Current Patents (Class 361/31)
  • Patent number: 11916215
    Abstract: A power supply battery and a power supply system for high-speed maglev trains are disclosed. The power supply battery comprises: an electrolyte tank, a plurality of liquid flow pumps, and a plurality of aluminum-air battery reactors. The plurality of aluminum-air battery reactors are sequentially connected in series. The electrolyte tank comprises a plurality of elongate electrolyte grooves. One liquid flow pump corresponds to one aluminum-air battery reactor and one electrolyte groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianying Liang, Donghua Wu, Xing Chen, Guimei Deng, Jiankang Xue
  • Patent number: 11489471
    Abstract: A diagnostic system includes: a current command module configured to, based on a motor torque request, a motor speed, a direct current (DC) bus voltage, generate a d-axis current command for an electric motor and a q-axis current command for the electric motor; a voltage command module configured to, based on the d-axis current command and the q-axis current command, generate a d-axis voltage command and a q-axis voltage command; a switching control module configured to control switching of an inverter module based on the d-axis voltage command and the q-axis voltage command, where the inverter module is configured to apply power to stator windings of the electric motor from the DC bus; and a fault module configured to selectively indicate that the stator windings of the electric motor are degraded when the d-axis voltage command is less than a predetermined nominal d-axis voltage of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jiyu Zhang, Siddharth Ballal, Lei Hao, Wesley G. Zanardelli, Bojian Cao
  • Patent number: 11425786
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring operation of a sump pump are provided. A method includes connecting a power adapter to the sump pump and a float-switch. The power adapter includes a printed circuit board (PCB) positioned within a housing, a power supply in electrical communication with components coupled to the PCB, and an integrated chip coupled to the PCB. The integrated chip is configured to establish a wireless connection to a first wireless network, and transmit a message to a remote server over the first wireless network. The method further includes causing an internet enabled device to send one or more instructions that causes the power adapter to connect to the first wireless network, and receiving, using the internet enabled device, a message from the remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hassan Khalid, Nicola Sgambelluri, Brian Broga, Brian Boothe, Dan Featherstone
  • Patent number: 11242067
    Abstract: The present application relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system being configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode and in a manual mode, the vehicle control system comprising: a first selector switch for switching between said autonomous mode and said manual mode; a second selector switch for switching between said autonomous mode and said manual mode; and an interlock circuit configured to deactivate propulsion of the machine when the first and the second selector switch are switched to different modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventors: James Whitfield, Jr., Bryan Harper
  • Patent number: 11233469
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of motors includes: a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to control at least one property of the motors, the VFD having a current interruption rating that is greater than a continuous current rating of all of the plurality of motors combined; a bus electrically connected to the VFD; and a plurality of protection modules, each protection module including: a motor overload device electrically connected to a particular one of the plurality of motors; and a switching relay in series with the motor overload device, the switching relay configured to connect the protection module to and disconnect the protection module from the bus. A state of the switching relay determines whether the protection module is electrically connected to the bus, the VFD is configured to control the state of the switching relay, and the switching relay has a current interruption rating that is less than the continuous current rating of the particular one of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Fanduzzi, Thomas M. Ruchti, Joseph Uphaus
  • Patent number: 11081984
    Abstract: An electronically commutated electric motor includes a rotor, a stator and an electronic drive. The rotor is journaled to rotate about an axis of rotation, the stator is stationary relative to the rotor, and the electronic drive provides synchronous power to the stator and drives the rotor. The rotor has two ferromagnetic radially spaced apart co-rotating rotor portions having a circumferential array of alternating polarity permanent magnet poles that drive magnetic flux back and forth across an armature air gap between said spaced apart rotor portions, and circumferentially through each of said rotor portions. The stator includes an air core armature supported in the armature airgap, and has a non-ferromagnetic structure where located in the magnetic flux in the armature air gap. Three phase windings wound on the armature magnetically exert torque upon the rotor when the windings are electrically energized by the electronic drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Revolution Electric Motor Company
