Plural Diverse Motor Controls Patents (Class 318/255)
  • Patent number: 11114965
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a motor control module, a motor control device, a motor control system, and a motor control method, and the purpose of the present specification is to provide a motor control module, a motor control device, a motor control system, and a motor control method, which control driving current applied to a motor according to an operating condition of a variable magnetic motor so as to enable magnetic force in the motor to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyojin Ko, Seungsuk Oh, Hyounguk Nam
  • Patent number: 10964317
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a voice wakeup method, apparatus and system, a cloud server and a readable medium. The method comprises: receiving a first request input by the user in a voice manner after a smart device enters a voice recognition phase; judging whether the first request after semantic parsing is consistent with pre-stored wakeup words; determining that the received first request is used to re-wake up the smart device if the first request is consistent with the pre-stored wakeup words. According to the above technical solutions, after the smart device enters the voice recognition phase, if the received first request is the wakeup words, the smart device does not perform service satisfaction processing for the first request. Capability of recognizing that the first request is re-wakeup does not cause a command recognition error and thereby can satisfy the user's expectation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiantang Chang, Lifeng Zhao, Rongjie Chen
  • Patent number: 10908034
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pressure-sensitive element having a relatively wide pressing force measurement range and a relatively simple structure. Pressure-sensitive element is provided with pressure-sensitive part that receives pressing force and detector that detects the pressing force, and has a structure described below. That is, pressure-sensitive part has first conductive member that has elasticity, second conductive member, and dielectric body. Dielectric body is disposed between first conductive member and second conductive member, and at least partially covers the surface of first conductive member or second conductive member. Detector detects pressing force based on a variation in electrostatic capacitance between first conductive member and second conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Moriura, Tetsuyoshi Ogura, Shinobu Masuda, Keiji Noine, Yui Sawada
  • Patent number: 10780723
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling movement of a target object generates a first operation quantity for first feedback control, and determines a second operation quantity for second feedback control in accordance with which of plural regions obtained by dividing a two-dimensional space defined by two variables of the first and second state quantities includes the first and second state quantities. The plural regions include first, second and third regions, the first region being provided between the second and third regions. The second operation quantity is determined so that the second operation quantity when the first and second state quantities are located in the first region is less than the second operation quantity when the first and second state quantities are located in the second region or the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushihki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Iwai, Kota Kiyama, Haruhiko Tanami, Yuichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10476419
    Abstract: A dual inverter control method is capable of improving power efficiency of an inverter and a motor by controlling a dual inverter through 6-step control to apply a voltage to the motor in a motor driving system using the dual inverter. The dual inverter control method for controlling first and second inverters having output terminals commonly connected to a motor includes comparing all voltage commands for driving the motor with the magnitude of a DC voltage commonly applied to the first and second inverters; and generating a first voltage command with respect to an output of the first inverter and a second voltage command with respect to an output of the second inverter by selectively applying high gain over voltage modulation (HOVM) depending on a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joo Young Park, Mu Shin Kwak, Ho Joon Shin, Su Hyun Bae, Jun Mo An, Sung Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 10381942
    Abstract: A device determines a first current, of a first input phase of a power system, and a second current, of a second input phase of the power system. The device determines whether the first input phase and the second input phase are balanced based on the first current and the second current. When the first input phase and the second input phase are not balanced, the device selects the first input phase and an output phase of the power system. The device balances the first input phase and the second input phase by using the first input phase and the output phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: David Owen
  • Patent number: 10315437
    Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports (3a, 4a) each being configured to support a spool of ribbon (3,4); a ribbon drive (3b, 4b) configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead (7). The printhead (7) is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed (V-substrate). The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed (V-ribbon).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Philip Hart, Jeremy Ellis
  • Patent number: 10263547
    Abstract: A method includes monitoring electrical output in an open control loop from a variable speed drive to a remote permanent magnet motor, the variable speed drive electrically connected to the permanent magnet motor via a power transmission line. The method includes, in response to detecting a variation in the electrical output at the variable speed drive, synchronizing a frequency of a rotor shaft of the permanent magnet motor with a constant electromagnetic field frequency of a stator of the permanent magnet motor for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time, the method includes increasing the electromagnetic field frequency of the stator to an operational frequency threshold to accelerate the frequency of the rotor shaft of the permanent magnet motor. In response to reaching the operational frequency threshold, the method includes determining an internal position of the rotor based on the variable electromagnetic field frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Direct Drive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Costin Ifrim
