Abstract: A propulsion control system has an electric motor configured to generate an axle torque in response to a final torque command, and has a motor constraint that specifies a maximum torque. A motor controller is configured to generate the final torque command in response to an intermediate torque command and a distributed power limit command. An open-loop function in supervisory controller is configured to calculate an initial torque command vector in response to a driver torque command, calculate an intended operating vector by mapping the initial torque command vector into a multidimensional power space, generate the intermediate torque command by clipping the intended operating vector in response to the motor constraint, generate a constrained command vector by clipping the intended operating vector in response to the motor constraint and a plurality of energy storage constraints, and generate the distributed power limit command in response to the constrained command vector.

Abstract: A method for estimating the temperature of a stator coil of a magnetic suspension bearing of a rotor that is connected by connection wires to circuits for servo-controlling the position of the rotor includes the following steps: measuring the electric voltage at the terminals of the connection wires of the stator coil; measuring the intensity of the current passing through the stator coil; estimating the electric resistance of the stator coil and of the connection wires on the basis of an adaptive filter, the measured electric voltage and the intensity of the measured current; and estimating the temperature of the coil on the basis of the value of the estimated resistance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether to use engine start-stop systems during trail or other off-road driving are provided. Systems and methods may utilize various vehicle sensors (e.g., lidar, forward-facing cameras, accelerometers, sonar sensors, etc.) to detect when it is appropriate to command engine stop for fuel economy while driving off-road. To determine appropriateness, the vehicle may evaluate obstacles, ground clearance, and/or vehicle inclination. A method may include measuring accelerations/inclinations of a vehicle, comparing an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disabling a start-stop system of the vehicle based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method (400) for regulating an electric machine (190), comprising a harmonic filter (150), said harmonic filter (150) comprising a second filter (142) and a filter output transformer (132). The method has the steps of: ascertaining (410) a feedback variable (Idq); determining (414) a filter specification variable (FV); filtering (415) the filter specification variable (FV); ascertaining (417) a filtered feedback variable without harmonic components (IdqFunda); and energizing (480) at least one winding of the electric machine (190) on the basis of the filtered feedback variable without harmonic components (IdqFunda).

Abstract: A control device includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from a driving assist system, a requested acceleration and ending information indicating an end of a deceleration control; and a control unit configured to control a powertrain and a brake based on the requested acceleration, and perform a prescribed process of stabilizing a driving force and a braking force that are generated in an ending process of the deceleration control based on the requested acceleration when the acquisition unit acquires the ending information.

Abstract: A method of starting a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with field oriented control (FOC) includes: opening a first control loop of the PMSM; setting a first direction for a first current component of the PMSM; aligning a rotor of the PMSM to the first direction; after aligning the rotor, setting a second direction for the first current component, where the second direction is rotated from the first direction by 90 degrees; after setting the second direction, starting the rotor while the first control loop of the PMSM remains open; after starting the rotor, increasing a rotation speed of the rotor by operating the first control loop in a first closed-loop mode; and after increasing the rotation speed of the rotor, controlling the rotation speed of the rotor by operating the first control loop in a second closed-loop mode different from the first closed-loop mode.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes: a dead time application unit which applies a dead time to only one of a pair of pulse signals; a current polarity detection unit which detects a polarity of an output current; and a gate signal selection unit which, if the polarity of the output current is positive, selects the one pulse signal, to which the dead time has been applied, as a gate signal for a positive arm and selects the other pulse signal as a gate signal for a negative arm, and, if the polarity of the output current is negative, selects the one pulse signal, to which the dead time has been applied, as the gate signal for the negative arm and selects the other pulse signal as the gate signal for the positive arm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are surgical tool systems and methods of using such to install a fixator in a biological tissue. The systems are capable of accurately measuring torque and rotational velocity and providing real time feedback to a user during surgery.

Abstract: A Pole Phase Modulated (PPM) nine-phase induction motor drive may be used in gearless electric vehicle applications. A single stator winding multiphase induction motor may deliver variable speed-torques by varying the number of phases and poles with respect to a multiphase power converter. A multilevel inverter controlled with carrier phase shifted space vector pulse width modulator (PWM) may further improve the PPM based multiphase induction motor (MIM) drive with respect to efficiency, torque ripple, and direct current (DC) link utilization. To operate the PPM based MIM drive smoothly in different pole phase combinations, indirect field oriented vector control may used.

