Induction Motor Systems Patents (Class 318/727)
  • Patent number: 9787236
    Abstract: A system and method for dynamically optimizing flux levels in electric motors based on estimated torque. Motor parameters and motor equations are used to estimate operating characteristics and to set current and voltage limits which define an optimal flux operating range for a given speed and torque of the motor. A slope of a linear flux gain is determined within the defined operating range at different speeds of the motor. The determined slopes for the different speeds are saved in a memory element. A control element determines and achieves an optimal flux level for the motor by accessing the table to identify a specific slope which corresponds to an actual speed of the motor, multiplying the slope by the estimated torque and adding an offset value to determine a phase current component value associated with the optimal flux level, and applying the determined phase current component value to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sheahan
  • Patent number: 9754204
    Abstract: An example method for controlling an AC electrical machine can include providing a PWM converter operably connected between an electrical power source and the AC electrical machine and providing a neural network vector control system operably connected to the PWM converter. The control system can include a current-loop neural network configured to receive a plurality of inputs. The current-loop neural network can be configured to optimize the compensating dq-control voltage. The inputs can be d- and q-axis currents, d- and q-axis error signals, predicted d- and q-axis current signals, and a feedback compensating dq-control voltage. The d- and q-axis error signals can be a difference between the d- and q-axis currents and reference d- and q-axis currents, respectively. The method can further include outputting a compensating dq-control voltage from the current-loop neural network and controlling the PWM converter using the compensating dq-control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama
    Inventors: Shuhui Li, Michael Fairbank, Xingang Fu, Donald Wunsch, Eduardo Alonso
  • Patent number: 9729097
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an induction motor is provided, the apparatus generates generating a d-axis current command and a q-axis current command of a torque command, estimating speed of a rotor of the motor, and correcting the d-axis and q-axis current commands by using the estimated speed, to enhances the rotor speed and position estimation performance by increasing the slip frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Anno Yoo
  • Patent number: 9729099
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a sensorless alternating current induction motor (ACIM) having a rotor and a stator comprising a plurality of stator windings by applying a plurality of phase shifted voltages to the plurality of stator windings in the ACIM such that two energized stator windings are connected to first and second phase shifted voltages to cause rotation of the rotor relative to the stator while a third unconnected stator winding is floating so that a DC bus current and an inducted voltage can be measured from the ACIM and used to compute an estimated rotor speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Lovas, Pavel Sustek, Petr Staszko
  • Patent number: 9722488
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for substantially preventing, in a power converter including a boost power factor correction section, the power factor correction section from starting an intermittent operation even if the ripple voltage of its smoothing capacitor has increased. The converter includes: a power factor correction section including a booster circuit boosting an input voltage supplied from a rectifier section and a smoothing capacitor smoothing an output of the booster circuit; and a control section correcting a power factor by controlling the booster circuit. The control section makes correction to the amount of boost of the booster circuit such that an output voltage of the smoothing capacitor does not become lower than the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ishizeki, Kentarou Taoka, Masahide Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9656569
    Abstract: A vehicle power source apparatus is provided with a driving battery mounted in a vehicle, an auxiliary apparatus battery that supplies electric power to an auxiliary apparatus of the vehicle, a DC power conversion unit that supplies electric power from the driving battery to the auxiliary apparatus battery, a control unit that controls the DC power conversion unit, a driving battery harness that connects the driving battery with the DC power conversion unit and is protected by a shield, an auxiliary apparatus battery negative-side harness that connects the DC power conversion unit with the negative side of the auxiliary apparatus battery, and a voltage sensor that detects a connection abnormality in the auxiliary apparatus battery negative-side harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Takikita, Youhei Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9654042
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an induction motor is provided, the apparatus generates generating a d-axis current command and a q-axis current command of a torque command, estimating speed of a rotor of the motor, and correcting the d-axis and q-axis current commands by using the estimated speed, to enhances the rotor speed and position estimation performance by increasing the slip frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Anno Yoo
