Pluse Width Modulation Or Chopping Patents (Class 318/811)
  • Publication number: 20090179608
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a power inverter in an electric drive system of an automobile are provided. A signal controlling the power inverter is modified utilizing a first voltage distortion compensation method if a modulation index of the signal is less than a first modulation index value. The signal is modified utilizing a second voltage distortion compensation method if the modulation index is at least equal to the first modulation index value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. WELCHKO, Steven E. SCHULZ, Silva HITI
  • Patent number: 7560897
    Abstract: To provide a current controller capable of constantly detecting an offset value of a current detection system, the offset value overlapping with a current detection value, in a state of regular operation of a motor to correct the current detection value and capable of current detection with high accuracy and a current offset correction method of the same. A carrier wave peak-trough judging part 10 is provided to discriminating the peak and the trough of a carrier wave. An A/D converted value detected in falling from the peak of the carrier wave is used as a current detection value. An A/D converted value detected in rising from the trough of the carrier wave is used as an offset value in the case that a modulated wave command is larger than a comparison standard value capable of computation by means of a calculation formula. On the basis of the current detection value and the offset value, carried out is an operation of a current detection correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventor: Junichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7548038
    Abstract: A controller for a motor is capable of reducing the amount of energization required to operate a motor under a predetermined condition, the motor having two rotors disposed around a rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Atarashi, Hiroyuki Isegawa
  • Patent number: 7541760
    Abstract: A method capable of controlling brushless DC motor detects the magnetic pole positions of the rotor with a Hall component to produce a Hall signal correspondingly, generates a PWM signal based on an external control signal with a PWM generator, controls a switch circuit based on the PWM signal and the Hall signal with a driver such that switched output is capable of being sent to the current phase of the stator coils for rotating the rotor. Further, while the Hall signal is detected to be level-switched, the external control signal level increases or decreases corresponding to change of the level of the Hall signal with respect to the duty cycle of the PWM signal being controlled to increase to the preset duty cycle from 0 or to decrease to 0 from the preset duty cycle for eliminating both sharp wave in the current during switching and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Sentelic Corporation
    Inventors: Jao-Ching Lin, Lin-Abel Chu, You-Kang Lin, Cheng-Chung Tsau, Chung-Yi Shen
  • Patent number: 7538510
    Abstract: A controller for a motor permits efficient energization control according to an operating condition of a motor without depending on a number of revolutions of the motor when operating a motor having two rotors disposed around a rotating shaft. The controller includes a voltage-between-terminals increaser which carries out at least one of first processing for increasing a voltage between terminals in which a rotor phase difference is changed by an actuator in a direction for reducing the magnetic fluxes of fields of the motor, second processing for increasing a voltage between terminals in which an output voltage of a DC power source is increased by a DC/DC converter, and third processing for increasing a voltage between terminals in which d-axis current is increased in the case where the magnitude of a resultant vector of a command value of a d-axis voltage and a command value of a q-axis voltage in the motor exceeds the radius of a target voltage circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Atarashi, Hiroyuki Isegawa
  • Patent number: 7538515
    Abstract: A motor controller includes an inverter circuit, a speed detector, an amplifier, a voltage detector, and an offset voltage addition circuit. The inverter circuit drives a motor based on a PWM signal. The speed detector generates an actual speed signal corresponding to an actual speed of the motor. The amplifier outputs a differential voltage by amplifying a difference between the actual speed signal and a target speed signal. The voltage detector outputs a switch signal for switching rotation direction of the motor. The switch signal has a first level, when the differential voltage is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The switch signal has a second level, when the differential voltage is less than the predetermined value. The offset voltage addition circuit adds an offset voltage to the differential voltage according to the signal level of the switch signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchida, Daisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7535188
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a neutral point difference voltage detecting unit operable to detect a difference voltage between a virtual neutral point of a resistor circuit connected in parallel to motor coils and an actual neutral point which is a common connection point of the motor coils, a rotor position detecting unit operable to detect a position of the rotor based on the difference voltage, and a controller operable to control commutation of an inverter. A rotation start torque applying process applies a rotation start pulse for providing rotation torque to the rotor based on a determined rotor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Fukamizu, Yasunori Yamamoto, Shinichi Kuroshima
