Responsive To Motor Condition Patents (Class 318/798)
-
Publication number: 20140070755Abstract: A method of controlling an output voltage of an inverter driving an electric motor may include calculating a current total harmonic distortion (THD) of a current output to the electric motor; comparing the current THD with a reference current THD; determining a pulse width modulation (PWM) method to be changed from a first modulation method that reduces harmonic components of the current output to the electric motor to a second modulation method when the current THD is less than the reference current THD, the PWM method modulating a pulse width of a control pulse signal for controlling the output voltage of the inverter; and/or generating the control pulse signal based on the determined PWM method.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Inventors: Jei-hoon BAEK, Jong-soo KIM, Hyun-bae KIM, Kyu-bum HAN
-
Patent number: 8670866Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Andrew Ziegler, Duane Gilbert, Christopher John Morse, Scott Pratt, Paul Sandin, Nancy Dussault, Andrew Jones
-
Patent number: 8659805Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a motor driving control device including a motor driver, a storage device, and a control section. The motor driver supplies a motor driving current for driving a motor to the motor. The storage device stores a first data table in which temperature around the motor, a current value of the motor driving current set to prevent the motor from stepping out at the temperature, and a driving voltage set in the motor driver in order to cause the motor driver to output the motor driving current having the current value are associated with one another for each temperature around the motor. The control section controls the motor driver to output the motor driving current having a predetermined current value associated with the temperature around the motor in the first data table.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsuhiko Eguchi
-
Patent number: 8653781Abstract: Provided is a variable frequency drive and a rotation speed searching apparatus for an induction motor incorporated therein. The rotation speed searching apparatus is featured by scanning the rotor frequency of the induction motor and determining either the error between a detected DC-bus voltage and a set DC-bus voltage or the error between a detected output current and a set output current, so that the rotation speed of the induction motor can be searched out.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Hui-Chung Hsieh, Chi-Lung Hsiao
-
Patent number: 8648560Abstract: In an electric motor control apparatus, an electric motor driving unit includes: a current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing through a current detection place in the electric motor driving unit. A control unit includes a current calculation unit configured to calculate a current value of a current flowing through an electric motor from an offset correction value obtained based on a first detection value detected at a time when a current flows through the current detection place and a second detection value detected at a time when a current does not flow through the current detection place. The offset correction value includes: a first offset correction value stored in nonvolatile memory of the control unit at a time of assembling the electric motor control apparatus; and a second offset correction value computed by the control unit while the electric motor is driven.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masaki Matsushita, Takayuki Kifuku, Yasuaki Hori
-
Publication number: 20140015468Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems and apparatus for adjusting current and/or torque commands used to control operation of an asynchronous machine based on rotor flux of the asynchronous machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jihoon JANG, Bon Ho BAE, Silva HITI
-
Patent number: 8604734Abstract: In an electric motor control apparatus, an electric motor driving unit includes: a current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing through a current detection place in the electric motor driving unit. A control unit includes a current calculation unit configured to calculate a current value of a current flowing through an electric motor from an offset correction value obtained based on a first detection value detected at a time when a current flows through the current detection place and a second detection value detected at a time when a current does not flow through the current detection place. The offset correction value includes: a first offset correction value stored in nonvolatile memory of the control unit at a time of assembling the electric motor control apparatus; and a second offset correction value computed by the control unit while the electric motor is driven.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Masaki Matsushita, Takayuki Kifuku, Yasuaki Hori
-
Patent number: 8587250Abstract: A method for the identification without a shaft encoder of magnetomechanical characteristic quantities, in particular the mass moment of inertia J and the permanent magnetic flux ?PM between rotor and stator of a three-phase synchronous motor, comprising:—constant voltage supply U1d in the d flux axial direction;—test signal voltage supply U1q in the q transverse flux axial direction;—measuring signal current measuring I1q of the q transverse flux axial direction;—identification of magnetomechanical characteristic quantities of the synchronous motor on the basis of the test signal voltage U1q and of the measuring signal current I1q; whereby the rotor can execute deflection movements with pre-definable maximal amplitudes. Method use also for control of electrical drives.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbHInventors: Sebastian Villwock, Heiko Zatocil