  • Patent number: 9634588
    Abstract: A device and a method of 6-step controlling of an inverter of a motor driving system are provided. The device and method and apply a voltage to a motor by adopting a 6-step control scheme capable of maximally using an input voltage of the inverter to improve output efficiency of the inverter and the motor and thus improve fuel efficiency of an environmentally friendly vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Geuk Park, Mu Shin Kwak, Sung Kyu Kim, Su Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 9614472
    Abstract: The electric machine comprises at least one winding made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. The temperature of the winding is monitored using the resistance therein. Temperatures or resistances indicative of a fault can be sensed, and corrective action taken, without the need for dedicated temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Patent number: 9614467
    Abstract: The voltage amplification factor during rapid deceleration control of a motor is set to a value obtained by adding a first voltage amplification factor calculated with reference to the voltage of the DC circuit section of the inverter using a predetermined function and a low-pass filter and a second voltage amplification factor calculated with reference to the inverter current using a PI control. And both calculations are performed in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Shinichi Furutani, Naoto Norina
  • Patent number: 9543875
    Abstract: A motor control device is provided, which includes a power converter for applying output voltage according to a voltage command to an electric motor, a magnetic flux estimator for estimating a vector of stator magnetic flux of the electric motor based on a difference between the output voltage and a voltage drop caused by a coil resistance of the electric motor, and a phase estimator for estimating a phase of the stator magnetic flux based on the vector of the stator magnetic flux estimated by the magnetic flux estimator. The magnetic flux estimator includes a variable low-pass filter for applying a low-pass filter to the difference at a cut-off frequency according to a frequency of the output voltage, and a phase adjuster for retarding at least one of an output phase of the variable low-pass filter and a phase of the difference before inputted into the variable low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Akira Yamazaki, Shingo Fukumaru
  • Patent number: 9461565
    Abstract: A system for soft starting a large AC motor may include a variable frequency drive (VFD) having a much lower voltage rating than the rated voltage of the AC motor. The VFD's voltage rating may be in a range of about 33% to about 67% of the AC motor's rated voltage. The AC motor may be coupled to a utility power source via conventional connections to leads of the AC motor's windings. The VFD may be connected to the AC motor via tapped connections within the windings of the AC motor such that the tap voltages are much less than the AC motor's rated voltage. A less expensive VFD may therefore be used to soft start the AC motor instead of a VFD having the same rated voltage as the AC motor. Methods of starting large AC motors with a VFD are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Richard H. Osman
  • Patent number: 9450530
    Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a multi-phase induction motor may include transmitting a low-speed operation signal by a master computer to a control signal board for low-speed operation of the motor; the control signal board receiving the low-speed operation signal, and in response to the low-speed operation signal, the control signal board sensing that the master computer is not simultaneously transmitting a high-speed operation signal, and in response to receiving the low-speed operation signal and not simultaneously receiving the high-speed operation signal, closing contactors in a power section to transmit power to the motor for low-speed operation, whereby the motor is connected to a source of multi-phase power and operates at low-speed; and the control signal board transmitting a first feedback signal to the master computer that the motor is connected to the source of multi-phase power and is running at low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: DAYTON-PHOENIX GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zahora, Xung T. Bui, Brad S. Bryant
  • Patent number: 9425721
    Abstract: A system including memory to store a plurality of sets of values, where each set is used to control speed of a different type of motor. A pulse width modulation (PWM) module receives an input indicating a type of motor sensed in the system, selects a set corresponding to the type of the sensed motor, and generates, based on the selected set, a pulse width modulation signal to control speed of the sensed motor. A speed module receives a requested speed for the sensed motor and generates an output indicating a range of speed corresponding to the requested speed. The PWM module selects, based on the range of speed, a value from the selected set; shifts, based on the selected value, the pulse width modulation signal; and adjusts, based on the shifted pulse width modulation signal, the speed of the sensed motor by adjusting torque applied to the sensed motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade LTD.
