ap Image forming apparatus in which the light irradiated on a non-imaging portion is adjusted By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image forming apparatus including a control unit configured to cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at an image forming portion to which toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a first light emission amount, and cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at a non-image forming portion to which no toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a second light emission amount that is smaller than the first light emission amount. The image forming apparatus further includes an adjusting unit configured to adjust the first light emission amount and the second light emission amount, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a speed of surface of the photosensitive member. The adjusting unit is configured to change the second light emission amount according to information acquired by the acquisition unit. Full Article
ap Optical scanning device, optical scanning device control method, and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical scanning device includes: a driving unit that drives a light source that outputs multiple light beams; a deflecting unit that scans a scanning surface in a main-scanning direction by deflecting the light beams, the scanning surface moving at a predetermined line speed in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit that changes number of the light beams according to the line speed by controlling the driving unit, changes a scanning speed of the deflecting unit in the main-scanning direction according to a difference between an exposure amount per unit length in the main-scanning direction after a change in the number of the light beams and a predetermined exposure amount, and changes light intensity of each of the light beams output by the light source according to an amount of a change in the scanning speed. Full Article
ap Laser scanning unit and image forming apparatus including the same, with laser light intensity detection, adjustment, and control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A laser scanning unit includes a laser light source, rotating polygon mirror, drive motor, and entry detection, intensity detection, intensity adjustment, and drive control portions. The laser light source radiates first and second laser lights in first second directions, respectively. The drive motor rotates the polygon mirror reflecting the first laser light. The intensity adjustment portion adjusts the first laser light in accordance with the second laser light detected by the intensity detection portion, until a second time after a first time has elapsed since the first laser light entry detection by the entry detection portion. The drive control portion, upon adjustment by the intensity adjustment portion, drives the drive motor at a first rotation speed, wherein a return light entry timing is included within the first time or from when the second time has elapsed to the timing of the entry detection portion detection. Full Article
ap Optical print head and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical print head, including: a light emitting substrate which includes a light emitting element on a base; a rod lens array which focuses light emitted from the light emitting element onto an image carrier, the rod lens array having a larger linear expansion coefficient than the base of the light emitting substrate; and expansion suppressing members which are attached to both lateral surfaces of the rod lens array in a direction that is perpendicular to an optical axis direction and is a shorter direction, each of the expansion suppressing members having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the rod lens array. Full Article
ap Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid ejecting head comprises a pressure generation chamber communicating with a nozzle opening, a vibrating wall provided as one surface of the pressure generation chamber and vibrates so that ejects the liquid from the nozzle opening, and a resin portion having a recessed arc-shape and formed in a corner of the pressure generation chamber and formed of a resin material having a Young's modulus of less than or equal to 10 GPa. A ratio r/w of a radius r of the surface of the resin portion to a width w of the pressure generation chamber defined by the vibrating wall is greater than or equal to 0.017 and less than or equal to 0.087. Full Article
ap Piezoelectric element, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer made of a perovskite compound containing sodium, potassium, lithium, niobium and tantalum and bismuth manganate and electrodes for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric layer. Full Article
ap Communication system, apparatus and methods for calibrating an antenna array By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for calibrating (700) an antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a plurality of respective receive paths in a wireless communication system. The method comprises, in receive mode, applying a test signal to an individual single receive path (715) of the plurality of receive paths; and feeding back the test signal via a switched coupler network. The method further comprises running a receive calibration measurement routine to determine at least one measurement value used to calibrate the individual signal receive path and waiting for at least one converged measurement value; and extracting (720) the converged measurement value for at least one individual receive path. The steps of applying, running, extracting for a next individual single receive path are repeated until the calibration routine has completed (725). The method further comprises selecting a converged measurement value of at least one individual receive path from a plurality of receive paths (730) to form a reference receiver calibration result (730); normalizing a plurality of at least one measurement values of the plurality of receive paths using the reference receiver calibration result (730); and applying a normalized value to at least one of the plurality of receive paths. Full Article
ap System and method for modifying adaptive cruise control set points By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data. Full Article
