Power Supply Voltage Feature (e.g., Power Supply Voltage, Vcc Compensation, Rectifier Circuit, Power Regulator, Auxiliary Or Secondary Power Supply, Etc.) Patents (Class 318/400.3)
  • Patent number: 9899328
    Abstract: A power semiconductor module includes: a positive arm and a negative arm that are formed by series connection of self-arc-extinguishing type semiconductor elements, the positive arm and the negative arm being connected at a series connection point between the self-arc-extinguishing type semiconductor elements; a positive-side electrode, a negative-side electrode, and an AC electrode connected to the positive arm and the negative arm; and a substrate on which a plurality of wiring patterns are formed, the wiring patterns connecting the self-arc-extinguishing type semiconductor elements of the positive arm and the negative arm to the positive-side electrode, the negative-side electrode, and the AC electrode. Respective directions of current flowing in adjacent wiring patterns are identical to each other, and one of the adjacent wiring patterns is arranged in mirror symmetry with the other of the adjacent wiring patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiko Tamada, Junichi Nakashima, Yasushi Nakayama, Yukimasa Hayashida
  • Patent number: 9899936
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an offset voltage generator includes a first limiter configured to compare a first phase-voltage signal with a maximum limit value and a minimum limit value to output a first limit-voltage signal; a second limiter configured to compare a second phase-voltage signal with the maximum limit value and the minimum limit value to output a second limit-voltage signal; a third limiter configured to compare a third phase-voltage signal with the maximum limit value and the minimum limit value to output a third limit-voltage signal; and a summer configured to add a difference between the first phase-voltage signal and the first limit-voltage signal, a difference between the second phase-voltage signal and the second limit-voltage signal, and a difference between the third phase-voltage signal and the third limit-voltage signal, to output an offset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hak-Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 9876456
    Abstract: A bridge converter for a multi-phase electrical machine has a number of bridge cells connected in series. Each bridge cell has a controller. The bridge converter includes a sensor operative to provide a commutation signal to at least one controller. A multi-phase electrical machine has a plurality of stator windings and a bridge converter having a number of bridge cells connected in series. Each bridge cell has a controller. The bridge converter includes a sensor operative to provide a commutation signal to at least one controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Zhiguo Pan, Mario Schweizer, Ghanshyam Shrestha
  • Patent number: 9859832
    Abstract: A multiphase electric motor control device includes: a bridge circuit including phase circuits each including a high potential side switching element, a low potential side switching element, and a current detector, a PWM control unit that outputs PWM signals to the switching elements; a control unit that acquires phase current values at a timing synchronized with a triangle wave; and a current value estimation unit that estimates a phase current value of one phase based on phase current values of other phases. In a case where an ON time of the PWM signal output to the low potential side switching element of the one phase from the PWM control unit is shorter than a predetermined time, the control unit acquires the phase current values which are detected by shifting the timing by using the current detectors of at least the other phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoji Mori
  • Patent number: 9837949
    Abstract: A motor driving device includes: a rectifier that rectifies an AC current and outputs a DC current to a DC link; an inverter unit that converts the DC current to an AC current for a motor; an initial charging unit that initially charges a smoothing capacitor with the DC current that flows through a charging resistor; a storage unit that stores a load capability of the charging resistor; a power calculation unit that calculates an amount of power generated in the charging resistor in response to the DC current flowing therethrough; and an opening/closing unit that shuts off the DC current from flowing in the smoothing capacitor when the amount of power reaches the load capability during an initial charging period and allows the DC current to flow in the smoothing capacitor after the shutoff when the amount of power is smaller than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Kumamoto, Yasuyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9709617
    Abstract: A load drive apparatus includes a switching element, a current detection circuit, a short circuit detection resistor, and a reflux diode. The switching element is placed to a high side of the inductive load, is interposed between the voltage source and the inductive load, and controls a current supplied to the inductive load. The current detection circuit is placed to a low side of the inductive load, and detects a current value of a current flowing through the low side of the inductive load. The short circuit detection resistor is interposed between the current detection circuit and a ground. The reflux diode is placed in a forward direction of the reflux diode and connects a middle point between the short circuit detection resistor and the current detection circuit with a different middle point between the switching element and the inductive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Umeno
