Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering control apparatus and method. The steering control apparatus includes a first steering control module and a second steering control module. The first and second steering control modules respectively include first and second temperature sensors detecting respective internal temperatures of the first and second steering control modules. The first steering control module can transmit information on a first temperature detected by the first temperature sensor to the second steering control module, and the second steering control module can receive the information on the first temperature and transmit information on a second temperature detected by the second temperature sensor. The first and second steering control modules can transition according to the information on the first and second temperatures, and the first steering control module or the second steering control module can control a steering motor.

Abstract: A material handler comprises a motor, an interface device, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an input from the interface device and can include a variable frequency drive (VFD). The controller provides a variable frequency drive (VFD) signal to the motor to control movement of one or more components of the material handler. If the interface device is inactive for a predetermined amount of time, the controller adjusts a frequency of the VFD signal from an operating frequency to a standby frequency with the standby frequency being lower than the operating frequency. Adjusting the frequency from the operating frequency to the standby frequency can include adjusting the frequency of the VFD signal to one or more intermediate frequencies. When adjusting the frequency of the VFD signal, the controller can skip at least one frequency or range of frequencies, for example, to avoid undesirable operating characteristics.

Abstract: A motor driving device is a device for driving a motor including stator windings, includes: a connection switching unit that is connected to the stator windings, includes circuits including semiconductor switches, and switches connection condition of the stator windings to either of first connection condition and second connection condition different from the first connection condition by setting the semiconductor switches to ON or OFF; and an inverter that supplies AC drive voltages to the stator windings.

Abstract: A power converter, an electric drive system and a method for operating a power converter are disclosed. The power converter has connections for connecting to a direct voltage source and connections for electrical connection to phase lines of the electric drive machine. The power converter is configured to convert a direct voltage from the direct voltage source via a direct voltage intermediate circuit into an alternating voltage in order to drive the drive machine. The power converter includes bridge branches for connecting a high-potential section to a low-potential section. A bridge branch includes two half branches with at least one switching device. A resulting nominal voltage of a half branch is greater than a counter-electromotive peak voltage between two phase lines at the maximum rotational speed of the drive machine. A half branch of a bridge branch includes a series circuit of two or more than two switching devices.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine control apparatus is provided which controls energization of a rotary electric machine having a plurality of winding sets. The apparatus includes an energization control circuit that is provided for each of the winding sets and has a switching element related to switching of energization to the winding set, a driver circuit that outputs a drive signal to the switching element through a signal line connected to the switching element, and a protection element that is connected to the signal line and in parallel with the switching element. When combinations of the winding sets and electronic components including the energization control circuit provided for each of the winding sets are regarded as systems, in at least one of the systems, performance of the protection element is differentiated from that in the other system to make noise resistance different from noise resistance in the other system.

Abstract: Control unit for controlling an inverter with a plurality of half bridges each having a first switching element connected to a potential of a DC link and a second switching element connected to another potential of the DC link. The control unit provides first signals to the first switching elements such that they are turned off upon receiving a request signal, and second signals to the second switching elements such that they are turned on upon receiving the request signal and to perform a comparison of a measured electric parameter of the inverter with a predefined threshold value. The control unit provides a second signal such that the second switching element controlled by the second signal is turned off for a predefined time span, if a switching criterion comprising a condition that the comparison results in that the measured electric parameter reaches or crosses the threshold value is fulfilled.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including: an electric brushless direct current (BLDC) motor having rotor and a stator defining phases; a power unit including a first switch circuit connected electrically between a first power supply and the motor, and a second switch circuit connected electrically between a second power supply and the motor; and a controller configured to control a switching operation of the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit to regulate a supply of power from at least one of the first power supply and/or the second power supply to the motor.

Abstract: A control method of an inverter for outputting polyphase alternate-current electrical power is provided. In the control method, modified PWM pulses of respective phases for controlling semiconductor switching elements of the inverter are generated, based on an output of a counter common to the respective phases. Each of the modified PWM pulses is configured such that a total pulse width, in a period corresponding to one or more cycles of a carrier, is substantially equal to a total pulse width of an assumed PWM pulse which is obtained by comparing, with the carrier, a time average value of an output voltage of the corresponding phase in the period. Further, at least one of a generation timing and a generation frequency of at least one of the modified PWM pulses is changed from the assumed PWM pulse.

