Movement, Position, Or Limit-of-travel Patents (Class 318/466)
  • Patent number: 11773567
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an engineering machinery equipment, and a method, system, and storage medium for safety control thereof, and relates to the field of artificial intelligence, automatic control, and engineering machinery technologies. A method can include: acquiring spatial sensing data of a work area; performing obstacle detection based on the spatial sensing data to determine a position of an obstacle within the work area; determining a safe working range of a mechanical structural component of the engineering machinery equipment based on the position of the obstacle within the work area; and controlling a working range of the mechanical structural component of the engineering machinery equipment based on the safe working range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Baidu USA LLC
    Inventors: Liangjun Zhang, Liyang Wang, Jinxin Zhao
  • Patent number: 11712963
    Abstract: A control unit is presented for controlling a driving unit arranged for adjustment of one or more first air guiding flaps of a motorised vehicle between a first outer position and a second outer position. The control unit comprises a communication module for communicating with a vehicle control network for receiving first adjustment instructions for adjusting the first flap, a power supply module comprising an input power terminal for receiving power from a vehicle power network and a first output power terminal for supplying a first current to the driving unit. The control unit further comprises a current sensor module for sensing variations in the first supply current and a control module arranged to control the first supply current in accordance with the adjustment instructions and the sensed variations. By separating the control module from the driving unit, functionality of the control module may be shared over multiple driving units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Marius Brand, Bastiaan Huijzers, Jinku Hu
  • Patent number: 11300307
    Abstract: A damper control assembly includes a damper body movable between a first threshold position and a second threshold position. A motor is operably connected to the damper body, wherein the motor drives the damper between the first threshold position to determine an open position and the second threshold position to determine a closed position. A controller is operably connected to the motor and has a stall detection module that detects a first rotor-lock condition when the motor drives the damper body to the first threshold position and a second rotor-lock condition when the motor drives the damper body to the second threshold position. The controller includes a memory module for storing the first and second threshold positions for use by the controller. The damper control assembly is calibrated to drive the damper body within an operating range having the open and closed positions and that is less extensive than a mechanical range defined by the first and second threshold positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Stephane Michaud, Frederic Bazin, Simon Blanchard
  • Patent number: 11242007
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a side mirror including a housing and a mirror member provided inside the housing and rotatable in a first axis and a second axis in the housing; an input unit configured to receive an identification information related to a driver; a driving apparatus configured to identify a target position corresponding to the identification information related to the driver, acquire a plurality of paths for moving the mirror member between the identified target position and the current position, identify each of positions for switching the movement direction of the acquired plurality of paths, select a path having positions for switching the movement direction closest to a predetermined center position among the respective positions for switching the movement direction thereof, and selectively control rotation of the first axis and rotation of the second axis of the mirror member based on the selected path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, SL Mirrortech Corporation
    Inventors: Jinsil Lee, IllSoo Kim, Jae Hong Choi, Hyun Min Jeon, Chul Sung Lee, Chol Min Kim, Byeong Cheon Min, Seung Woo Seo
  • Patent number: 11132014
    Abstract: A control knob assembly includes a rotating shaft coupled with a controllable device. A base is fixed to a mounting surface where the rotating shaft extends therethrough. A fork includes a detent and a tab. The fork is positioned on top of the base and slidably engaged therewith. A gear includes teeth configured to receive the detent and an upper groove. The gear is positioned on top of the fork with the rotating shaft extending therethrough. A knob includes a cavity that is fixedly engaged to the rotating shaft above the base, fork and gear, with the tab extending radially outwardly from underneath the knob. A biasing member is secured to the knob and is configured to engage the gear upper groove such that when engaged the gear rotates with the knob. A set position is established and repositioned by engaging the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher Provini
  • Patent number: 11084498
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a driving mode of a vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes a mode converter that converts the driving mode of the vehicle based on an operation of a mode conversion input. When the driving mode is converted into a custom mode, a mode setting screen for adjusting a setting value of a driving characteristic preset is configured and the configured mode setting screen is displayed on a display of the vehicle. A tuning device then tunes a driving characteristic of the custom mode based on a setting value adjusted on the mode setting screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gi Young Kwon, Soo Bang Lee, Kyoung Cheol Oh, Hong Chul Shin, Hye Kil Hwang, Jong Bum Oh, Seul Gi Lee, Jae Myoung Pi, Sang Don Lee, Woo Suk Choi, Seong Ik Park