  • Patent number: 9692289
    Abstract: A DC power-supply device that suppresses an increase of a harmonic current and deterioration of a power factor without causing any imbalance among respective phase currents, in a configuration in which a three-phase alternating current is converted into a direct current and supplied to a load. The DC power-supply device includes a rectifier circuit, a reactor connected to an input side or an output side of the rectifier circuit, a first capacitor and a second capacitor serially connected between output terminals to a load, and a charging unit. During a cycle combining a charging period and a non-charging period of a pair of the first capacitor and the second capacitor, the charging unit is controlled so that a charging frequency becomes 3n times (n is a natural number) the frequency of the three-phase alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shota Kamiya, Kazunori Hatakeyama, Norikazu Ito, Kenta Yuasa, Shoji Isoda
  • Patent number: 9653916
    Abstract: A power supply system includes an input stage converting circuit, a first energy storage component, and an output stage converting circuit. The first energy storage component is electrically coupled to the input stage converting circuit, and the output stage converting circuit is electrically coupled to the first energy storage component. The input stage converting circuit is configured to charge the first energy storage component, and the first energy storage component stores charging electricity. The output stage converting circuit is configured to convert the charging electricity into output electricity and provide the output electricity to a load. The input stage converting circuit has a first electric power, and the output stage converting circuit has a second electric power greater than the first electric power. A method for converting power of the power converter is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xing-Kuan Guo, Li-Tao Xia
  • Patent number: 9537433
    Abstract: There is provided a motor drive device including, a current detection section that detects current flowing between a power source and an inverter circuit generating voltage to be supplied to a motor, a voltage control section that outputs a first control signal to cause the inverter circuit to generate a voltage for rotating the motor at a rotation speed based on an instructed value, and a rotation speed suppression section that, in cases in which current, detected by the current detection section at a timing at which a voltage generated by the inverter circuit rises from low level to high level, is a predetermined threshold value or higher, outputs a second control signal to the voltage control section to cause the inverter circuit to generate a voltage for rotating the motor at a lower rotation speed than the rotation speed based on the instructed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamaguchi, Daijiro Saigusa
  • Patent number: 9446668
    Abstract: A method for driving a vehicle comprising at least two motors is provided. If a plurality of motors are fed from an intermediate circuit via inverters, the current in the intermediate circuit has a plurality of harmonics (?5th, ?3th, ?1st, +1st, +3rd, +5th). To prevent coupling capacitors of the intermediate circuit becoming over-burdened, the switching frequency of the inverters is shifted in such a manner that the harmonics no longer fall into a resonance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Georg Bachmaier, Christian Bachmann, Dominik Bergmann, Marco Cyriacks, Matthias Gerlich, Guillaume Pais, Alexandru Popescu
  • Patent number: 9385643
    Abstract: An object is to perform discharge of a capacitor using a motor without rotating the motor even when connected to a position sensorless motor. The motor drive apparatus calculates a voltage pulse width at which a motor does not rotate or vibrate using a both-end voltage of a smoothing capacitor and an inductance estimation value of the motor, and applies a voltage with the voltage pulse width to the motor to calculate an inductance. Then, a rotor position is estimated using the inductances calculated for individual switching patterns. A motor current is caused to flow on the basis of the estimated rotor position to perform discharge of charge accumulated in the smoothing capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Nakamura, Naoki Nishikawa, Masahiko Asai, Hiroyuki Kamitani
  • Patent number: 9291380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermodynamic cycle process system comprising at least two heat exchangers, an EC compressor, and a combination of electronic components such as EC fans, electronic regulator valves and/or EC pumps. A central supply electronics unit can be connected to an AC voltage source, wherein the electronic components have an integrated power electronics device which produces the PWM operating voltage required for the electronic components. The central supply electronics unit is connected to the individual integrated power electronics devices for the electronic components, and produces the supply voltages required for the respective power electronics devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Sauer