ap Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic signal polarimetry sensing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of identifying changes utilizing radio frequency polarization includes receiving a reflected and/or transmitted polarized radio frequency signal at a receiver, filtering, amplifying and conditioning the received signal, converting the received signal from an analog format to a digital format, processing the digital signal to elicit a polarization mode dispersion feature of the received signal, and comparing the polarization mode dispersion features to a known calibration to detect a change in a characteristic of the target object. Full Article
ap Vectorization approach to isolating local maxima in an N-dimensional dataset By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Identification of maximum power scatters in an N-dimensional dataset generally requires two basic steps. The first step is to identify the max power scatters of the dataset and the second step removes neighboring power scatters (e.g., “hits”) of lower power. Current naïve approaches utilize an inefficient and computationally intensive brute force implementation which requires multiple comparisons of each initial “hit” power to all “hits” of lesser power. Such brute force implementations require 2×N×(M−1)! comparisons, where N is the number of dimensions and M is the number of “hits.” Embodiments of the present disclosure utilize vectorization to identify a plurality of neighboring hits for each max power scatter and removes the neighboring hits of lesser power that are within a predetermined isolation region. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention perform M−1 comparisons. Full Article
ap Apparatus and method for assisting vertical takeoff vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one aspect of the present invention, a radar system is provided which accurately measures the surface profile in a wide sector beneath and forward of a helicopter, to aid low level transit and landing in poor visibility. This uses an electronic beam synthesis technique to form multiple beams directed at the area of interest, each measuring the distance to the first reflected signal received by each beam. These distances represent the profile of the ground and any objects on the ground. A processor then compares the measured profile with the ideal ground profile for safe landing. If the deviations from straight and level exceed the specified requirement for safe landing, or if sufficient rotor clearance is not detected, then a warning is given to the operator. A display will show the measured ground profile highlighting the unsafe regions, allowing the operator to seek a safe region to land. The novelty lies in the way the beams are formed to measure and display the ground profile and provide a warning system. This beam-forming technique is simpler and more cost effective than with a conventional phased array radar. Full Article
ap Method, device and program for processing signals, and radar apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object, an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area, a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals, a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans, and a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing. The level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object. Full Article
ap Target tracking apparatus, storage medium stored a target tracking program, target tracking system, and target tracking method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a target tracking apparatus acquires a first determination result by determining which combination of N-dimensional tracks is for the real target, acquires a second determination result by determining which combination of N-dimensional angular observation values is for the real target, selects the first determination result when an observation environment is an environment other than a dense environment, selects the second determination result when the observation environment is a dense environment, and calculates distance information to thereby generate an (N+1)-dimensional track for each target. Full Article
ap Multibeam radar apparatus for vehicle, multibeam radar method and multibeam radar program By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An on-board multibeam radar apparatus includes a plurality of beam elements that constitute an antenna transmitting a transmission wave and receiving an incoming wave reflected by and arriving from a target in response to the transmission wave, and a processing unit configured to apply a Fourier transformation to beam element data which are data of a received wave received through the plurality of beam elements based on the number of elements and the element interval of a desired virtual array antenna so as to create virtual array data, and to perform a predetermined process based on the created virtual array data. Full Article
ap Phased array transmission methods and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A phased array transmitter includes a plurality of vector modulators, an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) signal generator, and a multiphase generator. The output phases of the plurality of vector modulators, and hence the direction of transmission of the phased array transmitter, are set and controlled by adjusting both the magnitude ratios of I/Q signal pairs generated by the I/Q signal generator and applied to I and Q inputs of the plurality of vector modulators and phases of a plurality of local oscillator (LO) signal phases generated by the multiphase generator and applied to LO inputs of the plurality of vector modulators. Setting and controlling the output phases of the vector modulators by varying both the magnitude ratios of the I/Q signal pairs and the phases of the LO signal phases allows the output phases of the plurality of vector modulators to be more precisely set and controlled than if the output phases were to be set and controlled only through the LO paths or only through the I/Q signal paths of the plurality of vector modulators. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for doubling the capacity of a lens-based switched beam antenna system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lens-based switched beam antenna system including a beam-forming lens, and a beam port router coupled to the beam-forming lens, including a plurality of beam ports, and configured to transmit beams via corresponding ones of the beam ports, wherein a first group of the beam ports corresponds to a first signal, and wherein a second group of the beam ports corresponds to a second signal. Full Article
