Responsive To Thermal Conditions Patents (Class 318/471)
  • Patent number: 7191607
    Abstract: Devices and methods for moisture removal from conditioned air. A speed control is provided that selectively operates the blower motor of an air conditioning system at a lower speed. The speed control may include a time delay circuit and single pole, double throw relay. The speed control is used to slow the speed of the air cycler during the initial stage of a cooling cycle. This initial stage is typically the first 5–7 minutes of the air conditioning cycle. In a further aspect, a humidistat is operably associated with the system for detection of humidity levels within the air of a home or other structure. The system is programmed to close the motorized outside air damper in the event that humidity levels exceed a predetermined level, thereby limiting further entry of humid outside air into the home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Morton Curtis
  • Patent number: 7191826
    Abstract: A fan motor speed control system for controlling the fan motor speed of an air conditioning system includes a power output circuit including a power triac which is turned on and off by an opto-isolator connected to a pulse generator circuit for varying an AC voltage waveform imposed on the fan motor. The pulse generator circuit is connected to heating and cooling ramp circuits and a minimum speed circuit to provide a variable voltage signal imposed on the pulse generator circuit corresponding to the temperature difference sensed by a return air sensor and a heating or cooling sensor or by separate heating and cooling sensors disposed adjacent respective heating and cooling heat exchangers of the air conditioning system. An adjustable minimum speed circuit and a cutoff circuit are provided to control motor minimum speed or motor shutoff when a predetermined minimum speed is reached to prevent motor bearing failure or overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hoffman Controls Corp.
    Inventors: Howard P. Byrnes, Walter William Bowman
  • Patent number: 7166978
    Abstract: An electric motor system includes an electric motor, a temperature sensor mounted therein capable of measuring a local temperature and generating a temperature related signal, and a processor configured to calculate an actual temperature of a rotor magnet from the temperature related signal, and an actual output torque from the actual rotor magnet temperature. A method for determining the actual output torque of a motor includes sensing a temperature within the motor, calculating a rotor magnet temperature from the sensed temperature, and calculating the actual output mechanical torciue from the rotor magnet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, LP
    Inventors: David M. Carson, Richard Hall
  • Patent number: 7164249
    Abstract: A fan control device receives a reference revolution signal to control the rotation speed of a fan. The fan control device includes a reference signal generating module, a revolution modifying module and a fan driving module. The reference signal generating module generates a first reference signal and a second reference signal. The revolution modifying module receives the first reference signal and the second reference signal, and generates a target revolution signal according to the reference revolution signal and the first and second reference signals. The fan driving module receives the target revolution signal and generates a driving signal to drive the fan according to the target revolution signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Feng Wu, Cheng-Chieh Liu, Ching-Sen Hsieh, Tsung-Jung Hsieh, Yueh-Lung Huang
  • Patent number: 7148643
    Abstract: A single-phase motor driving circuit includes a controller for outputting a control signal to drive a single-phase motor in a period in which a saw-tooth voltage of a predetermined cycle is larger than a duty setting voltage based on a result of comparing a detected temperature voltage changed based on a temperature detected by a temperature detecting device with a starting duty setting voltage increased with time while a voltage smaller than the detected temperature voltage at the time of starting the single-phase motor is set as an initial value. The controller sets the duty setting voltage as the starting duty setting voltage when the result of the comparison shows that the starting duty setting voltage is smaller than the detected temperature voltage, and the duty setting voltage as the detected temperature voltage when the starting duty setting voltage is larger than the detected temperature voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshitomi, Yasuyuki Ueshima
  • Patent number: 7141953
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture control a device or system that has an operational limit related to the rate or frequency of operation. The frequency of operation is controlled at a variable rate calculated to maximize the system or apparatus performance over a calculated period of time short enough that a controlling factor, such as power consumption, does not vary significantly during the period. Known system parameters, such as thermal resistance and capacitance of an integrated circuit (IC) and its package, and measured values, such as current junction temperature in an IC, are used to calculate a time-dependent frequency of operation for the upcoming time period that results in the best overall performance without exceeding the operational limit, such as the junction temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Aviad Cohen, Lev Finkelstein, Avi Mendelson, Ronny Ronen, Dmitry Rudoy
  • Patent number: 7129660
