With Controlled A.c. To D.c. Circuit In Inverter Supply Patents (Class 318/803)
  • Patent number: 8264190
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a multi-phase rotary machine includes a control unit and a plurality of power supply systems including respective inverter units. When a short-circuiting failure occurs in one of the systems due to an ON-failure in any one of FETs in an inverter unit of the failure system, the control unit stops driving of the rotary machine by bringing all the FETs in the failure system into the OFF state. The control unit controls FETs of the non-failure system such that a brake torque generated in the failure system is cancelled or the influence of the brake torque exerted on the driving of the motor is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8242722
    Abstract: A controller for rotating electrical machines comprises a processing unit, to which a plurality of parameters are input, for generating a switching instruction to control a switching operation of a switching semiconductor device and outputting a signal corresponding to the switching instruction to a power converter. The processing unit includes at least a function to input thereto signals having been output from each of sensors such as a current sensor to detect current passed between the power converter and a winding of an armature, a temperature sensor to detect temperature of the winding of the armature, and a magnetic pole position sensor to detect magnetic pole position of a magnetic field system, and, based upon information on current, temperature, and rotation speed of the rotating electrical machines, having been obtained from those sensor signals, detects a magnetic flux that interlinks with the winding of the armature from a permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsui, Kohei Myoen
  • Patent number: 8242726
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and a circuit arrangement for the feedback of commutation energy in three-phase current drive systems with a current intermediate circuit converter. Commutation energy is released at each commutation in the inverter. The commutation unit ensures that the released energy is directly fed back to the current intermediate circuit in two steps. In the first step, the commutation energy is fed into the commutation capacitor by a rectifier circuit (diode bridge and three triacs). In the second step, the commutation energy is fed directly from the commutation capacitor into the current intermediate circuit by means of three semiconductors (first RIGBT, second RIGBT, diode) so that the current of the intermediate circuit flows through the capacitor over a controlled period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Econodrives GmbH
    Inventor: Pal Kanyo
  • Patent number: 8228021
    Abstract: A converter circuit includes a phase circuit having a switch module, a first winding, a first diode, a second winding, and a second diode. The second winding is inductively coupled to the first winding. A multi-phase motor including the converter circuit, and a related method of controlling such a motor, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R & D Centre Limited
    Inventors: Ka Wai Eric Cheung, Xiangdang Xue
  • Patent number: 8183816
    Abstract: In a method for field-oriented operation to zero speed of an encoder-less asynchronous machine, wherein the associated field-oriented regulation device has a monitor with a machine model and rotation-speed adaptation, a model flux and a model current are calculated from a calculated actuating voltage and an adapted rotation speed, from which, in conjunction with a determined machine current, a complex difference is calculated. Also calculated is a model slip rotation speed as a function of the model flux and the model current, which is then scaled. The adapted rotation speed is then superimposed, and the sum is used as the rotation speed actual value which supplied to a rotation-speed regulator. An asynchronous machine without an encoder can therefore be operated to zero speed on a field-oriented basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thilo Weigel
  • Patent number: 8159177
    Abstract: A system for realizing rotor variable frequency speed control asynchronously and simultaneously is disclosed. Multiple motors are driven via one inverter, which consists of a motor group, a rectifier group, a chopper group, an isolator group, an amperite group, a power capacitor group, a full-bridge or a half-bridge, a speed feedback voltage detector group, and a current feedback voltage detector group. Using inversion control theory, the voltage outputs by a full or half-bridge inverter are an inverse electromotive force of each functional motor, and each motor operates asynchronously and simultaneously. This system may be used in crane operations. As a crane rises, redundant electricity is fed back to the motor via an inverter; and as the crane lowers, the motor will generate electricity, and the electricity is fed back to the motor via the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Shunxin Zhou
  • Patent number: 8138710
    Abstract: Some embodiment of the present disclosure provide an electric motor comprising a power drive configured to supply electric power to different components of the motor that operate with different power inputs. The motor is configured to transform the electric power into mechanical work to perform on a load. The electric motor is configured to be used as a pump or a blower in a HVAC system. The electric motor includes a first power source connected to and supplying an electric power to the windings of the motor, a second power source connected to and supplying an electric power to a logic circuit configured to control operation of the motor, a third power source connected to and supplying an electric power to an external device that is configured to be connected to the motor and not enclosed in a housing, and a housing enclosing the first, second, and third power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: SNTech Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Chun Jeung
