With Controlled Magnetic Reactance Patents (Class 318/804)
  • Patent number: 11296634
    Abstract: A method and system for sensorless determination of the orientation of the rotor of an ironless PMSM motor from a known rotor angle is described. The method and system include: specifying a rotor system according to the rotor angle; applying voltage pulses to the phases of the motor in the torque-forming direction of the rotor system; measuring the current in the phases of the motor; determining the expected back EMF along the flux-forming axis, based on the measured current; forming an integral of the expected back EMF by time integration of the expected back EMF along the flux-forming axis and/or a filter-based accumulation function; and determining the orientation of the rotor from the algebraic sign of the integral of the expected back EMF and/or the accumulation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAXON INTERNATIONL AG
    Inventors: Damian Frick, Sébastien Mariéthoz, Marko Tanaskovic, David Lehmann
  • Patent number: 11050372
    Abstract: A position-sensorless control method and device for long-cable drive permanent magnet motors, including: adding a coupling circuit after boost transformers in the long-cable drive circuit of a permanent magnet motor; coupling three high frequency detection signals with different frequencies into a power supply cable and windings of the motor through three coupling transformers in the coupling circuit respectively; obtaining high frequency voltage components on primary windings of the coupling transformers by bandpass filters; obtaining the position signals according to relations among effective values of the high frequency voltage components; and finally realizing the position-sensorless control of the motor by a controller according to the obtained position signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TIANGONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Xinglong Sun, Xinmin Li, Tingna Shi, Changliang Xia
  • Patent number: 10811935
    Abstract: A screen turning-over mechanism includes a rotating shaft connected to a screen and a motor drivably connected to the rotating shaft. The motor is connected to an electromagnetic damping loop which forms a closed path with the motor only when the motor is in a de-energized state. The rotating shaft is also connected to an elastic mechanism. When the motor is energized, the motor drives the rotating shaft to rotate to extend the screen, and the rotating shaft drives the elastic mechanism to deform elastically to store energy; and when the motor is de-energized, the elastic mechanism releases the stored energy to drive the rotating shaft to rotate to retract the screen. The screen turning-over mechanism according to the present application has a simple and compact structure, occupies a small volume of space, and has a long service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: THALES CETC AVIONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kui Zhou, Zhenhua Song
  • Patent number: 9557753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating the voltage of a transformer (1) having different winding taps (3). The problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a method with which different load flow directions can be regulated with conventional transformers (1) and voltage regulators (7) in order to ensure a safe and reliable supply of voltage. The general inventive concept consists in determining, using a method in which a quadrant system (11) is used, the phase angle of the conduction current (I) and thus the load flow direction, thereby preventing deviation from the voltage range as a result of power input that is too high, by controlling the load tap changer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MASCHINEFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Ansgar Hinz, Helmut Proelss, Karsten Viereck
  • Patent number: 8736222
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flux controller for maintaining reliable flux estimation performance in a low velocity region, the controller including a velocity controller, a torque current controller for outputting a torque voltage command, a flux controller for outputting a flux current command, a flux current controller for receiving the flux current command to output a flux voltage command, a three-phase converter for converting the torque voltage command and the flux voltage command into a three-phase voltage command applied to the induction motor to output the three-phase voltage command, a flux estimator for outputting a rotating angle of a rotor of the induction motor, an estimated flux value of the rotor and an estimated velocity of the rotor, and a flux regulator for receiving the torque voltage command and the estimated velocity to output a gain value that regulates a magnitude of the flux command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Ook Hong
  • Patent number: 8278857
    Abstract: A motor control device is electrically connected with a motor. The motor control device includes a controller and a driving circuit. The controller has a default value of time and generates a first driving signal and a second driving signal. The driving circuit includes a first switching element and a second switching element, the first switching element and the second switching element receive the first driving signal and the second driving signal respectively, and the first switching element and the second switching element are switched on or switched off alternately according to the first driving signal and the second driving signal respectively, so as to drive the motor to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Liang Lin, Ming-Yen Lin, Chia-Wen Kuo, Kuan-Ting Lee
  • Patent number: 8125178
