By Voltage And Current Modification Patents (Class 388/821)
  • Patent number: 10765432
    Abstract: A surgical device comprising a first clamping member, a second clamping member, an electric motor, and a control system is disclosed. The electric motor is configured to drive at least one of the first clamping member and the second clamping member toward a predetermined tissue gap between the first clamping member and the second clamping member to clamp the tissue of a patient. The control system is configured to monitor a parameter of the electric motor. The parameter is indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the first clamping member and the second clamping member. The control system is further configured to control the electric motor based on the parameter to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kyle P. Moore, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jerome R. Morgan, Mark H. Ransick, Eugene L. Timperman
  • Patent number: 10682141
    Abstract: A surgical device comprising a staple cartridge, a clamping mechanism configured to clamp patient tissue, a firing member, a manual bailout, an electric motor, a power source, and a control unit is disclosed. The clamping mechanism comprises a first iaw and a second iaw. The firing member configured to engage the first jaw and the second jaw during a closure stroke. The second jaw is moved to the closed position during the closure stroke and the firing member is further configured to eject staples from the staple cartridge during a firing stroke. The manual bailout is configured to retract the firing member through a retraction stroke. The electric motor is configured to drive the firing member. The control unit is configured to monitor a parameter of the electric motor and control the amount of current supplied to the electric motor based on the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Kyle P. Moore, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jerome R. Morgan, Mark H. Ransick, Eugene L. Timperman
  • Patent number: 9077276
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor control method for a dental handpiece provided with a motor that rotationally drives a cutting tool. The control method includes a step A of limiting the motor current to a first limit current I1 when the load torque applied to the cutting tool exceeds a preset limit torque value, and a step B of controlling the motor current to be equal to or lower than a second limit current, which is lower than the first limit current, when it is detected that the motor stops rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NAKANISHI INC.
    Inventor: Hideki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8704479
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the start position of a motor. According to an embodiment, a voltage pulse signal may be generated across a pair of windings in a motor. A current response signal will be generated and based upon the position of the motor, the response signal will be greater in one pulse signal polarity as opposed to an opposite pulse signal polarity. The response signal may be compared for s specific duration of time or until a specific integration threshold has been reached. Further, the response signal may be converted into a digital signal such that a sigma-delta circuit may smooth out glitches more easily. In this manner, the position of the motor may be determined to within 60 electrical degrees during a startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Frederic Bonvin, Davide Betta, Agostino Mirabelli, Andrea Di Ruzza
  • Patent number: 7843671
    Abstract: A drive system for an electrical machine is provided. The system includes a control unit and a monitoring unit, which is independent of the control unit. The control unit includes a device that converts one or more incoming operating parameters of the electrical machine to an output value. The monitoring unit includes a device that converts the operating parameters to a comparison value, with the conversion being carried out more quickly in the control unit than in the monitoring unit. A comparator compares the output value or an intermediate value of the output value with the comparison value of the output value or of the intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Lothar Rehm, Thomas Von Raumer
  • Publication number: 20100284673
    Abstract: A power supply control device controls a power supply connected to a motor and includes: an AC/DC converter that makes a first DC power supply; a DC/DC converter that makes a second DC power supply out of the first DC power supply; a first rectifying element that allows current to flow from the first DC power supply toward the motor; a second rectifying element that allows current to flow from the first DC power supply toward the DC/DC converter; and a third rectifying element that allows current to flow from the motor toward the DC/DC converter. In this way, a power supply connected to a motor can be suitably controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki AOKI, Kunio Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7697826
    Abstract: A hand-guided or stationary power tool has a drive unit having a motor that includes a rotor having a permanent magnet and a stator and has a motor control designed to trigger the motor in a first rotational speed range according to a voltage-controlled mode and to trigger the motor in a second rotational speed range following the first rotational speed range in the direction of a higher rotational speed according to a field-weakening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Reutlinger, Volker Bosch
  • Patent number: 7609018
    Abstract: A control device of a fan system includes a temperature sensing module, a comparing module and a driving module. The temperature sensing module senses an external temperature and generates a sensing signal according to the external temperature. The comparing module receives the sensing signal and outputs a comparing signal according to the sensing signal and a reference voltage signal. The driving module, which is electrically connected with the temperature sensing module and the comparing module, supplies a working voltage to the temperature sensing module and the comparing module, and outputs a rotating speed control signal according to the sensing signal or the comparing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Liang Lin, Tsung-Jung Hsieh, Yueh-Lung Huang, Ming-Shi Tsai