  • Patent number: 8120306
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for operation of a voltage source inverter. A method of operating a voltage source inverter having an output with multiple voltage phases having a DC voltage level, the method comprising sensing a low output frequency condition; determining a DC voltage offset responsive to the low output frequency condition; and applying the DC voltage offset when operating the voltage source inverter resulting in a change to the DC voltage level of the multiple voltage phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sibaprasad Chakrabarti, Rajkumar Copparapu
  • Patent number: 8115444
    Abstract: A motor drive circuit has a converter for coupling to an AC voltage source and an inverter coupled to the converter for providing a drive current for a motor. A common mode circulation loop is coupled to the converter and to the inverter, and circulates common mode current from both the converter and the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sukumar De, Kamalesh Hatua, Milan M R Rajne
  • Patent number: 8086363
    Abstract: A vehicle is mounted with a drive device provided with a plurality of rotating electrical machines, and a drive unit driving the plurality of rotating electrical machines. A drive control device for the vehicle includes an electrical leak detector detecting electrical leak in the drive device, and a control device. The control device identifies an electrical leak location by receiving a result of the detection made by the electrical leak detector, and determines which rotating electrical machine out of the plurality of rotating electrical machines is allowed to operate when the vehicle is driven next time, in accordance with the electrical leak location, while the vehicle is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Uchida
  • Patent number: 8054014
    Abstract: In a control system and a method for operating a permanent-magnet electrical machine, when the electrical machine is switched off after one of a functional computer and a monitoring computer of the control system has identified a fault, in order to reduce the braking torque of the electrical machine, which is switched-off but still rotating an output stage of the control system is subjected to a three-phase short circuit if the rotation speed D1 does not fall below a definable limit value GR1 or if a voltage U_DC of the output stage (2) exceeds a limit value Umax, and when the rotation speed D1 is below the definable limit value GR1 and a voltage U_DC of the output stage does not exceed a limit value Umax, all the circuits breakers (2o1, 2o2, 2o3, 2u1, 2u2, 2u3) of the output stage (2) are opened in order to fully disconnect the electrical machine from the output stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Lothar Rehm, Thomas Raumer
  • Patent number: 8044632
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a converter that converts AC power to DC power, a converter controller that controls an output voltage of the converter, an inverter that converts the DC power to AC power at a variable frequency, an inverter controller that controls an output frequency of the inverter, and a current detector that detects an AC current on an input side of the converter. It is configured in such a manner that the inverter controller adjusts a slip frequency of the induction motor in response to a fluctuation of the AC current on the input side of the converter detected by the current detector. It thus becomes possible to suppress a beat current in an output current of the inverter at the occurrence of a load fluctuation as well as a power supply voltage fluctuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Obi, Takahiro Kikuchi, Takeshi Tanaka, Daisuke Ito, Keita Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7990093
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a multiphase AC electric motor having an inverter includes a current control including an abnormal-state current controller; an abnormal-state detector that detects an abnormal state of any of a wire of an electric motor, a wire of an inverter, and a wire connecting the electric motor to the inverter as an abnormal phase; and an abnormal phase disconnect. The abnormal phase disconnect disconnects one or more of phases detected to be in an abnormal-state and the abnormal-state current controller generates an abnormal state voltage command in accordance with detection of an abnormal state, and uses phases other than the disconnected phases of the inverter to control individual currents of the phases, with the abnormal-state voltage command used as a multiphase voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Kezobo, Masahiro Kimata, Takayuki Kifuku, Kazumichi Tsutsumi, Chiaki Fujimoto, Noriyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 7969039
    Abstract: A controller is capable of executing direct couple control that directly couples a first power device and a second power device without causing a DC/DC converter to convert voltage. During the direct couple control, a drive signal that causes no voltage conversion is intermittently output to at least one of a plurality of switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Mimatsu, Yasushi Kojima, Seigo Murashige, Yutaka Asano
  • Patent number: 7960939