  • Patent number: 11066015
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure an adjustable mirror assembly for a work machine is disclosed. The adjustable mirror assembly includes a support bracket adapted to be attached to the work machine and an intermediate bracket. The intermediate bracket interfaces with a back surface of a mirror and with the support bracket. The adjustable mirror assembly includes a first linear actuator for rotating the mirror about a pitch axis. The first linear actuator to rotate the mirror about a pitch axis attaches to the support bracket and to the intermediate bracket. A second linear actuator to rotate the mirror about a yaw axis is attached to a point fixed to the intermediate bracket and to the back surface of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kris Edward Seitz
  • Patent number: 10988160
    Abstract: A controller for an actuator includes a lock detecting unit configured to detect a lock state of a motor and an abnormality detecting unit configured to detect an abnormality of the actuator. The abnormality detecting unit determines that an abnormality of the actuator is detected when it is determined that an operating position of the actuator does not change between a first lock position at which the lock state of the motor in a first rotation direction is detected and a second lock position at which the lock state of the motor in a second rotation direction is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Makimura, Akitsugu Funahashi, Shin Murao
  • Patent number: 10951090
    Abstract: Provided are a transmission device and an air-cooling island. The transmission device includes: a motor comprising a motor output shaft; and a speed reducer including a speed reducer input shaft. The motor output shaft is directly connected with the speed reducer input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: FLENDER GMBH
    Inventors: Wen Ming Wan, Dong Chen, Yi Chen You, Jing Ran Chen
  • Patent number: 10934774
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining at least one lower limit of a horizontal sheers style roller shade. The roller shade comprising a roller tube, a shade material attached to the roller tube and comprising a first vertical layer interconnected to a second vertical layer via a plurality of horizontal vanes, a motor adapted to rotate the roller tube, a current sensing circuit adapted to detect current levels of the motor, and a controller adapted to control the motor and comprising at least one memory. The controller determines at least one lower limit by driving the motor in a first direction, receiving current levels from the current sensing circuit, observing current level profile of the received current levels, detecting a point of change in the current level profile, and using the point of change to set at least one of a lower tilt closed limit and a lower tilt open limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Campagna, Benjamin Slivka, Luis J. Rivera
  • Patent number: 10938268
    Abstract: A tubular electromechanical actuator includes an electronic control unit including a housing and an electronic board. A first electrical connection device includes first electrical connection elements configured to electrically connect the board to electrical connection elements of an electric motor and second electrical connection elements configured to electrically link the board to electrical connection elements of an additional electronic board of the motor. The first device is configured to plug into an edge of a printed circuit wafer of the board and to cooperate with the electric tracks of the board. In addition the first and second electrical connection elements are electrical connection elements that are configured to directly cooperate with the respective electrical connection elements of the motor and of the additional board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Emilie Meynet, Claude Desbiolles, Jérôme Besombes, Pierre-André Gardic
  • Patent number: 10910986
    Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor includes an enclosure and a processing device, memory device, and wireless transmitter disposed within the enclosure. The processing device is configured to control the electric motor and collect operating information from the electric motor during operation of the electric motor. The memory device is communicatively coupled to the processing device. The memory device is configured to receive and store the operating information collected during operation of the electric motor. The wireless transmitter is communicatively coupled to the processing device and the memory device. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the operating information stored on the memory device to a computing device disposed remotely from the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian L. Beifus, Paul Nathanael Selking, Vijay Dayaldas Gurudasani, Michael R. Koller
  • Patent number: 10876354
    Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for adjusting a set of roller shade motor motion parameters of a shade motor for use in a roller shade, the systems and method comprising: engaging the shade motor to move the roller shade a first distance; measuring a first torque level indicator in regard to a power supply voltage being supplied to the shade motor; determining a first torque level based on the measured first torque lever indicator; obtaining a first set of roller shade motor motion parameters from a table based on the first torque level; and applying the first set of roller shade motor motion parameters to the shade motor whenever the roller shade is directed to lift or lower the roller shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Luis Rivera
