Minebea Company, Limited

Nigel Strike

Eric A Hardt

Scott Frankel

Yousef M Jarrah

Masaaki Matsubara

Takashi Shinano

Carl Brewer

Jerome Pierre

Yukihiro Tanada

A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor to interact with a user to obtain fan motor operating parameters and conditions. Motor operation is then controlled in accordance with the user-provided operating parameters and conditions.

System and method for reconfigurable fans

Disclosed is a compact and integrated fan, pump, and heat exchanger system where air-cooling is performed via the fan, liquid cooling is performed via a pump, and the drilled pump diffusers act as a heat exchanger. The pump has drilled diffusers through which liquid passes into the volute, the drilled diffusers are streamlined and thus act as fan stator blades. Hot liquid is centrifuged and carried inside the drilled diffusers while air flows around the outside surfaces of the drilled diffusers. A heat transfer occurs where heat transfers from the hot liquid into the air stream.

Integrated fan with pump and heat exchanger cooling capability

Method and system for motor oscillatory state detection. According to various embodiments, the present invention presents a method for determining whether a motor is in an oscillatory state. The method includes powering up a motor for a period of time and then monitoring the movement of the motor during a period after the power if turned off. Based on the movement of the motor and/or impeller during a time period after the power is turned off, whether the motor is in an oscillatory state is determined. The method also includes initiating a process for handle error if the motor is in the oscillation state.

Method and system for motor oscillatory state detection

Disclosed is a drive circuit for generating the drive current used to energize the windings of a motor. The drive circuit includes a data processing unit that produces two outputs used to control an H-bridge and generation of the drive current. One output, a commutation signal, controls the timing of generation of drive current. The drive current in turn is determined based on the other output, a speed signal. The speed signal waveform includes blanking portions to avoid occurrences of shoot through in the H-bridge.

Single output H-bridge drive

A system and method for controlling multiple cooling fans is presented. The circuitry for directly driving each of the motors is removed from the motor casings, thus increasing air flow and reducing replacement costs should a motor fail. The system includes a common processor for centrally controlling the speeds of the motors and monitoring the performance of each of the multiple motors.

System and method for controlling multiple DC fans

A method of controlling a motor speed for a fan assembly includes receiving a duty cycle value at a microcontroller. The microcontroller receives a measured fan speed from a speed sensor. An expected fan speed is determined, where the expected fan speed corresponds to the duty cycle value. The measured fan speed is compared with the expected fan speed. A duty cycle of a motor driving signal is reduced if the measured fan speed is less than a predetermined fraction of the expected fan speed.

Microcontroller methods of improving reliability in DC brushless motors and cooling fans

A microcontroller emulates advancement of a speed sensor for a motor, rather than having a physical movement of the speed sensor. The microcontroller calculates an advancement time based on the motor's efficiency. The microcontroller measures a motor speed utilizing a tachometer signal transmitted from the speed sensor. The microcontroller subtracts the emulated advancement time from the motor speed to generate a commutation countdown time. The microcontroller switches or commutates outputs when the commutation countdown time has elapsed. The microcontroller measures an actual advance time, which is a time between the commutating of the outputs and a receipt of the next speed sensor interrupt. The microcontroller calculates an anticipated motor speed by adding the actual advance time to the commutation countdown time.

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Nigel Strike