  • Patent number: 10259478
    Abstract: An urban rail transit train control system based on vehicle-vehicle communications, comprising an intelligent train supervision (ITS) system, a train manage center (TMC), a data communication system (DCS), and an intelligent vehicle on-board controller (IVOC) provided on each of trains, the ITS system. The TMC and the IVOC are communicatively coupled by the DCS, and IVOCs of the trains communicatively coupled by the DCS. IVOCs of all the trains report first train operation information to the ITS system and second train operation information to the TMC in accordance with a predetermined period. The TMC sends the received second train operation information to the ITS system. The ITS system determines a following train that needs a virtual coupling operation and a head train corresponding to the following train, and dispatch a virtual coupling operation instruction to the head train IVOC to perform a virtual coupling operation of trains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Traffic Control Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chunhai Gao, Qiang Zhang, Junguo Sun
  • Patent number: 10079567
    Abstract: A system monitors physical characteristics of or near a motor shaft, such as strain, temperature, voltage, and/or stress. The sensors can sense or measure these characteristics and transmit the measured values wirelessly to a remote user, who can monitor the motor shaft for signs of inefficiency or malfunction. Furthermore, the system can support communications between the remote user and a controlling element of the motor to monitor and adjust the motor shaft to operate with greater efficiency and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: METROPOLITAN INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: John Kochan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9745797
    Abstract: An architectural covering is provided. The architectural covering includes: shade material; the shade material operatively connected to a motor unit such that movement of the motor unit causes movement of the shade material; the motor unit comprising a DC motor and a shaft connected to the DC motor; a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor unit; a controller unit electrically connected to the motor unit, the controller unit having a microprocessor; and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the motor unit and upon detection of rotation of the motor unit transmit a signal to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor of the controller unit is configured to power an encoder unit in response to determination of manual movement of the shade material. A motor and control unit for an architectural covering may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Darrin W. Brunk, Christopher Lee Wysocynski, Harry Edward Asbury, Richard Scott Hand, Yan Rodriguez, Benjamin Bruckner
  • Patent number: 9725952
    Abstract: A roll shade system is disclosed. The roll shade system includes a motor configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, a support shaft supporting the motor wherein the support shaft is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, and a roll shade tube configured to be rotatable about the motor and the support shaft during operation of the motor. The roll shade system further includes stationary components including a wiring connector, an input wiring system, a bearing, an antenna, a coaxial cable, a motor controller, a counterbalance spring. The roll shade system also includes rotatable components including a bearing housing and one or more O-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, William Ashton Lee Cutts Lucas, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 9725948
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Patent number: 9611690
    Abstract: A motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade tube in which a motor unit, a controller unit and a power supply unit are disposed. The controller unit includes a controller to control the motor. The power supply unit includes at least one bearing rotatably coupled to a support shaft. The motor unit includes at least one bearing, rotatably coupled to another support shaft, a DC gear motor and a counterbalancing device. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to a mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Richard Scott Hand, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 9448561
    Abstract: A work vehicle cooperation system includes: a master traveling tack calculation unit that calculates a traveling track of a master work vehicle (1P) based on its position; a loop traveling detection unit that detects loop traveling in a loop work area (B); a redirection traveling target calculation unit that calculates a redirection traveling start point and a redirection traveling end point (Pc3) of a slave work vehicle (1C) based on a redirection traveling track including a redirection traveling start point (Pp1) and a redirection traveling end point of redirection traveling of the master work vehicle (1P); and a loop work traveling target calculation unit that calculates a target traveling position in loop work traveling of the slave work vehicle (1C) for the redirection traveling end point (Pc3) to a next redirection traveling start point (Pc1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Kubota Coporation
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Hiroyuki Araki, Yasuhisa Uoya
  • Patent number: 9410369
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Patent number: 9376862
    Abstract: An architectural covering is provided. The architectural covering includes: shade material; the shade material operatively connected to a motor unit such that movement of the motor unit causes movement of the shade material; the motor unit comprising a DC motor and a shaft connected to the DC motor; a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor unit; a controller unit electrically connected to the motor unit, the controller unit having a microprocessor; and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the motor unit and upon detection of rotation of the motor unit transmit a signal to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor of the controller unit is configured to power an encoder unit in response to determination of manual movement of the shade material. A motor and control unit for an architectural covering may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Darrin W. Brunk, Christopher Lee Wysoczynski, Harry Edward Asbury, Richard Scott Hand, Yan Rodriguez, Benjamin Bruckner
  • Patent number: 9372538
