Responsive To Motor Condition Patents (Class 318/798)
  • Patent number: 7777443
    Abstract: An energy saving service includes: a service contract conclusion step in which a service contract is concluded with a customer who has purchased or will purchase a product with a permanent magnet motor; a driving device provision step in which a driving device which can drive a permanent magnet motor with any specifications is provided on the basis of the service contract; and a product upgrade step in which the driving device drives the permanent magnet motor so as to improve the performance of the product with the permanent magnet motor, thereby upgrading the product with the permanent magnet motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Shinomoto, Masaaki Yabe, Mamoru Kawakubo
  • Patent number: 7773352
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided with a motor drive device, a fan motor, and a Hall element. The motor drive device includes a lock protection circuit and a lock controller. When a control signal instructing rotation of the fan motor that is to be driven instructs stoppage of the motor for a predetermined time-period or longer, the lock controller has the lock protection circuit inactive. At an occasion when the control signal has continued to instruct stoppage of the fan motor for a first time-period or longer, a standby controller starts time measurement, and after a further predetermined second time-period has elapsed, makes at least a part of the motor drive device transition to a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomofumi Mishima
  • Patent number: 7772797
    Abstract: A motor controller for correcting offset of a drive current of a motor. An offset amount calculating section (14) calculates offset amounts (Iuofs, Ivofs, Iwofs) of the drive currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) when the motor is being driven. A drive signal correcting section (18) corrects offset of the drive currents (Iu, Iv, Iw) by correcting the duty ratios of drive signals (Suo, Svo, Swo) based on the offset amounts (Iuofs, Ivofs, Iwofs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Eiji Sato, Hiroki Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20100194329
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Thomas G. Habetler, Pinjia Zhang
  • Patent number: 7750595
    Abstract: A rotating machinery includes a first control member for performing rectangular wave control by operating the switching devices of an inverter such that an on-state and an off-state occur once for one cycle period in electrical angle of a motor, a second control member for operating the switching devices on the basis of a magnitude relation between upper and lower limits of a predetermined hysteresis region and an actual current flowing through the motor, and a switching member for, when the actual current deviates from the hysteresis region while the rectangular wave control is undertaken, switching the control to an instantaneous current value control performed by the second control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamada, Hiroya Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7751159
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 7746019
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a servo control circuit comprising: a first node for receiving a control voltage; a second node for receiving a feedback voltage; an operational amplifier controlling a current on a path according to the voltages at the first and second nodes, the path including an internal voltage node thereon; an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting the voltage at the internal voltage node to a digital signal; and a control logic circuit for generating a servo control signal according to the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Chip Goal Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hui-Yen Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20100156338
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring and controlling stator winding temperature in an AC motor while idling is disclosed. The system includes a circuit having an input connectable to an AC source and an output connectable to an input terminal of a multi-phase AC motor. The circuit further includes a plurality of switching devices to control current flow and terminal voltages in the multi-phase AC motor and a controller connected to the circuit. The controller is configured to activate the plurality of switching devices to create a DC signal in an output of the motor control device corresponding to an input to the multi-phase AC motor, determine or estimate a stator winding resistance of the multi-phase AC motor based on the DC signal, and estimate a stator temperature from the stator winding resistance. Temperature can then be controlled and regulated by DC injection into the stator windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Bin Lu, Charles John Luebke, Thomas G. Habetler, Pinjia Zhang, Scott K. Becker
  • Publication number: 20100148718
    Abstract: A semiconductor element (20) of the present invention includes a plurality of field effect transistors (90) and a schottky electrode (9a), and the schottky electrode (9a) is formed along an outer periphery of a region where the plurality of field effect transistors (90) are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kitabatake, Osamu Kusumoto, Masao Uchida, Kenya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7715950