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090108798
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a power inverter in an electric drive system of an automobile are provided. The various embodiments control the power inverter by, responsive to either a commanded torque of the electric motor being above a first torque level, or a commanded speed of the electric motor being above a first speed level, controlling the power inverter with a discontinuous pulse width modulated (DPWM) signal to generate a modulated voltage waveform for driving the electric motor. Additionally, the embodiments control the power inverter by, responsive to both a commanded torque of the electric motor being below the first torque level, and a commanded speed of the electric motor being below the first speed level, controlling the power inverter with a continuous pulse width modulated (CPWM) signal to generate the modulated voltage waveform for driving the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVEN E. SCHULZ, BRIAN A. WELCHKO, SILVA HITI
  • Patent number: 7525264
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include receiving shunt current in one or more conductors according to a sensed component of power distributed by the conductors through one or more transformers coupled to the conductors and determined by an inductance associated with the transformers and a capacitance associated with the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Dodge
  • Patent number: 7521883
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating a drive signal that is applied to a coil in a motor. The drive signal is applied during a period (commutation period) between a commutation event and the immediately following commutation event when the coil is energized. The drive signal comprises pulses which vary over the duration of the commutation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Otsuka, Eric Hardt
  • Patent number: 7521889
    Abstract: In a DC braking method for stopping an induction motor, torque shock generated by an abrupt change of an output current phase is reduced to a predetermined value or less when a switch-over from a normal control state to a DC braking state. When a switch-over from a normal control state to a DC control state is performed, the generated torque shock is reduced to a predetermined value or less is provided. In this case, an abrupt change of an output voltage phase is inhibited by predictably operating the output voltage phase during the DC braking to control the power converter on the basis of a setup DC braking initiation frequency or a phase advanced until the DC braking is initiated, which is predetermined by a deceleration rate and the setup DC braking initiation frequency and the output voltage phase of a normal control state at the instant that a switch-over to the DC braking state is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideaki Iura, Shigekazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7518334
    Abstract: A method and a control device for a brushless DC motor, which has an AC/DC inverter supplied by an intermediate direct voltage circuit for feeding the DC motor, a pattern generator for controlling switches of the AC/DC inverter having a variable frequency and phase periodical switch signal pattern and an input for a signal representative of the present phase position of the rotor of the DC motor. The pattern generator detects an average current strength released by the AC/DC inverter and adjusts a phase offset between the phase position of the rotor and the switch signal pattern in accordance with the detected average current strength and the speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Hochhausen, Jörg Seyfarth, Pietro De Filippis
  • Patent number: 7518335
    Abstract: A method for controlling an alternating current (AC) motor includes choosing a pulse sequence based on a ripple current in the AC motor at a sampling instant; and providing a voltage to the AC motor based on the pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. West, Brian Welchko, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7518328
    Abstract: The invention relates to the commutation of electromechanical, commutatorless actuators, more particularly of permanent magnet motors and reluctance motors, having a rotor and a stator including at least one stator winding (W1, W2) that is/are operated with a constant current (IPWM). The method for determining the moment of commutation used herein comprises the following steps: A reference constant current is applied to at least one of the windings (W1, W2) and a stationary state is awaited. Then, a value that represents the voltage applied to the winding of the actuator in the stationary state is determined as the reference commutation value for the commutation voltage. While the motor is running, the commutation (if the motor is being operated with the reference current) is performed as soon as the reference value appears or a specified time later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Saia-Burgess Murten AG
    Inventor: Werner Balsiger
  • Patent number: 7514894