  • Publication number: 20080186603
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror device includes a drive unit to turn a mirror unit with respect to a base unit. The drive unit includes a motor and a control circuit. The motor is driven with a battery voltage. A current supply to the motor is cut OFF when a motor current flowing in the motor exceeds a threshold, and the control circuit changes the threshold depending on the battery voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Yuji SHO, Takashi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7062159
    Abstract: A device for correcting a digital estimate of an electric signal is described. The device includes a comparator that generates a current proportional to the difference between an analog estimate signal, which derives from the digital estimate, and the electric signal. The device also includes a capacitor positioned to be charged by the current, a transistor that discharges the capacitor, and a comparator that compares the voltage at the terminal of the capacitor with a reference voltage. The device also includes a controller that drives the transistor in response to the output signal of the comparator and a logic device that generates a correction digital signal to be added to or subtracted from the digital estimate of the electric signal in correspondence of an ascending or descending waveform of the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonio Borrello, Stefano Saggini, Aldo Novelli, Ignazio Bellomo
  • Patent number: 7027721
    Abstract: An electric fan temperature-rated variable speed control circuit, includes a D.C. current source and fan activation IC. There are, between the current source positive and negative poles serially connected transistor, regulation tube, with the regulation tube negative pole linked to the current source negative pole, and its positive pole, incorporated to form the primary current. Between triode base and collector lies a serially connected resistor. The triode collector is linked to the current source positive pole, and between its base and collector lies a serially connected rectifying resistor, which bypasses through the base to connect with the fan activation IC for sending out fan rotation speed control signals with which to form a circuit that adopts a straightforward, easy-to-implement method that offers low-cost and dependable temperature-control characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Chin-Ping Wu
  • Patent number: 6717380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for shifting the instant of commutation for a sensorless and brushless direct-current motor (1), whose stator windings are fed by a multi-phase converter connection. The converter connection includes an output stage control (2), a commutation logic (3), a phase selector (4), and phase discriminator (5). A commutation detection (6) is supplied at one input (46) with the instantaneous value of the voltage induced in a phase, the instantaneous value being determined by the phase selector, and at a second input (47), with a reference voltage (Uref) for comparison. The reference voltage (Uref) can be changed by a commutation shift (7) in correspondence with a specific characteristic curve (71). A manipulated variable (Ust) is supplied by a manipulated-variable calculation (8) to the commutation shift (7) as a function of the setpoint speed (Nsetpoint) of the motor. The commutation shift takes place in an advantageous manner in a parabola shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Sutter, Wolfgang Schwenk
  • Patent number: 6703803
    Abstract: A fan motor driving circuit of the present invention comprises a device for detecting a power source voltage and outputting a voltage in proportion to a difference between the power source voltage and a predetermined rated voltage when the power source voltage is greater than the rated voltage. The driving circuit also includes a device for controlling a rotary speed of a fan motor to a predetermined value by automatically varying a first signal input to a conducting current generating circuit for determining the rotary speed of the fan motor according to an output voltage of the power source voltage detecting means when the power source voltage is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Ohiwa, Motoi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6518719
    Abstract: A variable speed power tool may include a speed adjusting device and/or a maximum speed adjusting device for adjusting the operating speed, and a fixed operating speed switch. An operator adjustable speed adjusting device having a position maintaining mechanism also may be utilized. When manipulated by the operator, the fixed operating speed switch gives priority to the adjusted position of the speed adjusting device and adjusts the operating speed to a preset operating speed. In the alternative, a switching device and an internal integrated circuit may be utilized to adjust the operating speed to a target speed using feedback control. The switching device preferably selects a voltage corresponding to the target speed from either a voltage representative of the position of the speed adjusting device or a predetermined voltage representative of the present operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Jiro Suzuki, Shin Sugiura
  • Patent number: 6424107
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for controlling an electric motor (36) having a plurality of motor phases includes a motor controller (32) that controls energization of each phase of the plurality of motor phases. A compensation circuit (56, 84, 104) is associated with each phase of the plurality of motor phases. The compensation circuit (56, 84) of one phase of the plurality of motor phases adjusts a control parameter of another phase of the plurality of motor phases an amount functionally related to an electrical characteristic of the one phase in response to determining a diminished operating characteristic of the one phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Engelbert Lu