  • Patent number: 10871020
    Abstract: A method for operating a building closure is disclosed. The building closure may be in the shape of a sectional door or a garage door. The position of the building closure and a motor current of a drive device is monitored by a control apparatus. When the building closure stands still, an electrical drive device arrests the building enclosure by providing an electrically conducting connection between winding of the drive device to ground. The position detection device continues to monitor a signal change such that in response to the signal change, the arresting is suspended and the electrical drive device is at least partially energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Willi Ressel, Christian Dietz
  • Patent number: 10863070
    Abstract: A flash control device repeatedly informs a firing timing during an exposure period of the image capture apparatus. The device stops informing the firing timing if a condition for ending the exposure period of an image capture apparatus is satisfied. The disclosed flash control device can control the firing timing even in a case where a shooting mode of the image capture apparatus is a shooting mode with an indefinite exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuo Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10799069
    Abstract: A mixing appliance assembly includes a housing, which includes a motor and shaft operably coupled with the motor and extending outwardly from the housing. A top handle is operably coupled with a top end of the housing and includes a pulse button and a continuous run switch. A side port is disposed in the housing and configured to receive a port connecting member and includes an interlocking feature. An interlock switch is disposed inside the side port. A switch engagement member is configured to engage the interlock switch such that the continuous run switch can be depressed. A bowl clamp is engageable with the side port and configured to removably secure the housing to a bowl and includes the switch engagement member. A side handle is engageable with the side port and is configured to be removably coupled with the housing and aid a user in handling the mixing appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Bournay, Jr., John W. McConnell, Joel Graham Van Faasen, ZhaoYi Yin
  • Patent number: 10655389
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed to facilitate a rotary gate controller moving from one state to another in a manner wherein the gate controller uses the state condition to determine if an exit is taking place when an entry request has been sent. Once such an occurrence is determined to exist, the MID will send an exit request allowing the exiting customer to continue through the gate. When the internal state changes to going to a home position, the MID will send a new entry request, and the MID will indicate through MID display that the entering customer can pass through the rotary gate. The original payment of the entering customer will have been accepted and will allow the entering customer to proceed through the gate. On completion of the entry rotation, the rotary gate controller will revert back to free exit and restricted entry states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen May, Colin William Robert Hewitt
  • Patent number: 10577853
    Abstract: A movable wall panel system is disclosed. The movable wall panel system may include at least one monitoring system to monitor at least one area adjacent the movable wall panel system. The movable wall panel system may include a touch screen as part of an operator interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MODERNFOLD, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley A. Jones, Bryan Thomas Welch, Michael W. Beeler, Jonathan Taylor Dreitlein, William S. Meyers
  • Patent number: 10575643
    Abstract: A device for triggering a gas spring (1) comprising an actuation device (2), an actuating element (4) which is operatively connected to the actuating device (2) and which acts directly on an end trigger (3) of the gas spring (1), wherein the actuating element (4) is configured as a lever arrangement (5) which reduces or multiplies the force or path, wherein one of the levers (trigger lever (6)) presses directly onto the trigger (3), wherein the actuating device (2) comprises an electrical magnet unit (30), which is provided with electric energy via an electrical supply and can be activated via a switch unit (60), characterised in that there is a control unit (40) which can be activated via the switching unit (60) and activates the electric magnet unit (30) according to the signals of the switch unit (60), wherein the the magnet unit (30) is actuated such that for a predetermined time interval an override phase of the magnet unit (30) with an increased voltage and a subsequent holding phase with a reduced volt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Guido Wandschneider
  • Patent number: 10487563
    Abstract: A maintenance system for monitoring a gate device includes the gate device having a gate guide, a gate segment which is movably supported in the gate guide, and a sensor which monitors a gate guiding quality. A method for monitoring the gate device includes the gate device having a gate guide, a gate segment which is movably supported in the gate guide, a sensor which monitors a gate guiding quality arranged at the gate segment, and a maintenance unit. The method includes, when a movement of the gate segment occurs, detecting a vibration value and/or an acceleration value of the gate segment via the sensor, and transmitting the vibration value and/or the acceleration value as maintenance data to the maintenance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FRABA B.V.
