Synchronous Motor Systems Patents (Class 318/700)
  • Patent number: 9423463
    Abstract: A control unit for identifying a fault in an electric motor or generator, the control unit comprising means for measuring a value of a first parameter associated with the operation of the electric motor or generator; means for increasing a counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value or a value derived from the measured value and a second value is greater than a first predetermined value; means for decreasing the counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value and the second value is less than the first predetermined value; and means for generating a signal indicative of a fault if the counter value exceeds a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Thomas Burke
  • Patent number: 9391552
    Abstract: A method for establishing the rotor angle of a synchronous machine. The method includes determining a first estimated value for the d-axis of the synchronous machine, feeding at least one refinement voltage pulse pair into the stator of the synchronous machine, the refinement voltage pulse pairs each distanced from the first estimated value for the d-axis of the synchronous machine by the same angular value in different directions, detecting the angle-dependent refinement current responses to the refinement voltage pulses, determining the angle-dependent refinement phase differences on the basis of the respective detected refinement current response, determining first estimated curves on the basis of at least some of the angle-dependent refinement current responses, determining second estimated curves on the basis of at least some of the angle-dependent refinement phase differences. and determining a refined estimated value for the d-axis of the synchronous machine on the basis of the estimated curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Arun Siddalingappa, Sebastian Paulus
  • Patent number: 9385648
    Abstract: Motor control command output means outputs, as a motor control command, a second command value, which is calculated by second command value calculating means on the basis of a first command value generated by first command value calculating means and a current value obtained by causing motor driving system current adding means to add together currents of respective motor driving systems, to the motor driving systems of two systems constituted by a motor and drive circuits for driving the motor. The second command value calculating means may calculate the second command value by performing a d/q coordinate system current feedback calculation using the current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9344017
    Abstract: A driving circuit drives a motor containing a first coil and a second coil. The driving circuit includes a switching unit, an operation unit and a control unit. The switching unit receives a switching signal from the control unit for driving the motor. The control unit detects the rotation speed of the motor. When the rotation speed of the motor is greater than a predetermined rotation speed, the control unit outputs a first operation signal to the operation unit to couple the first terminals of the first and second coils and couple the second terminals of the first and second coils. When the rotation speed of the motor is less than or equal to the predetermined rotational speed, the control unit outputs a second operation signal to the operation unit to couple the second terminal of the first coil to the first terminal of the second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chung-Hung Tang, Chien-Sheng Lin, Chin-Fa Chiu, Chun-Lung Chiu
  • Patent number: 9331618
    Abstract: A magnetic pole position detector includes, a voltage command unit that generates high-frequency voltage command in a dq coordinate system, a three-phase transformation unit that transforms the high-frequency voltage command in the dq coordinate system to high-frequency voltage command in a three-phase coordinate system by using an estimated magnetic pole position, a current detection unit that detects three-phase current fed from a power converter for generating drive power, a dq transformation unit that transforms the detected three-phase current to current in the dq coordinate system by using the estimated magnetic pole position, an estimated magnetic pole position calculation unit that calculates a new estimated magnetic pole position to be used in three-phase dq transformations, and a magnetic pole position confirmation unit that confirms that, when converging on a certain position, the estimated magnetic pole position is the magnetic pole position at the time when the synchronous motor is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Sonoda, Yukio Toyozawa
  • Patent number: 9306482
    Abstract: A method and a device for establishing the rotor angle of a synchronous machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Arun Siddalingappa, Sebastian Paulus
  • Patent number: 9257923
    Abstract: A control system includes a current control unit providing, in accordance with the magnetic pole position of a rotor in which permanent magnets are disposed, a first current command to a first excitation phase of a stator winding and providing a second current command to a second excitation phase, a current error calculator calculating a current error which is a difference between a current flowing through the motor during the first period and the first current command or a difference between a current flowing through the motor during the second period and the second current command, and an abnormality detection and diagnosis unit detecting an abnormality based on the speed, the direction of movement and the amount of movement of the motor and the magnitude of the current error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoto Sonoda
  • Patent number: 9236821