  • Patent number: 9203339
    Abstract: A motor driving device according to the present invention includes: a PWM duty ratio detecting unit for detecting a target rotational speed based on a duty ratio of a PWM signal input from a host system; a PWM period detecting unit for detecting a period of the PWM signal; a PWM period error calculating unit for calculating an error between a PWM period output from the PWM period detecting unit and a PWM period previously set as a reference calculated by using the operational clock generator; a position detecting sensor for detecting a permanent magnet of the rotor; and an actual rotational speed calculating unit for calculating an actual rotational speed of the rotor by using a signal output from the position detecting sensor. The present motor driving device controls a speed while correcting the actual rotational speed based on the PWM period error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 9166511
    Abstract: A converter controls a system voltage, which is a DC link voltage of an inverter, in accordance with a voltage command value. The inverter outputs a rectangular wave voltage having the system voltage as amplitude to an AC motor during application of rectangular wave voltage control. During application of rectangular wave voltage control, a voltage command value for the system voltage is modified such that a current phase on a d-q plane of the AC motor is brought closer to a target current phase line. The target current phase line is set on an advance side relative to an optimal current phase line which is a set of current phases at which output torque is maximized for the same amplitude of a motor current in the AC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Morii, Tetsuya Nomura, Makoto Nakamura, Mikio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9118266
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor assembly, a method of operation thereof and a transport vehicle provided with the motor assembly. The motor assembly is provided with an energy source switching controller that is in synchronization with motor operation and provides an improved utilization of energy storage sources in an electric, hybrid electric, or fuel cell based motor vehicle drive train application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Ming Chuang
  • Publication number: 20150145446
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes a constant voltage power supply and a motor drive control unit. The constant voltage power supply includes an AC/DC converter, a zero-cross detector, a switching control unit and a switching regulator. The AC/DC converter converts an AC voltage supplied from an AC voltage source into a DC voltage. The zero-cross detector detects a zero-cross point of the AC voltage, and outputs a zero-cross detection signal. The switching control unit outputs a switching control signal based on the zero-cross detection signal. The switching regulator has a switching element. The motor drive control unit outputs a motor drive signal for driving a motor to the inverter. The AC/DC converter has a rectifier circuit and a smoothing capacitor. The switching regulator performs switching on a first DC voltage in accordance with the switching control signal at a timing corresponding to the zero-cross point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SHITABO
  • Patent number: 9041329
    Abstract: A vehicle having a traction battery and at least one electric machine for propelling the vehicle is provided. A high voltage DC bus electrically connects the traction battery to the electric machine. A controller monitors and commands power flow through the DC bus, the electric machine, and the battery. In response to a key-off event, the controller immediately discharges the DC bus by providing a current to the electric machines. This discharge continues until the voltage on the DC bus reaches a threshold. As the speed of the electric machine decreases towards a speed threshold, the voltage in the DC bus is maintained. Once the electric machine speed reduces past the threshold, the DC bus discharges the remaining voltage in the DC bus at a rate slower than the first immediate discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuan Zhang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 9030140
    Abstract: An in-vehicle power supply system includes a DC power source, a steering power converter, a steering drive control unit, a plurality of voltage-reducing devices, and a voltage-reducing control unit. The steering power converter converts electric power supplied from the DC power source, and provides the electric power converted to a steering assist motor. The steering drive control unit is supplied with electric power from the DC power source, and controls the steering power converter. The voltage-reducing devices are coupled in parallel to each other between the DC power source and the steering power converter. Each of the voltage-reducing devices reduces a power source voltage of the DC power source and generates a reduced voltage when being operated. The voltage-reducing control unit determines operation state or non-operation state of each of the voltage-reducing devices such that at least one of the voltage-reducing devices is in operation at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamanaka, Toshihisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9024560