-
Patent number: 8581541Abstract: Motor drives, signal conditioning systems and configurable circuit boards are presented in which diode blocking circuits are provided for contemporaneous opening of programming fuses in multiple programmable impedance circuits using a single configuration input signal during manufacturing and for mitigating interference between impedance circuits during system operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Lemberg, Jeremiah Kopiness
-
Publication number: 20130271060Abstract: A motor controller includes a motor winding heater function. The motor controller applies a predefined current to one or more of the motor windings without the use of additional dedicated motor winding heater devices. The motor controller serves to control the operation of the motor, while the motor windings serve both as a heater at times and to produce torque at times.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: David Messersmith, Andrew Jaap
-
Patent number: 8547044Abstract: A method for determining the angular position of a synchronous machine having a magnetically anisotropic rotor includes an (m) iteration stage and an (n) iteration stage. The (m) iteration stage encompasses: generating an (m) magnetic field of an (m) angular direction and acquiring an (m) peak value of the current pulse generated by the (m) voltage pulse; and providing at least two further (m+i) peak values in different (m+i) angular directions that differ from the (m) angular direction. The (n) iteration stage includes: ascertaining the angular directions (n) and (n+1) in which the two highest or the two lowest peak values from a peak value group occur; and providing an (n) angular direction, which resides between the (n+1) angular direction and the (n+2) angular direction, as an angular position output.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Ulrich Vollmer
-
Patent number: 8542800Abstract: A component for introducing disturbances into the magnetic field of an asynchronous motor by altering a reluctance of the motor is disclosed. An asynchronous motor is provided that includes a stator having a plurality of windings that is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field when a current is provided to the plurality of windings. The asynchronous motor also includes a rotor positioned within the stator configured to rotate relative thereto responsive to the rotating magnetic field and a component separate from the stator and the rotor that is positioned within the rotating magnetic field, with the component being configured to alter a magnetic reluctance of the rotor so as create a disturbance in the rotating magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Bruce Biehr, Ian Strider Hunt, Ryan James Lemminger
-
Patent number: 8541967Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a direct current power source, a three-phase alternating current motor, and a motor driving circuit. An emergency switching element is provided on at least two phases of a three-phase power supply line connected to the three-phase alternating current motor within the motor driving circuit, and the emergency switching element is turned off when an abnormality occurs such that the motor driving circuit is disconnected from the three-phase alternating current motor. The emergency switching element is a MOSFET, and the MOSFETs are provided in pairs in each of the two phases of the three-phase power supply line. Further, parasitic diodes of the pairs of MOSFETs are disposed in opposite orientations to each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventor: Yoshiyuki Shibata
-
Patent number: 8525468Abstract: A method for controlling a motor drive system, the system comprising an AC-DC converter coupled to a DC-AC inverter by a DC bus, a motor coupled to and driven by the inverter, and a load coupled to and driven by the motor is provided. The method includes accessing a motion profile for the motor and load and determining power losses of the converter, the inverter, the motor and the load. The method also includes controlling the voltage of the DC bus based upon the motion profile and the power losses to enhance the motor drive system efficiency, reliability and motor shaft performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Craig R. Winterhalter, Robert H. Schmidt, Michael S. Baran, Todd M. Oestreich
-
Patent number: 8502493Abstract: When instructed to switch control modes between overmodulation PWM control and sinusoidal wave PWM control, control device corrects the amplitude of a voltage command signal based on a state of power conversion operation performed by an inverter, so as to suppress a change in an influence of dead time over a voltage applied to an alternating-current motor upon switching the control modes. The state of the power conversion operation performed by the inverter includes at least one of a present value of a carrier frequency in a control mode currently employed, an estimated value of the carrier frequency to be obtained when switching the control modes, the length of the dead time, a power factor of alternating-current power exchanged between the inverter and the alternating-current motor, and a driving state of the alternating-current motor.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayoshi Suhama, Shogo Tanaka
