Including Inverter Patents (Class 318/801)
  • Patent number: 9502998
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling a torque output by an AC motor drawing power from a DC bus. According to certain embodiments, the system for controlling the torque output has a controller and an inverter. The controller further has an operation status detector, a basic voltage vector calculator, and a voltage command generator. The operation status detector is configured to determine a DC bus voltage and a rotor field vector. The basic voltage vector calculator is configured to calculate a plurality of basic voltage vectors having a magnitude proportional to the DC bus voltage. The voltage command generator is configured to generate a voltage command for producing a stator field vector. Producing the stator field vector includes at least one of maintaining a constant angle between the stator field vector and the rotor field vector, and setting a magnitude of the stator field vector equal to the magnitude of the plurality of basic voltage vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Baojun Si
  • Patent number: 9455646
    Abstract: A filter device comprises: a filter capacitor portion having one set of ends connected to the AC voltage unit, and the other set of ends connected to DC terminals of the semiconductor switching unit via a low impedance element, wherein both set of ends of the filter capacitor portion and the DC terminals of the semiconductor switching unit are static ground terminals of the power converter; a filter inductance portion a first set of connection terminals connected to the AC voltage unit, a second set of connection terminals connected to the AC terminals of the semiconductor switching unit, a third set of connection terminals connected to one of the static ground terminals of the power converter, and a fourth set of connection terminals; and a compensation portion having one end connected to the fourth set of connection terminals and the other end connected to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventors: Jinping Zhou, Min Zhou, Yicong Xie
  • Patent number: 9455653
    Abstract: Phase currents of an inverter-driven electric machine are measured by mounting phase conductors of each respective phase current into a central passage of a respective flux core. A plurality of current sensors are mounted into a gap of each respective flux core to generate a respective plurality of current signals for each phase current. The Hall-effect devices are connected to a plurality of multi-channel op amp devices for conditioning the current signals such that each set of Hall-effect devices is connected to a different one of the op amp devices and such that each op amp device receives one current signal corresponding to each phase current. Thus, a valid conditioned current signal corresponding to each phase conductor is generated by the op amp devices unless there are multiple simultaneous failures of the Hall-effect devices and the op amp devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jaswant S. Garcha
  • Patent number: 9444368
    Abstract: A method performed in a power bridge (3) comprising multiple arms (B1, B2, Bi, Bn). Each arm comprises upper and lower semiconductor switches arranged in series and connected in parallel to first and second terminals (B+, B?) of a common voltage source (2). The mid-point of the arm is connected to a phase of an electrical load (1). The aforementioned switches are controlled complementarily by pulses having a duty factor set value (RC1, RC2, RCi, RCn) determined as a function of a first phase voltage set value (V1, V2, Vi, Vn) in relation to a reference terminal of the electrical load (1) and of a common-mode voltage (V0) in relation to one of the first or second terminals, such as to control the switching losses of the switches. The common-mode voltage (V0) is determined such as to balance switching losses and conduction losses between the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Michaƫl Chemin
  • Patent number: 9444369
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes: an inverter unit having high and low potential-side switching elements corresponding to each phase of a winding of a rotating electrical machine; a current detecting unit; a current obtaining unit obtaining a current detection value with a fixed interval sampling timing; and a control unit controlling the switching elements based on a PWM reference signal and a duty instruction value. The control unit includes: a phase current computing device; a voltage instruction value computing device; and a duty computing device. The phase current computing device computes a correction current based on positive and negative side corrected current detection values. The positive-side corrected current detection value is obtained when a duty is adjusted to a positive side, and the negative-side corrected current detection value is obtained when the duty is adjusted to a negative side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9435263
    Abstract: A thermal stress reduction method includes ramping an electric power generator to start an aircraft engine, for a time period associated with the aircraft engine start sequence toggling a three-level inverter switch array to a three-level pulse width modulation mode, determining if a first time interval in the three-level pulse width modulation mode exceeded a predetermined three-level pulse width modulation mode interval, in response to the first time interval exceeding the three-level pulse width modulation mode interval, toggling the three-level inverter switch array to a two-level pulse width modulation mode, determining if a second time interval in the two-level pulse width modulation mode exceeded a predetermined two-level pulse width modulation mode interval and in response to the second time interval exceeding the two-level pulse width modulation mode interval, toggling the three-level inverter switch array to the three-level pulse width modulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huazhen Chai, Adam M. White, Mustansir Kheraluwala
