Miscellaneous Patents (Class 318/558)
  • Patent number: 7423391
    Abstract: A power conversion portion (10) and a connection portion (20) converting power between a fuel cell (FC) and a battery (BAT) corresponding to dc power supply and a motor generator (MG) corresponding to an ac machine, are configured of a matrix converter. For a power flow pattern requiring that the dc power supply provide high voltage, a switch (SCd) in the connection portion (20) operates in response to a control signal received from a control device (30) to electrically connect a power supply line (LC) to a power supply line (Ld) to connect the fuel cell (FC) and the battery (BAT) in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Tsuyoshi Yano, Masahiro Kimata, Gourab Majumdar, Yoshiharu Yu
  • Patent number: 7411363
    Abstract: A capacitor, inductor, and power line are arranged in a series parallel combination tank circuit that operates over four quarters of a complete cycle. During the first quarter cycle: power is applied to the tank circuit, current flows through the inductor to the capacitor, current is stored in the inductor, and the capacitor is charged. During the second quarter cycle; current is released from the inductor as the capacitor discharges current to another parallel inductor or resistive load. During a third quarter cycle: current flows in the capacitor from the opposite direction, the capacitor is charged, current pushes out from the capacitor to the incoming power line, and current is stored in the inductor. During the fourth quarter cycle: the capacitor discharges in the opposite direction, current parallel to another inductor or resistive load flows in the opposite direction, and the inductor releases current to incoming power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Dat D. Lam
  • Patent number: 7411772
    Abstract: Techniques in which a 1st force, field, or effect caused by a Casimir effect is converted into a 2nd force, field, or effect. The 1st force, field, or effect might be distinct from the 2nd force, field, or effect only in the net vector or might be distinct in other ways. For example, the distinction might involve substituting a torque for a linear force vector or converting a force, field, or effect associated with the Casimir effect into movement or into an electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic force, field, or effect. These changes preferably are caused by an independent element placed proximate or between to the Casimir effect surfaces. Preferably, the torque causes rotation (i.e., spinning) of an element. This rotation is significantly different from prior-art embodiment because energy does not have to be put back into the system to “reset” the structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Inventor: Adrian Jeremy Tymes
  • Patent number: 7379286
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for converting energy from the electromagnetic quantum vacuum available at any point in the universe to usable energy in the form of heat, electricity, mechanical energy or other forms of power. By suppressing electromagnetic quantum vacuum energy at appropriate frequencies a change may be effected in the electron energy levels which will result in the emission or release of energy. Mode suppression of electromagnetic quantum vacuum radiation is known to take place in Casimir cavities. A Casimir cavity refers to any region in which electromagnetic modes are suppressed or restricted. When atoms enter into suitable micro Casimir cavities a decrease in the orbital energies of electrons in atoms will thus occur. Such energy will be captured in the claimed devices. Upon emergence form such micro Casimir cavities the atoms will be re-energized by the ambient electromagnetic quantum vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Jovion Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Haisch, Garret Moddel
  • Patent number: 7348754
    Abstract: An apparatus has (a) a first component having one or more electromagnetic elements and (b) a second component having one or more electromagnetic elements and movably coupled to the first component. The second component moves with respect to the first component in a cyclical manner. The one or more electromagnetic elements of the first component interacts with the one or more electromagnetic elements of the second component during each of one or more cycles of motion of the second component with respect to the first component such that, when a constant force profile is applied to move the second component with respect to the first component, the speed of motion increases and decreases one or more times during each cycle of motion due to different levels of electromagnetic interaction between the electromagnetic elements within each cycle of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Gorur Narayana Srinivasa Prasanna
  • Publication number: 20080036411
    Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a volatile memory including an air cleaner state memory element and a non-volatile memory including an air cleaner state backup memory element. The air cleaner is configured to store an air cleaner state to the air cleaner state memory element of the volatile memory and store the air cleaner state to the air cleaner state backup memory element of the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Kiern, Christopher M. Paterson
  • Patent number: 7294981
    Abstract: The method of determining the position of the shaft of a direct current motor including an armature powered via brushes and a bar commutator and designed to drive a roller blind includes the following phases: detecting and counting the commutations that occur between the brushes and the commutator bars to determine the position of the motor shaft when the commutation count is valid, and measuring the back electromotive force of the motor to determine the position of the motor shaft when the commutation count is not valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siminor Technologies Castres Sarl
