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)
  • Publication number: 20120081045
    Abstract: In a voltage conversion device of a motor drive control device, switching-control is performed so as to enlarge an output allowable voltage range of the voltage conversion device restricted by a dead time in a switching operation for an upper arm and a lower arm performing power conversion by a switching operation. Accordingly, restriction in the output voltage from the voltage conversion device, caused by the dead time, can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Masaki Okamura, Yasuhiro Koike
  • Patent number: 8143831
    Abstract: The invention to an electronic control system, controlled by a pulse width-modulated signal (SG) related to earth, for regulating the voltage (Umot) across a high-side load (M), in particular a fan control unit for motor vehicles. The circuit part that converts the pulse width-modulated signal (SG) into the reference input variable (U?) needed for the regulation uses the positive potential of the supply voltage (V2) as reference potential, so that the reference input variable (U?) is likewise related to the positive potential of the supply voltage and the control signal (SG) is converted by means of a Zener diode (D1) and by means of a resistor (R5) connected parallel to the Zener diode (D1) into a control signal related to the positive supply potential and is further converted with a low pass filter (R7, C1) into a linear control signal, which serves as input reference variable (U?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sitronic Ges. fuer elektrotechnische Ausruestung mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Zametzky
  • Patent number: 8143836
    Abstract: A motor controller capable of effectively utilizing electrical energy accumulated in a capacitor and achieving a reduction in capacitance of the capacitor. The motor controller includes a converter that receives an input AC voltage and performs AC-to-DC power conversion thereon, an inverter that receives DC power and performs DC-to-AC conversion thereon, and a capacitor and a charging/discharging control circuit connected in parallel with a DC link between the converter and the inverter. Electrical energy is supplied from the capacitor to the DC link via the charging/discharging control circuit. The charging/discharging control circuit has a circuit for discharging electrical energy accumulated in the capacitor and for stepping up a voltage of the capacitor when discharging the electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Yuuichi Yamada, Mamoru Yaeshima, Masatomo Shirouzu, Koujirou Sakai
  • Publication number: 20120068532
    Abstract: A relay that is electrically connected/disconnected to/from a battery in parallel with a smoothing capacitor on an inverter side with respect to a system main relay is provided. Thus, when the system is turned off, the battery and electrode buses are electrically disconnected from each other by the system main relay, and the positive electrode bus is thereby connected to the negative electrode bus by the relay. As a result, electric power accumulated in the smoothing capacitor is more reliably and more swiftly discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukinari Tanabe, Toshiyuki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8138706
    Abstract: A safety drive unit (1) with a safety circuit (12) that resets a flap or a valve into a specified safety position for controlling a gas or liquid volumetric flow, in particular in the field of heating, ventilation, and monitoring systems. The safety drive unit (1) comprises an actuator (14) with a controllable electric motor (28), a capacitive energy storage unit (20), and energy converter (22) with a power module, and a power supply (18). During normal operation, the electric current in the power module of the energy converter (22) is converted to a lower voltage and stored in the capacitive energy storage unit. If the voltage drops below a predetermined value or if there is a power failure, the stored electrical charge is converted back to a higher voltage by the same power module, and the electric motor (28) is activated until the specified safety position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
    Inventors: Martin Ochsenbein, Curdin Stäheli, Roman Furrer
  • Publication number: 20120056568
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus comprises: an AC/DC converter which converts AC voltage supplied from an AC power source into DC voltage through PWM switching control of a power switching device; and a DC/AC converter which converts the DC voltage into variable-frequency AC voltage for driving a motor in a controlled manner. The AC/DC converter includes: a control unit which generates, based on an error between the DC voltage and a DC voltage command value, a PWM signal for the PWM switching control of the power switching device; and a frequency/gain varying unit which sets the frequency of the PWM signal to be generated by the control unit and a control gain in the control unit higher than their normal levels during a period in which a load in the DC/AC converter varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru KUROKI, Takashi HARADA, Shinichi HORIKOSHI, Yasusuke IWASHITA
  • Publication number: 20120056567
