machine property or parameter during machine operation. Rotor-mounted circuitry dynamically modifies at least one property of the current-carrying winding during machine operation in response to the sensed machine property or parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140225546
    Abstract: A motor drive method of the invention is to drive a brushless motor having a rotor, a stator, and a hall element used as a position detecting sensor. While driving the brushless motor, when executing a correction process for a rotation speed of the rotor, the correction process is skipped for a predetermined number of times according to a position detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 8796974
    Abstract: A system for determining an initial position of a rotor (9) of a PMSM motor includes a motor controller (2) coupled to a plurality of phase windings of the motor by means of an actuation circuit (3). A processor (12) and an interface circuit (14) are coupled to the processor and the phase windings. The processor determines if the rotor speed is zero, and if so causes the actuation circuit to sequentially apply voltage signals (Vab, Vba, Vac, Vca, Vbc, and Vcb) to the phase windings to produce corresponding phase winding current signals (Iab, Icb, Ica, Iba, Ibc, Iac) in the various phase windings. The phase winding current signals are sensed and digitized. The processor then determines a position of a magnetic flux path associated with the rotor by computing the initial position of the rotor from one of the digitized phase winding current signals associated with the predetermined magnetic flux path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Wang, Yateendra Deshpande
  • Patent number: 8796962
    Abstract: A drive unit, which can be included in an image forming apparatus with peripherals disposed thereto and use a control method therefore, includes an inner rotor brushless DC motor, a driver, a rotation detector, and a controller. The driver supplies power to drive the brushless DC motor. The rotation detector detects an amount and direction of rotations of an output shaft. The controller controls the rotations of the brushless DC motor and obtains a target drive signal of the brushless DC motor externally and a detection signal from the rotation detector and outputs a signal to the driver. The controller controls a speed of rotation of the brushless DC motor by varying the signal output to the driver based on the target drive signal and the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Murata, Shogo Sakamoto, Kenji Tomita
  • Publication number: 20140139161
    Abstract: A transverse flux machine includes a stator having a circular coil wound in a rotational direction and a rotor arranged to face the first ferromagnet across a gap. The stator has a plurality of first ferromagnets surrounding a part of the circular coil in the rotational direction separately. The rotor is rotatable about a center axis of the circular coil relative to the stator. The rotor has a plurality of second ferromagnets arranged in the rotational direction separately. A first member and a second member are inserted between adjacent ones of the second ferromagnets. The first member and the second member generate two magnetic fields opposite to each other in the circumference direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Yasuhito UEDA
  • Publication number: 20140091740
    Abstract: A control device for a three-phase alternate current motor, includes: a control phase current acquisition means; a monitor phase current acquisition means; a rotation angle acquisition means; a two-phase control current value current calculation means; a one-phase current estimated value estimation means; a voltage command value calculation means; an other phase current estimation means for calculating a monitor or a control phase current estimated value; an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in a monitor phase or a control phase current sensor; and a switching means for switching between a monitoring stop mode, in which the voltage command value is calculated based on the two-phase control current value, and a monitoring mode, in which the voltage command value is calculated based on the one-phase current estimated value, and the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality, at predetermined time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi SUZUKI, Hirofumi KAKO, Takeshi ITOH
  • Publication number: 20140077739
    Abstract: An embedded controller in a vehicle electronics subsystem includes a signal processing circuit used to communicate with an electric machine. The signal processing circuit may be configured to receive an input signal from the electric machine and provide digital output signals to the embedded controller. The digital output signals may include Hall position and rotor position signals. Once the digital output signals are processed by a processor embedded within the controller, the processor may issue a control command to the electric machine. The processor may have memory containing software to make the processor execute the computation of the control command of the electric machine in accordance with a torque command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chang-Jiang Wang, Michael W. Degner, William Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8659251