    Inventor: Jacques Marty
  • Patent number: 7235945
    Abstract: A device comprising a massfree energy receiver and means to convert massfree energy into ordinary electricity or mechanical work, including a pulsed plasma reactor driving an inertially damped drag motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventors: Paulo N. Correa, Alexandra N. Correa
  • Patent number: 7053576
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for the conversion of massfree energy into electrical or kinetic energy, which uses in its preferred form a transmitter and a receiver both incorporating Tesla coils, the distal ends of whose secondary windings are co-resonant and connected to plates of a chamber, preferably evacuated or filled with water, such that energy radiated by the transmitter may be picked up by the receiver, the receiver preferably further including a pulsed plasma reactor driven by the receiver coil and a split phase motor driven by the reactor. Preferably the reactor operates in pulsed abnormal gas discharge mode, and the motor is an inertially damped drag motor. The invention also extends to apparatus in which an otherwise driven plasma reactor operating in pulsed abnormal gas discharge mode in turn used to drive an inertially damped drag motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventors: Paulo N. Correa, Alexandra N. Correa
  • Patent number: 6982530
    Abstract: Provided is a drive system of a motor structured from a combined arrangement of a plurality of motors capable of reducing losses resulting from mechanical loss during the process of the driving force behind the motor being transmitted. This system has a plurality of motors mutually arranged adjacently, and a drive control unit of this motor, wherein the drive control unit drives the magnetic rotor by sending an excitation signal to at least one motor, and the magnetic rotors of the other motors are synchronously driven by the magnetic coupling with the magnetic field generated from the excitation driven magnetic rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6954049
    Abstract: Electromotive furniture drive unit with one or more servomotors and having a manual control unit (1) equipped with switching elements (2, 3) and a signal processing device (14) for triggering functions, release elements (6, 7, 8, 9) being assigned to different hierarchical levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Dewert Anttruebs-und Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Bokamper
  • Patent number: 6922026
    Abstract: To provide a light fixture control system with which an inrush current is prevented at the time of motor activation, and a light fixture is prevented from rapidly dimming. In a vehicle including a light fixture to be driven by an output of a generator of the vehicle, and a motor to be driven also by the output of the generator, when the light fixture is driven, the driving current F1 to the motor is duty-controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6920032
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the illustrative method defines an engine cycle comprising several state changes that allow for a net gain of energy from an underlying source force field. The potential for a net energy gain via the method results from the discovery that a Casimir force system can be rendered non-conservative. This is done by appropriately altering one or more of a variety of physical factors that affect the Casimir force, or by altering any of a variety of environmental factors that affect such physical factors. In various embodiments, the extracted energy is stored, used to power energy-consuming devices or used to actuate a micromechanical device. In one embodiment, the method is implemented using an energy extraction apparatus that comprises two spaced Casimir force-generating boundaries that are operatively coupled to an energy transformation system. The energy transformation system includes a first device that is operable to alter at least one physical factor of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventor: Fabrizio Pinto
  • Patent number: 6815918
    Abstract: A method for cleaning the bottom of a pool uses an automated programmed pool cleaner capable of reversing movement and turning that is initially placed at an arbitrary location on the bottom of the pool and moved in a forward direction until it encounters an upright pool wall; the unit is reversed until it is a first predetermined distance from the wall, turned through a predetermined angle less than 180° and advanced until it again encounters an upright wall; these steps are repeated until the unit has encountered upright walls a predetermined number of times, after which the first predetermined distance is changed to one or more subsequent predetermined distances. All of the previous steps are repeated until all or substantially all of the pool has been cleaned. In a preferred embodiment, a rectangular pool is cleaned by setting the turning angle to 90° and the number of turns before changing the predetermined distance to seven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Aqua Products Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Porat, Igor Fridman
  • Patent number: 6774600