Abstract: A control method of an inverter for outputting polyphase alternate-current electrical power is provided. In the control method, modified PWM pulses of respective phases for controlling semiconductor switching elements of the inverter are generated, based on an output of a counter common to the respective phases. Each of the modified PWM pulses is configured such that a total pulse width, in a period corresponding to one or more cycles of a carrier, is substantially equal to a total pulse width of an assumed PWM pulse which is obtained by comparing, with the carrier, a time average value of an output voltage of the corresponding phase in the period. Further, at least one of a generation timing and a generation frequency of at least one of the modified PWM pulses is changed from the assumed PWM pulse.

Abstract: An inverter system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes an energy storage that stores electrical energy and a first inverter that includes a plurality of first switching devices and converts energy stored in the energy storage into AC power. A second inverter includes a plurality of second switching devices that are different in types from the first switching devices, and is connected to the energy storage in parallel with the first inverter. The second inverter converts the energy stored in the energy storage into AC power. A motor is driven by the AC power converted by the first inverter and the second inverter. A controller generates a PWM signal based on required output of the motor and operates the motor by inputting the generated PWM signal to at least one or more of the first inverter and the second inverter.

Abstract: An electric working machine in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a motor; an acceleration sensor; a load-determiner; a filter part having a cutoff frequency; and a filter-property setting part. The filter part removes an unwanted signal component from a detection signal from the acceleration sensor based on the cutoff frequency and inputs, to the load-determiner, the detection signal with the unwanted signal component removed. The filter-property setting part changes the cutoff frequency of the filter part such that a cutoff frequency in a high-speed rotation mode is higher than a cutoff frequency in a low-speed rotation mode.

Abstract: A motor driving circuit for receiving a control signal to output at least one output current for driving a motor is provided. The motor driving circuit includes an input module, a gain module, an output module, a first slew rate limiting module, and a second slew rate limiting module. The first slew rate limiting module has a first limiting parameter. The second slew rate includes a second limiting parameter. An output current is outputted by the output terminal. When a rising slew rate of the output current is less than a first slew rate value, the first slew rate limiting module does not operate. When the rising slew rate of the output current is greater than the first slew rate value, the motor driving circuit limits the rising slew rate of the output current based on the first limiting parameter of the first slew rate limiting module.

Abstract: Provided is a forced discharge circuit of a battery charger for an electric vehicle, which is capable of forcibly discharging a high voltage in accordance with the electric safety code for electric vehicles when the function of the battery charger is stopped. A forced discharge circuit of a battery charger for an electric vehicle, which discharges a high voltage applied to the battery charger that converters commercial power to charge a vehicle battery, includes: a micro control unit (MCU) configured to generate a control signal according to a charge state of the battery charger; a discharge resistor connected in parallel to the battery charger; and a relay connected in series to the discharge resistor and configured to operate in an on or off state according to the control signal of the MCU.

Abstract: An electrical machine and method for driving at least one ancillary device of a motor is provided wherein the electrical machine comprises a stator, configured to be rotated, and a rotor, rotatably mounted relative to the stator, coupled to the ancillary device. The speed of the rotor may be a function of the rotational speed of the stator and the frequency of a supply current supplied to the electrical machine and thus drives the ancillary device at a demanded load/speed.

Abstract: A pitch drive circuit that operates in an emergency mode, for a wind or water power plant. The circuit has at least one rectifier unit, at least one DC intermediate circuit, two inverter units and a pitch rotary current motor with motor trains that can be contacted on both sides. A first contact side of the motor trains is connected to a first inverter unit and a second contact side of the motor trains is connected to a second inverter unit. At least one switching element is connected to at least one contact side of the motor trains. In a normal operating mode of a first switching state of the switching element the motor trains can be energized via both inverter units, and in an emergency operating mode of a second switching state of the switching element, the motor trains can be energized via a single inverter unit.

