Responsive To Speed Or Rotation Phase Angle Patents (Class 318/799)
  • Patent number: 8547049
    Abstract: A DC motor assembly includes a motorized unit for generating a rotatable power at an output shaft, and a step adjusting control arrangement including an optical grating and a photocoupler. The optical grating, which is operatively coupled at the output shaft, has a plurality of light transmissible portions and a plurality of light blocking portions alternating with the light transmissible portions. The photocoupler is activated to send out an impulse signal in responsive to a phase shift between the light transmissible portion and the light blocking portion of the optical grating, wherein the output shaft is controllably driven to be rotated and stopped in a sequent manner as a stepping movement thereof in responsive to the impulse signal so as to controllably adjust the rotational speed of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventors: Xin Wang, Jiangqun Chen
  • Patent number: 8542800
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Bruce Biehr, Ian Strider Hunt, Ryan James Lemminger
  • Patent number: 8525461
    Abstract: There are provided a command speed calculation means (101) for outputting a command speed (?r) from a base speed (?b) and a ratio gain (?), reference speed generation means (108) calculating a reference speed (?a) so as to follow the command speed (?r) based on the command speed (?r), control deviation calculation means (103) for outputting a control deviation (e) from a speed deviation (?e) and a speed deviation correction value (?ec), speed control means (104) for outputting a compensation torque (?m) for decreasing the control deviation (e), speed deviation correction means (105) for calculating the speed deviation correction value (?ec) from at least the compensation torque (?m), command torque calculation means (107) for outputting a command torque (?r) from at least the compensation torque (?m) and ratio calculation means (102) for calculating the ratio gain (?) from the speed deviation (?e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Marushita, Hidetoshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8508173
    Abstract: A control console to remotely control medical equipment is disclosed having a base with an ergonomically adjustable pedal system. The base further has an opening to receive the pedal system. The pedal system includes a moveable pedal tray with a pedal base. The tray includes a first left pedal assembly and a first right pedal assembly, and an upper tier having a second left pedal assembly and a second right pedal assembly respectively in alignment with and elevated above the first left pedal assembly and the first right pedal assembly. Rollers are rotatable coupled to the moveable pedal tray to allow it roll over a floor. A drive assembly is coupled between the moveable pedal tray and the base. The drive assembly applies a force to the to roll the moveable pedal tray over the floor within the opening of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Randal P. Goldberg, Michael Hanuschik, Paul Millman, John W. Zabinski, David Robinson, David W. Weir, Paul W. Mohr, Thomas R. Nixon, David W. Bailey
  • Patent number: 8502492
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Protective Energy Economizer Technology
    Inventor: Mario Marcelo Marcoccia
  • Patent number: 8487579
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a component, that is able to be moved into at least two end positions with the aid of a drive, especially of a flap for controlling fluid flows in an internal combustion engine, includes the following steps: providing an electric signal that indicates the speed of motion of an element of the drive, determining a change in position of the component by the integration of the electric signal, and determining the absolute position of the component from the change in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alex Grossmann, Mattias Hallor
  • Patent number: 8487561
    Abstract: A self-adapting soft-starter device includes an electric current limiter limiting electric current supplied to the motor to a preset maximum current limit, a ramp-up time determiner determining the actual ramp-up time of the electric motor, a storing device storing a preset minimum ramp-up time, a comparator comparing the determined actual ramp-up time with the preset reference ramp-up time, a replacing device replacing the preset maximum current limit with an auto-adapted current limit based upon the outcome of the comparison between the determined actual ramp-up time and the preset reference ramp-up time. The soft-starter automatically optimizes the maximum current limit driven by the motor to match its load requirements which is useful to cater for load variations with time during the lifetime of the product in the application by avoiding the need for human intervention to change the soft-starter settings. Wear and tear is also reduced, extending motor lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Carlo Gavazzi Services AG
    Inventors: Claudio Balcon, Jason Demicoli, Thomas Ellul, Johann Galea, Roger Galea, Mauro Perot, Francesco Vedana
  • Patent number: 8487563
    Abstract: A drive motor control apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a motor and rotation detecting unit. In the apparatus, the first difference computing unit computes one of multiple first differences every time an actual detected angle of rotation of the motor becomes a corresponding representative angle during the one cycle. The first difference indicates an advancing amount of an estimated angle relative to the actual detected angle. The second difference computing unit computes multiple second differences based on the first differences of the one cycle. The second differences are adjusted in accordance with a degree of acceleration and deceleration of the motor. The adjusted second differences are used for correcting the actual detected angle of rotation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichiro Kawakami, Shigenori Mori, Jyunji Miyachi
  • Patent number: 8487575