    Inventors: Ravishanker Krishnamoorthy, Edy Susanto, Cheng Yong Teoh, Foo Leng Leong
  • Patent number: 9407181
    Abstract: A control device stores, as a dead time Td, a period from a point of time of a switching-off operation of an inverter to a point of time when an inverter output voltage becomes lower than a control target value “0”. In overmodulation PWM control over the inverter, the control device performs the switching-off operation at a time t1, and thereafter starts a switching-on operation at a time t2 with passage of dead time Td read from a memory. With the setting of dead time Td, the inverter output voltage becomes lower than the control target value “0” at time t2 at which the switching-off operation is started. Hence, the inverter output voltage just after the switching-on operation is less likely to be affected by surge voltage during the switching-off operation, whereby the peak value of the inverter output voltage is made small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomonori Furukawa
  • Patent number: 9383265
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining internal temperatures (2) (coil and magnet temperatures) in a synchronous electrical machine (4) using state observers for the resistance of the coils and the magnetic flux of the magnet. The invention also relates to a diagnostic method, a control method and system (3) for controlling a synchronous electrical machine from the internal temperatures thus determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Wissam Dib, Nicolas Henwood
  • Patent number: 9379654
    Abstract: A method of estimating inductances and flux linkages of an electrical machine supplied with drive currents via current regulators. Drive current values are measured and fed back to the regulators for closed-loop control. The method includes providing one current regulator with an alternating current value either for a direct axis current reference i*d or for a quadrature axis current reference i*q of the machine current vector, while providing another current regulator with a predetermined direct current value for the remaining one of the two current references i*d and i*q. After a predetermined time, a varying signal is superimposed onto an output signal generated by the current regulator in response to the AC value. Finally, a contribution signal, which corresponds to the contribution of the superimposed varying signal to the drive currents, is determined, and the machine inductances and flux linkages are estimated on the basis of the contribution signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Luca Peretti, Dmitry Svechkarenko
  • Patent number: 9331562
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power-factor converter with nonlinear conversion ratio, wherein the power-factor converter includes a first inductor, a second inductor, a rectifier circuit and a switch circuit. The switch circuit is arranged to be switched to form a circuit equivalent to a parallel connection of the first inductor and the second inductor during an inductor-charging-phase for charging the first inductor and the second inductor in parallel by an AC power source, and form a circuit equivalent to a series connection of the first inductor L1 and the second inductor L2 during an inductor-discharging-phase for discharging the first inductor and the second inductor to the rectifier circuit in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Liu, Jin Chyuan Huang, Chao-Fu Wang, Yi-Fu Chen, Yu-Kang Lo, Huang-Jen Chiu
  • Patent number: 9214884
    Abstract: A motor driving device of the present invention is a motor driving device that incorporates so-called vector control of controlling a current applied to a motor winding in accordance with the position of a rotor. The motor driving device receives the input of a duty command value from a host controller via a command input port, for example. The motor driving device obtains a current command or a speed command as a command value such that the input duty command value is equal to the duty of a drive pulse output from an inverter. Then, the motor driving device performs vector control based on the obtained command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Sonoda, Yasushi Kato, Yasuyuki Yokouchi, Mitsuhiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9168917
    Abstract: A cooling system circulates a coolant between an engine, an inverter and a radiator to cool the engine and the inverter. A driving mode of the vehicle can be changed between an EV-mode in which the vehicle is driven only by the motor and an HV-mode in which the vehicle is driven by at least one of the motor and the engine. When a driving mode is EV-mode, a coolant temperature is increased to cool the inverter. In the EV-mode, a vehicle is driven by motor only. When the inverter temperature is increased, the allowable current of the inverter can be increased and an allowable output of a motor can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ono
  • Patent number: 9171692
    Abstract: An x-ray arrangement includes a vacuum container in, which a rotary anode and a rotor of an electrical machine are disposed. The rotary anode and the rotor have a torque-proof connection to one another and are rotatably supported in the vacuum container, so that the rotary anode and the rotor are rotatable around an axis of rotation. Viewed in a direction of the axis of rotation, a laminated stator core is disposed in an area of the rotor. The area of the rotor, in relation to the axis of rotation, surrounds the vacuum container radially outwards. A stator winding system is disposed in the laminated stator core. The stator winding system has windings embodied as a yoke winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Baral, Andreas Rohrmoser, Carsten Voss, Thomas Weidinger
  • Patent number: 9154064
