Power Factor Control Of Armature Or Line Circuit Patents (Class 318/438)
  • Patent number: 8264182
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ramu, Inc.
    Inventor: Krishnan Ramu
  • Patent number: 8222849
    Abstract: A motor control method for an MDPS system makes it possible to provide smoother and easier steering operation at a low cost by improving the OHP performance while supplying appropriate controlling electric current to a motor, without changing the motor or a decelerator used in an MDPS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kisung Park, Soobo Park
  • Patent number: 8164292
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor controller, including a converter for converting commercial AC power into DC power, an inverter including a plurality of switching elements, the inverter receiving the DC power, converting the DC power into AC power of a specific frequency through switching operations, and supplying the AC power to a three-phase motor, and a noise filter unit connected between the commercial AC power and the converter in order to remove a high frequency current and including normal mode inductors and common mode inductor. Accordingly, the motor control can control the power factor, limit a high frequency current, and eliminate noise components, that is, ripple components of an input current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gwi Guen Park
  • Patent number: 8143819
    Abstract: An energy conservation system that realizes optimized power demand control for alternating current electrical motors equipped with variable frequency drives is implemented by switching an electrical motor via bypass systems from a variable frequency and speed drive mode of operation to a constant frequency and speed drive mode of operation and from a constant frequency and speed drive mode of operation to a variable frequency and speed drive mode of operation. The switching from one mode of operation to another is automatically executed based on the comparative analysis of historical and current trends of the electrical motor actual power demand at variable and constant speed drive modes of operation at various loads. The system optimizes the electrical motor operation by selecting the mode with the lower magnitude of cumulative power demand for the motor and motor drive at a given motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander L. Burd, Galina S. Burd
  • Patent number: 8120299
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor controller of an air conditioner, including an inverter including a plurality of switching elements and adapted to convert a DC voltage, input through switching operations of the switching elements, into an AC voltage and supply the converted voltage to a motor, a power calculation unit that calculates electric power applied to the motor, an angle calculation unit that calculates an optimal phase angle of a current command value based on the calculated electric power; and a microcomputer that outputs a switching control signal to control the switching elements of the inverter based on the optimal phase angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Ho Hwang, Han Su Jung, Chung Hun Lee
  • Publication number: 20120001002
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a machine that blends liquids and/or shaves ice. The machine includes a motor and a control system with an integrated power factor correction circuit and a drive circuit. The integrated power factor correction circuit receives input power from a mains power line, reduces noise transmitted to the mains power line, and provides a boosted, regulated output voltage. The drive circuit is connected to the motor and uses the regulated output voltage in order to control an effective voltage applied to the motor substantially independent of the voltage and frequency of the input power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Scott B. Donaldson, Ronald Flanary
  • Patent number: 8058826
    Abstract: In a normal operating mode, a motor controller provides motor drive current to windings of a motor based on sensor signals to drive the windings in a normal commutation sequence, and monitors for occurrence of a motor stall condition. Upon detecting the motor stall condition in a given commutation state, then in a first driving step, the windings are momentarily driven according to an advanced commutation state, and during the first driving step, a reverse transition of the sensor signals to a state corresponding to a preceding commutation state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Woodward HRT, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Robert Mock, Raymond Y. Liu
  • Publication number: 20110234136
    Abstract: Drive circuits that provide power factor correction and input current waveform shaping for controlling the speed and torque in a switched reluctance machine (SRM). The machine's phase windings are split into two segments, one of which is used for active power factor correction, input ac current waveform shaping and partial torque generation and the other of which is used for torque generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Krishnan RAMU
  • Publication number: 20110199033
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a medium voltage drive system having multiple power cells each to couple between a transformer and a load. A first subset of the power cells are configured to provide power to the load and to perform partial regeneration from the load, and a second subset of the power cells are configured to provide power to the load but not perform partial regeneration. A controller may be included in the system to simultaneously control a DC bus voltage of at least one of the first subset of the power cells, correct a power factor of the system, and provide harmonic current compensation for the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Thomas Keister, Alex Skorcz, Enrique Ledezma, Ryan Edwards
  • Patent number: 7986115
    Abstract: A device is provided for detecting inadequate electric braking and commutation to a safety brake is intended for a vehicle with electric traction, in particular a rail vehicle, which is provided with a traction chain, the system including a first electric, non-safety brake which is integrated in the traction chain and a second safety brake. The device includes a member for commutation from the first brake to the second brake, a device for monitoring the braking performance of the first brake using data for measurement of the intensity of a current, a decision device for commutating from the first brake to the second brake when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded and a device for transmitting a commutation command to the at least one commutation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventor: Thierry Jobard