    Abstract: A temperature estimation controller and methods are provided for estimating stator winding temperature over a full range of motor operating speeds. In one implementation, the angular velocity of a motor is determined along with a total power loss for each phase of said motor. The total power loss in each phase comprises stator winding power loss and a core power loss. Stator winding temperatures for each phase of motor can then estimated based on the total power loss in that phase, and a combined thermal impedance for that phase. The combined thermal impedance comprises a first thermal impedance between the stator winding and the stator core, and a second thermal impedance between the stator core and the motor coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chia-Chou Yeh, Nitinkumar R. Patel, Yo Chan Son, Steven E. Schulz
  • Patent number: 8482232
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit configured to supply drive currents to drive coils with a plurality of phases of a motor to drive the motor, includes: a trapezoidal wave signal generation circuit configured to output a trapezoidal wave signal whose inclination is changed with a rotation speed of the motor or a target rotation speed of the motor; and a plurality of output transistors configured to output the drive current to the drive coils, respectively, in accordance with the trapezoidal wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ON Semiconductor Trading, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Imai
  • Patent number: 8471519
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ito, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8447554
    Abstract: The invention is a turn-key, modular platform, including software and hardware, for testing physical system components such as motors remotely over the Internet. The system allows remote customers to test multiple physical system components under the specific loading conditions of the real-world application. This will provide more detailed and accurate information than what is usually given in the data sheets for system component performance, enabling the user to make a more-reliable decision. With respect to motors, the hardware consists of a torque motor that moves autonomously in xy plane to couple to the individual test motors, through a unique coupling mechanism, and emulate various load profiles on them. Test motors are mounted onto modular fixtures that allow for one-time manual positioning in xyz space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Mohammed Reza Emami, Michael-Anthony Tedesco
  • Patent number: 8441225
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Takuya Naruse, Kazuki Najima
  • Publication number: 20130106339
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating rotor time constant of induction motor, the apparatus being such that d-axis and q-axis current commands are received to output q-axis voltage command, to output q-axis voltage estimate, to output a changed value of rotor time constant, which is a difference between the q-axis voltage command and the q-axis voltage estimate, and to add the changed value of the rotor time constant to a rotor time constant, whereby the changed rotor time constant is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LSIS CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8432123
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an electric motor. The electric motor has at least two phases and a rotor. In the method, a current angular position (phipos) of the rotor is ascertained and, as a function of that, in at least one of the two phases, a potential is applied in such a way that a desired angular position (phiposreq) is achieved. From the current angular position (phipos) and the desired angular position (phiposreq) a setpoint angular velocity (dphides) is ascertained, which is used for influencing the potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael-Juergen Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8421399
    Abstract: A power control system for an A.C. induction motor is disclosed, comprising a voltage/current phase difference generator for determining a difference in phase between a voltage applied to the motor and a current drawn by the motor, and for generating a phase difference signal as a function of the determined difference in phase, the voltage/current phase difference generator including an integrator, the integrator receiving the phase difference signal and generating an error signal for controlling an amount of power supplied to the motor as a function of the phase difference signal, the integrator being electrically coupled to a potentiometer, the potentiometer providing a bias signal for at least partially controlling the error signal; and a delay circuit for controlling the bias signal provided by the potentiometer so as to cause full available power to be supplied to the motor for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Energy Innovative Products, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Anderson
  • Patent number: 8415908
    Abstract: A driving apparatus drives a brushless motor that includes a plurality of windings. The apparatus comprises a plurality of switch half-bridges connected to a power line and to the windings, a memory adapted to contain a plurality of signal profiles to be cyclically applied to the plurality of windings of the motor, a multiplier for multiplying the profile values of the signals from the memory by a scale factor, a control circuit adapted to generate PWM signals for the switches of the plurality of switch half-bridges according to values output by the multiplier, a polarity detector configured to detect the polarity of the current passing trough at least one winding of the motor and a scale factor controller configured to modify the scale factor according to the detected current polarity and so as to make each signal profile to be applied to each winding of the motor either higher than the back-electromotive force or equal to the back-electromotive force generated by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventor: Ezio Galbiati
  • Patent number: 8415907
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus and a motor control method determine whether the motor is in a back-pressure area so as to provide different rotation-speed control signals. When the fan is in the low duty cycle, a first circuit loop is switched on, so that the fan has more accurate rotation speed. When the fan is in the high duty cycle, a second circuit loop is switched on, so that the rotation speed of fan does not be limited to a constant rotation-speed as the fan enters the back-pressure area. Thus, the fan has larger airflow quantity and higher airflow pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Lung Chiu, Ming-Shi Tsai, Po-Tsun Kuo, Chung-Hung Tang