    Abstract: In a wiper motor including a motor unit having a rotating shaft, and a gear unit having a speed reduction mechanism for reducing and outputting the speed-reduced rotation, a first speed reduction gear forming a speed reduction mechanism is provided to one end side of a rotating shaft, a sensor magnet is fixed to the other end side of the rotating shaft, a control board is provided so as to face the other end side of the rotating shaft from the axial direction of the rotating shaft, a MR sensor for detecting a rotational state of the rotating shaft is provided to a facing portion of the control board to the sensor magnet, and coil end portions of coils configured to generate an electromagnetic force for rotating the rotating shaft on the basis of supply of drive current from the control board is electrically connected to the control board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Amagasa
  • Publication number: 20140035502
    Abstract: A system for determining an initial position of a rotor (9) of a PMSM motor includes a motor controller (2) coupled to a plurality of phase windings of the motor by means of an actuation circuit (3). A processor (12) and an interface circuit (14) are coupled to the processor and the phase windings. The processor determines if the rotor speed is zero, and if so causes the actuation circuit to sequentially apply voltage signals (Vab, Vba, Vac, Vca, Vbc, and Vcb) to the phase windings to produce corresponding phase winding current signals (Iab, Icb, Ica, Iba, Ibc, Iac) in the various phase windings. The phase winding current signals are sensed and digitized. The processor then determines a position of a magnetic flux path associated with the rotor by computing the initial position of the rotor from one of the digitized phase winding current signals associated with the predetermined magnetic flux path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Wang, Yateendra Deshpande
  • Publication number: 20140021892
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that controls a motor driving device. The semiconductor device includes: a position detection section that detects changes in a turning position of a rotor provided at a motor and outputs detection signals corresponding to the changing turning position; a first switching section that, in accordance with the detection signals, outputs ground switching signals, which switch which end portion of a coil is connected to a ground side, to a first switching circuit; and a second switching section that, in accordance with the detection signals, outputs connection switching signals, which switch which end portion of the coil is connected to a driving power supply side, to a third switching circuit that controls the switching of connections between the end portions of the coil and the driving power supply side by a second switching circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: TAKASHI YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 8633665
    Abstract: An independent drive device for an aircraft, the drive device comprising a motor member, a drive mechanism for driving an aircraft wheel, which is adapted to co-operate with the wheel to drive it for rotation, and a coupling mechanism interposed between the motor member and the drive mechanism to selectively couple the wheel to the motor member. The coupling mechanism comprises two coupling members of complementary shape, comprising a first coupling member that rotates with the drive and a second coupling member that rotates with the motor member. The independent drive device includes measurement device for generating information representative of a relative speed of rotation of the second coupling member and the first coupling member. The drive device is associated with a motor controller that causes the motor to rotate so as to cancel the relative speed of rotation between the coupling members prior to coupling them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Hervé Charuel, David Delloue
  • Patent number: 8569984
    Abstract: A motor controller controlling a rotational speed of a motor and including a thermal detector, a capacitor, an operational amplifier (OP), a charging/discharging circuit, a flip-flop and a logic circuit. The thermal detector detects environmental temperature of the motor to set a first reference voltage. The capacitor has one terminal coupled to a second reference voltage while another terminal thereof is charged/discharged by the charging/discharging circuit, controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, to provide a third reference voltage. The OP compares the first and third reference voltages and outputs the comparison result to a ‘set’ terminal of the flip-flop. The flip-flop further uses a ‘reset’ terminal to receive a clock signal and the output signal thereof is utilized in generating the PWM signal. The PWM signal is further provided to the logic circuit for setting a duty cycle of a driving current of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chi-Lin Hsu
  • Patent number: 8564235
    Abstract: A self-adjusting door closer is disclosed. The door closer is self powered and includes a control unit to intelligently control a valve within the door closer to vary the operating characteristics of the door closer as needed. The controller includes a position sensor to determine a position of the door, and at least one input switch to enable user selection of at least one door closer parameter for an installed door closer. The control circuitry is operable to set the valve in response to the user selection of the door closer parameters, and the position of the door, in order to control force exerted by the door closer on the door. A generator can be provided to provide electricity to power the controller and store power to operate the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Burris, Robert L. Tadlock, Jr., John White, Jason Scott Gurley, Steven Michael Faes, Joseph McGinty, Wade Patterson
  • Patent number: 8558489