    Abstract: A driver for a brushless motor (10) is described comprising a static position sensing device (22), a back EMF detector for detecting a back EMF voltage (40), comprising a filter (42). The driver further comprises an output stage (30) with at least three modules (30U, 30V, 30W) for supplying a current to a respective phase coil (11U, 11V, 11W) of the motor (10), and a commutating device (21) for selectively enabling respective modules (30U, 30V, 30W) of the output stage (30) depending on the position ($) of the motor. The selectively enabling is alternated with a commutation frequency (VE). The commutating device (21) is controlled by the static position-sensing device (22) at startup of the motor and by the back EMF detector (40) after the first detected back EMF pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Gian Hoogzaad
  • Patent number: 7508153
    Abstract: A method for determining the rotary speed of an electrical machine, especially of a direct current motor, which is controlled in PWM operation, the tracking voltage of the electrical machine being measured and the rotary speed being ascertained from that. The rotary speed fluctuations are able to be substantially reduced if the electrical machine is controlled using a control signal which has a PWM phase, in which the electrical machine is periodically switched on and off using a prespecified pulse duty factor, and which has a measuring phase in which the electrical machine is switched off. The rotary speed is measured in the measuring phases, in this instance, and is calculated in the PWM phases based on a model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Schanzenbach, Juergen Hachtel
  • Patent number: 7509032
    Abstract: A motor drive control circuit includes a rotation control amplifier that compares the lower of a voltage limiting reference voltage of a reference voltage source and a rotation speed control voltage, which controls the rotation speed of the motor, on a terminal with a peak voltage from an impedance element that detects a drive current of a motor. The motor drive control circuit further includes a rotation limiting comparator that compares a voltage that is substantially equal to the voltage limiting reference voltage with the peak voltage, a synthesis circuit that amplifies rotation position detection signals from the motor according to the output voltage of the rotation control amplifier, a PWM output comparator that compares the outputs of the synthesis circuit with a triangular wave voltage and outputs PWM signals, and a motor-driver control circuit that removes an output period of the rotation limiting comparator from the ON period of each PWM signal and controls a motor driver that drives the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Jami
  • Patent number: 7501781
    Abstract: A PWM motor drive circuit includes a drive IC member, a PWM converter circuit and a potential limiter. The drive IC member electrically connects with a motor coil and further includes a pin electrically connected with the PWM converter circuit. The potential limiter has a first terminal electrically connected with a point between the pin of the drive IC member and the PWM converter circuit, and a second terminal electrically connected with a power source to supply an initial voltage to the pin of the drive IC member via the potential limiter. When the motor starts, the potential limiter can adjust of the initial voltage supplying to the pin of the drive IC member so that the drive IC member cannot unexpectedly enter a stop or high-speed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, Chung-Ken Cheng, Cheng-Nan Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090058351
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including an induction-motor controller that has a motor controller configured to receive alternating current (AC) power with a voltage that varies generally sinusoidally and transmit the AC power during a conduction angle of a cycle of the AC power. In some embodiments, the conduction angle varies generally sinusoidally at a lower frequency than the AC power, and the motor controller may be configured to not transmit the AC power outside of the conduction angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: David M. Messersmith, John Herman Blakely
  • Patent number: 7495399
    Abstract: A coordination control device of a power output apparatus includes a coordination control unit. The coordination control unit calculates an intermediate value between the maximum value and minimum value among voltage controls for a first motor generator, and voltage control from an AC voltage control generation unit to generate an AC voltage across neutral points of first and second motor generators, and outputs a value that is each phase voltage control for the first and second motor generators minus the calculated intermediate value to a signal generation unit as the final voltage control for the first and second motor generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Katsuhiro Asano, Yoshitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7495412
    Abstract: A pulse width modulator includes a discrete time oscillator, a data storage device, a data processing block, a counter, and a comparator. The discrete time oscillator generates a first address of bits used by the data processing block for reading first data from the data storage device. The data processing block generates second data from the first data and at least one bit of the first address bits. The comparator generates a pulse width modulation signal by comparing the second data and a digital count generated by the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 7495407