  • Patent number: 6411572
    Abstract: A motor constant Km of a sled mechanism of an optical disc drive is to be measured. To this end, a parameter measurement device 1 for the sled mechanism includes an oscilloscope 8 for detecting the back-electromotive force Eb of a sled motor 5, a laser Doppler meter 7 for detecting the movement velocity v0 of the pickup 4 and a computer 9. The computer calculates an equation Eb=KmRmv0, where Rm is the resistance of a motor, to find the motor constant Km.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Precision Engineering Center (Singapore) PTE Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai Meng Hock
  • Patent number: 6184645
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an actuator in response to a target speed voltage signal, the actuator having a moveable member and having a coil that influences movement of the member. A first summing node is provided having a control output voltage, for summing or subtracting voltages applied thereto, as the case may be and receiving the target speed voltage signal at a first, summing input thereto. A proportional compensation unit is provided, receiving the control output voltage and providing as an output a proportionally compensated output signal. An integral compensation unit is provided, receiving the control output voltage and providing as an output an integrally compensated output signal. An inverse compensation unit is provided, receiving the target speed voltage signal as an input and providing an inversely compensated output signal having a voltage corresponding to the voltage of the target speed voltage signal multiplied by the inverse of a predetermined amplification factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Joao Carlos F. Brito, John K. Rote, Robert E. Whyte, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5682459
    Abstract: A speed control for controlling the speed of a DC motor provides improved speed regulation during transient loading conditions. The control includes a regulating circuit having an output for controlling the armature voltage to the motor, An input speed reference signal corresponding to the desired speed is provided to the regulating circuit. A feedback signal proportional to armature voltage is also provided to the regulating circuit to establish an error signal for operating the control to regulate the voltage to the motor and therefore the motor speed, An IR compensating circuit provides increased motor voltage when the load increases. The voltage drop due to the armature circuit inductance is measured directly and also utilized to alter the output of the regulator to compensate for the inductive voltage drop occurring under transient loading conditions in a manner tending to establish the speed at the desired speed corresponding to the speed reference signal, during such conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventor: Alan W. Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 5590236
    Abstract: A speed controller includes a drive source, an input device for inputting the driving speed information of the drive source, a driver for driving the drive source on the basis of the driving speed information input by the input device, a detector for linearly detecting the amount of movement of the drive source an output device for outputting movement amount information obtained by the detector, and a corrector for correcting the driving speed information by the use of the movement amount information obtained by the detector, the corrector imparting new driving speed information as the corrected value to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Sato, Fumio Mochida
  • Patent number: 5457374
    Abstract: A motor controller for brushless motors operates an inverter in a current-controlled mode for low motor speeds and in a voltage-controlled mode for high motor speeds. By switching from the current-controlled mode to the voltage-controlled mode at higher speeds, the motor can be designed at maximum efficiency, and minimum weight, cost and volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Branecky, Edward L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5291107
    Abstract: A load driving circuit causes a driving current to flow through a load, such as a reel motor, an audio load or the like through the collector and emitter of a drive transistor. A load voltage which changes according to changes in the driving current is obtained at a point of connection between the drive transistor and the load. On the basis of the load voltage, an offset voltage having a predetermined constant value is generated in a power supplying circuit so as to cancel a change in the load voltage. The offset voltage is supplied as driving source output to the drive transistor so as to prevent the generation of excess heat in the drive transistor even if the driving current changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Nagashima
  • Patent number: 4933614
    Abstract: A blower motor drive control circuit is configured to maintain a fixed value of motor driving current to maintain a constant amount of air supply from an air conditioner regardless of changes in the amount of intake air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Kawata
  • Patent number: 4912386
    Abstract: In a system having a driver, a motor, and a mechanical plant, a multiloop feedback control apparatus for controlling the movement and/or positioning of a mechanical plant, the control apparatus having a first local bridge feedback loop for feeding back a signal representative of a selected ratio of voltage and current at the output of the driver, and a second bridge feedback loop for feeding back a signal representative of a selected ratio of force and velocity at the output of the motor. The control apparatus may further include an outer loop for feeding back a signal representing the angular velocity and/or position of the mechanical plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Boris J. Lurie