Limitation Of Motor Load, Current, Torque Or Force (e.g., Preventing Overload) Patents (Class 318/434)
  • Patent number: 10469007
    Abstract: A system includes a torque sensor; and a hybrid power system. The hybrid power sensor includes a frame; an engine mounted on the frame; and a generator, the generator including: a generator rotor mechanically coupled to a shaft of the engine; and a generator stator coupled to the frame by the torque sensor. The torque sensor is configured to measure a torque on the generator stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Top Flight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Nayfeh, Julian Lemus, Soojae Jung, Matthew Sweetland, Long N. Phan
  • Patent number: 10461072
    Abstract: An ESD cell includes an n+ buried layer (NBL) within a p-epi layer on a substrate. An outer deep trench isolation ring (outer DT ring) includes dielectric sidewalls having a deep n-type diffusion (DEEPN diffusion) ring (DEEPN ring) contacting the dielectric sidewall extending downward to the NBL. The DEEPN ring defines an enclosed p-epi region. A plurality of inner DT structures are within the enclosed p-epi region having dielectric sidewalls and DEEPN diffusions contacting the dielectric sidewalls extending downward from the topside surface to the NBL. The inner DT structures have a sufficiently small spacing with one another so that adjacent DEEPN diffusion regions overlap to form continuous wall of n-type material extending from a first side to a second side of the outer DT ring dividing the enclosed p-epi region into a first and second p-epi region. The first and second p-epi region are connected by the NBL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Henry Litzmann Edwards, Akram A. Salman, Binghua Hu
  • Patent number: 10458420
    Abstract: The control section controls the electric motor to be driven such that the number of revolutions becomes equal to the target number of revolutions. If the control section sets the target number of revolutions to a number of revolutions of the electric motor requested by another control section, the control section changes the number of revolutions of the electric motor at an increase rate lower than or equal to the upper limit value of the increase rate or at a decrease rate lower than or equal to the upper limit value of the decrease rate. If the control section sets the target number of revolutions to a number-of-revolutions limit value, which is determined based on the voltage of a vehicle battery, the control section is able to decrease the number of revolutions of the electric motor at a decrease rate exceeding the upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takashi Kawashima, Yoshiki Nagata, Kazuki Najima
  • Patent number: 10407096
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power steering system including at least one course control function, whereby a position setpoint is determined automatically according to a reference course that a vehicle is to be made to follow, then a motor setpoint applied to an assistance motor is adjusted accordingly, the method including a safety function which is distinct from the course control function and meets a higher ASIL safety level according to ISO-26262 standard, said safety function including a diagnostics subfunction according to which a control parameter such as the angular position of the steering wheel, the driver torque applied to the steering wheel, or the rate at which the steering wheel is turned is monitored in order to detect the onset of an alert situation considered to be hazardous, then an intervention subfunction according to which, if an alert situation is detected, the course control function is neutralized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventor: Romain Moretti
  • Patent number: 10389293
    Abstract: Method for the protection of electric motors from critical operating states wherein, as the electric motor is operating, a motor current value and/or a motor voltage value is/are measured and compared with a permissible operating range wherein an output signal is generated when leaving the permissible operating range and, while the electric motor is operating, the permissible operating range is determined and adjusted continuously from the measured motor current value and/or from the measured motor voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: KRIWAN INDUSTRIE-ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventor: Xiaoming Peng
  • Patent number: 10370026
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor driven steering system includes setting a reference point of a motor angle by a control unit, estimating a steering angular speed and a steering angle using the reference point by the control unit, determining whether the steering angle is included within a predetermined setting range by the control unit, and controlling an output torque of the motor driven steering system by the control unit using the steering angular speed and the steering angle, when the steering angle is included within the setting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Do Young Kim
  • Patent number: 10367438
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce an overcurrent of an inverter and a motor. A control device for an electric motor in which windings of respective phases are independently connected, the control device for the electric motor uses a zero-phase current calculation means for calculating a zero-phase current based on detection values of currents of the respective phases flowing in the electric motor and a position of a rotor of the electric motor to control a current flowing in the electric motor such that a vector sum of a drive current and the zero-phase current is equal to or lower than a predetermined current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Araki, Hideki Miyazaki, Toshisada Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10333448