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system has a high-voltage electric circuit including a high-voltage battery and a DC link coupled to first and second inverters electrically connected to first and second torque machines. A method for operating the hybrid powertrain system includes receiving a motor torque command for the second torque machine, determining a preferred DC link voltage for achieving the motor torque commanded from the second torque machine, selectively interrupting electric power flow between the high-voltage battery and the DC link to achieve the preferred DC link voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Savagian, Sean E. Gleason, James E. Tarchinski, Mohammad N. Anwar
  • Patent number: 8129932
    Abstract: In a driving apparatus for a three-phase synchronous motor, in which a battery is connected between a neutral point of a stator coil and a negative-pole bus, a control circuit acquires three-phase AC currents. The control circuit checks whether a neutral-point electric current is contained in an electric current detected by an electric current detecting section. Based on the check result, the control circuit checks whether electric current values for three-phases containing the neutral-point electric current are set together or electric current values for three-phases excluding the neutral-point electric current are set together to acquire the three-phase AC currents for driving the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sakai
  • Publication number: 20120049774
    Abstract: In a converter of a motor drive control device, one of a first switching element and a second switching element is selected in accordance with a current command value of a current flowing through a reactor. The converter is then controlled so that a drive command for the selected switching element is generated. In this way, the efficiency of the converter is improved while a voltage step-up or step-down operation is performed by the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Masaki Okamura
  • Publication number: 20120049773
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus has a plurality of DC-to-AC inverter circuits which supply respective electric motors, each inverter circuit formed of a plurality of switching circuits, all of the switching circuits being connected in parallel with a smoothing capacitor which smoothes a DC voltage. A charge which remains in the smoothing capacitor, after the source of the DC voltage has become disconnected, is discharged through a single switching circuit in each of the inverter circuits, with all other switching circuits of each inverter circuit being held in a non-conducting state, thereby preventing a flow of discharge current through any of the motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki MURAHO, Tsuneo MAEBARA
  • Patent number: 8125179
    Abstract: A motor control circuit (MC) comprising input terminals (IT1, IT2) to receive a rectified input voltage (Vrm), and output terminals (OT1, OT2) to supply a motor drive signal (Vm). A switching circuit (1) is alternately in an on-state (Ton) and an off-state (Toff) for intermittently coupling the input terminals (IT1, IT2) to the output terminals (OT1, OT2). A controller (2) controls the switching circuit (1) to be (i) in the on-state (Ton) during a first period in time (T1) when an amount of magnetic saturation of the motor is smaller than a predetermined value, and (ii) alternately in the on-state (Ton) and the off-state (Toff) to obtain a pulse width control of the motor drive signal (Vm) during a second period in time (T2) when the amount of magnetic saturation of the motor is larger than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Wessel Adolf Otten, Wilhelmus Ettes
  • Publication number: 20120043919
    Abstract: A method of the Pulse Amplitude Modulation for the Sensorless Brushless motor, which includes a start-up circuit, a phase detect circuit, a phase commutation circuit, a driving circuit, BEMF detection circuit, and frequency detector, utilizes the control signal of the phase commutation circuit to control the driving circuit so as to drive the outer motor coil and detect the control signal for the driving motor driving circuit by a detection circuit. The motor system can be controlled to reduce the discharge speed to avoid the motor driving circuit shutdown and further speed up the start-up time for the next charging period of the motor driving circuit to achieve the effect of low speed rotation and power saving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Teng-Hui Lee, Chan-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 8122267
    Abstract: A power control circuit for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a first control circuit, a second control circuit, a first connector connected to a power supply, the first and second control circuits, and a second connector connected to the first control circuit and the HDD. The power supply outputs a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal to the first and second control circuits via the first connector. The first control circuit converts the first and second voltage signals into a form compatible with a timing sequence of the HDD receiving voltage signals, and outputs the first and second voltage signals to the HDD via the second connector. The second control circuit controls the first control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Rui, Cheng-Yang Li, Jian-She Shen
  • Patent number: 8115430