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for adjusting a voltage of a DC-voltage intermediate circuit in a battery system having a battery and a drive system. The battery is configured to output one selectable output voltage from n+1 different output voltages. In a first step of the method, an actual value of the voltage of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit is determined, and is then compared with the various output voltages of the battery. A first selected output voltage of the battery, which is the highest voltage of those output voltages of the battery which are less than the actual value of the voltage of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit, and a second selected output voltage of the battery, which is the lowest voltage of those output voltages of the battery which are higher than the actual value of the voltage of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit, are then selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9024559
    Abstract: A converter module for a variable speed drive having a semiconductor device for precharge is described. The precharge circuit includes switching modules, one switching module with a first semiconductor switch connected in parallel or series with a second semiconductor switch. The second semiconductor switch is switched on and off during the precharge operation in order to limit the inrush current into the DC Link. After the precharge operation, the second semiconductor switch is turned on all the time and acts like a diode. The second semiconductor device may have a lower maximum current rating than the main semi-conductor devices. The lower current rated semiconductor device experience the same short circuit current as the higher current rated semiconductor device. The lower current rated semiconductor device can be supplied with a larger gate to emitter voltage than the higher current rated semiconductor device to equalize current between semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Shreesha Adiga-Manoor, Michael S. Todd, Ivan Jadric
  • Patent number: 9024547
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing unwanted conducted noise generated by a DC load 17. Load 17 is powered by a voltage source 11. A current sense 13 senses pulse current Ifan flowing through the load 17. First converting means 14, 15, 16 converts the sensed pulse current Ifan to a correction voltage Vp. The correction voltage Vp is then converted to a correction current Ip, which offsets the deleterious effects of Ifan. The current Is flowing through the voltage source 11 equals Ifan plus the correction current Ip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Allied Telesis, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Vogt
  • Patent number: 9018881
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor. An exemplary method for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor involves determining an input energy imbalance across phases of the stator windings for an electrical period of the electric motor and identifying a fault condition when the input energy imbalance is greater than a first threshold value. In some embodiments, an input energy ratio across phases of the stator windings is also determined for the electrical period, wherein the fault condition is identified as a phase-to-phase short circuit fault condition when the input energy ratio is greater than a second threshold value and the input energy imbalance is greater than the first threshold value, or alternatively, as an in-phase short circuit fault condition when the input energy ratio is less than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Lei Hao
  • Publication number: 20150108929
    Abstract: A power controller includes a boost converter, an inverter, and a control unit controlling the output voltage of the boost converter and the carrier frequency of the inverter. The control unit includes a carrier frequency reducing program which reduces the carrier frequency to an LC resonance upper limit frequency while maintaining a set value of the output voltage of the boost converter at a system loss minimization voltage at the time of reduction of the carrier frequency from the set frequency, and a voltage varying program which changes the carrier frequency to a first varied frequency calculated based on a first predetermined temperature or lower and the temperatures of the respective switching elements, and changes the set value of the output voltage of the boost converter to a voltage at which the LC resonance upper limit frequency becomes the first varied frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Daigo Nobe, Ryoji Sato, Kazuhito Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9013129
    Abstract: An inverter device may include a converter unit configured to receive single phase AC power to output DC power; a capacitor unit configured to absorb the DC power; an inverter unit configured to synthesize the absorbed DC power to output the drive power of a load; and a converter controller configured to control the converter unit based on the AC power and the output DC power of the converter unit, wherein the converter controller includes a converter gate signal generator configured to control a plurality of gates contained in the converter unit; and an input line harmonic voltage generator configured to output converter additional power having a predetermined multiple of the frequency of the fundamental frequency component of the AC power with the same size as that of the fundamental frequency component of the AC power to an adder connected to the input side of the converter gate signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Cheol Choi, Anno Yoo