-
Patent number: 8502492Abstract: A device for improving efficiency of an induction motor soft-starts the motor by applying a power to the motor that is substantially less than the rated power of the motor then gradually increasing the power while monitoring changes in current drawn by the motor, thereby detecting when maximum efficiency is found. Once maximum efficiency is found, the nominal motor current is found and operating ranges are set. Now, the phase angle between the voltage and the current to the motor is measured and power to the motor is increasing when the phase angle is less than a minimum phase angle (determined during soft-start) and power to the motor is decreased when the phase angle is greater than or equal to the minimum phase angle as long as the voltage does not fall below a minimum voltage determined during soft-start.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Protective Energy Economizer TechnologyInventor: Mario Marcelo Marcoccia
-
Patent number: 8497651Abstract: An open phase detection system and method for a three-phase motor is provided. The open phase detection system comprises: a signal generating unit coupled to the three-phase motor and configured to generate a driving signal for driving the three-phase motor; a detecting unit coupled to the signal generating unit, and configured to detect whether the signal generating unit generates the driving signal and to detect three-phase current values of the three-phase motor; and a determining unit coupled to the detecting unit, and configured to determine whether the three-phase motor has open phase according to the three phase current values detected by the detecting unit when the driving signal is detected.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: BYD Company LimitedInventors: Xiaohua Tang, Zhiyong Du, Yongzhuang Zhou, Cong Xia, Lipin Cheng, Hui Ma
-
Patent number: 8493013Abstract: Aspects of the present invention pertain to a method of power control for an electrical motor using a control bypass feature that allows for the delivery of full supply voltage to a motor when it is operating at or above a certain load threshold level. Advantages of the present invention include the ability to provide power savings at low loads while still a motor to operate at full rated capacity under high load conditions. Also, a load sensor and an override unit that are independent of the phase lag compensation portion of power control allows for faster response to rapid load changes.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Rocky ResearchInventor: George I. Boyadjieff
-
Patent number: 8493016Abstract: A semiconductor circuit device includes a semiconductor circuit including a switching element, a temperature monitoring unit, and a control unit. The temperature monitoring unit detects or estimates a temperature of a component connected to an inside or an outside of the semiconductor circuit. Here, the temperature of the component changes in accordance with a frequency of a current flowing through the component, and the frequency of the current flowing through the component changes in accordance with a switching frequency of the switching element. The control unit adjusts the switching frequency of the switching element such that the temperature of the component is equal to a target temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Noboru Miyamoto
-
Patent number: 8493008Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The system includes an integrated motor including a plurality of operating speeds and an input for selecting one of the plurality of operating speeds. The system further includes a system controller and an adjustment module. The adjustment module includes a plurality of operating modes each associated with one of the plurality of operating speeds and the ability to manually vary associations between the plurality of operating modes and the plurality of operating speeds. The adjustment module selects one of the plurality of operating modes on the basis of control commands received from the system controller and setting programmed or manually entered into and stored in the adjustment module and controls the integrated motor according to the operating speed associated with the selected operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Dynamotors, Inc.Inventors: William F. Merkel, William M. Jones, Robert G. Klimo
-
Patent number: 8487580Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventor: Arthur E. Woodward
-
Patent number: 8480376Abstract: A system for determining whether a motor in an electrical submersible pump is backspinning is described herein. The system comprises a sensor mounted in a well bore proximate to a ground surface, the sensor outputting a backspin signal; a communication link connected to the sensor, the communications link communicating the backspin signal; and a controller receiving the backspin signal from the communications link and processing the backspin signal to determine whether the motor is backspinning.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Dick L Knox, Jerald R Rider, Robert D Allen, William Carter, Robert H McCoy
-
