Power- Or Motion-transmitting Mechanism Patents (Class 318/9)
  • Patent number: 11885342
    Abstract: There is described controllers, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium for adaptive speed control of a fan array of an air handling unit. A fan speed command for the fan array is identified. The fan speed command is scaled based on a floating maximum fan speed. A fan error of at least one fan of the fan array is detected. The floating maximum fan speed is adjusted in response to detecting the fan error. The fan speed command is rescaled based on the adjusted floating maximum fan speed. The fan speed command is provided to each fan of the fan array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Jibo Liu
  • Patent number: 11811344
    Abstract: A work machine includes a frame, a traction system supporting the frame, a power source mounted on the frame, a switched reluctance motor, an inverter configured to control power to the motor from a power source, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicating a desired torque and determine if the desired torque is between an upper threshold and a lower threshold. If the desired torque is between the upper threshold and the lower threshold, pulse width modulation is used to produce a PWM adjusted torque command, and the motor is commanded based on the PWM adjusted torque command. The PWM adjusted torque command is configured to cycle between the upper threshold and the lower threshold to produce the desired torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse R. Gerdes, Thomas M. Sopko, Carlos E. Nino Baron, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Sajan Abdul, Amara Ashfaq, James Michael Thorne
  • Patent number: 11511794
    Abstract: An electric driver device provides a partial redundancy system that is at least partially redundant, or a full redundancy system. The electric driver device has a plurality of circuit systems. The electric driver device includes, in at least a part of the electric circuit, a common circuit extending over at least two of a plurality of circuit systems. The common circuit includes a power supply and/or a connection line that complements signals. At least one of the power supply circuit, an interface circuit, a power supply cutoff circuit, and a connector is not separated and independent from each other for each redundant circuit system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yamamoto, Naoki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11183963
    Abstract: Driver circuits are provided in correspondence to switching elements of an inverter to output gate signals to the switching elements and built in an IC package in an abnormality detection device (ECU). Motor relays are provided in motor current paths between inter-arm connection points and multi-phase motor windings. Pull-up resistors connect a power supply line and the inter-arm connection points. Pull-down resistors connect the inter-arm connection points and the ground. A checking unit acquires a voltage corresponding to a voltage of each inter-arm connection point as a terminal voltage and checks a short-circuit failure or an open-circuit failure of each motor relay or a disconnection failure of each winding based on the terminal voltage. The pull-up resistors and the pull-down resistors are provided within the IC package in which the driver circuits are built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takaharu Kozawa
  • Patent number: 11177760
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electric motor having a controller, a torque demand limit generator, and a drive stage. The controller may be arranged to receive as an input a torque demand signal indicative of the amount of torque demanded from the motor and to produce as an output a set of motor current demand signals. The drive stage may receive the motor current demand signals and is arranged to cause currents to flow in each phase of the motor as required to meet the demanded torque. The torque demand limit generator may be arranged to output a torque demand limit signal indicative of a torque demand limit above which the battery current would exceed one or more limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Vasile Coroban-Schramel
  • Patent number: 10976757
    Abstract: Valve systems and related methods include valve actuators and control systems configured to monitor at least one characteristic of the valve system during movement of a valve element to a position in the valve system and to determine a drift of the position based on the monitored at least one characteristic of the valve system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Ollander, Daniel E. Carlson, Michael Adam Rumore
  • Patent number: 10924054
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis method for an inverter circuit includes a first monitoring step of monitoring an inter-terminal voltage between a high-potential-side terminal and a low-potential-side terminal of each of a plurality of driving devices included in the inverter circuit, and a second monitoring step of monitoring a power supply voltage of the inverter circuit. A determination step of determining whether there is a failure in each of the driving devices from a value of the inter-terminal voltage and a value of the power supply voltage is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC ELESYS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Maeshima
  • Patent number: 10857870
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, an engine, and stator. The electric machine has a magnetic armature and an electromagnetic armature. The electromagnetic armature is secured to a wheel and has an electrical circuit that includes primary and secondary coils. The engine is configured to rotate the magnetic armature to induce current in the circuit via the primary coils. The stator has tertiary coils that are configured to transfer power to the electromagnetic armature via the secondary coils to drive the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Allan Roy Gale, David Allen Janson
  • Patent number: 10819251
    Abstract: A linear actuator has a base, a linear guide coupled to a flat, planar side of the base and extending in a travel length of an object to be moved, a contact plate extending along the flat, planar side of the base, and a carriage. The carriage includes an enclosure formed of an acoustically isolating material, a moving element configured to move along the guide and is coupled to the enclosure, a piezoelectric element including a contact site in physical contact with the contact plate, and a housing elastically holding the piezoelectric element, the housing coupled to the enclosure with no direct contact with the moving element. An electrical power source is in electrical communication with the piezoelectric element, wherein the power source energizes the piezoelectric element to effectuate movement of the carriage along the linear guide via the physical contact between the contact site and the contact plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DTI Motion Corp.