    Inventors: Christopher W. Gabrys, Timothy S. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 11075525
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for monitoring charge and discharge currents of a battery. The method for monitoring charge and discharge currents of a battery includes the steps of: acquiring charge and discharge currents and charge and discharge states; acquiring an alarm activation threshold, a continuous calibration time for alarm activation, an alarm clearance threshold; and a continuous calibration time for alarm clearance corresponding to the charge and discharge states; activating an alarm if the charge and discharge currents are greater than or equal to the alarm activation threshold and the time of duration exceeds the continuous calibration time for alarm activation, and clearing the alarm if the charge and discharge currents are less than the alarm clearance threshold and the time of duration exceeds the continuous calibration time for alarm clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventor: Xiaofang Luan
  • Patent number: 10998683
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a connector protection method in which the connector is used to connect a first device and a second device, and the method includes, a first detection unit of the first device detects a first parameter of the first device; a first controller of the first device obtains a second parameter from the second device through the communication line in the connector; and the first controller determines whether the connector is faulty based on the first parameter and the second parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Delta Electronics (Shanghai) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Haitao Zhang, Daofei Xu, Jinfa Zhang
  • Patent number: 10934141
    Abstract: An electric winch control module of this disclosure provides improved means for detecting changes in a current carried by an electric winch motor power lead. The module's housing includes a magnetic flux shield contained within an exposed channel of the housing and located at or toward a vertical centerline of the channel and opposite a magnetic flux sensor of the control module. The magnetic flux shield is made of a ferromagnetic material and includes a bottom wall spanning the width of the open bottom of the channel, an open top arranged opposite the top wall of the channel, and opposing sidewalls opposite a respective sidewall of the channel. The shield surrounds the side and lower portions of the lead below the sensor when in the channel, shielding the wire and sensor from outside interference while at the same time exposing an upper portion of the lead to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ramsey Winch Company
    Inventors: Todd Brady, Greg Landon, Donald Milet, Mark A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10907604
    Abstract: An integrated starter and on-board electrical system disconnecting module for connecting to a starter battery and to an on-board electrical system by a transducer is disclosed. A method for limiting the starting current in a motor vehicle and the use of the integrated starter and on-board electrical system disconnecting module in multi-voltage on-board electrical systems, in particular during a start-stop operation of plug-in hybrid vehicles and for hybrid on-board electrical systems, are also disclosed. The transducer can be connected to a starter circuit including the starter battery from an on-board electrical system side, via a starter control device and via an on-board electrical system disconnector. The on-board electrical system can be uncoupled from the starter circuit and the starter control device and the on-board electrical system disconnector are integrated in the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Mark Baxendale, Dieter Grohmann, Christian Seitz, Markus Woerz, Klaus Zinser
  • Patent number: 10878673
    Abstract: A system includes a circuit breaker and an adapter. The circuit breaker includes a front face with a light source on the front face. The adapter is configured to be releasably held on the front face in an installed position. The adapter includes a light sensor that aligns with the light source in the installed position. The light source and the light sensor are configured to communicate such that the adapter receives operational data from the circuit breaker in the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Sujit Subhash Patwardhan, Jason Kohei Okerman, Nicholas David Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10862299
    Abstract: An electrical protection device used in a controller of a mechanical equipment is disclosed to include a circuit board, and a pre-stage protection circuit and a post-stage protection circuit formed on the circuit board. The pre-stage protection circuit connects a power supply and a pre-stage of the controller, providing an electrical protection condition such that when a transient surge energy of the power supply surpasses the electrical protection condition, the pre-stage protection circuit blocks the transient surge energy from entering the controller. The post-stage protection circuit connects pre-stage protection circuit and a post-stage of the controller. Further, when the transient surge energy occurs, a response speed of the post-stage protection circuit is slower than that of the pre-stage protection circuit. The electrical protection device of the invention effectively blocks transient surge energy, avoiding electronic system component damage of the mechanical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Shun-Kai Chang, Yen-Shun Huang
