Pluse Width Modulation Or Chopping Patents (Class 318/811)
  • Patent number: 7746024
    Abstract: A power converter includes a PWM active rectifier and controller that minimize harmonic ripple currents on the DC link during an engine start mode (first stage) in which power is provided to an AC starter motor. The PWM active rectifier and controller also minimize harmonic currents on AC input lines during a second stage (active filter mode). The power converter also includes a PWM inverter and corresponding inverter controller that controls the performance of the AC starter motor during the first stage based on mode selection input received. The power converter system further includes pre-charge circuitry that charges a DC link capacitor located within the power converter system to a desired level prior to providing the power converter system with AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Thomas A. Duclos
  • Patent number: 7741798
    Abstract: An RFI/EMI filter for a variable frequency motor drive system includes a variable frequency drive; a common mode choke; a motor; a cable including a plurality of power leads interconnecting the motor with the variable frequency drive and passing through the choke; a ground shield surrounding the cable and connected to motor ground and variable frequency drive ground; and a common mode return conductor interconnected between the variable frequency drive and the motor and disposed within the shield and passing through the choke for returning a portion of the common mode current to cancel a portion of the saturation current experienced by the choke to increase the portion of the common mode current carried by the return conductor and decrease the portion carried by the shield to reduce the RFI/EMI contributed by the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Azure Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20100127656
    Abstract: An overmodulation PWM controller includes a voltage instruction calculation unit which calculates a d axis voltage instruction and a q axis voltage instruction in which a voltage amplitude exceeds a peak value of a triangular wave carrier; a voltage instruction correction unit which corrects the d axis voltage instruction and the q axis voltage instruction so that a pulse width modulation voltage applied to an AC motor has a fundamental wave amplitude corresponding to the voltage instruction amplitude, according to the synchronization value K which is the number of the triangular carriers per one cycle of the phase voltage instruction; and a voltage instruction conversion unit which converts the corrected d axis voltage instruction and the q axis voltage instruction into a phase voltage instruction. The pulse width modulation voltage is controlled according to the result of comparison between the phase voltage instruction and the triangular wave carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Ohtani, Hideto Hanada, Makoto Nakamura, Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7723945
    Abstract: A square wave voltage having an amplitude equal to an output voltage of a converter is applied to an AC motor by a square wave control block. Torque control of the AC motor is performed basically by changing the voltage phase of the square wave voltage according to the torque deviation. When the motor revolution is suddenly changed, a instruction value correction unit sets a voltage instruction value of the output voltage of the converter according to a change ratio of the motor revolutions. This improves control of the motor current by changing the voltage applied to the motor in accordance with the sudden change of the motor revolutions without waiting for torque feedback control having a low control response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Okamura
  • Patent number: 7723946
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A Welchko, Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7719223
    Abstract: A circuit for indirectly measuring a sign of a current flowing in an inverter stage coupled to a phase of a motor or indirectly measuring the sign of the voltage induced by a counter Electromotive Force (EMF) in a coil of the phase of the motor, the inverter stage being connected between a power supply and the ground. The circuit includes a gate driver circuit coupled to the inverter stage for alternatively connecting the phase of the motor to the power supply and to ground, the gate driver circuit having a current sign detection circuit, wherein the current sign detection circuit senses the sign of the current flowing in the inverter stage, or the sign of the counter EMF for controlling the commutation of switches in the inverter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Massimo Grasso, Andrea (Francesco) Merello, Christian Locatelli
  • Patent number: 7714523
    Abstract: A load driving device controls two motors by PWM signals. When a standard duty ratio of the PWM signals is 50% and a level of a drive instruction is the standard duty ratio, the standard duty ratio are output to the respective motors to provide a reverse phase relationship that the PWM signal of the standard duty ratio does not overlap. A continuous off-period and the standard PWM signal output when the level of the drive instruction is lower than the standard, and the continuous on-period and the standard PWM signal output when the level of the drive instruction is higher than the standard are changed over at the ratios corresponding to the level of the drive instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kouji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100109598
