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: 8482234
    Abstract: A motor drive control device includes a battery, a converter, an inverter, and a control section for outputting control signals to the converter and the inverter. The control section has a first map and a second map regarding control of the alternating-current motor and further includes a map switching section for switching from control based on the first map to control based on the second map in accordance with conditions of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yamakawa, Hideto Hanada, Kazuhito Hayashi, Masayoshi Suhama
  • Publication number: 20130169204
    Abstract: A power supply unit for a press machine having a converter (converter circuit) connected to a commercial AC power supply, and an inverter (inverter circuit) connected to a press motor, includes an electrical energy bank, an inrush prevention circuit, an inrush prevention instruction signal generation section, and a contactor switch section, wherein contactors of the inrush prevention circuit are switched from on ON state to an OFF state and inrush prevention resistors of the inrush prevention circuit are connected to AC phase current paths on condition that the inrush prevention instruction signal generation section has generated and output an inrush prevention instruction signal (Sres) during press operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: AIDA ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventor: AIDA ENGINEERING, LTD.
  • Patent number: 8476854
    Abstract: A power supply device for a variable rotation speed drive includes a free-running converter connected to a land-based power grid, and an inverter connected to the variable rotation speed drive. A direct-current cable electrically connects the DC side of the converter with the DC side of the inverter. The inverter includes a plurality of phase modules having an upper and a lower valve branches with least two series-connected, two-pole subsystems with distributed energy storage devices. The inverter is located on the seabed in immediate vicinity of the variable rotation speed drive. Signal electronics of the inverter is located on land. In this way, the distance between the power supply on land and the drive on the ocean floor can reach several hundred kilometers, with ocean depths of several kilometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Blöcher, Marc Hiller, Rainer Sommer
  • Publication number: 20130162183
    Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor reformation system for a vehicle includes an electrolytic capacitor, a motor driver module, a switching device, a resistor, and a switching control module. The electrolytic capacitor receives power from a battery of the vehicle. The motor driver module receives power from the electrolytic capacitor and drives an electric motor of the vehicle. The switching device and the resistor are connected in series in a current path between the battery and the electrolytic capacitor. The resistor limits current flow through the current path. The switching control module selectively transitions the switching device to a closed state to reform the electrolytic capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Timothy P. Philippart
  • Publication number: 20130147405
    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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyung Jin Yoon, Jinhyung Lee
  • Patent number: 8461783
    Abstract: An electric drive unit for a water-bearing domestic appliance having a converter to provide a supply voltage from a multiphase voltage system; a control device to control the converter in order to operate a first electric motor connected to the multiphase voltage system; a load-current-carrying DC link arranged upstream of the converter; and an electrical device connected to at least part of the multiphase voltage system or the load-current-carrying DC link via a connection device, wherein the electrical device has a second electric to operate a hydraulic pump and/or a blower and/or a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Pietro Navarra, Michael Rosenbauer, Hans-Dieter Rossteuscher
  • Patent number: 8456116
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a system includes a first remote tool. The system also includes a variable frequency drive (VFD) coupled to the first remote tool, wherein the output of the VFD powers the first tool and wherein at least part of the VFD is in situ with the first remote tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: John F. Burdick
  • Publication number: 20130134911
    Abstract: A modular stacked DC architecture for traction system includes a propulsion system includes an electric drive, a direct current (DC) link electrically coupled to the electric drive, and a first DC-DC converter coupled to the DC link. A first energy storage device (ESD) is electrically coupled to the first DC-DC converter, and a second DC-DC converter is coupled to the DC link and to the first DC-DC converter. The system also includes a second energy storage device electrically coupled to the second DC-DC converter and a controller coupled to the first and second DC-DC converters and configured to control a transfer of energy between the first ESD and the DC link via the first and second DC-DC converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Viswanathan Kanakasabai, Bhaskar Sen
  • Patent number: 8450962
    Abstract: A control system for a motor includes a current regulation controller for generating a terminal voltage command. The terminal voltage command is used for converting a supply voltage to a three phase voltage to power a motor. The control system also includes a terminal voltage command feedback module for controlling the terminal voltage command. The terminal voltage command feedback module compares the terminal voltage command to a determined voltage limit of the supply voltage and generates a d-axis current adjustment command in accordance with the comparison. The d-axis current adjustment command is used for reducing the terminal voltage command below the determined voltage limit. The control system also includes a summer coupled with the terminal voltage command feedback module. The summer adds the d-axis current adjustment command to a d-axis current command received from a lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Long Wu, Robert Shaw
