Plural Sources Of Voltage (including Counter E.m.f. Cells) Patents (Class 318/500)
  • Patent number: 11757373
    Abstract: In a power converter for converting DC power from a DC power source into AC power and supplying the AC power to a single-phase winding or multi-phase windings, a controller controls first and second inverter circuits and performs first power conversion control to lock open/closed states of switching elements in the second inverter circuit and switch open/closed states of switching elements in the first inverter circuit, and second power conversion control to lock open/closed states of the switching elements in the first inverter circuit and switch open/closed states of the switching elements in the second inverter circuit. The controller is configured to perform either the first power conversion control or the second power conversion control when an effective value of drive current through each winding is less than a threshold, and otherwise switch between the first power conversion control and the second power conversion control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Makoto Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11065970
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes a controller performing overheat protection control on parts, distinguish first, second, and third parts groups among the parts of the vehicle, set only the first and the third parts group as protection targets in a charging mode while the vehicle stops, set only the second and the third parts group as the protection targets when the vehicle is in a mode other than the charging mode while the vehicle is running, and not to perform the overheat protection control when the vehicle is in a mode other than the charging mode while the vehicle stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Moriya
  • Publication number: 20150022135
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a multilevel inverter configured to output a 3-phase voltage to a motor by allowing a plurality of unit power cells forming one phase to be serially connected, the multilevel inverter, the multilevel inverter including a plurality of current sensors configured to detect an output current of the plurality of unit power cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hong Min YUN
  • Publication number: 20150002066
    Abstract: To provide a three-level power conversion apparatus which can suppress fluctuation in a neutral point voltage even when operated as a reactive power regulator. The three-level power conversion apparatus is composed of first and second three-level converters 2A, 2B connected to an AC power supply system, positive side and negative side DC capacitors 3P, 3N, a three-level inverter 4 to drive an AC motor 5, and converter control means 10 for controlling the three-level converters 2A, 2B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kenji Oda, Katsuhiko Fukuma
  • Patent number: 8924051
    Abstract: A control device for a railway vehicle controls an inverter device based on a direct-current link voltage Vfc between the opposite terminals of a filter capacitor. A direct-current voltage applied to the inverter device during regeneration is the sum of a voltage Vb of power storage equipment and an overhead wire voltage Vs, so that only detecting the direct-current link voltage Vfc is not enough to separate the voltage Vb of the power storage equipment and the overhead wire voltage Vs from each other. The power storage equipment can be connected in series with the inverter device, and a voltage sensor that detects the overhead wire voltage Vs is provided between a current collector device and a grounding point. The power storage equipment is controlled based on the detection result from the voltage sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daijiro Araki, Motomi Shimada, Shuichi Tachihara, Akira Horie, Masahiro Nagasu
  • Patent number: 8896253
    Abstract: A control circuit for a fan includes a fan controller, a switch controller, and a frequency detector. When a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal output pin of the fan controller outputs PWM signals, the frequency detector outputs a high level signal, connecting an input pin of the switch controller to an output pin of the switch controller. The fan receives the PWM signal. When the PWM signal output pin of the fan controller does not output PWM signals, the frequency detector outputs a low level signal, such that the output pin of the switch controller does not output any signal. In this state, the fan receives a high level signal through a resistor and a power supply, enabling the fan to continue operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kang Wu
  • Publication number: 20140327384
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first control circuit which controls a first drive circuit to drive a cooling device, a second control circuit which controls the first drive circuit, a switch circuit which connects one of the first and second control circuits to the first drive circuit, and a switch control unit which controls the switch circuit when there occurs a fault on the first control circuit, and switches a connection target of the first drive circuit from the first control circuit to the second control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kazumi ABE, Kensuke ISHIDA
  • Patent number: 8860347
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing current drain and current spike impact on a dispenser electric motor by employing a series of supercapacitors in a power supply current to provide at least a portion of the energy requirement of the dispenser electric motor upon initial energization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Dispensing Dynamics International
    Inventors: Joel P. Keily, Lockland Corley, Richard Lalau
  • Patent number: 8841872