    Abstract: An electric motor control system of a vehicle includes a current command module configured to, based on a motor torque request for an electric motor of the vehicle, generate a first d-axis current command for the electric motor and a first q-axis current command for the electric motor. An adjustment module is configured to, based on a speed of a rotor of the electric motor and the motor torque request, selectively determine at least one of a d-axis current adjustment and a q-axis current adjustment based on a temperature of the rotor of the electric motor. An adjusting module is configured to produce a second d-axis current command for the electric motor by adjusting the first d-axis current command based on the d-axis current adjustment and to produce a second q-axis current command for the electric motor by adjusting the first q-axis current command based on the q-axis current adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Anno Yoo, Yo Chan Son, Sangyeop Kwak
  • Patent number: 10326265
    Abstract: A method for limiting the current in a device of “H-bridge” type having a plurality of transistors including the following steps: detection of a failure in a transistor from among the plurality of transistors; disabling of the transistor in which a failure has been detected; detection in the transistors opposite to the transistor, of the discharging of the energy accumulated at output; and disabling of the other transistors of the plurality of transistors. A system for limiting the current in a device of “H-bridge” type having a plurality of transistors is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Thierry Bavois
  • Patent number: 10319156
    Abstract: In aspects, the present invention discloses a method of detecting a condition of an electric machine using a portable diagnostic device comprising one or more sensors for measuring at least one physical parameter associated with the electric machine in at least two axes. The method comprises measuring the at least one physical parameter associated with electric machine at a first position in a first axis and a second axis, determining a ratio of a first measurement of the at least one physical parameter in the first axis and a second measurement of the at least one physical parameter in the second axis at the first position, identifying a spatial distribution associated with the condition of the electric machine from a database based on the determined ratio and identifying the condition of the electric machine based on the identified spatial distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Amandine Heqing Sun, Maciej Orman, Cajetan Pinto
  • Patent number: 10256753
    Abstract: An alternating current (AC) motor system and control methods are provided herein. The AC motor system includes a motor having a first rated horsepower and configured to be coupled to a power source, and a drive circuit configured to be electrically coupled between the power source and the motor. The drive circuit has a second rated horsepower that is lower than the first rated horsepower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bryan Snipes, Luis D. Morales, Maung Saw Eddison, Zachary Joseph Stauffer, Ludovic Andre Chretien, Lester Benjamin Manz
  • Patent number: 10243489
    Abstract: In a rotary electrical machine control apparatus, a selection section selects a relay current limiting value or a coil current limiting value depending on whether a plurality of systems are operated or one or more but not all of the plurality of systems are operated. The system is a combination of a winding set, an inverter, and a power supply relay, which correspond to each other. The relay current limiting value is a current limiting value calculated based on the temperature of the power supply relay. The coil current limiting value is a current limiting value calculated based on the temperature of a choke coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Kano, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10234509
    Abstract: The controller is equipped with a detection signal acquiring unit adapted to acquire a detection signal from a sensor that detects a physical quantity caused by vibrations generated at a detected location due to rotation of an electric motor, a phase information acquiring unit adapted to acquire phase information of the electric motor, a time width determining unit adapted to determine a time width, which coincides with a period of a phenomena occurring at the detected location due to rotation of the electric motor, on the basis of the phase information, a signal dividing unit adapted to divide the detection signal based on the determined time width, and an adding and averaging unit adapted to add and average a plurality of divided signals divided by the time width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshifumi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10211624
    Abstract: A drive protection method used in a drive circuit of a DC motor having a maximum tolerance value is disclosed to include the steps of providing a drive current for driving the DC motor and a control signal a for controlling the output level of the drive current, providing a maximum signal level corresponding to the maximum tolerance value of said DC motor, comparing the level of the feedback signal of the DC motor and the maximum signal level, and computing the feedback signal to obtain an operation signal when the level of the feedback signal exceeds the maximum signal level and then stopping the output of the control signal when the level of the operation signal reaches a turn-off level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 10199981
    Abstract: A motor control system comprises a motor control circuit, a non-transitory storage medium and a processing circuitry. The storage medium is configured to store a current threshold profile that is indicative of a current requirement of the motor control circuit for an operational cycle of a motor. The processing circuitry is configured to adjust the stored current threshold profile based on a change to the operational cycle of the motor (e.g., from standard to non-standard).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Won-Door Corporation
    Inventors: Duane O. Hall, E. Carl Goodman, William Michael Coleman