Patent number: 8471519Abstract: A voltage command generation unit generates a voltage command value, based on a current deviation relative to a current command value. A dq-axis voltage filter generates a voltage command value subjected to a filtering process for smoothing a change of the voltage command value in a time axis direction. Then, the voltage command value subjected to the filter processing is subjected to a voltage amplitude correcting process and a dq inverse transformation coordinate converting process, so that a phase voltage command for an AC motor is generated. Thus, it is possible to prevent both an amplitude and a phase of the voltage command for the AC motor from being changed rapidly even at a time of control mode switchover.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Takeshi Ito, Takashi Ogawa
-
Patent number: 8441225Abstract: A DC to three-phase AC inverter system includes a three-phase motor, an inverter circuit, switching elements, a capacitor, a DC power source and a control circuit. The DC power source is connected to the three-phase motor at a neutral point thereof. The control circuit calculates voltage commands, first through third divided boost commands by dividing a boost command, and first through third drive signals based on the voltage commands and the first through third divided boost commands. The second and third divided boost commands are used when the PWM control is performed by turning on and off the switching elements for the second and third phases while the switching elements for the first phase continues to be on or off state is set larger than those used when the PWM control is performed by turning on and off the switching elements for the first through third phases.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Takuya Naruse, Kazuki Najima
-
Patent number: 8436569Abstract: The machine in accordance with the present disclosure is an AC machine whose pole numbers can be switched (from pole p1 to pole p2), and whose number of series turns per phase N can be switched say from N0=Nrated to N1=N0/2. Furthermore, it employs an inverter so that the frequency can be changed from a low value (e.g., 5 Hz) to a high value (e.g., 200 Hz). Due to the combination of pole number and number of series turns switching/reconfiguration, a high torque at low speed (e.g., 0 rpm) and a high torque at high speed (e.g., 5,000 rpm) can be achieved, making mechanical gears obsolete. In addition, the output power of the motor can be increased at high speed in direct proportion to the speed increase.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Inventor: Ewald Franz Fuchs
-
Patent number: 8421395Abstract: A synchronous motor including therein a three-phase inverter and position sensors, having a unit for calculating a digital input current value from the analog output of an input current detection circuit that detects the input current flowing into the DC input terminal of the three-phase inverter, and a digital feedback speed control unit for adjusting the amplitudes and frequency of the AC voltages outputted from the three-phase inverter in such a manner that the motor speed calculated by a motor speed calculation unit 41 on the basis of the outputs of the position sensors approaches a speed command value received by a communication reception unit from outside the synchronous motor. The synchronous motor further includes therein a communication transmission unit for transmitting the input current value and the motor speed to outside the synchronous motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Information & Control Solutions, Ltd.Inventors: Daisuke Maeda, Kenji Sakurai, Hiroyuki Hasegawa, Hidefumi Shirahama, Mitsuhiro Mishima
-
Patent number: 8405332Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for reducing or removing current spikes generated during a current recirculation period associated with phase switching in a spindle motor are described. In some implementations, the duty cycle of the drive signals applied to the windings of the spindle motor can be adjusted to reduce or eliminate the current surge resulting from current recirculation. In some implementations, the duty cycle of the drive signals during spin-up can be reduced based on a current limit, and the reduced duty cycle can then be used to drive the spindle motor taking into account of current surges in the supply current.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: Ravishanker Krishnamoorthy, Foo Leng Leong
-
Patent number: 8405339Abstract: A system and method for detecting a rotor fault condition in an AC induction machine is disclosed. The system includes a processor programmed to receive voltage and current data from an AC induction machine, generate a current frequency spectrum from the current data, and identify rotor-fault related harmonics in the current frequency spectrum. The processor is also programmed to calculate a fault severity indicator using the voltage and current data, identified rotor-fault related harmonics, and motor specifications, analyze the fault severity indicator to determine a possibility of rotor fault. The processor generates an alert based on the possibility of rotor fault.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Pinjia Zhang, Bin Lu, Thomas G. Habetler
-