    Abstract: A method and arrangement in connection with an electric drive system are provided. The electric drive system includes an intermediate circuit with two or more supply units and two or more inverter units connected thereto, and an electric machine having two or more three-phase windings galvanically separated from each other. Two or more inverter units are connected to the three-phase windings. The arrangement also includes first main circuit switches to galvanically separate each supply unit from a supply, second main circuit switches to galvanically separate each supply unit from the intermediate circuit, first intermediate circuit switches to galvanically separate each inverter unit from the intermediate circuit, and second intermediate circuit switches to galvanically separate each inverter unit from the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Osmo Pasuri, Reijo Kalevi Virtanen, Jorma Keronen
  • Patent number: 8803547
    Abstract: A method for testing rotation speed of a fan receives a duty cycle ratio related to the fan sent from a dial switch on a test board connected to the fan. The method transmits a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on the duty cycle to the fan to power rotation of the fan, then detects the PWM signal transmitted to the fan and a tachometer (TACH) signal transmitted from the fan. The method gathers the duty cycle ratio related to the fan from the PWM signal and an actual rotation speed of the fan from the TACH signal, and displays the duty cycle ratio and the actual rotation speed together on the test board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Tian, Kang Wu
  • Patent number: 8803461
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for monitoring health of a synchronous machine is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of phase voltage values and a plurality of phase current values. The method then computes a negative sequence voltage (Vn) based on the plurality of phase voltage values. The method also computes one or more operating parameters based on at least one of the plurality of phase voltage values and the plurality of phase current values. The method retrieves from a data store, one or more known Vn based on the one or more operating parameters. The method then computes a machine health indicator based on the computed Vn and the one or more known Vn, and raises an alarm based on the machine health indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Arijit Banerjee, Hao Huang, Xiaochuan Jia, Srilatha Boyanapally, Rupam Mukherjee
  • Publication number: 20140191692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor assembly, a method of operation thereof and a transport vehicle provided with the motor assembly. The motor assembly is provided with an energy source switching controller that is in synchronization with motor operation and provides an improved utilization of energy storage sources in an electric, hybrid electric, or fuel cell based motor vehicle drive train application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Chia- Ming Chuang
  • Publication number: 20140152225
    Abstract: An electric drive system includes an energy storage system (ESS), a power conversion system, and an alternating current (AC) traction system. The ESS provides or receives electric power. The ESS includes a first energy storage unit and a second energy storage unit. The power conversion system is electrically coupled to the ESS for converting an input power to an output power. The AC traction system is electrically coupled to the power conversion system for converting the output power of the power conversion system to mechanical torques. The AC traction system includes a first AC drive device and a second AC drive device. An energy management system (EMS) is in electrical communication with the ESS, the AC traction system, and the power conversion system for providing control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jian Zhou, Fei Xu, Dong Liu, Hai Qiu, Pengju Kang
  • Publication number: 20140139168
    Abstract: This invention relates to a multiple phase electrical system, including: a first and a second electrical lane, each lane having a generator and a load connected by a bus system, and a rectifier between the generator and load; and, a transformer connected between the two lanes, the transformer having a plurality of power windings across each of which corresponding phases of the first and second lanes are connected, and a plurality of phase shift windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: David Reginald TRAINER, Konstantinos KAMPISIOS, Omar JASIM
  • Publication number: 20140132193
    Abstract: A fuel cell system (10) includes: a motor (16); a fuel cell (11) and an electrical storage device (13) connected to the motor (16) in parallel with each other; a first voltage converter (12) between the motor (16) and the fuel cell (11); a second voltage converter (14) between the motor (16) and the electrical storage device (13); a load circuit between the motor (16) and both the first (12) and second (14) voltage converters; and a control unit (20). The control unit (20) stops boost operation of the first voltage converter (12) when conditions VFC>VM_min and VFC>VBAT+a whereas the control unit (20) prohibits a stop of the boost operation of the first voltage converter (12) when the conditions are not satisfied, wherein in the conditions, VFC is a fuel cell terminal voltage, VBAT is an electrical storage device terminal voltage and VM_min is a load circuit input terminal voltage, set to minimize a system loss while ensuring a torque required of the motor (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeto Kajiwara, Hiroaki Mori
  • Patent number: 8653778