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling two AC machines. The system comprises a DC input voltage source that provides a DC input voltage, a voltage boost command control module (VBCCM), a five-phase PWM inverter module coupled to the two AC machines, and a boost converter coupled to the inverter module and the DC input voltage source. The boost converter is designed to supply a new DC input voltage to the inverter module having a value that is greater than or equal to a value of the DC input voltage. The VBCCM generates a boost command signal (BCS) based on modulation indexes from the two AC machines. The BCS controls the boost converter such that the boost converter generates the new DC input voltage in response to the BCS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez, James M. Nagashima, Milun Perisic, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 8106613
    Abstract: A drive circuit for a motor having a plurality of phases, comprising an input for a DC signal and a plurality of phase outputs, the circuit being arranged to provide at each of the phase outputs, in use, current to one phase of the motor, in which there is provided a converter for each phase output, each converter being arranged to take as an input a DC signal and output an signal having an AC component with a higher voltage magnitude than that of the DC signal input to the converter. Typically, the converters comprise ?uk converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Andrew McLean, John Anthony Bolton
  • Publication number: 20120019178
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: a line breaker that is connected in series to a direct-current power supply; a first capacitor that is connected in parallel to the direct-current power supply through the line breaker; a discharge circuit that includes a resistor and a first switching circuit connected in series and is connected in parallel to the first capacitor; a power converter for driving a synchronous machine; a second capacitor that is connected in parallel to a direct-current side of the power converter; a second switching circuit that is connected in series between the first capacitor and the second capacitor; and a control circuit for controlling the discharge circuit. The control circuit controls the discharge circuit on the basis of the voltage of the first capacitor and the voltage of the second capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Kono, Keita Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 8098039
    Abstract: The present invention provides a generator motor driving device that can promptly perform discharging of charges from the capacitor during a maintenance operation, and a capacitor discharge method to be implemented in the generator motor driving device. Power is supplied from the capacitor to the generator motor being driven by the engine, and the generator motor is driven, with the engine as a load. Rated constant current control is performed on the generator motor, and rated constant voltage control is performed on the booster, until the capacitor voltage decreases to a first voltage. After the capacitor voltage decreases to the first voltage, the rated constant current control is performed on the generator motor, and voltage control is performed on the booster to maintain a predetermined ratio between the capacitor voltage and the booster output voltage to be output to the driver, until the capacitor voltage decreases to a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Endo, Tomohisa Sato
  • Patent number: 8093850
    Abstract: A fan control system includes a linear adjustor, an input/output controller, and a temperature sensor. A first terminal of the linear adjustor is connected to a first power supply. A second terminal of the linear adjustor is connected to a fan and grounded via a first resistor and a second resistor in series. A third terminal of the linear adjustor is connected to a node between the first resistor and the second resistor. A first terminal of the input/output controller is connected to the third terminal of the linear adjustor via a third resistor. A second terminal of the input/output controller is connected to the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 8084974
    Abstract: There is provided an inverter device capable of simplifying the circuit structure, lowering the cast, and downsizing of the device. The inverter device detects a switching change of an inverter by a pulse and is equipped with a pulse signal detector capable of detecting a motor residual voltage or a phase and a detector for detecting a residual voltage or a phase. The inverter device includes a voltage detector, a circuit for detecting a pulse signal based on a comparison between a phase voltage detection value per one phase output from the voltage detector and a first reference voltage value, a circuit for detecting a line residual voltage based on phase voltage detection values of two phases output from the voltage detector, and a circuit for detecting a line phase based on a comparison between the line residual voltage and a second reference voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Shinichi Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20110309778