Abstract: A resolver assembly for a ducted-rotor aircraft is configured to detect and measure rotation of a spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly includes first and second gear-driven resolvers. The first and second resolvers are coupled about a shared pivot axis and are independently pivotable about the pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle. The input shafts of the first and second resolvers are spaced from the pivot axis through respective first and second distances that extend outward from the pivot axis along respective first and second radial directions. The first distance is equal to the second distance and the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, uses a thermal comfort model (TCM), an airflow dynamics model (ADM) and an HVAC model connecting thermal states at air vents with states of actuators of the HVAC system, for determining a target thermal state at the air vents connecting the HVAC system to an environment, such that the target thermal state at the air vents results in a thermal state at the location of an occupant according to the ADM connecting uneven distribution of thermal states at different locations in the environment. Further, the control system determines and submits control commands to one or multiple actuators of the HVAC system producing the target thermal state at the air vents.

Abstract: A method for determining the direction of travel of a vehicle comprises providing a first sensor for measuring a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and at least one second sensor for establishing the rotational movement of a wheel of the vehicle, An acceleration signal containing acceleration information from the first sensor is received by the system. The acceleration signal is filtered resulting in a modified acceleration signal. The direction of travel of the vehicle is determined based on the modified acceleration signal and based on the output signal of the second sensor.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes: a data acquisition part that acquires correction data indicating a content regarding a correction process which corrects an error of an angle at which a rotation angle sensor that measures a rotation angle of a rotor included in an electric motor is attached; a determination part that determines, based on the correction data, whether or not the correction process has been performed; and a control method determination part that determines, in a case where it is determined that the correction process has not been performed, that an inverter which supplies an AC current to the electric motor is controlled under a pulse-width modulation control.

Abstract: A two-wire electronic circuit can sense a voltage across terminals of a transistor and control an electrical current of the two-wire electronic circuit in accordance with the sensed voltage.

Abstract: A method that includes moving a sheet material between first and second groups of rolls following a winding path according to a setpoint speed, driving the first group of rolls by a first drive, driving the second group by a second drive independent of the first drive, measuring the speed of the first drive, measuring the speed of the second drive controlling the speed of the first drive by means of a first torque setpoint signal which is a function of a first error signal obtained from the difference between the setpoint speed and the speed of the first drive, and controlling the speed of the second drive by means of a second torque setpoint signal which is a function of a second error signal obtained from the difference between the setpoint speed and the speed of the second drive, and is also a function of an additional torque gain.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor energizable by magnetic fields produced by the stator when receiving a stator current to produce relative motion between the rotor and the stator. A controller is configured to send the stator current through the stator at a current angle measured from the closest one of a pole of the rotor, determine a desired operational output of the electric machine, and determine a desired rotor motion corresponding to the desired operational output of the electric machine. The controller is further configured to calculate a vector control modulation applied to the stator that elicits the desired rotor motion, and adjust the current angle of the stator current based on the vector control modulation to cause the rotor to perform the desired rotor motion and achieve the desired operational output of the electric machine.

Abstract: A steering device includes a steering member, a steering operation mechanism, a reactive force motor, a steering motor that drives the steering operation mechanism, a steering torque sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit sets a manual steering angle command value. The electronic control unit computes a reactive-force-related composite angle command value. The electronic control unit computes a steering-related composite angle command value based on a steering-related automatic steering angle command value and the manual steering angle command value. The electronic control unit causes a rotational angle of the reactive force motor to follow the reactive-force-related composite angle command value. The electronic control unit causes a rotational angle of the steering motor to follow the steering-related composite angle command value. The electronic control unit estimates a first disturbance torque.