    Inventors: Valentin Zhelyaskov, Serhiy Petrenko, Mark Broderick
  • Patent number: 10696177
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for decelerating by the regenerative braking of a motor connected to a drive shaft of a drive wheel calculates a torque command value for suppressing a vibration component of the drive shaft by feeding back a torsional angular velocity of the drive shaft to a desired torque that determines the power of the motor and controls the operation of the motor on the basis of the torque command value. The control device estimates a dead zone section, in which the torque of the motor in the vehicle is not transmitted to the drive shaft, on the basis of the desired torque and limits the torque command value in the case where the vehicle is in the dead zone section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Fujiwara, Akira Sawada, Sho Ohno
  • Patent number: 10701813
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rollable display device including a display panel configured to display an image, a panel roller having a mechanical structure that enables rolling up the display panel around an outer circumferential surface of the panel roller, and a roller driving unit configured to control a motor so that the display panel rolls around the outer circumferential surface of the panel roller or unrolls therefrom, wherein the roller driving unit and the motor are disposed in the panel roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeonghun Kim, Bongchul Kim
  • Patent number: 10116200
    Abstract: Provided is a DC/DC converter device capable of suppressing overshooting of an output voltage and fluctuation of an input voltage. The DC/DC converter device includes: a DC/DC converter including a power conversion unit and a reactor; and a control unit. The control unit includes a rate-of-change limiting value setting unit configured to set a rate-of-change limiting value for the output voltage target value, and is configured to limit the output voltage command value by using the rate-of-change limiting value, to thereby generate the output voltage target value. The rate-of-change limiting value setting unit is configured to obtain an index value for quantitatively evaluating an amount of fluctuation in the input voltage, to thereby change a setting of the rate-of-change limiting value in such a direction as to narrow a rate-of-change limiting range when the index value is within a predetermined specific range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Kato, Matahiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9909665
    Abstract: A gear-shifting mechanism driving device for allowing a speedy and accurate gear-shifting operation has a light weight even in the case where a shift spindle is short. The gear-shifting mechanism driving device includes a transmission for selectively establishing a gear combination by the turning of a shift spindle for turning a master arm, and an actuator as a power source for turning the shift spindle, in which the gear-shifting mechanism driving device includes a reduction gear shaft provided in a power transmission path between the actuator and the shift spindle, a first gear provided on one end side of the reduction gear shaft to receive power from the actuator side, and a second gear provided on another end side of the reduction gear shaft to transmit power to the shift spindle side. The reduction gear shaft is made of a torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujimoto, Hiroyuki Makita, Taku Hirayama, Kinya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9845631
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drive arrangement for motor-operated adjustment of a closure element in a motor vehicle having at least one drive with a drive motor, and a drive controller. The closure element can be driven in the motor-operated adjustment mode by the drive motor in the closing direction and in the opening direction between a closed and an open position. The drive is non-self-locking and has a sensor, in particular a Hall sensor, for sensing the drive movement. The drive controller monitors the sensor signals for a fault state, and when a fault state is sensed initiates an emergency braking and/or stop mode. The drive arrangement comprises two drives each with a sensor for determining the respective drive movement. To detect drive-fault-induced slamming shut of the closure element, the drive controller correlates the sensor signals of the two sensors, in particular compares said sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Eggeling, Dirk Hellmich, Klaus Dünne
  • Patent number: 9404392
    Abstract: An improved heat engine is disclosed. The heat engine comprises at least one heat pipe containing a working fluid flowing in a thermal cycle between vapor phase at an evaporator end and liquid phase at a condenser end. Heat pipe configurations for high-efficiency/high-performance heat engines are disclosed. The heat pipe may have an improved capillary structure configuration with characteristic pore sizes between 1? and 1 nm (e.g. formed through nano- or micro-fabrication techniques) and a continuous or stepwise gradient in pore size along the capillary flow direction. The heat engine may have an improved generator assembly configuration that comprises an expander (e.g. rotary/turbine or reciprocating piston machine) and generator along with magnetic bearings, magnetic couplings and/or magnetic gearing. The expander-generator may be wholly or partially sealed within the heat pipe. A heat engine system (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9123693