  • Patent number: 9425706
    Abstract: A three phase inverter consisting of three single phase legs using either switch mode or linear control is fed by a DC-DC converter to provide input output isolation. This requires that the DC-DC converter delivers equal positive and negative voltages to the single phase legs to allow each output to generate a high fidelity sine wave outputs to the load. By measuring the error voltages on the positive output, the negative output and the total output of the DC-DC converter it is possible to control a single duty cycle while maintaining all three output voltages within the limits required by the DC-AC phase legs. This significantly reduces the cost and complexity of the DC-DC converter and eliminates the need to use a fourth phase leg to generate the neutral connection for a three phase output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Henry Richard Epps, Andrew Benjamin Cole
  • Patent number: 9419556
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for operating a pump system are disclosed, the pump system including a pump arranged to be rotated with an AC motor, an inverter, the output of which is electrically connected to the AC motor, and a photovoltaic panel system electrically connected to feed DC power to the inverter. The method can include setting a voltage limit, and determining continuously voltage obtained from the photovoltaic panel system. When the determined voltage of the photovoltaic panel system is below the set voltage limit, frequency of the inverter can be controlled such that the ratio between output voltage of the inverter and the output frequency is substantially constant. When the determined voltage of the photovoltaic panel system exceeds the voltage limit, the inverter frequency can be controlled for keeping voltage of the photovoltaic panel system substantially at the voltage limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Laxmikantha Shenoy, Ahmed Syed, Chetan Patange, Deepak Pandey, Mikko Lammi, Rahul Raj, Satyan Rn
  • Patent number: 9401674
    Abstract: A motor controller for providing a three-phase alternating current (AC) signal to a three-phase motor. The motor controller uses current feedback from a single shunt to monitor or control the three phase AC signal. The motor controller may include a three-phase DC to AC power inverter, a single-shunt current sensor, and a processor. During individual duty cycles when two or more phase signals are too close to each other, the processor may shift one of the phase signals in time so that its leading or trailing edges are a predetermined conflict time away from each other. Then, the processor may sample current from the single-shunt current sensor to determine currents of two of the three phase signals and then calculate current of a remaining one of the three phase signals. Sample times may depend on pulse widths and shifting of the phase signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Schock, Prakash B. Shahi
  • Patent number: 9369071
    Abstract: A discontinuous pulse width modulation technique is used in a controller to control an inverter that converts DC battery power to AC power to operate an electric motor, e.g., in a hybrid electric vehicle. The discontinuous pulse width modulation technique uses only one of the two zero state voltage vectors in its calculations whereas traditional pulse width modulation uses both zero state voltage vectors. The use of a single zero state voltage vector can result in one of a group of switches in the inverter remaining in a constant state during a complete duty cycle while still providing the commanded voltage vector to the electrical motor. As a result losses due to switching can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chang-Jiang Wang, Michael W. Degner, William Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9318828
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a contact pin including: a deformation part elastically deformed; connection parts coupled to both ends of the deformation part; and contact parts coupled to the connection parts coupled to both ends of the deformation part, respectively, and having one end coupled to the connection part and the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Ho Sohn, Eun Jung Jo, Jae Hyun Lim, Tae Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9312753
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power converter with low common mode noise, at least comprising: a ground terminal, a power converting unit, a capacitor unit of common DC bus, a filtering capacitor unit, a filtering inductor unit, and a compensation unit. In the present invention, a filtering inductor unit including three primary windings and three auxiliary windings is used for making the power converting unit couple to three phase terminals of an external electrical apparatus. Moreover, the three auxiliary windings are further formed a compensation circuit by way of being connected with the compensation unit, such that the engineer is able to easily and effectively suppress the common mode noise occurring near the resonant frequency of the power converting apparatus through selecting a suitable turns ratio of the primary windings and the auxiliary windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinping Zhou, Min Zhou, Yicong Xie
  • Patent number: 9294005
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting capacitor degradation in an input filter of an active front end power conversion system in which voltage and current sensing is performed to determine sequence component impedance asymmetry to detect filter capacitor degradation according to the value of an off-axis admittance matrix component for Delta or Y-connected filter capacitor banks without sensitivity to voltage unbalance, and with the capability to identify particular degraded capacitor locations based on individual impedance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rangarajan Tallam, Russel Kerkman