    Abstract: A motor-current square value calculation section 45 calculates, as a motor-current square value, the sum of respective square values of two phase currents converted from three phase currents flowing through an electric motor. A temperature estimation calculation section 44 performs low-pass filtering for the motor-current square value, and calculates temperature increases of the mass portion and coils on the basis of the filtered motor-current square value. In the low-pass filtering, filtering calculation is performed in a manner which changes depending on rotational speed RV of the electric motor; i.e., whether the electric motor is in a rotating state or in a stopped state. The temperature increase of the mass portion is added to ambient temperature of the electric motor to thereby estimate temperature of the mass portion, and the temperature increase of the coils is added to the estimated temperature of the mass portion to thereby estimate temperature of the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Fujita, Atsuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 7106019
    Abstract: A serial interface circuit electrically connected to a controller to control an electric motor. The interface circuit includes a controller circuit and a motor circuit. The controller circuit includes a transmitter and a receiver circuit, and the motor circuit includes a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The interface interrogates the motor to acquire status and diagnostic information by receiving commands from the controller, adjusts a voltage level to a desired level, outputs the voltage signal to command and control the motor, and receives a voltage response from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Regal-Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: Roger C. Becerra, William R. Archer, Brian L. Beifus, Mark A. Brattoli
  • Patent number: 7102310
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of detecting a temperature TB of each battery block, calculating a desired output value VT of each motor based on a detected temperature, detecting output value V of each motor based on a signal transmitted from an F/V conversion circuit converting a pulse signal of a speed sensor provided on each motor into a voltage, reading a last DUTY command value D, calculating a difference DV between desired output value VT and output value V (DV=VT?V), calculating a DUTY command correction value for each motor based on difference DV, and adding a calculated DUTY command correction value to last DUTY command value D to calculate DUTY command value D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruo Ishishita
  • Patent number: 7101310
    Abstract: A method of controlling a torque biasing system includes determining a torque command, calculating a torque error based on the torque command and a model-based torque. A control signal is generated based on the torque error and the torque biasing system is operated based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain USA, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Smith, Eric A Bansbach
  • Patent number: 7102308
    Abstract: A method and system for variable speed fan control for thermal management of a device includes disposing a first temperature sensor proximate a variable speed fan to measure an air temperature of inlet air Tair that cools the device by convection air flow. A controller is configured to compensate for changes in Tair by varying a convection coefficient (h) which is a strong function of air velocity to maintain the product of h*?T at a constant value, wherein ?T is a temperature differential between the device (TAD) minus Tair. Thus, h is varied by varying air velocity by varying a speed of the variable speed fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Ashutosh Joshi
  • Patent number: 7091689
    Abstract: The present invention is a driving circuit for a two-phase DC brushless fan motor comprises a control unit, a Hall element, a motor and a motor protection circuit, an MOS element, a reverse protection circuit and a temperature control circuit. By sensing the running temperature of the motor by the temperature sensor and feeding it back to the motor and offering proper current as tied in with a current limiting resistor, thermal shutdown will not happen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Datech Technology Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian-Xuan Lee
  • Patent number: 7084593
    Abstract: An electric power assist steering control system having an electric motor actuator and a motor driver circuit for generating and applying a motor current to the electric motor actuator. A current sensor is included for measuring the motor current from the motor driver circuit and generating a feedback signal. A torque sensor is included for sensing an applied steering torque and providing a torque command signal having a value indicative of the applied steering torque. A controller calculates a temperature of the electric temperature of the electric motor actuator by evaluating the motor current applied to the electric motor actuator. In the case that the calculated temperature of the electric motor actuator surpasses a predetermined temperature, the electric power assist steering control system reduces the amount of motor current applied to the electric motor actuator thereby reducing the temperature of the electric motor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Michael Crowley
  • Patent number: 7075261