  • Patent number: 8446114
    Abstract: A control apparatus for use with an electric power conversion system which is equipped with a dc/ac converter connected to an electric rotating machine and a capacitor joined to input terminals of the dc/ac converter. The control apparatus stores an angle of rotation (i.e., start angle ?0) of the electric rotating machine before start of control of energization of the electric rotating machine to discharge the capacitor and determines command currents idr and iqr which will result in zero (0) torque in the electric rotating machine. The control apparatus includes a command current correcting circuit which corrects the command currents idr and iqr by a difference between a current angle ? of rotation of the electric rotating machine and the start angle ?0, thereby avoiding constant rotation of the electric rotating machine when the capacitor is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroya Tsuji, Tatsuru Morioka, Hiroshi Inamura, Takahumi Oowada
  • Publication number: 20130119902
    Abstract: A distributed motor drive system includes a power management module and multiple inverter modules integrated with the motors and located on a machine or process remote from the power management module. The power management module distributes DC voltage and command signals to each of the inverters, where the DC voltage is distributed between modules via a DC link cable. The integrated inverters execute switching routines to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage suitable for controlling the motor. Each of the power management module and the inverters includes a portion of the DC bus. The current on the DC link cable is monitored and general bus utilization as well as overload conditions are reported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Mark A. Gries, Mark R. Cooper, Rangarajan Tallam, Garrett B. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20130119901
    Abstract: A distributed motor drive system includes a power management module and multiple inverter modules integrated with the motors and located on a machine or process remote from the power management module. The power management module distributes DC voltage and command signals to each of the inverters. The DC voltage is distributed between modules via a DC link cable. The integrated inverters execute switching routines to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage suitable for controlling the motor. Each of the power management module and the inverters includes a portion of the DC bus capacitance. The distributed motor drive system also includes a link inductance between the power management module and the inverters to limit the amount of reactive current generated by the inverters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Mark A. Gries, Mark R. Cooper, Rangarajan Tallam, Garrett B. Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20130119903
    Abstract: AC pre-charging techniques are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. AC pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, etc. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect a motor drive from the AC power supply under certain fault conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Weiss, Doyle F. Busse, Jeremy J. Keegan, Lixiang Wei, Michael W. Loth, Rangarajan M. Tallam, Yogesh Patel
  • Patent number: 8436568
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus includes a control circuit, which determines that a wire connecting a battery to a first power supply relay and a second power supply relay is broken, and not failure of the power supply relays, if power is not supplied to a motor from the power supply relays when the power supply relays are controlled to turn on. The location of failure can thus be specified accurately. It is only necessary in this case to replace the wire. The motor drive apparatus need not be disassembled or investigated in detail. Man-power for specifying the failure location can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Mukai, Hideki Kabune
  • Patent number: 8436573
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit, a capacitor, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer switches a control operation, according to the steering state of a steering wheel, between a first state where a first duty center value is shifted to be lower than an output center value and a second duty center value is shifted to be higher than the output center value, and a second state where the first duty center value is shifted to be higher than the output center value and the second duty center value is shifted to be lower than the output center value. This can reduce a difference in heat loss between FETs while reducing the ripple current of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Uryu, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8436562
    Abstract: A bi-power motor controlling system includes a motor, a system apparatus and a motor controlling apparatus. The system apparatus has a rotational-speed target value for determining the targeted rotational speed of the motor. In addition, the system apparatus outputs a first power and a second power to the motor and the motor controlling apparatus, respectively. The motor controlling apparatus detects the motor to obtain a first rotational-speed value of the motor, and then adjusts the rotational speed of the motor to a second rotational-speed value according to the first rotational-speed value. Then, the motor controlling apparatus further generates a rotational-speed feedback signal to the system apparatus. The system apparatus adjusts the outputted first power in accordance with the rotational-speed feedback signal to make the rotational speed of the motor reach the rotational-speed target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao-Wei Fan Chiang, Po-Tsun Kuo, Chia-Feng Wu, Chun-Lung Chiu
  • Publication number: 20130106324