    Abstract: A control interface system for a vehicle includes an input module, a feedback module, and a system controller. The input module has a touchscreen and a control icon arranged thereon. The feedback module includes a pressure sensor in communication with the input module. The pressure sensor provides a sensor signal to the input module indicative of an applied force on the touchscreen. The system controller is in communication with the pressure sensor through the input module. The system controller provides at least one of a haptic feedback, an audible feedback, and a visual feedback, where the feedback is indicative of one of a selection mode, a slow change mode, and a fast change mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Silviu Pala, Manabu Miyata
  • Patent number: 9194179
    Abstract: A roll shade system is disclosed. The roll shade system includes a motor configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, a support shaft supporting the motor wherein the support shaft is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, and a roll shade tube configured to be rotatable about the motor and the support shaft during operation of the motor. The roll shade system further includes stationary components including a wiring connector, an input wiring system, a bearing, an antenna, a coaxial cable, a motor controller, a counterbalance spring. The roll shade system also includes rotatable components including a bearing housing and one or more O-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: QMotion Incorporated
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, William Ashton Lee Cutts Lucas, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 9152032
    Abstract: The invention advantageously provides a deployable screen system that includes a roller tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the roller tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket. The deployable screen system is operable by tugging, manual movement and wireless control. The DC gear motor is underpowered by a plurality of batteries positioned within the roller tube. In this way a novel, useful and nonobvious deployable screen system is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: QMotion Incorporated
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Publication number: 20150142274
    Abstract: A panorama sunroof controller has a user interface, a sunroof glass, a sunshade, a first motor for driving the sunroof glass, a second motor for driving the sunshade and a driving module including a single chip microcomputer, a second relay driver and a sensor module. The single chip microcomputer and a first sensor are disposed on a circuit board. The first relay driver is coupled with the single chip microcomputer and drives the first motor near the circuit board. The second relay driver is coupled with the single chip microcomputer and drives the second motor far away the circuit board. a sensor module includes a second sensor coupled to the single chip microcomputer of the driving module through signal wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Nian He QU, Xiao Ming WANG
  • Patent number: 9035592
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for controlling a speed of a motor. An apparatus for controlling a spaced of a motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a PWM conversion unit detecting a hall sensor signal from a motor to output a pulse width modulated signal corresponding to the detected hall sensor signal; a duty detection unit detecting a duty value of the pulse width modulated signal output by the PWM conversion unit; an error calculation unit comparing a PWM duty input from the outside with a duty detected by the duty detection unit to obtain an error; and a speed control unit controlling a speed of a motor based on an error obtained by the error calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bon Young Gu
  • Patent number: 9018868
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: QMotion Advanced Shading Systems
    Inventors: William Ashton Lucas, Willis Jay Mullet, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Patent number: 8957611
    Abstract: The present invention provides a starting device for high-voltage components of a fuel cell vehicle and a method for controlling the same, which can improve starting performance during start-up of the fuel cell vehicle by eliminating a DC-DC converter for the operation of the high-voltage components (e.g., air blower, water pump, etc.) of the fuel cell vehicle, and mounting a separate starting means, which can be operated solely by the power of a 12 V battery, directly on a drive shaft of the high-voltage component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chang Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 8947027
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Qmotion Incorporated
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Patent number: 8912745
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive motor of a drive system, including the following: providing a control variable, which is ascertained as a function of one or multiple state variable(s) of the drive system and as a function of a default variable, to an output stage for operating the drive motor; reading the control variable previously provided to the output stage back from the output stage to obtain a read-back control variable; ascertaining a back-calculated torque from the read-back control variable; comparing the back-calculated torque and a predefined monitoring torque; and providing the control variable or an alternative control variable ascertained from the monitoring torque to the output stage as a function of a result of the comparison for the purpose of operating the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Ruland, Oliver Heim
  • Patent number: 8896250
    Abstract: A method to avoid a single point of failure in a system that includes at least two monitoring devices, at least two power supplies and a switching device coupled between the monitoring devices and the power supplies. The method includes performing a test that can determine if two monitoring devices are receiving power from the power supply, generating an error code and varying a position of one or more switches in a switching device based on the error code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Pai Brahmavar
  • Patent number: 8866420