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling rotational speed of a fan includes a sensor, a first chipset, and a second chipset. The sensor detects an ambient temperature and generates a corresponding temperature signal. The first chipset provides a pulse-width modulation signal to the fan for driving the fan, and receives a rotational speed signal from the fan. The second chipset defines a controlling relationship between the rotational speed of the fan and the temperature. The controlling relationship is that the temperature is partitioned into a plurality of temperature ranges and each of the temperature ranges corresponds to a rotational speed range. The temperature signal is transmitted from the sensor to the second chipset via the first chipset. The second chipset determines a rotational speed range according to the controlling relationship, and controls the first chipset to adjust the pulse-width modulation signal until the actual rotational speed of the fan is in the rotational speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting Huang, Qiu Hu
  • Publication number: 20090033275
    Abstract: A controller for an induction motor includes a storage device which stores values in a plurality of addresses, a first counter which transits circularly among first to N-th states, a second counter which transits circularly among first to fourth states, a calculating section which calculates calculation values, and a signal generation section which generates PWM signals and synchronous interruption signals at constant time pitch such that pulse widths of the PWM signals are adjusted based on the calculation values respectively. An inverter supplies electric power to an induction motor based on the PWM signals. The first counter transits from one to next of the first to N-th states synchronously to each of the synchronous interruption signals. The second counter transits from one to next of the first to fourth states synchronously to each transition of the first counter from the N-th state to the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sumiyuki Kamikisaki
  • Patent number: 7482768
    Abstract: A hybrid electric lawnmower having dual power supply is described which includes an electric motor operating the blade and the ability to drive the motor from either 120 VAC line voltage or from a battery pack. There is a user selectable power selection switch for switching between DC or AC power in order to run the motor on either line voltage or based upon the charge of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Desa IP, LLC
    Inventors: Delbert E. Lucas, Justin Lucas, Ryan Jay Lucas
  • Patent number: 7479757
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system comprising an electric drive system for a machine. The system can comprise a rectifier adapted to convert AC power from an alternator to DC power. The system can comprise an inverter adapted to receive DC power from the rectifier and provide power to a traction motor and/or auxiliary devices. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system and method for dissipating excess energy from a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Raed H. Ahmad
  • Patent number: 7479754
    Abstract: A hybrid electric lawnmower is described which includes an electric motor operating the blade and the ability to drive the motor from either 120 VAC line voltage or from a battery pack. There is a user selectable power selection switch for switching between DC or AC power and also a boost and conserve feature which allows for increased speed of the blade as necessary. Running the mower at the conserve setting prolongs battery pack duration per charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Desa IP LLC
    Inventors: Delbert E. Lucas, Justin Lucas, Ryan Jay Lucas
  • Patent number: 7474069
    Abstract: A circuit for optimizing power transferred from an inverter circuit to a motor, the circuit using an open loop method to start-up the motor and have it reach a minimum speed, each phase of the motor receiving voltage from the inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Palma, Massimo Grasso
  • Publication number: 20090001922
    Abstract: A motor control device is disclosed which is arranged so as to perform a PWM control for a permanent magnet motor including a rotor having a permanent magnet and a stator with a multiphase winding. The motor control device includes a position detection unit which executes an analog computation process for induced voltages of respective phases of the motor based on voltage, current and a constant of the motor and a phase voltage equation, thereby generating and delivering a rotational position signal of the rotor based on a phase relation of the induced voltages, and a digital processing unit which has a function of generating and delivering a PWM signal based on the rotational position signal, thereby controlling the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yukihisa Hasegawa, Kazunobu Nagai
  • Patent number: 7471526
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing voltage distortion effects at low speed operation in electric drives. The method comprises receiving a first signal having a duty cycle with a range between minimum and maximum achievable duty cycles, producing a second duty cycle based on the minimum achievable duty cycle if the duty cycle is within a distortion range and less than a first clipping value, producing a second duty cycle based on the closer of minimum and maximum pulse widths if the duty cycle is within the distortion range and between the first and a second clipping value, producing a second duty cycle based on the maximum achievable duty cycle if the duty cycle is within the distortion range and greater than the second clipping value, and transmitting a second signal to the voltage source inverter having the second duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A Welchko, Bonho Bae, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7466100