    Abstract: A control device for a three-phase AC motor includes: an inverter having switching elements; current sensors for sensing a current in the motor; and a control means having a feedback control operation part for operating a voltage command of each phase and switching the switching elements based on the voltage command. When a positive and negative offset abnormality occurs, the control means executes a positive and negative offset abnormality detection process that the control means compares a value, which is obtained by integrating a variation in a voltage command of each phase over a predetermined detection interval, with a predetermined abnormality threshold value, the voltage command being outputted by the feedback control operation part with respect to a variation in the current caused by the positive and negative offset abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Hirofumi Kako, Takeshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 9083276
    Abstract: A stator has multi-phase stator coils that are wound around a stator core by concentrated winding. A rotor has rotor coils that are wound at multiple portions of a rotor core in the circumferential direction and diodes that serve as rectifier unit that is connected to the rotor coils and that varies the magnetic characteristics of the respective rotor coils alternately in the circumferential direction. A rotary electric machine driving system includes a decreasing/increasing pulse superimposing unit that superimposes decreasing pulse current for a pulse-shaped decrease on a q-axis current command for passing currents through the stator coils and that superimposes increasing pulse current for a pulse-shaped increase on a d-axis current command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Ryoji Mizutani, Kenji Hiramoto, Hideo Nakai, Norimoto Minoshima
  • Patent number: 9024569
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a rotor time constant of an AC induction machine is disclosed. During operation of the induction motor, a flux signal is injected into a rotor flux command so as to generate a time-variant rotor flux. A voltage-current flux observer determines amplitudes of rotor flux variations resulting from the time-variant rotor flux, with the amplitudes of the rotor flux variations comprising an amplitude of a rotor flux variation based on a current model of the voltage-current flux observer and an amplitude of a rotor flux variation based on a combined voltage-current model of the voltage-current flux observer. A rotor time constant of the induction motor is then estimated based on the determined amplitudes of the rotor flux variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Wang, Wenxi Yao, Huaqiang Li, Zhengyu Lu
  • 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: 9013137
    Abstract: In a system for driving an inverter, a superimposing element superimposes, on an output voltage of the inverter. The high-frequency voltage signal is correlated with a measured high-frequency component value of a current flowing in the rotary machine. A calculating element calculates a rotational angle of the rotary machine based on the measured high-frequency component value. A dead-time compensating element shifts a start edge and an end edge of an on duration for each of first and second switching elements of the inverter by a preset same time to compensate for an error due to dead time. A current manipulating element manipulates a current flowing in the rotary machine to maintain an accuracy of calculation of the rotational angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuaki Aoki, Hiroko Yoneshima, Tomoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9007014
    Abstract: A method for minimizing power losses in an alternating current (AC) machine is provided. The method includes determining a first rotor flux signal based on signals of voltage and current inputs to the AC machine, and extracting a ripple component of the rotor flux signal. The method further includes determining a power compensating value that corresponds to a stored energy value of the AC machine, determining a second rotor flux signal that serves to minimize power losses, and providing the second rotor flux signal to a power inverting unit that adjust accordingly the voltage and current input signals provided to the AC machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Ali M. Bazzi, Philip T. Krein
  • Patent number: 8994320
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an adjustable speed drive (ASD) to decelerate an AC load during a generating mode of operation is disclosed. The ASD includes a capacitor and an inverter coupled to a DC link. A current sensor system is coupled to an output of the inverter. The ASD further includes a control system programmed to calculate an energy of the capacitor, generate a reference power using the calculated capacitor energy, and calculate a feedback power from realtime current signals received from the current sensor system. The control system compares the feedback power to the reference power, defines a frequency offset based on the comparison, generates a speed command using the frequency offset, and outputs the speed command to the inverter to maintain a smooth DC link voltage during deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Yaojin Mo, Huaqiang Li, Anbo Yu, Dawei Li, Jingfeng Xie
  • Patent number: 8994313
    Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a motor; a driver circuit; a rectifying part; a capacitor provided between the driver circuit and the rectifying part; a bridge circuit that converts direct electric power between the driver circuit and the rectifying part into alternating electric power; a harmonics component reducing part connected to an alternating side of the bridge circuit; and a regenerative line connected to the rectifying part in parallel, wherein the bridge circuit and the harmonics component reducing part are provided in the regenerative line, and plural switching elements of the bridge circuit are turned on or off such that electric power of the motor is regenerated when a voltage of the capacitor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and all the switching elements are turned off when the voltage of the capacitor is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noritaka Okada, Hiroshi Morita, Hiroyuki Mizuno, Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 8975858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the open-loop or closed-loop control of an asynchronous machine with or without speed feedback, the asynchronous motor being controlled by a control device (converter or servo converter). First of all, a voltage vector rotating at a rotary field frequency is specified and impressed, both the rotary field frequency and the voltage vector being determined by an open-loop or closed-loop control based on a voltage-frequency characteristic curve configured in any manner and the voltage vector being adapted by a cos ? closed-loop control. Desired values of cos ? are calculated using rating plate data and equivalent circuit diagram data for an optimum-loss or loss-optimized operation of the asynchronous machine for the calculation of cos ?desired value, which results in optimized-loss operation. A value for cos ?actual is then determined using the impressed voltage vector and a current vector or using the real power and apparent power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Lenze Drives GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Stichweh, Albert Einhaus, Matthias Wisgickl
  • Patent number: 8963459
    Abstract: A method of driving an alternating-current (AC) motor while periodically obtaining a rotator angle of the AC motor. The method includes: (a) driving the AC motor by a dS-axis voltage, which is a voltage for an exciting current in a stationary reference frame, and a qS-axis voltage, which is a voltage for generating a rotational force in the stationary reference frame, while sequentially applying different dS-axis voltages and different qS-axis voltages to the AC motor in a control injection period; and (b) obtaining a rotator angle by a dS-axis voltage value, a qS-axis voltage value, a dS-axis current value, and a qS-axis current value in the control injection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd., Seoul National University Industry Foundation
    Inventors: Sang-Min Kim, Sung-Min Kim, Seung-Ki Sul, Seung-Eun Park, Yong-Cheul Kwon, Joon-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 8957621
    Abstract: An actuator comprising at least one multiphase motor having phases facing a rotor secured to an outlet shaft associated with a braking member and provided with a connection to a movable element that is to be moved, the motors and the braking member being connected to at least one motor control unit for controlling the motors by powering their phases. The motor has at least four phases wound in such a manner as to avoid a neutral point, and in that the control unit has one single-phase inverter per phase and is arranged to implement a nominal, three-phase mode of control, and a degraded mode of control that enables the rotor to be driven in rotation by powering two non-collinear phases thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Frederic Marques, Matthieu Aubron, Jerome Piaton, Guillaume Mercier, Guillaume Percheron, Gaetan Princay
  • Patent number: 8917041
    Abstract: A phase-shift detection circuit detects a phase shift in motor driving, using pulse-shaped position detection signal Rd and measurement signal Ms. The position detection signal is based on sensor signal Hs from a position sensor disposed in a motor. The measurement signal is based on the induced voltage from windings. The phase-shift detection circuit includes a level difference calculator and a phase-shift calculator. The level difference calculator calculates a level difference between the level of measurement signal Ms at a rising timing of position detection signal Rd and the level of measurement signal Ms at a falling timing thereof. The phase-shift calculator calculates the amount of phase shifts based on the level difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kishimoto, Mineaki Isoda, Daisuke Sato, Ryuta Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8907595
    Abstract: A nacelle for receiving an aircraft engine, the nacelle having a tubular stationary cover and at least one movable portion connected to the stationary cover via movement means for moving the movable portion between a position close to the stationary cover and a position spaced apart therefrom. The movement means have asynchronous motors, each having a stator with windings connected in parallel to a power supply circuit and a rotor having windings, each connected to a resistive load in parallel with a winding of the rotor of each of the other motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Sagem Defense Securite, Aircelle
    Inventors: Jean-François Weibel, Jérôme Piaton, Pierre Baudu, David Pereira
  • Patent number: 8896260
    Abstract: A power supply unit for a press machine having a converter (converter circuit) connected to a commercial AC power supply, and an inverter (inverter circuit) connected to a press motor, includes an electrical energy bank, an inrush prevention circuit, an inrush prevention instruction signal generation section, and a contactor switch section, wherein contactors of the inrush prevention circuit are switched from on ON state to an OFF state and inrush prevention resistors of the inrush prevention circuit are connected to AC phase current paths on condition that the inrush prevention instruction signal generation section has generated and output an inrush prevention instruction signal (Sres) during press operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Aida Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kuboe
  • Patent number: 8884566
    Abstract: A position sensorless control methodology for electrical machines using high frequency flux vector signal injection in the estimated rotor flux rotational reference frame is provided. In one aspect, the estimated position error function is derived directly from the stator flux equation without any simplification. The method is applicable for electrical generator motoring mode operation from standstill and power generation mode operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Shu Yu Cao, Bing Li, Anshuman Tripathi, Lars Helle
