Having Electronic Power Conversion Circuit Patents (Class 318/722)
  • Patent number: 8294407
    Abstract: A motor controller and an electric power steering system including the motor controller are provided. The motor controller has a microcomputer. When the on time of one of the lower potential-side FETs corresponding to the respective phases in a drive circuit becomes shorter than the detection time for detecting the phase current value, the microcomputer estimates the phase current value of the electric current undetectable phase based on the phase current values of the two phases other than the electric current undetectable phase corresponding to the relevant FET (blind estimation). When electric current detection is performed in the blind estimation, motor control signals are output, by which the switching state of the switching arm of the electric current undetectable phase is maintained and the power loss caused by the switching operation of the FETs in the two phases other than the electric current undetectable phase is compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Mikamo, Atsuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 8294396
    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 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Wichowski
  • Publication number: 20120249044
    Abstract: A driving inverter for a multi-phase electric motor includes an alternating current (AC) generator, at least one AC sensor, a power supply line, a current sensor, an input, and a controller. The AC delivers current to a terminal block that is connectable to the phases of the electric motor. The at least one AC sensor is arranged on a certain phase or certain phases powering the electric motor. The current sensor is arranged on the power supply line and senses a current thereon. The input receives information that includes a torque demand setpoint and at least one limit current value of a power source. The controller drives phase currents of the electric motor according to the torque demand setpoint and by keeping the current of the power supply line at an acceptable value according to the at least one limit current value of the power source. With the arrangement of the driving inverter, a maximum current can always be imposed on the power source with no risk of degrading it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Linda, Pierre Alain Magne, Cédric Savio
  • Publication number: 20120249043
    Abstract: In an aspect, in general, a method for pulse width modulation control of a multiple phase drive includes identifying a set of at least one phase from the plurality of phases for the drive as eligible for clamping to one of a plurality of extreme power supply voltages, including excluding from the set of eligible phases those phases with intermediate control signal levels and excluding phases according to a proximity criterion on the control signal levels. A phase is selected from the set of eligible phases. A first offset signal is determined as a difference between a control signal level for the selected phase and an extreme control signal level associated with one of the plurality of extreme power supply voltages. A modified control signal is determined for each of the phases for the drive, by forming a combination of the first offset signal and a control signal level for each phase to determine the modified control signal for each phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Manoel Soares
  • Patent number: 8279639
    Abstract: A control section controls a current-source converter in a state in which a switch is in conduction, and performs voltage doubler rectification on a voltage between a neutral phase input line and any of input lines to provide for charging of clamp capacitors. Accordingly, the clamp capacitors are charged through a resistor, which prevents an inrush current from flowing therethrough. In addition, a voltage between both ends of a pair of the clamp capacitors is higher than, for example, a voltage between both ends of a pair of capacitors. Accordingly, even if the clamp capacitors and, for example, the capacitors are electrically connected to each other in a normal operation, it is possible to prevent the inrush current from flowing from the capacitors to the clamp capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20120235622
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring current in an electric motor. An electrical system includes a (DC) interface, an electric motor, an inverter module coupled between the DC interface and the electric motor, a first current sensor between a first phase leg of the inverter module and a first phase of the electric motor to measure a first current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor, a second current sensor between the first phase leg and the DC interface to measure a second current flowing through the first phase leg, and a control module coupled to the first current sensor and the second current sensor. The control module is configured to initiate remedial action based at least in part on a difference between the first current measured by the first current sensor and the second current measured by the second current sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian A. WELCHKO, Silva HITI, Ronald W. YOUNG, David TANG, Gregory S. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20120187893
    Abstract: An electric motor system including: a rotor (9); a stator (8); the rotor and the stator being mounted for movement relative to one another; the rotor having multiple magnetic poles (11); the stator having multiple salient poles (12) facing the magnetic poles; a first coil set (1A) and a second coil set (1B); the first coil set having three phases, each of the phases comprising a first coil (u1, v1, w1) and a second coil (u1 v1?, w1?) connected in series and wrapped around different of the salient poles in different directions relative to the rotor; the second coil set having three phases, each of the phases comprising a first coil (u2, v2, w2) and a second coil (u2?, v2?, w2?) connected in series and wrapped around different of the salient poles in different directions relative to the rotor; a driver (2) configured to drive the first coil set with a first three-phase voltage (U1, V1, W1) and to drive the second coil set with a second three-phase voltage (U2, V2, W2); the driver configured to drive the first p