    Abstract: A controlling apparatus for an electric motor according to an embodiment includes a superposed component generator, an inverter, a current detector, and a magnetic pole position estimator. The superposed component generator generates, at a predetermined cycle, a superposed voltage reference of which vector is shifted by 90 degrees with respect to that of a superposed voltage reference previously generated, in a coordinate system that is set to a stator of the electric motor. The inverter outputs a driving voltage that is based on a driving voltage reference superposed with the superposed voltage reference to the electric motor. The current detector detects currents flowing into respective phases of the electric motor, and outputs the detected currents. The magnetic pole position estimator detects the magnetic pole position of the electric motor based on an amount of change in the detected currents at the predetermined cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Takayuki Shiota, Shinya Morimoto, Hideaki Iura
  • Patent number: 9231406
    Abstract: A mid-voltage variable-frequency driving system and a total harmonic distortion compensation control method are provided in this invention. The mid-voltage variable-frequency driving system includes a total harmonic distortion compensation unit. The total harmonic distortion compensation unit is used to perform an optimal adjustment on a reactive component reference value of a grid-side phase current, such that a harmonic component of the grid-side phase current may be reduced and a power factor of a three-phase switch-mode rectifier module within the mid-voltage variable-frequency driving system may be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Bo-Yu Pu, Yi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9231507
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit includes a magnetic-pole-position detecting unit that detects a rotating position of a rotor of a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a voltage output unit that converts a direct-current voltage and generates a driving voltage for the permanent magnet synchronous motor, a voltage control unit that controls the voltage output unit on the basis of a comparison result of a modulation wave and a carrier wave, a voltage-phase adjusting unit that determines, using a differential amplifier circuit that receives a rotating speed control signal and an offset signal, a phase of the modulation wave generated by the voltage control unit and causes the voltage control unit to generate the modulation wave in the determined phase, and an offset generating unit that generates the offset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Hatakeyama, Michio Yamada, Hiroki Aso
  • Patent number: 9231511
    Abstract: A control device of an AC rotating machine includes a controller receiving a current vector instruction and a detection current vector as inputs and outputs a voltage vector instruction to the AC rotating machine, an alternating current amplitude computation mechanism computing an alternating current amplitude of at least one of a parallel component and an orthogonal component with respect to the voltage vector instruction, an alternating current amplitude instruction generator generating an alternating current amplitude instruction from the current vector instruction, and a magnetic-pole position computation mechanism computing an estimated magnetic-pole position of the AC rotating machine. The magnetic-pole position computation mechanism computes the estimated magnetic-pole position so that the alternating current amplitude coincides with the alternating current amplitude instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Hachiya, Masato Ito, Satoru Terashima
  • Patent number: 9209727
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a PWM signal generating unit comparing PWM command voltage and carrier wave with each other to generate pulse signal so that duty is increased or decreased in both directions of phase lag and phase lead with one phase within carrier period as reference regarding one phase of three-phase PWM signal. The unit generates pulse signal so that duty is increased or decreased in one of the directions with one phase as reference regarding another phase. The unit generates pulse signal so that duty is increased or decreased in direction reverse to the one direction with one phase as reference regarding the other phase. The unit generates three-phase PWM signal pattern so that a current detecting unit is capable of detecting two-phase current in synchronization with advent of two predetermined time-points within carrier wave period of PWM signal with first to third phases being normally fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Sari Maekawa
  • Patent number: 9203302
    Abstract: The present application provides a method of calculating DC-DC converter power losses without the requirement for a measurement of input current. The application also describes the use of such a calculation to determine the optimum point for switchover between a single phase mode or dual phase mode in a two phase DC-DC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: POWERVATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Anthony Kelly
  • Patent number: 9160264
    Abstract: A method for detecting an initial rotor angular position and starting a dynamoelectric machine having a stator and a rotor includes the steps of driving the dynamoelectric machine into partial magnetic saturation to determine the initial rotor angular position of the dynamoelectric machine, and starting the dynamoelectric machine utilizing the initial rotor angular position previously determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Hu
  • Patent number: 9150108
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are presented to determine high voltage cable connectivity between an inverter module and a remote electric machine. A high frequency (HF) interlock module can be configured to inject a high frequency excitation signal that can be superimposed on inverter drive signals. High frequency current components can be determined and used to determine connectivity status. The sum and difference of positive and negative sequence component values can be compared to predetermined limitations to detect one or more open phases. An example method can include enabling a HF detection strategy under predetermined conditions. In response to an open phase detection a fault flag can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chang-Jiang Wang, Michael W. Degner, Ji Wu