    Abstract: Provided is an inverter-integrated electric compressor having high heat resistance, which is capable of suppressing thermal interference among a plurality of power devices. Specifically provided is an inverter-integrated electric compressor which comprises a built-in motor and a substrate provided with a motor drive circuit including an inverter, an electric component including the substrate being affixed in a housing space surrounded by a compressor housing, wherein a plurality of power semiconductor elements which constitute the motor drive circuit are disposed radially around a drive shaft of the motor in a plane crossing the drive shaft. For example, the planar shape of the power semiconductor element is formed into a rectangle, and a gap having a sectorial planar shape is formed between the power semiconductor elements adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Saito, Makoto Shibuya, Kouki Yoshizawa, Hideo Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20140042947
    Abstract: A control circuit for a fan includes a fan controller, a switch controller, and a frequency detector. When a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal output pin of the fan controller outputs PWM signals, the frequency detector outputs a high level signal, connecting an input pin of the switch controller to an output pin of the switch controller. The fan receives the PWM signal. When the PWM signal output pin of the fan controller does not output PWM signals, the frequency detector outputs a low level signal, such that the output pin of the switch controller does not output any signal. In this state, the fan receives a high level signal through a resistor and a power supply, enabling the fan to continue operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (Shenzhen) CO., LTD
    Inventor: KANG WU
  • Publication number: 20130342151
    Abstract: A control device of an electric power supply apparatus controls a voltage applied to an inverter to fall within a voltage range between a first voltage that is the voltage of one of a first electric power supply and a second electric power supply and a second voltage that is the sum of the voltage of the first electric power supply and the voltage of the second electric power supply, by alternately switching between a series state in which a current loop that connects the first electric power supply, the second electric power supply, and a reactor in series with the inverter is formed, and a parallel state in which the first electric power supply and the second electric power supply are connected in parallel with the inverter as an electric load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Manabu Kurokawa, Toshihiro Sone
  • Publication number: 20130293175
    Abstract: A drive circuit comprising a DC bus configured to supply power to a load, a first fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a first power output to the DC bus, and a second fuel cell coupled to the DC bus and configured to provide a second power output to the DC bus supplemental to the first fuel cell. The drive circuit further includes an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to receive energy from the DC bus when a combined output of the first and second fuel cells is greater than a power demand from a load, and provide energy to the DC bus when the combined output of the first and second fuel cells is less than the power demand from the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Patent number: 8482230
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric device for driving mechanical equipment comprising an alternating current motor and an inverter, the said inverter comprising, for each phase of the said motor, an H bridge structure comprising four switching elements distributed over two branches connecting two terminals of the said H bridge structure and intended to supply the winding of the said at least one phase of the motor, the said winding being a winding with a mid point and the said electric device being characterized in that it also comprises, for each phase of the said motor, an energy storage unit, in particular a supercondenser, connected, on the one hand, to the mid point of the winding of the concerned phase of the motor and, on the other hand, to a terminal of the H bridge structure supplying the said winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Boris Bouchez, Luis de Sousa
  • Publication number: 20130073125
    Abstract: A control device for a railway vehicle controls an inverter device based on a direct-current link voltage Vfc between the opposite terminals of a filter capacitor. A direct-current voltage applied to the inverter device during regeneration is the sum of a voltage Vb of power storage equipment and an overhead wire voltage Vs, so that only detecting the direct-current link voltage Vfc is not enough to separate the voltage Vb of the power storage equipment and the overhead wire voltage Vs from each other. The power storage equipment can be connected in series with the inverter device, and a voltage sensor that detects the overhead wire voltage Vs is provided between a current collector device and a grounding point. The power storage equipment is controlled based on the detection result from the voltage sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventors: Daijiro Araki, Motomi Shimada, Shuichi Tachihara, Akira Horie, Masahiro Nagasu
  • Patent number: 8390230
    Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting a stop of a transport apparatus which can quickly and easily detect and improve the throughput and the ratio of utilization without incurring an increase the number of parts. The apparatus is used which is provided with a drive motor and a transport arm one side of which is mounted on a rotary shaft of the drive motor. As the drive motor there is used one in which an induced electromotive force is generated when a force in the direction of rotation is applied to the rotary shaft. Then, an article S to be transported is held on the other side of the transport arm. When the drive motor is operated to drive the rotary shaft by a predetermined angle of rotation and then stopped, the above-described induced electromotive force to be generated due to the vibrations of the transport arm is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Fujii