    Abstract: There is provided a motor driving apparatus in which when a voltage level of external power is lower than a reference voltage level, a voltage level boosted by a separately provided direct current (DC) to DC converter is selected and supplied to field effect transistors (FETs), such that driving of a motor does not stop even in the case in which the voltage level of the external power is lowered. The motor driving apparatus includes: a power selecting unit selecting one of a preset first power, and a second power having a voltage level different from that of the first power, according to a detected motor driving voltage signal; and a driving unit driving the motor by receiving the power selected by the power selecting unit; and a driving controlling unit providing driving signals for driving the driving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Joo Yul KO
  • Patent number: 8432113
    Abstract: A brushless fan motor control circuit assembly consists of a high-frequency filter circuit, a rectifier circuit, a power factor enhancing circuit, a current-limit and voltage regulation circuit and a brushless fan motor driving circuit. By means of the high-frequency filter circuit to suppress high frequency noises, the power factor enhancing circuit to enhance the power factor and to save power consumption, the current-limit and voltage regulation circuit to limit the current and to achieve overload protection, the brushless fan motor control circuit assembly controls the operation of a motor of an electric accurately and safely, avoiding fan vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Hsien-Meng Lee
  • Patent number: 8427088
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a predicting unit uses, as an initial value of a controlled variable, at least one of a first measured value of the controlled variable and a second measured value of a physical variable expressed as a function of the controlled variable. The predicting unit predicts, based on the initial value of the controlled variable, a value of the controlled variable when a driving mode of a switching element of a power converter is set. A driving unit has an integral element and determines, based on an output of the integral element to which a deviation between the predicted value of the controlled variable and a command value of the controlled variable is inputted, an actual driving mode of the switching element to thereby drive the switching element in the determined driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Mie University
    Inventors: Akihiro Imura, Masami Fujitsuna, Hideji Yoshida, Muneaki Ishida, Tadanao Zanma
  • Patent number: 8427091
    Abstract: A drive with heat dissipation and energy-saving function for supplying power to drive a motor. The drive includes a driving circuit having a rectification section. The rectification section serves to receive AC current generated when the motor abruptly accelerates/decelerates and convert the AC current into DC current and output the DC current. The drive further includes a cooling module electrically connected to an output end of the rectification section. The cooling module is drivable by the DC current output from the rectification section to conduct out and dissipate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventors: Chi-Yuan Cheng, Ming Fu Tsai
  • Patent number: 8415906
    Abstract: When the output of motor reaches or exceeds a predetermined value during acceleration of the motor, the control target value of the DC link voltage which is the voltage of a power storage device is gradually lowered in corresponding relationship to the motor output. When the motor enters a constant speed control mode, the DC link control target value is maintained at a constant level. When the motor enters a deceleration control mode, the DC link control target value is gradually raised in corresponding relationship to the motor output, and regenerative power is recovered by the power storage device and reused in the next control cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Masakazu Niwa, Takashi Harada, Koujirou Sakai, Shinichi Horikoshi
  • Publication number: 20130076280
    Abstract: A phase shift transformer in a multi-level medium voltage inverter is disclosed, wherein structure is modularized to provide layout freedom and to reduce volume and weight of an entire system, and a continuous operation of a motor is enabled, even if one module is faulted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: An No YOO
  • Publication number: 20130069569
    Abstract: There are provided a power factor correction circuit capable of transferring extra power to a ground before performing switching for a power factor correction to thereby reduce a switching loss generated in switching for a power factor correction, and a power supply device and a motor driving device having the same. The power factor correction circuit includes: a main switch switching input power to adjust a phase difference between a current and a voltage of the input power; and an auxiliary switch switched on before the main switch is switched on, to thereby form a transmission path for extra power of the main switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Min Gyu PARK, Kee Ju UM, Bum Seok SUH
  • Patent number: 8400090
    Abstract: Assemblies for HVAC systems and methods of operating HVAC systems are disclosed, including a method of operating an HVAC system having a condenser motor operatively coupled to a fan and a controllable bus voltage for powering the condenser motor. The method includes increasing the controllable bus voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage to increase a speed of the condenser motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, Mark E. Carrier, Eric J. Wildi
  • Publication number: 20130049657
    Abstract: A regenerative load electric power management system can include a system bus, an input filter coupled to the system bus, a first bidirectional solid state power controller coupled to the system bus, a motor drive inverter coupled to the input filter, a second bidirectional solid state power controller coupled to the motor drive inverter, a bidirectional direct current DC-DC converter coupled to the second bidirectional solid state power controller and an energy storage bus coupled to the bidirectional DC-DC converter, the energy storage bus providing access to an energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 8384327