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fan is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for controlling a fan includes applying power to the fan at startup. The fan may be supplied a predetermined amount of current, which may break the inertia of the fan propeller and begin its rotation. As the propeller begins rotating, the speed at which it rotates may be monitored. The fan startup routine may continue until the fan reaches or exceeds a minimum fan speed threshold. Once the fan has at least reached the minimum speed, the amount of current supplied to the fan may be reduced such that the fan rotates at minimum speed, and an automatic fan control algorithm may begin executing. By reducing the current such that the fan operates at a minimum speed, the amount of audible noise generated by the fan during startup may be kept to a minimum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Burstein
  • Patent number: 7069923
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of automatically operating a fan motor when a grill is used in a downdraft gas range and, more particularly, an apparatus and method of enabling a user to arbitrarily adjust the wind during automatic fan motor operation. The present invention is configured to be able to adjust the speed of the fan motor by variously operating the state of the fan switch during the use of the grill. The downdraft gas range is capable of controlling the speed of the fan motor during the automatic operation by automatically operating the fan motor even when the fan switch is open during the use of the grill and enabling the user to select the speed of the fan motor during the use of the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Paseco Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeon-Soo Seong
  • Patent number: 7065435
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the climate of a vehicle includes a control element, a temperature sensor, a motor and a microprocessor. The microprocessor may receive a temperature signal indicative of the temperature at the control element and may receive at least one further input. The at least one further input may comprise an input signal indicative of a high side voltage of the motor, a low side voltage of the motor, and/or an electrical current applied to the motor. The control system controls the motor via an output of the microprocessor. The control system may control the motor in response to the temperature signal and the at least one further input. The control system may reduce occurrence of high-power dissipative modes in response to a detection of a temperature above a threshold level via intelligent power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A Gorman, Sacha E Barnes, John T Wichlacz
  • Patent number: 7064511
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a fan is disclosed. A single control signal value for controlling the fan, such as a single PWM duty cycle value for a corresponding PWM generator output powering the fan, may be calculated by combining sensor data from two or more temperature zones. In one embodiment, the single PWM duty cycle value may be determined based on the temperature in a first zone, for example the CPU, with an additional factor based on the temperature in a second zone, for example the ambient temperature of a PC enclosure. In one embodiment, the final single PWM value is determined by adding an offset value to a PWM value calculated based on the current temperature of the first zone, where the offset value is obtained by calculating a first ?PWM factor for the first zone, and using the first ?PWM factor, in conjunction with a scaling factor, to weight a second ?PWM factor calculated for the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen M. Marando, Robert W. Schoepflin
  • Patent number: 7061197
    Abstract: A system for moving a barrier between limit positions, includes an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the barrier, wherein at least a portion of the motor assembly is movable between an operating position and a locking position with the motor assembly blocking movement of the barrier. A bias assembly biases the motor assembly in the operating position and allows the motor assembly to move toward the locking position when either a predetermined force overcomes a biasing force or when the barrier is moved to a closed limit position or when forced entry is imposed on the barrier. The biasing force may be adjusted by moving posts on the motor assembly that are engaged by the bias assembly. A disengagement feature may also be provided that allows pivotable movement of the motor assembly even when in a locking position. And the pivoting motor assembly may be used as a secondary entrapment input to an operator controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Albert W. Mitchell, David B. Davies, Paul J. VanDrunen, James S. Murray, Derek S. Paquette, Michael Cognevich
  • Patent number: 7038408
    Abstract: A fan motor speed control circuit includes a driving circuit, a voltage division circuit, and a speed modulator. The voltage division circuit has a first transistor and a plurality of resistors and is connected between a voltage source and the driving circuit. The speed modulator has a second transistor and a plurality of parallel resistors and is connected between the voltage division circuit and the driving circuit. The current of the fan motor speed control circuit flows through a first path under a first input voltage generated from the voltage source and through a second path under a second input voltage larger than the first one; the parallel resistors are in the second path such that the current value passing through the driving circuit varies according to the resulting resistance value of the parallel resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-liang Lin, Yueh-lung Huang, Tsung-yu Lei, Ju-wen Hsieh, Wen-shi Huang
  • Patent number: 7038413