  • Patent number: 9154065
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus according to an embodiment includes a power conversion unit and a control unit. The power conversion unit supplies power to a motor having salient pole characteristic. The control unit performs proportional-integral control on the deviation between a current reference and a current flowing into the motor to generate a voltage reference, and controls the power conversion unit on the basis of the voltage reference. The control unit estimates the magnetic-pole position of a rotor of the motor on the basis of a high-frequency current flowing into the motor by controlling the power conversion unit, and corrects the estimated magnetic-pole position on the basis of an integrated value of the proportional-integral control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Hirofumi Kinomura, Hideaki Iura
  • Patent number: 9130501
    Abstract: A storage section stores, as stored current values, currents flowing when a voltage application section applies voltage vectors to a three-phase rotary machine. A position estimation section estimates the rotor position of the rotary machine in a stopped state based on the stored current values. An adjustment section adjusts a minimum necessary application time that allows the rotary machine to be magnetically saturated by voltage vector application, to enable rotor position estimation. Further, the adjustment section uses, as an adjustment evaluation value, the magnitude |?Y| of differential admittance obtained by dividing a summed current value calculated from the stored current values by the voltage amplitude value of the voltage vector instruction when the voltage vector based on the voltage vector instruction is applied with the application time being set at an arbitrary application time, and adjusts the application time based on |?Y|.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Ito, Toshio Morohoshi
  • Patent number: 9124211
    Abstract: A control unit of a rotary electric machine control apparatus includes a rotation position calculation section, which calculates a sensor angle by correcting a detection signal of a rotation position sensor based on correction value information specific to each sensor, and a correction value abnormality check section, which checks whether the correction value information is normal. When the correction value information is abnormal, the rotation angle calculation section corrects the detection signal of the rotation position sensor by using default value information in place of the correction value information. Each default value is limited to be different from the correction value within a predetermined range. A current command value calculation section sets a d-axis current command value to zero and fixes a current command phase to 90[°]. The current command phase is changed to be most remote from 0[°] and 180[°] thereby ensuring a tolerable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9106177
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor are provided. An estimated rotor flux angular position error is generated based on estimated back electromotive force (EMF) values, and based on the estimated rotor flux angular position error, an estimated rotor flux angular position, an estimated electrical synchronous frequency and/or an estimated rotor frequency can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yo Chan Son, Leah Dunbar, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 9093931
    Abstract: A driving apparatus including an inverter unit for energizing the coil by switching ON and OFF of the switching element, an energization pattern determination unit for selecting a plurality of energization patterns, each of which indicates a direction of a current that flows through the coil, one by one when driving of a motor is started, and energizing the coil by switching ON and OFF of the switching element based on a selected energization pattern at a duty ratio corresponding to a value of a maximum current capable of being supplied by the power supply apparatus, a current applied time measurement unit for measuring an energization time, which is a time until a value of the current flowing through the coil reaches a predetermined target current value for each energization pattern, and a rotor stop position estimation unit for estimating a position at which the rotor stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Shibuya, Tamotsu Iwazaki, Sadami Hino
  • Patent number: 9041326
    Abstract: A method for operating a brushless electric motor, the windings being energized by an inverter with the aid of six switches. A detection unit for detecting defective switches, a unit for measuring voltage at the outputs of the inverter, and a microcontroller for controlling the switch and for generating a pulse width modulated voltage supply for the windings are provided. A short-circuited switch causes a torque in the electric motor opposite the actuating direction of the electric motor. The method proposes that after detecting a short-circuited switch, the windings (U. V. W) are energized to generate a motor torque that is, on the whole, positive. An actuating period of the electric motor is divided into a plurality of sectors, wherein, in accordance with the defective switch, individual sectors are deactivated for the actuation of the windings (U, V, W), while other sectors are used to actuate the windings (V, W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Gunselmann, Mathias Fernengel, Nicolas Bruyant, Lionel Guichard, Michel Parette
  • Patent number: 9041325