    Inventor: Andre Quaiser
  • Patent number: 10487565
    Abstract: A detecting system for an automatic door is provided including a TOF camera having a field of view that is limited in a first zone for a first purpose such as safety and in a second zone for another purpose such as activation or counting. The proposed system can be used for example in powered pedestrian doors, bus, rail, etc. In some embodiments, at least one ultrasound sensor system is further provided. The two technologies share hardware and information, resulting in improved safety and counting functions of the system, while reducing the amount of hardware used, space requirement and unit cost, and improving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SENSOTECH INC.
    Inventors: Uri Agam, Pino Marcovecchio
  • Patent number: 10442317
    Abstract: The present invention prevents the virtual limit setting information from being initialized by expanding the position of the virtual limit to a wider range than the conventional one when the hard stop situation occurs in the before/after section of the virtual limit. For the purpose, the present invention provides a virtual limit correction device of power seat for vehicle comprising a switch for seat operation; and a seat operation control unit for correcting the virtual limit position by moving the end position of the track by using the track end position and the compensation position as compensation regions if a hard stop situation occurs in the front/rear direction based on the initially set virtual limit point during the movement of the power seat according to the switch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DYMOS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sang Kyung Koh, Jong In Shin, Sang June Lee
  • Patent number: 10447193
    Abstract: A unit for recording operating information of an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The unit includes a system controller communicatively coupled to an ECM. The system controller includes a processing device configured to control the unit. The unit also includes a memory device communicatively coupled to the system controller. The memory device is configured to receive and store ECM operating information provided by the processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Beifus, Paul Nathanael Selking, Vijay Dayaldas Gurudasani, Michael R. Koller
  • Patent number: 10429809
    Abstract: A load control system may comprise an electrical load control device and/or a computing device. The electrical load control device may control, for example, motorized window treatments (e.g., shades), lighting controls, and/or sensors (e.g., occupancy, radio window, daylight, etc.). For example, a load control device comprising a motorized window treatment may control the position of a covering material in the window treatment. The computing device may comprise a processor and/or a graphical user interface (GUI). The computing device may be a server and/or a user device, such as a wireless user device (e.g., a cellular phone, tablet, or laptop computer). The computing device may be configured to provide graphical representations that may be displayed on a GUI based on load control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Rhodes B. Baker, John H. Bull
  • Patent number: 10432113
    Abstract: A method for operating a building closure having the shape of an overhead sectional door or of a garage door including at least one spring-loaded counterweight device and an electrical drive device is disclosed. A control unit simultaneously monitors the position of the building closure and a motor current for the drive device. When the building closure is in an open or a closed position, the motor current is reduced and maintained at a level to residually energize the drive device to reliably maintain the building closure in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: OVERHEAD DOOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Willi Ressel, Christian Dietz
  • Patent number: 10367650
    Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method for efficiently developing and testing home automation systems is provided. The system comprises one or more robotic modules configured to interact with home automation systems under test and home devices and appliances, wherein the one or more home devices and appliances are monitored by the home automation systems. The one or more robotic modules are further configured to execute test scripts received from a test automation framework in communication with the one or more robotic modules and initiate workflows based on the executed test scripts. Furthermore, the one or more robotic modules facilitate at least one of: the home automation systems and the connected home devices and appliances to perform actions based on the initiated workflows. The one or more robotic modules also forward results of the performed actions to the test automation framework for generating a report of the executed test scripts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INDIA PVT. LTD.