    Abstract: A motor control circuit (MC) comprising input terminals (IT1, IT2) to receive a rectified input voltage (Vrm), and output terminals (OT1, OT2) to supply a motor drive signal (Vm). A switching circuit (1) is alternately in an on-state (Ton) and an off-state (Toff) for intermittently coupling the input terminals (IT1, IT2) to the output terminals (OT1, OT2). A controller (2) controls the switching circuit (1) to be (i) in the on-state (Ton) during a first period in time (T1) when an amount of magnetic saturation of the motor is smaller than a predetermined value, and (ii) alternately in the on-state (Ton) and the off-state (Toff) to obtain a pulse width control of the motor drive signal (Vm) during a second period in time (T2) when the amount of magnetic saturation of the motor is larger than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Wessel Adolf OTTEN, Wilhelmus ETTES
  • Patent number: 7710064
    Abstract: A motor driving semiconductor device has: six switching elements for driving a three-phase motor; three output terminals for applying output voltages to three terminals of coils of the three-phase motor; drive circuits for driving the six switching elements; and six control signal input terminals for receiving six control signals for on/off control of the six switching elements, wherein the motor driving semiconductor device is formed by sealing at least one semiconductor chip in one package with resin, and further includes a dead time generation function of generating a dead time relative to the six control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Hiroyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7688018
    Abstract: An inverter contains the following structure: an inverter circuit having upper-arm switching elements connected on the positive side of a DC power source and lower-arm switching elements connected on the negative side of the DC power source; a current sensor that detects current flowing between the DC power source and the inverter circuit; and a control circuit that not only effects control of the inverter circuit so that AC is fed to a motor from the inverter circuit according to an ON-period controlled by a PWM system, but also makes a correction to the ON-period so as to allow the current sensor to detect phase current. The control circuit determines an amount of the correction by judging a direction of current of a phase having an intermediate length of the ON-period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naomi Goto, Yasufumi Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 7688604
    Abstract: A first inverter control unit includes a harmonic generation unit. The harmonic generation unit generates a harmonic voltage instruction having a phase opposite to a harmonic generated at a neutral point of a motor-generator when the motor-generator revolves, based on motor revolution number of the motor-generator. A PWM signal generation unit generates a signal based on a voltage instruction obtained by superimposing an AC voltage instruction from an AC output control unit and the harmonic voltage instruction from the harmonic generation unit onto each voltage instruction of U-phase, V-phase and W-phase from a conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa, Shigenori Togashi
  • Patent number: 7683566
    Abstract: A fan rotation speed control circuit of a power supply system is provided, which is applicable for controlling the rotation speed of the fan according to a loading state outputted by the power supply system. The fan rotation speed control circuit of the power supply system includes a waveform generating module, for generating an oscillating waveform signal; a current retrieving module, for retrieving a current signal corresponding to the loading state; a rotation speed control signal generating module, for comparing the oscillating waveform signal with the current signal, and generating a rotation speed control signal; a signal amplifying module, for amplifying an amplitude of the rotation speed control signal and outputting the amplified rotation speed control signal to the fan, so as to control the rotation speed of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventor: Cheng-Shun Fan
  • Patent number: 7679310
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Brian A. Welchko, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 7679309
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Nitinkumar R. Patel, Bonho Bae, Stephen T. West
  • Patent number: 7667428
    Abstract: A power monitoring apparatus for receiving an external input signal includes a first modulating unit, a second modulating unit and a comparing unit. The first modulating unit receives and modulates an input signal into a first signal. The second modulating unit receives and modulates the input signal into a second signal. The comparing unit is electrically connected with the first modulating unit and the second modulating unit and has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal receives the first signal and the second input terminal receives the second signal. When a difference between the first signal and the second signal is higher or lower than a predetermined range, the output terminal outputs a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Pin Wei, Yi-Lun Chen, Wei-Shuo Tseng, Wen-Shi Huang
  • Patent number: 7665319