  • Publication number: 20150097501
    Abstract: An electric vehicle power conversion system may include an exclusive discharge circuit for discharging stored charges of a smoothing condenser. The electric vehicle power conversion system may also include a discharge controller for driving a DC/DC converter if a control circuit for controlling the electric vehicle power conversion system detects a fault of an exclusive discharge circuit, such that the stored charges of the smoothing condenser may be supplied to auxiliary devices or a DC auxiliary power supply and be discharged therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Futoshi YAMANE, Masami ISHIKAWA, Mitsutoshi MURAOKA, Taro YOSHIDA, Kenji FURUSAWA, Yoshinari MURAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8994305
    Abstract: A filtering reactor stage and a variable-frequency driving system utilizing the same are provided. The system includes a rectifier input stage, an inverter output stage and a filter reactor stage. The filter reactor stage is coupled between the rectifier input stage and the inverter output stage. The filter reactor stage includes a magnetic core module, a first winding set, a second winding set and a third winding set. The magnetic core module includes a middle pillar and two side pillars. The first second winding sets are wound around two side pillars respectively. The first winding second winding sets are coupled to a first DC (Direct Current) bridge between the rectifier input stage and the inverter output stage. The third winding set is wound around the middle pillar and coupled to a second DC bridge between the rectifier input stage and the inverter output stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Cheng Xiao
  • Publication number: 20150084551
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit has a supply line connected to a DC power source, an inverter whose input side is connected to the supply line and whose output side is connected to a motor, a power switch inserted in the supply line for switching the supply line between conducting and cut-off states, a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between the direct-current power source and the power switch, and an insulation resistance detector for first detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the cut-off state, an insulation resistance on the preceding-stage side of the power switch and subsequently detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the conducting state, an insulation resistance on the succeeding-stage side of the power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Hoshihito Okada, Yoshihiko Maeda, Yoichi Enomoto, Hiroshi Takao
  • Patent number: 8988026
    Abstract: Single-phase voltage operation techniques are provided for a three-phase drive system. A drive system may include a rectifier configured to couple to a three-phase AC voltage source. The rectifier may be configured to convert AC voltage from the three-phase AC voltage source to a direct current (DC) voltage. The drive system may also include a controller configured to send a plurality of switching signals to a plurality of switches in the rectifier such that the plurality of switching signals minimizes a current provided to the rectifier when only a single-phase of the three-phase AC voltage source is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Lixiang Wei, Brian J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 8975846
    Abstract: A control device performs voltage conversion control on a voltage conversion circuit between a power supply and motor control circuits which control a plurality of motors. The control device includes sampling units for sampling a DC voltage after voltage conversion, target voltage setting units for setting target voltages VHT1 and VHT2 of the plurality of motors, selection unit for selecting a target voltage VHT to be converted by the voltage conversion circuit from a plurality of target voltages VHT1 and VHT2, generating unit for generating a sampling timing TS on the basis of a gate signal GS1 or GS2 of one of the motors with the target voltage which has not been selected, and control unit for performing the voltage conversion control using the DC voltage sampled by the sampling units at the sampling timing TS in response to each sampling timing request DS in the voltage conversion control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8975848
    Abstract: Methods and systems for starting an electric motor using a motor controller including a processor are provided. The method includes determining if the electric motor is operating, increasing a failed start counter if the electric motor is determined not to be operating, determining a reverse rotation by comparing a failed start counter to a predetermined threshold, and applying a reverse rotation start routine to the electric motor when a reverse rotation is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian L. Beifus
  • Patent number: 8975847