    Abstract: A power converting device is disclosed that can reduce switching loss occurring in a voltage source inverter that drives an AC motor. It is possible to supply DC power to the voltage source inverter from both a voltage source rectifier, which converts AC power from an AC generator into DC power, and a battery. A first switching circuit is inserted between the voltage source rectifier and the AC generator, and the battery is connected to the output side of the voltage source rectifier. A second switching circuit is inserted between the battery and the voltage source inverter. A third switching circuit and a reactor are inserted in series between the input side of the voltage source inverter and the input side of the voltage source rectifier. At least one of an upper arm and a lower arm of the voltage source rectifier can be chopper controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michio Iwahori
  • Publication number: 20110304289
    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: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: John F. Burdick
  • Patent number: 8076883
    Abstract: A drive system for an electrically operated vehicle includes an electric drive unit operable as a motor and as a generator, a first power source circuit with a control device for controllably outputting power, a second chargeable and dischargeable power source circuit having at least one capacitor and which is connected in parallel to the drive unit, an electric intermediate circuit connected to the first and the second power source circuits and to the drive unit, a third chargeable and dischargeable power source circuit with at least one battery and which is connected to the intermediate circuit, a first detection device for detecting an electrical voltage of the intermediate circuit, which detection device is connected to the control device, and a second detection device for detecting a characteristic value of the vehicle speed and which is connected to the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Wallner
  • Patent number: 8072166
    Abstract: The brushless motor has a first and second drive member. The first drive member is equipped with M phase coil groups each having N electromagnetic coils where M is an integer of 1 or greater and N is an integer of 1 or greater. The second drive member has a plurality of permanent magnets, and is able to move relative to the first drive member. The first drive member has 2 (M×N) magnetic body cores. Each phase electromagnetic coil is coiled on a periodically selected magnetic body core at a ratio of 1 to 2M from among the arrangement of 2 (M×N) magnetic body cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kesatoshi Takeuchi, Mamoru Sugimoto, Isamu Sejimo, Kazuyoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8072170
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor controller for air conditioner including a converter having at least one switching element for converter, the converter converting AC utility power into DC power by a switching operation of the switching element; an inverter having at least one switching element for inverter, the inverter converting the DC power into prescribed AC power by a switching operation of the switching element and driving a three-phase motor; a microcomputer outputting a converter switching control signal that controls the switching element for converter; and a dc terminal signal generator detecting a dc terminal voltage that is applied across an dc terminal of the converter to sequentially generate a pulse type dc terminal signal, and insulating the dc terminal from the microcomputer. The present invention may sequentially generate a dc terminal signal and simultaneously insulate the dc terminal from the microcomputer, thus making it possible to improve the stability of the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Hwang, Han Su Jung, Chung Hun Lee
  • Publication number: 20110285335
    Abstract: A motor drive device includes an inverter circuit, a driver circuit for outputting a PWM signal to the inverter circuit, a booster circuit for boosting a power supply voltage supplied from a power supply circuit, a fail safe circuit arranged between the inverter circuit and the motor, and a fail safe drive unit for outputting a signal for turning ON/OFF a semiconductor switching element of the fail safe circuit. A boost voltage output from the booster circuit is supplied to the driver circuit and also supplied to the fail safe drive unit. The fail safe drive unit drives the semiconductor switching element of the fail safe circuit by such boost voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Tada
  • Publication number: 20110273118
    Abstract: A power factor correction circuit has a semiconductor integrated circuit and at least one very low Rds(on) MOSFET. The circuit also includes a silicon carbide diode for zero reverse recovery current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: David Bonner, Aidong Xu
  • Patent number: 8049363
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit comprises positive and negative input terminals for connection of the motor circuit to a DC supply, a DC link filter connected between the input terminals: an electric motor having at least two phases, a plurality of motor drive sub-circuits, each connected to a respective phase of the electric motor and which each control the flow of current into or out of the respective phase of the motor that has been drawn from the supply through the DC link filter, and a switching means provided in the electrical path between the DC link filter and the electric motor drive sub-circuits, the switching means being movable between a closed position in which it connects the DC link filter to the motor drive sub-circuits, and an open position which isolates the DC link filter from the motor drive sub-circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Andrew McLean, John Anthony Bolton