  • Patent number: 9263976
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes: duty calculation units that calculate a duty of a PWM signal based on a deviation between a value of a physical quantity of a motor with a command value; and a duty setting unit that performs setting of the duty based on the duty calculated by the duty calculation units. The duty setting unit maintains a present duty until new duty is input from any one of the plurality of duty calculation units, and updates the duty from the present duty to the new duty when the new duty is input from any one of the plurality of duty calculation units. A PWM signal generation unit generates the PWM signal based on the duty set by the duty setting unit and a carrier signal generated by a carrier signal generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Ito, Hirotaka Inoue, Kei Sato
  • Patent number: 9225268
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive system includes an electric-vehicle power conversion device, and an earth ground switch that is a triple-pole single-throw switch having a switching contact unit. The electric-vehicle power conversion device includes a smoothing circuit unit that includes a filter capacitor that receives and stores therein power supplied from an overhead wire, an inverter that converts a DC voltage of the smoothing circuit unit into an AC voltage to drive an electric motor, and a brake chopper circuit that consumes excess power, which cannot be returned toward the overhead wire. A brake resistance in the brake chopper circuit is connected to the switching contact unit. When the switching contact unit is closed, the brake resistance is electrically connected between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the filter capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 9225273
    Abstract: A method for driving a motor including a stator wound with a coil and a rotor rotatably disposed and confronting the stator, whereby the coil is energized and driven at energizing timing of which phase is determined based on an advance angle amount to rotate the rotor. At this time, it is determined whether or not a power supply voltage supplied to the motor exceeds a predetermined voltage, and when it is determined that the power supply voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, the advance angle amount is changed to increase a current amount flowing through the coil, for energizing and driving the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 9219440
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a parameter of an induction motor is provided. The estimating apparatus receives an output from a current controller and d and q-axis currents in a synchronous reference frame applied to an induction motor, calculates an error of rotor resistance, and obtains a difference between the rotor resistance and nominal rotor resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Anno Yoo
  • Patent number: 9214886
    Abstract: An ECU having two inverters outputs AC currents, which have the same amplitude and a phase difference of 30Ā°. When motor magnetic fluxes include distortion component of fifth harmonic, a torque ripple of sixth harmonic is generated in a torque of each drive system. The torque ripples of sixth harmonic are cancelled out in a sum of torques of the two drive systems. A fifth harmonic current having a frequency of fivefold are superimposed on base components of currents so that peak values of the base wave currents are reduced. As a result, heat generation arising from current peak values can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9209734
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a parameter of an induction motor is provided. The estimating apparatus receives an output from a current controller and d and q-axis currents in a synchronous reference frame applied to an induction motor, calculates an error of rotor resistance, and obtains a difference between the rotor resistance and nominal rotor resistance to calculate stator resistance therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Anno Yoo
  • Patent number: 9191004
    Abstract: A signal converting device includes: a first converting circuit arranged to receive a first inputting signal; and a first capacitive circuit coupled between an output terminal of the first converting circuit and a reference voltage; wherein the first converting circuit is arranged to generate a first converting signal on the output terminal of the first converting circuit according to the first inputting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Yang-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9124195
    Abstract: A method controls a three-phase converter with a voltage intermediate circuit by pulse-width modulation for supplying a polyphase system, in particular a three-phase machine. The converter is operated with at least two different modulation methods which are selected from among the group of modulation methods which includes single-phase switching, two-phase switching and three-phase switching, and for changeovers to be made between the at least two different modulation methods depending on the operating state of the polyphase system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Weinmann, Stefan Zeh, Nicola-Valeriu Olarescu
  • Patent number: 9112440
    Abstract: A sensorless driving method for a single phase alternating current permanent magnet motor is described. The method comprises a starting drive mode and a stable drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FORTIOR TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lei Bi
  • Patent number: 9077273