  • Patent number: 7982418
    Abstract: This device is an electric safety brake which is intended for an electric traction vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle comprising: a rotating electromechanical machine (10) having permanent magnets having at least one coil with electric terminals (13, 14, 15), a resistive braking torque production device (22), an electromechanical commutator (20) which is capable of reliably connecting the electric terminals (13, 14, 15) of the machine (10) to the braking torque production device (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventors: Thierry Jobard, Eric Bonin
  • Patent number: 7923952
    Abstract: A device for controlling a polyphase rotating machine, the machine comprising a stator, a rotor, and sensors, the device being capable of receiving: at least one first sensing signal (U; V; W) representing a position of the rotor relative to the stator and output by a first sensor; and a second sensing signal (V; W; U) representing the position and phase-shifted relative to the first signal and output by a second sensor. The control device comprises: means (K, R) for combining the first and second sensing signals into a combined signal, the means including at least one controlled switching element capable adopting at least in two states, the combined signal being based on a state of the first element and enabling the machine to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Julien Masfaraud, Hugues Doffin, Farouk Boudjemai
  • Patent number: 7902788
    Abstract: An AC power controller system applies three-phase AC operating power to an induction motor that drives a non-linear mechanical load. A primary low pass filter is connected in series between branch phase conductors and a power controller of the type that uses gate-controlled switching thyristors for controlling power to the motor. KVAR capacitors connected between the power controller and the induction motor phase windings form a secondary low pass filter across the controller output terminals. The primary and secondary low pass filters isolate the power controller and induction motor with respect to spurious noise and harmonics generated by local as well as remote sources, and also improve real power transfer efficiency from the power generating source to the induction motor by transforming the effective impedance of the power source and induction motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Power Conservation, Ltd.
    Inventor: Filiberto D. Garza
  • Patent number: 7855524
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit is disclosed. A power factor corrector may utilize the control circuit to provide power factor correction for an AC induction motor. An AC induction motor system may combine the power factor correct with an AC induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Alexander Pummer
  • Patent number: 7683568
    Abstract: The switching rectifier and switching inverter on a motor drive unit are modulated to indirectly change the magnitude of current and voltage stored in DC link by controlling the magnetic field of the motor to correct for both power factor lead and power factor lag over a wide range of motor speeds and conditions while maintaining a predetermined motor operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manish Pande, Yunwei Li
  • Patent number: 7645225
    Abstract: In a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) a rotodynamic blood pump (10) is powered by a brushless DC motor (12). A power supply (14) supplies power to the motor (12). Three feedback channels, one for each of voltage, current, and motor speed lead to a microcontroller or microprocessor (18). The three feedback waveforms are analyzed, and from these waveforms, motor input power, patient heart rate, current pump flow rate, and systemic pressure are determined. The microprocessor (18) then calculates a desired flow rate proportional to the patient heart rate. The microprocessor communicates a new power output to a commutation circuit (16), which regulates power to the motor (12). The pump (10) also includes safety checks that are prioritized over desired pump flow. These include prevention of ventricular suction, low pulsatility, minimum and maximum pump speed, minimum speed-relative pump flow, minimum absolute pump flow, minimum and maximum motor input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Alexander Medvedev, Leonard A. R. Golding, Alexander Massiello
  • Patent number: 7638966
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit is disclosed. A power factor corrector may utilize the control circuit to provide power factor correction for an AC induction motor. An AC induction motor system may combine the power factor correct with an AC induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventor: Alexander Pummer
  • Patent number: 7637723
    Abstract: Cavitation detection systems and methods include generating a signal representing the power factor of a motor driving a pump, analyzing the power factor signal and determining the presence of cavitation based on the analysis of the power factor signal. The power factor may be estimated using various estimation schemes. Analyzing the signal includes filtering the power factor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
    Inventor: Vinodkumar Sadasivam
  • Patent number: 7602136
    Abstract: An AC power controller system applies three-phase AC operating power to an induction motor that drives a non-linear mechanical load. A primary low pass filter is connected in series between branch phase conductors and a power controller of the type that uses gate-controlled switching thyristors for controlling power to the motor. KVAR capacitors connected between the power controller and the induction motor phase windings form a secondary low pass filter across the controller output terminals. The primary and secondary low pass filters isolate the power controller and induction motor with respect to spurious noise and harmonics generated by local as well as remote sources, and also improve real power transfer efficiency from the power generating source to the induction motor by transforming the effective impedance of the power source and induction motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Power Conservation, Ltd.