    Abstract: A fuel/electric drive system having an internal combustion engine is disclosed, having a generator which is driven by the internal combustion engine and has a first stator winding set, having a first rectifier which is connected to the first stator winding set at the AC voltage end and to a first DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end, and having a first inverter which is connected to the first DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end and to a drive motor at the AC voltage end. In order to increase the robustness and availability of the fuel/electric drive system, the generator has a second stator winding set, with a second rectifier being connected to the second stator winding set at the AC voltage end and to a second DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end, and a second inverter being connected to the second DC voltage circuit at the DC voltage end and to the drive motor at the AC voltage end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Peter Steimer
  • Patent number: 7915853
    Abstract: A system for driving a motor includes first and second rectifier circuits, a direct current (DC) link circuit, an inverter circuit, a voltage booster circuit, and a switch control circuit. When the motor is at a deceleration state, a micro control unit (MCU) outputs a first charging signal to turn on a switch of a first relay and turn off a switch of a second relay, a regenerative current from the motor is charged into a storage capacitor. Before the motor is in an acceleration state, the MCU outputs a second charging signal to turn on the switch of the second relay and turn off the switch of the first relay, and turn on a boosting switch, an increased voltage of the storage capacitor is charged into another storage capacitor. When a voltage at the DC link circuit reaches a predetermined value, the MCU controls the inverter circuit to accelerate the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Foxnum Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Hsien Ting
  • Patent number: 7906933
    Abstract: An induction motor drive includes a plurality of inverters, a changeover switch which changes over outputs of the plurality of inverters to be supplied to one induction motor and a changeover controller which controls the changeover switch on the basis of a failure detection signal of one inverter to change over from the one inverter to another inverter to start the other inverter so that the induction motor is driven. The changeover controller includes a frequency/phase detector which always detects a frequency and a phase of a terminal voltage of the induction motor and a starting frequency/phase setting device which controls a frequency and a phase at starting of the other inverter in accordance with detected values of the frequency/phase detector when the failure signal is inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tan, Hirohisa Satomi, Shigetoshi Okamatsu, Koichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7898209
    Abstract: A cleaner that can automatically respond to a change in an AC voltage and a voltage of a battery. In the motor, a motor for rotating a collecting fan is driven by a motor driver. The motor driver drives the motor using a voltage from a voltage selector. The voltage selector switches between a low-level voltage of the battery and a high-level voltage derived from the AC voltage to be supplied to the motor driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Young Kim, Myung Keun Yoo, Kwang Woon Ahn, Hyoun Jeong Shin
  • Patent number: 7863854
    Abstract: A heat exchange cooler capable of eliminating continuous radiation of high-frequency noise waves and reducing the man hour for the installation work, and a power circuit driving device used for it are provided. A commercial power transformer (311), which transforms commercial AC power (307) supplied from a heat generating element storing box to a specified range of voltage, is provided. Moreover, first relay (210) and second relay (212) are used for automatically switching a plurality of taps disposed at the coil of commercial power transformer (311) which keeps a wide range of commercial AC voltage from 200V to 250V in nominal voltage within a specified range of output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Izaki, Matsuo Shiraishi, Yasuyuki Okumura, Harumoto Itou, Kouichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7855901
    Abstract: An AC command voltage obtained by compensating a reference value of a commercial AC voltage output from a multiplication unit using an FB control unit is multiplied by k (0?k?1) by a multiplication unit and output to a first inverter control unit, and the remaining part is output to a second inverter control unit. The first and second inverter control units generate signals, based on command voltages obtained by superposing the AC command voltage from an AC output control unit on respective phase command voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Makoto Nakamura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Shigenori Togashi
  • Patent number: 7852022
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric car, including a power converter which feeds AC power of variable voltage and variable frequency to a primary side member of a linear electromagnetic actuator, voltage command means for giving a command of a voltage which is fed to the linear electromagnetic actuator, current detection means for detecting current information which flows between the power converter and the linear electromagnetic actuator, and motor constant calculation means for calculating a motor constant of the linear electromagnetic actuator on the basis of the voltage information Vu given by the voltage command means and the current information Iu detected by the current detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Kono, Tsuneyasu Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 7847511