    Abstract: A control device of a three phase AC motor includes: an inverter for driving the motor; a current sensor for sensing current flowing in a sensor phase of the motor; and a controller for switching multiple switching elements in the inverter to control the current of the motor. An electric angle is defined as ?e based on one phase. A phase is defined as ? based on a dq axis. A phase angle of a current command vector is defined as (?e+?+C). When the motor is stopped, the controller determines whether the current command vector is orthogonal to an axis of the sensor phase. When the current command vector is orthogonal to the axis of the sensor phase, the controller operates the phase or the electric angle to set the current command vector not to be orthogonal to the axis of the sensor phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuji Omata, Takeshi Itoh, Hirofumi Kako
  • Patent number: 9065379
    Abstract: Provided are a low-cost control device and the like for a vehicle generator-motor for minimizing the number of current sensors and the like, and estimating an output torque and a current consumption during drive of the generator-motor. The output torque and the current consumption during the drive of the generator-motor are estimated based on a field current, an rpm, a DC voltage, and a phase of an AC voltage to be supplied of the generator-motor, without providing a current sensor for detecting an input current from a power supply to an inverter device of the generator-motor, and a current sensor for detecting an output current from the inverter device to an armature winding of a rotary electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsunori Tabata, Masato Mori, Kenichi Akita
  • Patent number: 9065364
    Abstract: An object is to provide a specific achievement means for achieving reliable failure determination in a control system in a motor control device. The motor control device includes motor drive means for supplying a motor current to a motor; motor current detection means for detecting the motor current; and a controller to which a motor current detection value from the motor current detection means is input, and which outputs a drive signal to the motor drive means, in which the controller includes voltage control means for controlling a voltage applied to the motor; power supply voltage detection means; means for limiting the maximum value (%) of a drive duty ratio in a PWM circuit to a smaller value, upon determining power supply voltage drop; and failure determination means for determining a failure in a case of an abnormal motor current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Ikemoto, Chiaki Fujimoto, Shunichi Wada
  • Patent number: 9041326
    Abstract: A method for operating a brushless electric motor, the windings being energized by an inverter with the aid of six switches. A detection unit for detecting defective switches, a unit for measuring voltage at the outputs of the inverter, and a microcontroller for controlling the switch and for generating a pulse width modulated voltage supply for the windings are provided. A short-circuited switch causes a torque in the electric motor opposite the actuating direction of the electric motor. The method proposes that after detecting a short-circuited switch, the windings (U. V. W) are energized to generate a motor torque that is, on the whole, positive. An actuating period of the electric motor is divided into a plurality of sectors, wherein, in accordance with the defective switch, individual sectors are deactivated for the actuation of the windings (U, V, W), while other sectors are used to actuate the windings (V, W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Gunselmann, Mathias Fernengel, Nicolas Bruyant, Lionel Guichard, Michel Parette
  • Patent number: 9030135
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes an EPS actuator that applies assist force to a steering system, and an ECU that controls operation of the EPS actuator. The ECU includes an inverter device, a gate driver circuit, a gate driver power source, a microcomputer, and the like. The microcomputer switches assist control to assist stop control, based on an indication of a voltage decrease in the gate driver power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9024558
    Abstract: A bridge output circuit includes an output terminal, a high side transistor, a low side transistor, a high side driver for controlling a gate voltage of the high side transistor, a low side driver for controlling a gate voltage of the low side transistor, and a controller for controlling the high side and low side drivers. The low side driver includes a first current source, a second current source, and a first assist circuit. The controller is configured to control the turning-on and turning-off states of the first current source, the second current source and the first assist circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Sugie
  • Patent number: 9024563
    Abstract: A pitch drive circuit that operates in an emergency mode, for a wind or water power plant. The circuit has at least one rectifier unit, at least one DC intermediate circuit, two inverter units and a pitch rotary current motor with motor trains that can be contacted on both sides. A first contact side of the motor trains is connected to a first inverter unit and a second contact side of the motor trains is connected to a second inverter unit. At least one switching element is connected to at least one contact side of the motor trains. In a normal operating mode of a first switching state of the switching element the motor trains can be energized via both inverter units, and in an emergency operating mode of a second switching state of the switching element, the motor trains can be energized via a single inverter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: LTi REEnergy GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas BĆ¼nte, Harald Wertz, Christian Kleinen, Harry Gill
  • Patent number: 9024553