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MOOG JAPAN LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Baba, Kenji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8228019
    Abstract: An output filter includes a polyphase common-mode filter having a polyphase common-mode choke connected to an output of a power converter at one end, a first polyphase capacitor connected to the other end of the polyphase common-mode choke at one end, and a neutral-point detecting transformer connected to the other end of the first polyphase capacitor at one end; a capacitor/resistor series-connected body connected to a frame ground of the power converter at one end and connected to the other end of the neutral-point detecting transformer at the other end; and a polyphase normal-mode filter having a polyphase normal-mode choke connected to the other end of the polyphase common-mode choke at one end, and a second polyphase capacitor connected to the other end of the polyphase normal-mode choke at one end and having the other ends connected together and further connected to the one end of the capacitor/resistor series-connected body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Higuchi, Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8222856
    Abstract: A control system for a motor, including a first detector providing signals indicative of the sign and zero-crossings of a supply voltage, and a second detector providing signals indicative of the sign and the zero-crossings of BEMF developed in the stator winding. A switch is driven to cause a first current pulse through the winding at a first delay relative to the zero-crossing of the supply voltage. The system checks if the BEMF has a first zero-crossing within a predetermined period of time preceding a third zero-crossing of the voltage, and if so, causes an opposite second current pulse through the winding with a second delay relative to the third zero-crossing of the supply. If not, the first current pulse is repeated, reducing or increasing the duration of the first delay if the first zero-crossing of the BEMF took place after or before the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Askoll P&C S.r.l.
    Inventors: Sebastiano Acquaviva, Piergiorgio Ricco
  • Patent number: 8222857
    Abstract: In a controlling device for a permanent magnet synchronous motor, an asynchronous pulse mode is switched to a synchronous pulse mode in a situation where a modulation factor has become equal to or larger than a first set value or in a situation where an inverter output frequency has become equal to or higher than a second set value. The synchronous pulse mode is switched to the asynchronous pulse mode in a situation where the modulation factor has become smaller than the first set value, and also, the inverter output frequency has become lower than the second set value. By setting the second set value so that the number of pulses included in a half cycle of an output voltage fundamental wave of the inverter is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, it is possible to inhibit current oscillations and torque ripples from occurring in the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kitanaka
  • Patent number: 8217617
    Abstract: A power supply appliance of a transport system is provided. The appliance includes a power rectifier of the motor, an AC voltage circuit, a control voltage circuit, a power supply circuit of the safety devices, an AC/DC transformer fitted between the AC voltage circuit and the control voltage circuit to supply power from the AC voltage circuit to the control voltage circuit, and a power shaping circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Pekka Jahkonen
  • Patent number: 8188695
    Abstract: A hybrid drive device includes a first motor; an operative mechanism that drivingly connects the first motor to an engine of a vehicle; a second motor that is drivingly connected to a drive wheel; an engine rotation speed sensor that detects a rotation speed of the engine; a magnetic pole position sensor that detects a magnetic pole position of the second motor; a current sensor that detects a current flowing to the first motor; a sensorless motor control device that estimates a magnetic pole position of the first motor based on the current detected by the current sensor, and drivingly controls the first motor; and a second motor control device that drivingly controls the second motor based on the magnetic pole position detected by the magnetic pole position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiqian Chen, Keisuke Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20120104988
    Abstract: A power converter having a first switch and a first unidirectional current device that conducts current unidirectionally. The first switch and first unidirectional current device are interconnected such that when interconnected with a dc voltage supply, battery, and first phase winding of an electrical machine: (1) a first operational state exists in which a conductive state of the first switch causes the dc voltage supply to conduct current through the first switch and first phase winding, so as to store energy within the first phase winding and (2) a second operational state exists in which a non-conductive state of the first switch causes the first phase winding to discharge its stored energy by conducting current through the first unidirectional current device and battery, so as to store energy in the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Krishnan RAMU