  • Patent number: 10181774
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes an electric motor, a casing configured to house the motor, and an electrical enclosure coupled to the motor casing. The electrical enclosure houses a control board including a microcontroller and a memory device therein. The microcontroller is configured to control the electric motor based at least in part on motor configuration data stored in the memory device. The assembly also includes a near field communications (NFC) antenna positioned adjacent to an opening defined in the motor casing or the electronics enclosure, and is communicatively coupled to the memory device. The NFC antenna is configured to: receive a radio signal transmitted by an external programming device, the radio signal including updated motor configuration data; convert the radio signal to an electrical signal that includes the updated motor configuration data; and transmit the electrical signal to the memory device to store the updated motor configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailesh Prabhakar Waikar, Kamron Mark Wright, Ahmad Mohammad Ghannam, Ryan Keith Stephens, Steven Albert Nardin, Xiaohui Ji, Peter Bruff Lytle
  • Patent number: 10174553
    Abstract: The disclosed method enables control of an actuator for winding a blackout screen around a winding shaft. The actuator includes at least one electric motor. The method includes: at least one step that involves using an electronic unit to detect screen locking, during lowering or raising, by detecting a torque exerted by the motor on the winding shaft, the torque being determined on the basis of a current for supplying power to the motor; and a step that involves stopping the motor when a signal representing the detected current is greater than a threshold value. The electronic unit is parametrizable. Moreover, the method includes at least one additional step, used when the signal representing the detected current is less than the threshold value and involving detecting, on the basis of the detected current, a localized change in the shape of the screen, during lowering, by using the same electronic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SOMFY SAS
    Inventor: David Mugnier
  • Patent number: 10173551
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided in a rotary electric machine driving system that includes a rotary electric machine for a vehicle and a control unit that controls driving of the rotary electric machine. The apparatus includes a malfunction determination section determining whether or not a system malfunction that requires torque limitation has occurred, a to-be-avoided state determination section determining whether or not the vehicle is in a to-be-avoided state, a torque limitation section limiting an output torque outputted from the rotary electric machine to a limiting torque smaller than a command torque, when the system malfunction is determined to have occurred and the vehicle is not in the to-be-avoided state, and a torque limitation relaxation section permitting the output torque to be a limitation relaxation torque larger than the limiting torque, when the system malfunction is determined to have occurred and the vehicle is in the to-be-avoided state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Nishiyama, Hirofumi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10152879
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a manufacturing apparatus includes collecting a control signal, of a controller and a corresponding sensing signal, of the manufacturing apparatus over a predetermined period of time; segmenting the control signal and the corresponding sensing signal to obtain at least one control step; calculating a character of the controller based on at least one of the control signal, the sensing signal, the at least one control step, or information from a user manual; generating, based on the character, a health index indicating health of the controller; and generating a warning signal when the health index exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Te-Ming Chen, Sen-Chia Chang, Chien-Liang Lai, Chi-Ting Day
  • Patent number: 10122315
    Abstract: A power tool that includes a motor configured to drive a working element, a power supply that is coupled to the motor to provide power to the motor, a shunt circuit that is coupled to the power supply, and a controller. The shunt circuit includes a shunt switch and a shunt element and is configured to hold a voltage of the power supply below a high voltage threshold. The shunt switch is switchable between a conducting state, in which the shunt switch conducts current through the shunt element, and a non-conducting state, in which the shunt switch does not conduct current through the shunt element. The controller is coupled to the motor, the power supply, and the shunt circuit and is configured to determine the voltage of the power supply, and control the shunt switch based on the voltage from the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mergener, Daniel R. Ertl, Jay J. Rosenbecker
  • Patent number: 10054622
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and a system for a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) real time impedance tracking. The method includes extracting the Back Electro-Motive Force (BEMF) voltage from a driver's load current by determining a current multiplying factor utilizing a Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm and introducing an error function to control the gain of the load current and isolate the BEMF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David Hernandez, Mandy Barsilai
  • Patent number: 10016041