  • Patent number: 10812007
    Abstract: A capacitor and other components are added to the motor starter control circuit in order to supply power to the contactor coil during undervoltage events. In order to avoid adding an additional active device in the control circuit to control the application of capacitor voltage to the contactor coil, a microprocessor-based motor protective relay may be used to switch the capacitor in or out in a controlled manner. The motor protective relay is used for overload protection as well as for undervoltage switching of the capacitor. The motor protective relay is microprocessor-based and offers user-configurable general-purpose logic and math processing functions to control the capacitor switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan W. Fraser
  • Patent number: 10764981
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, methods, and techniques for providing photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) for plants, i.e. lighting. Devices including light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disclosed than can be used as lighting for plants grown indoors or outdoors. The disclosed LEDs significantly reduce power consumption for horticulture lighting, provide the wavelengths needed by plants to optimize growth, and provide growers with the ability to control PAR in order to optimize grow strategies. The disclosed LEDs provide the correct wavelengths of light (300-800 nanometers (nm)) for photosynthesis with a uniform intensity across the LED device thereby providing an even photon delivery to plant canopy and into the underlying leaves within the plant canopy. The intensity and mixture of wavelengths provided by the LED device can be controlled by adjusting the electrical power delivered to individual LEDs included in the LED device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventors: Li Xu, Ron Cooper, Joe Rosson
  • Patent number: 10762257
    Abstract: An equivalent circuit is capable of, while having a simple configuration, accurately expressing a superposition characteristic and having excellent practicality and workability. A current sensor and a voltage source are connected in series between external terminals of an equivalent circuit. A reference state element having an impedance forms a closed loop with a current source. A current flowing through the equivalent circuit and detected by the current sensor is reproduced by the current source and then applied to the reference state element, so that a potential difference is generated across the reference state element. A voltage obtained by multiplying the potential difference by a correction coefficient is outputted by the voltage source. By setting the correction coefficient to be dependent on the current or an inter-terminal voltage, the impedance represented by the equivalent circuit can be reproduced as a characteristic dependent on the current I or the inter-terminal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Kobayashi, Shin Itakura, Azusa Tomita
  • Patent number: 10589011
    Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a pump configured to pump blood of a patient. A motor is configured to operate the pump. First, second, and third conductors are coupled to the motor and are configured to supply electric current from a power supply to the motor in first, second, and third phases, respectively. A controller is configured to operate the motor using a Field Oriented Control (FOC) method, and if one from the group consisting of first, second and third conductors becomes unable to supply electric current to the motor, the controller continues to operate the motor using the FOC method using the phases of the two conductors that are able to supply electric current to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Casas, Carlos Reyes, Justin Wolman
  • Patent number: 10540839
    Abstract: In order to settle the sales transaction of an item in a cabin, an item detection unit of a vehicle settlement system detects removal of the item from an item arrangement unit provided in the cabin. An item monitoring unit monitors movement of the item when the item detection unit detects the removal of the item. A settlement processor settles the sales transaction of the item detected by the item detection unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the item monitoring unit detects the movement of the item out of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohito Matsuoka, Seiichi Tsunoda, Jiro Goto, Masayuki Yamada, Yasutaka Eto, Keima Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 10514397
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a measuring apparatus and an associated measurement method. The measuring apparatus is installed on a line and includes a sensing unit having a first and a second voltage divider for producing a first and a second measurement signal with a measurement transducer. The first and second measurement signals are each forwardable via a measurement line directly to a signal transducer. The signal transducer is supplied with power via a supply line by being switchably connected to the measurement transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Maier, Uwe Weiss
  • Patent number: 10305271