    Abstract: A trapping detection device of an opening/closing member includes a motor, a motor speed detection device, a control device, a voltage detection device for detecting a drive voltage applied to the motor, an actual speed decision device for deciding the actual speed of a rotation of the motor, an estimated speed calculation device for calculating the estimated speed of the rotation of the motor based on the drive voltage, an estimated speed storage device for storing the estimated speed for a predetermined time, an estimated speed correction device for correcting the estimated speed based on a difference between the actual speed and the estimated speed obtained before the predetermined time, a trapping determination device for determining the trapping based on a change state of a difference between the estimated speed being corrected and the actual speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Onozawa, Takashi Kikuta, Tsutomu Tanoi
  • Patent number: 7038415
    Abstract: A temperature sensor (33) detects the temperature of a MOS transistor (7), and a current detecting circuit (35) detects current flowing in the MOS transistor (7). When the voltage corresponding to the detected temperature or the voltage corresponding to the detected current is increased to a threshold value or more, an overheat state detecting signal and further switching signal is set to a high level. As a result, a switch circuit in a driving circuit (17) is turned on, and the gate resistance value becomes the parallel value of a resistor (25), and the PWM frequency in the PWM control circuit is lowered, whereby the switching loss of the MOS transistor (7) can be reduced under the state that the motor (2) is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nakamura, Manabu Nomura, Satoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7038420
    Abstract: A method of regulating an electric motor, regulation being implemented with a loop of gain less than unity as a function of a divergence between a setpoint signal for an operating parameter of the motor and a measured value of the same operating parameter of the electric motor, the divergence being taken into account only if said divergence is greater than a predetermined threshold whenever the measured value is greater than the setpoint signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronics
    Inventor: Valéry Becquet
  • Patent number: 7029239
    Abstract: A system may include a PWM generator and control logic. The PWM generator is configured to generate a PWM signal having a duty cycle dependent on a duty cycle value generated by the control logic. The control logic is configured to generate the duty cycle value to have a piecewise linear relationship with temperature such that at least two of a plurality of linear segments defined by the piecewise linear relationship have different slopes. In some embodiments, the piecewise linear relationship may be continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen M. Marando, Robert W. Schoepflin
  • Patent number: 7027721
    Abstract: An electric fan temperature-rated variable speed control circuit, includes a D.C. current source and fan activation IC. There are, between the current source positive and negative poles serially connected transistor, regulation tube, with the regulation tube negative pole linked to the current source negative pole, and its positive pole, incorporated to form the primary current. Between triode base and collector lies a serially connected resistor. The triode collector is linked to the current source positive pole, and between its base and collector lies a serially connected rectifying resistor, which bypasses through the base to connect with the fan activation IC for sending out fan rotation speed control signals with which to form a circuit that adopts a straightforward, easy-to-implement method that offers low-cost and dependable temperature-control characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Chin-Ping Wu
  • Patent number: 7019478
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric M. Gregori, Matthew C. Stephan, James J. Fitzgibbon, Carlos Jurado, Robert R. Keller, Jr., Colin Willmott
  • Patent number: 7012400
    Abstract: A control circuitry, electrically connected to a DC motor and a variable voltage source for modulating a rotational speed of the DC motor. The control circuitry includes a voltage reference component and a switching circuit. The voltage reference component is electrically connected with the variable voltage source and provides a predetermined reference voltage. The switching circuit is electrically connected with the DC motor and the voltage reference component. The switching circuit is “OFF” when a voltage given by the variable voltage source is lower than the predetermined reference voltage so that the DC motor operates with a first operation mode, and the switching circuit is “ON” when the voltage given by the variable voltage source is higher than the predetermined reference voltage so that the DC motor operates with a second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shou-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 7009354
    Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian K. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7005820
    Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian K. Tanner
  • Patent number: 6992448
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus capable of protecting a motor from overheat while changing smoothly a motor output characteristic as a function of time lapse and mitigating overhead involved in arithmetic operation includes a current command value generator for generating current command values for a motor (1) having a polyphase winding, and motor current value detecting circuits (3u, 3v) for detecting motor current values (iu, iv), to drive the motor (1) on the basis of the motor current values and current command values. The apparatus further includes a PWM inverter (4) for driving the motor (1) and a microcontroller (5) for controlling the PWM inverter (4). The microcontroller (5) limits the motor current values in dependence on integrated values of function values determined by fitting transformed current values determined through predetermined coordinate transformation of the phase currents (iu, iv, iw) to a predetermined function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Fujimoto, Takayuki Kifuku