    Abstract: A microsource is provided, which includes a generator, a prime mover, and a controller. The prime mover includes a shaft connected to drive the generator to generate power at a frequency controlled by a rotation rate of the shaft. The controller calculates an operating frequency for the generator based on a comparison between a power set point and a measured power flow. A requested shaft speed for the prime mover is calculated by combining a maximum frequency change, a minimum frequency change, and the calculated operating frequency. A shaft speed adjustment is calculated for the prime mover based on a comparison between the requested shaft speed and a measured shaft speed of the prime mover. A fuel command for the prime mover is calculated based on the shaft speed adjustment. A rotation rate of the shaft of the prime mover is adjusted based on the calculated fuel command to control the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert H. Lasseter, Shashank Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 7710053
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus including inverter apparatuses, inverter control circuits, and a plurality of inverter control apparatuses for performing variable-speed driving of a single motor, breakers each of which being provided between each inverter apparatus and the motor, the inverter control circuits being connected in parallel to each other. Here, a motor rotation frequency/phase detection circuit of each inverter control circuit is set up on a closer side to the motor than the breakers, then frequency and phase of a terminal voltage at the motor are detected and inputted into failure-time input frequency/phase setting circuits regardless of close/open of each breaker. This feature allows computation by the failure-time input frequency/phase setting circuits to be carried out at all times, thereby making it possible to shorten a computation time needed for computing inverter-apparatus start frequency/phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tan, Hirohisa Satomi, Shigetoshi Okamatsu
  • Patent number: 7696714
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing power to a fan motor. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a boost regulator configured to provide an output current to a fan motor using an input current provided at an input voltage by a power supply. The fan motor is configured to draw the output current at a first frequency and the input current is constant within a first selected tolerance over a time scale longer than indicated by the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Tom P. Sterk
  • Patent number: 7696715
    Abstract: An autonomous controller allows an AC induction motor to operate over a broad range of AC power supply frequencies by reducing the amount of current supplied to the motor at lower frequencies. The controller detects the frequency of the power supply and switches the supply current on and off during each AC cycle to limit the RMS current to a value that is related to the detected frequency. Alternatively, the controller switches capacitive reactance into the power supply circuit which reduces the current supplied to the motor at lower AC frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Fisher, John T. Paterson
  • Patent number: 7692399
    Abstract: A method of controlling a DC motor is presented. In a determining action, a thermal power dissipation is determined from a motor input and a motor velocity. In another determining action, a motor temperature is determined based on a thermal model using the thermal power dissipation. In an adjusting action, a usage of the motor is adjusted, taking the motor temperature into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Harriman, Michael Teong Seng Ewe, Robert D. Davis
  • Patent number: 7667611
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting high-voltage levels associated with a work machine. In one embodiment a high-voltage detection system is disclosed and includes a threshold detector configured to determine a voltage level associated with an element, determine whether the voltage level associated with the element is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and provide a threshold indicator if the voltage level associated with the element is greater than the predetermined threshold value. The system also includes a controller coupled to the threshold detector via an isolation device. The controller is configured to detect the threshold indicator and provide one or more warning signals in response to the threshold indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Lindsey, Eric Matthew Andris
  • Patent number: 7667426
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an IPM synchronous machine in a vehicle that calculates an operating trajectory of the machine on-line. The system defines three operating ranges of the machine based on voltage magnitude, where a first operating range is controlled by a current limit of the machine and second and third operating regions are controlled by a voltage limit of the machine. The system calculates d- and q-axis current reference signals in the reference rotor frame for each of the three regions. The system determines which set of current reference signals will be used to control the machine based on the operating region. The third operating region is used during over-modulation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Seok Jeong, Seung Ki Sul, Silva Hiti, Khwaja M. Rahman, Bon-Ho Bae