ap Apparatus and method for producing a multi-pattern wireless frame By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Multi-pattern transmission of frames. The method of operations comprises transmitting a first portion of a frame using a first radiation pattern. The frame comprises one or more preambles and a single data portion associated with the one or more preambles. Thereafter, an operation is conducted to switch the radiation pattern from the first radiation pattern, used to produce the first portion of the frame, to a second radiation pattern. A second portion of the same frame is produced using the second radiation pattern. Full Article
ap Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing an enhanced positive response for underground facility locate and marking operations based on an electronic manifest documenting physical locate marks on ground, pavement or other surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation. Full Article
ap System adapted for one or more electrically propellable vehicles (detector arrangement) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detector arrangement related to a contact device in a system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The system comprises a plurality of road sections subdividing the roadway, each one connected to one or more electric stations for charging a set of batteries of the vehicle and/or supplying the necessary power and energy for driving the vehicle forward. The contact device comprises displaceable current collectors disposed underneath the vehicle, which are moveable up and down and sideways. The current collectors are coordinated with control equipment to bring the current collector into mechanical and electrical contact with conducting rails arranged in a track in the roadway. The detector arrangement comprises one or more coils and is adapted to sense the variation of a magnetic field generated by additional electrical conductors disposed in the track. Full Article
ap Control apparatus and control method for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ECU is mounted on a vehicle equipped with a converter that can boost a voltage of a power storage device storing electric power for obtaining driving force to output the boosted voltage to a drive load device. The ECU starts boosting at the converter upon satisfaction of at least any of a first condition that a boost request signal Req is received (that is, an output voltage request value of the converter exceeds a voltage Vb of the power storage device) and a second condition that output electric power P of the power storage device is higher than a value obtained by subtracting charge electric power ΔP transiently occurring at the start of boosting from rated electric power Wout (that is, it is predicted that output electric power P will exceed rated electric power Wout in response to the start of boosting). Full Article
ap Power-fluctuation reducing apparatus for power generation system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, there is provided a power-fluctuation reducing apparatus in a power generation system to control a converter connected to the power generation system and connected to secondary batteries. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus includes adjusting direct current voltages output from the secondary batteries, respectively, detecting the directing current voltages output from the secondary batteries, respectively, controlling to adjust the direct current voltages output from the secondary batteries to make the direct current voltages uniform, based on the detected direct current voltages, and controlling the converter to reduce power fluctuations in the power generation system. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for providing an electrical energy system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for providing an electrical energy system. A specific embodiment can incorporate at least one energy harvesting module (H-module), at least one energy storage module (S-module), and at least one power electronic circuit module (C-module). The various modules can be integrated into a standard battery configuration. Specific embodiments pertain to a reconfigurable energy system with modules that can be disconnected and reconnected into different shapes and configurations. Full Article
ap Power control apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A power control apparatus is mounted on an electrically driven vehicle which includes an electrical storage device configured by connecting a plurality of batteries in parallel, a voltage detection unit which detects a voltage of each battery, and a load, and the power control apparatus includes, a voltage deviation calculation unit which is connected to the electrical storage device, and calculates voltage deviation between the plurality of batteries based on the voltage detected by each voltage detection unit at the time of driving the load which is driven by power supply from the electrical storage device, a comparator which compares the voltage deviation calculated by the voltage deviation calculation unit and a first predetermined threshold, and a cutoff detection unit which detects a presence or absence of the battery, which comes into a cutoff state in the electrical storage device, when the voltage deviation is equal to or more than the first threshold in a comparison result by the comparator. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for controlling distribution of power By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Aspects of the invention are directed to apparatus and methods for controlling power distribution to a plurality of devices including a primary device and at least one secondary device, the primary device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, with the second mode of operation being a lower power mode of operation than the first mode of operation. Full Article
ap High capacity electronic switch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic switch for commodity use. Specifically, embodiments of this invention provide a high capacity intelligent electronic switch for commodity use. A flexible film substrate is used along with a field-effect transistor (FET) to produce a commodity switch. Multiple printed flexible electronics PFE substrates are stacked to and integrated into an electronic switch system. Various methods are used to measure power consumption within the switch. The modular cell design allows for horizontal and vertical scaling. Full Article