    Abstract: A thinly configured and brushless miniature DC micro motor that includes at least two substantially-flat motor cells that are aligned axially. Each motor cell comprises a stator coil having an elongate opening and passage for a rotor shaft, and a cross-polarized rotor magnet carried on the rotor shaft and received within the elongate opening. The micro motor also includes a frame substrate that fixably supports the stator coils of the motor cells while providing a bearing means for rotatably supporting the rotor shaft, so that selectively energizing one of the motor cells creates an electric current in the stator coil interacting with a magnetic field of the received rotor magnet to generate a torque between the rotor shaft and the frame substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Shane Olsen, Marc X. Olivier
  • Publication number: 20130241455
    Abstract: A control system for electrical equipment, the system including: a system controller; a motor; and a signal transducer. The system controller outputs a plurality of rotation switch signals, and the rotation switch signals are high-voltage AC signals. The motor is a brushless DC motor or electronically commutated motor (ECM). The signal transducer is connected between the system controller and the ECM, and includes a rotation switch sensing circuit, a microprocessor controller, and an interface signal processing circuit. The rotation switch sensing circuit detects the rotation switch signals output from the system controller, and transmits the rotation switch signals to the microprocessor controller for processing. The microprocessor controller is connected with the ECM via the interface signal processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chuping LU, Yong ZHAO
  • Patent number: 8536813
    Abstract: A rotating electromechanical machine has a rotor having at least one current-carrying winding and at least one rotor-mounted sensor configured to sense a machine property or parameter during machine operation. Rotor-mounted circuitry dynamically modifies at least one property of the current-carrying winding during machine operation in response to the sensed machine property or parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130221889
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-phase switched reluctance motor apparatus including: a multi-phase switched reluctance motor; a position sensing sensor provided at one side of the multi-phase switched reluctance motor; and a controller connected to the multi-phase switched reluctance motor and the position sensing sensor and controlling power in a multi-phase excitation scheme according to a detection angle of the position sensing sensor to supply the power to the multi-phase switched reluctance motor. The multi-phase switched reluctance motor may generate a reluctance torque while reducing torque pulsation, noise, and vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130200832
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for driving a BLDC motor, the apparatus including: a BLDC motor having a single sensing coil therein; a position/speed calculation unit for calculating a current position and a current speed of a rotor by using voltages at both ends of the sensing coil; a control unit for comparing the current speed of the rotor calculated by the position/speed calculation unit with a command speed and then outputting a control signal through a Proportional Integral (PI) control; a motor driving unit for generating a PWM signal based on the current position of the rotor calculated by the position/speed calculation unit and the control signal output by the control unit; and a power device unit for controlling the BLDC motor according to the PWM signal generated by the motor driving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Electronics and Telecommunications Research In
  • Publication number: 20130187586
    Abstract: A Back EMF reducing DC motor system and method of operation are disclosed. The disclosed system and method are designed to exploit Transformer Voltage properties and include a rotor element shaped to periodically move a flux zone along a stator face. Incoming DC motor power from an external source may be appropriately conditioned and applied to a power supply, Storage Capacitors may also communicate with the power supply. A controller receives power from the power supply and communicates with the DC motor. A position sensor or other indicator may also communicate DC motor operational conditions to the controller. A recapture storage device may receive recaptured power from the DC motor via the controller. The recaptured power may he used to power an external load, or to reduce the input power necessary to operate the DC motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: James F. Murray, III
  • Publication number: 20130187587
    Abstract: A power tool that includes a brushless DC motor, one or more motor sensors, and a controller, such as, for example, an electronic speed control (ESC) circuit. The controller is adapted to provide instructions to control the operation of one or more parameters of the brushless DC motor. The controller is also adapted to receive feedback from one or more motor sensors that reflect whether the motor is attaining the one or more parameters. The controller may also be adapted to have a learning mode, in which feedback provided during use of the power tool is stored by the controller as a program so that the same operating parameters may be subsequently replicated by using the program to operate the tool. The controller may also use the feedback to adjust the operation of the motor so that the motor maintains one or more selected or programed operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Colin G. Knight, Milos Coric
  • Patent number: 8476794