Abstract: A method determines a rotor position of an electric rotating machine which is fed by a PWM-controlled inverter. Specific injection voltages, which are composed of predefined voltages and high-frequency voltages, are converted into corresponding PWM duty factors by a controller and the inverter is correspondingly actuated with these PWM duty factors. Current profiles of phase currents are then determined by measuring at least one first phase current and at least one second phase current. The measurement is carried out within a PWM period, in each case in the chronologically last third of a passive switched state. The rotor position is then determined in accordance with the ascertained current profiles and the fed-in high-frequency voltages.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a main motor for traveling and an electronic control unit that controls the main motor. The electronic control unit is configured to: extract, from time series data of a rotation speed of the main motor, vibration data in a predetermined frequency band that includes resonance frequency of a drive system that includes the main motor; lower an upper limit value of output torque of the main motor from a normal upper limit value to a first upper limit value lower than the normal upper limit value when magnitude of vibration obtained from the extracted vibration data exceeds a first threshold value; and lower the upper limit value of output torque of the main motor to a second upper limit value lower than the first upper limit value when the magnitude of the vibration exceeds a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A control unit for operating an electrical machine which includes a rotor, a stator, and power electronics. The power electronics have a plurality of switching elements, by which the phases of the stator winding are connected/connectible electrically to an electrical energy store. The control unit includes first and second processing units and is configured to determine control signals for controlling the switching elements, using the processing units. The first processing unit is configured to determine a magnitude of a setpoint voltage vector for the phases based on a setpoint rotational speed of the rotor and an actual rotational speed of the rotor. The second processing unit is connected to the first processing unit so as to be able to communicate with it, and being configured to determine the control signals as a function of the magnitude of the setpoint voltage vector and an actual angle of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A system for managing motor torque in a vehicle determines a stall metric corresponding to motor speed and determines a torque limit based on the stall metric. The system determines a desired torque value, and determines whether to generate a modification to one or more baseline torque commands based on the desired torque value and the torque limit. If the baseline torque command is not to be modified, the system generates the one or more baseline torque commands corresponding to one or more motors. If the baseline torque is to be modified, the system generates one or more modified torque commands corresponding to the one or more motors based on the modification and on the one or more baseline torque commands. The modified torque command may include a minimum value that is less than the torque limit and a maximum value that corresponds to a wheel slip torque.

Abstract: A motor control system with adjustable voltage harmonic and a method for correcting the motor control system is disclosed. Based on the input modulation order, the motor control system drives and controls a motor. The motor control system includes: a control order selection unit to generate a control order based on the modulation order, a modulation signal control unit used to generate a pulse output duty ratio modulation signal, a harmonic voltage weight selection unit used to select the weight value of the harmonic wave, a pulse modulation part to generate a control signal based on the modulation signal indicating the pulse output duty ratio, the weight value of the harmonic wave, and the pulse modulation carrier frequency signal. Based on the control signal, the inverter circuit adds the harmonic voltage into the motor-driving voltage to drive the motor, so as to reduce the noise or vibration of the motor.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided. The WWS includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a wiper arm and blade, a gearbox/converter operably interposed between the BLDC motor and the wiper arm and blade and a smart motor drive configured to determine a WWS failure condition and to operate the BLDC motor according to the determination.

Abstract: A plurality of power supply circuits include a second power supply circuit for a CPU included in a control unit and a first power supply circuit for another circuit. An output voltage from the first power supply circuit is higher than an output voltage from the second power supply circuit. A range of input voltage is divided into three levels of voltage sub-ranges in accordance with a requirements specification. When the input voltage falls within a lower level voltage sub-range, both of an output function of the first power supply circuit and an output function of the second power supply circuit are stopped. When the input voltage falls within an intermediate level voltage sub-range, the output function of the first power supply circuit is stopped. When the input voltage falls within an upper level voltage sub-range, all circuits are controlled so as to operate.

Abstract: A first input coupling and a second input coupling are coupled to rotatably drive an output coupling at the same time. In one embodiment, the output coupling rotates a robotic surgery endoscope about a longitudinal axis of the output coupling. A first motor drives the first input coupling while being assisted by a second motor that is driving the second input coupling. A first compensator produces a first motor input based on a position error and in accordance with a position control law, and a second compensator produces a second motor input based on the position error and in accordance with an impedance control law. In another embodiment, the second compensator receives a measured torque of the first motor. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A motor control system configured to detect a pinch condition of a structure actuated by a motor includes a pinch detection module configured to receive a current signal indicative of a motor current, determine a rate of change of current based on the current signal, and generate a pinch signal indicative of the pinch condition in response to either one of the motor current being greater than a current threshold and the rate of change of current being greater than a rate of change threshold. The motor control system further includes a position control module configured to control the motor to actuate the structure in response to an input and at least one of stop and reverse the motor in response to the pinch signal.