  • Patent number: 8169179
    Abstract: An AC machine control system for an AC machine (motor, generator, transformer, etc.) having open-ended windings, the control system comprising a drive circuit configured to transfer AC power between a first set of voltages and each end of the open-ended windings without the use of a substantial energy storage device, while eliminating common mode voltage and/or injecting zero sequence voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Ned Mohan, Krushna K. Mohapatra
  • Publication number: 20120086381
    Abstract: A brushless, synchronous machine is provided. A brushless, synchronous motor includes a rotor, a stator extending around at least a portion of the rotor and separated from the rotor by an air gap, a first stator winding, a second stator winding, a third stator winding, a drive circuit, a first rotor winding, a second rotor winding, and a diode bridge. The first stator winding, the second stator winding, and the third stator winding are mounted to the stator to generate square waves. The drive circuit is configured to provide a current to the first stator winding, the second stator winding, and the third stator winding, wherein the current includes an alternating current (AC) component and a direct current (DC) component. The first rotor winding is mounted to the rotor to form a plurality of third harmonic coils. The second rotor winding is mounted to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas A. Lipo
  • Patent number: 8148937
    Abstract: When a rectangular wave voltage control mode is selected, a control apparatus estimates the output torque of an alternating-current motor based on the outputs of a current sensor and a rotation angle sensor, and executes torque feedback control by adjusting the phase of rectangular wave voltage based on the difference between the torque estimated value and a torque command value. The control apparatus executes a switching interruption that outputs a control command to a switching element of an inverter every 60 degrees of electrical angle, and executes an angle interruption that samples the phase currents of the alternating-current motor based on the output of the current sensor and converts those phase currents into a d-axis current and a q-axis current every predetermined electrical angle that is set beforehand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Itoh, Keiichi Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20120049781
    Abstract: A method for driving a brushless motor including a first coil and a second coil for two phases but does not include a coil for one of three phases. A three-phase inverter circuit is connected to the first coil and the second coil. Currents having a phase difference corresponding to an electrical angle of 60 degrees are applied to the first coil and the second coil to generate a circular rotating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: ASMO, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Suzuki, Makoto Morisaki
  • Patent number: 8115431
    Abstract: An inverter control apparatus that controls a three-phase inverter which transforms a direct-current voltage into an alternating three-phase voltage, the inverter control apparatus includes: a voltage command vector generation portion that generates a first voltage command vector for specifying a vector of a voltage to be applied to a three-phase load that is connected to the inverter; a voltage command vector correction portion that in performing overmodulation with the inverter, corrects the first voltage command vector by setting a limit onto a coordinate-axis component of the first voltage command vector on an ab coordinate system to generate a second voltage command vector, wherein the inverter is so controlled that a voltage depending on the second voltage command vector is applied to the load, and the ab coordinate system is a coordinated system that depending on a phase of the first voltage command vector with respect to a predetermined fixed axis on a two-dimensional fixed coordinate system, rotates
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichiro Hashimoto, Yoshio Tomigashi
  • Patent number: 8098032
    Abstract: A control system is designed to use a plurality of voltage vectors expressing a switching mode for a switching circuit to thereby control a difference between a current actually flowing through a multiphase rotary machine and a command current value therefor within an allowable range. The plurality of voltage vectors include a zero vector that allows line-to-line voltages in the multiphase rotary machine to be all zero, and a plurality of non-zero vectors that allow at least one of line-to-line voltage in the multiphase rotary machine to be nonzero. A drive unit is configured to switch only one phase of the switching element for each shift of the switching mode to thereby shift, in accordance with a preset switching pattern, the switching mode from a specified one of the plurality of non-zero vectors to the specified one of the plurality of non-zero vectors via the zero vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8058830
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for charging energy sources with a rectifier using a double-ended inverter system. An apparatus is provided for an electric drive system for a vehicle. The electric drive system comprises an electric motor configured to provide traction power to the vehicle. A first inverter is coupled to the electric motor and is configured to provide alternating current to the electric motor. A first energy source is coupled to the first inverter, wherein the first inverter is configured to provide power flow between the first energy source and the electric motor. A second inverter is coupled to the electric motor and is configured to provide alternating current to the electric motor. A rectifier is coupled to the second inverter and configured to produce a direct current output. The second inverter is configured to provide power from the rectifier to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: George John, Sibaprasad Chakrabarti, Brian A. Welchko, Gregory S. Smith, James M. Nagashima, Milun Perisic