Patent number: 8390238Abstract: A softstarter for starting and stopping an asynchronous motor having three phases, including two pairs of semiconductor devices of the type turning off at zero-crossing of the current therethrough, wherein each of the two pairs of semiconductor devices is connected in anti-parallel, and the first pair of the semiconductor devices is adapted to control the voltage of one of the phases of the motor and the second pair of the semiconductor devices being adapted to control the voltage of another of the phases of the motor, a DC reducing unit associated with the two pairs of semiconductor devices, a first voltage measuring unit for measuring voltages across the two pairs of semiconductor devices, and a first zero-crossing detecting unit configured for detecting zero-crossings of the measured voltages across the two pairs of semiconductor devices and providing zero-crossing signals to the DC reducing unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Magnus Ek, Heinz Lendenmann, Jesper Kristensson
-
Patent number: 8384338Abstract: A system and method for determining the stator winding resistance of AC motors is provided. The system includes an AC motor drive having an input connectable to an AC source and an output connectable to an input terminal of an AC motor, a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter having switches therein to control current flow and terminal voltages in the AC motor, and a control system connected to the PWM converter. The control system generates a command signal to cause the PWM converter to control an output of the AC motor drive corresponding to an input to the AC motor, selectively generates a modified command signal to cause the PWM converter to inject a DC signal into the output of the AC motor drive, and determines a stator winding resistance of the AC motor based on the DC signal of at least one of the voltage and current.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Bin Lu, Thomas G. Habetler, Pinjia Zhang
-
Patent number: 8384325Abstract: A motor driving circuit receives a control pulse signal pulse-width modulated according to a target rotational speed, and drives a fan motor. A start pulse signal generating unit generates a start pulse signal having a predetermined duty ratio. A driving unit drives the fan motor by pulse width modulation according to the driving pulse signal received from a control unit. When the duty ratio of the control pulse signal is switched from zero to a nonzero value when the fan motor is in the stopped state, the control unit commences the driving operation for the fan motor. The control unit outputs, as the driving pulse signal, the start pulse signal, in a predetermined start period Ts from the commencement of the driving operation. After the start period elapses, the control unit outputs the control pulse signal as the driving pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomofumi Mishima
-
Publication number: 20130043823Abstract: A control device for an asynchronous electric machine comprises a first computing unit configured for defining a first signal, which is correlated to an operating voltage to be applied to the electric machine. The first signal is defined as a function of a second signal indicating a desired stator frequency of the operating voltage, and as a function of a third signal indicating a desired slip frequency of the electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2010Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: ANSALDO ENERGIA S.P.A.Inventors: Daniela Baratta, Massimo Caneparo, Paolo Verrecchia
-
Patent number: 8373380Abstract: A device for controlling an alternating-current motor includes a resolver for detecting a rotational position of an alternating-current motor; and a rectangular wave voltage control unit for performing control based on an output of the resolver to provide a rectangular wave voltage to each phase of the alternating-current motor. The control unit causes an amount of change ?? in a voltage phase of the rectangular wave voltage of each phase from a switching reference phase of each phase to increase or decrease equally for each switching in one cycle of an electrical angle determined based on the output of the resolver. In this way, a device for controlling an alternating-current motor is provided to restrain occurrence of an offset current upon rectangular wave voltage control.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuhito Hayashi
-
Patent number: 8373379Abstract: Methods and devices are presented herein for estimating induction motor inductance parameters based on instantaneous reactive power. The induction motor inductance parameters, e.g., the stator inductance and the total leakage factor, can be estimated from motor nameplate data and instantaneous reactive power without involving speed sensors or electronic injection circuits.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventors: Zhi Gao, Larry A. Turner, Roy S. Colby
-
Patent number: 8368342Abstract: An apparatus for generating electromagnetic torque in an N-phase electric machine, N being a positive integer, includes N lines, each of the N lines including an input terminal, an output terminal, and a pair of thyristors, or of one thyristor and one diode pair. The N lines are connected between a mains and the electric machine. An apparatus is provided for repeatedly or continuously determining at least the sign of a voltage over the thyristor or diode-thyristor pair in at least one of the N lines, means are provided for repeatedly or continuously determining at least one parameter related to the electromagnetic field in the electric machine, and a control device is provided for controlling the operation of the thyristor or diode-thyristor pair of the at least one of the N lines.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventor: Pierluigi Tenca
-
Patent number: 8368331Abstract: A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: RBC Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Mark A. Brattoli, Guy Bonner, Jr.