Abstract: A method for continuous condition monitoring of an electric motor having a rotor and a stator and at least two motor phases, wherein, a first energy loss is associated with the first motor phase and a second energy loss is associated with the second motor phase. The temperature during operation of the electric motor is determined by firstly carrying out a first temperature calculation in order to estimate a temperature of the first motor phase, the first temperature calculation incorporating an energy loss estimation, and a temperature estimation in which a temperature of the first motor phase depends on the estimated energy loss. A second temperature calculation in order to estimate a temperature of the second motor phase utilizes the first temperature value and an energy loss difference between the first and the second energy loss.

Abstract: A resolver decoder circuit includes: a first filter circuit configured to calculate a first weighted sum of a first digital signal over a pre-determined period of time, where the first digital signal includes first digital samples of a first analog signal from a sine winding of a resolver; a second filter circuit configured to calculate a second weighted sum of a second digital signal over the pre-determined period of time, where the second digital signal includes second digital samples of a second analog signal from a cosine winding of the resolver, where the first and the second analog signals are configured to be induced by a sine signal applied to an input winding of the resolver; and a rectifier configured to generate a first output and a second output by adjusting a first sign of the first weighted sum and adjusting a second sign of the second weighted sum, respectively.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enhance the reliability of an autonomous driving system. The autonomous driving system includes: a higher-level control device 1 that outputs a control target value of an actuator group based on an action plan of a vehicle; and a lower-level control device 2 that controls the actuator group of the vehicle based on a command from the higher-level control device 1. The lower-level control device 2 holds the control target value of the vehicle provided by the higher-level control device 1 over a specific period. When the higher-level control device 1 does not satisfy a desired function, the lower-level control device 2 is configured to be controlled based on the held control target value. The action plan is followed by determining and correcting a difference between an actual action value and the control target value of the vehicle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a two-stage on-board battery charger that can generate a wide range of output voltages is described herein. Generally, the battery charger employs a first stage buck and boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter, and a second stage DC-DC converter. The buck and boost PFC converter is capable of generating variable intermediate DC-link voltages which allow the on-board battery charger to efficiently generate the wider range of output voltages.

Abstract: A machine learning device which learns fault prediction of one of a main shaft of a machine tool and a motor driving the main shaft, including a state observation unit observing a state variable including at least one of data output from a motor controller controlling the motor, data output from a detector detecting a state of the motor, and data output from a measuring device measuring a state of the one of the main shaft and the motor; a determination data obtaining unit obtaining determination data upon determining one of whether a fault has occurred in the one of the main shaft and the motor and a degree of fault; and a learning unit learning the fault prediction of the one of the main shaft and the motor in accordance with a data set generated based on a combination of the state variable and the determination data.