  • Publication number: 20110272201
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle drive system, comprising an electromechanical converter, in particular an electric variable transmission. The converter is provided with a primary shaft having a rotor mounted thereon, a secondary shaft having an interrotor mounted thereon and a stator, fixedly mounted to a housing of the electromechanical converter. Viewed from the primary shaft in radial direction, the rotor, the interrotor and the stator are arranged concentrically relative to each other. Further, the primary shaft is arranged for being driven by an output shaft of an engine and the secondary shaft is arranged for driving an input shaft of a transmission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST- NATUURWETENSCHAPPLIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
    Inventor: Darren Leigh Foster
  • Patent number: 8035331
    Abstract: An AC/DC converting circuit, has a full-bridge rectifier having two input terminals and two output terminals, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, an electronic switch having a control terminal, a trigger circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, and a detecting circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Zhao, Junqiang Zhang, Dawei Liu, Songfa Tang
  • Patent number: 8035330
    Abstract: The synchronous motor driving apparatus including position sensors provided in the synchronous motor, a current polarity detection circuit for detecting the polarities of the currents in the respective phase windings of the synchronous motor, an inverter driving the synchronous motor, a motor speed calculation unit calculating the rotational speed of the synchronous motor depending on the output signals from the position sensors, a speed control unit outputting a first voltage adjusting component (q-axis current command value Iq*) to cause the rotational speed of the synchronous motor to approach a speed command value and a phase control unit outputting a second voltage adjusting component (d-axis current command value Id*) to cause the phase differences between the phases of the position sensor signals and of the currents in the respective phase windings of the synchronous motor to become a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Information & Control Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Maeda, Tsunehiro Endo, Hidefumi Shirahama, Kenji Sakurai, Hiroyuki Hasegawa, Mitsuhiro Mishima
  • Patent number: 8018187
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for aligning a control reference axis with a magnetic north of a permanent magnet motor. The method includes the steps of injecting a predetermined stator current on an estimated reference axis of the permanent magnet motor and introducing predetermined error on the estimated reference axis. The method further includes the steps of determining if a speed of the permanent magnet motor is greater than a predetermined threshold speed and setting the control reference axis to 180° added to the estimated reference axis if the speed of the permanent magnet motor is greater than the predetermined threshold speed or setting the control reference axis to the estimated reference axis if the speed of the permanent magnet motor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Constantin C. Stancu, Yo Chan Son
  • Patent number: 7999497
    Abstract: A device for controlling a polyphase rotating machine comprising a stator, a rotor, and sensors, the device being capable of receiving at least one first sensing signal (V, W, U) representing a position of the rotor relative to the stator and outputted from a first sensor (16; 18; 14), and a second sensing signal representing the position and phase-shifted relative to the first signal (V, W, U). The second signal is outputted from a second sensor. The control device comprises: means (K, R) for combining the first and the second sensing signals (U, V, W) into a combined signal (Ku; Kv; Kw) including at least one controlled switching signal with a variable cyclic ratio. The combined signal (Ku; Kv; Kw) is based on the cyclic ratio and enables the machine to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Julien Masfaraud, Hugues Doffin, Farouk Boudjemai
  • Publication number: 20110163708
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus drives a motor by a first motor drive part and a second motor drive part. The first motor drive part includes a first inverter for supplying current to a first winding set. The second motor drive part includes a second inverter for supplying current to a second winding set. A control unit starts to supply currents to the first winding set and the second winding set at the same time after waiting for completion of all failure detection processing with respect to each of the first motor drive part and the second motor drive part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Mukai, Nobuhiko Uryu
  • Patent number: 7967573
    Abstract: A method for starting a motor (14) with a bidirectional rotation direction, to rotate a fluid circulation centrifugal pump (10) having a predetermined optimum hydraulic efficiency depending on the starting rotation direction thereof. The method provides an initial motor (14) starting in either rotation direction, with subsequent pump (10) rotation in the same direction and, subsequently, a periodical interruption and restoration of the motor (14) power feeding as many times (N, N?) as to ensure the motor (14) starting, at least one or more times within a predetermined time interval (Ttot, Ts), in the rotation direction which corresponds to the predetermined pump (10) optimum hydraulic speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Askoll Holding S.r.l.