    Abstract: A drive and a method, including an electric motor, which is supplied by a rectifier, the rectifier including a time-discrete closed-loop control structure, which regulates the stator current of the electric motor by setting the voltage applied at the motor, the current of the motor being acquired in time-discrete fashion, the closed-loop control structure including a closed-loop controller whose actual value is a first current component of the current, the setpoint input of the closed-loop controller being coupled with at least one upstream setpoint limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hammel, Thomas Schuster
  • 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: 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: 7521888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a three-phase asynchronous electric motor for domestic appliances, comprising power elements, such as triacs or relays, for charge control. The power elements other than the relays are controlled by at least one microcontroller with the aid of an optical insulation means, ensuring electronic programming and also control of the motor with the aid of a command. The microcontroller or microcontrollers are references to a zero potential of a recovery and filter block feeding the motor. The controller can be applied to a washing machine in order to control the electric motor which rotationally drives the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Invensys Appliance Controls SA
    Inventors: Jean Marc Rosoli, Francois Xardel
  • Patent number: 7187155
    Abstract: An electronic drive for vector control of an induction motor controls slip and operating frequency in response to changes in stator voltage. The drive includes a torque control loop, a flux control loop and a frequency control loop. The control is based on a commanded stator current that is resolved into a torque-producing, or q-axis, current component and a flux-producing, or d-axis, current component that are in quadrature. The frequency control loop includes slip control in which a slip frequency command is produces based on a value for the leakage inductance of the motor. The leakage inductance value dynamically varies as a function of the q-axis current reference command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Matsuo, Jerry Thunes
  • Patent number: 7148641
    Abstract: In an AC or DC motor operation and power generation system, a periodic transformation system reduces or prevents harmonic distortion, reduces resistance or impedance, and improves energy efficiency in a signal either consumed, such as in a motor, or produced, such as in a generator. In one embodiment, the TruScale Reactance Transformation System or the Eastern Modified TruScale Octave Transformation System are the periodic transform systems provided to prevent overtone collisions in current and voltage signals, in order to maximize energy spectral density, and to precondition either DC or AC signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Meta-C Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Dinnan, Patrick Hernandez, Joseph A. Dinnan
  • Patent number: 7081734
    Abstract: A method of providing ride-through capability in a chiller/refrigeration system employs a variable speed drive with an active converter stage, a DC link stage and an inverter stage for providing variable frequency and voltage to power at least one motor. An induction motor is coupled to the output of the inverter stage for driving a compressor in the chiller/refrigeration system. The ride-through method comprises operating the active converter to regulate the DC link voltage of the DC link stage to a predetermined voltage level until the current through the active converter equals a predetermined current limit, then transferring regulation of the DC link to the inverter upon reaching the current limit of the converter. The compressor is unloaded, and the power flow through the inverter is reversed to maintain the voltage level of the DC link stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Jadric, Harold Robert Schnetzka
  • Patent number: 7034478
    Abstract: A three-phase spindle motor has three terminals each driven with pulse width modulated signals. Rotation of the motor is controlled by iteratively measuring an electrical period of the motor, determining a rotational position of the motor, and synchronizing the sinusoidal pulse width modulation of the spindle motor with the measured electrical period. The electrical period of the motor is measured by detecting zero crossings in the a back electromotive force induced at a first terminal of the motor and determining the time between successive zero crossings. The rotation position of the motor is determined based upon the last measured electrical period and a location of last detected zero crossing. The zero crossings are detected by selecting a time window during which the back electromotive force signal is sensed for zero crossings. The time window is selected as a function of the last measured electrical period and the rotational position of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jaydip Bhaumik, Jason P. Brenden, Dames A. Dahlberg, Michael Peterson, Ross Wilson
  • Patent number: 6969963
    Abstract: The motor driver having a plurality of output circuits each having two switching elements connected in series includes: a phase switch circuit for putting a switching element on one side of one output circuit among the plurality of output circuits in the ON state during a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle, and performing switching operation for switching elements on the other side of plural output circuits among the remaining output circuits; and a conduction period control section. The conduction period control section generates a signal for controlling the switching operation. Specifically, when the number of times of switching operation performed during the time period corresponding to the predetermined electrical angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a switching element corresponding to a phase, for which the magnitude of the current should be decreased, is turned OFF in the time period corresponding to the next predetermined electrical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Sakai, Tomoharu Yokouchi, Ken Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6940253