Abstract: A system for production of liquid food (P) comprises a food processing arrangement (2) and a computer device (3), e.g. a PLC. The computer device (3) sequentially executes a control program (5A) to control the food processing arrangement (2) to perform processing steps for producing the liquid food (P) from one or more ingredients in accordance with a predefined recipe. The program comprises command instructions that each allocates a respective processing step to a predefined control command among a predefined set. To enable parallelism, despite the sequential execution by the computer device (3), the set of control commands comprises a start command which is associated, by the computer device (3), with an action of: starting the food processing step that is allocated to the start command and proceeding, without waiting for the food processing step to be completed, to a subsequent instruction in the list of instructions.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a motor control system that provides torque ripple compensation includes a current regulator that receives a first current command corresponding to an input torque command. The current regulator further generates a first voltage command based on the first current command using a first transformation matrix. The current regulator further receives a second current command corresponding to a torque ripple to be compensated. The current regulator further generates a second voltage command based on the second current command using a second transformation matrix. The current regulator further computes a final voltage command using the first voltage command and the second current command, the final voltage command being applied to a motor.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a vehicle control device that, even when power characteristics of a power generation device and a power transmission device changes, senses degradation of vehicle components, corrects a drive instruction to the power transmission device, and is thereby capable of stabilizing vehicle behavior over a long term. The present invention, in a predetermined vehicle environment state, measures fluctuation in drive power and acceleration in a transient region by using vehicle behavior sensors 4, performs comparison with a reference fluctuation, and thereby senses degradation of vehicle components. The drive instruction to the transmission 16-side is corrected in accordance with the degradation of vehicle components that is sensed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for dynamically generating a secure navigation path for navigation of an autonomous vehicle. The method comprises detecting disproportional acceleration of the autonomous vehicle when the autonomous vehicle is navigating from a source point to a destination point based on a predefined trajectory plan. The method comprises determining direction values of the autonomous vehicle for reaching a secure path point in the predefined trajectory plan. Based on the determined direction values, distance values are determined. The method includes detecting position of the secure path point for navigation of the autonomous vehicle based on the determined direction values and the distance values. The present disclosure uses secure path point to realign the autonomous vehicle in the predefined trajectory plan to overcome the disproportional acceleration of the autonomous vehicle due to narrow roads, upward slope, or downward slope.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: an end effector; a power source; a motor coupled to the power source, the motor configured to actuate the end effector; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor and configured to control the motor based on a current draw of the motor and an angular velocity of the motor.

Abstract: A power tool and method of detecting impacts of a power tool that includes a motor driving a hammer to impact an anvil. A motor control unit is configured to determine a motor characteristic indicative of a speed of the motor. When the motor characteristic indicates that the speed of the motor is below a speed threshold, the motor control unit employs an acceleration-based technique to detect a first impact based on a change in motor acceleration and generate a first impact indication in response to detecting the first impact. When the motor characteristic indicates that the speed is above the speed threshold, the motor control unit employs a time-based technique to detect a second impact based on an elapsed time and generates a second impact indication in response to detecting the second impact.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling an electric motor (9), in particular for moving an endodontic instrument. The device has a first sensor (8) and a control unit (2). The control unit (2) has a drive unit (4), a second sensor (6) and a processing unit (3). The processing unit (3) is configured to cause the endodontic instrument (7) to perform a sequence of movements (M1, M2). The sequence of movements (M1, M2) includes a continuous forward movement (M1) and at least one alternating movement (M2). The sequence may include an additional alternating movement (M3) and/or a reverse movement (M4). The number and order of movements to be performed in a sequence depends on a set of predefined threshold values reflecting the torque load applied to the instrument, as measured by one of the sensors.

Abstract: A method for operating a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle is proposed. The steer-by-wire steering system includes a steering wheel, a force feedback actuator coupled to the steering wheel, a steering actuator coupled to a steerable wheel, and a control system. The method includes a) the determination of steering information while taking into account a steering wheel angle and/or a driver's steering torque applied to the steering wheel by the driver; b) controlling the steering actuator while taking into account the steering information to adjust a desired wheel steering angle of the steerable wheel; c) controlling the force feedback actuator for setting a steering wheel torque; and d) providing a threshold value associated with steering wheel torque and/or the wheel steering torque; e) generating a torque value representing or reproducing the steering wheel torque and/or the wheel steering torque; and f) outputting an overshoot signal if the torque value reaches the threshold value.