    Abstract: There is provided a mold module and an electric power steering apparatus in which the temperature distribution in electronic components such as semiconductor chips utilized in an electronic relay and an inverter circuit unit is equalized and hence the heat radiation performance can be improved. In a mold module according to the present invention, a plurality of terminals for forming wiring leads and a plurality of electronic components mounted on the respective terminals are molded with a molding resin; at least part of the plurality of terminals are exposed at the rear side of the molding resin; an electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention utilizes the mold module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanaka, Yoshihito Asao, Katsuhiko Omae, Tetsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9035577
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a closing device, wherein a closing element (2), with the aid of a drive motor (4) controlled by a control unit (7), can be displaced in a closing direction up against a stop edge, wherein the control unit (7) can be shifted into a normal-operation mode, in which position-related information is sensed as the current position of the closing element (2), and into a sleeping mode, in which no sensing of position-related information takes place, the method having the following steps: —interrogating whether a wake-up condition, in which the control unit (7) goes from the sleep mode into the normal-operation mode, is present; —if the presence of the wake-up condition is established, and if the closing element (2), prior to assuming the sleep mode, last moved in the closing direction, the position-related information is subjected (S25) to a predetermined correction value in order to correct the position-related information, in respect of an actual position of the closi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Huck, Peter Kusserow, Matthias Koerwer
  • Publication number: 20150035456
    Abstract: Disclosed are drive systems for a vehicle trailer maneuvering drives, some embodiments having a motor unit and a voltage source for supplying the motor unit, wherein the motor unit comprises a brushed electric motor with motor shaft and a motor controller that may include a speed detection unit for detecting the speed of the motor shaft and a control and regulating unit for the motor, for its voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: TRUMA GERAETETECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Thiel
  • Patent number: 8941337
    Abstract: In a motor driving device, a first relay portion is connected between a power source and an inverter portion, a second relay portion is connected between the first relay portion and the inverter portion, and a motor relay portion is connected between the inverter portion and a winding group of a motor. Inverter pre-driver circuits respectively drive switching elements of the inverter portion. A first pre-driver circuit drives the first relay portion. A second pre-driver circuit drives the second relay portion and the motor relay portion. A controller controls driving of the inverter portion, the first relay portion, the second relay portion, and the motor relay portion, and detects a failure of the first relay portion, the second relay portion, and the motor relay portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Uryu, Naoki Matsuda, Yoshihide Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20140361713
    Abstract: A drive mechanism configured to drive a thermally isolated actuator between two positions. The drive mechanism includes a rotary actuated motor configured to rotatably drive a motor member, and a drive member coupled to the motor member and having a drive arm configured to responsively move from a first position to a second position upon rotation of the motor member. An actuator is responsive to movement of the drive arm moved from the first position to the second position. A drive circuit is configured to generate a pulse width modulated (PWM) drive signal configured to controllably drive the motor, the PWM drive signal having a first duty cycle configured to advance the drive arm from the first position, and having a second duty cycle different than the first duty cycle as the drive arm approaches the second position. The drive signal may be removed before the drive arm engages a hard stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Amy M. Yoshida, Thomas J. Kostrzewa, Eric T. Hughes, Michael L. Brest, Eric J. Griffin, Jerry Hershberg
  • Publication number: 20140310895
    Abstract: A control assembly that may be used with a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) cleaning unit may include a linkage arm that extends and retracts, a load cell sensor that senses a force on the linkage arm, and a motor. The motor may drive the linkage arm to an extended or retracted position to cause a scrubber brush assembly of the cleaning unit to move away from or into contact with a substrate to be cleaned. In response to a force sensed by the load cell sensor, the motor may adjust the position of the linkage arm to cause an adjustment of the scrubber brush assembly position relative to the substrate being cleaned. Methods of controlling a scrubber brush force are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Hui Chen
  • Publication number: 20140191690
    Abstract: A construction machine includes a turning electric motor configured to drive a turning mechanism configured to cause an upper-part turning body to turn relative to a lower-part traveling body and a control unit configured to control driving of the turning electric motor. The control unit is configured to cause the output of the turning electric motor to continue after the turning speed of the upper-part turning body becomes zero, based on the magnitude of the output or the direction of the output of the turning electric motor at the time when the upper-part turning body is decelerated and its turning speed becomes zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto YANAGISAWA
  • Publication number: 20140159617