    Inventors: Satish Venugopal, Subbiah Muthiah, Thiruvenkateswaran Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 10345917
    Abstract: An operation device includes a motor capable of forward and reverse rotation, a transmission mechanism configured to convert forward and reverse rotation of the motor into linear ascending and descending motion and to provide tactile stimulation on an operation unit, and a controller configured to control switching of an energizing direction of the motor. The controller is configured to control acceleration such that an amount of ascending movement of the operation unit is increased by increasing driving power in a forward rotation direction of the motor, and to control deceleration such that the ascending movement of the operation unit decelerates by supplying driving power in a reverse rotation direction of the motor, in a predetermined time from when the operation unit starts the ascending movement via the transmission mechanism until a target displacement amount is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Kenji Murata
  • Patent number: 10331084
    Abstract: An electronic watch includes: a step motor; a driving pulse generator circuit configured to output a driving pulse for driving the step motor; a detection pulse generator circuit configured to output a detection pulse for detecting rotation of the step motor; a correction pulse generator circuit configured to output a correction pulse; a pulse selection circuit configured to select and output the driving pulse, the detection pulse, and the correction pulse; a driver circuit configured to supply to the step motor the outputs from the pulse selection circuit; and a rotation detection circuit configured to receive a detection signal generated by the detection pulse to judge rotation of the step motor. The electronic watch further includes a driving interval switch circuit configured to switch a driving interval of the driving pulse between a normal driving interval and a high-speed driving interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Iri, Yu Takyoh
  • Patent number: 10316566
    Abstract: A modular door drive control system for subjecting electrical drive motors to open-loop control and/or closed-loop control to open and close doors or door leaves in different applications includes at least one motor control unit, and a plurality of peripheral adaptation units for adapting the motor control unit or a plurality of the motor control units to match one of the different applications, where the motor control unit or a plurality of the motor control units are selectively connectable to each of the peripheral adaptation units to transmit electrical power for the drive motor, which is respectively connected to the motor control unit, via a common intermediate circuit such that door drive controllers for different applications can be realized with the aid of a modular door drive control system of this kind, without a relatively high level of expenditure on adaptation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Braatz, Michael Krause, Uwe Krause, Heinz Ludwig, Uwe Nolte, Michael Wittkowski
  • Patent number: 10183640
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: (a) a rotatable door including: a door stop assembly configured to arrest opening of the door; a rotatable handle; a haptic feedback assembly arranged to vibrate the handle; (b) processor(s) configured to simultaneously activate the door stop and haptic feedback assemblies. The haptic feedback assembly is disposed within the rotatable handle. The processor(s) are configured to: compute a time-to-collision, and run the haptic feedback assembly at a level based on the time-to-collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Rhode, Levasseur Tellis, David J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10145165
    Abstract: A motor is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle. A controller controls the motor and a user-input device supplies the controller with one or more user-inputted selections for controlling a door swing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz
  • Patent number: 10132608
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a device for actuating one or several elements to be actuated of a structure, with the actuating device comprising one or several actuators, characterised in that it comprises the following successive steps: (b1) placing the structure, in particular the element or elements to be actuated of the structure, in a predetermined reference position, (b2) activating a calculation unit to automatically calibrate the actuator or actuators of the actuating device, with the calculation unit able to determine, for the actuator or actuators, the minimum and maximum end stops that define its or their authorised range of movement using the predetermined reference position of the structure, taken as the origin position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PGA ELECTRONIC
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Piaulet, Sebastien Bizien, Alain Berthouloux
  • Patent number: 10029585
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom adapted to slide along a floor, a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, and powered means for rearranging the vehicle seat by sliding the seat bottom along the floor and/or pivoting the seat back relative to the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Services, LLC
    Inventors: Dale J. Frye, Jeffery T. Bonk, Timothy L. Moulton, Jared A. Judson
  • Patent number: 9849791
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device that includes a rotary electric machine that serves as a drive force source for wheels; a speed change mechanism; a pump motor that serves as a drive force source for an electric pump that generates a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to a servo mechanism for the speed change mechanism; a case that accommodates the speed change mechanism; and a first inverter that controls the rotary electric machine and a second inverter that controls the pump motor, the first inverter and the second inverter being connected to a common DC power source, wherein: the first inverter and the second inverter are disposed in the case; and a first wiring member that extends from the DC power source is branched in the case to be connected to each of the first inverter and the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Suzuki, Tatsuyuki Uechi, Tatsuya Kondo, Yoshinobu Ito