    Abstract: A fan control device receives a target revolution signal to control a rotation speed of a fan. The device includes a temperature measuring module, a revolution modulating module and a driving module. The temperature measuring module generates a temperature value according to an ambient temperature of the fan. The revolution modulating module is electrically connected with the temperature measuring module, receives the temperature value, and generates a control signal according to the temperature value and the target revolution signal. The driving module is electrically connected with the revolution modulating module, and generates a driving signal to drive the fan according to the control signal. In addition, a fan control method, which is applied to the fan control device, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsung-Jung Hsieh, Yu-Liang Lin, Yueh-Lung Huang, Ming-Shi Tsai
  • Patent number: 7663337
    Abstract: A frequency converter for outputting a power to drive a motor, having: an inverter unit for inverting a d.c. power to an a.c. power; a control unit for controlling the inverter unit; and a housing for supporting at least the inverter unit and control unit, wherein a rise time change unit is provided in the housing, the rise time change unit changes a rise time of a waveform of a voltage output from the inverter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment System Co.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Shimozono, Takeshi Obata, Koichiro Saito, Osamu Matsumoto, Kouji Obata
  • Patent number: 7659689
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying a polyphase (AC) alternating current motor with driving voltages. A conversion unit is coupled to phases of the polyphase AC motor and includes a plurality of switching devices and includes, in at least one phase, a first switching device between a bus of an AC power supply and an output terminal, a second switching device between a bus of a direct current (DC) power supply and the output terminal, and a third switching device between a common bus for the AC power supply and the DC power supply and the output terminal. Driving voltages for the polyphase AC motor are generated by selecting a voltage from among voltages having potential values corresponding to the AC power supply and the DC power supply, and the selected voltage is used to operate a switch of the plurality of switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kantaro Yoshimoto, Yasuhiko Kitajima, Kengo Maikawa
  • Patent number: 7656113
    Abstract: A device of pulse width modulation type for load drive according to the present invention includes a first output unit (3) that applies a first output signal (e) to a load (5) in response to a first drive timing signal (c), a second output unit (4) that applies a second output signal (f) to the load (5) in response to a second drive timing signal (d), a signal converter (1) that converts a drive input signal (a) into a parallel signal (b), the drive input signal indicating time information allowing a potential difference to be generated across the load (5), and a drive timing generator (2) that generates the first and second drive timing signals (c, d) in response to the parallel signal (b), the load (5) being driven by increasing and reducing pulse widths of the first and second output signals (e, f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Ueno, Fumihisa Watanabe, Daijiro Arisawa
  • Patent number: 7649756
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing common mode noise in a three phase pulse width modulated (PWM) system, the method comprising the steps of receiving the first, second and third modulating waveforms, identifying one of the modulating waveforms that is at least one of instantaneously the maximum and instantaneously the minimum of the modulating waveforms as a first identified waveform, wherein comparison of the first identified waveform to the carrier signal would generate a first on-off pulse sequence associated with a phase corresponding to the first identified waveform, generating switch control signals associated with the phase corresponding to the first identified waveform that cause a modified on-off pulse sequence that is phase shifted from the first pulse sequence, using the second and third modulating waveforms to generate second and third on-off pulse sequences corresponding to the second and third phases and providing the modified pulse sequence and the second and third pulse sequences to the one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel J. Kerkman, Qiang Yin, Haihui Lu
  • Patent number: 7646162
    Abstract: A control circuit for fan operating comprises a drive operating circuit, a potential modulating circuit, a comparator and a switch circuit. The drive operating circuit at least has a voltage source, a drive IC, a Hall IC and a motor coil winding, the drive IC is connected with the voltage source, and the Hall IC and the motor coil winding are connected with the drive IC. The potential modulating circuit is connected with the drive IC of the drive operating circuit and has a modulating signal source to provide a PWM signal with a duty cycle. The comparator has an input end and an output end, the input end is connected with the potential modulating circuit, and potential state of the output end is determined in accordance with the duty cycle of the PWM signal. The switch circuit is connected with the drive IC of the drive operating circuit and the output end of the comparator, and operating state of the drive IC of the drive operating circuit is determined in accordance with potential state of the output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: ADDA Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Cheng Ma