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first capacitor connected in parallel to a direct-current power supply, plural power converters that drive plural synchronous machines, a second capacitor connected in parallel to a direct-current side of power converters, a switching circuit inserted between the first and second capacitors, a switch-start instruction unit that controls starting of an operation of the power converters, and a control unit that controls the power converters based on a motor velocity and a voltage of the first capacitor. The switch-start instruction unit turns off the switching circuit while the power converters stop, turns off the switching circuit until a terminal voltage of each of the synchronous machines becomes equal to a predetermined value when each of the power converters starts operating, and turns on the switching circuit when the terminal voltage of each synchronous machine becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Kono
  • Publication number: 20150061552
    Abstract: A motor driving device includes a microcomputer, a command voltage adjusting circuit, and a driving IC. The command voltage adjusting circuit converts a first command voltage signal from the microcomputer to a second command voltage signal. The driving IC generates a drive pulse based on the second command voltage signal. An upper and a lower limit of an input voltage range of the driving IC are larger than an upper and a lower limit of a voltage range of the first command voltage signal, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Koji MIZUKAMI, Hiroyuki SHITABO
  • Publication number: 20150054434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for discharging at least one capacitor (2) of an electric circuit (1), said electric circuit (1) also comprising: an electric stator winding (4) of a polyphase rotary electric machine, said winding (4) comprising a plurality of coils (6) which each form a stator phase and which are not being coupled to one another; and a switching system (5) disposed between the capacitor (2) and the electric stator winding (4) and comprising a plurality of controllable switching cells (10). According to the method of the invention, the coils (6) are electrically powered by the capacitor (2) by means of the switching system (5), of which the switching cells (10) are controlled such that the homopolar electric current passes through the electric stator winding (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: VALEO SYSTEMES DE CONTROLE MOTEUR
    Inventor: Antoine Bruyere
  • Publication number: 20150048767
    Abstract: An inverter device includes a rectifier circuit that rectifies alternating-current power supplied from a main power supply and generates direct-current power, a control power supply circuit that generates direct-current power for control using at least one of the generated direct-current power and direct-current power supplied from an external power supply, and a control unit that receives the generated direct-current power for control and performs a predetermined control operation. The control power supply circuit includes an insulation transformer including a primary side and second side winding wires, a first control power supply capacitor connected to the secondary side winding wire via a first diode, an external power supply capacitor connected to the first control power supply capacitor via a second diode and connected to a terminal, to which the external power supply is connected, via a third diode, and a second control power supply capacitor connected to the external power supply capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 8957615
    Abstract: There is provided a motor driving apparatus capable of optimizing driving efficiency by adjusting a phase difference between current applied to a motor and voltage detected from the motor and performing the adjustment of the phase difference when a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal has a set duty. The motor driving apparatus includes: a driving unit driving a motor according to driving control; a driving controlling unit controlling the driving of the motor by the driving unit, based on an adjusted phase correction signal; and a phase correcting unit correcting a phase difference between a motor detection signal having motor rotation speed information and a current detection signal having detection information regarding current flowing in the motor when a duty of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal driving the motor satisfies a preset reference duty, and providing the phase correction signal to the driving controlling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joo Yul Ko
  • Patent number: 8947031
    Abstract: A method for operating a direct current (DC) motor is shown and described. The method includes using pulse width modulated (PWM) DC output to control the speed of the DC motor. The method further includes sensing current output to the motor. When the sensed current exceeds a threshold, the method holds the PWM DC output off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Russell W. Diamond, Gary A. Romanowich, David R. Fuhr
  • Patent number: 8941340
    Abstract: A regenerative variable frequency drive includes an active converter connected to an inverter. The converter has a filter capacitor, an inductor, two half bridges, bus bars that connect to the inverter and bus capacitors. The converter converts single phase AC power to DC power and DC power to single phase AC power, boosts the AC power, reduces input line harmonics, maintains input current in phase with utility voltage in order to achieve near unity power factor, and maintains constant DC voltage between the bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventors: Larry G. Meiners, Theodore Clifton Pettyjohn, Jack Yongchen Yang, Peda V. Medagam
  • Patent number: 8941347