    Inventor: Filberto D. Garza
  • Patent number: 7598692
    Abstract: An electric power converter, electric power converter controlling method and electric power converting system for converting multi-phase alternating-current inputted from a generator and outputting multi-phase alternating current for controlling a drive of a motor. An input power factor commanding section outputs a command value of an input power factor according to an operating condition of the motor, and an input power factor controlling section controls the input power factor of the generator on the basis of the command value of the input power factor from the input power factor commanding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Maikawa, Kantaro Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20090140680
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor controller, including a converter for converting commercial AC power into DC power, an inverter including a plurality of switching elements, the inverter receiving the DC power, converting the DC power into AC power of a specific frequency through switching operations, and supplying the AC power to a three-phase motor, and a noise filter unit connected between the commercial AC power and the converter in order to remove a high frequency current and including normal mode inductors and common mode inductor. Accordingly, the motor control can control the power factor, limit a high frequency current, and eliminate noise components, that is, ripple components of an input current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Gwi Guen Park
  • Patent number: 7495404
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling the power factor for providing either unity, leading or lagging results for the sensorless control of synchronous machines. The system and method provides an estimated angle of the phase current Park vector and uses a floating synchronous reference frame that is shifted from the estimated angle of the phase current Park vector by an angle ? to allow the active control and change of the power factor during operation for applications such as producing reluctance torque of a salient pole synchronous machine during Main Engine Start (MES), and field weakening for Environmental Control Systems (ECS) and MES applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bulent Sarlioglu, Colin E. Huggett
  • Patent number: 7495410
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling power factor in motor drives having a switching rectifier providing a DC link current to an inverter in which the rectifier gain is increased to provide additional DC link current to correct the drive power factor based on current drawn by capacitors of the AC drive power input, and the inverter gain is decreased by introducing bypass states in the inverter switching control scheme or by reducing the motor flux to accommodate the increased DC link current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Navid Reza Zargari, Jason Cornelius Wiseman, Yuan Xiao
  • Patent number: 7477034
    Abstract: A method for attenuating switching noise from back electromotive force (EMF) observations in a motor is described. The motor is controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided at a PWM frequency. The method comprises sampling back EMF observed in the motor at a sampling frequency at least two times greater than the PWM frequency to obtain over-sampled back EMF readings. The oversampled readings may be used in a raw or filtered form to commutate the motor. A system implementing the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Agile Systems Inc.
    Inventor: David Kyle MacKay
  • Publication number: 20080258662
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes first and second voltage sources for driving a multiple-phase AC motor and a control unit. The control unit is configured to compute first and second output voltage command values used to drive the multiple-phase AC motor based on a first output voltage command vector corresponding to the voltage source that is charged and a second output voltage command vector corresponding to the voltage source that is discharged. The first and second output voltage command vectors are determined so that a resultant vector of the first and second output voltage command vectors is coincident with a motor voltage command vector corresponding to a motor voltage command value, and a motor current command vector corresponding to the motor current command value is positioned within an included angle formed between the second output voltage command vector and a negative vector of the first output voltage command vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho SATO, Kantaro YOSHIMOTO, Kengo MAIKAWA, Yuki NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 7420344
    Abstract: An intelligent shift paper shredding mechanism and a method of automatic shift of the same in accordance with the present invention includes a control circuit including a control chip electrically connecting with a shift circuit and a locked-stator detect circuit. The shift circuit electrically connects with a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Fenqiang Zhong
  • Publication number: 20080180055
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for controlling power factor in motor drives having a switching rectifier providing a DC link current to an inverter in which the rectifier gain is increased to provide additional DC link current to correct the drive power factor based on current drawn by capacitors of the AC drive power input, and the inverter gain is decreased by introducing bypass states in the inverter switching control scheme or by reducing the motor flux to accommodate the increased DC link current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Navid Reza Zargari, Jason Cornelius Wiseman, Yuan Xiao
  • Patent number: 7309973
    Abstract: An AC power controller system applies three-phase AC operating power to an induction motor that drives a non-linear mechanical load. A primary low pass filter is connected in series between branch phase conductors and a power controller of the type that uses gate-controlled switching thyristors for controlling power to the motor. KVAR capacitors connected between the power controller and the induction motor phase windings form a secondary low pass filter across the controller output terminals. The primary and secondary low pass filters isolate the power controller and induction motor with respect to spurious noise and harmonics generated by local as well as remote sources, and also improve real power transfer efficiency from the power generating source to the induction motor by transforming the effective impedance of the power source and the induction motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Power Conservation Ltd
    Inventor: Filiberto D. Garza
  • Patent number: 7256564
    Abstract: A method for attenuating switching noise from back electromotive force (EMF) observations in a motor is described. The motor is controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided at a PWM frequency. The method comprises sampling back EMF observed in the motor at a sampling frequency at least two times greater than the PWM frequency to obtain over-sampled back EMF readings; and filtering the over-sampled back EMF readings to remove switching noise and obtain cleaned back EMF observations. A system implementing the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Agile Systems Inc.