  • Patent number: 8344677
    Abstract: Power conversion equipment includes an electric power converting section that converts DC electric power to multiphase AC electric power and feeds the converted multiphase AC electric power to a multiphase AC motor. A first short-circuit section includes a first switch disposed between a first DC power supply and the electric power converting section. A second short-circuit section includes a second switch disposed between at least one of an electric power feeding section and the electric power input section in the first DC power supply, or between a multiphase AC output point of the electric power converting section and the multiphase AC motor. A switch control section controls the first switch and the second switch such that the first and second switches are prevented from being brought into the closed-state simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoki Takizawa
  • Patent number: 8314581
    Abstract: A control system and method for a multi-phase motor substantially reduces or eliminates jitter resulting from drive mismatch by replacing a conventional trapezoidal drive profile with a drive profile that causes the voltage applied across active phases of the motor to match the back-EMF across those phases. In an ideal motor, the back-EMF is substantially sinusoidal, and although the drive profile applied to each phase is not truly substantially sinusoidal, the drive voltage across the active phases is substantially sinusoidal. In a non-ideal motor, the back-EMF is not truly sinusoidal and the drive profiles applied to each phase are calculated to cause the drive voltage across the active phases to match the back-EMF across those phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Ravishanker Krishnamoorthy, Foo Leng Leong
  • Patent number: 8278850
    Abstract: Methods, system and apparatus are provided for increasing voltage utilization in a five-phase vector controlled machine drive system that employs third harmonic current injection to increase torque and power output by a five-phase machine. To do so, a fundamental current angle of a fundamental current vector is optimized for each particular torque-speed of operating point of the five-phase machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez
  • Publication number: 20120153884
    Abstract: A controller for managing electrical power storage in a machine having an electric energy storage device and an electric motor comprises a gate drive stage for providing gate signals to one or more power electronics elements, as well as a control processor adapted to generate gate signals and supply the generated gate signals to the gate drive stage for controlling the one or more power electronics elements. The gate signals control the one or more power electronics elements to power the motor windings in a drive mode of operation and to charge the electric energy storage device in a charging mode of operation. In either mode, the motor windings are used as conductors or inductive elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Lindsey, Eric M. Andris, James Portscheller, Mike Portscheller
  • Publication number: 20120126739
    Abstract: Control circuitry for inductive loads comprehending a DC power source (DC), electrical switches (A and R) and appropriate electrical conductors to direct current to an inductive load, as the control system includes a primary circuit and a secondary circuit which is partly concurrent with the primary electrical circuit. The primary electrical circuit includes a series of DC power sources (DC), an inductive load in the form of an electric motor (M) or transformer (T) and a capacitor (C), while the secondary electrical circuit includes the inductive loads and capacitor (C), since the two electrical switches (A and R) are so arranged that the power of a first operational phase is driven through the primary electric circuit by the voltage supplied by the DC power source (DC) while the current in another phase of operation runs through the secondary electric circuit by the voltage supplied by the capacitor (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: A-T HOLDING DA
    Inventor: Dag Antonsen
  • Patent number: 8138706
    Abstract: A safety drive unit (1) with a safety circuit (12) that resets a flap or a valve into a specified safety position for controlling a gas or liquid volumetric flow, in particular in the field of heating, ventilation, and monitoring systems. The safety drive unit (1) comprises an actuator (14) with a controllable electric motor (28), a capacitive energy storage unit (20), and energy converter (22) with a power module, and a power supply (18). During normal operation, the electric current in the power module of the energy converter (22) is converted to a lower voltage and stored in the capacitive energy storage unit. If the voltage drops below a predetermined value or if there is a power failure, the stored electrical charge is converted back to a higher voltage by the same power module, and the electric motor (28) is activated until the specified safety position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
    Inventors: Martin Ochsenbein, Curdin Stäheli, Roman Furrer
  • Patent number: 8076898