  • Patent number: 7646163
    Abstract: An exemplary device for controlling rotation speed of a computer fan includes an identifying device and a control circuit. The identifying device is configured for identifying the type of the computer fan. The control circuit configured for controlling rotation speed of the computer fan includes an electric switch, an integrated circuit, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The electric switch has a first terminal coupled to the identifying device to receive an identifying signal, a second terminal coupled to a super I/O chip to receive a PWM signal. The integrated circuit is configured to convert the PWM signal to an analog voltage signal. The first output terminal is configured to output the PWM signal to a PWM control pin of a fan header. The second output terminal is configured to output the analog voltage signal to a power pin of the fan header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Fang Xi, Ning Wang, Hua Zou
  • Publication number: 20090322276
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a main circuit that has switches connecting each phase of a three-phase AC power supply to each output phase, an LC filter having a reactor and a capacitor connected between the three-phase AC power supply and each bidirectional switch, and a current detector detecting an input current or a load current, and a four-step commutation device generating four steps on the basis of the polarity of the load current. The four-step commutation device sets times between the steps to a value more than zero so as to inhibit open circuit between output phases and short circuit between power supply phases, and sets the times between the steps in accordance with the polarity of the load current so as to cancel a distortion of an output voltage due to four-step commutation during a PWM cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Katsutoshi YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 7638966
    Abstract: A voltage control circuit is disclosed. A power factor corrector may utilize the control circuit to provide power factor correction for an AC induction motor. An AC induction motor system may combine the power factor correct with an AC induction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventor: Alexander Pummer
  • Patent number: 7633775
    Abstract: A power generation system for supplying a resultant output voltage is provided. The system comprises a power converter system. The power converter system comprises at least two power converter bridges, each configured for switching at a low frequency and generating a corresponding converter output voltage including a fundamental voltage component and harmonic components, and at least two power converter transformers. Each power converter bridge is coupled to a primary winding of a corresponding power converter transformer and a secondary winding of one power converter transformer is coupled to a secondary winding of a second power converter transformer. The resultant output voltage comprises a sum of the fundamental voltage components of each converter output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajib Datta, Allen Michael Ritter, Kunlun Chen, John Douglas D'Atre
  • Patent number: 7633259
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for operating an electrical machine includes providing a brushless excitation system including at least one rectifier having at least one diode. The method also includes providing at least one voltage amplitude limiter assembly including at least one resistor and at least one transient voltage suppressor (TVS) electrically coupled with the at least one resistor to form at least one voltage suppression unit. The method further includes transmitting an electrical signal having a current and a voltage to each voltage suppression unit, the voltage having an amplitude. The method also includes electrically coupling the at least one voltage amplitude limiter assembly to the at least one diode. The method further includes transmitting the electrical signal through the rectifier and the voltage suppression unit such that voltage amplitude excursions of the electrical signal are facilitated to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William E. Fish
  • Patent number: 7626350
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus and motor drive method reduce vibration and acoustic noise by not requiring a non-activation period for rotor position detection, and enable stable, high efficiency motor drive. A control voltage generator generates a control voltage based on the frequency of the speed signal FG output from a speed detection unit, and the amplitude of the control voltage is controlled based on a torque control signal EC. The phase difference generator detects the phase difference between the control voltage and the zero cross signal of the motor current detected from the motor terminal voltages. A control voltage generator controls the phase of the control voltage so that the phase difference goes to zero, thus accomplishing sensor-less motor drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Mori, Yasunori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7622880
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a voice-coil motor (VCM) may incorporate a pulse-width modulation driver to drive the VCM, a zero-current detector to determine whether the current across the VCM is zero, and a Back-EMF voltage detector to measure the voltage across the VCM when the current across the VCM is determined to be zero. The circuit may determine the current velocity of the VCM and use this information to control the velocity of the VCM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Siew Yong Chui, Jye Sheng Hong