  • Patent number: 6992452
    Abstract: A system and method for generating commands for current subject to dynamic determinations of a limit. In one embodiment, the dynamically determined limit is a function of power dissipation in a component estimated from a measured current level and as a function of a measured temperature proximate to the component. In another embodiment, the limit is a lesser of two dynamically determined current levels. The system and method may be of particular use in a motor having limits determined with respect to a transistor and a motor winding. More particularly, estimated temperatures are established for a transistor and a motor winding for use in dynamically determining limits. Dynamic current limiting may be applied to a left and right wheeled vehicle such that the limit applied to both wheels is the lower of the limits dynamically determined for each wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason M. Sachs, John David Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 6987373
    Abstract: A starting system for a pump includes a driving motor, an electric source, a selector switch, a starter sensor, a temperature sensor and a control unit. The selector switch is located between the driving motor and the electric source for reversing polarity of the electric power supplied from the electric source to the driving motor. The starter sensor senses whether or not the driving motor has been started. The temperature sensor senses a temperature. The control unit operates the selector switch so as to repeatedly give the driving motor indications of reverse rotation and normal rotation in a case where the starter sensor does not sense that the driving motor has been started even if the control unit operates the selector switch so as to give the driving motor the indication of normal rotation in a state where the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is below a preset temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidishokki
    Inventors: Masanao Kagami, Toshiro Fujii, Kazuho Yamada, Tatsuyuki Hoshino, Takayuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 6970643
    Abstract: A radiator includes a voltage regulator for providing a reference voltage, a fan including a power end connected to the reference voltage via a first resistor and a feedback end for outputting a pulse signal indicating the rotation speed of the fan, an integration circuit including an output end, and an input end connected to the feedback end of the fan for converting the pulse signal from the feedback end into a voltage signal, and a thermistor connected between the output end of the integration circuit and the reference voltage, for detecting temperature changes in order to adjust the rotation speed of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventor: Wei-Chun Chang
  • Patent number: 6967453
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a fan motor which is arranged to arranged to cool an object to be cooled and to be controlled by an inverter whose output is connected to the fan motor. The method of the invention comprises steps of determining the temperature of the object to be cooled or a variable proportional to the temperature to form a control variable, controlling the frequency of the inverter output voltage on the basis of the control variable, and controlling the effective value of the inverter output voltage on the basis of the control variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Erkki Miettinen
  • Patent number: 6949903
    Abstract: When digitizing a voltage, a capacitor is charged, through an impedance, to a voltage value (Um) dependent on the voltage to be digitized. The limits of that one of a plurality of voltage ranges in which said voltage value (Um) lies, are ascertained, and the two limits of that voltage range are defined as a first limit and second limit; the voltage at the capacitor is modified to the first limit by a charge modification circuit containing an impedance, and a first time interval needed therefor is identified; the voltage at the capacitor is modified to the second limit; the voltage at the capacitor is modified from the second to the first limit via the charge modification circuit. A seond time interval needed therefor is identified. Based on values of the first time interval and second time interval, a digital value is calculated, which serves as an indication of how much the voltage value (Um) at the capacitor differs from one of said two limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hansjorg Berroth, Arnold Kuner, Hans-Dieter Schondelmaier
  • Patent number: 6943517
    Abstract: A single-phase motor driving circuit includes a controller for outputting a control signal to drive a single-phase motor in a period in which a saw-tooth voltage of a predetermined cycle is larger than a duty setting voltage based on a result of comparing a detected temperature voltage changed based on a temperature detected by a temperature detecting device with a starting duty setting voltage increased with time while a voltage smaller than the detected temperature voltage at the time of starting the single-phase motor is set as an initial value. The controller sets the duty setting voltage as the starting duty setting voltage when the result of the comparison shows that the starting duty setting voltage is smaller than the detected temperature voltage, and the duty setting voltage as the detected temperature voltage when the starting duty setting voltage is larger than the detected temperature voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshitomi, Yasuyuki Ueshima