    Abstract: A hair removal tool is equipped with: a drive unit for driving a blade; a load detection unit for detecting the size of the load on the drive unit; and a control unit for changing the drive mode of the drive unit between a first drive mode for driving the drive unit at a first drive speed, a second drive mode for driving the drive unit at a second drive speed which is faster than the first drive speed, and a transition mode for driving the drive unit at a transition speed which is faster than the second drive speed. A first interval is set as the interval from when the drive mode is changed from the first drive mode to the transition mode until when the drive mode is changed from the transition mode to the second drive mode. A second interval is set as the interval from when the drive mode is changed from the transition mode to the second drive mode until when the drive mode is changed from the second drive mode to the first drive mode. The first interval is shorter than the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Ohba, Koji Asakawa, Masanobu Yamasaki, Yoichi Takaoka
  • Patent number: 10017047
    Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing an AGS system fault in a hybrid electric vehicle. That method includes validating shutter movement and inferring shutter position based upon stall current of a shutter drive motor and current drawn by an HEV traction motor. A new and improved active grill shutter system for a hybrid electric vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10000122
    Abstract: In a method for supplying an electrical load of a vehicle with electrical energy by auxiliary converters connected in parallel on the alternating-voltage side, a current flow between the auxiliary converters and a grounded N conductor of an energy supply network is interrupted in the presence a ground fault. The auxiliary converters connected in parallel on the alternating-voltage side are operated with fundamental-wave and pulse synchronicity. An energy supply system of a vehicle, in particular of a rail vehicle, performs this method, with the energy supply system including at least two auxiliary converters arranged in parallel, an energy supply network for supplying electrical loads, at least one switch for interrupting a current flow between the auxiliary converters and the energy supply network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Xiao Qiang Wu, Nikolaj Echkilev, Andreas Wellner
  • Patent number: 9923490
    Abstract: An electric motor gives regenerative braking force to a hybrid vehicle by regenerative control. A regeneration level selector selects regenerative braking force of the electric motor by a driver's operation. When an ECO mode is applied, an ECU increases the regenerative braking force selected by the regeneration level selector as compared with the time when the ECO mode is not applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taishi Hisano
  • Patent number: 9906216
    Abstract: This disclosure provides example methods, devices, and systems for a three-lead electronic switch system adapted to replace a mechanical switch. A device is disclosed that includes a sensor, a current limiting circuit, an output switching circuit comprising a first switching device and a second switching device, and a three lead interface circuit in communication with the output switching circuit and the current limiting circuit. The device includes an electronic switching circuit in communication with the sensor, the current limiting circuit, and the output switching circuit. The electronic switching circuit is configured to drive the first and second switching devices in complementary conduction states responsive to determining the output of the sensor relative to a threshold voltage. The output switching circuit includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a return terminal that are configured to provide power to the electronic switching circuit while providing an indication of the conduction states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolf Landmann
  • Patent number: 9868346
    Abstract: In a method for operating a hybrid drive device of a motor vehicle, a speed ratio between an electric machine of the hybrid drive device and an output shaft of the hybrid drive device is reduced by a transmission, when a temperature of the electric machine exceeds a first temperature limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Andreas Petz
  • Patent number: 9867314
    Abstract: A method for controlling temperature of an inverter system having an inverter and a cooling fan is provided, the method including: obtaining an internal temperature of the inverter and a DC (Direct Current)-link voltage of the inverter; and outputting a fan driving control signal for driving the fan or maintaining the fan being driven to the fan, when the internal temperature is above a predetermined fan drive setting temperature and the DC-link voltage is above a predetermined fan drive setting voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deokyoung Lim, Chun Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 9866161
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring an engine driven generator system (GMS) is provided herein. The system self-configures across generator types and manufacturers via a learning algorithm. Additional sensors are included in the system to provide a robust set of sensor data. Data analysis employed includes comparison to threshold levels, trending of historical data, and Wavelet analysis. A graphical touch screen is provided to users for both controlling the GMS and for viewing results. Monitoring results include operating conditions, existing faults, and warnings of undesirable conditions. Ethernet connections afford review of real time data, diagnostic feedback, and prognostic information at a central location. A sleep state of the GMS conserves generator battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Williams RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren B Johnson, Christopher M Stimek, Peter C Gardner
  • Patent number: 9849867
    Abstract: An electronic parking brake system and method for controlling an EPB system are disclosed. An EPB system including EPB actuator operated by a motor includes a motor driver which drives the motor of the EPB actuator; a current detector which detects a current flowing in the motor; and an electronic control unit (ECU) which drives the motor using the motor driver according to an operation mode, calculates an amount of current energy consumed by the motor using the current detected by the current detector while the motor is driving and a detecting time taken to detect the current, compares the calculated amount of current energy and a preset value, and controls an operation of the motor according to a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Su-Hwan No