-
Patent number: 8369049Abstract: A method for shutting down an electric machine having a pulse-controlled inverter in the event of a malfunction. Undesirable side effects during shut-down of the electric machine may be minimized and the regular machine operation may be maximized when the electric machine is first switched to a disconnect mode in which all switches of the pulse-controlled inverter are open and subsequently is switched to a short-circuit mode in which the switches connected to the high potential are open and the switches connected to the low potential are closed.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jochen Kuehner, Martin Trunk, Klaus Rechberger, Manfred Ackermann, Manfred Stahl
-
Patent number: 8362735Abstract: A device for improving efficiency of an induction motor that soft-starts the motor by applying a voltage to the motor that is substantially less than the rated voltage then gradually increasing the voltage while monitoring changes in current drawn by the motor, thereby detecting when maximum efficiency is found. Once maximum efficiency is found, the nominal motor current is found and operating ranges are set. Now, the voltage to the motor is increased/decreased by measuring the phase angle between the voltage and the current to the motor and increasing the voltage when the phase angle is less than a minimum phase angle (determined during soft-start) and decreasing the voltage when the phase angle is greater than or equal to the minimum phase angle as long as the voltage does not fall below a minimum voltage determined during soft-start.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Protective Energy Economizer TechnologyInventor: Mario M. Marcoccia
-
Patent number: 8362736Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventor: Arthur E. Woodward
-
Patent number: 8362737Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventor: Arthur E. Woodward
-
Patent number: 8355115Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a positioner configured to position a first part of the apparatus relative to a second part of the apparatus, the positioner including a motor having a motor position dependent motor constant defining a relation between a motor input and a motor output, and a control system to drive the motor, the control system including a set-point generator to provide a reference signal based on a desired position of the first part relative to the second part, and a controller to provide a drive signal to the motor based on the reference signal, wherein the controller includes a compensator which is configured to at least partially compensate the drive signal for the motor position dependent motor constant. The invention further relates to a positioner, a method to optimize the positioning system, and a method to derive a motor position dependent motor constant.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Robertus Leonardus Tousain, Martijn Robert Hamers, Jeroen Arnoldus Leonardus Johannes Raaymakers
-
Publication number: 20130009590Abstract: Method and device for operating an asynchronous motor having increased efficiency. According to the invention, ranges for a motor size of the asynchronous motor are specified. In addition, a value of the motor size is calculated depending on at least one measurement value of a measurement parameter during the operation of the asynchronous motor, wherein the respective calculated value of the motor size is allocated to one of the ranges. Furthermore, a control parameter is changed depending on the range to which the calculated motor parameter is allocated to provide an optimised control parameter such that the control parameter is changed beginning from a starting value specified for the respective range of the motor size until a predetermined criterion for a specific motor size is reached. Furthermore, the optimised control parameter is stored as a support point of a continuous optimal characteristic curve for the control parameter depending on the range to which the calculated motor size is allocated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2010Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Bernd Nitz, Norbert Rudiger Klaes
-
Patent number: 8310183Abstract: A motor control device includes a current profile generator generating a current profile, a pilot voltage operator calculating a pilot pulse voltage, on the basis of the current profile, and adding the pilot pulse voltage to a voltage command on a d axis, a magnetic pole position detector detecting a position of a magnetic pole in the permanent magnet motor, on the basis of the pilot pulse voltage, a polarity identification evaluation current operator calculating a polarity identification evaluation current for identifying a polarity of the magnetic pole in the permanent magnet motor, on the basis of a current value on the d axis in the motor current that has been detected in synchronization with a period of PWM control, and a polarity detector outputting a phase correction amount, on the basis of a deviation between the polarity identification evaluation current and the current profile.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa DenkiInventors: Kozo Ide, Masaki Hisatsune
-