    Abstract: A matrix-connected driver for multiple two-phase motors includes circuit rows and columns of input and output connections for the phases of networked two-phase motors. Phases of multiple motors share the same input line and phases of multiple motors share the same output line but no motor phase shares both the same input and the same output. Buffers that may be transistors power each input and output line. The input and output lines may be alternatively positively powered high or grounded low using the buffers. In this fashion individual phases may be singly powered using selected pairs of the buffers without causing the other phases to be powered whether high or low. A processor such as a microprocessor drives the buffers. The usage of common input and output lines or otherwise referred to as columns and rows allows the same number of motors to be single phase mode driven with much less wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Richard L. Weinbrenner
  • Patent number: 6665167
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the illustrative method defines an engine cycle comprising several state changes that allow for a net gain of energy from an underlying source force field. The potential for a net energy gain via the method results from the discovery that a Casimir force system can be rendered non-conservative. This is done by appropriately altering one or more of a variety of physical factors that affect the Casimir force, or by altering any of a variety of environmental factors that affect such physical factors. In various embodiments, the extracted energy is stored, used to power energy-consuming devices or used to actuate a micromechanical device. In one embodiment, the method is implemented using an energy extraction apparatus that comprises two spaced Casimir force-generating boundaries that are operatively coupled to an energy transformation system. The energy transformation system includes a first device that is operable to alter at least one physical factor of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Fabrizio Pinto
  • Patent number: 6650527
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for modulating the direction and magnitude of the Casimir force between two bodies. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a repulsive Casimir force is generated by placing two bodies in near-proximity to one another. For one of the bodies, dielectric properties predominate; for the other, magnetic properties predominate. The arrangement further includes a device that alters the dielectric or magnetic properties of the bodies. By altering the dielectric or magnetic properties, the repulsive Casimir force can be made to decrease, then vanish, then reappear as an attractive force. Modulating the Casimir force in such a manner can be used to control stiction in MEMS devices and to accelerate particles, among many other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Fabrizio Pinto
  • Publication number: 20030111095
    Abstract: In a scrubber adapted to clean a semiconductor wafer, the torque of a brush rotation motor is monitored while a scrubber brush is in contact with the wafer and is being rotated by the motor. The position of the brush relative to the wafer may be adjusted based on the monitored torque to regulate the pressure applied to the wafer by the brush. Open loop positioning or closed loop control may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Michael N. Sugarman, Vladimir Galburt
  • Patent number: 6477028
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the illustrative method defines an engine cycle comprising several state changes that allow for a net gain of energy from an underlying source force field. The potential for a net energy gain via the method results from the discovery that a Casimir force system can be rendered non-conservative. This is done by appropriately altering one or more of a variety of physical factors that affect the Casimir force, or by altering any of a variety of environmental factors that affect such physical factors. In various embodiments, the extracted energy is stored, used to power energy-consuming devices or used to actuate a micromechanical device. In one embodiment, the method is implemented using an energy extraction apparatus that comprises two spaced Casimir force-generating boundaries that are operatively coupled to an energy transformation system. The energy transformation system includes a first device that is operable to alter at least one physical factor of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Fabrizio Pinto
  • Patent number: 6438453
    Abstract: A multiblock robot system with to each other compatible-and plug connectable, stationary and mobile earth, sea, aviation, planetary and space flight capable multiblock robot system standard cells, multiblock robot flange plug booster units and multiblock robots. Reconstructable with minimal expenditure of development and construction and by optional combinations between each other and with the total spectrum of all multiblock robot standard parts, objective-directed used for stationary and mobile multiblock robot individual systems and total complexes for mainland, sea, aviation, planetary and space flight fields, always exchangeable to each other, removeable, disintegrateable and re-plug connectable to the most different multiblock robot system solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Uwe Kochanneck
  • Patent number: 6342671
    Abstract: An optical actuator includes pairs of stators disposed parallel to each other with a stipulated gap between them, a mover disposed moveably within the gap, and a number of photovoltaic devices. The photovoltaic device has device electrodes on either end in the direction of polarization, each connected to one of the pair of stators. The voltage generated by the photovoltaic effect of the device is utilized to generate force that displaces the mover with respect to the stators by means of electrostatic force arising from the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry
    Inventors: Yasushi Morikawa, Masaaki Ichiki
  • Patent number: 6307344