    Inventor: Elio Marioni
  • Publication number: 20110146287
    Abstract: An example power management arrangement includes a motor controller configured to communicate power to a motor drive bridge to drive a motor. The motor controller is configurable to selectively receive power from each of a first power supply and a second power supply. The voltage of the power from the first power supply is different than a voltage of the power from the second power supply. An example power adjusting method includes receiving power at a motor controller, adjusting a voltage of the received power using the motor controller, communicating the power with the adjusted voltage from the motor controller to a motor drive bridge to drive a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Les F. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20110101906
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a synchronous motor drive system that is capable of suppressing ripples in current while reducing switching loss. The system includes three-phase inverters 201-203, a control circuit 400 for controlling the operations of the three-phase inverters and a synchronous motor 300 including a plurality of three-phase coils. To control the operations of the three-phase inverters, the control circuit 400 causes the three-phase inverters 201 and 203 and the three-phase inverter 202 to use different carrier frequencies to generate three-phase AC power, and each of the three-phase inverters supplies a different one of the three-phase coils with three-phase AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Masaki Tagome
  • Patent number: 7923952
    Abstract: A device for controlling a polyphase rotating machine, the machine comprising a stator, a rotor, and sensors, the device being capable of receiving: at least one first sensing signal (U; V; W) representing a position of the rotor relative to the stator and output by a first sensor; and a second sensing signal (V; W; U) representing the position and phase-shifted relative to the first signal and output by a second sensor. The control device comprises: means (K, R) for combining the first and second sensing signals into a combined signal, the means including at least one controlled switching element capable adopting at least in two states, the combined signal being based on a state of the first element and enabling the machine to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Julien Masfaraud, Hugues Doffin, Farouk Boudjemai
  • Patent number: 7923953
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide torque linearity in the field-weakening region for an electric (e.g., IPM) machine. The systems and methods implement a field weakening and a torque linearity control loop for linearizing torque generated by an electric machine. As a result, torque linearity is maintained when the electric machine operates in the field weakening region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez, Yo Chan Son, Milun Perisic, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7919941
    Abstract: A semiconductor power converter includes a power converter for converting direct current to three-phase alternating current or vice versa; a means for detecting a current in an alternating current side of the power converter; a means for providing a current reference in the alternating current side of the power converter; a current controller for calculating a voltage reference in the alternating current side of the power converter to match the current reference and a value of the detected current; and a pulse width modulation means for controlling the power converter through pulse width modulation based on the voltage reference, wherein the current reference is used in place of the value of the detected current for at least one phase current among three phase currents in the alternating current side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehisa Aoyagi, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Kazuaki Tobari, Kiyoshi Sakamoto, Donsheng Li
  • Patent number: 7902783
    Abstract: A combined device for instantaneous control of power transfer between two cores of a direct current network and for powering an alternating current engine. The device includes: an assembly of two three-phase inverters, each including three switching cells connected to the engine, which engine includes three stator windings connected to the two three-phase inverters, and a module for controlling the assembly, which ensures both an adjustable direct current power transfer and enables stabilization of the direct current voltage of one of the two cores if it is not connected, and the control of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignees: Airbus France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Loic Raulin, Hubert Piquet, Xavier Roboam, Henri Foch, Jeremi Regnier
  • Patent number: 7893649
    Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement for determining position of the rotor of an electronically commutated motor, wherein the rotor has magnetic axes having different permeances. Voltage is applied to stator phases, and resultant phase currents are monitored for purpose of determining rotor position in the standstill state of the motor. First and second rise times of phase currents are determined until predetermined limit values are reached in unsaturated state. The assignment of a magnetic axis to a stator phase is determined from first rise times of the currents in unsaturated state of the rotor core, and the polarization of the rotor is determined from second rise times of currents upon energization with saturation effects. After run-up of the motor, initial energization of the stator can be determined comparing levels of the magnet wheel voltages and corrected by changing the commutation of stator energization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Lamprecht
  • Patent number: 7880417
    Abstract: In a motor controller, in the case that occurrence of a failure of electric current flow is detected in any phase of a motor, a phase electric current command value changing in accordance with a secant curve or a cosecant curve with an asymptotic line at a predetermined rotation angle corresponding to the phase in which the failure of electric current flow has occurred is calculated. The calculated phase electric current command value is limited in such a manner as to become within a predetermined range. In the case that a rotation angle of the motor exists in a range in which the phase electric current command value is limited, the execution of an anomaly detection of a control system utilizing an electric current deviation of a d/q coordinate system is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7880425