    Abstract: A method for controlling a position of an actuating element, to which a restoring force is applied, in an actuator system having an electronically commutated electrical machine, includes controlling the position of the actuating element as a function of a predefined setpoint position specification and an actual position specification. A position control unit provides an actuating variable which is associated with a space vector with which a stator arrangement of the electrical machine can be driven. The method further includes applying a correction variable to the space vector in order to correct a space vector angle of the space vector; providing an auxiliary signal; varying the space vector angle of the space vector, which is defined by the actuating variable, by the auxiliary signal; and integrating a variable to give an integration value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alex Grossmann
  • Publication number: 20140117883
    Abstract: An active suspension system for a suspended device. The system has an electromagnetic actuator that produces force on the suspended device and that is powered by a power source, and a control system that provides control signals that cause the electromagnetic actuator to exert force on the suspended device. The control system is adapted to receive a turn-off signal that results in disabling the electromagnetic actuator from producing force on the suspended device. When the control system receives a turn-off signal it provides actuator turn-off control signals that cause the force exerted by the electromagnetic actuator to progressively transition to zero over a transition time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Brian A. Selden, Antonio Sangermano
  • Publication number: 20140117884
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes: an electric motor that generates assist torque based on steering torque; an auxiliary power supply connected in series with a main power supply that supplies electric power to the electric motor, and capable of discharging electric power to the electric motor; and a control device that controls a voltage to be applied to the electric motor. When the auxiliary power supply starts discharging electric power to the electric motor, the control device gradually increases a duty ratio of a switching element, which is a command signal for commanding the auxiliary power supply to discharge electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toyoki SUGIYAMA, Masayasu HIGASHI
  • Publication number: 20140055059
    Abstract: In a motor driving device, a first relay portion is connected between a power source and an inverter portion, a second relay portion is connected between the first relay portion and the inverter portion, and a motor relay portion is connected between the inverter portion and a winding group of a motor. Inverter pre-driver circuits respectively drive switching elements of the inverter portion. A first pre-driver circuit drives the first relay portion. A second pre-driver circuit drives the second relay portion and the motor relay portion. A controller controls driving of the inverter portion, the first relay portion, the second relay portion, and the motor relay portion, and detects a failure of the first relay portion, the second relay portion, and the motor relay portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko URYU, Naoki MATSUDA, Yoshihide KURODA
  • Patent number: 8598815
    Abstract: Torsional loads can impart painful and potentially injurious shear stresses upon residual limb soft tissues in lower limb amputees. To protect the soft tissues, a controllable transverse rotation adapter (TRA) has been developed that permits rotation of the prosthetic socket relative to the prosthetic foot, relieving some of the rotational loads experienced by the residual limb, and controlling either the stiffness resisting the transverse rotational torque, or the torque. This TRA uses series elastic actuator (SEA) technology and includes a prime mover, a speed reduction device, and a torsion spring mounted in series. By measuring a displacement of the spring (e.g., using a strain gauge), motor current, and the motor shaft position, the load torque and position can be used to calculate actual stiffness or applied torque. The motor position is then adjusted relative to the load, to control the effective stiffness or torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington Through Its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Brian Glaister, Glenn Klute
  • Patent number: 8575875
    Abstract: In a converter of a motor drive control device, one of a first switching element and a second switching element is selected in accordance with a current command value of a current flowing through a reactor. The converter is then controlled so that a drive command for the selected switching element is generated. In this way, the efficiency of the converter is improved while a voltage step-up or step-down operation is performed by the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Takamatsu, Masaki Okamura
  • Publication number: 20130228373
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided that in one embodiment includes a load, a motor coupled to the load to provide electrical power to the load and an alternator directly coupled to the motor driving the motor. In one aspect, the apparatus further includes a switch between the alternator and the motor that in a first position connects the alternator to the motor in a first configuration that rotates the motor in the clockwise direction and in a second configuration that rotates the motor in the counterclockwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Eckard Scholz
  • Patent number: 8452424