    Abstract: A method for the stabilization of full-order flux observers for speed-sensorless induction motors in the regenerative mode. The method comprises determining the current vector of the induction motor, determining the stator voltage vector of the induction motor, forming a full-order flux observer having a system matrix (A) and a gain matrix (L), the state-variable observer being augmented with a speed adaptation loop, and producing an estimated rotor flux linkage vector and an estimated stator current vector, determining an estimation error of the stator current vector, defining a correction angle, and forming a speed adapt-tion law based on the cross product of the estimation error of the stator current vector and the estimated rotor flux linkage vector, where the correction angle is used to turn the rotor flux linkage vector or the estimation error of the stator current vector in order to keep the observer stable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Marko Hinkkanen
  • Patent number: 6933702
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control method and a control system for a motor. The control method and the control system of the invention transfer the motor dynamic equations of the synchronous d-q frame into a motor parameter (for example, the leakage inductance) and the equivalent counter electromotive force. Then the required control signals for the motor current control can be obtained. The control method of the invention not only preserves the merit of constant switching frequency of the convention PI-PWM control system, but also can eliminate the motor current phase-lag problem of the invention PI-PWM control system. Also, the control method of the invention will have the following characteristics and economic advantages such as high accuracy, fast response, low cost and robustness, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 6850030
    Abstract: There are performed converting electric currents Iu, Iv, and Iw flowing through the synchronous motor into a d-axis actual current Idfb and a q-axis actual current Iqfb on rotational coordinate axes which rotate synchronously with a rotor magnetic flux vector, on the basis of an actual position ? of the rotor of the synchronous motor; estimating a d-axis simulated current Idob and a q-axis simulated current Iqob on the basis of the d-axis actual current Idfb, the q-axis actual current Iqfb, a d-axis actual voltage command Vdref, and a q-axis actual voltage command Vqref; generating a d-axis actual voltage command Vdref and a q-axis actual voltage command Vqref on the basis of a d-axis current command Idref, a q-axis current command Iqref, a d-axis simulated current Idob, and a q-axis simulated current Iqob; and converting the d-axis actual voltage command Vdref and the q-axis actual voltage command Vqref into actual voltage commands Vuref, Vvref, and Vwref on the basis of the actual position ? of a rotor of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Souki Kaku, Ryuichi Oguro
  • Patent number: 6815925
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and/or calculating the torque for a field oriented induction motor operating at a given stator frequency. The systems and methods include calculating the torque using a first algorithm when the motor is at or below a first predetermined stator frequency, a second algorithm when the motor is at or above a second predetermined stator frequency, and a third algorithm when the motor is between the first predetermined stator frequency and the second predetermined stator frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Li Chen, Xingyi Xu, Vinod Reddy, Richard J. Hampo, Kerry E. Grand
  • Patent number: 6801013
    Abstract: A motor control system for use in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning applications includes a blower, a motor coupled to drive the blower, an inverter coupled to provide energization to the motor, and a controller coupled to the inverter. The controller provides signals to control the output of the inverter in response to received input control signals. Input control signals received by the controller can define first and second operating states. In response to the input control signals defining the first operating state, the controller controls the output of the inverter in accordance with a first volts vs. hertz relationship. In response to the input control signals defining the second operating state, the controller controls the output of the inverter in accordance with a second volts vs. hertz relationship, where the first volts vs. hertz relationship is different than the second volts vs. hertz relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Arthur E. Woodward, Prakash B. Shahi, Ralph D. Furmanek
  • Patent number: 6735284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for controlling a motor. A rotation/fixed coordinates converter converts a reference magnetic flux voltage and a reference torque voltage of a rotation coordinates system into data of a fixed coordinates system, and outputs the data to the three-phase voltage generator. A fixed/rotation coordinates converter converts a three-phase current applied from the inverter to the motor into a two-phase current. An estimation unit estimates a rotation angle and rotor speed of the motor upon receiving currents applied to the fixed/rotation coordinates converter. A control block receives the estimated rotation angle and the estimated speed from the estimation unit, and outputs the reference magnetic flux voltage and the reference torque voltage of the motor to the rotation/fixed coordinates converter to compensate an error caused by loads generated when driving the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dal Ho Cheong, June Hee Won, Jae Yoon Oh, Kyung Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 6720748