  • Publication number: 20110260662
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is provided that performs AC/DC conversion by suppressing harmonics of the input at the time of normal operation, while on the other hand, allowing system operation to continue in the event of an overload by avoiding system stoppage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu YOSHIDA, Takashi Harada, Shinichi Horikoshi, Yasusuke Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8044620
    Abstract: An inverter control circuit controls transistors based on comparison of a voltage command wave with a carrier wave, when a magnitude of a voltage vector is equal to or less than a peak value of the carrier wave. The voltage command wave is a wave, which is offset to a maximum value side from a reference potential of the carrier wave so that a maximum value of the voltage command wave equals a peak value of the carrier wave. The inverter control circuit makes an on-period of the transistor on a positive bus side longer than that of the transistor on a negative bus side by using the command voltage. The amount of electricity charged in a capacitor is reduced in comparison with a case in which the voltage command wave is used. Thus, thermal loss of a stator coil and a diode on the positive bus side is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110254477
    Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for replacing a PSC motor in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. The blower motor assembly includes a variable speed motor and motor controller; a first power input for receiving a plurality of AC power signals from a control device for use in determining an operating parameter for the motor; and a second power input for receiving AC power from an AC power source for powering the motor controller even when no AC power signals are received by the first power input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventor: Arthur E. Woodward
  • Publication number: 20110254478
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive unit for an electric motor, wherein the drive unit has a drive circuit for driving the electric motor and an intermediate circuit, which is connected upstream of the drive circuit, in particular having an intermediate circuit capacitor. The method includes supplying an actuating variable for driving the electric motor. The method further includes adjusting a variable input voltage and supplying the adjusted input voltage to the drive unit via the intermediate circuit. In addition, the method includes operating the drive circuit as a function of an available intermediate circuit voltage, which is dependent on the adjusted input voltage, and as a function of the actuating variable in order to drive the electric motor in accordance with the actuating variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GbmH
    Inventors: Thomas Poetzl, Manfred Spraul
  • Patent number: 8040648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a speed controller comprising: at the input, a rectifier module (12) in order to generate, on a power bus (10, 11), a direct voltage from an alternating voltage available on an electrical supply network (A), a bus capacitor (Cb) connected between a positive line and a negative line of the power bus, an inverter module (13) supplied by the power bus and controlled to deliver an alternating voltage to an electric load (2), a device (14) for protecting the controller consisting of a first electronic switch of the JFET transistor type (T1) and a second electronic switch (T2) mounted on the power bus, in parallel with the JFET transistor (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventor: Philippe Baudesson
  • Publication number: 20110241581
    Abstract: A vehicle has a power supply device (1) for an electric motor (7) and a method provides for supplying power to the electric motor (7). Another method produces an intermediate storage device (9) for the vehicle power supply device (1). The vehicle additionally has a vehicle battery (8), the intermediate storage device (9), and a converter (10) for supplying power to the electric motor (7). The intermediate storage device (9) is arranged between the vehicle battery (8) and the converter (10). The intermediate storage device (9) has an intermediate storage module (11) having an integrated discharge device (12), wherein the discharge device (12) converts the stored electric energy into heat energy upon discharging the intermediate storage device (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Stefan Flock, Gerhard Hiemer, Uwe Krella
  • Publication number: 20110241580
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor drive system, the system comprising an AC-DC converter coupled to a DC-AC inverter by a DC bus, a motor coupled to and driven by the inverter, and a load coupled to and driven by the motor is provided. The method includes accessing a motion profile for the motor and load and determining power losses of the converter, the inverter, the motor and the load. The method also includes controlling the voltage of the DC bus based upon the motion profile and the power losses to enhance the motor drive system efficiency, reliability and motor shaft performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Winterhalter, Robert H. Schmidt, Michael S. Baran, Todd M. Oestreich