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an AC motor improves an electric current estimation accuracy of the AC motor, which includes a three phase motor with an electric current detector to detect an electric current detection value of one of the three phases (a sensor phase). The control apparatus includes an electric current estimation unit that repeatedly performs an inverted dq conversion and a dq conversion. The inverted dq conversion calculates an electric current estimate values for phases other than the sensor phase based on the d/q axis electric current estimate values of a previous cycle. The dq conversion calculates the d/q axis electric current estimate values of a current cycle in a rotation coordinate system of the AC motor based on the electric current estimate values calculated by the inverted dq conversion and the electric current detection value of the sensor phase detected by the electric current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Takeshi Itoh, Hirofumi Kako
  • Patent number: 9018871
    Abstract: A carrier generating unit applies a carrier that monotonically decreases to a switching control unit during either one of a first period that is a period immediately following a period in which a voltage command value is a value not more than a minimum value of the carrier, the voltage command value taking a first predetermined value larger than the minimum value of the carrier in the first period, and a second period that is a period immediately preceding a period in which the voltage command value is not less than a maximum value of the carrier, the voltage command value taking a second predetermined value smaller than the maximum value in the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashida, Hiroshi Hibino, Naoto Kobayashi, Michihiro Nakagawa, Nobuki Kitano, Masaki Kouno
  • Patent number: 9000711
    Abstract: Provided is a power converter that is capable of ensuring a conduction current without expanding the configuration of a DC voltage conversion circuit such as a DC chopper. Power can be supplied from both a DC chopper and a voltage source rectifier converting AC power into DC power, to a voltage source inverter. The voltage source rectifier has an upper arm part and a lower arm part having switching elements. The voltage source rectifier converts AC power obtained from an alternator into DC power, performs a DC chopper operation using the upper and lower arms thereof and a winding wire of the alternator, and supplies power of a DC power source to the voltage source inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Iwahori
  • Patent number: 8994319
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a magnet rotor which is placed with an air gap interposed between it and a stator and has a magnetic pole portion formed from a plastic magnet which swells by hydrogen bonds, an inverter circuit, a DC-voltage conversion portion, a driving logic control portion, a supply current value control portion, a current value designation portion, a reference current value designation portion, and a correlation designation portion, wherein the correlation designation portion determines an average current value by changing the average current value linearly or non-linearly with respect to a reference current value, and the magnetic pole portion absorbs moisture to swell, thereby making the air gap smaller, at higher humidity than a reference humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Takada
  • Patent number: 8994318
    Abstract: An electrical on-board network of a vehicle, having at least two power circuits and an electrical machine allocated to a drive of the vehicle. The electrical machine has at least two phase systems, connected to a respective inverter, and that at least one of the phase systems is capable of being electrically connected to at least one of the power circuits via the associated inverter. A method for operating an electrical on-board network of a vehicle is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Kurfiss, Sven Finke
  • Patent number: 8988030
    Abstract: This disclosure is drawn to methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus related to power control in applications over long cables. Specifically, the disclosed methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to power control that considers the maximum power available at the end of a long cable (or from a battery) to a load over a broad range of load conditions. Some example systems may include a power supply located at the Earth's surface and a power converter coupled to the power supply via a cable having a first end coupled to the power supply and a second end coupled to the power converter. Some example power converters may be configured to measure the power being consumed by the electrical load in the well, and adjust operating parameter(s) of the electrical load based, at least in part, on the maximum power available at the second end of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon Hernandez Marti, John Parry, Dudi Rendusara
  • Patent number: 8988035
    Abstract: A system for identifying magnetizing inductance and rotor resistance of an induction machine comprises an induction machine comprising a rotor and a stator, a DC voltage bus, and a DC-to-AC voltage inverter coupled to the DC voltage bus and to the induction machine. The system also comprises a controller configured to cause the DC-to-AC voltage inverter to apply a square-wave excitation to a plurality of phases of the induction machine, determine a stator resistance of the stator of the induction machine based on the square-wave excitation, and determine a rotor resistance of the rotor of the induction machine based on the square-wave excitation. The controller is also configured to calculate a magnetizing curve for the induction machine based on the stator and rotor resistances and control the induction machine to operate based on the magnetizing curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Wang, Wenxi Yao, Huaqiang Li, Zhengyu Lu
  • Patent number: 8981704