    Abstract: A converter control device comprises: a voltage-zero-cross detection unit detecting zero cross of the alternate-current voltage and outputting a voltage zero-cross signal; a power-source-current detection unit detecting a power source current of the alternate-current power source; a bus-line-voltage detection unit detecting a bus-line voltage between terminals of the smoothing capacitor; a PWM-signal generation unit generating a PWM-signal for on/off-controlling the switching unit, based on the power-source current, the bus-line voltage and a bus-line-voltage command value as a target voltage of the bus-line voltage; a power-source voltage-state detection unit detecting a signal state of the alternate-current voltage based on the voltage zero-cross signal; and a fundamental-switching-frequency selection unit selecting a fundamental switching frequency of the PWM-signal based on the signal state of the alternate-current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Otorii, Katsuhiko Saito, Masahiro Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20150002057
    Abstract: A power supply device has a first power supply capable of storing and discharging electric power, a second power supply connected in series to the first power supply and capable of storing and discharging the electric power, an isolated DC-DC converter including a primary side terminal to which the first power supply is connected, and a secondary side terminal to which the second power supply is connected, and a power supply control unit that controls a voltage of the second power supply using the isolated DC-DC converter. A direct-current voltage outputted from the first power supply and the second power supply connected in series is inputted to a first inverter, converted into an alternating-current voltage by the first inverter, and then supplied to a vehicle drive motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Zushi, Takashi Fukushige, Yuichi Shibukawa, Kensuke Sasaki, Atsuo Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20150002058
    Abstract: A motor control device according to the present invention includes: a boost converter circuit 30 that boosts a direct-current voltage; an inverter 40 that generates a drive pulse for a motor 50 from the direct-current voltage of the boost converter circuit 30; and a control section 60 that presets a set value Id_hold obtained by multiplying a set value Id_max by an intermediate current threshold coefficient ?, controls a pulse width of the drive pulse of the inverter 40 based on a speed deviation, controls a d-axis current in the motor 50 based on the speed deviation so that the pulse width of the drive pulse of the inverter 40 does not exceed a threshold value, and controls the direct-current voltage of the boost converter circuit 30 based on the speed deviation so that the d-axis current in the motor 50 does not exceed the set value Id_hold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuki Kashihara, Hiroshi Yoshida, Kouji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8922148
    Abstract: A motor includes a rotor, a sensor unit, an offset unit, a rectification unit and a modulating unit. The sensor unit outputs a first signal in accordance with a magnetic field variation of the rotor. The offset unit is coupled to the sensor unit, and outputs a second signal in accordance with the first signal. The rectification unit is coupled to the offset unit, and outputs a third signal in accordance with the second signal. The modulating unit is coupled to the rectification unit, and outputs a control signal in accordance with a result by comparing the third signal with a periodic signal. The modulating unit controls a reverse rotation of the rotor smoothly in accordance with the control signal. A control method of the motor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Liang Lin, Kun-Fu Chuang, Cheng-Chieh Liu
  • Patent number: 8917043
    Abstract: A motor control circuit and associated techniques can adjust a phase of a motor drive to keep a rotational reference position of an electric motor at the same relative phase as a zero current in a motor winding at different motor speeds and as the motor accelerates and decelerates. In some embodiments, a particular circuit and technique can be used to detect the zero current in the motor winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Reynolds, Chengyi Jin
  • Patent number: 8917047
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a converter system, which at least includes the first and second back-to-back converters. The first back-to-back converter includes a first rectifier module and a first inverter module. The first rectifier module is used to convert a first AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The first inverter module is used to convert the first DC voltage to a second AC voltage. The second back-to-back converter includes a second rectifier module and a second inverter module. The second rectifier module is used to convert the first AC voltage to a second DC voltage. The second inverter module is used to convert the second DC voltage to the second AC voltage. The converter system can suppress the circular current through the synchronous operation of the first and second rectifiers or the synchronous operation of the first and second inverters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lin Li, Jing-Tao Tan, Hong-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 8907610