    Abstract: A cleaner that can have the sufficient capability of collecting pollutant particles by a battery voltage as well as a AC voltage. The cleaner uses a switched reluctance motor to rotate a collecting fan. The switched reluctance motor is driven by a motor driver in one of a PWM mode or a pulse trigger mode. The motor driver drives the switched reluctance motor using one of the battery voltage and a DC voltage converted from the AC voltage, depending on whether the AC voltage is received. The PWM mode and the trigger mode are switched depending on whether the AC voltage is received. Accordingly, the cleaner makes it possible to reduce the time taken to clean up pollutant particles using the battery voltage to the time taken to clean up the pollutant particles using the AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Keun Yoo, Sang Young Kim, Kwang Woon Ahn, Hyoun Jeong Shin
  • Patent number: 7835630
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for controlling a DC motor is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes at least one digital position and speed circuit (DPS) for providing measurements of speed, position, and direction of the motor, the DPS being in signal communication with the motor for receiving a pair of signals having a quadrature relationship; and at least one programmable gain amplifier (PGA) electrically coupled to the motor, the PGA being configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of current flowing through the motor and to apply a second signal to the motor for adjusting the speed of the motor; and at least two analog-to-digital converters (A/D), one A/D being used to quantize the output of the PGA for an off-chip processor; and another A/D to provide motor reference position from an analog sensor, such as a potentiometer; and at least two digital-to-analog converters (D/A), one D/A used to set the motor voltage; and another D/A used to set the motor current limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Peter Kazanzides, Ndubuisi John Ekekwe, Ralph Etienne-Cummings
  • Patent number: 7782009
    Abstract: A protection scheme to protect pulse width modulated drives is described. The scheme is implantable in both hardware and software and combinations thereof. The semiconductor devices of the drive are protected from transient signals such as power line spikes and loss of line. The present scheme uses an adaptive technique to determine the normal or steady state distortion (transients and harmonics) value in an unfiltered power signal. The present distortion value is compared to the normal distortion. If the present distortion exceeds the steady state value by a given amount, then the drive is placed in freewheel mode to protect the semiconductor devices in the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Cornelius Wiseman
  • Patent number: 7764041
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronous operation of variable speed drives having active converters include extending the synchronous operation of an active converter to the AC mains voltage during complete line dropout. A phase angle control circuit includes a squaring amplifier, a first phase-lock loop circuit associated and a second phase-lock loop circuit. The squaring amplifier receives the AC power source and outputs a rectangular output signal to a pair of phase lock loop (PLL) circuits. The first PLL circuit with a first lag-lead filter is configured with a high cutoff frequency to provide the converter stage with a phase angle parameter; and the second phase-lock loop circuit including a second lag-lead filter configured to have a low cutoff frequency to provide the lag-lead filter the capability of storing the phase angle of the mains voltage during mains interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Harold R. Schnetzka, Shreesha Adiga Manoor
  • Patent number: 7746038
    Abstract: A controller employed in conjunction with a synchronous generator monitors the output voltage of the generator. The controller employs the monitored output voltage as feedback that is used to control the excitation provided to an exciter field winding. In addition, the controller applies a control loop to the monitored output voltage that detects and modifies voltage ripple signals within the monitored output voltage to generate a compensated signal that is used to control the excitation to the exciter field winding. In particular, by detecting and modifying voltage ripple signals within the monitored output voltage, the controller is able to counteract armature reaction voltage ripples caused by unbalanced short-circuit faults, thereby preventing the build-up of voltage on the DC link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay K. Maddali, John F. Defenbaugh
  • Patent number: 7728544
    Abstract: A motor drive system is disclosed that includes a power input configured to receive alternating current (AC) power and a rectifier having a switching frequency selected to convert the AC power to direct current (DC) power. The motor drive unit also includes an input filter circuit connected between the power input and the rectifier and configured to suppress frequency harmonics across a range of harmonics. Additionally, the motor drive unit includes a block filter circuit connected between the power input and the rectifier and configured to substantially block frequency harmonics associated with the switching frequency of the rectifier. Furthermore, the motor drive unit includes an inverter configured to receive the DC power from the rectifier and convert the DC power to a series of pulses configured to drive a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Qian, Qiang Yin, Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Patent number: 7710064