    Abstract: Techniques for enabling multi-pack and component connectivity detection are provided. In some configurations, individual PCMs can test the connectivity between components of a device without the need to operate the components. For example, PCMs configured in accordance with the present disclosure can test the connectivity between a motherboard, a display circuit, a camera, and a number of battery packs without the need to operate the motherboard, display circuit, camera, etc. In some configurations, conductors that are part of cables and connectors used to connect the components can be used to determine the state of one or more connections. When a signal that runs through the conductors meets one or more criteria, the PCMs of a device cause a predetermined delay prior to enabling one or more components. By testing the connectivity between components before each component transitions to an operational state, other problems caused by faulty connections can be mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Julian Binder, Daniel Chian
  • Patent number: 10291146
    Abstract: In some examples, a rectifier device includes a semiconductor substrate, an anode terminal and a cathode terminal connected by a load current path of a first MOS transistor and a diode connected parallel to the load current path. An alternating input voltage is operably applied between the anode terminal and the cathode terminal. Further, a control circuit is coupled to a gate electrode of the first MOS transistor and configured to switch on the first MOS transistor for an on-time period, during which the diode is forward biased. A gate driver circuit is included in the control circuit and includes a buffer capacitor and a cascade of two or more transistor stages connected between the buffer capacitor and the gate electrode of the first MOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Damiano Gadler, Albino Pidutti
  • Patent number: 10284191
    Abstract: A circuit protective system. The system includes an output controlling enablement of a transistor and an input sensing an operational parameter associated with the transistor. The system also includes detection circuitry providing an event fault indicator if the operational parameter violates a condition. The system also includes protective circuitry disabling the transistor in response to the event fault indicator and subsequently selectively applying an enabling bias to the transistor; the enabling bias is selected from at least two different bias levels and in response to a number of event fault indications from the detection circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Md. Abidur Rahman, Adam Quirk, Stephen Nortman, Sualp Aras
  • Patent number: 9906018
    Abstract: Disclosed are advances in the arts with novel methods and apparatus for detecting faulty connections in an electrical system. Exemplary preferred embodiments include monitoring techniques and systems for monitoring signals at one or more device loads and analyzing the monitored signals for determining fault conditions at the device loads and/or at the main transmission lines. The invention preferably provides the capability to test and monitor electrical interconnections without fully activating the host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TRIUNE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Ross E. Teggatz, Wayne T. Chen, Brett Smith, James Kohout
  • Patent number: 9742344
    Abstract: A motor starter apparatus includes at least one semiconductor switch configured to selectively couple a power source to a motor, at least one current sensor configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of a current provided via the at least one semiconductor switch, and a control circuit coupled to the at least one current sensor and configured to cause the at least one semiconductor switch to momentarily couple the power source to the motor and identify a fault based on a behavior of the current sense signal in response to the momentary coupling. The control circuit may be configured to identify the fault responsive to detecting that a rate of change of the current in response to the momentary coupling meets a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Lee VanEyll, Benjamin Stewart Wells, Gary Bruce Tweed
  • Patent number: 9712044
    Abstract: In a power converter including at least one bridge circuit configured to have upper and lower arms in which a first power semiconductor device and a second power semiconductor device are connected in series, a first gate driving circuit that supplies a charge to the first power semiconductor device of an upper arm to drive the first power semiconductor device monitors a voltage developed by an output inductor between a connection end between the first power semiconductor device and the second power semiconductor device and a load, and performs control to protect the first power semiconductor device based on a value of the monitored voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Nakashima, Takayoshi Miki
  • Patent number: 9698591
    Abstract: An over-current protection method and circuit for a DC Inverter is provided in the present invention. Said over-current protection circuit comprises: a sampling unit for sampling output currents from a power module to form a sampling signal; a signal-processing unit for amplifying with various magnification factors and low-pass filtering the sampling signal to generate a first over-current signal and a second over-current signal; a signal-generating unit for generating a first interrupt trigger signal based on the first over-current signal; a comparison unit for comparing the second over-current signal with a reference voltage corresponding to an over-current threshold of a motor, with a comparison result being a second interrupt trigger signal; and a control unit for controlling the power module based on the first interrupt trigger signal, and the motor based on the second interrupt trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION (WUXI) CO., LTD., YORK GUANGZHOU AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chenyi Jiang