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power consumption control system for a factory where a plurality of machine tools (Mi, Mp1, Mp2) are installed. A machine tool (Mi) is provided with a control device (10) whereby either the rotational acceleration/deceleration (Pi) for the motor for the machine tool and/or the rotational speed (Si) thereof is controlled on the basis of information regarding electric power consumption (Wt) in the factory so that electric power consumption will not exceed a specified value (We). This electric power consumption control system is also provided with electric power detection instruments (11, 12, 13) and an electric power monitoring instrument (20) which measure the electric power consumption of all the machine tools installed in the factory, thereby obtaining the electric power consumption of the factory, and provide information regarding the electric power consumption to the control device of the machine tool equipped with the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunji Mishina
  • Patent number: 8830116
    Abstract: A radar wave sensing apparatus including a rotation element, a nanosecond pulse near-field sensor and a control unit is provided. The nanosecond pulse near-field sensor emits an incident radar wave and receives a reflection radar wave of the incident radar wave hitting on a surface of the rotation element to obtain a repetition frequency variation of the reflection radar wave corresponding to the incident radar wave. The control unit calculates a vibration of the rotation element according to the repetition frequency variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Kuang-I Chang, Sheng-Hang Wang, Yu-Jen Su, Mu-Yu Tsai, Jyun-Long Chen
  • Patent number: 8791658
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a microcontroller and a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube. The DC gear motor includes a housing fixed to the shade tube and an output shaft coupled to a support shaft fixed to a mounting bracket. The method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube and the DC gear motor housing while the DC gear motor output shaft and support shaft remain fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Richard Scott Hand, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 8766567
    Abstract: A method, system and device for discharging power or validating protective elements of a power source to ensure proper functioning of a tool at various temperatures. The power source communicates with a switch using handshake signals to establish a scheme for power distribution depending on the temperature of the power source. The power source can discharge power at a normal start-up rate or a slower start-up rate depending on the temperature of the power source. Handshake signals can also be used to validate protective elements, where the protective elements respond to wake-up signals with respective handshake signals indicating that the protective elements are functioning property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Anil P. Ghode, Thomas P. Becker, Donald Herres
  • Patent number: 8659246
    Abstract: A motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade tube in which a motor unit, a controller unit and a power supply unit are disposed. The controller unit includes a controller to control the motor. The power supply unit includes at least one bearing rotatably coupled to a support shaft. The motor unit includes at least one bearing, rotatably coupled to another support shaft, a DC gear motor and a counterbalancing device. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to a mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Richard Scott Hand, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 8593097
    Abstract: A seat adjusting device for an automobile seat (1) having an electric motor (11) for generating a drive motion, wherein the electric motor is operationally coupled to a gearbox (13) for transmitting the drive motion thereof, the gearbox having a gearbox housing (19) in which gearbox elements are disposed for a step-up or step-down transmission of the motor drive motion, by means of which electric motors of lesser technical complexity can be used than previously. To this end, the invention proposes that the gearbox (13) has detection device for detecting information about the speed of at least one of the gearbox elements or detecting a variable dependent on the speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Diehl
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8575872
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Patent number: 8575884
    Abstract: A motor drive control system connected to an alternating current/direct current conversion circuit which converts alternating-current voltage or alternating current to direct-current voltage or direct current are provided. A control circuit controls supply or stop of the supply of the direct-current voltage or direct current from the alternating current/direct current conversion circuit to the first number of first direct current/alternating current conversion circuits and the second number of second direct current/alternating current conversion circuits while maintaining the total of the outputs of the first number of motors and the outputs of the second number of motors at a certain power not more than power which can be supplied from the alternating current/direct current conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Masuda, Kiichi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8569985
    Abstract: In a wiper control apparatus, a water drop detector outputs an output signal in accordance with water drops adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. When a traveling determination portion determines that the vehicle is traveling, a first level setting portion sets a sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a first sensitivity. When the traveling determination portion determines the vehicle is not traveling, a second level setting portion sets the sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a second sensitivity that is larger than the first sensitivity. A water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield when a determination waiting time elapses in a state where detection of the output signal continues. A driving control portion controls a wiper driving portion to drive the wiper when the water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Taiji Morishita, Yasuhiro Takabe, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Katsunori Tonomyo
  • Patent number: 8569980
    Abstract: A trash can include a sensor for detecting the presence of an object near a portion of the trash can. The detection of the object can be used to signal the trash can to open its lid. The trash can include an electronic drive unit for opening and closing the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: simplehuman, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Yang, Tzu-Hao Wei, Myk Wayne Lum, Yoon J. Kim
  • Publication number: 20130264976