    Abstract: A method for use with an adjustable frequency controller to deliver current to an electromagnetic load including a stator and a rotor, the method for identifying a flux current estimate and comprising the steps of (a) identifying a rated torque value; (b) providing an initial q-axis current estimate; (c) using the q-axis current estimate to identify a d-axis current estimate; (d) mathematically combining the d-axis current estimate and the q-axis current estimate to identify a torque estimate; (e) comparing the rated torque value to the torque estimate; (f) where the torque estimate is similar to the rated torque value skipping to step (i); (g) altering the q-axis current estimate; (h) repeating steps (c) through (f); and (i) storing the d-axis and q-axis current estimates as flux and torque current values for subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Seibel, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 6680599
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system for limitation of the output current from a speed controller for three-phase asynchronous electric motors, comprising a PWM type converter in which the electronic switches are controlled by a microcontroller circuit (Mc), characterized by the fact that the microcontroller circuit comprises means (LIC) of calculating the modulus of the current vector using motor phase current measurements, and comparing it with a limitation set value in order to obtain a limitation error (y) and to calculate a correction voltage (&Dgr;V) that is added to the control voltage (V) applied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SA
    Inventors: Vinh Tung Nguyen Phuoc, Ayman Youssef, Carlos Canuda De Wit
  • Patent number: 6674258
    Abstract: A motor driver having output circuits each including upper and lower side switching elements connected in series. The motor driver includes: a current detection resistance connected in series with the output circuits in common; a phase switch circuit for turning ON a switching element on one side of one of the output circuits for a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle and switching switching elements on the other side of a plurality of output circuits among the remaining ones of the output circuits; and an ON-period control section for generating a signal for controlling the switching operation so that each of periods obtained by dividing the time period includes a first period in which a plurality of switching elements are turned ON and a second period in which one of the switching elements turned ON in the first period is kept ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Sakai, Tomoharu Yokouchi, Yasunori Yamamoto, Masashi Inao, Taishi Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 6630809
    Abstract: Field oriented induction motor system including a field oriented induction motor having an associated torque current and an associated flux current and a predetermined current ratio, wherein the predetermined current ratio is defined as the ratio of the torque current to the flux current, and wherein the predetermined current ratio is dependent upon the saturation state of the motor. A method for selecting the ratio of torque current to flux current for a field oriented induction motor including applying an allocation factor to the torque current and flux current, wherein the allocation factor is dependent upon the saturation state of the motor. The saturation state of the motor is determined based upon motor parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Li Chen, Xingyi Xu, Vinod Reddy, Richard Joseph Hampo, Kerry Eden Grand
  • Patent number: 6600290
    Abstract: A method of correcting the stator flux estimate midpoint in alternating-current systems, the method comprising the step of determining a stator flux estimate (&PSgr;s, est?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventor: Markku Niemelä
  • Patent number: 6590361
    Abstract: Method and system for controlling an induction machine are provided. The method allows to sense rotor position of the induction machine using a relatively low-resolution rotor position sensor configured to supply a stream of pulses indicative of angular increments as the rotor position changes. A memory device is used for storing a synchronous angle boost function. The method further allows to retrieve from the memory device at least one function parameter for providing a synchronous angle boost during a start up mode of operation of the induction machine. Upon sensing a predetermined number of pulses from the rotor position sensor, the method allows to switch from the start up mode of operation to a normal mode of operation, wherein the boost provided to the synchronous angle is discontinued upon switching to the normal mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Walters, Fani S. Gunawan, Gerald Thomas Fattic
  • Patent number: 6552508
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling flux in an induction motor. During initial start of an induction motor drive the motor flux has to be charged up. The method provides time optimal flux forcing under limited inverter ampere capability. Command stator flux and current are generated and coordinated through a motor flux model. Charging of the motor flux and flux current are accelerated up to nominal operating values in coordinated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Eddy Ying Yin Ho, Anthony Michael Klodowski