    Inventor: David Kyle MacKay
  • Patent number: 7193383
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a power converter coupled to a polyphase power line. The method includes measuring at least two motor phase currents, obtaining a floating reference frame for the current Park vector, adjusting the reference frame based on an estimated rotor speed, and controlling the power converter via the floating reference frame to reinitiate power to a motor while a rotor is still moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bulent Sarlioglu, Colin E. Huggett
  • Patent number: 7154253
    Abstract: A digitally controlled hybrid power module is controlled by a programmable controller. The hybrid power module includes a digitally controlled switching supply with an output coupled to an input of a digitally controlled linear voltage regulator. Independent control of switching supply and the linear regulator is provided by the programmable controller, which may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), microcontroller, or digital signal processor (DSP). The programmable controller may independently control one or more power modules. Each power module may also include enable switching and an associated current clamp for capacitive loads. An output voltage transient suppressor may also be used to control transients, such as those produced under fast switching conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Inovys Corporation
    Inventor: Andre Gunther
  • Patent number: 7106018
    Abstract: A method of balancing the rotation of a motor is provided. Whether or not the motor is in a balanced rotation is determined by detecting whether the variation of a power-factor angle is less than or equal to a preset balance angle according to the principle that the load on a motor has an effect on the variation of the power-factor angle. The determined balance state of the motor is used to adjust the rotation speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ting-Chung Hsieh, Cheng-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 7095208
    Abstract: A reactor having a predetermined small capacity is connected to a rectifier, and a capacitor having a predetermined small capacity is connected between DC bus lines of the inverter, so that a small, light and low-cost inverter controller for driving a motor can be implemented, and even when an inverter DC voltage largely fluctuates and it is difficult to drive the motor, the motor can be kept driving by operating the inverter such that a voltage applied to the motor may stay constant by a motor voltage command corrector which generates a motor voltage command correction value of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawaji, Hideo Matsushiro, Tomohiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7090470
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor controlling apparatus includes a voltage detection unit, a current detection unit, a control unit and a compressor drive unit. The voltage detection unit detects a voltage supplied to the linear compressor, while the current detection unit detects a current supplied to the linear compressor. The control unit determines whether a collision of a piston of the compressor with a valve of the compressor occurs using output signals of the voltage and current detection units, and controls the amplitude of the piston if the collision of the piston with the valve occurs. The compressor drive unit controls the amplitude of the piston under the control of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Duk Kim
  • Patent number: 7061195
    Abstract: A motor drive system control provides global closed loop feedback to cooperatively operate system components to adaptively reduce noise and provide noise cancellation feedback. An active EMI filter reduces differential and common mode noise on an input and provides a noise level indication to a system controller. Power switches in both a power converter and power inverter are cooperatively controlled with dynamic dv/dt control to reduce switching noise according to a profile specified by the controller. The dv/dt control is provided as an analog signal to a high voltage IC and codified as a pulse width for a level shifting circuit supplying control signals to the high voltage gate drive. A noise extraction circuit and technique obtain fast noise sampling to permit noise cancellation and adaptive noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Eddy Ying Yin Ho, Yong Li, Jun Honda, David C. Tam, Toshio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7049774
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling power factor compensation and method thereof, in which a turn-on timing point of a power factor compensation switch is delayed by a prescribed time from a zero crossing timing point to enhance a power factor. The present invention includes periodically detecting a zero crossing time point of an inputted voltage, turning on the power factor compensation switch if a turn-on time point of the power factor compensation switch set to a time point delayed by a prescribed time from the detected zero crossing time of the inputted voltage is reached, and turning off the power factor compensation switch if a prescribed time passes after turning on the power factor compensation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sim Won Chin, Sung Yeob Lim, Deok Huh
  • Patent number: 7038329