    Abstract: The control apparatus controls a controlled variable of the electric rotating machine by manipulating an output voltage of a power converter circuit including switching elements operated at a set modulation index to connect positive and negative terminals of a DC power source to corresponding terminals of the electric rotating machine. The control apparatus includes a prediction section configured to predict the controlled variable for each of a plurality of cases where the power converter circuit is set in a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined operating states, a manipulation section configured to determine one of the predetermined operating states depending on a result of evaluation by an evaluation function, and set the converter circuit to the determined operating state, and a feedback control section configured to feedback-control the output voltage of the power converter circuit at a target value by manipulating the input parameters of the evaluation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8381644
    Abstract: A motor drive control device includes a power-running operation start voltage setting section that sets a power-running operation start voltage of the power supply converter, a power-running operation start control section that causes the power supply converter to start a power-running operation when the direct-current voltage of the power supply converter has reached the power-running operation start voltage set by the power-running operation start voltage setting section, a power-running operation stop voltage setting section that sets a power-running operation stop voltage of the power supply converter, and a power-running operation stop control section that causes the power supply converter to stop the power-running operation when the direct-current voltage of the power supply converter has reached the power-running operation stop voltage set by the power-running operation stop voltage setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: Aida Engineering, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Tanaka, Kenji Suzuki, Hiroshi Nagase, Toshihiko Yamamoto, Shunsuke Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20130043812
    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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Kono
  • Publication number: 20130043813
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling operation of an electric motor through use of an additional power storage arrangement connected across the DC busses of a motor drive and controlling the speed of the motor. The additional power storage arrangement includes an additional capacitor arrangement and a rate limiting arrangement in a series circuit relationship with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Michael O. Lucas, Rick L. Tennessen, Harry W. Schulz, William S. Hammel, James J. Sewell
  • Patent number: 8378604
    Abstract: For the present invention, under various running speeds statuses, the voltage supplied to the DC brushless motor is relatively increased or decreased on the basis of the internal setting of the motor drive control device with the increased or decreased load current, to prevent the shortcoming of too much change of the input impedance caused by the inductive reactance of the winding accordingly changed when the speed of the DC brushless motor is changed with the change of the load, specifically, to prevent the shortcoming of unable to produce required torque resulting from the increased inductive reactance of the winding caused by increasing the rotational speed which makes the current value become too low when input by the original working voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8368332
    Abstract: A motor-driving circuit includes: a plurality of output transistors; a first-comparator circuit to compare a voltage of each phase of driving coils of a plurality of phases in a motor, with a neutral-point voltage; a position-detecting circuit to detect a rotor position of the motor based on a comparison result of the first-comparator circuit; a switching-control circuit to supply switching signals to the plurality of output transistors according to the rotor position; and a current-limiting circuit to limit the driving currents to a first-current value so that the motor rotates at a target-rotation speed when the current-limiting circuit determines that the motor is rotating at a speed higher than or equal to a predetermined-reference-rotation speed, and limit the driving currents to a second-current value smaller than the first-current value when the current-limiting circuit determines that the motor is not rotating at the speed higher than or equal to the predetermined-reference-rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: ON Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Imai, Hiroyuki Kikukawa
  • Patent number: 8368333
    Abstract: A DC motor is provided. The DC motor prevents rush or overload of current in the DC motor during and/or after power input irregularities to the DC motor. A control circuit of the DC motor is configured to control current provided to the DC motor. When power irregularities in the power input to the DC motor are detected by the control circuit, the control circuit stops generating PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) signals and stops the current provided to the DC motor. After the stoppage of PWM signals, the control circuit can perform a soft-start of the PWM signals when the power irregularities are no longer detected. The soft starting of the PWM signals generates gradual increase in current to the DC motor, thus, preventing sudden rush of current that cause malfunction of the DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Young-Chun Jeung
  • Patent number: 8365545