  • Patent number: 6509711
    Abstract: A system (10) for controlling the torque of an induction motor (12) utilizes a flux observer (14). The flux observer (14) receives stator current inputs (16, 18) and a rotor speed estimate (80) and then outputs a rotor flux estimate (20) that provides increased motor control stability at all speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Timofeevich Zaremba
  • Patent number: 6459230
    Abstract: A method of reconnecting a motor to a motor drive comprises controlling a current which flows through the motor using a current regulator. The current regulator produces a voltage command output based on a current command input. A current is commanded at the current command input of the current regulator. Back EMF measurements are acquired at different instants in time by monitoring the voltage command output of the current regulator. Back EMF phase angles are determined for a plurality of the instants in time based on a respective plurality of the back EMF measurements. A frequency of the back EMF is determined based on the back EMF angles determined for the plurality of instants in time. The motor drive is reconnected to the motor based on the frequency of the back EMF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jinghan Tao
  • Patent number: 6456030
    Abstract: A synchronous motor control system includes a synchronous motor 1, an inverter 3 and a controller 4 wherein a current differential detecting unit 13 detects a variation of a motor current when the three phases of the motor 1 is short circuited by the inverter 3, namely at the moment when a carrier wave in a PWM signal generator 9 assumes maximum or minimum value, in a calculating unit 14 a phase &ggr; from &agr; axis of a stationary coordinate system to a three phase short circuited current differential vector is calculated, a phase &dgr; is estimated from d axis to the three phase short circuited current differential vector by making use of d axis current id and q axis current iq on d-q axes coordinate system in the controller 4, thereafter the magnetic pole position &thgr; with respect to &agr; axis is calculated from the phases &ggr; and &dgr;, based on thus calculated magnetic pole position &thgr;, d-q axes control units 11, 7 and 8 are constituted to control the synchronous motor, thereby a highly reliab
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoso Masaki, Satoru Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6437535
    Abstract: A power electrical system is disclosed for a microturbine power generator. The invention permits the microturbine to be started using an external DC power source. The DC voltage is converted to a variable DC voltage by means of a bi-directional buck-boost circuit, DC bus and a DC-to-AC converter. The DC-to-AC converter produces at its output a fixed voltage pattern whose frequency is gradually increased in concert with the DC voltage, to accelerate the microturbine from standstill to startup speed. Once the microturbine is started, the excitation is discontinued, and the DC bus and DC-to-AC are used to produce output AC power at a voltage level and frequency to match an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gautam Sinha
  • Patent number: 6433506
    Abstract: A sensorless control system for an induction motor employs direct tracking of torque and flux regulation to achieve improved motor control without the need for transformation to the rotor flux related frame. A novel torqueflux dynamic model used to implement the control method employs stator voltage as an input, and achieves separation of torque and flux regulation. An alternate regulation method better suited for slow reference signals relies on a steady state solution of the dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexey Pavlov, Alexander T Zaremba
  • Patent number: 6388419
    Abstract: A motor control system 16 for use within an electric vehicle 10 having an induction motor 12. Control system 16 utilizes a torque control module 18, a vector control module 20 and a space vector PWM module 22 to efficiently and accurately control the torque provided by motor 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Chen, Xingyi Xu, Richard Joseph Hampo, Kerry Eden Grand
  • Patent number: 6335609
    Abstract: A method for reducing the starting time and reducing the peak phase currents for an internal combustion engine that is started using an induction machine starter/alternator. The starting time is reduced by pre-fluxing the induction machine and the peak phase currents are reduced by reducing the flux current command after a predetermined period of time has elapsed and concurrent to the application of the torque current command. The method of the present invention also provides a strategy for anticipating the start command for an internal combustion engine and determines a start strategy based on the start command and the operating state of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Amey, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 6335607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of correcting the flux midpoint in flux-controlled alternating current systems, the method comprising the steps of determining a stator flux estimate (&psgr;s,est) and determining the magnitude of stator current (is).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Industry Oy
    Inventor: Markku Niemelä
  • Patent number: 6316904