    Abstract: Kinematic control of an electronic positioner and its associated actuator is effected through a control algorithm that delivers energy to the actuator based on observed motion produced by a previous delivery of energy. The algorithm achieves control based on a desired or user-specified resolution. Electronic braking between energy delivery intervals improves the speed at which the desired position is achieved. Temperature of the force producing mechanism is determined, as by monitoring energy consumed, and used to control how power is delivered to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Peaktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Mueller, Jack M. Leason
  • 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: 20080292290
    Abstract: A motor controlling method and apparatus thereof are provided. The control method includes the steps of receiving a switching phase signal of coil while the motor is rotating, for generating a separate signal, comparing the phase signal and the separate signal to generate a first control signal, generating a current feedback signal equivalent to the first control signal, and comparing the current feedback signal and the separate signal for generating a second control signal so as to control the operation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Chin-Fa Chiu, Chun-Lung Chiu, Ming-Shi Tsai
  • Patent number: 7456597
    Abstract: A fan motor is driven under a pulse width modulation (PWM) control. PWM signals to be supplied to a circuit for driving the fan motor are formed from carrier waves having a specified frequency and a duty ratio of the PWM control. Rotational speed of the fan motor is increased by increasing the duty ratio. In a low speed region, the fan motor is driven with a high carrier frequency to suppress driving noises of the fan motor, while it is driven with a low carrier frequency in a high speed region to reduce switching losses in semiconductor elements. The carrier frequency may be continuously decreased when the fan motor speed reaches the high speed region, or it may be stepwise decreased. The low carrier frequency used in the high speed region is set to such a frequency that guarantees a sufficient number of switching times at a maximum speed of the fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Kanamori
  • Patent number: 7449854
    Abstract: A PWM signal generation of the present invention includes a counter, a compare register, a comparator comparing a compare value of the compare register with a count value of the counter and outputting an identity signal, a PWM signal generation circuit determining a pulse width of a PWM signal according to the identity signal, and an additional bit setting register storing an additional bit provided to change the pulse width of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Tsubota
  • Patent number: 7449860
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving phase voltage control signals for use in controlling current flow to an induction motor. The method may comprise obtaining an error term; converting the error term into a commanded voltage value; transforming the commanded voltage value into a commanded voltage vector; and converting the commanded voltage vector into the phase voltage control signals via pulse width modulation control. The apparatus may comprise a Park vector converter for converting a first stator phase measurement and a second stator phase measurement into a stator phase current vector; a scalar operator for obtaining a stator phase current value; a summer for obtaining an error term; an error converter for converting the error term into a commanded voltage value; a voltage transformer for transforming the commanded voltage value into a commanded voltage vector, and pulse width modulation control for converting the commanded voltage vector into the phase voltage control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bulent Sarlioglu, Colin Huggett
  • Publication number: 20080272732
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an electric machine via an inverter while compensating for one or more hardware delays. The method includes receiving a control signal, producing a first sampling signal based on the control signal, and adjusting the sampling signal to compensate for a first delay of the one or more hardware delays. The inverter is operable to produce a voltage signal based on the control signal, and the electric machine is operable to produce a current based on the voltage signal. A sampling of the current is performed based on the first sampling signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Nitinkumar R. Patel, Bonho Bae, Stephen T. West
  • Publication number: 20080265831
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus provided with an inverter for successively commutating the current to a motor using a PWM signal; a PWM signal generating device for generating the PWM signal using a carrier signal; a rotational state quantity sensor for detecting a rotational state quantity; a phase difference detecting device for detecting the phase difference between the carrier signal and the rotational period based on the rotational state quantity; a frequency setting device for setting a frequency of the carrier signal to a value in accordance with a multiplier for one period in terms of electrical angle of the rotational period of the motor, when the rotational frequency is equal to or greater than a specified frequency and the phase difference is equal to or less than a specified value; and a synchronizing device for synchronizing a control period of the carrier signal to the rotational period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Nobuyuki IMAI, Yoshinari Murayama, Junji Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080265809