  • Patent number: 8410736
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a controllable rectification comprising an inverter (10), a control panel (20) and a drive panel (30). The inverter (10) may comprise three switch element groups connected in parallel. Each switch element group may comprise at least two switch elements connected in parallel. Each switch element may comprise an upper bridge-arm switch and a lower bridge-arm. The control panel (20) may generate a PWM waveform. The drive panel (30) may generate a drive voltage according to the PWM waveform to drive the upper bridge-arm switch and the lower bridge-arm switch of each switch element to conduct or break respectively, and to make the upper bridge-arms of the same switch element group to conduct or break simultaneously, and to make the lower bridge-arms of the same switch element group to conduct or break simultaneously. The present invention further discloses an electric motor comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventor: Xianhong Jiang
  • Patent number: 8410733
    Abstract: A hybrid synchronous motor drive circuit and method operates in one or two or more modes based on the speed of the synchronous machine. In a first mode, the synchronous machine is driven at a relatively low frequency by a current controlled voltage source inverter (VSI). In a second mode, the synchronous machine is driven at a relatively high frequency by a load commutated inverter (LCI) in tandem with the VSI. In the second mode, the LCI acts as the main power source for controlling the machine and determining machine torque and speed. The VSI acts as a harmonic compensator by compensating the dominant harmonic currents fed to the machine from the LCI such that the synchronous machine will see sinusoidal currents and thereby sinusoidal voltages at its terminals. The VSI also functions to provide sufficient reactive power at fundamental frequency so that the thyristors in the inverter are load commutated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Institute of Science
    Inventors: Vilanguppam Thathachary Ranganathan, Amit Kumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20130057194
    Abstract: There are provided a command speed calculation means (101) for outputting a command speed (?r) from a base speed (?b) and a ratio gain (?), reference speed generation means (108) calculating a reference speed (?a) so as to follow the command speed (?r) based on the command speed (?r), control deviation calculation means (103) for outputting a control deviation (e) from a speed deviation (?e) and a speed deviation correction value (?ec), speed control means (104) for outputting a compensation torque (?m) for decreasing the control deviation (e), speed deviation correction means (105) for calculating the speed deviation correction value (?ec) from at least the compensation torque (?m), command torque calculation means (107) for outputting a command torque (?r) from at least the compensation torque (?m) and ratio calculation means (102) for calculating the ratio gain (?) from the speed deviation (?e).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Marushita, Hidetoshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8390240
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an automotive drive system using an absolute position sensor for field-oriented control of an induction motor. An automotive drive system comprises an induction motor having a rotor, and a position sensor coupled to the induction motor. The position sensor is configured to sense an absolute angular position of the rotor. A processor may be coupled to the position sensor and configured to determine a relative angular position of the rotor based on a difference between the absolute angular position and an initial angular position obtained when the induction motor is started. A controller may be coupled to the induction motor and the processor and configured to provide field-oriented control of the induction motor based on the relative angular position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Constantin C. Stancu, Silva Hiti, Robert T. Dawsey, Erik Hatch, Matthew D. Laba, Peter J. Savagian
  • Patent number: 8390238
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Magnus Ek, Heinz Lendenmann, Jesper Kristensson
  • Patent number: 8378612
    Abstract: A control system for a massage device. The massage device has a base, a carriage movably engaged with the base, a plurality of kneading heads mounted on the carriage, and a motor operative to drive the plurality of kneading heads to produce a kneading effect on a body of a user and to drive the carriage up and down relative to the base such that various areas of the body can be massaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Chichun Wu
  • Patent number: 8378605
    Abstract: A multiphase alternating current permanent magnet synchronous electric motor is coupled to an actuator. A sensorless electric motor drive control system controls operation of the electric motor. An initial phase angle and a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor are estimated. Operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor are monitored using the estimated initial phase angle and the estimated rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor. A fault in one of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor is detected based upon the monitored operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Nitinkumar R. Patel, Yo Chan Son
  • Patent number: 8373371
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric machine that includes sequentially exciting and freewheeling a winding of the electric machine. The winding is excited in advance of zero-crossings of back emf in the winding by an advance angle, and the winding is freewheeled over a freewheel angle. The method then includes varying the advance angle and the freewheel angle in response to changes in the voltage used to excite the winding. Additionally, a control system for an electric machine, and a product incorporating the control system and electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Charlton Clothier, Tuncay Celik
  • Patent number: 8373380
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhito Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8373369