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an electric motor drive system (400, FIG. 4) and a motor vehicle (1000, FIG. 10) include an inverter (404, FIG. 4) adapted to generate (604, FIG. 6), based on inverter control inputs, a number, N, of phase current waveforms (118, FIG. 1), and a phase current sampling apparatus (408, FIG. 4) having a same number, N, of current sensors (502, 503, 504, FIG. 5). Each of the current sensors is adapted to receive one of the phase current waveforms, and the current sensors are adapted simultaneously to sample the phase current waveforms and to generate digital values representing amplitudes of the phase current waveforms. The system and motor vehicle also include a controller (410, FIG. 4) adapted to receive the digital values, to perform an evaluation of the digital values, and to generate the inverter control inputs (462, FIG. 4) based on the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian A. Welchko, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Publication number: 20110005855
    Abstract: A motor controller and an electric power steering system including the motor controller are provided. The motor controller has a microcomputer. When the on time of one of the lower potential-side FETs corresponding to the respective phases in a drive circuit becomes shorter than the detection time for detecting the phase current value, the microcomputer estimates the phase current value of the electric current undetectable phase based on the phase current values of the two phases other than the electric current undetectable phase corresponding to the relevant FET (blind estimation). When electric current detection is performed in the blind estimation, motor control signals are output, by which the switching state of the switching arm of the electric current undetectable phase is maintained and the power loss caused by the switching operation of the FETs in the two phases other than the electric current undetectable phase is compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru MIKAMO, Atsuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 7868569
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus comprises a charge/discharge control circuit for controlling charge to or discharge from a capacitor connected in parallel in a link section between a converter and an inverter, and a current control means for controlling discharge current from the charge/discharge control circuit. The current control means controls discharge current from the charge/discharge control circuit based on input current to the inverter or output current from the converter so that output current from the converter is equal to a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Mamoru Yaeshima, Yuuichi Yamada, Masatomo Shirouzu, Koujirou Sakai
  • Patent number: 7847508
    Abstract: A heat dissipation system for an electronic device comprises a base, a fan, a pulse width modulation speed control circuit controlling the speed of the fan, a converter outputting a voltage signal, a selection switch connected to the motor, and a control element provided on the base, connected to the switch and to the converter. When the control element is operated, the switch selectively enables the motor be connected to the output of the pulse width modulation speed control circuit or to the output of the converter, and when the motor is electrically connected to the converter, the control element can modify the output voltage of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Yee Liu
  • Patent number: 7847511
    Abstract: A cleaner that can have the sufficient capability of collecting pollutant particles by a battery voltage as well as a AC voltage. The cleaner uses a switched reluctance motor to rotate a collecting fan. The switched reluctance motor is driven by a motor driver in one of a PWM mode or a pulse trigger mode. The motor driver drives the switched reluctance motor using one of the battery voltage and a DC voltage converted from the AC voltage, depending on whether the AC voltage is received. The PWM mode and the trigger mode are switched depending on whether the AC voltage is received. Accordingly, the cleaner makes it possible to reduce the time taken to clean up pollutant particles using the battery voltage to the time taken to clean up the pollutant particles using the AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Keun Yoo, Sang Young Kim, Kwang Woon Ahn, Hyoun Jeong Shin
  • Patent number: 7834577
    Abstract: A system and method for starting and regulating a wound rotor motor (120) including a phase-controlled SCR converter (150) and a drive circuit (130, 140) having a voltage source inverter (140) and a voltage source converter (130). The SCR converter (150) regulates power transmitted to the drive circuit from the rotor of the motor (120) so that the ratings of the drive circuit are not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: TM GE Automation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Paul S. Bixel
  • Patent number: 7812557
    Abstract: A motor controller includes an output voltage modulator that outputs sinusoidally-modulated voltage for driving a motor; a modulation factor specifier allowing specification of a modulation factor greater than 1.0 for the output voltage; a current detector that detects current flowing in the motor; and a field-oriented controller that divides the current detected by the current detector into a d-axis current component and a q-axis current component and that conforms each of the components to a command current produced based on a command rotational speed; a rotational position estimator that estimates motor rotational speed and rotor rotational position for use by the field-oriented controller; wherein the position estimator includes a filter that smoothes a d-axis induced voltage obtained during the estimation, and the motor rotational speed and the rotor rotational position are estimated based on the d-axis induced voltage smoothed by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Sari Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7800337