  • Patent number: 9837945
    Abstract: A motor control method and system are provided. The motor control method includes recognizing, by a controller, a driving signal for a motor and when the controller recognizes the driving signal, the controller determine a failure of multiple Hall sensors disposed within the motor, based on signals detected by the multiple Hall sensors. Additionally, when the Hall sensors in the motor are determined to be faulty, the controller identifies a faulty Hall sensor from among the multiple Hall sensors by analyzing respective frequencies of the signals detected by the multiple Hall sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Hun Lee, Chang Seok Ryu, Min Su Kang, Sung Do Kim
  • Patent number: 9800074
    Abstract: A portable device for charging and discharging batteries simultaneously via having a servomotor controlled automatically by a microcontroller unit using a software is described. The servomotor arm is controlled and a circuit is open or closed at the command of the software based upon the voltage of each one of the batteries connected to the device; the temperature of electrical wires of the circuit and the amperage of the battery or batteries being charged. A second device for charging/discharging batteries is described having a servomotor arm controlled automatically by a microcontroller unit using a software. The servomotor arm is controlled during the charging/discharging process, which is carried out in two independent circuits in an alternated manner by moving the servomotor arm from one circuit to another based upon the same mentioned parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Fernando Emilio Adames
  • Patent number: 9783286
    Abstract: A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The UAV comprises at least one rotor. The method includes receiving a take-off signal; initiating the at least one rotor to operate with a first preset rotation acceleration in response to the take-off signal; detecting a take-off status information of the UAV, the take-off status information at least comprising a current height of the UAV; determining whether the detected current height of the UAV is equal to or greater than a threshold; and sending a hover signal to the at least one rotor to enable the UAV to hover in the current height in response to the determination that the detected current height of the UAV is equal to or greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ZEROTECH (SHENZHEN) INTELLIGENCE ROBOT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianjun Yang
  • Patent number: 9745944
    Abstract: An engine starter unit for starting an engine, includes a starter, a first controller, and a prohibiting means. The starter includes a motor generating a rotary force and a pinion transmitting the rotary force generated by the motor to the engine, the starter cranking the engine up to an engine speed of 450 rpm or more in a drive ON state. The first controller turns the starter into the drive ON state to make the starter start cranking in response to an ON operation of an ignition switch by a user. The prohibiting means prohibits the starter from being turned into the drive ON state again in response to another ON operation of the ignition switch for a prohibition duration after the first ON operation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 9727054
    Abstract: To enable any measurement through the galvanic isolation of a subsea transformer, a topside system is used apply an AC voltage thereby generating a flux is the transformer core. The test is preferably done prior to any rotation in a subsea motor installed “behind” the transformer. Therefore, the voltage and frequency combination is be selected such that the torque produced is insufficient to rotate the motor. Impedance amplitude and phase are measured and then comparing the results of modeled fault scenarios. Faults such as, open circuits, short circuits, and loss of phase(s) can be detected prior to startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Audun Magne Askeland
  • Patent number: 9709979
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an actuator system including a control device, a torque motor having a voltage Umc across its terminals and actuating a servo-valve, and an actuator controlled by the servo-valve, is provided. The control device is suitable for delivering to the torque motor a control current Icmd as a function of a current setpoint I_c and of a measured current Imes. The monitoring method includes: comparing the voltage Umc measured across the terminals of the torque motor with a predetermined threshold voltage Vthresh; and if the voltage across the terminals of the torque motor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold voltage, raising an alarm and indicating a failure of the servo-valve. The comparison of the voltage Umc is performed only if the control current Icmd is greater than a predetermined threshold current Iinhib, with a control current less than that inhibiting any signaling of a servo-valve failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Raphael Tanguy Guillory, Ghislain Nicolas Emmanuel Sanchis
  • Patent number: 9711592
    Abstract: A diode includes: a p-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type isolation region formed to surround a predetermined region of the n-type semiconductor layer on the p-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type buried layer formed across the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer within the predetermined region; an n-type collector wall formed in the n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type anode region and a plurality of n-type cathode regions formed in a diode formation region; and a p-type guard ring formed to surround the diode formation region in a region between the diode formation region of the surface layer of the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type isolation region. A transistor for reducing a leakage current is formed by the p-type anode region, the p-type guard ring, and an n-type semiconductor between the p-type anode region and the p-type guard ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Yano