  • Patent number: 8884567
    Abstract: In a system for controlling a rotary machine, a circuit outputs an AC voltage to be applied to a rotary machine. A storage stores therein measurement-error information indicative of a measurement error of the measuring unit. A torque-feedback adjuster manipulates a phase of the output voltage of the circuit based on the rotational angle of the rotary machine measured by a measuring unit and the measurement-error information to adjust a torque of the rotary machine to a request torque. The phase is obtained from information fed back from the rotary machine. An abnormality determiner determines whether there is an abnormality to disable using accurate measurement-error information. A limiter limits adjustment of the torque of the rotary machine to the request torque by the torque-feedback adjuster when it is determined that there is an abnormality to disable using accurate measurement-error information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Senkou, Hiroshi Inamura, Koichi Nishibata
  • Patent number: 8878482
    Abstract: A power converting apparatus includes a timing signal generator and a phase determination signal generator provided in an ON/OFF signal generating unit as well as a detected current correction unit. On the basis of timing signals ts1, . . . and phase determination signals ph1, . . . , the power converting apparatus determines detected current values and phases of the detected current values fed from a DC bus current sensor at timings set in accordance with the timing signals and corrects the detected current values idc1, . . . for the individual phases obtained at the individual timings during PWM cycles to represent values which would be obtained at reference timing t0 to thereby reduce errors caused by differences in the current detecting timings for the individual phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kojima, Yoshihiko Kinpara
  • Patent number: 8853992
    Abstract: A conveyor system and a method for driving a conveyor are disclosed. In the method, electric power is supplied to the drive machinery of a conveyor depending on the power requirement with a supply device to be selected from at least two different adjustable supply devices, and the supply device supplying power to the drive machinery is changed on the basis of the power requirement of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony S. Boom
  • Patent number: 8836259
    Abstract: Provided is a sensorless BLDC motor system. The sensorless BLDC motor system includes a BLDC motor, a comparator, a motor controller, a three-phase inverter, and a mode selector. The BLDC motor includes first to third coils. The comparator compares a voltage of a specific coil of the first to third coils with a neutral-point voltage to output the compared result. The voltage of the specific coil becomes equal to the neutral-point voltage and a specific time elapses, and then the motor controller generates first and second coil control signals based on the compared result. The three-phase inverter supplies a source voltage or ground voltage to the specific coil, or floats the specific coil, in response to the first and second coil control signals. The mode selector selects a driving mode of the BLDC motor by adjusting the specific time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Kyun Cho, Hui Dong Lee, Jaewon Nam, Jong-Kee Kwon
  • Patent number: 8829845
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a starter machine including an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit can be in communication with one or more sensors. The control system can include a starter machine that is in communication with the electronic control unit. The starter machine can comprise a solenoid assembly that includes a plurality of biasing members, a motor that is coupled to a pinion, and power module and controller that is coupled to the motor. In some embodiments, at least one of the power module and the controller are configured to control a speed of the pinion to substantially synchronize the pinion speed and the speed of an engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Remy Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 8829846
    Abstract: A method for driving a motor is provided. Pulse width modulation (PWM) signals are generated from a voltage signal and a commanded angle signal, which drives a motor with multiple phases. A motor current from a motor is measured with a single shunt and converted into a digital signal. Based on the digital signal and the commanded angle signal, direct-axis and quadrant-axis currents for the motor can be determined, and the voltage signal and the commanded angle signal can be adjusted based at least in part on the direct-axis and quadrant-axis currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ling Qin
  • Patent number: 8816830
    Abstract: The present invention further provides a motor control system, which controls a motor through a power line. The motor control system includes a control apparatus and an actuation apparatus. The control apparatus includes a controller and a first communication module electrically connected to the controller. The controller receives a command and converts the command into electrical control signals. The first communication module receives the electrical control signals from the controller and transmits the electrical control signals to the power line. The actuation apparatus includes a second communication module and a motor actuator electrically connected to the second communication module. The second communication module is connected to the power line to receive the electrical control signals from the control apparatus and convert the electrical control signals into a command. The motor actuator receives the command from the second communication module to change the power supplying to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Legendaire Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Cheng Lai, Huang Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 8796975