    Abstract: A speed sensorless controller for an induction motor with rotor resistance estimation, using stator currents and voltages. The rotor resistance and speed estimation are obtained as a solution of a linear algebraic system with pseudo current and voltage signals and their observable derivatives as inputs. The proposed scheme provides accurate, real-time estimation of the speed and rotor time constants in all motor operational modes. It can also be used for real-time motor tuning if a speed signal is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Alexander Timofeevich Zaremba
  • Patent number: 6281659
    Abstract: In an induction motor drive system with/without a speed sensor, resistance values are stably and accurately estimated during the operation of the motor regardless of the operating conditions such as a speed, a load, etc. and of a particular combination of parameters. A suitable point Pr is taken inside a current locus on a stator current vector plane, and a measured current is and an observed current is′ are referenced from this point Pr. The difference between the magnitudes of two vectors is and is′ is associated with an error of a rotor resistance Rr, while the difference between phase shifts is associated with an error of a stator resistance Rs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Guidi Giuseppe
  • Patent number: 6281656
    Abstract: A synchronous motor control system includes a synchronous motor 1, an inverter 3 and a controller 4 wherein a current differential detecting unit 13 detects a variation of a motor current when the three phases of the motor 1 is short circuited by the inverter 3, namely at the moment when a carrier wave in a PWM signal generator 9 assumes maximum or minimum value, in a calculating unit 14 a phase &ggr; from &agr; axis of a stationary coordinate system to a three phase short circuited current differential vector is calculated, a phase &dgr; is estimated from d axis to the three phase short circuited current differential vector by making use of d axis current id and q axis current iq on d-q axes coordinate system in the controller 4, thereafter the magnetic pole position &thgr; with respect to &agr; axis is calculated from the phases &ggr; and &dgr;, based on thus calculated magnetic pole position &thgr;, d-q axes control units 11, 7 and 8 are constituted to control the synchronous motor, thereby a highly reliab
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoso Masaki, Satoru Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6208098
    Abstract: A noise attenuation circuit is disclosed for use in a motor drive system. The motor drive system includes a pulse width modulated inverter providing three phase power output on three phase conductors for driving a motor. The noise attenuation circuit includes a common mode transformer including a common mode choke having a core, with first, second and third choke windings on the core, each connected in series with one of the three phase conductors, and a fourth winding on the core. A three phase iron core transformer creates a neutral point representing common mode voltage. The iron core transformer has three primary windings connected in a wye configuration. A capacitor circuit is connected between the iron core transformer and the three phase conductors to prevent saturation of the iron core transformer during pulsed DC operating conditions. The fourth winding is connected between the neutral point and the DC bus and develops a common mode voltage that is equal and opposite to that existing in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Yaskawa Electric America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuneo Kume, Mahesh M. Swamy
  • Patent number: 6014007
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting a motor drive into a rotating motor, the method including determining an initial search frequency and search current wherein the current is less than a rated drive current, providing a d-axis flux generating current to the motor at the search frequency and at a magnitude equal to the search current, monitoring a q-axis flux error, decreasing the search frequency until the d-axis flux error is less than a threshold value, thereafter increasing the search current to the rated drive current and, after a flux-up period, providing both q-axis torque producing current and d-axis flux producing current to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Seibel, Timothy M. Rowan, Russel J. Kerkman
  • Patent number: 6014006
    Abstract: Method of controlling torque of a multi-phase induction motor (10) includes estimating rotor speed as a rational function of filtered stator current i.sub.s0 and voltage u.sub.0 and first and second order derivatives of the filtered stator current and first order derivative of the filtered stator voltage, estimating rotor flux from said estimated rotor speed, estimating rotor flux angle from said estimated rotor flux, and using the estimated rotor flux angle to control motor torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Maxwell Stuntz, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Bondarko, Alexander Timofeevich Zaremba
  • Patent number: 5973474
    Abstract: In a vector control apparatus and method for an induction motor, a magnetic flux observer of a full order is provided for receiving a primary voltage vector (v.sub.1) and a primary current vector (i.sub.1) and for generating a vector related to an estimated secondary magnetic flux component to be supplied to a current command calculating section and related to an estimate rotation phase of a rotary coordinate system to be supplied to a current controlling section based on the primary voltage vector and the primary current vector, the magnetic flux observer of the full order having a plurality of coefficients expressed in circuit constants of a T-I type equivalent circuit of the induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5959429