    Abstract: In a case where a position command path for a control position of a load 5 that is equivalent to a moving object is set by issuing a position command Rc(z), a gain for one of a high-frequency component, a specified frequency, and a specified frequency width is constrained. This means that a resonant frequency can be constrained, and that after the position command Rc(z) arrives at a target position, a position detection signal Y(z) can also arrive at the target position in a set number of steps. It is therefore possible to perform positioning at high speed and with high precision by constraining a resonance mode of a mechanism that includes the moving object, and a feed-forward control can be performed that meets target positioning times that are set for various types of operating patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: National Univeristy Corporation Nagoya Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Noriaki Hirose, Hiromu Hirai, Kenta Seki
  • Patent number: 8446111
    Abstract: A motor for an electric power steering device with an integrated controller (1) includes a motor (2) and a controller (15) which controls driving of the motor (2) and has a metal case, the motor and the controller being formed integrally with each other. The motor (1) is attached to a speed reduction mechanism (23). The motor (2), the controller (15), and the speed reduction mechanism (23) are arranged in this order, in an axial direction, and in substantially coaxial relation with each other. The heat emitted from a driving substrate and the motor can be efficiently transmitted to the speed reduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Sonoda, Yoshihito Asao, Satoru Akutsu
  • Patent number: 8410731
    Abstract: Linear actuator (1) comprising an electric motor connected to a spindle via a transmission, on said spindle is mounted a spindle nut secured to an activation element (2), said activation element (2) being equipped with a front attachment (3). The actuator (1) is further furnished with a rear attachment (4), which is axially displaceable between defined stops. The rear attachment (4) activates a switch (7) in at least one of the displaceable positions of the rear attachment (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kahr Knudsen, René Sørensen, Anders B. Lorenzen
  • Publication number: 20130049643
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a current detection unit, an operating portion, a current threshold setting unit and a control unit. The current threshold setting unit sets a current threshold so as to change in accordance with changes in a motor current which flows when the motor is started as usual until a predetermined period of time elapses since the control unit has started driving of the motor. When the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the current threshold setting unit fixes the current threshold to a constant value which corresponds to a set torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya KUSAKAWA
  • Patent number: 8321100
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of operating range states. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining a permissible range of input operating points to the input member, determining ranges of motor torques for the torque machines, determining an available power range from the energy storage device, selecting a candidate input operating point within the permissible range of input operating points, and determining maximum and minimum achievable output torques transferable to the output member for the candidate engine operating point within the ranges of motor torques for the torque machines and within the available power range from the energy storage device in a candidate operating range state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20120261078
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment controls daylight entering a space through a window and includes a covering material, a drive shaft, lift cords received around the drive shaft and connected to the covering material, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft. It also includes a spring assist unit for the motor providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the lift cords at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions, minimizing motor usage and conserving battery life. A photosensor for measuring the daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window may be provided. The position of the covering material is automatically controlled to save energy, or may also be controlled in response to an infrared or radio-frequency remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Justin J. Mierta, Daniel W. Mistarz, Robert C. Newman, JR., Peter W. Ogden, JR., Jonathan L. Roe, Chen Ming Wu, Justin M. Zernhelt, Edward J. Blair, Andrew Karl Cooney, Soumya Jain, David A. Kirby, Stephen Lundy
  • Patent number: 8287246
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an electrical drive such as is used with electric submersible pumps used in downhole oil production, wherein the drive automatically determines the proper phasing to drive the pump motor in a forward direction. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a drive signal having an initial phasing and driving the pump to establish a column of fluid in the borehole. The drive signal is then discontinued, allowing the column of fluid to fall through the pump and cause the pump to backspin and generate a signal having phasing corresponding to the reverse rotational direction. The forward phasing is then determined to be the opposite of the phasing corresponding to the reverse rotational direction. The pump can be restarted in the forward direction, or an operator can be notified of the proper phasing to produce forward rotation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Sheldon Plitt, Jerald R. Rider, Dick L. Knox, William Carter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8274244
