Itt Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.

Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.

Nidec Motor Corporation

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Nidec Corporation

Nidec Automotive Motor Americas LLC

John Riden Suriano

Sergei Kolomeitsev

Roy A McCann

Joseph P Whinnery

Hong Jiang

Thomas James Gallagher

Shakim S Qureshi

Jack W Savage

Mohamed A Abbas

Thomas A Neese

Stephen M Jones

Thomas W Holmes

Jon Everhart

Steven L Tracht

James J Elliott

William C Staker

Keith Richard Cook

Jon C Everhart, Jr

Peter Hatch Thompson

Louis A Eckert

James Elliot

Roger A Heimberger

Nicholas J Miller

Candace R Suriano

Dennis L Mueller

Patrick J Staarmann

A noise suppression circuit for use with a noise source connected to ground may include a first capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first capacitor being connected to the noise source; and a first impedance element having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the first impedance element being connected to the second terminal of the first capacitor and the second terminal of the first impedance element being connected to the ground.

Noise suppression circuit

Indicator circuit having a backlight and an indicator light associated with a graphical element. The graphical element is adapted to be illuminated by the indicator light for indicating an active vehicle function as well as backlit by the backlight. A switch coupled to the backlight selectively turns OFF the backlight in response to a drive signal supplied by the indicator light. In this manner, the backlight is OFF when the graphical element is illuminated by the indicator light.

Vehicle indicator circuit having controlled backlighting

A fault-handling system for a 2-phase motor. When an electric motor is used for power assist in a steering system in a vehicle, malfunctions can cause loss of assist, and detectable vibration. The invention utilizes a 2-phase motor in such an application, and implements alternate modes of operation when certain malfunctions occur, thereby maintaining the assist function in situations wherein the function would otherwise be lost or reduced.

Fault-handling system for electric power steering system

An apparatus and method for controlling sinusoidal currents in inductive loads during zero-crossing to reduce distortion. The apparatus and method utilizes first and second PWM signals during a single PWM cycle to apply opposite voltage signals to obtain a net desired voltage across the inductive load. The voltage applied to the load is compared with a threshold and, when the applied voltage is greater than the threshold, normal PWM signals are applied to the load, and when the applied voltage is less than the threshold, an adjusted voltage formed of first and second PWM signals is applied to the load.

Zero-crossing correction in sinusoidally commutated motors

A control system for an electric motor. Field Oriented Control, FOC, uses a digital control system, and attempts to maintain the rotating stator magnetic field ninety degrees ahead of the rotor field, in order to maximize torque. However, if a three-phase motor is used, which is very common, large amounts of computation are required, to convert from a three-phase coordinate system to an orthogonal coordinate system. The invention replaces the three-phase motor with a two-phase motor, which has been found to impose certain additional costs, but also provides benefits.

Electric power steering system for a vehicle

A segmented stator for a permanent magnet motor. The stator includes a plurality of stator segments forming an annular stator yoke and a plurality of stator teeth extending from an edge of the stator yoke. At least one coupling is between adjacent stator segments and shaped to allow movement of adjacent teeth in a so-called loose tooth design. Slot wedges are located between adjacent teeth to prevent the conductive windings from moving out of the slots through the slot openings. The slot wedges also prevent movement of adjacent teeth with respect to one another. The segmented stator can comprise an annular yoke with a plurality of discrete teeth or a plurality of assemblies including a rim section and a tooth section. The slot wedges can be keyed wedges that maintain their position through interlocking and/or can be integrated with a stator bobbin.

Stator design for permanent magnet motor with combination slot wedge and tooth locator

A rotor for a permanent magnet motor with a rotor yoke and a permanent magnet ring mounted on the rotor yoke, the magnet ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced poles. One of the rotor yoke and the permanent magnet ring is an annular member including depressed portions along a peripheral edge located around a midpoint between each pole. The depressed portions are shaped so the motor produces a sinusoidal flux density. The other of the rotor yoke and the permanent magnet ring is an annular ring. In another aspect, the rotor has a rotor yoke and a permanent magnet ring mounted on the rotor yoke. The permanent magnet ring includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced poles. One of the rotor yoke and the permanent magnet ring includes a plurality of depressions along an outer peripheral edge shaped so the motor produces a sinusoidal flux density during operation. Each of the plurality of depressions is located around a junction defined by two poles. In either aspect, the rotor yoke can be skewed, and the magnet ring can be tapered.

Magnet shaping and pole concentration for reduction of cogging torque in permanent magnet motors

A noise-suppression system for brush-type electric motors in vehicles. A capacitor, together with an inductor, are integrally constructed into a carbon brush, forming an LC filter.

Integral noise filter within brush of electric motor

In an electric motor, a conductive ring surrounds, and shields, each pole of stationary magnet. When a changing magnetic flux, produced by an armature, penetrates the ring, by Lenz's Law, the changing flux causes the ring to produce a counter-flux, which adds to the changing flux. Consequently, the total flux within the ring tends to remain constant. Maintaining this constant flux tends to reduce noise and vibration which the changing rotor flux otherwise causes.

Flux damper for permanent magnet electric motors

Noise suppression system for a relay-switched windshield wiper, wherein reversal of current to a motor driving the wiper causes the motor to reverse. Filters contained within the motor, together with filters and shielding located external to the motor, suppress rf emissions.

Noise suppression in relay-switched motors

A system for reducing Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) produced by motors which are powered by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). It is believed that the PWM induces radiation at the PWM frequency and harmonics. The invention shields power cables which carry the PWM pulsed current, and provides capacitive shunting of one of the cables to ground.

Noise suppression in PWM-driven DC motor

In an ordinary DC motor in a windshield wiper, operating speed tends to increase as the motor brushes become seated. The invention counteracts this tendency by providing a brush geometry which causes the effective angular position of a brush to change during seating. The change is in a direction which tends to reduce speed.

Reduced speed growth in windshield wiper motor

The invention concerns an improved system for windshield wipers in vehicles. An induction motor is used, in which speed is accurately controlled by controlling frequency of power supplied to the motor. The induction motor may be of the consequent-pole type, which ordinarily does not produce sufficient torque. Addition of (a) auxiliary tooth slotting and (b) skew has raised the torque produced to acceptable levels. The invention includes a control system, which senses excess load on the motor, which occurs as the windshield dries, and reduces motor speed, subject to a minimum, in response.

Growing community of inventors

Kettering, OH, United States of America

John Riden Suriano