By Variable Impedance (e.g., Potentiometer) Patents (Class 388/824)
  • Publication number: 20080253752
    Abstract: A method for detecting and controlling output characteristics of a DC motor is provided in the present invention, wherein an input impedance related to the DC motor is measured for analyzing the output characteristics of the DC motor so that the output characteristics of the DC motor is capable being controlled according to the requirement of usage. By means of the foregoing method, the present invention further provides a self-propelled apparatus which functions to detect and control the output of the DC motor for maintaining the moving speed according to the environment status and road condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Janq-Yann Lin, Yong-Lin Kuo, Yaw-Nan Lee, Yann-Shuoh Sun, Ching-Chi Liao
  • Patent number: 7274866
    Abstract: A power tool is disclosed comprising a controller for controlling at least one operating parameter, a motor for driving a tool, at least three switching elements which are coupled to the controller, and a speed sensor for monitoring the speed of the motor to generate a speed signal, which is fed to the controller. The controller is configured so that, in dependence on the speed signal, with simultaneous activation of a first and at least one other of the switching elements, a control signal for changing the operating parameter is output, and that, in dependence on the speed signal, with activation of the first and at least one other switching element, a control signal for modified changing of the operating parameter is output (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Rudolf, Sigmund Braun
  • Patent number: 7159790
    Abstract: A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a rotatable selector rotatably coupled to the thermostat housing via a support member. The rotatable selector is adapted to have a range of rotatable positions, wherein a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions. The thermostat further includes a mechanical to electrical translator that is laterally offset relative to the support member for translating the mechanical position of the rotatable selector to an electrical signal that is related to the desired parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Schwendinger, Jason L. Ableitner, Tim M. Redmann
  • Patent number: 7159789
    Abstract: A thermostat having a thermostat housing and a rotatable selector disposed on the thermostat housing. The rotatable selector adapted to have a range of rotatable positions, where a desired parameter value is identified by the position of the rotatable selector along the range of rotatable positions. The rotatable selector rotates about a rotation axis. A non-rotating member or element, which may at least partially overlap the rotatable selector, may be fixed relative to the thermostat housing via one or more support member(s). The one or more support member(s) may be laterally displaced relative to the rotation axis of the rotatable selector. The non-rotatable member or element may include, for example, a display, a button, an indicator light, a noise making device, a logo, a temperature indicator, and/or any other suitable device or component, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Schwendinger, Jason L. Ableitner, James Gray, Tim M. Redmann
  • Patent number: 7046917
    Abstract: A device of a cart includes a control, a speed regulating potentiometer, a microprocessor, a digital-to-analogue converter, a motor controlling unit, and a switch; the control is angularly displaceable and near to handlebars of the cart; the potentiometer is connected to the control so as to output a voltage, which depends on displacement of the control; the microprocessor can produce digital signals according to the output voltage of the potentiometer; the converter is used for converting the digital signals into analogue voltage; the motor controlling unit is used for making a motor run at a variable-speed mode, at which mode the speed of the motor will depend on output voltage of the converter; immediately after the rider presses the switch, the microprocessor will ignore output voltage of the potentiometer, and start and continue giving a same digital signal to the converter so that the motor starts running at constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sunpex Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samuel Lin
  • Patent number: 6762578
    Abstract: The invention concerns a motor controller for a motor with a feedback potentiometer, preferably for central air valve actuation. In the field of climate control, for example for utility vehicles and motor vehicles, the air ducts in heating, air conditioning and/or ventilation systems have valves to control the flow of air or water. These valves are adjusted either mechanically, e.g. by Bowden cables or flexible shafts, or using motors. It is proposed that a continuous rotation potentiometer be employed as a feedback potentiometer and specially designed control electronics be used to control a motor with the continuous rotation potentiometer. In the control electronics for the motor controller, an angular difference between an adjusted control potentiometer and the motor feedback potentiometer is determined in order to determine therefrom the shortest adjustment path to the chosen setpoint position for the motor when the angular difference is greater than 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anton Ruettiger, Mario Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5867002