    Abstract: A radio frequency interference suppression circuit assembly for an electric motor is provided in an easily assembled efficient package. The circuit assembly uses a case which houses a toroid inductor and feed-through capacitors which are electrically connected to the case and the toroid inductor to form a filter. Connector leads are provided to connect the package to a power input of an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fasco DC Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: John Pajak, Christopher A. Hause, Lawrence J. Noren
  • Patent number: 6201365
    Abstract: A drive unit which uses an electric motor as a power source and has an integrated inverter, with a cooling circuit for the electric motor and the inverter. The drive unit includes a drive unit case, the electric motor housed within the case, and the inverter fixed to the case. A coolant flow passage is provided between the drive unit case and the inverter. The inverter is fixed to the drive unit case through a panel wall, and a partition divides the coolant flow passage into chambers which are coextensive in parallel. As a result, the coolant which flows through the coolant flow passage acts as a two-stage heat shield, barring the heat generated by the electric motor from being transmitted to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hara, Yutaka Hotta, Masayuki Takenaka, Hiromichi Agata, Kozo Yamaguchi, Takahiro Kido, Naruhiko Kutsuna
  • Patent number: 6111381
    Abstract: For the production of a photographic print of an original present in electronic format, optical representations (D) are produced from sequentially changing strip-shaped portions of the original by way of an electro optical, pixel wise operating converter device (3) and these optical representations (D) are projected onto a strip-shaped exposure region (E) on the copy material (P), whereby the strip-shaped exposure region (E) and the copy material (P) are moved relative to one another and at an essentially constant speed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the strip-shaped exposure regions (E), so that successively the image information of the whole original is exposed onto the total available surface of the copy material (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Gretag Imaging AG
    Inventors: Beat Frick, Jurg Fenner
  • Patent number: 6087792
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control circuit for motor of electric jogging device in which a safety switch is disposed between an electronic loop and a power switch and which has an inserted safety plug-in pin to connect the power in an ON state. Accordingly, when the safety plug-in is removed from the fastening position, the second safety switch will be shut down in an OFF state so that the power won't enter into the electronic loop again and the motor won't be driven, and the safety of the user can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Leao Wang
  • Patent number: 6084369
    Abstract: An incremental travel encoder with an encoder part (11) and a sensor part for the sake of its economical production as a set-point value controller for operator equipment in motor vehicles, such as climate control systems, the sensor part has at least one electric switch with one fixed and one movable switch element for opening and closing a circuit for generating counting pulses, and the encoder part has a plurality of indexing members, which are disposed one after the other at the interval of an increment in the direction of motion of the encoder part. Upon each increment of the encoder part, one of the successive indexing members actuates the movable switch element in the direction of a temporary opening or closure of the electric switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfram Breitling
  • Patent number: 5955859
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an interface module between a field bus and electrical equipment controlling and protecting an electric motor. The interface module includes an integrated circuit having data pins connected via input/output circuits to contacts or binary sensors or to coils or actuators of the electrical equipment. The data pins of the integrated circuit are connected via logic circuits to inputs or outputs which are greater in number than the data pins. The inputs/outputs are connected to coils or actuators and to auxiliary contacts or binary sensors of the electrical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Gilles Baurand, Andre Ganier, Fran.cedilla.ois Roussel
  • Patent number: 5952803
    Abstract: A machine monitor provides information for ascertaining the health and condition of a machine. The monitor is self-contained, having its own internal power source, electronics, and sensor suite, and attaches directly to the outer frame of the machine. Sensors disposed within the monitor include a machine frame temperature sensor, flux sensor, vibration sensor, and clock. Electronics are also disposed within the monitor for receiving and processing sensor outputs, producing machine status data which is stored over time. Sensors and electronics are housed in a protective bucket which includes an upper housing element joined with a lower housing element. The monitor is attached to the machine in such a way that an engagement surface formed in the monitor establishes sensory contact with the machine, enabling machine sensors disposed in the monitor to sense the machine characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: CSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Canada, Eugene F. Pardue, James C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5932980