Abstract: A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) supplies power to rotate a motor, controlling both the speed and direction. The method normally used for this power conversion by the VFD results in energy losses and line harmonics. When the motor is driven by the VFD to be rotating at the same speed and direction as if the motor was straight across the incoming AC power, a transfer in power supply to the motor can be made using contactors to bypass the VFD. When in this bypass mode, the energy losses of the VFD are greatly reduced, and the line harmonics due to the VFD are greatly reduced. When it is subsequently recognized that the speed reference has deviated from being the same speed and direction as if the motor was straight across the incoming AC power, a transfer in power supply can be made from using contactors to once again drive the motor from the VFD.

Abstract: A method for operating a direct current (DC) motor is shown and described. The method includes generating a first pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a first duty cycle, providing the first PWM signal as a PWM DC output for the DC motor, and adjusting the first duty cycle to control a speed of the DC motor. The method further includes sensing an electric current output to the motor using a current sensor and, when the sensed current exceeds a threshold, holding the PWM DC output off.

Abstract: A power-saving driving device is provided for a device 23 having the same load pattern and driven by a motor 21 receiving electric power from an inverter 19. The power-saving driving device includes a DC-DC converter 93 driven by a battery 91 and the inverter driven by an output of the DC-DC converter. The power-saving driving device further includes an electric power amount W calculator 81 that calculates an electric power amount received from the battery in the same load pattern, and a parameter selection/instruction unit 83 that causes a parameter (carrier wave frequency instruction value F and output voltage instruction value G) of the inverter to change to be a plurality of values, compares the received electric power amounts respectively corresponding to the values of the parameter, selects the parameter value minimizing the received electric power amount, and instructs the selected parameter value to the inverter.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus controlling a driving of a motor having two pairs of winding sets is provided. The motor control apparatus includes a current command value calculation portion, a first system, a second system, and a temperature difference calculation portion. The first system includes a first power inverter circuit, a first temperature sensor, a first current limit setting portion, and a first controller. The second system includes a second power inverter circuit, a second temperature sensor, a second current limit setting portion, and a second controller. One of the first controller and the second controller stops a driving of one of the first power inverter circuit and the second power inverter circuit or reduces the current limiting value of this.

Abstract: Methods and systems for replacing HVAC blower motors and other electric motors are disclosed including systems and methods for gathering and storing information about motors that may need to be replaced, systems and methods for selecting replacement motors, and systems and methods for programming the replacement motors. The systems and methods allow a select few replacement motors to be programmed to replace nearly any original motor.

Abstract: An integrated system of circuits for serial fan structure includes a first and a second fan connected back to back. A first driving unit and a first control unit for the first fan and a second driving unit and a second control unit for the second fan are sequentially electrically connected to a circuit board in the second fan. Further, a first coil assembly of the first fan and a second coil assemble of the second fan are also electrically connected to the circuit board in the second fan; and some low-use-rate electronic circuits are included in a common circuit unit of the first and the second fan. Therefore, the serial fan structure can save one circuit board and some low-use-rate electronic circuits from the first fan to achieve the purpose of reducing the manufacturing cost of the serial fan structure.

Abstract: The invention comprises a high frequency inductor filter apparatus coupled with an inverter yielding high frequency harmonics and/or non-sixty Hertz output. For example, an inductor/converter apparatus is provided that uses a silicon carbide transistor to output power having a carrier frequency, modulated by a fundamental frequency, and a set of harmonic frequencies. A filter, comprising an inductor having a distributed gap core material and optional magnet wires, receives power output from the inverter/converter and processes the power by passing the fundamental frequency while reducing amplitude of the harmonic frequencies.

Abstract: A conveyance cart includes: a body frame; a deck provided liftably against the body frame to load a burden; an electric actuator electrically driven to expand or contract to lift or lower the deck; a current detection element that detects an electric current value supplied to the electric actuator; and a PWM control element that drives the electric actuator in a pulse width modulation (PWM) control manner. The PWM control element increases an on-duty ratio input to the electric actuator if the electric current value detected by the current detection element exceeds a setting value when the deck is lifted.