  • Patent number: 7640084
    Abstract: A method and system for adaptively controlling a hybrid vehicle comprises a recorder for recording a historical load or duty cycle of vehicle during or after operation of the vehicle. A classifier classifies the historical load in accordance with a load category. A controller assigns at least one of a current control curve and a slew rate control curve associated with the load category for a defined time period after the recording of the historical load or if the vehicle is presently operating generally consistent with the load category. At least one of the current control curve and the slew rate control curve, or data representative thereof, are used to control an operation of an electric drive motor of the vehicle for the defined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: James William Musser
  • Patent number: 7612507
    Abstract: A motor controller capable of appropriately change the drive control condition in response to variations generated in motor drive control. The receiving circuit wirelessly receives and demodulates the control signal to controllably drive the motor and then outputs the demodulated signal to the motor controller. The current detection circuit detects the drive signal for the motor. The CPU refers to a table including correlations between drive currents of the motor and drive frequencies, which are respectively stored in the memory. The CPU selects a drive frequency corresponding to a drive current detected by the current detection circuit, thus controllably driving the motor using the drive signal of the corresponding drive frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Katsuyama, Hideo Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 7602138
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the drive of an electric motor, having a current detector for detecting the current through an externally connected electric motor; a controller for generating a control signal to control the electric motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector and the speed command for specifying the rotational speed of the electric motor; wherein the apparatus includes a load estimator for estimating the mechanical load condition associated with the electric motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector and the speed command, and the controller controls the electric motor current on the basis of the detected current, the speed command and the estimated load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daigo Kaneko, Takahiro Suzuki, Tsunehiro Endo, Kazuaki Tobari, Hajime Uematsu
  • Patent number: 7598698
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a current detecting portion that detects phase current of one phase among three phase currents supplied from an inverter to a motor, and a current estimator that estimates phase current of phases other than the detected phase current by using a specified current value indicating current to be supplied to the motor, and derives control current corresponding to the specified current value from the estimated phase current and the phase current of one phase. The motor control device controls the motor via the inverter so that the control current follows the specified current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichiro Hashimoto, Hajime Hida
  • Patent number: 7592772
    Abstract: A fault detection system using field current and rotor search coil voltage harmonics is provided. The technology is capable of detecting an inter-turn fault unambiguously and rapidly in a synchronous machine. The internal asymmetry of the machine that has adversely affected the earlier fault diagnosis results has, for the first time, been shown as an advantage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: University of Victoria Innovation and Development Corporation
    Inventors: Subhasis Nandi, Prabhakar Neti
  • Patent number: 7579805
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which the lifetime of mounted components can be prolonged. A cooling system for controlling the temperature of a refrigerant through a heating section and a radiator is provided. The semiconductor device is connected to the cooling system and is cooled. A variation width (?T1) of temperature controlled by the cooling system through the heating section and the radiator is smaller than a temperature variation (?T2) of the refrigerant caused by variations in operating conditions of the semiconductor device (?T1??T2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Saito, Katsuhiro Higuchi, Osamu Otsuka, Hidekazu Nishidai, Hiroshi Houzouji, Toshiaki Morita, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Toshiya Sato
  • Patent number: 7579800
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus comprises the amplitude adjustment section and the peak voltage control section so as to adjust the torque control output in correspondence with the output voltage of the inverter. The peak voltage control section detects the peak voltage of the voltage command, and outputs the adjustment command instructing the amplitude adjustment section to suppress the amplitude when the peak voltage possibly exceed the previously determined value which is determined with respect to the maximum output voltage or maximum modulation rate of the inverter. The amplitude adjustment section lowers the gain by carrying out processing such that a constant proportional value is removed from the integration value, for example, in response to the supplying of the adjustment command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuki Kitano