  • Patent number: 9621091
    Abstract: A system for controlling an automotive vehicle three-phase electric machine supplied via chopped voltages, including: a mechanism determining settings of current of phases of the electric machine as a function of a torque request from a driver; a regulating mechanism to determine voltages of each phase as a function of corresponding settings of current; a mechanism correcting torque oscillations, which can determine powers of each phase, to determine whether speed of rotation of the magnetic field exceeds a threshold value, to carry out a bandpass filtering of the powers, and to determine attenuation currents relating to each phase as a function of the post-filtering powers; subtractors configured to subtract the attenuation currents relating to each phase from the settings of current of the corresponding phases, destined for the regulating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Abdelmalek Maloum, Edouard Negre
  • Patent number: 9571020
    Abstract: A motor drive control device includes: a deceleration start position calculating unit that calculates a deceleration start position indicating an address at which a pulse period is stored, the pulse period being equal to or larger than a pulse period at the time of forced stopping and closest to the pulse period at the time of forced stopping among the pulse periods included in a driving information; a stop pulse number calculating unit that calculates the number of pulses required for stopping the motor at an exciting position; and a driving control unit that outputs a total number of pulses of a counted number of pulses and the number of pulses from the deceleration start position until the motor is stopped in forcibly stopping the motor, and outputs a shortage of the number of pulses required for stopping the motor calculated by the stop pulse number calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 9500019
    Abstract: The method serves for operating a system with a foldable element that is provided with a control unit including at least two foldable elements, that are connected each via connecting shafts to related carriages, which are slidably supported in a running rail and of which at least the carriage connected to the front-sided foldable element is provided with a drive motor, the method including the step of executing a learning drive, with which the system with foldable elements is transferred from at least a first into a second position and related information is captured. According to the invention at least at the front-sided carriage data of the acting load and related position data are captured and therefrom status data of the installed system with foldable elements are determined and provided to an operating program, that controls the at least one drive motor depending on to the determined status data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HAWA AG
    Inventors: Gregor Haab, Peter Ettmuller, Werner Kollbrunner, Nejib Yezza
  • Patent number: 9388762
    Abstract: In order to control an adjusting device of a motor vehicle, in particular a window lift, having a motor-driven adjusting part, the speed of the drive is controlled to a desired speed value during normal operation at least in a sub-range of an adjustment travel and the driving force is controlled to a desired force value in the event of difficult motion for a first time period. After the first time period has ended, the adjusting part is reversed or the drive is at least stopped in the event of pinching. If the difficult motion is not an event of pinching, the speed of the drive is controlled anew to the desired speed value, wherein the driving force is first reduced to a first force and is increased to the desired force value within a second time period and/or a value realized during normal operation is used as a desired force value for the driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Alex Kromer, Thomas Klauck
  • Patent number: 9221474
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retractable step arrangement for a rail vehicle with a first housing that can be mounted on a body of the rail vehicle and features a first housing opening, with a step that is movably supported in the first housing in an initial position and can be displaced between the initial position and a final position, in which the step at least sectionally protrudes from the first housing, through the first housing opening, and with a drive unit for the step that features a motor and at least one movable connecting means that transmits a motion generated by the motor to the step. The retractable step arrangement provides a separate second housing, in which the drive unit is arranged, wherein the interior of the first housing is spatially separated from the interior of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Klamka, Oliver Muller, Andreas Kelbel, Marcel Neumann
  • Patent number: 9182020
    Abstract: A wiper motor 10 has a reduction mechanism 29 for reducing the rotational speed of a motor shaft 25 and transmitting the reduced speed, and a motion conversion mechanism 31 for converting the rotational motion of the reduction mechanism 29 into a rotational motion and transmitting the motion to the output shaft 30. A pair of first connection holes 50 and a pair of second connection holes 51 are formed on a worm wheel 35 at a position deviated in a radial direction from an axial center of the worm wheel so that each of the holes is opened at the side of one axial end side. The worm wheel 35 can be used for both cases in which the output shaft 30 is swung within a first swinging region and in which the output shaft 30 is swung within a second swinging region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Teppei Tokizaki, Shigeki Ota
  • Patent number: 9141099
    Abstract: A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Casparus Cate, James J. Fitzgibbon, Robert R. Keller, Jr., Sapta Gireesh Pudipeddi, Cory Sorice
  • Patent number: 9122254
    Abstract: A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Casparus Cate, James J. Fitzgibbon, Robert R. Keller, Jr., Cory Sorice, James Scott Murray, Gregory John Stanek, Colin Barns Willmott