    Abstract: The invention relates to electric engineering, in particular to methods for controlling an ac electronic motor. The inventive control method consists in starting and rotating a rotor upon EMF signals in current-free sections of an armature winding, in converting the EMF signals into discrete logical level signals by a normalizer, in detecting switching points by means of a microcontroller and in displacing said points according to a load current quantity, the rotor speed of rotation and the inductance of the armature winding sections, wherein the switching points are calculated and displaced with respect to bridging times of the free sections EMF whose voltage levels are different from zero. The inventive device is characterized in that it comprises a reference level displacing unit (26), which is arranged in the normalizer between a divider 22 and a comparator unit (23) and which consists of a current sensor (27), a voltage sensor (27), two adders (29, 30) and an inverter (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Oilfield Equipment Development Center Limited
    Inventors: Andreiy Vladimirovich Sagalovskiiy, Juliiy Abelevich Aranson, Vladimir Iosifovich Sagalovskiiy, Ol'ga Nikolaevna Gmyzina, Dmitriiy Aleksandrovich Shkad'
  • Publication number: 20110254493
    Abstract: A method and arrangement in connection with an electric drive system are provided. The electric drive system includes an intermediate circuit with two or more supply units and two or more inverter units connected thereto, and an electric machine having two or more three-phase windings galvanically separated from each other. Two or more inverter units are connected to the three-phase windings. The arrangement also includes first main circuit switches to galvanically separate each supply unit from a supply, second main circuit switches to galvanically separate each supply unit from the intermediate circuit, first intermediate circuit switches to galvanically separate each inverter unit from the intermediate circuit, and second intermediate circuit switches to galvanically separate each inverter unit from the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Osmo PASURI, Reijo Kalevi VIRTANEN, Jorma KERONEN
  • Patent number: 7977905
    Abstract: An electric drive which has an inductor with poles, an armature having a plurality of windings and rotatable relative to the inductor and its poles, and a control unit which, when a respective one of the windings of the armature approaches a respective one of the poles of the inductor, turns off a voltage supply to the winding so that when the winding passes the pole it does not have a voltage, and when the winding moves away from the pole the control unit supplies opposite voltage to the winding, and therefore no counter electric motive force is generated during the operation of the electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Eduard Gruzberg
  • Publication number: 20110148338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to energy saving electronic device, a heat dissipating fan power control system and a control method thereof. The heat dissipating fan power control system comprises a voltage selection circuit and a voltage conversion circuit. A plurality of voltage signals from a plurality power input terminals and a control are received by the voltage selection circuit to select one of the voltage signals as an output voltage signal. The voltage conversion circuit is connected to the voltage selection circuit to receive the output voltage signal and the control signal and to convert the voltage value of the output voltage into the work voltage value according to the control signal to thereby drive the heat dissipating fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ELITEGROUP COMPUTER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsiang Jui LIN
  • Patent number: 7906928
    Abstract: A feed motor lock detection device detects a back-electromotive voltage in a feed motor M and checks whether the feed motor M is in a driven state or in a non-driven state based on the level of the back-electromotive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Ito, Takashi Fujimura
  • Patent number: 7821222
    Abstract: A submersible motor is provided for a submersible pump, the motor being configured as a single-phase asynchronous motor, which includes a main winding (6), an auxiliary winding (8), and a starting device (10, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) for controlling the starting procedure of the submersible motor. The starting device (10, 14, 16, 20, 22) for the control of the current feed of the auxiliary winding (8) includes at least one electronic switch (20) in the circuit of the auxiliary winding (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventors: Hakon Borsting, Bjarne Henriksen, Claus B. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7705548
    Abstract: Energy recovery during recirculation phases of the phase windings of a multiphase spindle motor is increased when all the MOSFETs of the output bridge stage associated therewith are turned off (tristated) for charging a hold capacitor. This is accomplished by allowing the recirculation of the motor currents through the same MOSFETs of the output bridge stage that are turned on during the current recirculation phases. Recirculation of the currents and the charging of the hold capacitor takes place through fully saturated power MOSFETs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventor: Ezio Galbiati
  • Patent number: 7514888
    Abstract: A method and system for providing sensorless brushless DC motor control using predictive switch timing requires connecting a stator coil in a bridge configuration, applying a positive excitation voltage across the coil for a predetermined time period, deactivating the excitation voltage, and monitoring the voltage (VEMF) generated due to electro-motive force (EMF) across the coil. The polarity of VEMF changes when the rotor has moved a known distance—typically 90°. After detecting a polarity change, a negative excitation voltage is applied across the coil, deactivated, and VEMF monitored to detect a polarity change. This sequence is repeated to maintain the rotation of the rotor. The motor is preferably set into motion using a start-up routine, which also determines the predetermined time period used during steady-state operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthonius Bakker, Navdeep Singh Dhanjal