  • Patent number: 7616466
    Abstract: An inverter circuit couples a DC voltage source having a primary side and a reference side to an electric motor or other AC machine having multiple electrical phases. An inverter circuit includes switches, diodes and a controller. For each of the electrical phases, a first switch couples the electrical phase to the primary side of the DC voltage source and a second switch couples the electrical phase with the reference side of the DC voltage source. For each of the first and second switches, an associated anti-parallel diode is configured to provide an electrical path when the switch associated with the diode is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Sibaprasad Chakrabarti, Silva Hiti, George John, Gregory S. Smith, Milun Perisic, Gholamreza Esmaili
  • Patent number: 7615958
    Abstract: The present invention is a motor control device comprising a control system, the control system being capable of controlling the motor by PWM and having integration means being capable of outputting an integrated value obtained by integrating a deviation between a rotation speed and a target rotation speed of a motor, the motor control device being capable of starting control with the control system for causing the motor to rotate at the target rotation speed after rotation of the motor has been started. In this motor control device, an output value of the integration means at a time when control with the control system is to be started is set to have a value that corresponds to a counter electromotive force generated in the motor by its rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Takeishi, Hirotomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7612518
    Abstract: There is provided an inverter capable of reducing a speed in a short period of time without generating an overcurrent even in a case of an alternating current motor which is easy to be saturated magnetically. A frequency of driving a motor is calculated by using a detecting value constituted by passing a direct current bus line voltage through a first filter portion, a voltage command is corrected by using a detecting value passing through a second filter portion, by making a time constant of the second filter portion larger than a time constant of the first filter portion in reducing a speed, the motor is brought into an overexcited state and loss is brought about in the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
    Inventors: Hideaki Iura, Kazuhiko Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 7612508
    Abstract: An escape sequence coded in power commands from a system controller, such as a BMC, to a cooling fan controller directs the cooling fan to send identification information coded in tachometer readings to the system controller for use by an information handling system. Electronic confirmation of the cooling fan identification ensures compatibility of the information handling system and cooling fan at initial manufacture or subsequent repair. Communication of information over existing power and tachometer wires supports the electronic confirmation without adding additional communication lines. Further, once a communication link is established between an information handling system controller and a cooling fan, other functions are enabled, such as a reflash of the cooling fan controller firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Elie Jreij, Paul T. Artman, Akkiah Choudary Maddukuri
  • Patent number: 7612507
    Abstract: A motor controller capable of appropriately change the drive control condition in response to variations generated in motor drive control. The receiving circuit wirelessly receives and demodulates the control signal to controllably drive the motor and then outputs the demodulated signal to the motor controller. The current detection circuit detects the drive signal for the motor. The CPU refers to a table including correlations between drive currents of the motor and drive frequencies, which are respectively stored in the memory. The CPU selects a drive frequency corresponding to a drive current detected by the current detection circuit, thus controllably driving the motor using the drive signal of the corresponding drive frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Futaba Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Katsuyama, Hideo Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 7612517
    Abstract: A stepping motor controller includes: a pulse frequency adjustment circuit that receives a command pulse having a first frequency from an external controller that outputs the command pulse in accordance with an interrupt process performed periodically by the external controller, and generates an alternative command pulse having a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency; and a motor driving circuit that receives the command pulse through the pulse frequency adjustment circuit, and controls a stepping motor to rotate on the basis of the command pulse. The pulse frequency adjustment circuit outputs the alternative command pulse to the motor driving circuit instead of the command pulse received from the external controller, when the first frequency exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Aruze Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Takeda