ap Lighting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a lighting apparatus that may form and control a multi-zone of a plurality of lighting devices connected to a wireless network. The lighting apparatus may include a plurality of devices including a plurality of lighting devices included in a network set in advance, a coordinator to manage the network, a remote controller to control a multi-zone that is included in the network and that performs grouping of the plurality of lighting devices into a plurality of groups. Full Article
ap Mounting apparatus for display device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mounting apparatus includes a supporting board, a first adjusting member including a rotating board and a fixing plate, a second adjusting member to install a display device. The rotating board includes a tab, is mounted on the supporting board, and is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the supporting board. The second adjusting member is mounted to the fixing plate and is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the fixing plate. A first sliding block is slidably mounted to the supporting board. A second sliding block is slidably mounted to the rotating plate. The first and second sliding blocks each define a slanted groove. A pin protrudes from each of the tab and the second adjusting member to be slidably received in the slanted grooves. The first sliding block is slid to rotate the first adjusting member, the second sliding blocks is slid to rotate the second adjusting members. Full Article
ap Electronic device with mounting apparatus for solid state disk By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mounting apparatus for a solid state disk includes a bracket and a latching module. The bracket includes a connecting pole and a supporting member mounted to the connecting pole. The latching module is installed to the supporting member, and comprises a latching member. The supporting member includes a position pole mounted to the connecting pole and a supporting bar perpendicularly extending out from the position pole. The position pole defines a latching slot facing the supporting bar for positioning an end of the solid state disk. The supporting bar defines a guiding slot facing the latching slot for receiving a side of the solid state disk. The latching member is to latch onto the solid state disk. Full Article
ap Electric power conversion apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel. Full Article
ap Display device and electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a display device including a main board part configured to have a display area including drive wiring and have a display panel disposed in the display area; and an auxiliary board part configured to be monolithic with the main board part and have extraction wiring from the drive wiring. Full Article
ap Television receiver and electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a television receiver includes: a housing; a circuit board arranged in the housing; an electronic component mounted on the circuit board; a reinforcing member comprising a first surface in contact with the circuit board, and a second surface located on an opposite side of the first surface and exposed to an inside of the housing; a component contained in the housing, the component comprising a first supported area located at a distance from a surface of the circuit board; and a support member configured to support the component, the support member comprising a first end portion fixed to the first supported area of the component, and a second end portion fixed to the second surface of the reinforcing member. Full Article
ap Lightweight electronic device for automotive applications and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh. Full Article
ap Capacitor, and manufacturing method and manufacturing program thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A capacitor includes: an anode part that is drawn from an anode body of a capacitor element to an element end-face, to be formed over the element end-face; a cathode part that is drawn from a cathode body of the capacitor element to the element end-face, to be formed over the element end-face; an anode terminal member that is disposed in a sealing member; a cathode terminal member that is disposed in the sealing member; an anode current collector plate that is connected to the anode part, and is also connected to the anode terminal member; and a cathode current collector plate that is connected to the cathode part, and is also connected to the cathode terminal member. Full Article
ap Mounting structure of circuit board having multi-layered ceramic capacitor thereon By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a mounting structure of a circuit board having a multi-layered ceramic capacitor thereon. The mounting structure of a circuit board having a multi-layered ceramic capacitor thereon, in which a dielectric layer on which inner electrodes are disposed is stacked and external electrode terminals connecting the inner electrodes in parallel are disposed on both ends thereof, wherein the inner electrodes of the multi-layered ceramic capacitor and the circuit board are disposed so as to be a horizontal direction to connect the external electrode terminals with a land on the circuit board by a conductive material and a ratio of a bonding area ASOLEDER of the conductive material to the area AMLCC of the external electrode terminals AMLCC is set to be less than 1.4, thereby remarkably reducing the vibration noise. Full Article
ap Power factor correction capacitors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Apr 2016 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus includes a case capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements, each capacitor element having at least two capacitors, and each capacitor having a capacitive value. The apparatus also includes a cover assembly with a peripheral edge secured to the case. The cover assembly includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly generally at a central region of the cover assembly. Each cover terminal is connected to one of the at least two capacitors of the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements. The cover assembly also includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly at a position spaced apart from the cover terminal generally at the central region of the cover assembly. Full Article