Abstract: A drive system with energy store and method for operating a drive system, an inverter powering an electric motor, the inverter being supplied from a unipolar DC-link voltage, an energy store being connected in parallel to the inverter, in particular, a film capacitor being connected in parallel to the inverter, the DC-link voltage being generated by a DC/DC converter which is supplied from an AC/DC converter, especially a rectifier, in particular, an electric current being able to be supplied to the DC link by the DC/DC converter.

Abstract: There are disclosed herein various implementations of a half-bridge or multiple half-bridge switch configurations used in a voltage converter circuit using at least two normally ON switches. Such a circuit includes a high side switch and a low side switch coupled between a high voltage rail and a low voltage rail of the voltage converter circuit. The high side switch is coupled to the low side switch at a switch node of the voltage converter circuit. At least one group IV enhancement mode switch is used as an enable switch. The group IV enhancement mode enable switch may be an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a super junction field-effect transistor (SJFET), a unipolar group IV field-effect transistor (FET), or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT).

Abstract: An electronic device for controlling and/or regulating a drive unit includes a memory configured to make available at least two at least partially different control parameter sets which are each usable to at least one of control and regulate one of at least two drive units. The electronic device further includes a control unit which is configured to select one of the at least two parameter sets of the memory unit as a function of at least one operating parameter of the drive unit.

Abstract: A method is provided of calibrating a position sensor of an electric motor of a vehicle.

Abstract: An electric motor driving device that drives an electric motor including a field winding, a rotor and a stator, wherein the rotor and the stator each form a field pole by passing a field current through the field winding, includes: a power supply device; a converter including a reactor that at least partially serves as the field winding shared with the electric motor, and configured to receive a voltage from the power supply device to carry out voltage conversion between first and second power lines and to pass the field current through the field winding during voltage conversion operation; an inverter configured to convert a direct-current power received from the converter to an alternating-current power for driving the electric motor; and a controller controlling the converter so that a current flows through the field winding in the same direction both during power running and regeneration of the electric motor.

Abstract: An A/D converter has an analog multiplexer stage which selects one of a plurality of first analog signals as a second analog signal, an amplifier stage which amplifies the second analog signal to generate a third analog signal, an A/D conversion stage which converts the third analog signal into a digital signal, and a sequencer which controls those stages. The sequencer performs input switching processing in the analog multiplexer stage on completion of sample hold processing by the A/D conversion stage, when performing a plurality of times of A/D conversion processing sequentially, without waiting for completion of the A/D conversion processing.

Abstract: An integrated drive motor (IDM) power distribution architecture utilizes an IDM power interface module (IPIM) to create a control voltage that is distributed to all the IDMs in a network. This power distribution may be accomplished along a hybrid cable, for example, that includes both signal conductors and power conductors. The IPIM is capable of detecting short circuits and/or overload conditions and disabling the power supply to the IDMs. Additionally, a second power supply may be utilized in the IPIM such that when the power supply to the IDMs is deactivated, the IPIM may remain functional, for example, to report one or more fault conditions to the user. Additionally, this reporting of fault status may be accomplished via a user display integrated with or coupled to the IPIM.

Abstract: A fan control system includes a fan and a portable mobile device. The fan includes a housing member; a driving motor mounted in the housing member and having a rotary shaft; a fan blade assembly assembled to the rotary shaft of the driving motor; and a command receiving control unit mounted in the housing member and electrically connected to the driving motor. The portable mobile device includes a touch panel forming an operation control interface, and internally has a transmission unit and a processor electrically connected to the touch panel and the transmission unit. When the operation control interface is touched, the processor receives an operation control signal and correspondingly generates a control command that is wirelessly transmitted to the command receiving control unit in the fan via the transmission unit, so that the fan is directly controllable via the portable mobile device and has largely increased practicality and usability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for determining faults in motors and drives. The system includes a motor drive that has a DC-link coupled to a power source. A controller system is configured to measure power applied to the DC-link, integrate the power over time to yield energy consumed, and to determine energy that accumulates in operation over time. The controller is further configured to detect a fault condition when the energy that accumulates in operation is less than expected based on the energy consumed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling the speed of a pump configured to move liquid through a pump system are described. The actual motor speed of the pump motor is controlled by adjusting a current applied to the motor based on the difference between the actual motor speed and the target motor speed according to a gain setting. A first gain value is applied as the gain setting when the difference between the actual motor speed and the target motor speed does not exceed a first threshold. However, a second, higher gain value is applied when the difference between the actual motor speed and the target motor speed exceeds the first threshold.