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electromechanical device with variable resistance circuit serving to control a load. The device comprises a connection (10) for a source of power (12), a connection (14) apt to be connected to a load (16) supplied by the source of power (12), a resistance circuit formed by a plurality of branches (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, . . . B.sub.n) mounted in parallel between the connections (10, 14) and each comprising a resistance (R.sub.1, R.sub.2 . . . R.sub.n) in series with a switch (I.sub.1, I.sub.2, . . . I.sub.n) possessing an initial contact state and mechanical means comprising a carriage (20) moveable in translation between several predetermined positions, in each of which this carriage (20) is apt to co-operate with at least one of the switches (I.sub.1, I.sub.2, . . . I.sub.n) in order to modify its initial contact state and vary the intensity of the current traversing the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Jean Dauvergne
  • Patent number: 5528721
    Abstract: A DC motor control system reduces power demands imposed upon a DC power source energizing a utilizing device by varying the time during which power application occurs, but not the magnitude of the power which remains constant. The DC motor control system includes a transducer/resistor network, a trigger pulse circuit, a control signal circuit, a driver circuit, and a switch network. The control signal circuit outputs a duty cycle control signal as regulated by the transducer/resistor network and the trigger pulse circuit. The transducer/resistor network permits an operator to determine the duration of the duty cycle control signal, which varies from 0% to 100%, while the trigger pulse circuit establishes the frequency of the duty cycle control signal. The driver circuit receives and amplifies each duty cycle control signal outputted by the control signal circuit. The driver circuit inputs each amplified duty cycle control signal into the switch network to activate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: John Svoboda
    Inventors: John V. Searcy, II, James D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5414793
    Abstract: A speed control mechanism allowing a user to control the operating speed of a power tool. The speed control mechanism includes a drive motor and a handle connected to the power tool including a trigger, a speed governor and a cam assembly. The trigger is displaced from a first position by the user to initiate operation of the drive motor. The trigger cooperates with the speed governor to vary the operating speed of the drive motor based on the displacement of the trigger. The cam control assembly is operated by the user and cooperates with the trigger to control the extent to which the trigger can be displaced from the first position by the user, thereby limiting the operating speed of the motor. In one embodiment, the speed control mechanism is for use with the drive motor of the power tool to control the operating speed of the power tool. In an alternative embodiment, the speed control mechanism is used with a radial arm saw including an anti-kick forward device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Ryobi Motor Products Corp.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 5201023
    Abstract: A solid state electronic motor power control circuit for portable paint pumps having a MOSFET power control device and an operational amplifier connected to the MOSFET to selectively operate as a switch driver in a first state and as a linear gain amplifier in a second state. The operational amplifier has a feedback path from the motor to compensate for motor load variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew R. Motzko
  • Patent number: 5003628
    Abstract: A manually operated switch lever moves arm 105 along resistor 113 to generate a "raw" motor speed demand signal which is amplified and inverted by amplifiers 115 and 119 to form a "base line" demand signal.The "raw" demand signal and a motor load signal at the output of amplifier 154 are compared in amplifier 125 to generate an "error" signal. The "error" signal and the "base line" demand signal are summed in amplifier 129 to form a variable reference voltage which is applied to the non-inverting input of comparator 132. The second input to comparator 132 is a triangular shaped wave which is centered about V/2. When the amplitude of the oscillator output wave exceeds the reference voltage, the output of the comparator 132 is low and switch 160 is off. Thus, variations in the D.C. reference voltage at the output of amplifier 129 control the ON-off duty cycle of MOSFET switch 160 to adjust the power applied to motor 106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Lucerne Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Houser, Gary Loughner
  • Patent number: 4976552
    Abstract: A sewing machine having a wireless controller is disclosed, wherein the sewing machine substantially comprising a drive motor for driving the sewing machine, a separate controller adjustably operated to produce a variable set voltage for controlling the rotation speed of the drive motor, a converter for converting the set voltage to a corresponding digital value and producing a series of data on the basis of the digital value, a device for producing carrier waves, modulator for modulating the series of data by way of the carrier waves and producing modulated waves, transmitter means responsive to the modulated waves to produce a corresponding light signal, means for receiving the light signal, demodulator for demodulating the received light signal, and a device responsive to the demodulated light to control the rotation speed of said drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Company Limited
    Inventors: Satoru Ishikawa, Toshitaka Toyomi
  • Patent number: 4831312
    Abstract: A speed control device for d-c motors includes an IC control circuit having such a construction that a reference voltage is generated across two of its terminals C and D. Additionally, a current proportional to the armature current of the d-c motor is kept flowing in the terminal D at all times. A transistor is connected across the terminals C and D of the control circuit so that motor revolution can be changed linearly by means of a variable resistor connected in parallel across the base and collector of the transistor. With this arrangement, the revolution of d-c motors can be accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Okazaki, Hiroshi Minami