    Abstract: A motor driving semiconductor device has: six switching elements for driving a three-phase motor; three output terminals for applying output voltages to three terminals of coils of the three-phase motor; drive circuits for driving the six switching elements; and six control signal input terminals for receiving six control signals for on/off control of the six switching elements, wherein the motor driving semiconductor device is formed by sealing at least one semiconductor chip in one package with resin, and further includes a dead time generation function of generating a dead time relative to the six control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Hiroyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7671557
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for phase current detection used for driving a motor by supplying outputs from a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter to the motor. One method presented provides detecting a DC link current and a vector pattern, determining whether a voltage vector lengths exceeds a predetermined value, and adjusting the voltage vector by adding a positive or reversed voltage based upon the above determination and an integrated error value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Maeda, Tomoisa Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7661274
    Abstract: A capacity control algorithm for a multiple compressor liquid chiller system is provided wherein the speed and number of compressors in operation are controlled in order to obtain a leaving liquid temperature setpoint. In response to an increase in the load in the chiller system, the algorithm determines if a compressor should be started and adjusts the operating speed of all operating compressors when an additional compressor is started. In response to a decrease in the load in the chiller system with multiple compressors operating, the algorithm determines if a compressor should be de-energized and adjusts the operating speed of all remaining operating compressors when a compressor is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Cutis Christian Crane, Israel Federman
  • Patent number: 7646165
    Abstract: A converter circuit for converting an output voltage from an AC power supply includes a rectifier circuit for rectifying the output voltage of the AC power supply; first and second capacitors connected in series, for smoothing the output of the rectifier circuit; and a switch circuit for switching the connections between the respective capacitors and the AC power supply so that the output voltage of the AC power supply is applied to each of the respective capacitors at a cycle that is shorter than the cycle of the AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Ueda, Hideki Nakata, Masanori Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7574873
    Abstract: A current sensor for detecting a power supply current is commonly used for detecting a current of a stator winding to detect a rotational position of a magnet rotor, so that a sinusoidal driving is realized without adding two current sensors for detection of a phase current, and also a phase shift circuit and a comparator needed in the conventional 120-degree current feeding are not required, and the number of components can be reduced. Therefore, an inverter device with a low noise and low vibration, having a small size, light weight and high reliability is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Goto, Keizo Matsui, Makoto Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090159348
    Abstract: An AC command voltage obtained by compensating a reference value of a commercial AC voltage output from a multiplication unit using an FB control unit is multiplied by k (0?k?1) by a multiplication unit and output to a first inverter control unit, and the remaining part is output to a second inverter control unit. The first and second inverter control units generate signals, based on command voltages obtained by superposing the AC command voltage from an AC output control unit on respective phase command voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Makoto Nakamura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Shigenori Togashi
  • Patent number: 7528569
    Abstract: An inverter circuit includes a bridge circuit constituted of a plurality of pairs of a high-side switching element and a low-side switching element, a command signal processing section, a pulse generating section for generating pulse signals to control the inverter bridge circuit according to the command signal to have a dead time to prevent short circuiting of the dc power source and a command signal compensation section. The compensation section modifies the command signal according to a current voltage level of the dc power source to control the dead zone, thereby preventing deformation of ac output power of the bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichiro Hidaka, Hisashi Kameya, Mitsutomo Iwase, Yasuo Ito, Masahiro Miyata, Takahiro Kojo
  • Patent number: 7521888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-phase asynchronous electric motor for domestic appliances, comprising power elements, such as triacs or relays, for charge control. The power elements other than the relays are controlled by at least one microcontroller with the aid of an optical insulation means, ensuring electronic programming and also control of the motor with the aid of a command. The microcontroller or microcontrollers are references to a zero potential of a recovery and filter block feeding the motor. The controller can be applied to a washing machine in order to control the electric motor which rotationally drives the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Invensys Appliance Controls SA