Abstract: A power-steering device includes a steering wheel and an assistance motor controlled by a controller which uses at least one closed-loop control law ensuring an adjustment of the steering wheel torque, the controller including at least one feedback arm which calculates a drift component by measuring or assessing an actual force parameter corresponding to the actual steering wheel torque, by next calculating a time drift value of the actual force parameter, and then multiplying the time drift value by a drift gain, wherein the controller uses three-dimensional cartography to adjust the drift gain according to a portion of the actual force parameter and the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle, according to a first domain, referred to as “parking domain”, which extends from a longitudinal vehicle velocity of zero to a predetermined longitudinal velocity threshold, and a second domain, referred to as “driving domain”, which extends beyond the longitudinal velocity threshold.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor includes a power input calculating module configured to calculate power input to the electric motor. A power output calculating module is configured to calculate power output by the electric motor. A power loss calculating module is configured to calculate power loss in the electric motor based on the power input and the power output. A fault module is configured to compare the power loss in the electric motor to one or more predetermined power loss thresholds and to selectively alter operation of the electric motor based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical motor taking in account slip frequency. The method including determining amplitude, phase and frequency of the stator voltage from voltage measurements, determining estimates for current components from current measurement and stator voltage phase, determining estimate for torque from voltage amplitude, frequency, current amplitude and motor data, determining estimate for speed from torque, frequency and motor data, and determining over-estimation of speed from speed estimate, torque estimate and slip frequency. The over-estimation may be used to improve functional safety of the motor.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a high-frequency compensation unit that outputs a high-frequency compensation signal obtained by filtering the high-frequency components of an assist torque command signal and multiplying the filtered high-frequency components by a gain; a corrected steering torque signal obtained by negatively or positively feeding back the high-frequency compensation signal to a steering torque signal is inputted to an assist torque command calculation unit; the assist torque command calculation unit outputs the assist torque command signal in accordance with the corrected steering torque signal.

Abstract: Provided are a driving force control method and device for a hybrid vehicle, each capable of effectively absorbing torque fluctuation of an engine while suppressing deterioration in energy efficiency. The driving force control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises a PCM configured to: estimate an average torque output by an engine; estimate a torque fluctuation component of the torque output by the engine; set a countertorque for suppressing the estimated torque fluctuation component; and control an electric motor to output the set countertorque, wherein the PCM is operable, under a condition that the average torque output by the engine is constant, to set the countertorque such that, as an engine speed of the engine becomes larger, the absolute value of the countertorque becomes larger.

Abstract: A control device for a power assist wheelchair which includes a compensation turning torque calculation unit that calculates a compensation turning torque value for compensating for at least a part of the shortage or excess of the actual turning torque value with respect to the predicted turning torque value, in which the compensation turning torque value is smaller when the vehicle speed is a first speed than when the vehicle speed is a second speed faster than the first speed; a first target current determination unit that determines a target current of the first electric motor based upon the first manual torque value and the compensation turning torque value; and a second target current determination unit that determines a target current of the second electric motor based upon the second manual torque value and the compensation turning torque value.

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor-driven pump in communication with a fluid system is provided. Preferably the method employs a frequency drive system to control the motor-driven pump. The control method is characterized in that the operating frequency of the motor can be adjusted very quickly and it is ensured to be operated in a safe frequency range no more than a rated current.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a component adapted to perform a function, a sensor, and a control configuration. The sensor is configured to detect an operating parameter associated with the function. The control configuration is configured to receive a parameter signal from the sensor, and extract a predesignated feature from data associated with the parameter signal. The predesignated feature is then aggregated by the control configuration and machine learning is applied to determine a degradation level of the function associated with the predesignated feature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a food processor, where at least one processing device of the food processor is controlled, in a preparation mode, so as to at least partially automatically prepare food, and where a monitoring device performs an identification of temporally successive acquisition values at the food processor at least during the preparation mode, where the acquisition values are specific to at least one preparation parameter of the food processor, where at least one analysis information is determined dependent upon the temporally successive acquisition values, and a frequency distribution of the analysis information is identified by a time-dependent analysis, whereby an analysis result specific to a preparation state is determined, where dependent upon the analysis result, at least one control signal is emitted for influencing the preparation mode.

Abstract: A motor controller for a draft inducer motor that operates an inducer blower in a furnace is provided. The motor controller includes a communication interface operable to receive a signal from a system controller. The signal represents a command to operate the draft inducer motor. The motor controller includes a processor operable to operate the draft inducer motor in accordance with a predefined motor speed profile during at least one of an ignition stage and a combustion stage of the furnace.

Abstract: There are described methods and system for managing machine tool maintenance. The method comprises assessing health data for the machine tool over health assessment cycles, the health data indicative of a performance of the machine tool; triggering first level maintenance events on the machine tool when the health data falls outside of a tolerance; modulating a time interval between the health assessment cycles as a function of an occurrence of first level maintenance events, wherein the time interval is reduced after first level maintenance events and increased after a given number of consecutive health assessment cycles without first level maintenance events; and triggering second level maintenance events on the machine tool when second level maintenance event conditions are met.