  • Patent number: 7486037
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control method of a sensorless brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, and more particularly, a drive control method of a concentrated winding BLDC motor which prevents shutdown due to failures of detection of zero cross points (ZCPs). A reference voltage inputted to comparators is altered to set new reference points. ZCPs are detected using the new reference points to avoid uneven detection of the ZCPs. Phase commutation is corrected corresponding to the ZCPs detected using the new reference points to reduce current ripple, thereby leading to stable control of the sensorless BLDC motor. To this end, the control method adds or subtracts a preset certain value to/from a reference voltage to produce a new reference voltage, and detects ZCPs with respect to the new reference voltage to control drive of the sensorless concentrated winding BLDC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heung Gyun Noh
  • Patent number: 7477029
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, controlling the number of rotations per minute of a brushless DC motor, the apparatus comprising: a brushless DC motor that rotates at a constant speed when a rotation current is applied, and stops rotating when a stop current is applied; a pulse applying unit that outputs input pulses according to a pulse apply frequency, which is predetermined or inputted by a user; a rotation detecting unit that detects the number of rotation pulses, and outputs a predetermined output signal per rotation of the brushless DC motor; and a current controlling unit that applies the rotation current to the brushless DC motor in correspondence with the input pulse, and the stop current to the brushless DC motor in correspondence with the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeon-Ho Son
  • Patent number: 7423396
    Abstract: A technique for determining an alignment error of a Hall sensor location in a brushless DC motor drive, by measuring the back EMF waveform, preferably while the motor is coasting. According to the technique, an angular offset is calculated between a selected BEMF waveform and a selected Hall signal. Such offsets are preferably calculated for each phase individually. The offsets may be advantageously stored in the motor control unit and used to adjust the output motor control signals for maximum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Laird Bolt
  • Patent number: 7301298
    Abstract: A prior art direct back EMF detection method synchronously sampled motor back EMF during PWM “off” time without the need to sense or re-construct the motor neutral in a sensorless brushless DC (BLDC) motor drive system. Since this direct back EMF sensing scheme requires a minimum PWM “off” time to sample the back EMF signal, the duty cycle cannot reach 100%. Also in some applications, for example, high inductance motors, the long settling time of a parasitic resonant between the motor inductance and the parasitic capacitance of power devices can cause false zero crossing detection of back EMF. An improved direct back EMF detection scheme samples the motor back EMF synchronously during PWM “on” time at high speed. In the final system the motor back EMF can be detected during PWM “off” time at low speed, and it is detected during PWM “on” time at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianwen Shao, Dennis Nolan
  • Patent number: 7268503
    Abstract: A vibration linear actuating device includes a vibrating linear actuator and a driver (52) for driving actuator. Actuator includes mover having permanent magnet magnetized in a radial direction, stator having coil (2) and facing the permanent magnet, and elastic body for coupling stator to mover. The driver includes driving section having switching element (Q5) for powering coil (2), output controller (27) for controlling switching element (Q5), zero-cross detector (25) for detecting a zero-cross point of back electromotive force generated in coil (2) and having an output to be fed back to the output controller (27). In this structure, the driver powers coil (2) in one way to keep mover vibrating in corporation with elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Yamasaki, Koji Kameda
  • Patent number: 7253573
    Abstract: A power source for a hybrid vehicle is provided which can protect its electric motor driving circuit from being damaged by a back electromotive force generated in a motor. The back electromotive force generated in an electric motor is detected by a high voltage detector circuit and converted by a step-down circuit into a low voltage which is then stored in a low-voltage second battery. Accordingly, as the back electromotive force does not become excessively high, it will be prevented from damaging a switching circuit. Also, the back electromotive force generated in the motor is charged in the low-voltage battery and can thus be supplied to a control circuit or any other component, contributing to the reduction of the fuel consumption of the hybrid vehicle. The back electromotive force can alternatively be diverted for charging a medium-voltage third battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Masahide Iwazawa
  • Patent number: 7141949