    Abstract: A control device for an alternating current motor according to embodiments includes a current distributor and a phase estimator. The current distributor divides a torque command by using a control phase and outputs a component that contributes to a mechanical output of the motor as a ?-axis current command and a component that does not contribute to the mechanical output as a ?-axis current command. The phase estimator computes a phase at which a ?-axis component of an addition amount of the output of the current controller and a voltage drop amount of inductance of the motor becomes zero and outputs the computed phase as the control phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Kozo Ide
  • Patent number: 9041322
    Abstract: An electric power tool is included in a plurality of types of electric power tools. The plurality of types of electric power tools comprise a plurality of types of battery packs having different rated output voltages and a plurality of types of tool bodies, the housings of which are equipped with an attached part on which each of the battery packs is mounted in a freely removable manner. The attached part possessed by the plurality of types of tool bodies equipped with motors having different voltage characteristics is formed so as to be able to mount an arbitrary one of the plurality of types of battery packs having different rated output voltages. This makes it possible to widen the range of available battery packs and enhance convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenori Shimizu, Masaaki Sakaue, Naotake Tanaka, Masaki Ikeda, Masaaki Okada
  • Patent number: 9035586
    Abstract: A motor driving device for protecting inrush current is disclosed, where the motor driving device includes a resistor, a capacitor, an electronic switch, a rectifier and a driving circuit. The capacitor is connected to the resistor in series. The electronic switch is connected to the resistor in parallel. The rectifier is connected to the resistor and the capacitor in parallel and is electrically connected to a power source. The driving circuit is connected to the resistor and the capacitor in parallel and is electrically connected to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Wen-Han Lan
  • Patent number: 9035590
    Abstract: There are provided a motor driving apparatus and method, the motor driving apparatus including: a filter controlling unit detecting a frequency of a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal and generating a control signal; a first filtering unit filtering a back electromotive force (BEMF) signal according to the control signal; a second filtering unit filtering a reference signal according to the control signal; and a comparing unit comparing output of the first and second filtering units and generating a motor rotor detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 9035584
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a change in a quadrant of operation of a brushless direct current motor. A quadrant change in an operation of a motor is identified. In response to identifying the quadrant change, selected ones of a plurality of switches in a switch bridge are selected to be controlled to couple a direct current power source to the windings of the motor to change a direction of an actual current in the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Douglas C. Cameron
  • Patent number: 9035587
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a motor are disclosed. The system comprises a current observer for observing a motor current at a sampling rate and a proportionate-integral controller that provides a proportionate path and an integral path and at least forms part of a proportionate-integral control loop based on the motor current. The current observer observes a motor current of the motor at a sampling rate. The proportionate path calculates, for a present cycle of the sampling rate, a proportionate path term for the proportionate-integral control loop based on the motor current. The system outputs a respective motor output voltage to the motor in conformity with the proportionate path term calculated for the present cycle. In conformity with the motor current, the integral path calculates an integral path term for another respective motor output voltage to be used in a later cycle of the sampling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventor: John Laurence Melanson
  • Patent number: 9030137
    Abstract: A drive system, for a multi-phase brushless electric motor comprising a plurality of phases, comprises: a drive circuit including switch means arranged to vary the phase voltage applied to each of the phases so as to switch the motor between a plurality of active states; and control means. The control means is arranged to control the switch means so as to provide PWM control of the phase voltages to control the mechanical output of the motor. The control means is arranged to define a sequence for all of the active states and, for each PWM period, to allocate state times for the states required for that period to generate a desired net voltage, and to order the required states in the same order as they occur in the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Connel Brett Williams, Christopher David Dixon, Robert James Huxford
  • Patent number: 9030139
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and a method for controlling a speed of a motor. The method for controlling a speed of a motor includes: receiving a signal from a hall sensor of the motor to measure a current speed of the motor; comparing the current speed of the motor measured with a reference speed to calculate errors; outputting a speed control value of the motor based on the calculated errors; limiting the output speed control value to values within a predetermined range; controlling a duty or a phase of current applied to the motor according to the limited values within the predetermined range; and generating a motor driving signal based on the duty control or the phase control and applying the generated motor driving signal to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bon Young Gu
  • Patent number: 9024556