    Abstract: An in-wheel motor having an inner stationary portion (the stator), and an outer rotating portion (the rotor) that rotates around the stator and drives a wheel directly attached to the rotor. The stator may comprise an inner support structure around which a plurality of magnets having windings are disposed in a circumferential fashion. The rotor circumferentially surrounds the stator, and includes permanent magnets placed at an interval along a surface of the rotor. An intermediate layer between the rotor and the stator is comprised of a bearing that allows movement of the rotor relative to the stator. By attaching a wheel directly to the outer surface of the rotor, a compact and efficient wheel-mounted electrical motor may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Velayutham Kadal Amutham
  • Patent number: 8390225
    Abstract: A motor having an alternating current electrical source, a light power circuitry, a stationary transcutaneous energy transmission coil spaced from a rotatable transcutaneous energy transmission coil, a plurality of phototransistor arrays positioned on a rotatable platform and each phototransistor array corresponds to and rotates in conjunction with an armature winding used in the motor. Each phototransistor array (i) receives an alternating current from the rotatable transcutaneous energy transmission coil, and (ii) charges (a) each armature winding to a constant high voltage when the motor is operating and (b) each phototransistor/MOSFET power source to a desired power level. When the light from the light power circuitry contacts a phototransmitter, the phototransistor array is turned on so the armature winding associated with that phototransmitter generates an instantaneous maximum magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ronald Medical Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Ronald
  • Patent number: 8390219
    Abstract: A door operator with an electrical back check feature is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention are realized by a motorized door operator that electrically creates a back check force for an opening door. The door operator simulates the back check normally created by hydraulic means in convention door closers, but without the use of pistons, springs or hydraulic fluid. The door operator includes a motor disposed to operatively connect to a door so that the door will open when the motor moves, and a position sensor to determine a position of the door. A processor is programmed to exert a closing force on the door in the back check region. In some embodiments, the closing force is exerted by injecting a voltage into the electric motor of the door operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
    Inventor: Blue Houser
  • Patent number: 8384315
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an engine unit to perform an image forming job, an engine control unit to control operation of the engine unit, a plurality of brushless direct current (BLDC) motors to operate the engine unit, a communication interface unit to receive a digital control command for the plurality of brushless DC motors from the engine control unit, a sensor unit to sense operation information of the plurality of brushless DC motors, an operation signal unit to generate an operation signal to control the plurality of brushless DC motors, and a speed control unit to control operation of the operation signal unit according to the received digital control command and sensing result of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-ho Shin, Young-jung Yun
  • Patent number: 8364312
    Abstract: An intelligent modular rotary multi-sensor sensor ring platform for such uses as in mobile robotics allows a few sensors to scan the local area and environment, provides a cost saving, volume and a power savings as well as reducing calibration and maintenance costs. The sensor ring platform has a large internal diameter allowing a maximum area for the chassis structural elements as well as other equipment located in the chassis. Local sensor signal processing is combined with time, rotation speed and position data stamps to allow processed data to be used locally as well as to be transferred to other systems or subsystems or for data logging purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cycogs, LLC
    Inventor: Wayland E. Tobey
  • Patent number: 8354812
    Abstract: There is provided a motor. The motor may include a rotor case including a driving magnet formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof and providing a driving force by interacting with a coil of a stator, a low-speed control magnet formed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor case and generating a frequency allowing for low-speed rotation enabling label printing as the rotor case rotates at a low speed; and a sensing part sensing an analog signal generated from the low-speed control magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Kyu Lee, Dae Lyun Kang
  • Patent number: 8350503
    Abstract: An n-phase brushless motor device is provided. The device includes a magnet for magnetic pole position detection having a number of poles twice as many as that of a rotor and fixed to a face perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotor; n main Hall elements arranged opposite to the magnet, for detecting a magnetic pole position of the rotor; n sub Hall elements arranged in such a way as to have an offset in a direction of a periphery with respect to the main Hall elements, for detecting the magnetic pole position; and a control unit for counting “2” according to a change in an output pattern of the main Hall elements, for counting “1” when the output pattern is the same as that of the sub Hall elements at a predetermined timing, and for controlling a rotation of the rotor according to these counted values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawamura, Aya Nishikawa