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: William Ashton Lucas, Willis Jay Mullet, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Patent number: 8525451
    Abstract: In a motor control device that is used for, for example, an electric power steering system or another vehicle steering system equipped with a motor, a relay circuit (40) that serves as a power supply breaker is provided in a power feed line (Lp2) of a pre-driver (22) of a circuit that is a component of the motor control device. The operation of the relay circuit (40) is controlled by a relay signal (S_rly) output from a microcomputer (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kitamoto
  • Patent number: 8519660
    Abstract: An electrical device removal tool for electrical equipment, such as circuit breakers, is disclosed herein. The tool can be lightweight, portable, and rugged for providing electrically operated controlled insertion and removal of the electrical equipment by an operator from a remote location using a coupling device engaged with the electrical equipment housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Ashley Sue Ledbetter, Finley Lee Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 8508159
    Abstract: A device for controlling the movement of a both motorically and manually movable vehicle part includes a drive unit controllable in its rotational speed for motorically moving the vehicle part, a coupling device for coupling the drive unit with the vehicle part, and a control unit which controls the drive unit and the coupling device such that during manually moving the vehicle part the coupling device couples the drive unit with the vehicle part if the vehicle part has reached a pre-defined position. The control unit controls the rotational speed of the drive unit depending on the moving speed of the vehicle part. In this way, a device and a method are provided which in an easy and low-wear manner allow for a control of the movement of a both motorically and manually movable vehicle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Christian Herrmann, Stephan Deister
  • Patent number: 8502483
    Abstract: The model train control system includes a remote control device that receives user input with respect to various train functions such as desired speed and effects, and that generates commands based on that input in order to cause the model train to perform in a desired manner. In an embodiment of the invention, the model train controller comprises control input devices that permit user control over corresponding control features of the model train. A touch screen display may be coupled to the housing and adapted to receive user selections regarding the control feature. A processor is operatively coupled to the control input devices and the touch screen display. The processor is adapted to generate at least one model train command to be transmitted to the model train based at least in part on a user input received from either one of the control input devices or the touch screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Liontech Trains LLC
    Inventors: Neil Young, Louis G. Kovach
  • Publication number: 20130169200
    Abstract: A daughter circuit board of an electronically commutated motor for interface signal conversion, including circuit units integrated on the daughter circuit board and five ports for communicating with a control system of a user terminal. The five ports include: a R/T port, a Vcc port, a Common port, a Vsp port, and an FG port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8476849
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some multisensory implementations, a patient-lifting-device is controlled by voice recognition, keyboard text input, synaptic control and/or a tongue tactile input commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Altorr Corp.
    Inventor: Bradford A. Clough
  • Patent number: 8476853
    Abstract: An overspeed protection subsystem is provided for a power tool having an electric motor. The overspeed protection subsystem is comprised of: a motor switch coupled in series with the motor; a motor control module interfaced with the motor switch to control switching operation of the motor switch; and an overspeed detection module that determines rotational speed of the motor and disables the power tool when the rotational speed of the motor exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Vanko, Robert A. Usselman, David Beers
  • Patent number: 8461786
    Abstract: In a method and a device for determining the position of a closing part of a vehicle, that can be moved by a direct-current motor, a motor current signal is derived from the direct-current motor and converted into a digital signal by an analog-digital converter. The signal is filtered and forwarded to a position counter for counting the current ripple. The scanning frequency of the analog-digital converter is modified according to the rotational speed of the direct-current motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Roman Morawek
  • Publication number: 20130127379
    Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: Nidec Motor Corporation
  • Patent number: 8427084
    Abstract: A digital motor control system utilizes at least two variable pulse generators to produce two streams of pulse width modulated pulses to control the motor speed and direction of rotation of a motor. An input control signal may be compared with two reference signals, such as two waveforms which are inverted with respect to each other, to produce two streams of pulse width modulated signals. A logic circuit combines the two streams of pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Herbert S. Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8400093
    Abstract: A system for detecting a backspin condition of a motor in an electrical submersible pump is disclosed herein. The system comprises a sensor mounted proximate to the motor, the sensor outputting a signal, a power cable connected between a motor and a controller, the power cable supplying a three phase AC voltage to the motor, one phase of the three phase signal having a control signal thereon; electronics connected to the sensor, the electronics receiving the signal and propagating the signal to the controller; and a computer defining the controller, the controller having a non-transitory memory, a computer processor, and a computer program product stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the computer program product performing a process of controlling the variable speed drive of the motor and a process of monitoring the signal from the sensor to determine if the motor is backspinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Dick L. Knox, Robert H. McCoy, Jerald R. Rider