    Abstract: In an electrical machine which has time-varying or position-varying disturbances in its output, signals representing the position and values of machine-related parameters are used to solve a model of the machine to calculate the phase currents which are required to minimize the disturbances. The model is able to provide solutions in the presence of limitations of some of the operating conditions of the machine, for example the supply voltage or the error in the signal representing the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec SR Drives, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Ian Peter Henderson, Joseph Gerald Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 9024560
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for adjusting a voltage of a DC-voltage intermediate circuit in a battery system having a battery and a drive system. The battery is configured to output one selectable output voltage from n+1 different output voltages. In a first step of the method, an actual value of the voltage of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit is determined, and is then compared with the various output voltages of the battery. A first selected output voltage of the battery, which is the highest voltage of those output voltages of the battery which are less than the actual value of the voltage of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit, and a second selected output voltage of the battery, which is the lowest voltage of those output voltages of the battery which are higher than the actual value of the voltage of the DC-voltage intermediate circuit, are then selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9018891
    Abstract: A motor includes a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted onto the frame, and at least one disc mounted onto the shaft. At least one permanent magnet is mounted on the disc, and at least one electromagnet and at least one coil are mounted to the frame in rotational magnetic proximity to the permanent magnet. A battery is connectable to the electromagnet and the coil for energizing the electromagnet and for receiving electrical current from the coil for charging the battery. A relay switch controls the transmission of electrical power from the battery to the electromagnet. A sensor generates a signal to the relay switch to activate electrical power to the electromagnet upon sensing that the permanent magnet is positioned with respect to the electromagnet such that a magnetic force generated by the electromagnet would be effective for inducing movement of the permanent magnet and consequent rotation of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Clifford R. Rabal
  • Patent number: 9018877
    Abstract: A system for determining if a tire of a vehicle is improperly inflated. The system includes a radar, a wheel speed sensor, and a controller. The radar is configured to emit a signal to detect a reflection of the signal off of an object positioned perpendicular to the vehicle, and to output an indication of a speed of the vehicle. The wheel speed sensor is configured to sense a speed of a wheel of the vehicle. The controller is configured to receive the indication of the speed of the vehicle from the radar, to calculate a speed of the vehicle based on the sensed speed of the wheel, and to determine a tire of the wheel is improperly inflated when the speed of the vehicle calculated using the wheel speed sensor varies by more than a predetermined amount from the speed of the vehicle determined using the radar signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Braun, Norbert Wegner, Juergen Rapp, Michael May, Alexander Kuderer
  • Patent number: 9000700
    Abstract: A MG-ECU is provided in a hybrid vehicle having an MG and an engine and starts the engine by controlling the MG. When the MG-ECU detects a disconnection in any one of three-phase power supply wires, which supply the MG with power, the MG-ECU permits driving of the MG on condition that the engine is requested to be started. The MG-ECU limits a command torque for the MG is limited to be equal to or less than a predetermined torque value than in a case of presence of no disconnection, when the MG is permitted to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kakihara
  • Patent number: 8994304
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a permanent magnet synchronous motor to maximize use of voltages of a battery by voltage phase control within weak magnetic flux area and to achieve compensation for a torque error through a torque compensator when driving the permanent magnet synchronous motor for hybrid vehicles. In particular, the method controls a permanent magnet synchronous motor so that voltage use can be maximized in a weak magnetic flux area by using voltage near maximum voltage through voltage phase control utilizing magnetic flux-based map data receiving a torque command and motor speed/batter output voltage as inputs and torque error can be compensated using a torque compensation filter when a motor constant is changed in the weak magnetic flux by a circumstance parameter, when the permanent magnet synchronous motor mounted in a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yeungnam University
    Inventors: Su Hyun Bae, Sung Kyu Kim, Won Kyoung Choi, Mu Shin Kwak, Jul Ki Seok, Se Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8981702
    Abstract: Input-output linearization (IOL) and extended state observer (ESO) techniques are applied to a Field Oriented Control (FOC) for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM). In one such approach, at least one gain value is determined based at least in part on a given bandwidth value. Operating parameters for the motor are determined based on the at least one gain value and information from a current sensor regarding motor current. Control signals used to the control the motor are determined based on the determined operating parameters. Accordingly, automated control can be effected through setting a bandwidth value through the implementation of IOL and ESO techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ashish S. Katariya, David P. Magee