    Inventors: Jean Marc Rosoli, Francois Xardel
  • Publication number: 20090085510
    Abstract: The switching rectifier and switching inverter on a motor drive unit are modulated to indirectly change the magnitude of current and voltage stored in DC link by controlling the magnetic field of the motor to correct for both power factor lead and power factor lag over a wide range of motor speeds and conditions while maintaining a predetermined motor operating point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Manish Pande, Yunwei Li
  • Patent number: 7511449
    Abstract: A system is provided for controlling an electric machine. The system has a power source configured to supply electric energy to the electric machine. In addition, the system has an inverter operationally connected to the power source and the electric machine and configured to increase or decrease a rotor flux component of a voltage applied to the electric machine, while maintaining a torque component at an essentially constant level. The system further has a control device configured to determine at least one parameter of the electric machine and operate the inverter in either a first or a second mode in response to the at least one determined parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Speckhart, Mark Edward Hartman, Jackson Wai, Joshua Michael Williams
  • Patent number: 7508160
    Abstract: A soft start system for starting large motors has a power supply suitable for passing power to the motor, a variable frequency drive connected to the power supply and an autotransformer connected between the variable frequency drive and the motor for passing power of an elevated current to the motor. A switch is connected between the motor and power supply for connecting the motor to the power supply when the motor reaches a desired speed. The autotransformer includes a single core with a winding extending over the single core. The autotransformer includes a first terminal connected the variable frequency drive, a second terminal connected the motor and a grounded neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Converteam Inc.
    Inventor: David Rudniski
  • Patent number: 7477037
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least two series-cell based drives connected in parallel. The method comprises detecting a failed cell in one of the drives, inhibiting operation of the drive with the failed cell, determining a peak output voltage capability of the drive with the failed cell, communicating the peak output voltage capability to a master controller, and limiting a maximum voltage that each drive can apply to a motor. The method also comprises bypassing the failed cell and resuming operation of the drive with the failed cell after the motor voltage falls below the peak output voltage capability of the drive with the failed cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Amorino, Mukul Rastogi, Anthony C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20080297102
    Abstract: A cleaner that can automatically respond to a change in an AC voltage and a voltage of a battery. In the motor, a motor for rotating a collecting fan is driven by a motor driver. The motor driver drives the motor using a voltage from a voltage selector. The voltage selector switches between a low-level voltage of the battery and a high-level voltage derived from the AC voltage to be supplied to the motor driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sang Young KIM, Myung Keun YOO, Kwang Woon AHN, Hyoun Jeong SHIN
  • Publication number: 20080297101
    Abstract: A cleaner that can have the sufficient capability of collecting pollutant particles by a battery voltage as well as a AC voltage. The cleaner uses a switched reluctance motor to rotate a collecting fan. The switched reluctance motor is driven by a motor driver in one of a PWM mode or a pulse trigger mode. The motor driver drives the switched reluctance motor using one of the battery voltage and a DC voltage converted from the AC voltage, depending on whether the AC voltage is received. The PWM mode and the trigger mode are switched depending on whether the AC voltage is received. Accordingly, the cleaner makes it possible to reduce the time taken to clean up pollutant particles using the battery voltage to the time taken to clean up the pollutant particles using the AC voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myung Keun YOO, Sang Young KIM, Kwang Woon AHN, Hyoun Jeong SHIN
  • Patent number: 7459879
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric motor, in which a current controller giving multiphase voltage commands to a drive circuit for an inverter includes a normal-mode current controller for use in a normal mode, an abnormal-mode current controller for use in an abnormal mode, and an abnormality decision device. In a case of an abnormality occurring to one phase of an electric motor or the inverter, the controller is altered, and the abnormal-mode multiphase voltage commands which are generated by the abnormal-mode current controller are set as the multiphase voltage commands for the inverter drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Kezobo, Masahiro Kimata, Kazumichi Tsutsumi, Chiaki Fujimoto, Kouji Fukusumi, Noriyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080278109
    Abstract: A motor drive system is disclosed that includes a power input configured to receive alternating current (AC) power and a rectifier having a switching frequency selected to convert the AC power to direct current (DC) power. The motor drive unit also includes an input filter circuit connected between the power input and the rectifier and configured to suppress frequency harmonics across a range of harmonics. Additionally the motor drive unit includes a block filter circuit connected between the power input and the rectifier and configured to substantially block frequency harmonics associated with the switching frequency of the rectifier. Furthermore, the motor drive unit includes an inverter configured to receive the DC power from the rectifier and convert the DC power to a series of pulses configured to drive a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Wei Qian, Qiang Yin, Lixiang Wei, Richard A. Lukaszewski