Patent number: 8310102Abstract: A multilevel inverter is provided. The multilevel inverter includes a plurality of bridges, each bridge configured to receive a respective portion of an input DC power and convert the respective portion to a respective converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes at least one bridge controller for operating at least one of the plurality of bridges in a square waveform mode. The multilevel inverter further includes a plurality of transformers, each transformer coupled to a respective bridge and configured to increase a voltage level of the respective portion of converted AC power. The plurality of transformers further includes secondary windings coupled in series with the other secondary windings to combine the respective increased voltage level portions of the converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes a grid converter configured to provide output power for a power grid.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju
-
Patent number: 8310196Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the failsafe monitoring of an electromotive drive without additional sensors, including a drive having a three-phase control of an electric motor, detection of the current and voltage profiles of each of the three phases, as they are forwarded to the motor by drive electronics, determination of the load speed while using the detected current and voltage values, where the determination of the load speed takes place by calculating an observer model with reference to the detected current, to the detected voltage, to the frequency preset by the control and to the characteristic data of the motor and generation of a failsafe switch signal for the motor when the calculated load speed does not correspond to a preset desired speed within the framework of preset tolerances. The load torque can also be determined and monitored with reference to the observer model.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Sick AGInventor: Mathias Ams
-
Patent number: 8305029Abstract: A fan drive apparatus includes a first fan, a second fan configured to form an air flow space, which has an intake side and an exhaust side, in cooperation with the first fan, a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit configured to output drive voltages to drive the first fan and the second fan respectively, a current detection unit configured to detect a drive current for the second drive circuit when the first fan and the second fan are driven, and a control unit configured to control the second drive circuit to change the drive voltage applied to the second fan, and determine a drive voltage so that a variation amount of the drive current detected by the current detection unit with respect to a change of the drive voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshifumi Kakutani
-
Patent number: 8294410Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the failsafe monitoring of an electromotive drive without additional sensors, including a drive having a three-phase control of an electric motor, detection of the current and voltage profiles of each of the three phases, as they are forwarded to the motor by drive electronics, determination of the load speed while using the detected current and voltage values, where the determination of the load speed takes place by calculating an observer model with reference to the detected current, to the detected voltage, to the frequency preset by the control and to the characteristic data of the motor and generation of a failsafe switch signal for the motor when the calculated load speed does not correspond to a preset desired speed within the framework of preset tolerances. The load torque can also be determined and monitored with reference to the observer model.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Sick AGInventor: Mathias Ams
-
Patent number: 8294393Abstract: A method for determining proper rotation direction of a reversible motor comprises the steps of: operating the motor to rotate a fan in a first direction, monitoring an operating parameter of the motor while the fan is rotated in the first direction, determining if the monitored operating parameter is within an acceptable range, determining that the first direction of rotation is not the proper rotation direction where the monitored operating parameter is not within the acceptable range, and operating the motor to rotate the fan in a second direction if the monitored operating parameter is not within the acceptable range.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Nidec Motor CorporationInventors: Christopher D. Schock, Arthur E. Woodward
-
Patent number: 8283885Abstract: A drive control signal is effectively obtained. An offset control circuit (32) adds an offset to a rotational state signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventors: Takashi Ogawa, Tsutomu Murata
-
Patent number: 8264189Abstract: A motor controller is provided with a first PWM circuit that repeatedly outputs an on-signal at a first carrier frequency, a second PWM circuit that repeatedly outputs an on-signal at a second carrier frequency that is lower than the first carrier frequency, an AND circuit that receives both the on-signal outputted from the first PWM circuit and the on-signal outputted from the second PWM circuit and outputs a third on-signal which is a logical product of the received on-signals, and a voltage apply circuit that applies a voltage to the motor intermittently in synchronization with the third on-signal outputted from the AND circuit. At least one of the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency is equal to or lower than 1 kHz or equal to or higher than 3 kHz. As a result, generation of an unpleasant noise by a motor controller using two PWM circuits may be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Makita CorporationInventors: Takashi Matsunaga, Hirokatsu Yamamoto, Takuya Kusakawa