  • Patent number: 9667060
    Abstract: The systems and methods described are for adjusting over current protection values during changes in load current. In one aspect, a method includes, monitoring a load current amplitude value at a power input connected to an electrical load; determining a rate of change of the load current amplitude value; determining whether the rate of change of the load current amplitude value exceeds a predefined rate threshold value; in response to determining that the rate of change of the load current amplitude value exceeds the predefined rate threshold value: adjusting an over current protection value from a first over current protection value to an adjusted over current protection value for a first predefined amount of time; and at the expiration of the first predefined amount of time, at least partially reversing the adjustment to the over current protection value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Sizikov
  • Patent number: 9543748
    Abstract: A fault protection system for a power system of a dynamically positioned vessel is provided. The power system is separated into two or more power system sections, each including a bus section of a power distribution bus. The bus sections are connected by bus ties in a ring configuration. Each bus section includes a connection to a generator and a connection to a thruster drive of the dynamically positioned vessel. The fault protection system includes a fault isolation system which includes for each power system section a bus tie circuit breaker for breaking the connection provided by the bus tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rune B. Andersen, Svein Blystad, Inge Haukaas, Gunnar Koenig, Damir Radan, Stig Olav Settemsdal
  • Patent number: 9520747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-input uninterruptible voltage converting device and a method thereof. The device comprises a first conversion circuit, a second conversion circuit, an energy storage unit, a fly-wheel switch tube and a control unit. The method comprises the following steps of: converting a PWM signal outputted by a pulse width modulator into first, second, third and fourth PWM signals in phase via a pulse transformer; driving the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit respectively to operate synchronously; converting a high voltage DC (Direct Current) and a low voltage DC into two pulse voltages in phase to adaptively perform mutual energy compensation via an intersection; and supplying a load with an uninterruptible stable voltage via the back-end energy storage unit and free-wheel circuit. The two-input uninterruptible voltage converting device has the advantages of high circuit conversion efficiency, high reliability and low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: JAGESON ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Frank Mau Shin Yim
  • Patent number: 9407082
    Abstract: An arc flash system includes a circuit breaker having separable contacts, an operating mechanism, a trip unit including a sensor sensing current flowing in a power circuit, a trip circuit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to the sensed current or a first signal, and a communication interface outputting the sensed current, and an interface circuit including a processor having a first output of the first signal, an input of a second signal, and a second output of a third signal, and a communication interface cooperating with the processor to determine and communicate cause of trip information to the trip unit communication interface, input the sensed current, and communicate the sensed current to the processor. A light sensor senses light from an arc flash associated with the power circuit and outputs the second signal. A shorting apparatus shorts the circuit responsive to the third signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: James L. Lagree, John C. Schlotterer, Ryan T. Flynn
  • Patent number: 9343977
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus and an over power protection method thereof are provided. A number of times a detection voltage being greater than a first reference voltage and a number of times the detection voltage being greater than a second reference voltage are counted, so as to obtain a first count value and a second count value, in which the detection voltage is a voltage on a resistor in response to a current flowing through a power switch. Stop switching the power switch when the first count value is greater than or equal to a first threshold value or when the second count value is greater than or equal to a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Power Forest Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kwan-Jen Chu
  • Patent number: 9310440
    Abstract: A disconnection detecting device that can be applied to a control system of a motor-generator is provided. A disconnection detecting section judges whether logical conjunction (i.e. AND operation) of a condition that both current sensors are operating normally and a condition that the designated torque is equal to or more than a specified torque is true or not. In the event that the disconnection detecting section has determined YES, the disconnection detecting section judges whether the logical conjunction of a condition that the absolute value of the phase current is equal to or less than a specified current (>0) and a condition that the absolute value of the current change rate is equal to or less than a specified value (>0) is true or not. In the event that the disconnection detecting section has determined YES, the disconnection detecting section has determines that the disconnection has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Kakihara