  • Patent number: 8981704
    Abstract: Provided are a motor controller for suppressing a torque pulsation with a simple configuration and obtaining a sufficient output torque in the case of an open-type fault occurring in any one of windings of a motor and inverters, and an electric power steering device using the motor controller. In the motor controller for controlling a current supplied from and a voltage applied from a power source with respect to the motor including winding sets of a plurality of systems, when a fault determination unit (31) determines the occurrence of the open-type fault, the supply of the currents to the windings of one of the systems in which the fault has occurred is stopped by control performed on switching elements included in the inverter of the faulty system, whereas the supply of the currents to the windings of the normal system in which the fault has not occurred is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Endo, Isao Kezobo, Yoshihiko Kimpara, Jiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8975840
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling an IPMSM, the apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure including a first generating unit generating a q-axis reference voltage of a synchronous reference frame from a reference frequency, a current converter generating a current of the synchronous reference frame from a 3-phase current of the IPMSM, and a voltage controller generating a d-axis reference voltage compensating a voltage in response to a load change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Joo Lee
  • Patent number: 8975842
    Abstract: A three-phase permanent magnet motor is controlled by generating two-phase control signals. A rotation speed value is generated representing a rotation speed of the permanent magnet motor based on a q-current reference value and a q-current feedback value, the q-current reference value and the q-current feedback value corresponding to a q-phase winding. A d-phase voltage change value is generated based on a d-current reference value and a d-current feedback value, the d-current reference value and the d-current feedback value corresponding to the d-phase winding. A first d-phase voltage value is generated based on the rotation speed value, the d-phase voltage change value, the d-current reference value and the q-current reference value. A first q-phase voltage value is generated based on the rotation speed value, the q-current reference value and the d-current reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Blasko
  • Patent number: 8975837
    Abstract: In a method for reducing the starting current of a multi-phase machine operated by block commutation, which includes a battery, one high side switch for each phase, a low side switch and a phase winding as well as a rotor, the high side switch assigned to one current phase or the low side switch assigned to one current phase is held in the closed state, and the low side switches or the high side switches assigned to the other current phases are alternately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fabio Magini, Paul Mehringer, Julian Roesner
  • Patent number: 8970146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to control of synchronous machines. A sensorless control system for an electrical machine is provided comprising a rotor and a stator having one or more phase windings for generating a rotating stator magnetic field. The current in the phase windings is monitored to determine real and imaginary components of the current vector in a rotating reference frame, from which real and imaginary components of the emf vector rotating in the rotating reference frame can also be determined. The ratio of the real and imaginary emf components is calculated, and an angular position of the rotational emf vector is estimated from this ratio. An angular error signal indicative of the deviation of the estimated angular position from a desired position in line with the real axis of the rotating reference frame is determined, and the machine is controlled such that the error signal tends towards zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Technelec Limited
    Inventors: Charles Pollock, Helen Pollock
  • Patent number: 8970150
    Abstract: An apparatus detects the position of a rotor of an electric motor having three phases and a plurality of windings. The apparatus includes circuitry configured to connect at least two of said windings between first and second reference voltages according to a first current path disconnect said at least two windings, and allow the current stored in said two windings to be discharged through a second current path. The apparatus comprises a measuring circuit configured to measure the time period between the starting instant of storing the current in the two windings and the final instant of discharging the two windings and a rotor detector configured to detect the rotor position based at least in part on the measured time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Michele Berto Boscolo
  • Patent number: 8963462
    Abstract: Provided are rotational position detection means detecting the rotational position of a multiplex-winding rotary machine; failure determination means determining failure of the rotational position detection means; control means calculating a voltage instruction for each winding group, based on the rotational position detected by the rotational position detection means; and voltage application means applying voltage to each winding group, based on the voltage instruction. According to the failure determination by the failure determination means, the control means outputs a voltage instruction for rotational position estimation to the voltage application means, and estimates the rotational position ?e, based on at least one of voltage and current obtained from the winding group in accordance with the voltage instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Tetsuya Kojima
  • Patent number: 8963476