  • Publication number: 20110234127
    Abstract: A current limiting device for vehicle includes a switching portion that passes/cuts off a current from an input terminal to an output terminal, a reflux portion that is connected to a connection point of the switching portion and the output terminal and supplies 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi FUJIE, Shogo Matsuoka, Katsuya Tsujimoto, Takamasa Asai
  • Publication number: 20110234126
    Abstract: An electric motor control circuit includes an electric energy storage device electrically connected via DC power buses to an inverter circuit that connects via an alternating current circuit to an electric machine. A capacitive shunt circuit connects between the power buses. Current flow through the capacitive shunt circuit to the chassis ground is monitored. A fault is identified when the current flow through the capacitive shunt circuit to the chassis ground exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: John William Meyer, III
  • Publication number: 20110234128
    Abstract: A power supply circuit has an input terminal for electrically connecting to an active wire of an AC power supply, an earth terminal for electrically connecting to a neutral or ground wire of the AC power supply, and a voltage decreasing unit. The voltage decreasing unit has an adjustable capacitor unit with adjustable capacitance for decreasing an AC voltage applied to the input terminal and an output terminal for outputting the decreased AC voltage. An electric motor is combined with the power supply circuit to form a motor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Fei XIN, En Hui Wang, Chi Ping Sun, Ming Li Zhang, Shing Hin Yeung
  • Publication number: 20110228471
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for controlling one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) fans. The system can include a control system configured to provide a voltage control signal corresponding to a DC output voltage for the one or more PWM fans. A variable DC voltage source is configured to supply the DC output voltage to the plurality of fans at one of at least two different DC voltages based on the voltage control signal. The DC output voltage from the variable DC voltage source is separate from a PWM control signal that is also supplied to the PWM fans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: DANIEL HUMPHREY, Mohamed Amin Bemat, Reynaldo P. Domingo, Reginald A. Whyte, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110227516
    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 according to the increased or decreased rotational output speed, so as to prevent the shortcoming of too much variation of the input impedance caused by the inductive reactance of the winding accordingly changed when the speed of the DC brushless motor is changed, specifically, to prevent the shortcoming of unable producing required torque resulting from the increased inductive reactance caused by increasing the rotational speed which makes the current value become too low when input by the original working voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Publication number: 20110227517
    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: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Publication number: 20110204832
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor is described. The method includes configuring a current sensor to sense a current supplied to the motor from at least one of a plurality of power lines and to generate at least one current signal indicative of the sensed current. The method also includes coupling a processing device to the current sensor such that the processing device receives the current signal. The method also includes configuring the processing device to determine which of the plurality of power lines is active based at least partially on the current signal and generate a motor speed control signal that directs the motor to operate at the motor speed that corresponds to the active power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: RBC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen A. Zavodny, Luis D. Morales, Jared D. Zumstein
  • Publication number: 20110199030
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus has an inverter circuit, which includes FETs for converting electric power supplied to a motor. A capacitor is provided between a battery and the inverter circuit. A pull-up resistor connects a V-phase of the motor to a high potential side of the battery. A power supply relay permits or interrupts current flow from the battery to the capacitor and the motor. A microcomputer controls the power supply relay and the motor. The microcomputer turns on a low-side FET of a V-phase under a condition that the power supply relay is interrupting the current flow before the motor is started. Electric charge stored in the capacitor is discharged to a low potential side of the battery through the pull-up resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20110187300
    Abstract: A power factor correction system includes a rectifier that rectifies the voltage of an alternating current (ac) power source to produce a voltage waveform that transitions, in a half sinusoid, from a minimum amplitude to a maximum amplitude and back to the minimum amplitude twice in the period of the ac power source. A phase winding of a motor conveys current induced by the voltage waveform, and a regulator regulates the flow of the current conveyed by the phase winding for storage as energy in a storage component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Krishnan Ramu