  • Patent number: 9287751
    Abstract: An electric tool may include a tool main body configured to be able to mount a battery pack. The tool main body may include an electric motor, a controller for controlling the electric motor, and a centrifugal fan rotatably driven by the electric motor for producing a flow of air. The controller may be positioned such that the flow of air produced by the centrifugal fan is applied to at least a part of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Naito, Hirotomo Inayoshi
  • Patent number: 9281680
    Abstract: A power switching circuit includes a power semiconductor element that includes a main switching element connected in parallel with a main body diode and a sense switching element connected in parallel with a sense body diode; a reverse overcurrent detection circuit that detects an overcurrent flowing in the reverse direction out of currents flowing through a parallel-connection body of the sense switching element and the sense body diode; and a control circuit that drives the gate of the power semiconductor element; wherein when the reverse overcurrent detection circuit detects a reverse overcurrent, the control circuit controls the main switching element and the sense switching element to turn on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9160161
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting ground faults in an AC motor drive is disclosed. A fault detection and protection system for an AC motor drive includes current sensors to measure first and second phase output currents, a voltage sensor to measure a DC link voltage, and a desaturation control circuit to determine a voltage and associated current across PWM inverter switches for a third phase of the output. A controller compares the first and second phase currents, the measured DC link voltage, and the voltage across the PWM inverter switches on the third phase, to a plurality of thresholds. The controller detects a ground fault on one of the first, second, and third phases of the three phase output to the AC motor based on the comparisons of the first and the second phase currents, the DC link voltage, and the voltage across the switches to the thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Huaqiang Li, Yakov Lvovich Familiant
  • Patent number: 9118269
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically commutated electric motor. The electric motor has a stator and a rotor, in particular one formed with permanent magnets. The electric motor has a control unit, which is connected on the output side in particular via a power output stage to the stator and is designed to energize the stator so as to produce a rotating magnetic field. The electric motor has a power output stage with semiconductor switches. The power output stage is connected to the stator via at least one controllable switch disconnector. The control unit is designed to detect a defect of a semiconductor switch depending on a braking torque caused by the defect, in particular a change over time in the braking torque, on a rotor of the electric motor, and to activate the switch disconnector so as to disconnect the defective semiconductor switch from the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Hiry, Stephan Urban
  • Patent number: 9083177
    Abstract: A fault protection system of a power system of a dynamically positioned vessel is provided. The power system has a power distribution bus having three or more bus subsections, electric connections including bus ties which connect the bus subsections in a ring configuration, and circuit breakers connected between the bus subsections. The fault protection system includes a generator circuit breaker for coupling a generator to a bus subsection, feeder circuit breaker(s) for coupling load(s) to the bus subsection, a first circuit breaker for connecting one end of the bus subsection to a bus tie that provides an electric connection to another bus subsection, the first circuit breaker being a bus tie breaker, a second circuit breaker for coupling another end of the bus subsection to a further bus subsection, protection relays for operating the circuit breakers, and communication links between protection relays that exchange information via said communication links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rune B. Andersen, Svein Blystad, Inge Haukaas, Gunnar Koenig, Damir Radan, Stig Olav Settemsdal
  • Patent number: 9035583
    Abstract: The system has a driving circuit for the motor of the electric fan, coupled to the electrical system of a motor vehicle and having a plurality of controlled electronic switches, and an electronic control unit arranged to control the driving circuit in such a way as to cause the flow in the motor of a variable average current capable of producing a required speed of rotation, in accordance with a predetermined relationship or function. The control unit is designed to store a predetermined threshold of rotation speed, and to control the motor through the associated driving circuit in such a way that when the rotational speed of the motor exceeds the threshold the driving circuit causes electrical braking of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GATE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Davide Cerrato, Pierfranco Pangella