    Abstract: Provided are a motor controller for suppressing a torque pulsation with a simple configuration and obtaining a sufficient output torque in the case of an open-type fault occurring in any one of windings of a motor and inverters, and an electric power steering device using the motor controller. In the motor controller for controlling a current supplied from and a voltage applied from a power source with respect to the motor including winding sets of a plurality of systems, when a fault determination unit (31) determines the occurrence of the open-type fault, the supply of the currents to the windings of one of the systems in which the fault has occurred is stopped by control performed on switching elements included in the inverter of the faulty system, whereas the supply of the currents to the windings of the normal system in which the fault has not occurred is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Endo, Isao Kezobo, Yoshihiko Kimpara, Jiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8981706
    Abstract: An electric motor drive apparatus includes multiple inverter sections arranged corresponding to winding sets of a motor, multiple relays that controls power supplies to the inverter sections, and a control unit. Each inverter section and corresponding winding set are referred to as a system. The control unit includes an obtaining section that obtains a winding current, a determination section that determines a fault occurrence, a specifying section that specifies a faulty system in which the fault occurs, an interrupting section that controls the relay corresponding to the faulty system to interrupt the power supply to the faulty system, and a vibrating section that controls the inverter section of a properly-operating system to add a vibration to an output torque from the electric motor. The vibrating section gradually increases a vibration component of the vibration added to the output torque from the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Uryu
  • Patent number: 8981701
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for compensating offset of a current sensor detecting a motor current supplied by an inverter for PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control of a motor, the apparatus including a current controller providing a PWM signal generated based on the motor current detected by the current sensor to the inverter, calculating an offset using the motor current detected by the current sensor in response to presence and absence of the PWM control of the motor, or offset-compensating the motor current detected by the current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gi Young Choi
  • Patent number: 8975857
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus basically includes an inverter, a rotational speed detecting component and a control component. The inverter includes a plurality of pairs of switching elements. The control component controls an on-off status of the switching elements to convert a direct current from a direct current power source into alternating current by alternately executing first and second controls when a rotational speed of a motor connected to the switching elements is larger than a prescribed rotational speed. The first control turns on the switching elements that are directly connected to a positive electrode of the power source, and turns off the switching elements that are directly connected to a negative electrode of the power source. The second control turns on the switching elements that are directly connected to the negative electrode and turns off the switching elements that are directly connected to the positive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8975847
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first capacitor connected in parallel to a direct-current power supply, plural power converters that drive plural synchronous machines, a second capacitor connected in parallel to a direct-current side of power converters, a switching circuit inserted between the first and second capacitors, a switch-start instruction unit that controls starting of an operation of the power converters, and a control unit that controls the power converters based on a motor velocity and a voltage of the first capacitor. The switch-start instruction unit turns off the switching circuit while the power converters stop, turns off the switching circuit until a terminal voltage of each of the synchronous machines becomes equal to a predetermined value when each of the power converters starts operating, and turns on the switching circuit when the terminal voltage of each synchronous machine becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Kono
  • Patent number: 8970148
    Abstract: A filter for reducing radiated emissions in switching power converters such as a motor drive is disclosed. The switching power converter modulates a DC voltage input to generate a desired AC voltage output. Capacitors are connected in parallel between each output phase and a common connection, which may be a ground connection. The magnitude and layout of the capacitors are selected to minimize current conducted by the capacitors. The capacitors may be surface mount technology located proximate to the switching devices or the capacitors may be incorporated in the circuit board on which the switching devices are mounted. The filter may be applied to any of the switching elements in a motor drive, such as the inverter section, an active rectifier section, or a switched mode power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zoran Vrankovic, Craig Winterhalter, Gary Skibinski
  • Patent number: 8970159
    Abstract: Provided are a method for compensating instantaneous power failure in medium voltage inverter and a medium voltage inverter system by using the same, the method for compensating instantaneous power failure in medium voltage inverter including a plurality of power cells supplying a phase voltage to a motor by being connected to the motor in series, the method including decreasing an output frequency of the plurality of power cells by as much as a predetermined value at a relevant point where an input voltage of the plurality of power cells is less than a reference value, decreasing the output frequency at a predetermined deceleration gradient, and maintaining the output frequency during restoration of input voltage as long as a predetermined time, in a case the input voltage is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Muk Choi, Seung Ho Na, Jae Hyun Jeon, Sung Guk Ahn