  • Patent number: 9712088
    Abstract: A control method and system of an electrical vacuum pump is provide to resolve generation of peak current when a motor of the electrical vacuum pump initially starts and implement a soft start. The electrical vacuum pump generates vacuum by suctioning air by rotating a pump with a motor. The control method includes starting the motor by supplying a power supply to the motor to switch on the electrical vacuum pump and sensing current applied to the motor using a current sensing circuit. In addition, the method includes determining a target value of motor input voltage set as a value according to the sensed applied current while starting the motor until the sensed applied current reaches a predetermined current and adjusted the motor input voltage applied to the motor to correspond to the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Min Jae Kang, Sung Woo Lee, Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 9658080
    Abstract: An in-vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) for correcting an error introduced to a sensor output signal as a result of amplification is provided. An output voltage of first and second voltage generators and after-amplification voltages of such output voltages are respectively A/D converted for input into a linear function. A microcomputer adjusts the output voltage of the first and second voltage generators which are amplified by the amplification circuit so that the output signals of the first and second voltage generators are adjusted to increase a voltage difference between the two. The increased voltage difference allows accurate identification of the linear function and removal of the error that is introduced to the sensor output signal during the course of processing by the amplification circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoya Yoshizaki, Keita Oomi, Daisuke Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9634602
    Abstract: A three-phase inverter apparatus includes an inverter main circuit in three phases having a plurality of semiconductor switching devices to convert a DC voltage into the three-phase AC voltages to be supplied to a pulsating load, a current detector configured to detect first and second output currents from the inverter main circuit, a voltage detector configured to detect first to third output voltages from the inverter main circuit, and a control circuit configured to generate a command compensation value using a value obtained by dividing a current RSM obtained from the first and second output currents by an average value of the current RSM, and generate the compensated control command for each of the switching devices by multiplying the command compensation value by a corresponding one of control commands each of which is generated for a corresponding one of the switching devices, using the first to third output voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Hou, Hidenobu Tsuchihashi, Masamitsu Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9623545
    Abstract: A power tool that includes a motor configured to drive a working element, a power supply that is coupled to the motor to provide power to the motor, a shunt circuit that is coupled to the power supply and the motor, and a controller. The shunt circuit includes a shunt switch and a shunt element and is configured to hold a voltage of the power supply below a high voltage threshold. The shunt switch is switchable between a conducting state, in which the shunt switch conducts current through the shunt element, and a non-conducting state, in which the shunt switch does not conduct current through the shunt element. The controller is coupled to the motor, the power supply, and the shunt circuit and is configured to determine the voltage of the power supply, and control the shunt switch based on the voltage from the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthew J. Mergener
  • Patent number: 9621019
    Abstract: A controller includes a multiplier block that is coupled to receive an input voltage signal, an input current signal, and an output voltage signal that are representative of a power conversion system. The multiplier block outputs a multiplier block output signal responsive to a product of the input voltage signal and the input current signal divided by the output voltage signal. A signal discriminator outputs a error signal responsive to the multiplier block output signal. The error signal is representative of a difference between a portion of the multiplier block output signal that is greater than a reference signal and a portion of the multiplier block output signal that is less than or equal to the reference signal. A switch controller generates a drive signal responsive to the error signal to control switching of a power switch to regulate an average output current of the power conversion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Power Intergrations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Yue Zhang, Ricardo Luis Janezic Pregitzer, Mingming Mao, Tiziano Pastore
  • Patent number: 9617777
    Abstract: A vehicle window opening device includes a controlling portion, which controls opening/closing operation of a vehicle window based on drive force of a drive portion, a manipulation portion, which outputs a command signal in response to manipulation, and a catching detecting portion, which detects catching of a foreign object by the vehicle window based on a characteristic value of the drive portion that fluctuates in accordance with fluctuation in load acting on the vehicle window during an opening operation. The control portion is configured to control the opening operation, the closing operation, or both the opening and closing operations of the vehicle window based on manipulation of the manipulation portion after detection of catching by the catching detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Aoshima, Keitaro Sato