    Abstract: A method for operating a synchronous motor wherein a magnetic field is generated by a first motor component in a predetermined orientation, the method including generating a relative movement between the first and a second motor component limited to a predetermined value, and determining a direction of the relative movement, wherein the generating and determining are repeated until a change in the direction of the relative movement occurs, wherein a magnetic field having a changed orientation with regard to a previously generated magnetic field is generated by the first motor component, and wherein the orientation of the magnetic field with the changed orientation is changed by a predetermined orientation section and depending on the determined direction of the relative movement. The invention encompasses an amplifier for operating a synchronous motor and a system including an amplifier and a synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Beckhoff Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Sieweke
  • Patent number: 8362735
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Protective Energy Economizer Technology
    Inventor: Mario M. Marcoccia
  • Patent number: 8353678
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application. The pumping apparatus includes a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump. The method includes the acts of controlling the motor to operate the pump and monitoring the operation of the pump. The monitoring act includes monitoring a power of the motor, and determining whether the monitored power indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. The method further includes the act of controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump and zero or more other conditions exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Regal Beloit EPC Inc.
    Inventors: William Louis Mehlhorn, Andrew William Phillips
  • Patent number: 8354810
    Abstract: An electric motor is driven with high output at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is enabled at the time of fast-speed running. An electric power steering device causes the electric motor to generate auxiliary torque in accordance with the largeness of steering wheel torque by the steering operation of a wheel made by a driver and reduces the steering wheel torque to the driver. A control device drives, based on a vehicle-speed signal (Vs) from a speed sensor, the electric motor with high output at the time of low-speed running, and enables steering at a high resolution at the time of fast-speed running without increasing an electric-motor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroki Sagami
  • Publication number: 20120306430
    Abstract: A microcomputer that outputs a pulse signal controlling an ultrasonic motor includes a digital/analog, D/A, conversion set register that stores a D/A conversion set value setting an amplitude value of the pulse signal, a D/A converter that generates the amplitude value based on the D/A conversion set value, a first compare register that stores a first compare register value setting a frequency of the pulse signal, a second compare register that stores a second compare register value setting a duty ratio of the pulse signal, a counter that outputs a count value, a first comparator that compares the first compare register value with the count value to generate a first comparison result signal, and a second comparator that compares the second compare register value with the count value to generate a second comparison result signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Kentarou Araki
  • Patent number: 8324851
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a rotor in a permanent magnet synchronous motor includes applying voltage pulses to the windings at successive electrical angles while the motor is at a standstill. The resultant current is sampled. The position of a maximum current is determined by identifying an segment of an electrical cycles which includes the maximum current, and using a spline interpolation to model the current flow in this segment. The maximum current is then correlated to the position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Matsuo, Thomas J. Rehm
  • Patent number: 8294409
    Abstract: A ram air fan control system includes a ram air fan motor, the ram air fan motor being a pole-change induction motor with at least two pole-count configurations, a ram air fan contactor in operative communication with a first pole-count configuration of the ram air fan motor over a ram air fan conductor bus, a ram air fan power controller in operative communication with the ram air fan contactor, a common contactor in operative communication a second pole-count configuration of the ram air fan motor over a common conductor bus, the common conductor bus being separate and electrically isolated from the ram air fan conductor bus, and a common power controller in operative communication with the common contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Waleed Said, Huazhen Chai
  • Patent number: 8278861
    Abstract: A system includes a power control module, a period determination module, and a control module. The power control module controls current through stator coils of a motor to rotate a rotor. The period determination module determines a first length of time between a first set of induced stator coil voltages and determines a second length of time between a second set of induced stator coil voltages. The control module determines whether an external disturbance disturbs rotation of the rotor based on a difference between the first and second lengths of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Foo Leng Leong, Edy Susanto, Ravishanker Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 8274247
    Abstract: A control unit for a rotary electric machine control system includes a first current command module, a second current command module and a change module. The first current command module controls the rotary electric machine based on a maximum efficiency characteristic line. The second current command module controls the rotary electric machine based on an early switching characteristic line, which is set at a retard angle side relative to the maximum efficiency characteristic line with a predetermined phase difference. When a control mode is switched over to a rectangular wave voltage phase control mode from an overmodulation current control mode in accordance with an increase in torque, the change module changes the current command from the first current command module to the second command current module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Itoh, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8269437