  • Patent number: 6940240
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator can use (11) a first technique to prevent an excess application of force during controlled movement of a movable barrier (43) and at least a second technique (12) to similarly prevent an excess application of force during such movement. Both techniques can then be utilized to determine (13) when an application of excess force may nevertheless occur and not be reasonably avoided. In one embodiment, two techniques (21 and 22) can be used to detect force as applied during movement of the movable barrier and such information can be used to determine (23) whether applied force is being reliably indicated. In another embodiment, travel limit information (51), travel information (52) and travel history information (53) are utilized to assess whether normal operation of the movable barrier operator should be over-ridden (54) due to a possibly expression of undue force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Barbara P. Kelkhoff, James J. Fitzgibbon, Colin B. Wilmott
  • Patent number: 6933697
    Abstract: A system may include control logic and a PWM generator configured to generate a PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) signal. The PWM generator is configured to generate the duty cycle of the PWM signal dependent on a duty cycle value generated by the control logic. The control logic stores an inverse focal point value and is configured to generate the duty cycle value by processing the inverse focal point value and a temperature value indicating a current temperature according to the equation of a parabola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Eileen M. Marando, Robert W. Schoepflin
  • Patent number: 6927549
    Abstract: An electric motor control unit mounted in an automotive vehicle having a motor that is variable in its rotational speed. A temperature sensing element is arranged to contact a busbar so that relays permit switching operation in response to detection of abnormal heat generation. This controls an electrical power supply to the motor to decrease the rotational speed of the motor without complete stopping of the motor. The rotational speed of the motor returns to a normal speed from the decreased speed by switching operation of the relays with diminishing of the abnormal heat generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ashiya, Makoto Nakayama, Hironori Saito
  • Patent number: 6903525
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is herein disclosed for determining the motor performance of an electric motor through monitoring the temperature of rotor magnets. The temperature is determined by initially heating the rotor magnets to two known temperatures and subsequently recording the temperature at each known temperature. From the known and recorded temperatures, an offset, if any, is calculated. An actual temperature is then determined from the subsequent temperatures of the magnets and the offset. The actual temperature is then used as a basis to determine the motor performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, LP
    Inventors: David M. Carson, Richard Hall
  • Patent number: 6891347
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for cooling a cabinet. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises the steps of controlling a speed of the at least one cooling fan in response to a temperature of the cabinet, and, controlling the speed of the at least one cooling fan in response to a position of an access panel relative to the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert W. Dobbs, James K. Koch, Jeremy I. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6888332
    Abstract: A computer system includes a first heat generating element in which a heat generation amount is changed, a second heat generating element, a fan configured to cool the first and second heat generating elements, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the first heat generating element, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the second heat generating element, and a controller configured to control a rotation speed of the cooling fan, based on the temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Satoshi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 6886977
    Abstract: A sensor measures temperature in stationary components of electrical machines using fiber optics. An optical fiber is embedded in a non-metallic ribbon. Notches are cut in the ribbon to effect bends that accommodate a shape of a stationary component. The ribbon and optical fiber are attached to the stationary component. A series of laser pulses can be injected from at least one end of the optical fiber, and the stationary component temperature can be monitored by interrogation of reflections from the series of laser pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Anthony Kaminski, Konrad Roman Weeber, Thomas Bonner, Todd Garrett Wetzel, John William Devitt, Veera Palanivelu Rajendran
  • Patent number: 6879120
    Abstract: There is provided a brushless DC fan motor which can eliminate an oscillator for PWM, control the motor speed at a low cost with high accuracy, and efficiently adjust the temperature in a housing for electronic appliances when radiating the heat in the housing. The brushless DC fan motor with the rotational speed thereof controlled by controlling the voltage of a control input terminal of a drive circuit comprises a differential amplifier in which the voltage signal for controlling the speed is inputted in a first input terminal and the reference voltage signal is inputted in a second input terminal. The differential amplifier is linear in the input-output characteristic, and can set the rise characteristic of a desired gradient, and control the motor speed with high accuracy without using the PWM signal for the input signal. The voltage signal from the output terminal of the differential amplifier is given to the control input terminal of the drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junnan Xi