    Abstract: When an induction motor is variable-speed-controlled via an electric power converting circuit, the magnetic flux of the induction motor is modulated by adding an alternating current signal to, for example, a magnetizing current command. For example, the component depending on the slip frequency of the induction motor is extracted by an extracting means from at least one of the amounts of changes of the voltage, the electric current, and the magnetic flux, which are caused by the modulation of the magnetic flux. The amount of the voltage or the electric current supplied to the motor, etc. is controlled based on the extracted component via an adjusting unit and a control means, thereby implementing superior control of the induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tajima, Hidetoshi Umida, Takashi Aihara
  • Patent number: 5859521
    Abstract: To provide a trans-vector controller for an alternating current ("AC") motor that facilitates operating the secondary resistance of the AC motor without experimentally rotating the AC motor.In a preferred embodiment, the variable speed control circuit, including a secondary resistance value generating device, changes the direct current ("DC") exciting current and operates the secondary resistance of an induction motor by superimposing an AC signal with small amplitude outputted from a AC signal generator onto a reference current value immediately before the start of the induction motor in the state of DC excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Tajima, Hidetoshi Umida, Hiroshi Tetsutani
  • Patent number: 5821725
    Abstract: An electric current compensation circuit for use with a multiple-phase burshless motor to reduce ripples in the output torque is disclosed. It contains a plurality of electric current compensation loops each for a respective phase winding and each of the electric compensation loops contains: (a) a first input for receiving a line current from the driver; (b) a second input for receiving the compensation current from the motor sensor; (c) a forward rectifying circuit for forwardly rectifying the line current and the compensation current; (d) a reverse rectifying circuit for reversely rectifying the line current and the compensation current; and (e) a summation circuit for summing the forwardly rectified compensation current and the reversely rectified compensation current and outputting a synthetic current to a phase winding of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Wang, Jin-Chern Chiou, Shih-Tung Cheng
  • Patent number: 5821714
    Abstract: A commutation control strategy for eliminating torque ripple and noise from a brushless motor which has a plurality of motor phases connected in a bridge, each phase having a top switching device provided between a phase winding and a positive voltage supply and a bottom switching device provided between the phase winding and a less positive voltage supply in which following commutations of the motor, when the current flowing in a first phase is decaying towards zero and the current in a second phase is rising from zero, the switching devices are operative between a state in which the current flowing in the first phase is caused to decay at a first rate, and another state in which the current flowing in the first phase is caused to decay at a second rate which is lower than the first rate so that the rate of decay of the current in the first phase substantially matches the rate of rise of the current in the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventor: Andrew James Stephen Williams
  • Patent number: 5818187
    Abstract: The invention concerns an improved system for windshield wipers in vehicles. An induction motor is used, in which speed is accurately controlled by controlling frequency of power supplied to the motor. The induction motor may be of the consequent-pole type, which ordinarily does not produce sufficient torque. Addition of (a) auxiliary tooth slotting and (b) skew has raised the torque produced to acceptable levels.The invention includes a control system, which senses excess load on the motor, which occurs as the windshield dries, and reduces motor speed, subject to a minimum, in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Windfield Savage, John Riden Suriano
  • Patent number: 5801505
    Abstract: A disk drive including firmware for overcoming stiction and breaking free the heads of a disk drive which may adhere to the disk surface when the disk is at rest. Upon start-up of the disk drive, if stiction at the head/disk interface occurs, the voltage to the spindle motor and/or actuator motor may be rapidly fluctuated so as to cause a pulsing of the spindle motor and/or actuator motor. Pulsing both the spindle motor and actuator motor creates forces in a plurality of radial directions to allow the head(s) to break free from the disk(s) in the direction of least resistance. Moreover, as the resonant frequency of the spindle motor varies depending on the number of heads that are stuck, the firmware pulses over a range of frequencies including the various resonant frequencies of the spindle motor corresponding to various numbers of heads stuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jia-Kuen Jerry Lee, Hong Tian, Martin Smallen, Mike Workman
  • Patent number: 5796236
    Abstract: A system for accurately determining a slip frequency for use in controlling an induction motor. The system includes two tables for determining ideal flux and flux current levels as a function of rotor speed and uses values from those tables to determine an actual rotor inductance required for calculating the slip. The system also generates a slip multiplier which is used to increase or decrease the slip as a function of the flux current to compensate for changing rotor resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company
    Inventor: Semyon Royak