  • Patent number: 9581989
    Abstract: A control device of a machine tool which filters possible continued machining time data estimated from a value of current of a motor to thereby enable an accurate grasp of the time regardless of fluctuation of the load, that is, a control device of a machine tool which has a motor which drives a spindle, which control device of a machine tool can use a value of current of the motor, an overheat temperature of the motor, and a temperature of the motor to estimate the time until reaching the overheat temperature when the current operating current continues to be run through the motor, filter the estimated value of time by a filter to display a possible continued processing time, change a filter time constant based on either of a value of current and current command value, and accurately display the possible continued processing time even if the load fluctuates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Geng Li, Tadashi Okita
  • Patent number: 9584058
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for estimating temperature of a rotor of a motor configured to calculate temperature of the rotor using an actual measured data-based thermal model (thermal impedance model) and an energy loss model, and to estimate temperature of the rotor using the calculated temperature variation of the rotor. The method includes calculating, by a controller, an energy loss of the motor using driving conditions of the motor. The controller is also configured to calculate a temperature variation of the rotor in a predetermined reference temperature using the calculated energy loss and thermal resistances of the rotor and a stator of the motor. Further, the controller is configured to estimate a rotor temperature in the predetermined reference temperature using the temperature variation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Jun Kim, Jeong Min Shin
  • Patent number: 9564846
    Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the motor and speed of the motor. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz, James L. Skinner, Charles E. Green, John P. Powers
  • Patent number: 9564698
    Abstract: An assembly provides a dual function for mounting a port connector on a circuit board and also secures a capacitor to the circuit board. The assembly includes the circuit board and a monolithic plastic frame having a flange, a snap structure, a capacitor cradle, and a socket section. The flange has a fastening structure for fastening the frame to the circuit board. The snap structure for a snap-in attachment of the port connector to the frame is arranged near an end edge of the circuit board. The capacitor cradle for holding a cylindrical capacitor is formed adjacent to the snap structure and is elevated from the circuit board by an air gap. The socket section bears socket contacts for receiving capacitor contact leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Boris G. Karasik, William M. Leach
  • Patent number: 9553534
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a drive source, a rechargeable battery that supplies power to the drive source, a voltage meter that measures voltage of the rechargeable battery, a temperature meter that measures temperature of the rechargeable battery, and a drive control unit that regulates the power supplied to the drive source from the rechargeable battery to drive the drive source. If the battery temperature measured by the temperature meter is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature when the battery voltage measured by the voltage meter is lower than or equal to a predetermined voltage, the drive control unit drives the drive source differently from normal driving that is performed if the battery temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature when the battery voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Miwa, Masaki Ikeda, Naoki Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 9467079
    Abstract: An exemplary power supply system for a direct-current drive includes a power converter for at least one direction-dependent two-quadrant operating mode, at least one associated pulse-based actuation device, an input-side connection and an output-side connection for the power converter, and at least one mechanical interruption device for the input-side connection and/or the output-side connection. The power supply system is provided to continually provide values of a current flowing on the output-side during operation by receiving an STO (safe torque off) signal, immediate changeover of the power converter operating mode into the inverter limitation if an STO signal is received, interrupting a feed of actuation power through the actuation device into the power converter, and supplying an interruption signal to the at least one mechanical interruption device once a second subsequent time interval has elapsed and the current flowing on the output side has not decayed below a safety-critical limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Rimann, Christian Schleger, Ludwig Werle
  • Patent number: 9421998
    Abstract: A method for detecting a motor error of a motor driven power steering (MDPS) may include: calculating, by a control unit, a Q-axis command current of a motor through a Q-axis command current calculation unit, according to requested torque; calculating a command current of each phase of the motor from the calculated Q-axis command current of the motor; controlling the motor according to the Q-axis command current of the motor, and sensing a measured current of each phase of the motor through each current sensor; determining whether each phase of the motor is disconnected, through the command current and the measured current of each phase of the motor; and outputting the determination result to an output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ji Hoon Yoo