    Abstract: An actuator system for assisting extension of a biological joint is provided with a motor assembly, a rotary-to-linear mechanism, and an extension stop. The rotary-to-linear mechanism includes a screw that accepts rotational output of the motor assembly, and a nut that cooperates with the screw to convert rotational movement of the screw to linear movement of the nut. The extension stop is driven by linear movement of the nut in an extension direction to cause extension of the biological joint. The motor assembly, the rotary-to-linear mechanism and the extension stop cooperate to allow unpowered flexion of the joint. The system is configured without a flexion stop, and is configured such that the nut cannot drive the joint in a flexion direction. Methods of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tibion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Horst, Richard R. Marcus
  • Patent number: 8222755
    Abstract: An energy recycling structure includes a primary portion, a secondary portion and a positioning shaft. The primary portion connects to a motor and includes a radially magnetic assembly including a number of strips having different magnetic strength. The secondary portion connects to a driven element and includes a coil electrically connecting to a peripheral device. The positioning shaft connects the primary portion and the secondary portion. A current flows in the coil when the coil cuts the magnetic lines of force of the magnetic assembly during rotation of the magnetic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kim-Yeung Sip
  • Patent number: 8209098
    Abstract: A method to monitor integrity of a signal output from an operator-manipulable transmission range selector for a powertrain system includes equipping the transmission range selector with a range encoder and a direction encoder, determining a range state and a direction state based upon signals from the range encoder and the direction encoder, determining a discrete position of the transmission range selector based upon the range state and the direction state, and performing back rationality to verify the discrete position of the transmission range selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanne Buur, Richard E. Robinette, Peter E. Wu
  • Publication number: 20120153875
    Abstract: Torsional loads can impart painful and potentially injurious shear stresses upon residual limb soft tissues in lower limb amputees. To protect the soft tissues, a controllable transverse rotation adapter (TRA) has been developed that permits rotation of the prosthetic socket relative to the prosthetic foot, relieving some of the rotational loads experienced by the residual limb, and controlling either the stiffness resisting the transverse rotational torque, or the torque. This TRA uses series elastic actuator (SEA) technology and includes a prime mover, a speed reduction device, and a torsion spring mounted in series. By measuring a displacement of the spring (e.g., using a strain gauge), motor current, and the motor shaft position, the load torque and position can be used to calculate actual stiffness or applied torque. The motor position is then adjusted relative to the load, to control the effective stiffness or torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Brian Glaister
  • Patent number: 8188689
    Abstract: An induction activated cover assembly includes a main body, a cover, a covering plate and two pivots. The main body has an opening vertically penetrating the main body. A lateral connecting groove is formed on a top surface of the main body. Two through holes are formed on two ends of the connecting groove respectively. The cover is pivotably disposed on the main body. A lateral connecting body is formed on a rear end of the cover, and the connecting body has a connecting body opening facing downward. Two pivot bores are formed on two ends of the connecting body. The covering plate encloses the connecting body opening. A receiving room is defined between the connecting body and the covering plate for the pivots to be received therein. Each pivot inserts through one of the pivot bores and its corresponding through hole to pivot the cover on the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Shek
  • Patent number: 8121765
    Abstract: A method to control an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines to transmit power to an output member includes determining motor torque constraints and battery power constraints. A preferred output torque to an output member is determined that is achievable within the motor torque constraints and is achievable within a range for a first torque input and is achievable within a range for a second torque input and is based upon the battery power constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsieh, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8058823
    Abstract: An actuator system for extending and flexing a joint, including a multi-motor assembly for providing a rotational output, a rotary-to-linear mechanism for converting the rotational output from the multi-motor assembly into an extension and flexion of the joint, and a controller for operating the actuator system in several operational modes. The multi-motor assembly preferably combines power from two different sources, such that the multi-motor assembly can supply larger forces at slower speeds (“Low Gear”) and smaller forces at higher speeds (“High Gear”). The actuator has been specifically designed for extending and flexing a joint (such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, or a shoulder) of a human. The actuator system may, however, be used to move any suitable object through any suitable movement (linear, rotational, or otherwise).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tibion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Horst, Kern Bhugra, Robert L. Jardine
  • Patent number: 7977896