    Abstract: A motor control device has a motor driving unit that drives a motor, a current detecting unit that detects a motor current flowing through the motor, a control unit that compares a detected current value of the motor current detected by the current detecting unit with a target current value to obtain a deviation, to control the motor driving unit based on the deviation, and a compensation unit that sets as a current offset value a detected current value of a drift current detected by the current detecting unit in a state where the motor current is regarded as zero, to compensate the detected current value of the motor current by the current offset value. The compensation unit sets a target offset value according to the current value of the detected drift current to correct the current offset value stepwise until the current offset value reaches the target offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michisada Yabuguchi, Tetsuya Fukumoto, Takenobu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140354199
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor. A desired speed is identified for the electric motor during operation of the electric motor. A voltage is identified to cause the electric motor to turn at the desired speed. The voltage is applied to the electric motor and actively controlled during operation of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Peng Zeng, Christopher Pete Benson, Douglas C. Cameron
  • Patent number: 8901865
    Abstract: A current limiting device includes a switching portion, a reflux portion connected to a connection point of the switching portion and an output terminal, and supplying a current to a motor generator while the switching portion is cutting off the current, a current measurement portion that measures the current flowing from the output terminal to the motor generator, and a current control portion that controls the switching portion to switch ON/OFF according to a current value measured by the current measurement portion. When the motor generator is motor-driven using electric power of a condenser, the current control portion limits the current to the motor generator by controlling the switching portion to switch ON/OFF in a case where the measured current value is equal to or exceeds a predetermined current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Fujie, Shogo Matsuoka, Katsuya Tsujimoto, Takamasa Asai
  • Patent number: 8901866
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes an AC/DC converter which converts AC power supplied from a power supply to DC power, a DC/AC converter which converts DC power to AC power and vice versa, a DC link unit which connects the DC side of the AC/DC converter to the DC side of the DC/AC converter and delivers the DC power from one to the other and vice versa, an energy storage unit which includes at least one capacitor storage unit and at least one flywheel storage unit each of which is connected to the DC link unit and stores or supplies the DC power, and an energy control unit which performs control so that the energy storage unit stores or supplies the DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Koujirou Sakai, Yasusuke Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8896249
    Abstract: A position sensorless control methodology for an electrical machine is provided. In particular, one aspect provides a method for position sensorless operation of an electrical machine using direct position error computation from stator flux observation results and stator current measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Shu Yu Cao, Bing Li, Anshuman Tripathi
  • Patent number: 8896247
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for setting a current sensor of a vehicle having a drive motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include confirming a first condition that a vehicle stops its movement, confirming a second condition that a required torque of a drive motor of a vehicle is 0, stopping a current that is supplied to the drive motor if the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, and compensating offset of the current sensor of a drive motor control unit controlling the drive motor. The offset may be compensated if the first condition and the second condition are satisfied for a predetermined time. Accordingly, an offset of the current sensor is compensated in a predetermined driving condition that the vehicle stops moving and therefore the creep surge and the motor torque ripple that can be generated in the vehicle are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyung Jin Yoon, Jinhyung Lee
  • Patent number: 8884563
    Abstract: A renewable energy source is converted into a desired DC voltage that is delivered to a DC motor controller of a permanent magnet motor. A micro controller monitors the amount of supplied renewable DC having the desired DC voltage, which is delivered to each phase of the motor by turning on FET switches on demand. If the renewable DC available at a given instant is not adequate to power a particular phase of the motor, then the micro controller turns on backup FET switches that are part of an independent drive circuit that is in parallel with drive circuits of the renewable DC power circuit, to deliver to the motor line DC, which is produced from an AC supply that has gone through an AC to DC converter. Once charged, the renewable DC power will power the next available phase of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Jerry Fan
    Inventors: John Berkheimer, Jerry Fan, Jianchu Zheng