  • Publication number: 20150131185
    Abstract: A modular intelligent electronic overload device that requires only a single configuration file to describe the device with all of the available options. Furthermore, the modular intelligent electronic overload device contains embedded application files that provide commonly used control algorithms into the non-volatile memory of the modular intelligent electronic overload device that can be accessed by a user to configure the device without the need for a personal computer. Finally, the modular intelligent electronic overload device configuration parameters can be stored to virtual non-volatile memory contained in an associated user interface device, allowing for easy replacement of the modular intelligent electronic overload device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: William H. Martin, Eric Norrod, Eric M. Waydick, Theron Kotze, James J. Flood, Keith D. Carter
  • Publication number: 20150098157
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle power controlling apparatus, and more particularly, to a vehicle power controlling apparatus for interrupting a dark current from an ECU power front stage of a motor driven power steering (MDPS) system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Woo LEE
  • Patent number: 9001476
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a motor includes two or more motor overloads, within a motor overload enclosure, protecting two or more motors. Each motor overload includes one or more current sensors where each current sensor includes a magnetic core and each current sensor includes a conductor positioned within the magnetic core where the conductor providing power to a motor protected by the two or more motor overloads (“protected motor”). Each motor overload includes a motor trip module that stops current flow to the protected motor in response determining that a thermal state of the protected motor has reached a thermal limit. Determining that the protected motor has reached a thermal limit includes using a current signal from at least one current sensor of the one or more current sensors that senses current of the protected motor to determine a thermal state of the protected motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Blakely, Gregory A Helton, Mark Innes
  • Patent number: 8988836
    Abstract: When an abnormality occurs in a refrigeration cycle, the inverter motor provided in the air conditioner is stopped reliably and contacts of the main relay are prevented from degradation and fusion. A power circuit 1 of the air conditioner includes a rectifier circuit RC, a capacitor C (smoothing unit), a main relay 10 provided on a current path between the rectifier circuit RC and the capacitor C, an inverter circuit 30, a microcomputer 100, and a delay circuit 40. The microcomputer 100 has an inverter circuit control unit 110, a main relay opening/closing control unit 120, a waveform forced cut-off unit 130, and a cut-off signal output unit 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Saruwatari, Yuuko Nakashita, Nobuyasu Hiraoka, Satoshi Yagi, Hirotaka Doi, Keisuke Shimatani
  • Patent number: 8964338
    Abstract: A system includes a refrigerant compressor including an electric motor, a current sensor that measures current flow to the electric motor, a switching device configured to close and open to allow and prevent current flow to the electric motor, respectively, a maximum continuous current (MCC) device that includes a resistance corresponding to a maximum continuous current for the electric motor, and a motor protection module. The motor protection module communicates with the MCC device, the current sensor, and the switching device and determines a first MCC value for the electric motor as a function of the resistance of the MCC device. The motor protection module also selectively sets a predetermined MCC to the first MCC and controls the switching device based on a comparison of the current flow to the electric motor and the predetermined MCC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Wallis, Joseph James Rozsnaki
  • Patent number: 8947028
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for detecting a fault of a parallel coil type permanent magnet motor. This method includes driving a parallel coil type motor on the basis of a pre-defined current reference value, detecting a phase current vector of the motor, and calculating a current compensation value for removing a negative sequence component of the motor on the basis of the phase current vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Electronics Technology Institute
    Inventors: Bon Gwan Gu, In Soung Jung, Jun Hyuk Choi, Joon Sung Park, Jin Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 8947838
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an overcurrent fault detection device includes: an inverter converting DC current to three-phase AC currents for driving a motor; a DC voltage detector; phase current detectors; a rotational position detector that detects a rotational angle of the motor; a control circuit that controls a gate drive circuit, which controls the inverter at every predetermined cycle, based upon the phase current values, a motor rotational angle detection value, and a speed command or a torque command from a higher-order control device; and a first decision-making circuit that detects an overcurrent based upon the phase current values at every predetermined cycle, wherein: the first decision-making circuit determines whether or not the phase current values exceed a predetermined amplitude threshold value by frequency detection for any of the phase current values exceeding the predetermined amplitude threshold value, and determines that an overcurrent has occurred upon detecting the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamai, Yasuo Noto, Yoshio Akaishi, Kohei Myoen