    Abstract: A prime mover (28) in a heat recovery system drives an induction generator (8) which feeds power to a utility grid (9) through a breaker (10) but also powers a load including auxiliary induction motors (11, 12). To provide acceptable waveform and power factor, the auxiliary equipment is driven through IGBT switched bridge converters (13) by DC voltage (15) generated by an IGBT switched bridge converter (13a), instead of three-phase diode rectifiers (16). The switched bridge converter controller (14a) is responsive to a system process controller (23a) which causes the switched bridge controller (13a) to be driven in response to the voltage (26) and current (27) on the generator bus (17). This eliminates the need for harmonic filters (18) and power factor capacitors (20) while improving the quality of the power generated. The controller (23a) trips the breaker if the voltage, frequency or power factor is out of limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: UTC Power, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Fredette, Rishi Grover
  • Patent number: 7023160
    Abstract: A method for operating a doubly-fed machine by determining its rotational speed (nact), forming a rotational speed reference (nref), measuring network voltage and current, and calculating network active power (Pact) and reactive power (Qact). Thereafter, calculating shaft torque (T) based on active power (Pact) and rotating speed (nact), forming a frequency reference (Fref) for the inverter based on machine rotating speed (nact), rotating speed reference (nref), shaft torque (T), and the known pole pair number and network frequency, forming a reactive power reference (Qref) for the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Reijo Virtanen, Osmo Pasuri
  • Patent number: 6998814
    Abstract: A method for measuring the electromotive force of motors is provided. The method enables the motor to rotate in single phase mode, and thereby measures the electromotive force constant of the motor. According to the principles and the method, motors do not have to work in close-loop. Neither encoders for detecting angle displacement or angle velocity are needed for motors, nor the motor impedance or current have to obtain in advance. Compared with the prior art, the disclosed method is more efficiency and economic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shyh-Jier Wang, Shir-Kuan Lin, Meng-Hsun Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6958589
    Abstract: A reactor having a predetermined small capacity is connected to a rectifier, and a capacitor having a predetermined small capacity is connected between DC bus lines of the inverter. A PN voltage corrector calculates a ratio of the DC voltage detection value of the inverter obtained by the PN voltage detector to a predetermined DC voltage reference value of the inverter to thereby generate a PN voltage correction factor. A beat amount corrector calculates a fluctuation amount of the motor current from the motor current detection value obtained by the motor current detector and generates a reverse phase component of the motor current fluctuation amount. Thus, a small, light and low-cost inverter controller can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kawaji, Hideo Matsushiro, Tomohiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6933693
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a centrifugal pump wherein voltage and current data are detected from voltage and current sensors in the motor controller of a pump motor. A power signal is then generated from the voltage and current data and spectrally analyzed to determine the presence of unwanted harmonics which are indicative of mechanical disturbances in the pump. As such, anomalies resulting from mechanical interference may be detected and a warning flag provided without additional transducers and other instruments on the motor or pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Russell P. Schuchmann
  • Patent number: 6882913
    Abstract: An electrical system for increasing the amount of voltage available to an electric power steering motor under high demand conditions includes a vehicle speed sensor that ascertains the speed of the vehicle, a steering wheel sensor that ascertains the rotational speed of the vehicle steering wheel, and a steering voltage controller that receives the signals provided by the vehicle speed sensor and the steering wheel sensor and processes these input signals to increase the voltage furnished to the power steering system by causing at least one component that consumes electrical power in the vehicle to reduce power consumption, or by causing a component that produces electrical power to increase power output, or by a combination of reducing power consumption and increasing power production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Bullister, Timothy Gerard Offerle
  • Patent number: 6819072
    Abstract: A spindle motor control circuit for controlling a motor; including a control circuit to control the motor during at least a low state, a pulse state and a high state, the motor braking during said low state, the control circuit receiving a flyback voltage from the motor during the pulse state and the control circuit receiving a reduced flyback voltage from the motor during the high state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Bertram J. White, Kevin W. Ziemer
  • Patent number: 6801005