    Abstract: A control unit for a rotary electric machine includes a first current command module, a second current command module, a change module, and a return module. The first module performs a first current command on a maximum efficiency characteristic line on a d-q plane thereby to drive the machine at a maximum efficiency. The second module performs a second current command on a switching line set at a retard angle side relative to the maximum efficiency characteristic line. The change module changes a control mode from a rectangular wave voltage phase control mode to an overmodulation current control mode when an operation point of the machine reaches the switching line. The return module returns the current command from the second command to the first command after performance of the second command for a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Itoh, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8269450
    Abstract: A winding switching apparatus includes a winding switching device and a drive circuit. The winding switching device is configured to switch a plurality of windings of an AC motor. The drive circuit is configured to control the winding switching device. The winding switching device includes a winding switch, a diode bridge, and a capacitor. The diode bridge includes a positive-side DC output terminal, a negative-side DC output terminal, and AC input terminals. The AC input terminals corresponds to respective phases of the AC motor. The positive-side and negative-side DC output terminals are respectively connected to positive-side and negative-side DC buses provided in an inverter. The AC input terminals are respectively connected to winding-switching terminals corresponding to the respective phases of the AC motor. The AC input terminals are respectively connected to phase terminals provided in the winding switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Koji Higashikawa, Kenji Yamada, Katsutoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8264181
    Abstract: In a control of an AC motor that uses a PWM control and a rectangular-wave control, when switching is conducted from the rectangular-wave control to the PWM control, a current command generated in a current command generation unit is corrected so as to smooth the variations in a time axis direction on the basis of a target torque command value by taking the final current state in the rectangular-wave control immediately prior to switching as an initial value, thereby generating a current command after the correction. An inverter is current feedback-controlled based on the current command after the correction. As a result, the continuity from the current state immediately prior to switching of the rectangular-wave control can be ensured for the current command in the PWM control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yamakawa, Kenji Yamada, Yutaka Kuromatsu
  • Patent number: 8264192
    Abstract: A system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) module, a subtraction module, an error reducing module, and a summing module. The PWM module controls switching of an inverter that powers a motor. The PWM module controls the switching based on a first angle in a first mode and a second angle in a second mode. The subtraction module determines a difference between the first and second angles. The error reducing module (i) stores the difference when a transition from the first mode to the second mode is commanded and (ii) decreases a magnitude of the stored difference to zero. The summing module calculates a sum of the stored difference and the second angle. The PWM module controls the switching based on the sum in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Green, Joseph G. Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 8253370
    Abstract: A microcomputer that controls an ultrasonic motor includes a storage unit that stores a compare register value, and a digital/analog (D/A) conversion set value, a D/A converter that generates an amplitude control signal with an amplitude value corresponding to the D/A conversion set value, a timer that generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal with a frequency corresponding to the compare register value, a central processing unit (CPU) that reads the D/A conversion set value, and the compare register value from the storage unit, and that sets the D/A conversion set value and the compare register value to the D/A converter and the timer, respectively, and an output circuit that generates the control signal with the amplitude of the amplitude control signal, and the frequency of the PWM signal, in response to the amplitude control signal and the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Kentarou Araki
  • Patent number: 8242728
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to modernizing a technical system, in particular a producing system with the aim of obtaining economic and technical advantages. The technical system comprises at least one drive mechanism provided with at least one drive motor powered by a power element, a torque controller controlling the power element and a speed controller prescribing the nominal value of the torque (Msoll) for the torque controller. When the determination of the nominal value of the torque (Msoll) for the torque controller by the speed controller is deactivated, a standard drive element is available. The drive element comprises at least one speed controller, a torque controller and a power element. The nominal value of the torque (Msoll) of the torque controller of the drive motor is determined by a speed controller of the standard drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Haaks, Gerd Michaelis, Christian-Marius Wegner
  • Patent number: 8242734
    Abstract: The controller controls a spindle connected to an induction motor via a belt by controlling the rotational velocity of the induction motor. The spindle has an encoder attached thereto for detecting the position of the spindle, but the induction motor does not have a velocity detector attached thereto. The velocity of the induction motor is estimated from the spindle velocity obtained from output of the encoder, and slip of the belt is detected based on the estimated velocity of the induction motor. When occurrence of slip of the belt is detected, the estimated velocity of the induction motor will not be used for the control of the induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Tadashi Okita, Takahiro Akiyama, Geng Li