  • Patent number: 7545114
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a parameterization method for a converter (1, 2) of the speed controller type, the said converter (1, 2) being connected to an electrical load (3) by means of an electrical cable (4) comprising at least two conductors, the method consisting in: generating common-mode current on the electrical cable (4) starting from a pulsed voltage comprising a first voltage edge (11, 13) and a second voltage edge (12, 14) delayed by a delay time (T) with respect to the first voltage edge (11, 13), measuring the common-mode current generated, making the delay time (T) between the two voltage edges (11, 12, 13, 14) generated vary, and determining an optimal delay time (T2) starting from a quantity (Ipeak, Ieff) representative of the common-mode current measured for the various values of the delay time (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Schneider Toshiba Inverter Europe SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Baudesson, Stefan Capitaneanu, Philippe Loizelet
  • Patent number: 7528583
    Abstract: In the m phase brushless generator, n (n<m) phase magnet coil groups are provided with magnetic sensors, while the remaining (m?n) phase magnet coil groups are not provided with magnetic sensors. The regeneration control circuit utilizes the sensor outputs of the n magnetic sensors to generates n sets of regeneration control signals for the n phase magnet coil groups. The regeneration control circuit further generates (m?n) sets of regeneration control signals for the (m?n) phase magnet coil groups not associated with the n magnetic sensors, using one or more of the sensor outputs of the n magnetic sensors in generation of each of the (m?n) sets of regeneration control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7521888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-phase asynchronous electric motor for domestic appliances, comprising power elements, such as triacs or relays, for charge control. The power elements other than the relays are controlled by at least one microcontroller with the aid of an optical insulation means, ensuring electronic programming and also control of the motor with the aid of a command. The microcontroller or microcontrollers are references to a zero potential of a recovery and filter block feeding the motor. The controller can be applied to a washing machine in order to control the electric motor which rotationally drives the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Invensys Appliance Controls SA
    Inventors: Jean Marc Rosoli, Francois Xardel
  • Patent number: 7511449
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling an electric machine. The system has a power source configured to supply electric energy to the electric machine. In addition, the system has an inverter operationally connected to the power source and the electric machine and configured to increase or decrease a rotor flux component of a voltage applied to the electric machine, while maintaining a torque component at an essentially constant level. The system further has a control device configured to determine at least one parameter of the electric machine and operate the inverter in either a first or a second mode in response to the at least one determined parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Speckhart, Mark Edward Hartman, Jackson Wai, Joshua Michael Williams
  • Patent number: 7508637
    Abstract: As an antilock system for a permanently excited electric motor drive, especially for a steering booster servo drive of a motor vehicle, in the event of a winding short-circuit, an interruption of at least one winding phase (MP1 or MP2 or MP3) of the winding affected by the short circuit is provided, by a separating means (T) triggered by an explosion directly or indirectly by the winding short-circuit. The antilock system advantageously has a separate neutral point connection part (MP) which is especially embodied as a sheet metal moulded part, is to be connected to the winding ends of the electric motor, and contains the winding phases (MP1; MP2; MP3) and the neutral point connection thereof as a single component. The antilock system is purposefully arranged on a front winding head of the electric motor and connected to the winding thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuerzburg
    Inventor: Marcus Podack
  • Patent number: 7504789
    Abstract: In a method for measuring motor speed and position by detecting the back-EMF generated during pole-pair interactions, fluctuations of a three-phase motor power supply that may affect back-EMF detection are reduced. One phase of the power supply is tristated for a certain interval preceding and during back-EMF detection. For a shorter interval during back-EMF detection, the voltage drop across the motor is reduced from the full power supply voltage. This preferably is accomplished either by pulling a first of the other two power supply phases low, while pulling a second of the other two power supply phases up to a regulated voltage below the power supply voltage, or by pulling the second of the other two phases up to the power supply voltage and pulling the first of the other two phases down to a regulated voltage above ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Siew Yong Chui, Foo Leng Leong
  • Publication number: 20090021207