  • Patent number: 7609021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for monitoring signals which are guided to a multi-phase motor by an end stage and the pulse width thereof is controlled by a controller. The total of the pulse widths of the signals of each phase is measured by, respectively, a counter, respectively for a predetermined program flow in the controller. The meter reading is read by a counter according to a predetermined period of time and an error signal is produced if the total amount of time exceeds a predetermined tolerance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bay, Michael Henninger, Sven Kretschmar
  • Patent number: 7609024
    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: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Raed H. Ahmad, Ekkehard Pittius
  • Patent number: 7605556
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Frankel, Eric Hardt, Nigel D. Strike
  • Publication number: 20090255740
    Abstract: A voltage estimation system for motor control feedback is described. The system may include one or more control modules which may generate voltage commands. An overmodulation or “clipping” module receiving a voltage command can generate a clipped voltage. Rather than measuring directly, a voltage estimator may estimate the clipped voltage based on the duty cycle command to the inverter. This estimated voltage may then be used by a flux estimator to estimate a flux value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Andrew David Baglino, Troy Adam Nergaard, Heath Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20090251096
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing torque ripple in a permanent magnet motor system comprising a permanent magnet motor coupled to an inverter. The method comprises the steps of receiving a torque command, generating a torque ripple reduction signal in response to the torque command, modifying operational control signals in response to the torque ripple reduction signal to generate reduced ripple operational control signals, and providing the reduced ripple operational control signals to the inverter for control of the permanent magnet motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVEN E. SCHULZ, JOHN P. MILLER, KHWAJA M. RAHMAN, SOO-YEOL LEE
  • Patent number: 7598687
    Abstract: A method for controlling a first fan motor using a first pulse width modulation signal having a first pulse control factor, and for controlling a second fan motor using a second pulse width modulation signal having a second pulse control factor, so as to bring about an overall air output according to a prespecified setpoint air output by the operation of the first and the second fan motor, a low-pass filter being provided in parallel to the fan motors in order to smooth out voltage fluctuations in voltage supply lines, wherein the first and the second pulse control factor are made available independently of each other, in order to minimize the current through the low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Buerk, Stefan Koch, Karl Preis
  • Patent number: 7598698
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a current detecting portion that detects phase current of one phase among three phase currents supplied from an inverter to a motor, and a current estimator that estimates phase current of phases other than the detected phase current by using a specified current value indicating current to be supplied to the motor, and derives control current corresponding to the specified current value from the estimated phase current and the phase current of one phase. The motor control device controls the motor via the inverter so that the control current follows the specified current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichiro Hashimoto, Hajime Hida
  • Patent number: 7595599
    Abstract: Provided is a drive regenerative control system of a drivee with a motor superior in torque and weight balance and suitable for miniaturization as the drive source. In a drive regenerative control system having a drive source with an electric motor, a drivee, a control circuit having a drive control circuit of the motor and a regenerative control circuit, and a detection unit for detecting the driving status of the drivee, the drive control circuit and regenerative control circuit have a control unit for controlling, linearly or in multiple stages, the duty ratio of the drive or regenerative signal to be supplied to the motor based on the phase difference of the phase of the detection signal from the detection unit and the command value signal to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7595605
    Abstract: A method is described for determining an operating state on triggering a fan motor, the fan motor being operated with the aid of a switching device, the switching device being activated via a pulse-width-modulated triggering signal, a pulse duty factor of the triggering signal predefining a triggering state of the fan motor, a voltage potential at the node between fan motor and switching device or a motor current being measured as a measured variable, an operating state being determined on triggering the fan motor as a function of the measured variable and the pulse duty factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Buerk, Stefan Koch
  • Patent number: 7589490