  • Patent number: 8237393
    Abstract: A system is used to measure a fan rotational speed. The system includes a main controller, a first socket coupled to the linear fan, a second socket connected to the main controller, and an optical fiber amplifier connected to the main controller. A PWM (pulse width module) fan is coupled to the second socket, the PWM fan sends a first rotational speed signal, which represent a rotation speed of the PWM fan, to the main controller via the second socket. The optical fiber amplifier is capable of radiating light on fan blades of the linear fan, and sensing light reflected by the fan blades to count a rotational speed of the linear fan, and generating a second rotational speed signal which represents a rotational speed of the linear fan. The optical fiber amplifier sends the second rotational speed signal to the main controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ling-Yu Xie, Kun-Lung Wu, Sheng-Chung Huang, San-Yong Yang, Xin-Ping Zhang, Jing Liu
  • Patent number: 8237386
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manage working states of a data processing system. At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing system with one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors such as tachometer and thermistors, and logical sensors such as CPU load) for fine grain control of one or more components (e.g., processor, fan, hard drive, optical drive) of the system for working conditions that balance various goals (e.g., user preferences, performance, power consumption, thermal constraints, acoustic noise). In one example, the clock frequency and core voltage for a processor are actively managed to balance performance and power consumption (heat generation) without a significant latency. In one example, the speed of a cooling fan is actively managed to balance cooling effort and noise (and/or power consumption).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Culbert, Keith Alan Cox, Brian Howard, Josh de Cesare, Richard Charles Williams, Dave Robbins Falkenburg, Daisie Iris Huang, Dave Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 8228020
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid motor, The hybrid motor, uses a permanent magnet instead of a field coil for a rotor, winds a coil round a stator in a multi-phase independent parallel manner, fixes a rectifying type encoder to the rotor and connects a sensor to a driving circuit. The apparatus comprises: an encoder attached to a rotor in cooperation with a pole sensor a speed input unit for generating a speed instruction signal a power switching circuit to generate motor driving signals; a drive module receiving the speed instruction signal and the sensor signal and outputting the speed instruction signal synchronized with the sensor signal as a driving motor signal; a power supply for applying a DC voltage to the power switching circuit; A logic power supply for converting the DC voltage into a logic voltage, and applying logic voltage to the drive module. The motor has n phases, n power switching circuits and n drive modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Eni Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Ryul Shin, Pyeong-Hun Cho
  • Patent number: 8212511
    Abstract: A method (100) is provided for controlling torque of an electric motor (12) including the step (106) of supplying drive current to drive the electric motor. The speed of the electric motor is monitored (108) and from the monitored speed, it is determined (110) when the motor has reached a steady state condition. The supply current is turned off (118) if the monitored torque of the electric motor exceeds a predetermined value (114) after the electric motor has reached the steady state condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: James J. Dean
  • Patent number: 8203297
    Abstract: The motor control apparatus includes a power supply function of supplying electric power from a power supply to a motor, a rotational position detecting function of performing detection of a rotational position of a rotor of the motor for respective phases of the motor, and outputting first rotational position data indicative of result of the detection, a control function of controlling a power supply operation of the power supply function in accordance with the first rotational position data, and an induced voltage detecting function of performing detection of induced voltages of the respective phases of the motor. The control function controls the power supply operation of the power supply function in accordance with result of the detection performed by the induced voltage detecting function when the first rotational position data are abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Kondo, Hideki Kabune
  • Patent number: 8188700
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for driving a sensorless motor are described and shown in the specification and drawings, where the method includes steps as follows. First, a control signal is acquired, where the control signal has information of a predetermined rotational speed. Next, energy is supplied and progressively increased to the sensorless motor, so as to rotate a rotor of the sensorless motor. Then, a position of the rotor is detected. Finally, the energy is gradually regulated so that the sensorless motor is maintained at the predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: inergy Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Chung Tseng, Hsien-Wen Hsu, Chien-Jen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8179075
    Abstract: A motor driving integrated circuit comprising: a speed control circuit configured to control a rotation speed of a motor according to a speed control signal; a detecting circuit configured to detect whether the speed control signal indicates stop of rotation of the motor; and a shut-off circuit configured to shut off power supply to a circuit included in the motor driving integrated circuit when the detecting circuit detects that the speed control signal indicates stop of rotation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemi Maeto, Shunji Suzuki