  • Patent number: 7443131
    Abstract: A control device for electric power steering apparatus, in which when torque ripples at the time of the rotation of a motor is reduced by simple arithmetic, smooth and safe assist limitation is performed without deteriorating steering feeling, is provided. For this reason, in the control device for electric power steering apparatus adopting a vector control system for applying an assist force of a motor to a steering system, a phase delay according to an angular velocity is obtained, a corrected electric angle is calculated by adding the phase delay to an electric angle, and generation of a current command value in the vector control is compensated based on the corrected electric angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignees: NSK Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: CaoMinh Ta, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Shuji Endo
  • Patent number: 7348756
    Abstract: An apparatus controls a power converter of an AC motor drive system, the power converter outputting multi-phase AC current to an AC motor. The apparatus comprises: a state selecting unit; and an advanced controller. The state selecting unit selects an operation mode, from among a plurality of operation modes, for the AC motor based on system real-time operating conditions, the plurality of operation modes including a normal mode, a power interruption mode, a fault protection mode, and a power-up/down dynamic mode. The system operating conditions include DC voltage available to the power converter, motor load condition, and motor speed command. The advanced controller controls multi-phase AC current output from the power converter to the motor in accordance with the operation mode selected by the state selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Ma, George Zhou, Zheng Wang
  • Patent number: 7346272
    Abstract: In order to create a method and an apparatus for anti-trap protection detection for displaceable window and door elements by means of which faster and more stable adjustment to current physical conditions can be achieved during system actuation, in the system the motor (1) is controlled using parameter values generated in real-time using a closed-loop control unit, preferably a PID controller, to keep the speed in the system constant during a learning run and during operational use and to ensure timely trapping detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günter Franzan
  • Patent number: 7317292
    Abstract: It is possible to control the DC intermediate voltage to be constant without using a device for returning regenerative resistance or regenerative energy to a power source and to safely continue operation of an AC motor even if an instantaneous stop occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideaki Iura, Tohru Kai
  • Patent number: 7317295
    Abstract: An electric four-wheel drive vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a generator for outputting DC electrical power; an inverter for converting DC electrical power, output from the generator, into AC electrical power; and an AC electric motor, which is driven by the inverter, for driving rear wheels. An electric motor controller controls the inverter, the AC electric motor, and the generator, according to torque instructions from a vehicle. Furthermore, in a case that the output of the AC electric motor becomes negative, and excess electrical energy is generated, the electric motor controller controls the current applied to said AC electric motor such that the loss in said AC electric motor exceeds the negative output of said AC electric motor. This enables the AC electric motor to absorb excess electrical energy in the form of thermal loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Satoru Kaneka, Tatsuyuki Yamamoto, Kenta Katsuhama, Kazuya Motegi, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7307404
    Abstract: A generator controller for controlling a permanent magnet generator where each phase of the generator is connectable to a DC link via electrically controllable switches, the controller characterised by a data processor adapted to receive a measurement of generator current output and a demand current, and to form a current error between the demanded value and the measured generator current; derive a target voltage as a function of the current error; and form control signals for the electrically controllable switches as a function of the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Philip Henry Mellor, Stephen George Burrow, Philip Michael Churn
  • Patent number: 7248489
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling the mains bridge of a four-quadrant PWM frequency converter provided with a direct-voltage intermediate circuit when power is flowing into the supply network. The mains bridge includes a controlled mains bridge (INU) for rectification of the mains voltage to produce a DC intermediate-circuit direct voltage (UDC) consisting of arms conducting during the positive and negative half cycles of the phase voltage of each phase of the supply network, each arm having a switch unit formed by a diode (D1–D6) and a power semiconductor switch (V1–V6), e.g. an IGBT, connected in inverse-parallel with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Vacon Oyj
    Inventor: Stefan Strandberg