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a motor control system having a monitoring circuit for monitoring PWM control for a DC electric motor, the PWM control comprising a power end stage having at least one field effect transistor, which controls the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system is designed to monitor the current at the DC electric motor. The motor control system detects the voltage drop across the field effect transistor and comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the field effect transistor. Furthermore, the motor control system is designed to determine the resistance of the field effect transistor from the detected temperature thereof, and to determine the current at the DC electric motor from the resistance of the field effect transistor and from the voltage drop across the field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Achim Haesters, Bernd Dienhart, Joachim Waschkies, Guido Lindeke, Cornelius Peter, Angelika Peter, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7586287
    Abstract: A computer housing temperature control device is disclosed. The present invention obtains the PWM signal generated from the CPU in the motherboard to control the rotation speed of all cooling fans located in the computer housing. Furthermore, the present invention uses a hub to share the PWM signal to all cooling fans in the computer housing, and the PWM signals are displayed on a screen in a digital or analog way. The PWM signal is issued by the motherboard according to the temperature of the CPU, and is used for controlling the rotation speed of the cooling fan so that the temperature of the computer housing is controlled well, and the user is informed of status of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Cooler Master Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Wei Chen, Kuo-Hwa Huang
  • Patent number: 7586277
    Abstract: An electric power steering device changes the discontinuous non-linear characteristics in the duty ratio of the PWM signal versus motor current generated during steering wheel handle return into linear characteristics to suppress noise and provides a smooth and natural feeling steering. The electric control circuit (13) provided a current reference value calculator (22A) to calculate Iref, a current controller (22B) to obtain Vref2, a compensation adder (25) to obtain a duty D1, and a current discontinuity compensator (24) in order to obtain a duty D2. A motor drive circuit (35) including an H bridge circuit whose upper stage FET (1) is driven by the duty D1, and whose lower stage FED (3) paired with the upper stage FET (1), is driven by the duty D2 to allow forming a continuous linear characteristic in the duty ratio of the PWM signal versus the motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kobayashi, Toru Sakaguchi, Takeshi Hara, Sakae Nejo
  • Patent number: 7583047
    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 quenching device comprises, for each bridge half, a quenching condenser that can be charged by a charging circuit quenching voltage. The quenching condensers, in the event of quenching, can be connected to the bridge halves by means of switches that are controlled by the trigger unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens AG Osterreich
    Inventors: Thomas Biribauer, Franz Hackl, Wilfried Hofmüller, Heinz Pichorner, Wilhelm Ritschel, Franz Wöhrer
  • Patent number: 7573217
    Abstract: A method for determining a direction of rotation for an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The motor is configured to rotate a blower and the method comprises rotating the blower using the ECM and determining if the resulting blower rotation is indicative of the desired direction of rotation for the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Regal-Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Solan, Jr., Brian L. Beifus, Roger C. Becerra
  • Patent number: 7567749
    Abstract: A motor control circuit includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generating circuit, a driving circuit and a waveform-shaping circuit connected between the PWM signal generating circuit and the driving circuit. The PWM signal generating circuit generates a square wave with a sequence of alternating on-time and off-time. The waveform-shaping circuit adjusts the rise-time and the fall-time of the square wave to be both within a range of 5% to 15% of the square wave period, and the driving circuit outputs a driving signal to a fan motor according to the adjusted square wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-feng Wu, Ching-sen Hsieh, Yueh-lung Huang, Ming-shi Tsai
  • Patent number: 7567046
    Abstract: An object of the present invention to accurately and reliably detect rotational positions of a rotor irrespective of noise overlapping inductor voltage. Employed for accomplishing the aforementioned object in the present invention is a motor-driving device for rotating and driving a rotor by supplying predetermined drive signals to stator coils each corresponding to each phase of a DC brushless motor, the device comprising: a drive-signal-generating unit for generating the drive signals by switching direct current power based on a pulse-control signal; and a control-signal-generator unit for generating the pulse-control signal that controls the drive-signal-generating unit by intermittently generating the pulse-control signal; and for detecting the rotational position and the rotational velocity of the rotor based on inductor voltage obtained from the stator coils in a period in which generation of the pulse-control signal is suspended in each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Narifumi Tojima, Takashi Majima, Mitsunao Sakamoto, Tetsuya Fukumoto