    Abstract: A method to determine a limit torque associated with an electro-mechanical transmission includes determining electric motor torque constraints and battery power constraints. A limit torque function and a standard form of the limit torque function are determined. The limit torque function and the motor torque constraints and the battery power constraints are transposed to the standard form to determine a limit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Tung-Ming Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7936138
    Abstract: Provided is a motor controller for controlling a motor installed at an object such as an electric car operated using a transmitter. A manipulation of a manipulation tool of the transmitter is allocated for brake and reverse modes. A specific value of brake power contained in a signal demodulated by a receiver is stored in a memory unit as a changeover reference value, and a changeover determining unit compares the changeover reference value with the brake power. If the brake power is greater than the changeover reference value, the changeover determining unit transmits a changeover signal to a control unit, and if the manipulation tool is manipulated to a neutral point after the control unit receives the changeover signal, the control unit changes the state of the manipulation tool from brake mode to reverse mode. The changeover reference value can be changed by an operator using an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: FUTABA Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Katsuyama, Hideo Kitazawa, Takatoshi Morita
  • Patent number: 7755314
    Abstract: An electric-motor-equipped vehicle of the present invention includes an electric motor which receives a power supply from a storage apparatus and drives the vehicle, or assists a driving of the vehicle by an internal combustion engine. The electric motor includes: an inner circumference side rotor and an outer circumference side rotor which are each provided with magnet pieces, and rotation axes of which are coaxially arranged; a stator which is arranged on an outer circumferential side or an inner circumferential side of the inner circumference side rotor and the outer circumference side rotor; and a phase modification device capable of modifying a relative phase between the inner circumference side rotor and the outer circumference side rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Atarashi, Hiroyuki Isegawa, Hiromitsu Sato, Masaaki Kaizuka, Shoei Abe
  • Patent number: 7746010
    Abstract: A feeder to be able to meet the requirements of positioning accuracy, long distance conveyance, remote conveyance, controllability, high precision feeding, high speed feeding, inexpensiveness, simplicity of construction, space saving, weight reduction, measure for dusting and safety for accident for being provided for multiple utilizations. This feeder comprises a forward winder (21), a reverse winder (31), a forwardly winding liner body (51), a reversely winding liner body (61) and a reciprocating body (71). The forwardly winding linear body and the reversely winding linear body are connected to the reciprocating body. The forward winder on winding rotation and the reverse winder on rewinding rotation rotate in synchronism and phase with each other in the same or reverse direction. The amount of winding the forwardly winding linear body by the forward winder and the amount of rewinding the reversely winding linear body by the reverse winder are equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: SK Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sumio Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20100066274
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch element comprising an actuating element that can be impinged upon by an energy accumulator and is mounted so that it can be moved along a trajectory. At least two energy accumulators are used to impinge the actuating element and the number of the energy accumulators impinging the actuating element varies in predetermined positions of the trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Mathias GRIMM
  • Patent number: 7642736
    Abstract: A device and method for controlling the changing operation of an on-load tap changer (LTC) that interrupts current passing the current zero point of a commercial frequency are provided. The device may include a current zero point detecting unit that detects a zero point in the waveform of current passed through the LTC, a current zero point cycle measuring unit that measures the cycle of the current zero point detected by the current zero point detecting unit, a commercial frequency determining unit that generates an output signal when the cycle of the current zero point measured by the current zero point cycle measuring unit corresponds to a commercial frequency, and an actuation signal output unit that outputs an actuation signal used to have the LTC carry out tap changing operation in response to the output signal of the commercial frequency cycle determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Genkawa
  • Patent number: 7564202
    Abstract: A door opener error-start prevention device, the output shaft of the door opener is formed as a hollow accommodation portion, a pair of axial sliding slots are formed on the periphery, and a sliding pin radially inserted; a pair of elastic elements, abutting against the sliding pin from both ends, the outer end of each elastic element fixed by a bolt; a sprocket assembly is rotationally invaginated on the output shaft, one end having a sprocket , the other end formed with a pair of V-shaped slots corresponding to the sliding slots on the output shaft, both ends of the pin engage in the V-shaped slot to drive the sprocket. When an error start of the door occurs, the door returns to the original position by actuation of an obstacle sensing device actuated by the sliding pin, the sensitivity of which is adjusted by a bolt at the outside of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Chung-Hsien Hsieh