  • Publication number: 20110187301
    Abstract: Automotive propulsion systems and methods of operation are provided. The automotive propulsion system includes a first voltage source, a power electronics device comprising a plurality of power switching devices coupled to the first voltage source, an electric motor having a plurality of windings coupled to the plurality of power switching devices and a neutral node interconnecting the plurality of windings, and a second voltage source coupled to the neutral node of the electric motor and the first voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: CONSTANTIN C. STANCU, ROBERT T. DAWSEY
  • Patent number: 7990092
    Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur E. Woodward
  • Publication number: 20110175558
    Abstract: A second control unit includes a current-command generating unit that generates, based on a torque command T*, a current command of the motor, a voltage-amplitude-index calculating unit that calculates, based on the current command, a voltage amplitude index (a modulation ratio PMF), a current-command adjusting unit that generates, based on the modulation ratio PMF and a frequency FINV of the motor, a current command adjustment amount dV, and a voltage command/PWM signal generating unit including a pulsation-suppression-signal generating unit that generates, based on a DC voltage EFC, a pulsation suppression signal for suppressing a pulsation component of a power supply 2f component to generate a gate signal (a PWM signal) to an inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Publication number: 20110175557
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus wherein provisions are made to ensure that the regenerative operation of a rectifier continues as long as the supply of power from an inverter continues, and that the regenerative operation of the rectifier stops when the supply of power from the inverter ends. The apparatus includes: a detection unit which detects an input voltage and current; an instantaneous effective power calculation unit which, based on the detected input voltage and current, calculates instantaneous effective power supplied from the rectifier to the inverter; a DC component calculation unit which, based on the value of the calculated power, calculates the DC component of the effective power; and a regenerative operation stopping decision unit which compares the value of the calculated DC component with a predetermined threshold value and decides that a power regeneration operation for feeding regenerative power from the inverter back into the power supply be stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasusuke IWASHITA, Tadashi OKITA, Masakazu NIWA
  • Patent number: 7983539
    Abstract: When the fan inserted in the fan header is a 4-pin fan, the control chip outputs PWM signals with different duty factors to the control pin of the fan header, to automatically change the rotary speed of the 4-pin fan. When the fan inserted in the fan header is a 3-pin fan, the control chip outputs the PWM signals whose duty factor changes with temperature of a chip under the fan to control the first power source to provide a voltage to the adjusting circuit. The adjusting circuit rectifies the voltage output from the first power source as an analog voltage signal to the control circuit. The control circuit controls the third power source to output a changeable driving voltage to the power pin of the fan header to control the rotary speed of the 3-pin fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ai-Yu Pan
  • Publication number: 20110169435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an EC motor assembly (1) having an electronically commutated, permanent magnet-excited DC motor (M) with an upstream commutation electronic unit (2) that is supplied with a DC link voltage (UZK) via a DC link (8). The DC link (8) can be connected directly to a solar cell generator (12) via a first voltage input (10) on one hand, and on the other, to a grid voltage (UM) via a controllable power supply unit (14) and a second voltage input (16). The DC link voltage (UZK) is variably specified based on a respective available photovoltaic voltage (UPV) of the solar cell generator (12). The power supply unit (14) can be regulated with respect to the output voltage thereof to adapt to the respective DC link voltage (UZK).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel König
  • Publication number: 20110170318
    Abstract: A variable voltage converter (VVC) is configured to provide bidirectional voltage boost and buck from an input side to an output side. A VVC can include a voltage control portion and a battery charging portion. When incorporated into an inverter system controller (ISC) for a hybrid electric vehicle, the VVC can be configured to charge a battery during both high and low ISC dc bus voltage conditions. A VVC can be configured to receive power from an ac power source through a plug coupled to the VVC via a soft start rectifier. Accordingly, the VVC with integrated battery charger can be used to charge a battery for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) from a standard ac electrical outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Lihua Chen