ap Relay valve control arrangement to provide variable response timing on full applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A brake system and related components including a metering device are configured to regulate a control signal received from a brake control device such that a control valve delays the supply of a level of requested braking pressure for a prescribed amount of time. The metering device can be an inversion valve and orificed check valve in a control circuit adapted to allow relatively unrestricted flow until a threshold pressure is reached, after which pressure the inversion valve closes and the flow is metered through an orifice. This has the effect of allowing rapid brake actuation to a first level, and then slowing further application of the brake until full requested braking is achieved. An electronic control unit can also be configured to regulate a control signal to delay development of the requested brake pressure. Full Article
ap Brake apparatus for motorcycle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A brake apparatus that can achieve front-rear distribution in accordance with a traveling environment variation. At an intermediate point from a start point of a second mode, first interval to an end point of a second mode, second interval, the increasing rate of braking force for a front wheel with respect to an operation amount is changed. The increasing rate of the operation amount prior to the intermediate point can be represented by a first inclination of a curve while the increasing rate of the operation amount after the intermediate point is represented by a second inclination of the curve. The first inclination is less than the second inclination. Setting the increasing rate after an intermediate point to be higher than the increasing rate before the intermediate point, the vehicle body generation deceleration can be caused to increase in a linear proportion to the operation amount. Full Article
ap Braking apparatus for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electronic control unit inputs from temperature sensors a temperature of the heating side of a thermoelectric conversion section assembled to each of brake units provided for left and right rear wheels. When the temperature of the heating side is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls a brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to operate the brake units preferentially over brake units provided for left and right front wheels. With this operation, each of the brake units generates friction heat, and heats the heating side of the corresponding thermoelectric conversion section, whereby the thermoelectric conversion section efficiently collects thermal energy and generates electrical power. Meanwhile, when the heating side temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls the brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to decrease the proportion of the braking forces applied by the brake units and increase the proportion of the braking forces applied by the brake units. Full Article
ap Vehicle yaw stability control method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle yaw stability control method and a vehicle yaw stability control apparatus are provided. The yaw rate {dot over (ψ)} of the vehicle is measured. A first reference yaw rate {dot over (ψ)}ref is set. A difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)} is set. Stabilizing braking intervention is triggered when a value of the difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)} exceeds limits defined by difference yaw rate threshold values Δ{dot over (ψ)}min, Δ{dot over (ψ)}max. Information regarding the shape of the road ahead of the vehicle is acquired. The reliability of the driver steering input δ is evaluated upon stabilizing braking intervention being triggered. In case the driver steering input δ is deemed unreliable a replacement reference yaw rate {dot over (ψ)}refroad is set based on the acquired road shape and a replacement difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)}road is set whereupon stabilizing braking intervention is performed based on the replacement difference yaw rate Δ{dot over (ψ)}road. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for load dependent speed control of a motor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EDT A variable speed power converter controls the speed of a load in a material handling system as a function of the torque required to move the load. While the power converter is running, the torque being produced in the motor is determined. The power converter then determines the maximum rotational speed of the motor as a function of the torque currently being produced and of the torque-speed curve of the motor. The power converter then commands the motor to rotate at this maximum rotational speed. The power converter periodically monitors the torque being produced and adjusts the maximum rotational speed of the motor throughout the run. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for applying a commutation advance automatically in a brushless DC motor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EDT To achieve peak acoustic and power performance, the coil or applied current should be in phase or substantially aligned with the back electromotive force (back-EMF) voltage. However, there are generally phase differences between the applied current and back-EMF voltage that are induced by the impedance of the brushless DC motor (which can vary based on conditions, such as temperature and motor speed). Traditionally, compensation for these phase differences was provided manually and on an as-needed basis. Here, however, a system and method are provided that automatically perform a commutation advance by incrementally adjusting a drive signal over successive commutation cycles when the applied current and back-EMF voltage are misaligned. Full Article