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus which controls an output voltage reference for an inverter driving a permanent magnet synchronous motor based on d-axis and q-axis current references, d-axis and q-axis current detected values, and a computed frequency value. When a torque reference specifying torque greater than maximum torque that the motor can output is input, a limit value for a phase angle that is a deviation between a rotation phase reference of control and a rotation phase value of the motor is varied depending on a quantity of the predetermined state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Kentaro Ol, Kazuaki Tobari, Yoshitaka Iwaji, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tatsuo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7441616
    Abstract: A generated power control system in which the magnetic field of a generator is controlled based on a target generated power so as to perform the appropriate generation control. Preferably, the generated power control system is used in a hybrid vehicle having a generator configured to be driven by an internal combustion engine that drives a first wheel and an AC motor that drives a second wheel not driven by the internal combustion engine with an inverter arranged to supply generated power from the generator to the AC motor. Basically, the generated power control basically calculates an AC motor power requirement of the AC motor and a target generated power to be generated by the generator based on the AC motor power requirement, and then controls the generated power generated by the generator by controlling a magnetic field of the generator based on the target generated power calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Sugita, Hideki Kawashima, Toshirou Matsuda, Yasuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7443126
    Abstract: A controller for a synchronous machine includes: a power converter; a synchronous machine driven by the power converter; a PWM modulation section for controlling the synchronous machine; a current detection section which detects a current conducted to the synchronous machine; a voltage detection section which detects a voltage applied to the synchronous machine; a current variation operation section which operates a current variation during a time interval between timings synchronized with detection sampling in the current detection section; a voltage integration operation section which operates a voltage integration value during a time interval between the same timings as the timings in the current variation operation section; a current variation operation section for a time interval in which all sets are included, defining, as one set, the current variation and the voltage integration value, and operating a current variation during the time interval in which all the sets are included; a voltage integration
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuya Yasui, Kazuaki Yuuki, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7443129
    Abstract: There is described a method for controlling a quenching device for a converter bridge with line regeneration, whereby the converter bridge controlled by a network-timed control circuit by ignition pulses is connected with its three inputs to the phases of a three-phase network and the two outputs of the bridge are connected to a direct-current motor which feeds, when operated as a generator, current back to the three-phase network via the bridge. The quenching device is controlled by a trigger unit which emits trigger pulses depending on the monitoring of electrical and temporary variables. The device has measuring values “direct output current” and/or “supply voltages” used to determine characteristic values which are compared with theoretical characteristic values. Depending on the result of said comparison, the quenching device is optionally activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Österreich
    Inventors: Thomas Biribauer, Franz Hackl, Wilfried Hofmüller, Heinz Pichorner, Wilhelm Ritschel, Franz Wöhrer
  • Publication number: 20080258673
    Abstract: Method and system are provided for controlling an alternating current (AC) motor via an inverter. The method includes selecting a pulse sequencing method based on a modulation index of the inverter, and providing a voltage to the AC motor based on the pulse sequencing method. The system includes an inverter having a modulation index (Mi) and a controller coupled to the inverter. The controller selects a pulse sequencing method based on Mi and produces a signal based on the pulse sequencing method. The inverter includes a switch network producing a voltage in response to the signal, and the voltage drives the AC motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Brian A. Welchko, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7439703
    Abstract: A controller for a synchronous machine includes: a power converter; a synchronous machine driven by the power converter; a PWM modulation section for controlling the synchronous machine; a current detection section which detects a current conducted to the synchronous machine; a voltage detection section which detects a voltage applied to the synchronous machine; a current variation operation section which operates a current variation during a time interval between timings synchronized with detection sampling in the current detection section; a voltage integration operation section which operates a voltage integration value during a time interval between the same timings as the timings in the current variation operation section; a current variation operation section for a time interval in which all sets are included, defining, as one set, the current variation and the voltage integration value, and operating a current variation during the time interval in which all the sets are included; a voltage integration