    Abstract: In order to control the rotation speed of an output shaft (2) driven by an electric motor (3) by means of a gear mechanism (1), the difference of the rotation speeds of the motor shaft (4) of the electric motor (3) and of the output shaft (2) is measured by means of an incremental torque meter (5, 6, 8, 9, 10) as an actual value and is used in a control circuit for controlling the electric motor (3) in order to level deviations of the rotation speed of the output shaft (2) from a specified desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Max Stegmann GmbH Antriebstechnik-Elektronik
    Inventor: Josef Siraky
  • Patent number: 5852353
    Abstract: A multiblock robot system for the economical energy generation from sun and wind power, the energy storage and for the energy disposition and delivery, composed of plug connected and optional combinations of multiblock standard parts, having socket flange booster chambers with integrated units as, solar, wind rotor, control computer, checkcard reader, remote control antenna, illuminator and battery units. Rotation flange plug connections rotate the integrated units with solar surfaces and the wind rotor blades always to the optimal, perpendicular position of the sun and wind directions. The battery units are plug connected one behind the other to battery lines for the energy storage, composing checkcard controlled battery dispensers and battery changers for the self operating battery exchange and fully automatic delivery to multiblock robots, electro cars and to the public mains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Uwe Kochanneck
    Inventor: Uwe Kochanneck
  • Patent number: 5847277
    Abstract: In a method of rotating a rotary member on a balancing machine into balancing positions in first and second balancing planes, after the unbalance measuring run the rotary member is braked and thus rotated into the balancing position in the first balancing plane, with the braking deceleration being measured. The rotary member is then accelerated to a rotary speed of at most 80 rpm for rotation into the balancing position in the second balancing plane. The rotary member is then braked so that the braking travel resulting from the measured deceleration corresponds to the differential angle still remaining as far as the balancing position in the second balancing plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothamel, Wolfgang Rowe
  • Patent number: 5841256
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for controlling a loading element of a crane, the loading element of the crane including an actuator and a current supply cable for supplying current to the loading element. The arrangement for controlling the loading element including a control signal generator/transmitter for generating and transmitting control signals for controlling the actuator of the loading element, a control signal receiver for receiving the control signals in the loading element and a transmission path for transmitting the control signals from the control signal generator/transmitter to the control signal receiver. The transmission path for transmitting the control signals is provided in the current supply cable of the loading element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: KCI Konecranes International Corporation
    Inventors: Hannu Oja, Matti Kemppainen
  • Patent number: 5825146
    Abstract: A motor drive device including a substrate, a control unit packaged over the substrate for generating a pulse width modulation signal; insulation means packaged over the substrate, a gate drive circuit packaged over the substrate and connected through the insulation means with the control unit for generating a transistor drive signal in response to the pulse width modulation signal coming from the control unit, and an inverter including a plurality of transistors for generating a phase current by turning ON/OFF the transistors in response to the transistor drive signal coming from the gate driver circuit. A wiring pattern and a substrate ground are formed at the side of the substrate closer to the control unit. Only the wiring pattern is formed at the side of the substrate closer to the gate drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Agata, Yoshihiko Minatani, Akira Suzuki, Yutaka Hotta
  • Patent number: 5821478
    Abstract: An acoustic signal in an elevator door system is provided if a door close signal is present and a door has not closed within a determined time. A switching frequency of a pulse width modulation signal is reduced such that a motor is caused to provide the acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Helmut L. Schroder-Brumloop, Rudiger Lob
  • Patent number: 5807408
    Abstract: An industrial robot safety device and method for use in wet stations. A shutdown circuit is operative to deactivate the robot in response to operation of any one of two switches. Each switch responds to variations in tension that are beyond acceptable limits of an associated tensionable element, such as ropes or cables. The tensionable elements are respectively mounted on the left and right side of the robot in the paths of its travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Submicron Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos M. Ruiz
  • Patent number: 5714854
    Abstract: An on-car motor driving apparatus is equipped with a motor for moving a moving unit such as a window of a motor car, a motor driving controller which controls the revolution, stop, and rotational direction of the motor, and a current measuring and comparing device which measures the variation in current per unit time of the motor and compares the measured variation in current with a preset value. The on-car motor driving apparatus stops the revolution of the motor and/or reverses the rotational direction of the motor through the motor driving controller. The apparatus is further equipped with a voltage measuring device for measuring motor driving voltage and a voltage-based time setting device which changes the length of the unit time in accordance with the driving voltage value measured by the voltage measuring device. Line voltage is supplied to a differential amplifier only when the line voltage is supplied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Mizuta, Yukio Miura, Toshihiko Kawata, Ken Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 5703452