  • Patent number: 6874327
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing resolution of pulse width modulated (PWM) signal duty cycle calculations in a fan speed control system operating to control rotational speed of at least one fan. The method may comprise obtaining a temperature reading from a first temperature sensor in the fan speed control system during a first time period. The temperature reading has resolution of a first number of bits. A portion of the first number of bits is selected for calculating a PWM signal duty cycle with the resolution of the first number of bits in the temperature reading using only the portion of the first number of bits and zone parameters associated with the first temperature sensor. The PWM signal duty cycle may then be converted into a PWM signal that may be provided to the at least one fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Wahler, Eileen M. Marando, Steven Burstein, Wayne A. Miller
  • Patent number: 6873514
    Abstract: An integrated solenoid system including a single housing containing a solenoid, a controller and one or more electrical connections. The controller includes temperature compensating means and/or voltage compensating means thereby providing predetermined, substantially constant currents to said solenoid. The housing includes an integral two-part end cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Trombetta, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis A. Maller, Todd McMahon
  • Patent number: 6873883
    Abstract: A temperature control system for an electronics system minimizes fan noise as much as possible. The system, which may be a computer, is capable of implementing a plurality of temperature control protocols. Each protocol generally specifies fan speed as a function of temperature. When the system initializes, a protocol is selected that, on average, is quieter than at least one other protocol, and preferably all other protocols. The system monitors its own temperature and, if the temperature reaches a threshold, the system causes the initial temperature control protocol to be changed to a different protocol that is better able to cool the system, albeit with a resulting louder sound level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory P. Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 6870334
    Abstract: A movable barrier operator having a motor controller (10) and motor (11) that control selective movement of a movable barrier (12) also has an obstacle detector (14) that utilizes an automatically determined excess force threshold value to permit reliable detection of an obstacle under a wide variety of operational circumstances, including changing physical circumstances, aging components, temperature variations, and motor runtime. In a preferred embodiment, a characteristic force value for the system is frequently updated as a function of actual measured force requirements (and further compensated, pursuant to various embodiments, with respect to other conditions such as temperature and motor runtime). This characteristic force value is then utilized to determine the excess force threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos Jurado, Eric M. Gregori, Matthew C. Stephan
  • Patent number: 6861820
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electric motor using real time predictions of motor capability based on thermal modeling and measurements is provided. The invention includes controllers for receiving and processing system input signals, strategies for: determining a maximum energy amount that can be put into the motor before the motor reaches a maximum allowable temperature; determining a motor power assist value that the motor can provide in a predetermined period of time before the motor reaches the maximum allowable temperature; determining a battery power assist value; determining a maximum power assist value that is the minimum of the motor power assist value and the battery power assist value; and comparing the maximum power assist value to a driver demand signal. Strategy outputs can be sent to a vehicle system controller and/or a power assist gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 6847187
    Abstract: A thermal protection apparatus for an AC traction motor including a stator, a rotor, a blower fan and an inverter includes a method and apparatus for predicting the motor temperature assuming that the blower is operational. The method and apparatus also determines an estimated motor temperature by measuring the motor resistance or the rotor slip. The estimated motor temperatures compared to the predicted motor temperature to determine the condition of the motor cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 6844691
    Abstract: A ventilator having an abnormal operation indication device includes a power supply circuit, a central processing unit, a fan motor, and a load sensing circuit. Thus, the load sensing circuit detects the abnormal operation signals through the sensor, so that the abnormal operation indication lamp on the panel of the ventilator lights, so as to indicate that the part of the ventilator is disposed at an abnormal operation state and needs to be inspected and amended, thereby facilitating inspection and maintenance of the parts of the ventilator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventors: Chao-Cheng Chiang, Chi-Hsiung Chiang