  • Patent number: 8963479
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes an inverter unit and a control unit. The inverter unit includes high SWs and low SWs for each phase of coils of a motor. The control unit, in a case that the on-time of the high SWs and the low SWs is shorter than a predetermined time determined based on a dead time, changes an output voltage average value such that the on-time of the high SWs or the on-time of the low SWs becomes longer than the predetermined time. The voltage use rate can be improved without disposing a special circuit, and distortion of inter-line voltages or distortion of currents can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Kazutoshi Shiomi, Atsuyuki Hiruma, Shingo Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8963478
    Abstract: Protection of a motor controller from a transient voltage and/or an over-voltage condition is described. A drive circuit includes a rectifier portion and at least one inductive device coupled to the rectifier portion. The drive circuit further includes at least one voltage clamping device coupled in parallel with the at least one inductive device, and at least one switching device configured to open as a function of a direct current (DC) link voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Carlos Becerra, Yao Da, David Allen Clendenen
  • Publication number: 20150048774
    Abstract: Disclosed is a three-phase AC induction motor control device for controlling a torque based on a two-axis orthogonal coordinate system in synchronization with a power supply angular frequency, the control device including: a non-interference controller configured to receive a motor rotation speed, a torque command value, and a power supply voltage as an input and compute a torque axis non-interference compensation voltage and a magnetic flux axis non-interference compensation voltage by referencing a map stored in advance; and a non-interference magnetic flux response filter configured to perform filtering, including a direct transfer term and a rotor magnetic flux response delay, for the torque axis non-interference compensation voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Iijima, Hideo Nakamura, Shiho Umeki, Kazuhiko Tazoe
  • Patent number: 8957621
    Abstract: An actuator comprising at least one multiphase motor having phases facing a rotor secured to an outlet shaft associated with a braking member and provided with a connection to a movable element that is to be moved, the motors and the braking member being connected to at least one motor control unit for controlling the motors by powering their phases. The motor has at least four phases wound in such a manner as to avoid a neutral point, and in that the control unit has one single-phase inverter per phase and is arranged to implement a nominal, three-phase mode of control, and a degraded mode of control that enables the rotor to be driven in rotation by powering two non-collinear phases thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Frederic Marques, Matthieu Aubron, Jerome Piaton, Guillaume Mercier, Guillaume Percheron, Gaetan Princay
  • Patent number: 8947024
    Abstract: An electric motor includes an arrangement of windings provided for driving the rotor, with the windings being connected to an energy source to develop torque which drives the rotor. The electric circuits of corresponding ones of the windings each have a potential point, the voltage (UL, UG) of which is supplied to an evaluation unit via an adaptation device. The adaptation device can be operated in two switchable adaptation stages and is connected to a drive circuit that operates in dependence upon the rotational position of the rotor. The drive circuit switches the adaptation device into the first stage having a high sensitivity or into the second stage having a low sensitivity in dependence upon the rotational position of the rotor of the motor, such that the number of required analog inputs at a microprocessor in the evaluation unit can be kept low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rene Wichert, Gernot Liebhard, Rudolf Saemann
  • Patent number: 8947038
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus of a home appliance which meets standby power regulation of 0.5 watts using one SMPS. As compared with a general circuit which meets the standby power regulation using two or more SMPSs, it may be possible to curtail expenses required for addition of a separate standby only SMPS and miniaturize a PCB, resulting in a reduction in cost. Further, in a washing machine employing a motor, a circuit is provided to bypass a back EMF generated in the motor even if AC power is not supplied to the washing machine due to occurrence of a power failure or unplugging of the washing machine. Therefore, it may be possible to prevent a PCBA from being damaged due to the back EMF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hun Won, Tae Hoon Lim
  • Patent number: 8941337
    Abstract: In a motor driving device, a first relay portion is connected between a power source and an inverter portion, a second relay portion is connected between the first relay portion and the inverter portion, and a motor relay portion is connected between the inverter portion and a winding group of a motor. Inverter pre-driver circuits respectively drive switching elements of the inverter portion. A first pre-driver circuit drives the first relay portion. A second pre-driver circuit drives the second relay portion and the motor relay portion. A controller controls driving of the inverter portion, the first relay portion, the second relay portion, and the motor relay portion, and detects a failure of the first relay portion, the second relay portion, and the motor relay portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Uryu, Naoki Matsuda, Yoshihide Kuroda