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an on-vehicle air conditioner that can prevent breakage or the like caused by applying a high voltage. In an inverter system 20 that controls an operation of a motor 30 of a compressor for the on-vehicle air conditioner, a motor control microcomputer 24 operates by converting a voltage supplied from an on-vehicle battery power source 50 into a low voltage. Thus, the motor control microcomputer 24 is operated to perform failure diagnosis of a high voltage circuit Cb without a high voltage power source 40 being turned on. The failure diagnosis can be performed without power being supplied from the high voltage power source 40 to the high voltage circuit Cb, thereby preventing the high voltage circuit Cb from being broken by applying the high voltage even when there is some failure in the high voltage circuit Cb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Adachi, Koji Nakano, Takashi Nakagami, Makoto Hattori, Kazuki Niwa, Takayuki Takashige
  • Patent number: 8368330
    Abstract: The invention relates to a variable speed drive comprising a direct-current power bus having a positive line (16) and a negative line (17), and an inverter module (14) supplied by the direct-current bus in order to supply a variable voltage to an electric load (M). The drive comprises an energy-recovery device (10) comprising a first direct-current/direct-current converter (20), the output stage of the first converter (20) being connected in series to the positive line of the direct-current bus, a second direct-current/direct-current converter (30), the input stage of the second converter (30) being connected between the positive line and the negative line of the direct-current bus, and an electric energy storage module (Cs) connected in parallel with the input stage of the first converter (20) and with the output stage of the second converter (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Baudesson, Petar Grbovic, Philippe Le Moigne
  • Publication number: 20130026957
    Abstract: A relay device includes: an electromagnet constituted by a metallic core and an electrical winding associated therewith; and a mobile anchor associated with a traction spring and suitable for oscillating around a respective axis of oscillation in response to the combined action of an electromagnetic attraction force, generated by the electromagnet and intended to attract the anchor towards the core, and an elastic recovery force, exerted by the spring and intended to move the anchor away from the core and make it return to an initial position, so as to open or close selectively via the anchor a contact or switch of an external electrical circuit, wherein the anchor has a balanced or equilibrium configuration in which its centre of gravity is arranged substantially along the axis of oscillation, and thereby the masses of various portions anchor portions are distributed in a balanced manner around the same axis of oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTRICA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Pietro CECCONI
  • Publication number: 20130026958
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Shreesha Adiga-Manoor, Michael S. Todd, Ivan Jadric
  • Publication number: 20130020972
    Abstract: A load drive apparatus includes: a converter which has two switching elements connected in series and through which a DC voltage, outputted from a battery, is converted into a DC voltage of a different level; an inverter through which the DC voltage, outputted from the converter, is converted into an AC voltage and the AC voltage is applied to a rotary inductive load; and a capacitor provided between the converter and the inverter so as to be in parallel to the converter and the inverter. One of the two switching elements, which constitutes part of a power supply path extending from the battery to the rotary inductive load, is a normally-on type semiconductor element. Accordingly, the present invention can provide the load drive apparatus that allows power, generated by a regenerative operation of the rotary inductive load, to be stored in the battery in a simple configuration even in the event of failure of a controller or a converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ito, Manabu Kurokawa, Osamu Saito
  • Patent number: 8354807
    Abstract: An anti-noise method for the Direct Current Brushless motor System, which includes a startup circuit, phase detective circuit, motor phase commutation circuit, driving circuit, BEMF detective circuit, and frequency detector, utilizes the BEMF detective circuit to detect the BEMF induced from the coils of the outer motor, and utilizes the sampled voltage phase to determine rotation speed and phase of the external motor by the phase detection circuit and frequency detector. Further, the sampling voltage of the BEMF detection circuit is feedback controlled by the frequency detector, utilized to keep good BEMF to noise ratio, and avoids the BEMF sampling error from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Amtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teng-Hui Lee, Chan-Chih Liu
  • Publication number: 20130009576
    Abstract: A motor controller includes: a converter circuit for converting AC power to DC power; an inverter circuit connected to a DC side of the converter circuit and converting DC power to AC power for driving a motor or converting AC power regenerated from the motor to DC power; an energy storage unit connected to the DC side of the converter circuit and the inverter circuit and storing or outputting DC power; and a control unit controlling amount of DC power to be stored or output in/from the energy storage unit on the basis of a motor operation instruction instructing operation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasusuke IWASHITA, Hiroyuki KAWAMURA, Satoshi IKAI
  • Patent number: 8350510
    Abstract: In a voltage booster apparatus, a charge control transistor is turned on to charge a coil output capacitor and a booster output capacitor and then turned off, thereby confirming rise of a coil output voltage and a booster output voltage. A power supply relay is turned on to restore a booster operation thereby to check rise of the booster output voltage. If both of a step-up FET and a step-down FET are not in short-circuit failure, ON state of the power supply relay is fixed thereby to restore a power steering system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Terumoto Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20120326641