Abstract: An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module includes an input device, and a processor coupled to the input device. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device, and transmit the command signal to a plurality of motors, wherein the command signal controls an operating point of each of the plurality of motors.

Abstract: A motor control system is provided, and includes a motor, at least one differential amplifier configured to monitor phase current applied to the motor, and a current compensation controller. The current compensation controller is in communication with the at least one differential amplifier, and is configured to periodically determine a common-mode voltage of the at least one differential amplifier. The current compensation controller is also configured to determine a corrected phase current value based on the common mode voltage.

Abstract: A controller configured to be coupled to an electric motor. The controller including a processor programmed to receive a signal indicating a stopping command of the electric motor, and control a current such that a capacitor coupled to the electric motor is not overcharged by regenerative energy when a stopping of the electric motor has commenced, wherein controlling the current includes one of the following: upon receiving the signal indicating the stopping command of the electric motor, ramping the current down below a threshold level, or upon receiving the signal indicating the stopping command of the electric motor, forcing the current to circulate in motor windings to prevent regeneration of energy in the capacitor.

Abstract: To minimize switching losses in a rotating electrical machine, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure proposes an iterative control method which calculates optimal switching states in advance. A rotating electrical machine can be controlled on the basis of this iterative control method.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing output of an input signal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a signal control unit comprising a signal buffering unit having an input and an output, the signal buffering unit arranged to receive an input signal and pass the input signal to the output when the signal buffering unit is powered, wherein a negative power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit is arranged to be supplied by a first power source having a voltage. The signal control unit also comprises a boost circuit arranged to boost the voltage of the first power source to a boosted voltage higher than the voltage of the first power source and supply either the voltage of the first power source or the boosted voltage to a positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit.

Abstract: A control circuit for an electric fan, has a MOSFET transistor connected essentially in series with the motor of an electric fan between the two terminals of a first D.C. voltage source and having its source terminal connected to the motor; a transistor driving stage, having an input intended to receive a pulse-width modulation control signal and an output connected to the gate terminal of the MOSFET transistor, and a bootstrap capacitor connected between a second D.C. voltage source and the source terminal of the MOSFET transistor. A controlled electronic switch having a parallel-connected diode for conducting current from the bootstrap capacitor to the motor is arranged between the bootstrap capacitor and the source terminal of the MOSFET transistor. The electronic switch has a control input or gate connected to the output of the transistor driving stage.

Abstract: Method to command and control an electric motor of an automation unit. The unit comprises a mechanical member, driven by a drive shaft, a central command and control unit, and a position detection mean. The method provides that the central command and control unit receives the position signals of the shaft of the electric motor and/or of the mechanical member from the position detection mean, divides the operating cycle into a plurality of sub-phases equal with respect to each other, consisting of elementary units and, for each of said sub-phases, or multiple of sub-phases, selects predefined or self-learnt current reference values, and generates a signal consisting of an instantaneous current reference (feed forward) for the electric motor.

Abstract: Power conversion systems with active front end converters for example motor drives and power generation systems for distributed energy sources are presented with adaptive harmonic minimization for grid-tie converters for minimized or reduced total harmonic distortion in the line current spectrum including the source harmonic current, the load harmonics and the PWM harmonics.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controllably driving a drive mechanism which displaces a movable member, includes: an electric-current detecting unit configured to detect electric current for driving the drive mechanism; a speed control unit configured to set a target electric-current according to a drive speed at which the drive mechanism is caused to drive the movable member; and an electric-current control unit configured to multiply, by an integral gain and a proportional gain, an electric-current deviation between a target electric-current and a detection electric-current detected by the electric-current detecting unit to set output electric-current to be output to the drive mechanism, wherein the current control unit changes at least one of the integral gain and the proportional gain according to the drive speed of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A loss (generation of heat) is reduced in a capacitor precharge circuit, thereby reducing the size of the circuit. The capacitor precharge circuit according to the present invention divides a power supply voltage using a switched capacitor voltage divider circuit, thereby carrying out charging while suppressing a both-terminal voltage of the capacitor that is subject to the charging (refer to FIG. 1).