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an AC rotary machine, including first voltage command calculation means for calculating first voltage commands from current commands, an angular frequency, and constant set values of the AC rotary machine, second voltage command calculation means for calculating second voltage commands on the basis of difference currents between the current commands and current detection values, so that the difference currents may converge into zero, third voltage command calculation means for calculating third voltage commands by adding the first voltage commands and the second voltage commands, voltage application means for applying voltages to the AC rotary machine on the basis of the third voltage commands, and constant measurement means for calculating the constant set values on the basis of the second voltage commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kinpara, Takahiko Kobayashi, Keita Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7800331
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an electric motor having at least one winding coupled to first and second power supplies. A torque command for the electric motor is received. A present power reserve for the first and second power supplies is determined based at least in part on the torque command. An operating voltage for the second power supply is determined based on the present power reserve. The operating voltage for the second power supply is applied to the at least one winding. The application of the operating voltage allowing the present power reserve to flow between the first and second power supplies and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Sibaprasad Chakrabarti, Brian A. Welchko, Silva Hiti
  • Publication number: 20100218966
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool has a device housing and at least one grip disposed on the device housing. An electric drive motor is arranged in the device housing for operating a working tool. A battery pack provides electric energy for operating the electric drive motor. An electronic control unit is connected to the electric drive motor and the battery pack. An operating element disposed on the grip controls the electric drive motor. An electric actuator is acted upon by the operating element and the output signal of the electric actuator is supplied to the electronic control unit. Electric energy is applied to the electric drive motor by the electronic control unit as a function of a position of the operating element, wherein in a first dead travel range of the operating element that adjoins an inoperative position of the operating element the supplied electric energy is zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gernot Liebhard, Ante Hamersmit
  • Patent number: 7781997
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for braking a synchronous motor (4) used with a frequency converter (2). The braking current of the motor (4) is controlled by connecting only the negative changeover contacts (10) of the inverter (16) of the frequency converter (2) or alternatively by connecting only the positive changeover contacts (17) of the inverter (16) of the frequency converter. The arrangement comprises a control (3), which is arranged to control in a braking situation only the negative changeover contacts (10) of the frequency converter (2) or alternatively only the positive changeover contacts (17) of the frequency converter (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Kallioniemi, Timo Syrman
  • Publication number: 20100188038
    Abstract: An electric compressor control device includes: an inverter for electric compressor motor; a communication microcontroller arranged in a low-voltage region for transmission of an instruction signal via a high-speed communication bus; and a control microcontroller arranged in a high-voltage region and connected to the communication microcontroller via an insulation element for transmitting the instruction signal from the communication microcomputer as an inverter control signal to the inverter. The power voltage of the communication microcomputer is supplied from a low-voltage power source. The voltage from the low-voltage power source is transformed via a transformer and supplied as a power voltage of the control microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: SANDEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Shibuya
  • Patent number: 7759886
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide torque linearity in the field-weakening region for an IPM machine. The systems and methods adjust the q-axis and the d-axis components of the stator current commands of the IPM machine using a flux weakening and a torque linearity control loop respectively. Thereby, torque linearity is maintained during the field weakening region of operation of the IPM machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez, Yo Chan Son, Milun Perisic, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7746024
    Abstract: A power converter includes a PWM active rectifier and controller that minimize harmonic ripple currents on the DC link during an engine start mode (first stage) in which power is provided to an AC starter motor. The PWM active rectifier and controller also minimize harmonic currents on AC input lines during a second stage (active filter mode). The power converter also includes a PWM inverter and corresponding inverter controller that controls the performance of the AC starter motor during the first stage based on mode selection input received. The power converter system further includes pre-charge circuitry that charges a DC link capacitor located within the power converter system to a desired level prior to providing the power converter system with AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Thomas A. Duclos
  • Patent number: 7714529
    Abstract: A low-cost sine-wave drive for a 3-phase permanent magnet synchronous AC machines (PMSM) in open-loop control is based on the measurements of two linear Hall sensors. The two Hall sensors are excited by a magnetic ring with the same pole number as the PMSM rotor magnet and sinusoidal flux distributions. The output signals of the Hall sensors are unified through a two-phase-type phase-lock-loop in order to reduce the impact of the sensor mounting non-uniformity during mass production. The peak torque and speed of motor is simply controlled by adjusting the amplitude of pulse-width-modulation carrier. Smooth torque control is achieved due to sinusoidal 3-phase currents. Such a simple sine-wave drive can be achieved with or without the assistance of a micro-controller unit (MCU). No current sensor is required for the motor phase current detection. This motor can be used in industrial applications where there is no strict requirement on torque response and constant speed control of PMSM machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Xiaojiang Chen, Adam Pride, Shinichiro Iwasaki