    Abstract: A movable section of a machine is enclosed by a fence and a door. A locking device provided on the door is controlled by a movable section control circuit. In the movable section control circuit, an operating switch outputs either a movable section ON signal or a movable section OFF signal. A door switch outputs an ON signal representing that the door is open. A switch means constitutes a self-holding circuit which uses an AND signal constituted of the movable section OFF signal from the operating switch and a rotation stop signal as a reset input signal and an OR signal constituted of an ON signal from the door switch and a rotation-presence signal as trigger signal to provide the locking device with a control signal. When a sensor fails, the locking devive is not unlocked even if the operating switch for driving the movable section is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Futsuhara
  • Patent number: 5675223
    Abstract: A circuit board unit for driving and controlling a motor that drives a compressor for an air-conditioner has a first mounting base, a second mounting base mounted on the first mounting base, and a printed circuit board mounted on the second mounting base. The first mounting base has thereon a first group of high voltage electrical elements belonging to a motor driving circuit and a heat sink so that some of the high voltage electrical elements that need positive heat dissipation are mounted thereon. The second mounting base has thereon a second group of high voltage electrical elements belonging to the motor driving circuit and a plurality of flat electrical conductors that are partially embedded in the second mounting base in an insert mold fashion and forming a predetermined wiring pattern so as to electrically connect the high voltage electrical elements. The printed circuit board has thereon a group of low voltage electrical elements belonging to a motor control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Sanden Corp.
    Inventors: Kouki Yoshizawa, Seiichi Hoshino, Toshimasa Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5661386
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing the efficiency of an in-service motor. The operating characteristics of the in-service motor are remotely measured. The operating characteristics are then applied to an equivalent circuit for electrical motors. Finally the equivalent circuit is evaluated to determine the performance characteristics of said in-service motor. Based upon the evaluation an individual is able to determine the rotor speed, power output, efficiency, and toque of the in-service motor. Additionally, an individual is able to confirm the calculations by comparing measured values with values obtained as a result of the motor equivalent circuit evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Kueck, Pedro J. Otaduy
  • Patent number: 5592057
    Abstract: A step motor and servo motor indexer (10) having an improved user interface (14) wherein an input capability for programming a full range of program parameters and values is provided, yet where the user input system (20) has few components. The user input system (20) for programming the indexer (10) is characterized by having a data entry unit (26) which includes only a toggle device (27) and a rotary device (28), both of which may be combined into a single component part. In addition to the typical turned clockwise and turned counter clockwise modes of the rotary device (28) the use of the rate of rotation permits an additional input mode which is used to accomplish rotational or software ballistics to input large ranges of values during programming of the indexer (10). The user interface (14) further includes a display (22), for presenting program choices and values to user during programming, and for reporting running parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Applied Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Kordik
  • Patent number: 5500292
    Abstract: The polymer electrolyte type hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell of the present invention comprises an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode, a polymer electrolyte membrane provided between the oxygen electrode and hydrogen electrode and electron conductors provided on the side of the electrodes which is opposite to the electrolyte side and the oxygen electrode comprises a catalytically active component, a carrier for the catalytically active component and a binder and has such a gradient in water repellency across the thickness that the water repellency is highest in the area adjacent to the electrolyte and lowest in the area adjacent to the conductor. In this fuel cell, flooding of water at the interface between the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Muranaka, Jinichi Imahashi, Tatsuo Horiba, Shigeoki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5497289
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus having a compact design and a changeable heat sink. The apparatus includes a power module formed in a case having pairs of parallel sides and containing the respective main circuit semiconductor devices for converting an alternating current input into a direct current and then further into an alternating current of variable frequency. The heat sink also has pairs of parallel sides and interfaces with the case in a plane whereon the projections of the sink and the case are coextensive. The apparatus also has a body with pairs of parallel sides that fasten to the case and constitute part of the enclosure of the inverter apparatus. The body, case, heat sink and associated circuit elements have alignment structures that permit easy and reliable disassembly and assembly of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Sugishima, Naohiro Hirose, Wataru Ikeshita, Shinzo Tomonaga