    Abstract: A separately excited synchronous machine (1b1k) with an excitation circuit on the side of the rotor includes an excitation winding (3) and a power supply for the excitation winding (3) as well as a switching element (8a, 8e) for connecting the power supply to the excitation winding (3). Further, the synchronous machine (1b1k) comprises a first stator-side primary winding (5a5f) and a first rotor-side secondary winding (6a6f). Moreover, the synchronous machine (1b1k) may comprise a) a tap of the first rotor-side secondary winding (6d) connected to a control element (9a, 9e) of the switching element (8a, 8e) or b) a second rotor-side secondary winding (14d), which is coupled to the first stator-side primary winding (5a5f) and connected to a control element (9a, 9e) of the switching element (8a, 8e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BRUSA Elektronik AG
    Inventor: Enzo Illiano
  • Publication number: 20150042247
    Abstract: A motor-driven appliance includes a motor and a control unit that controls a drive output to the motor. The control unit detects a state amount indicating an operational state of the motor to derive a fluctuation range of fluctuation in the state amount. The control unit detects whether the motor is in an unloaded state or in a loaded state, based on the derived fluctuation range to perform the drive output to the motor, based on the detected result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Takuya KUSAKAWA
  • Patent number: 8952638
    Abstract: There are provided a circuit and a method for detecting a duty ratio of a PWM signal. The circuit includes: a counting unit counting a PWM signal; a detection indication determining unit determining whether a detection indication signal indicating a start of detection of the duty ratio of the PWM signal has been input; an edge detecting unit detecting a preset PWM edge of the PWM signal; and a duty calculating unit calculating the duty ratio of the PWM signal using a count value during a section from a k-th point in time (T(k)) (k being a natural number of 1 or more) at which the PWM edge is detected after it is determined that the detection indication signal has been input to a k+1-th point in time (T(k+1)) at which the PWM edge is detected after it is subsequently determined that the detection indication signal has been input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su Yeon Han, Jung Eun Youm, Bon Young Gu
  • Patent number: 8952639
    Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method for controlling a motor. The apparatus for controlling a motor includes a signal generation unit generating a first signal indicating position information of a rotor, a counter unit sampling the first signal with a second signal different from the first signal for one period to count a sampling frequency, a memory unit storing a section counter value and an error value obtained by sampling a period immediately prior to the first signal with the second signal, and a comparison unit increasing and reducing an output signal when the sampling frequency counted by the counter unit coincides with the section counter value, wherein the comparison unit sums the sampling frequencies corresponding to error values with the sampling frequency of the first signal before the counter unit ends the sampling of one period of the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bon Young Gu
  • Patent number: 8947029
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining the rotor temperature of a permanent-magnet synchronous machine (10), in which a first estimate (TR1) for the rotor temperature is ascertained as a function of a remanent flux density of permanent magnets contained in a rotor of the synchronous machine (10). A second estimate (TR2) for the rotor temperature is ascertained via a Kalman filter containing a thermal model of the synchronous machine (10), the first estimate (TR1) for the rotor temperature being supplied at least intermittently to the Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Vollmer, Matthias Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8947034
    Abstract: A system and a method of automatically determining an electric motor type are provided. An electric motor drive controller is configured to be coupled to an electric motor and to determine running parameters of the drive controller for the electric motor. The drive controller includes a memory device, a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device and to a user interface wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored on the memory device that cause the processor to automatically measure electrical characteristics of the electric motor, identify the electric motor using the measured electrical characteristics, load pre defined running parameters selected based on the identification into the memory device, and control an operation of the electric motor using the controller and the loaded running parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ludovic Andre Chretien, Brian L. Beifus, Michael R. Koller, Norman C. Golm, Jr., Gregory P. Sullivan
  • Patent number: RE45388
    Abstract: A compact field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based digital motor controller (102), a method, and a design structure are provided. The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) includes a sensor interface (206) configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors (104) and generate conditioned sensor data. The one or more sensors (104) provide position information for a DC brushless motor (108). The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) also includes a commutation control (210) configured to create switching commands to control commutation for the DC brushless motor (108). The commutation control (210) generates commutation pulses from the conditioned sensor data of the sensor interface (206). The compact FPGA-based digital motor controller (102) also includes a time inverter (208) configured to receive the commutation pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wichowski, Harold J. Hansen, Kevin G. Hawes