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus is disclosed herein and includes a control unit, a soft-start unit and an output unit. When power-up or lock release situation, an external PWM driving signal is inputted to the soft-start unit, the soft-start unit generates an internal PWM driving signal and a power-up initial signal; after the power-up initial signal is generated, the control unit transmitting a motor rotation signal to the soft-start unit; when the soft-start unit counts a plurality of the motor rotation signal, the soft-start unit selects the external PWM driving signal or the internal PWM driving signal to output to the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Amtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teng-Hui Lee, Kuo-Yung Yu, Chen-Pin Lo
  • Patent number: 8791664
    Abstract: A system includes a target speed module and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control module. The target speed module is configured to provide a first waveform based on a first speed setting for a motor. A start of a first cycle of the first waveform corresponds to at least one of a first current or a first voltage. The PWM control module is configured to shift a phase of the first waveform by a torque angle adjustment value to generate a second waveform. A start of a first cycle of the second waveform corresponds to at least one of a second voltage or a second current. The second voltage is greater than the first voltage, and the second current is greater than the first current. The PWM control module is configured to control the motor based on the second waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Ravishanker Krishnamoorthy, Edy Susanto, Cheng Yong Teoh, Foo Leng Leong
  • Patent number: 8766579
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for monitoring and correcting a sensorless rotor position detection in permanently excited motors, comprising a control device and a current converter. The invention is especially characterised in that the ambiguity of the rotor position determined from the inductance ratios of the motor, in permanently excited motors, can be resolved in a simple manner without a sensor, and a defectively determined angle can be corrected as required. To this end, during the operation of the motor, the rotor position is detected by means of an inductance-based detection device. Furthermore, the rotor position is monitored in relation to the ambiguity of the inductance-based signals by means of a monitoring/correcting device, and where necessary, an occurring angle error corrected, the currents in the motor being modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Gärtner-Electronic-Design GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Scheit, Horst-Günter Seelig
  • Patent number: 8766588
    Abstract: A method for pulse width modulation control of a multiple phase drive includes identifying 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, selecting a phase of the eligible phases having a largest magnitude driving current, determining a first offset signal as a difference between a control signal level for the selected phase and an extreme control signal level corresponding to one of the extreme power supply voltages, limiting a rate of change of the first offset signal to form a second offset signal, and determining a modified control signal for each of the phases for the drive including forming for each of a plurality of the phases a combination of the second offset signal and a control signal level for the phase to determine the modified control signal for the phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Manoel Soares, Michael Nussbaum
  • Patent number: 8760105
    Abstract: A drive system includes an electric machine and a current source inverter (CSI). This integration of an electric machine and an inverter uses the machine's field excitation coil for not only flux generation in the machine but also for the CSI inductor. This integration of the two technologies, namely the U machine motor and the CSI, opens a new chapter for the component function integration instead of the traditional integration by simply placing separate machine and inverter components in the same housing. Elimination of the CSI inductor adds to the CSI volumetric reduction of capacitors and the elimination of PMs for the motor further improve the drive system cost, weight, and volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventor: John S. Hsu
  • Patent number: 8760106
    Abstract: A method for pulse width modulation control of a multiple phase drive includes identifying 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 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 eligible phases. An 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, by forming a combination of the offset signal and a control signal level for each phase to determine the modified control signal for each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Manoel Soares
  • Patent number: 8754599
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a power conversion unit which supplies drive power to a motor, a current detection unit which detects the value of a current flowing from the power conversion unit to the motor, a delta-sigma modulation AD converter to which the current value detected by the current detection unit is input as analog data, and which includes a modulator and a plurality of digital low-pass filters and outputs digital data in accordance with the filter characteristics of the respective digital low-pass filters, and a command generating unit which is connected to the digital low-pass filter to be used for motor drive control among the plurality of digital low-pass filters, and which generates a drive command to the power conversion unit by using the digital data output from the motor drive controlling digital low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Sasaki, Yasusuke Iwashita