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koujirou SAKAI, Yasusuke IWASHITA
  • Publication number: 20120326640
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a variable speed drive for driving a motor having a starting circuit. The variable speed drive adaptively generates motor voltages to reduce the likelihood of starting circuit intrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FRANKLIN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan D. Northup
  • Patent number: 8339079
    Abstract: Provided is an inverter-integrated motor including a motor and an inverter integrated in an efficient manner. Also provided is a semiconductor chip that can be used in this motor. An IGBT chip is constructed with an emitter terminal being provided at the apex of one face of a die having a regular triangular surface shape, a gate terminal being provided adjacent the opposite side to the apex, and a collector terminal being provided on the other face. A power semiconductor module is constructed with placing apices of the IGBT chips having the emitter terminals in abutment against each other. Six such power semiconductor chips are arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern to together constitute an inverter for converting DC power into three-phase AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8339089
    Abstract: In a power converter, a voltage command signal shifting part shifts a first duty command signal such that a first duty center value related to a voltage applied to a first set of windings is shifted downwards than an output center value of a possible duty range. The voltage command signal shifting part also shifts a second duty command signal such that a second duty center value related to a voltage applied to a second set of windings is shifted upwards than the output center value. First and second shift amounts of the first and second duty center values from the output center value are varied depending on amplitude. Accordingly, ripple current of a capacitor can be decreased, and a difference in heat loss between switching elements can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120319630
    Abstract: The present invention offers a three-phase converter which conforms to the higher harmonics regulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicants: HITACHI INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS CO., LTD., HITACHI APPLIANCES, INC.
    Inventors: Dongsheng Li, Yasuo Notohara
  • Publication number: 20120313563
    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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: John Berkheimer, Jerry Fan, Jianchu Zheng
  • Patent number: 8330404
    Abstract: The present invention provides a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine capable of realizing variable-speed operation in a wide range from low speed to high speed at high output and improving, in a wide operating range, efficiency, reliability, and productivity. A narrow magnetic path 11 is formed in a rotor core 2 of a rotor 1 at an inter-pole yoke that magnetically connects adjacent pole core portions 7 to each other, so that the narrow magnetic path is magnetically saturated with flux of a magnetic field created by a predetermined magnetizing current passed to an armature coil 21. Each of first permanent magnets 3 at each of the pole core portions 7 is magnetized with a magnetic field created by a magnetizing current passed to the armature coil 21, to irreversibly change the flux amount of the first permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuto Sakai, Kazuaki Yuuki
  • Patent number: 8330399
    Abstract: A voltage detector 17 for detecting a voltage VB of a battery 9 as a main power supply and a voltage detector 18 for detecting a voltage VC of an auxiliary power supply 14 are provided. On the basis of an upper limit value IB previously defined as the maximum value of current through the battery 9, a control circuit 6 defines an upper limit of the electric power supplied to the motor 4 as ?·VB·IB (? representing the efficiency of the driving circuit 5) when a first output mode is selected in which the auxiliary power supply 14 is not used or defines the upper limit of the electric power supplied to the motor 4 as ?·(VB+VC)·IB when a second output mode is selected in which the auxiliary power supply 14 is used as connected in series with the battery 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeki Nagase
  • Publication number: 20120306413
    Abstract: A motor driving device comprises: a single DC conversion unit that converts input AC into DC; a plurality of AC conversion units that convert DC output from the DC conversion unit into AC supplied to a plurality of motor units as driving electric power; an electric power consumption calculation unit of the DC conversion unit that calculates electric power consumption of the DC conversion unit from the input voltage and input current to the DC conversion unit every predetermined time period; and a maximum output calculation unit of the DC conversion unit that extracts a maximum value from the electric power consumption of the DC conversion unit calculated every predetermined time period and outputs it as a maximum output of the DC conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi TEZUKA, Hajime Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20120306412
    Abstract: An automotive electric drive system may include an electric power source, an electric machine, and a DC-DC power converter electrically connected between the electric power source and the electric machine. The DC-DC power converter may include an inductor and a first switch each disposed in a different current path connecting the electric power source and the electric machine. The currents paths may be electrically in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuqing Tang, Hongjie Wu, William Paul Perkins