  • Patent number: 9080382
    Abstract: A screen (1) includes a load bar (2), a flexible element (3) supporting the load bar, and a controlled member (4) for winding the flexible member, wherein the member is controlled according to a method that includes controlling the angular movement of the winding member (4) with a temporal set value (?(t)) of the instantaneous angular position of the winding member, the temporal set value being predetermined from a profile representative of the desired instantaneous axial position for the load bar upon a movement between the first and second positions, using a polynomial function of a degree higher than or equal to 2, which approximates the relation between a value of the instantaneous axial position (H(t)) of the load bar and an instantaneous angular position (?(t)) of the winding member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SOMFY SAS
    Inventors: Eric Lagarde, Frederic Maraval
  • Patent number: 9073553
    Abstract: A method of preparing a vehicle control system having an intended function by using at least two ECUs is provided. One of the at least two ECUs is used for adaptively incorporating a modified portion of the intended function of the vehicle control system through re-design in a short period, while the rest of the ECUs in the vehicle control system sustain and support an unchanging portion of the intended function of the vehicle control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Susumu Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9048763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control circuit (3) for an electric motor, in particular for driving a windshield wiper, including a control means (16) comprising an output for controlling the electric motor, the control means being capable of varying the angle of the motor between a given minimum value and maximum value. In particular, the control means (16) comprises an input for receiving a speed set point and is capable of controlling the angular speed of the motor according to the speed set point, the control circuit likewise including a set point means (14) comprising an input for receiving values of the angle of the motor and an output for providing a speed set point to the control means, the set point means (14) being capable of determining the speed set point from a continuous function of the motor angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: ECE
    Inventor: Edouard Bonnefous
  • Patent number: 9041319
    Abstract: A system incorporating an actuator connected to a polarity-insensitive two-wire communications bus. The actuator may have an electromechanical mover, a processor connected to the electromechanical mover, and a potentiometer, having a number of address settings, connected to the processor. A setting of the number of settings of the potentiometer may be a selection of an address for the actuator on the communications bus. There may be additional actuators and a controller connected to the communications bus. Each actuator may have an address which is different from an address of the other actuators connected to the communications bus. If an actuator is substituted with a replacement actuator, then a setting of a plurality of settings on a potentiometer of the replacement actuator may be selected to obtain an address that is the same as the address of the actuator which is substituted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Scott McMillan, Nathan Carlson, Daniel Waseen, Torrey William McNallan
  • Publication number: 20150137723
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a first casing, a protected device, a detector, a first actuator and a controller. The protected device is spaced apart from the first casing by a first shortest distance. The detector is configured to detect a first early sign before a first collision of the first casing and the protected device. The controller is configured to actuate the first actuator after the detector detects the first early sign, causing an increase of the first shortest distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Chia-Lung HSU, Ming-Chih CHEN, Po-Cheng CHEN
  • Patent number: 9031390
    Abstract: A wiper device that includes: a wiper motor that swings a wiper blade that is coupled to the wiper motor through a wiper arm to-and-fro over a window pane between an upper return position and a lower return position; and a drive component that gradually increases power supplied to the wiper motor until the rotation speed of the wiper motor reaches a specific speed when the wiper motor has been restarted from a stationary state of the wiper blade between the upper return position and the lower return position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Natsume
  • Patent number: 9030144
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved system and method for sensing both hard and soft obstructions for a movable panel such as a sunroof. A dual detection scheme is employing that includes an optical sensing as the primary means and electronic sensing of motor current as a secondary means. The secondary means utilizes system empirical precharacterization, fast processing algorithms, motor parameter monitoring including both current sensing and sensorless electronic motor current commutation pulse sensing, and controller memory, to adaptively modify electronic obstacle detection thresholds in real time without the use of templates and cycle averaging techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Boisvert, Randall Perrin, John Washeleski
  • Patent number: 9024547
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing unwanted conducted noise generated by a DC load 17. Load 17 is powered by a voltage source 11. A current sense 13 senses pulse current Ifan flowing through the load 17. First converting means 14, 15, 16 converts the sensed pulse current Ifan to a correction voltage Vp. The correction voltage Vp is then converted to a correction current Ip, which offsets the deleterious effects of Ifan. The current Is flowing through the voltage source 11 equals Ifan plus the correction current Ip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Allied Telesis, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Vogt