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a multiphase AC electric motor having an inverter includes a current control including an abnormal-state current controller; an abnormal-state detector that detects an abnormal state of any of a wire of an electric motor, a wire of an inverter, and a wire connecting the electric motor to the inverter as an abnormal phase; and an abnormal phase disconnect. The abnormal phase disconnect disconnects one or more of phases detected to be in an abnormal-state and the abnormal-state current controller generates an abnormal state voltage command in accordance with detection of an abnormal state, and uses phases other than the disconnected phases of the inverter to control individual currents of the phases, with the abnormal-state voltage command used as a multiphase voltage command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Kezobo, Masahiro Kimata, Takayuki Kifuku, Kazumichi Tsutsumi, Chiaki Fujimoto, Noriyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 7474066
    Abstract: A method for supplying electrical power to a DC supply bus of a rotating electric motor of an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of selectively supplying electrical power to the bus via a first power supply at a first alternating voltage and selectively supplying electrical power to the bus via a second power supply at a second alternating voltage that is less than the first alternating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Transport, SA
    Inventor: Pierre Chanal
  • Patent number: 7474068
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and simultaneously driver motors in response to the error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Moller, Philip K. Schneider, Oscar M. Alcantara, Salvador A. Canales
  • Patent number: 7466087
    Abstract: A method and system for adaptively controlling a hybrid vehicle comprises a recorder for recording a historical load or duty cycle of vehicle during or after operation of the vehicle. A classifier classifies the historical load in accordance with a load category. A controller assigns at least one of a current control curve and a slew rate control curve associated with the load category for a defined time period after the recording of the historical load or if the vehicle is presently operating generally consistent with the load category. At least one of the current control curve and the slew rate control curve, or data representative thereof, are used to control an operation of an electric drive motor of the vehicle for the defined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: James William Musser
  • Patent number: 7459878
    Abstract: The method and circuit for controlling a sensorless single-phase BLDCM having a stator with a winding are proposed. The provided controlling circuit includes a power supply circuit, an inverter coupled to the winding and the power supply circuit, a BEMF detecting circuit coupled to the winding and the inverter and measuring a BEMF of the winding, and a controller coupled to the power supply circuit, the inverter and the BEMF detecting circuit and analyzing a status of the BEMF to control the BLDCM accordingly. The provided method is based on the motor winding time-sharing theory, and the controller controls the inverter to make the winding used as a driving element with loading current when the absolute value of the BEMF is relatively large and as a sensing element when the absolute value of the BEMF is relatively small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Delta Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Weizi Wang, Zhigan Wu, Wanbing Jin, Jianping Ying, Shih-Ming Huang, Wen-Shi Huang
  • Patent number: 7439700
    Abstract: A control system which is capable of avoiding an overloaded state of an actuator without using sensors or the like. An ECU 2 of the control system 1 calculates a lift control input U_Liftin to a variable valve lift mechanism 50 with an algorithm expressed by equations (2) to (5), such that the valve lift Liftin follows up a target valve lift Liftin_cmd, calculates a cumulative value Simot by cumulative calculation of the product of the value Imot of electric current flowing through the variable valve lift mechanism 50 and a sampling time period Stime, and when SImot?Simot_J1 holds, sets two parameters pole_f_lf and ploe_lf to respective predetermined failure-time parameters pole_f_lf_J1 and ploe_lf_J1 which cause the lift control input U_Liftin to become smaller than when Simot<Simot_J1 holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanako Shimojo, Yuji Yasui
  • Publication number: 20080231224
    Abstract: A timer circuit includes a storage unit to store a series of first data content relating to a time into a specified address area, a target value generation unit to read the first data content from a read address of the storage unit and to generate, as a target value, third data content in which second data content is added to the first data content, a counter to perform counting and to output a count-up signal when the counting is performed up to the target value, and a control unit to sequentially designate a next read address of the storage unit at each count-up and to cause the series of operations of the target value generation unit and the counter to be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidenori Kobayashi, Shunichi Ono, Kazumasa Takada, Takashi Okano
  • Patent number: 7402977