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuya Yasui, Kazuaki Yuuki, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7436144
    Abstract: A CPU calculates, based on a frequency command value for driving a motor and on a state quantity of the motor, an output-voltage command value in which only the phase advances while amplitude is constant in each calculation period, without reducing the calculation period. An ASIC reflects the output-voltage command value in a triangular wave signal in a time-series order to compare with each other, and outputs a PWM signal to a switching circuit. Thus, a waveform of an output voltage is made close to a sine wave irrespective of an output frequency being high or low, and a processing load of the CPU is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Yoshimura, Toshiyuki Kaitani
  • Publication number: 20080246430
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle drive apparatus having an electric motor and a motor drive device, the electric motor having a stator, a rotor and a moving mechanism capable of changing a relative distance between the stator and the rotor to vary an effective magnetic flux of the motor, the motor drive device compares a regenerative current with a target current during a regenerative control of the motor, and when it is found that the regenerative current is larger than the target current, the distance between the stator and the rotor is increased to reduce the effective magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Kenya Yanagihara
  • Patent number: 7432678
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a speed control circuit for outputting a speed control signal on the basis of a target speed command and rotating speed information of a motor, a PWM signal generating circuit for generating and outputting a PWM signal on the basis of the speed control signal, a switching circuit for feeding power to motor windings on the basis of the PWM signal, and a protection circuit including a full torque detecting circuit for detecting a full torque status in which the speed control signal is a signal for instructing maximum torque. The protection circuit outputs a signal for stopping the switching circuit when the full torque detecting circuit detects a full torque status continuously for a specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Yokouchi, Keisuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7432675
    Abstract: A method of operating an apparatus for use with a computer, including a power source, a system board, and a heat sink. The method includes operating a fan reversing control card, which is coupled to the system board, to generate normal and reverse cycle rotation signals in predetermined intervals, and controlling a fan, which is coupled to the fan reversing control card, by receiving the normal and reverse cycle rotation signals, and operating in normal and reverse cycles in which the fan rotates in first and second directions, respectively. The method further includes installing the fan within the computer sufficiently proximate to the heat transfer surfaces such that the first and second directional rotations of the fan generate air flows in first and second directions with respect to the heat transfer surfaces, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse V. Corbett, David J. Steiner, Donald C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7428157
    Abstract: Virtual shielding is used to reduce the sources/origins of latchup and switching noise in a synchronous switching regulator. The regulator power stage may be split into two half stages. The ground bond wires of the half power stages may be positioned on opposite sides of the layout to substantially eliminate coupling between the ground bond wires. The power supply bond wire in one half power stage and the ground bond wire in the other half power stage may be positioned such that the mutual inductance between the power supply bond wire and the ground bond wire is maximized. The controller ground may be positioned substantially midway between the power supply bond wire in one half power stage and a respective ground bond wire in the other half power stage. The regulator controller may be placed between the regulator power stage and other analog circuitry to isolate the regulator power stage from the analog circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Xuesong Jiang
  • Patent number: 7426122
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a power converter including a voltage-vector control unit that determines, based on voltage instruction value for the power converter, a voltage vector output from a power converter in one control cycle of pulse width modulation control and times for outputting of the voltage vector, a voltage-vector adjusting unit that adjusts the time of outputting of the voltage vector so that time of outputting of a zero-voltage vector is larger than a fixed time or zero, and a firing-pulse generating unit that generates a signal for turning on and off a semiconductor switching element included in the power converter, based on the time of outputting of the voltage vector adjusted by the voltage-vector adjusting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kimata, Toshiyuki Kaitani, Akira Imanaka