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the supply of three-phase power by calculating phase trigger firing delays for all six zero-crossing points based on the measurement of one zero-crossing point of one phase. The method includes the steps of (a) measuring the zero-crossing point of a single phase, (b) calculating the timing of phase triggers for all phases based on this measurement, and (c) firing the phase triggers based on the calculated sequence timing. In one embodiment, the invention provides power factor correction to the system by measuring power factor to determine whether it is within predetermined limits and introducing a delay into the timing of the phase triggers if it is not. In another embodiment, the invention balances the voltage of the three separate phases by introducing a delay based on comparisons between each of the separate phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Load Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Donald Charleston
  • Patent number: 6741059
    Abstract: The direct torque control (DTC) principle is used to control the torque of a wound ring rotor slip induction machine, also known as a doubly fed or cascade machine, by utilizing a solid state inverter on the rotor side. In addition, the DTC principle is used to control the power factor at the stator terminals of the doubly fed machine to a desired level and also to perform the task of synchronization of stator voltage to the grid voltage. An integrated controller is used to implement these three functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignees: ABB Automation Inc., ABB Industry Oy
    Inventors: Kalyan P. Gokhale, Douglas W. Karraker, Samuli J. Heikkilä
  • Patent number: 6720753
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a synchronous generator having a converter. A voltage detector detects a terminal voltage of a stator of the synchronous generator. A current detector detects a current flowing through the stator. A rotor position estimating part estimates a rotor position of the synchronous generator from the detected voltage and current. An active power detector detects a active power of the synchronous generator. A reactive power detector detects a reactive power of the synchronous generator or a terminal voltage detector detects an effective value of a terminal voltage of the stator. An active power controller adjusts a q-axis current command to control the active power, and a reactive power controller or terminal voltage controller adjusts a d-axis current command to control the reactive power or terminal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Yasuyuki Sugiura, Naoshi Sugawara, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6709240
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a centrifugal pump wherein voltage and current data are detected from voltage and current sensors in the pump motor. A power signal is then generated from the voltage and current data and spectrally analyzed to determine the low flow or cavitation in the pump. As such, unwanted operational conditions resulting from improper pump operation may be detected and a warning or maintenance flag provided without additional transducers and other instruments on the motor or pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C. Schmalz, Russell P. Schuchmann
  • Patent number: 6559619
    Abstract: An improved energy controller that increases the electrical efficiency of AC induction motors and electrical lights that is comprised of a microcontroller integrated with a signal control circuit to regulate the amount of the input line A/C signal that passes from the input the to electrical device. The microcontroller includes circuitry to measure the phase of the voltage and current of the input A/C signal and the shift of the phase across the motor or electric light. Using this phase difference, the microcontroller can determine the power factor and regulate the amount of power provided to the electric motor or light in response to changes in loading on the motor or light. The energy controller includes software that enables the microcontroller to provide a soft-start for induction motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel G. Bach
  • Patent number: 6507167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power factor compensation device for a motor driving inverter which can improve a power factor of a voltage and a current inputted to the inverter driving a motor. The present invention detects a zero crossing point of an utility alternating current power, and outputs a driving signal corresponding to a plurality of sine wave form voltage values stored in a memory according to a detection result, when the zero crossing point of the utility alternating current power is detected in a state where the plurality of sine wave form voltage values corresponding to a voltage of the utility alternating current power and frequencies are stored in the memory. A switching transistor is switched according to the driving signal, and the voltage applied to the inverter is switched according to the switching operation, thereby improving the power factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gyeong-Hae Han, Jong-Ho Kim, Keon Sim, Hyung-Sang Lee, Dong-Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 6465979
    Abstract: A method and device for providing series compensation for rotating electric alternating current machines connected either directly, or via a static current converter, to a three-phase distribution or transmission network. The stator of the electric machine is Y-connected. A capacitive circuit for the fundamental frequency of the voltage is connected to each phase between the low voltage side of the winding and a ground of the transmission network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Mats Leijon, Lars Gertmar, Jan-Anders Nygren, Peter Templin