ap Motor control apparatus and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EDT A motor control apparatus for controlling a DC motor includes a first detection unit configured to detect an angular velocity of the DC motor, a driven member configured to be driven by the DC motor, a control unit configured to perform, during start-up of the DC motor, feed forward control for changing a control value used for controlling drive of the DC motor from a first control value corresponding to an angular velocity smaller than a target angular velocity to a second control value corresponding to the target angular velocity, and to change the feed forward control to feedback control for controlling the control value based on a detection result by the first detection unit to keep the DC motor at the target angular velocity, and a second detection unit configured to detect whether the driven member has been replaced. Full Article
ap Automatic furniture flap type detection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT Electromotive furniture-flap drive, characterized by an identification device for automatically identifying the type of furniture flap in the installed state of the furniture flap drive. Full Article
ap Brushless motor drive apparatus and drive method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a drive apparatus and drive method for switching an energization mode when a voltage of a non-energized phase of a brushless motor crosses a threshold. In threshold learning, first, the brushless motor is stopped at an initial position. The brushless motor is then rotated by performing phase energization based on the energization mode from the stopped state. The voltage of the non-energized phase at an angular position of switching the energization mode is detected from a maximum value or a minimum value of the voltage of the non-energized phase during the rotation, and the threshold is learned based on the detected voltage. Alternatively, the brushless motor is positioned at the angular position of switching the energization mode by maintaining one energization mode, and then the energization mode is switched to the next energization mode. The voltage of the non-energized phase immediately after the switching to the energization mode is detected, and the detected voltage of the non-energized phase is learned as the threshold used to determine the timing of switching to the next energization mode. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus for processing a motor signal, having current ripple, of a DC motor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT In order to process a motor signal (Ia, Um) of a DC motor (4), in particular of an adjustment drive of a motor vehicle, the armature current (Ia) and the motor voltage (Um) of the DC motor (4) are detected and used for determining the back-emf (E) of the DC motor (4), wherein the determined back-emf (E) is used to generate a useful signal (Sf, SEFL), which is in particular speed-proportional, from the armature current signal (Ia) for position sensing or for evaluating an excess force limitation. Full Article
ap Power converting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A power converting apparatus including a power converter that converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage and applies the AC voltage to an AC rotating machine and a control unit that controls the power converter based on an operation command from the outside is provided. The power converting apparatus includes: a first calculating unit that calculates and outputs, from a d-axis current detection value and a q-axis current detection value detected by the AC rotating machine and current command values based on the operation command, first voltage command values to the power converter, magnetic fluxes of the AC rotating machine, and an angular frequency; and a second calculating unit that sets, as an initial value, at least one of the magnetic fluxes and the angular frequency input from the first calculating unit and calculates and outputs second voltage command value to the power converter and an angular frequency. Full Article
ap Methods and apparatus for electric motor controller protection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface. Full Article
ap Motor driving apparatus with rotational speed limitation function and fan apparatus with rotational speed limitation function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A motor driving apparatus is applied to a fan and motor mechanism and a voltage supply unit. The motor driving apparatus includes a motor driving unit, a voltage division resistor, a first resistor, a first switch unit, a second resistor, a second switch unit, a third resistor, a third switch unit, a transistor switch, and a pulse width modulation unit. The first switch unit, the second switch unit, and the third switch unit are configured to select the rotational speed upper limitation of the fan and motor mechanism for suppressing noise. Full Article
ap Method and apparatus to convert a minimally controlled pulse stream into a proper mechatronic trajectory By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST An apparatus or method which accepts a burst of pulses at a frequency which may not be tightly controlled and converts this into a trajectory command that is a suitable motion profile for an incremental motor control application. The output of the invention can be a pulse stream that can be fed to an existing incremental pulse input motor drive or the invention can be embedded into a motor drive where its output is a numerical sequence that defines a physically realizable trajectory to be fed to the control circuits and software within the motor drive. Full Article
ap Motor current detection apparatus, motor controller, and electric power tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A motor current detection apparatus in the present invention includes: a current detection unit, a first filter, and a second filter. The detection unit detects a conduction current flowing from a battery to a brushless motor and outputs a conduction current signal corresponding to the detected conduction current. The first filter extracts a first current signal which is included in the conduction current signal outputted from the detection unit and is a signal component in a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined first cutoff frequency. The second filter extracts a second current signal which is included in the conduction current signal outputted from the detection unit and is a signal component in a predetermined frequency band within a frequency band equal to or lower than a predetermined second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency and having the second cutoff frequency as a maximum value. Full Article