Abstract: A pair of elements that includes a Si-MOSFET and a Si-FWD connected in inverse parallel and operates as a positive side arm of an electric-power conversion apparatus and a pair of elements that operates as a negative side arm of the electric-power conversion apparatus are provided, where the first and second pairs of elements are accommodated in one power semiconductor module to compose a 2-in-1 module, and terminals are included which enables series connection of the pairs of elements.

Abstract: A controller chip for controlling a motor device includes a first input port, a first output port, a controller, and a signal processing circuit. The first input port is arranged to receive a motor control input. The first output port is arranged to generate a motor control output. The controller is arranged to generate an output signal according to an input signal, and has a second input port for receiving the input signal and a second output port for outputting the output signal. The input signal is derived from the motor control input, and the motor control output is derived from the output signal. The signal processing circuit has a target interconnection configuration selected from a plurality of candidate interconnection configurations each including an interconnection between the first input port and the second input port and an interconnection between the first output port and the second output port.

Abstract: An electric motor drive system capture and control apparatus for energy savings has an alternating current power source electrically connected to a direct current motor. A power rectifier diode rated for the alternating current power source and the direct current motor is electrically connected in a reverse bias mode between the negative supply wire of the direct current motor and a grounded neutral conductor of the alternating current power source. A ground wire is electrically connected to the direct current motor and cross connected to a hot lag wire of the alternating current power source. The direct current motor is voltage matched to the alternating current power source. A transformer is electrically connected to the alternating current power source and the direct current motor. The system may be scaled to work with a power grid or for use in a vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods of controlling a motor for driving a load are disclosed herein. Exemplary methods include providing energy to a motor, sensing a parameter indicative of current. Determining the end of an inrush current and a start point that is after the inrush current and that is at about the beginning of a main current draw. Determining an end point at about the end of the main current draw. Continuing to provide energy to the motor for a time period that is a function of the time from the start point to the end point and de-energizing the motor.

Abstract: A power inverter includes a reference line operably provided with a reference potential and a supply line operably provided with a DC supply voltage with respect to the reference potential. A first half bridge includes a high-side switch and a low-side switch. The high-side switch is coupled between the supply line and a middle tap of the half bridge and the low-side switch is coupled between the middle tap and the reference line. The low-side switch is formed by a normally-on silicon carbide junction field effect transistor and the high-side switch is formed by a series circuit of a normally-on silicon carbide junction field effect transistor and a normally-off metal oxide field effect transistor.

Abstract: A motor drive device (1) of the present invention includes a converter unit (10) and an inverter unit (30). The converter unit (10) includes: power supply voltage monitoring unit (3) for detecting a power failure; DC link voltage detecting means (4); capacitor total capacity calculating means (6) which calculates total capacity of DC link smoothing capacitors (17, 18) and calculates a DC link low-voltage alarm detection level for an instantaneous power failure; DC link low-voltage alarm detection level setting means (8) which varies the DC link low-voltage alarm detection level for an instantaneous power failure as necessary; and alarm generating means (7) which monitors the DC link voltage and generates an alarm to protect the converter unit. In the case where a power failure is detected, the DC link low-voltage alarm detection level is increased in accordance with the total capacity of the DC link smoothing capacitors (17, 18).

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring power between an electricity network (UP) operating on alternating-current electricity and a multiphase electric machine (M2, M3), which apparatus comprises low-voltage power cells (CS, C11 . . . CN6) operating on a cascade principle, which power cells comprise a single-phase output connector (OUT), and at least one transformer (TA, T1 . . . TN), comprising for each power cell connected to it a single-phase or multiphase winding dedicated to the specific power cell, which transformer comprises at least one additional winding (WA, WB1 . . . WBN) connected to the same magnetic circuit as the other windings for the purpose of at least one auxiliary circuit, which can be connected to the aforementioned additional winding.