  • Patent number: 5483136
    Abstract: An improved EMI filter design is provided for an inverter operated dynamoelectric machine. A lossy balun wound choke is connected between a power supply in the form of a bridge rectifier and the inverter. The choke acts as a source resistance. Using the choke as the source resistance, an equiripple approximation to linear phase filter is derived. The filter is placed on the input side of the bridge rectifier. A method of designing an EMI filter for use in conjunction with an inverter operated dynamoelectric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 5449989
    Abstract: An energy conversion device includes a discharge tube which is operated in a pulsed abnormal glow discharge regime in a double ported circuit. A direct current source connected to an input port provides electrical energy to initiate emission pulses, and a current sink in the form of an electrical energy storage or utilization device connected to the output port captures at least a substantial proportion of energy released by collapse of the emission pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventors: Paulo N. Correa, Alexandra N. Correa
  • Patent number: 5432421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for detecting the position and direction of movement and for detecting the dynamic characteristic values of remote-controlled displacements of an adjustable object. According to the invention a signal is detected and evaluated which is solely made up of a system-characteristic signal or the overlapping of several system-characteristic signals. The aim is to achieve a high dissolution of the aforesaid values which are to be detected without using additional sensor or transmitter elements whilst incurring only small production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Kessler, Klaus Wagner, Herbert Becker, Roland Kalb, Jurgen Seeberger
  • Patent number: 5416399
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool may be attached to the control panel of a piece of machinery within a plant or factory which includes an electric motor. The diagnostic tool includes indicators for providing information to an operator of the equipment for which the control panel provides power. These indicator inform the operator of various modes of operation of the control circuitry within the control panel which regulate the power going to the motor. In this manner, the operator may determine if the machinery is ready to run, and if not, if it is necessary to call a technician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: Walter S. Brunson
  • Patent number: 5416391
    Abstract: A direct current power transducer for driving alternating current devices utilizes a discharge tube connected across a current source, the construction of the tube and characteristics of the source being such as to maintain endogenous pulsed abnormal gas discharge within the tube. The tube is capacitatively coupled to an external load including an alternating current device, typically an electric motor. Electric motors of the asynchronous induction or synchronous types are particularly suitable, but other alternating current devices may be used. By adjustments to the current source, the capacitance in parallel with the discharge tube, and connections to auxiliary electrodes, the pulse repetition frequency of the discharge may be adjusted, thus allowing variable speed control of types of alternating current motor not normally amenable to such control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventors: Paulo N. Correa, Alexandra N. Correa
  • Patent number: 5408167
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell-driven motor, more particularly, a special magnetic resonance enhanced, synchronously shaded motor driven by solar energy. A shading vane rotates on the motor shaft, and alternately shades the photovoltaic cells from the solar energy light rays. A stationary magnet is disposed just outside the electric coil on the motor shaft, and is synchronized with the shading vane to rotate the motor shaft in one direction. The motor converts direct current to alternating current electrical power, and is particularly useful in situations where constant sunlight is available, such as on a space station or a lunar station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Inventor: Gerald J. Shea
  • Patent number: 5379217
    Abstract: In a vehicle electromagnetic clutch control device, a PWM modulator is provided in a microcomputer. In the microcomputer, a current instruction signal is calculated according to engine control data and travel control data, and is compared with an output current feedback signal, to obtain a difference signal therebetween, so as to cause the PWM modulator to output a pulse width modulation signal to control the on-off operation of a PWM output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Munehiko Mimura
  • Patent number: 5341074
    Abstract: An operation apparatus for a sewing machine has an electric motor for driving the sewing machine and electronic components for operating and controlling the electric motor and sewing machine; the electric motor and electronic components are accommodated within a common, heat-conductive box-type body effective to dissipate the heat generated inside the body by the electric motor and the electronic components to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Comelz S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Zorzolo