    Abstract: A low noise electronic three phase bridge controlled brushless DC motor suitable for whiteware appliance pumps and other appliance applications. Back EMF zero crossing sensing is used to determine rotor position and thus stator winding commutation times. Motor torque and speed are controlled by pulse width modulating the operation of that bridge switching device which has just been switched from an OFF state to an ON state on each new commutation. All three stator windings have current flowing in each winding commutation to improve motor current waveform and thereby reduce motor noise, but the current in one winding is always terminated before the end of the commutation period to allow the back EMF in that winding to be sensed to zero crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan David Harwood
  • Patent number: 7034496
    Abstract: A method of correcting a pointing position of a pointer rotated by a stepper motor includes the steps of: performing a prereset operation in which the pointer is rotated to a reset operation starting position that represents a pointing position of the pointer which is shifted by a predetermined amount in a plus direction of a scale from a reset position where a pin which is rotated in conjunction with a rotation of the pointer abuts against a fixed stopper; after the prereset operation, performing a reset operation in which the pointer is rotated in a minus direction of the scale to the reset position; and after the reset operation, performing a correcting operation in which the pointer is rotated in the plus direction up to a reference pointing position which is indicated by previously stored reference pointing positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Oishi
  • Patent number: 6995530
    Abstract: A system and a method for starting a brushless DC motor are provided. The method includes applying commutation pulses to at least two phase coils to induce a rotor to rotate to a starting position and then de-energizing the at least two phase coils. The method further includes applying commutation pulses to at least two phase coils to induce the rotor to rotate from the starting position in a predetermined direction. The method further includes de-energizing all phase coils for a first time interval after the rotor is rotating and sampling a back EMF signal in at least one of the phase coils to determine a first value indicative of an electrical period of the back EMF signal or a portion of an electrical period of the back EMF signal. Finally, the method includes applying commutation pulses to at least two phase coils for a second time interval, the second time interval being based on the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Biamonte, Raymond J. Harrington, Timothy Trifilo
  • Patent number: 6981645
    Abstract: A drive circuit for operating a resonant motor includes a motor circuit, a feedback circuit, a control circuit, and a coil drive circuit. A feedback loop includes the motor circuit, the feedback circuit, and the control circuit. The feedback loop in conjunction with the coil drive circuit monitors, maintains, and adjusts the oscillatory motion of the resonant motor. The drive circuit is suitable for operating a resonant motor of an optical code reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Leach
  • Patent number: 6949901
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a steering position of at least one rear wheel of a vehicle are provided. The vehicle has both a brushless electric motor with a plurality of electrical phase windings and a steering actuator. The brushless electric motor has a rotor configured to drive the steering actuator. The steering actuator is operably coupled to at least one rear vehicle wheel. The method includes determining a desired voltage value indicative of about one-half of a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to each of the plurality of electrical phase windings of the brushless electric motor based on a desired rear vehicle wheel steering angle and a measured rear vehicle wheel steering angle. The method further includes determining when the desired voltage value is greater than a threshold voltage level. The method further includes calculating a phase advance angle based on at least the desired voltage value and the threshold voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Reeny T. Sebastian
  • Patent number: 6933702
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control method and a control system for a motor. The control method and the control system of the invention transfer the motor dynamic equations of the synchronous d-q frame into a motor parameter (for example, the leakage inductance) and the equivalent counter electromotive force. Then the required control signals for the motor current control can be obtained. The control method of the invention not only preserves the merit of constant switching frequency of the convention PI-PWM control system, but also can eliminate the motor current phase-lag problem of the invention PI-PWM control system. Also, the control method of the invention will have the following characteristics and economic advantages such as high accuracy, fast response, low cost and robustness, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 6915538
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and program product gradually and automatically accelerates or decelerates chair motor speed to achieve a smooth, nearly imperceptable movement of the chair. To this end, voltage is apportioned to the motor according to an acceleration profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. Treon
  • Patent number: 6903532
    Abstract: A starting circuit for an induction motor is provided whereby a stationary rotor flux is established then a stored charge supplied to a motor winding in order to provide a starting torque. Before applying a mains power supply to the motor after the starting torque has been applied, a back EMF is sensed, directly or indirectly, to provide an indication that the rotor is turning before the mains supply is connected to the motor. This provides a reliable and simple method for ensuring that a mains supply may be safely connected to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John T. Boys, Udaya K. Madawala