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating motor compressor includes a current integrator for integrating an alternating current applied to a motor of the compressor during each one cycle thereof; and a controller for differently controlling a firing angle of a triac during the positive phase and the firing angle of the triac during the negative phase of the AC voltage applied to the motor based on the integrated value of the current. A loss in the motor can be reduced by avoiding presence of a DC component in the current applied to the motor of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyung-Joo Kim, Kyung-Bum Heo, Chel-Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 7398864
    Abstract: In an elevator control apparatus, a power supply voltage monitoring circuit monitors a power supply voltage supplied to a processing portion. A voltage monitoring soundness checking function circuit outputs a monitoring input voltage forcible change signal for forcibly changing a power supply voltage input to the power supply voltage monitoring circuit in response to a control signal from the processing portion. A voltage abnormality detection signal from the power supply voltage monitoring circuit is input to the voltage monitoring soundness checking function circuit. The processing portion checks the soundness of the power supply voltage monitoring circuit by reading data held by the voltage monitoring soundness checking function circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Chida
  • Patent number: 7394629
    Abstract: A technique is provided for controlling operation of motors of different sized or ratings. Components used to apply and interrupt current to the motors may be shared in control devices for the different motors. The components may include contactors or circuit interrupters, and instantaneous trip devices. The components may be sized for the higher rated motors, and be oversized for the lower rated motors. Control circuitry permits the devices to be controlled in accordance with the characteristics of the particular motor to which the devices are applied, providing accurate circuit interruption while reducing the number of different components and component packages in a product family for the various motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Alan Plemmons, John Herman Blakely, Gregory A. Helton, Mark E. Innes, Ricky A. Hurley
  • Patent number: 7391181
    Abstract: A dynamic pulse width modulation (PWM) selection device automatically switches between discontinuous PWM (DPWM) control methods. The PWM selection device comprises a PWM control module. The PWM control module determines a desired pulse width of a switching control signal according to a desired output signal. The PWM control module controls an actual pulse width of the switching control signal according to the desired pulse width and a first PWM control method. A selection module determines whether the desired pulse width exceeds a pulse width threshold. The selection module selects a second PWM control method when the desired pulse width exceeds the pulse width threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Welchko, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7385368
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an operation of a reciprocating compressor includes a inductance increasing device connected to a motor of the reciprocating compressor, so that a surge current generated when power is applied to the reciprocating compressor at an initial stage is reduced and thus an initial stroke of the reciprocating compressor is reduced. Accordingly, operational efficiency of the reciprocating compressor is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eon-Pyo Hong, Kyeong-Bae Park, Tae-Hee Kwak, Ki-Chul Choi, Sung-Hyun Ki
  • Patent number: 7362069
    Abstract: A simple and accurate dead time dispersion measurement method and a voltage source inverter control method that can prevent the occurrence of an unstable phenomenon are provided. The control method controls a voltage source inverter of a PWM system, which includes a power semiconductor device controlling a level of a voltage, a frequency and a phase. According to the control method, before operation, voltage error information for each polarity of respective phase currents of the inverter is stored. And during the operation, the voltage error information is read to compensate for a voltage instruction value or a pulse width of a PWM instruction signal, so that a voltage error can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamamoto, Masashiro Tanaka, Shigekazu Nakamura, Hiroshi Suetake
  • Patent number: 7362071
    Abstract: In an electric rotary excavator (construction machine) 1, when earth pressure acts on a rotary body 4 in an opposite direction to an instructed direction of a lever, a control-system changing means 150 of a rotation control device 100 increases a torque output of an electric motor 5 that drives the rotary body 4. Accordingly, the torque output can properly react against the acting earth pressure, thereby preventing the rotary body from continuing to be rotated in the opposite direction. Therefore, even when the earth pressure becomes large, the work will not be affected. In addition, when the rotary body is rotated on a slope, the rotary body can be prevented from being rotated back greatly due to the weights of the boom and the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Morinaga, Tadashi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7358694