  • Publication number: 20150015998
    Abstract: A solid-state switch includes a plurality of transistors connected in parallel and a plurality of fuses. Each fuse is connected in series with a separate one of the plurality of transistors. A combination of current ratings of the plurality of fuses is greater than a load current of a load connected to the plurality of transistors and the plurality of fuses, and a current rating of each separate fuse of the plurality of fuses is less than the load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: William E. Bowman
  • Patent number: 8913353
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a fault of a serial coil type permanent magnet motor includes driving the motor based on a predefined current reference value, detecting a phase current vector of the motor, and calculating a current compensation value for removing a negative sequence component of the motor based on the phase current vector. The current compensation value is provided to a negative sequence current controller for calculating a faulty phase and a degree of a fault of the motor using the output of the negative sequence current controller and a fault model to which induced magnetic flux variations in a specific slot of a specific faulty phase of the motor and other slots of the same phase as the specific phase are applied, and applying a current reference value to which the calculated faulty phase and degree of fault are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Electronics Technology Institute
    Inventors: Bon Gwan Gu, Jun Hyuk Choi, In Soung Jung, Joon Sung Park, Jin Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 8912893
    Abstract: The circuit monitoring device is disclosed. The device is for monitoring circuit resistance. At configurable thresholds digital flags are triggered, the device can be used as a Security/Building management system. The device uses open technology is fully scaleable and allows programmable logic controllers to be used as security management systems. Using a soft logic option a PC could take the place of the PLC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Tessler Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Eric Bullmore
  • Patent number: 8907603
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a direct current power source, a three-phase alternating current motor, and a motor driving circuit. An emergency switching element is provided on at least two phases of a three-phase power supply line connected to the three-phase alternating current motor within the motor driving circuit, and the emergency switching element is turned off when an abnormality occurs such that the motor driving circuit is disconnected from the three-phase alternating current motor. The emergency switching element is a MOSFET, and the MOSFETs are provided in pairs in each of the two phases of the three-phase power supply line. Further, parasitic diodes of the pairs of MOSFETs are disposed in opposite orientations to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8867181
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting a phase current sensor fault in a multi-phase electrical motor. The method comprises, receiving an input torque command T* and measuring a set of feedback signals of the motor including a phase current Ix for each of the phases of the motor, generating direct and quadrature command phase currents Id*, Iq* for the motor corresponding to a value of the input torque command T*, determining a total command current Is=[(Iq*)2+(Id*)2]½, generating a negative sequence current Ineg, where for three phases Ineg=(?)[Ia+(?2)Ib+(?)Ic], where ?=ej2?/3, combining Ineg and Is to provide a normalized negative sequence current Inn=Ineg/Is, comparing the normalized negative sequence current Inn to a predetermined threshold value INN* to determine the presence of a phase current sensor fault, and executing a control action when Inn>INN*.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Nayeem Hasan, Steven E. Schulz, David P. Tasky
  • Publication number: 20140268432
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a motor includes two or more motor overloads, within a motor overload enclosure, protecting two or more motors. Each motor overload includes one or more current sensors where each current sensor includes a magnetic core and each current sensor includes a conductor positioned within the magnetic core where the conductor providing power to a motor protected by the two or more motor overloads (“protected motor”). Each motor overload includes a motor trip module that stops current flow to the protected motor in response determining that a thermal state of the protected motor has reached a thermal limit. Determining that the protected motor has reached a thermal limit includes using a current signal from at least one current sensor of the one or more current sensors that senses current of the protected motor to determine a thermal state of the protected motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Blakely, Gregory A. Helton, Mark Innes