    Abstract: An apparatus and method determine a start-up of a sensorless motor. The apparatus includes an elapsed time determination unit, a motor velocity determination unit and an abnormal start-up determination unit. The elapsed time determination unit determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed after a start-up of the motor is initiated. The motor velocity determination unit determines whether a velocity of the motor exceeds a predetermined velocity value when the predetermined time has elapsed. The abnormal start-up determination unit determines that the motor was abnormally started up when the velocity of the motor does not exceed the predetermined value, and an amount of current flowing in the motor does not exceed a predetermined current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: June Hee Won, Dal Ho Cheong, Jae Yoon Oh
  • Patent number: 7348756
    Abstract: An apparatus controls a power converter of an AC motor drive system, the power converter outputting multi-phase AC current to an AC motor. The apparatus comprises: a state selecting unit; and an advanced controller. The state selecting unit selects an operation mode, from among a plurality of operation modes, for the AC motor based on system real-time operating conditions, the plurality of operation modes including a normal mode, a power interruption mode, a fault protection mode, and a power-up/down dynamic mode. The system operating conditions include DC voltage available to the power converter, motor load condition, and motor speed command. The advanced controller controls multi-phase AC current output from the power converter to the motor in accordance with the operation mode selected by the state selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Ma, George Zhou, Zheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7332888
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes: a current instruction calculator, for calculating a current instruction value based on a deviation between a speed instruction value and an estimated speed value; a current controller, for controlling an output current based on the current instruction value; a frequency instruction calculator, for calculating a frequency instruction value based on an output voltage instruction value or an output voltage detection value, wherein, when an induction motor is to be activated, the current instruction value and the frequency instruction value are calculated directly using the speed instruction value, and an output current and an output frequency are controlled in accordance with the current instruction value and the frequency instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Nagata, Toshiaki Okuyama, Haruo Nemoto, Toshio Katayama
  • Patent number: 7327105
    Abstract: An electrical rotating apparatus is provided that has variable impedance. This is achieved by connecting one of the polyphase components of the apparatus in a mesh connection. The spanning value, L, of such a mesh connection may be varied by changing the harmonic content supplied by an inverter component. Also provided is a method for connecting an inverter to a motor, wherein a switching arrangement permits the simple alteration between various mesh connections of different span value, changing thereby the Volts/Hertz ratio of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Sidney Edelson
  • Patent number: 7327117
    Abstract: The invention is applied to the field of industrial controls for electric motors and more precisely refers to a process for measuring phase currents of an inverter or a DC controller consisting in detecting the temperature of a copper path made with IMS (Insulated Metal Substrate) technology and the like, used as shunt and that is the extension of a pre-existing adduction line towards a motor or towards the supply line or towards power devices, and in compensating through software the path drop in order to have an accurate measure of the current crossing it. A heat sensor is applied next to or over such copper path to detect its temperature. This latter one will also be assumed, with an acceptable degree of approximation, as the power transistors temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Zapi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Iotti
  • Patent number: 7317292
    Abstract: It is possible to control the DC intermediate voltage to be constant without using a device for returning regenerative resistance or regenerative energy to a power source and to safely continue operation of an AC motor even if an instantaneous stop occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideaki Iura, Tohru Kai
  • Patent number: RE41303
    Abstract: In regenerative braking mode, an inverter converts, according to PWMC signal from a control unit, an AC voltage generated by a motor into a DC voltage to supply the converted DC voltage to an up-converter which down-converts the DC voltage to charge a DC power supply. The control unit receives voltage V2 from a voltage sensor to stop the up-converter if voltage V2 is higher than a predetermined value. The control unit further receives voltage Vf from a voltage sensor that is applied to a DC/DC converter and stops the up-converter if voltage Vf is higher than a predetermined value. Moreover, the control unit receives voltage V1 of the DC power supply from a voltage sensor to stop the up-converter if voltage V1 does not match voltage V2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Komatsu, Ryoji Oki, Toshihiro Katsuda