Control Techniques Limited Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150288303 | MOTOR DRIVE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A TEMPERATURE OF A MOTOR DRIVE - There is provided a motor drive comprising: a temperature sensor arranged to sense a temperature of the drive; a braking resistor; switching means arranged when activated to cause current to flow to the braking resistor; and controlling means arranged to activate the switching means when the sensed temperature falls below a predetermined threshold. There is also provided a method of controlling a temperature of a motor drive comprising a braking resistor. The method comprising comprises: monitoring a temperature of the drive; and activating switching means to cause current to flow to the braking resistor when the monitored temperature falls below a predetermined threshold. | 10-08-2015 |
20140355211 | Devices And Methods For Cooling Components On A PCB - There is described an electronic assembly comprising a structure and a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the structure to form a duct. The PCB has a first side arranged to receive one or more heat-generating components, and a second side. The PCB comprises one or more apertures formed therein. The electronic assembly further comprises airflow generating means arranged to generate an airflow along the duct and along the second side of the PCB such that air is forced through the one or more apertures. By forming a duct beneath a PCB and allowing air to be forced through apertures formed in the PCB, more efficient cooling of components on the PCB may be achieved. For example, the position of the apertures may be tailored such that specific components, or specific parts of components, may be exposed to airflow through the apertures. | 12-04-2014 |
20140339186 | Device For Locking To A DIN Rail - There is provided a device ( | 11-20-2014 |
20140333135 | High Performance Voltage Compensation - An apparatus for producing a compensated voltage output comprising: a first power source or power sink coupled between a first node and a reference node; a second power source or power sink coupled between a second node and the reference node; a biasing means comprising one portion coupled between the first node and the reference node, and another portion coupled between the first node and the second node. The biasing means is operable to generate a controllable bias voltage of either polarity between the first and second nodes to produce the compensated voltage output. | 11-13-2014 |
20140326442 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COOLING A DEVICE - There is described a method ( | 11-06-2014 |
20140321179 | Electrical Circuit Synchronisation - A method, apparatus, computer readable medium, and system for synchronising a power source with a three-phase electricity grid for the power source to supply electricity to the electricity grid is disclosed. The method comprises operating a first switching unit to disconnect a power source from an interfacing circuit. The interfacing circuit comprises a DC-to-AC converter arranged between the power source and a three-phase electricity grid for converting a DC voltage received from the power source to a three-phase AC voltage for supplying the electricity grid, an electrical storage unit connected across the DC-to-AC converter, and a resistance which is selectably connectable in parallel with the electrical storage unit across the DC-to-AC converter, operating a second switching unit to connect the electricity grid to the interfacing circuit, wherein the electrical storage unit is electrically coupled to the electricity grid through the DC-to-AC converter. The method further comprises connecting the resistance to and disconnecting the resistance from the electricity grid through the DC-to-AC converter when the second switching unit is connecting the electricity grid to the interfacing circuit. In addition, the method comprises monitoring one or more electrical characteristics of the interfacing circuit in accordance with the connection and disconnection of the resistance. Furthermore, the method comprises determining one or more electrical characteristics of the three-phase electricity grid in accordance with the monitored electrical characteristics of the interfacing circuit. | 10-30-2014 |
20140293665 | Damage Limitation - A damage limitation approach comprising determining that a voltage produced by a rectifier circuit is indicative of a fault and consequently controlling a switch operable to bypass a resistive element of a circuit via which the rectifier circuit is supplied. | 10-02-2014 |
20140290052 | Apparatus For Coupling Circuit Boards - An apparatus for connecting two or more circuit boards, the apparatus comprising: a first circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface, the second surface having a first conductive pad; a second circuit board comprising a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface having a second conductive pad; a fixing means configured to engage with the first circuit board and the second circuit board to couple the first circuit board to the second circuit board, wherein, when coupled, the fixing means is electrically isolated from one of the first circuit board and the second circuit board; and an electrically conductive spacer configured to electrically couple the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad. | 10-02-2014 |
20140286792 | Pump Control - A method for configuring a drive to control the operation of a pump in a sewage system is disclosed. The method comprises measuring at least one parameter of the sewage system; using the measurement of the at least on parameter to create an algorithm for the drive to control the operation of the pump; and configuring the drive to use the algorithm to control the operation of the pump. | 09-25-2014 |
20140285179 | Control System For Multi-Phase Rotary Machines - A method and a control system for a multiphase-phase inverter system, the control system comprising an electric current detection circuit and a processor, wherein each phase of an electrical cycle is separated into a plurality of sections, inputs from the electric current detection circuit are received, each input indicating a measured phase current, and a phase current is calculated in each section, wherein the phase current calculation in at least one of the sections is determined from a changing ratio of the value of the phase current calculated from the measured values of the other phase currents in the multiphase system and the measured value of the phase. | 09-25-2014 |
20140266288 | Electrical Fault Detection - An apparatus for detecting an arc on a circuit having a solar panel assembly is arranged to determine that an output of the solar panel assembly is below a threshold value and is therefore indicative of an arc on the circuit. | 09-18-2014 |
20140253008 | Fail Safe Circuit - Apparatus for preventing output of an input signal is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a signal control unit comprising a signal buffering unit having an input and an output, the signal buffering unit arranged to receive an input signal and pass the input signal to the output when the signal buffering unit is powered, wherein a negative power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit is arranged to be supplied by a first power source having a voltage. The signal control unit also comprises a boost circuit arranged to boost the voltage of the first power source to a boosted voltage higher than the voltage of the first power source and supply either the voltage of the first power source or the boosted voltage to a positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit. The signal buffering unit is powered when the boosted voltage is supplied to the positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit and the signal buffering unit is not powered when voltage of the first power supply terminal is supplied to the positive power supply terminal of the signal buffering unit. Also disclosed is an apparatus for providing output voltages for driving a motor as well as a motor drive system. | 09-11-2014 |
20140246913 | Drive Circuit For Electrical Load - A circuit for an electrical load comprises a passive transformer, the secondary of which is connected to power cells for each phase according to the transformer tappings. Each power cell comprises a low cost but efficient power factor correction circuit to produce lower harmonics on the transformer. | 09-04-2014 |
20140240007 | Drive Circuit For Power Transistor - A turn-on drive circuit for a power transistor comprising a first circuit comprising a resistor and capacitor in parallel and a second circuit comprising a resistor, the second circuit being in series in the drive path with the first circuit. A turn-off drive circuit for a power transistor comprising a first circuit comprising a first resistor and a second resistor in series in the drive path of the power resistor and a second circuit comprising a capacitor in parallel with one of the resistors of the first circuit. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239967 | Ground Fault Detection Circuit - A ground fault detection circuit comprising a fuse and a fuse detect circuit. The fuse and the fuse detect circuit are arranged to be coupled in parallel between a reference point and a second point of a monitored circuit for which ground faults are to be detected. The fuse detect circuit is further arranged to detect a fuse break indicative of a ground fault condition and disable at least a portion of the monitored circuit. | 08-28-2014 |
20140233136 | Electrical Protection Device And Method - A voltage measurement is made between two points in a circuit. If the measured voltage exceeds a predetermined amount, a switch is operated to electrically connect the two points. | 08-21-2014 |
20140218980 | Electrical Generator - An inverter circuit comprises an inverter which can be configurable for controlling the supply of mains current from a grid to an electric machine in a start-up mode whereby the machine drives the prime mover for initialisation. Thereafter the same inverter is reconfigurable as part of the circuit to supply reactive power to the grid when the machine is running as a generator powered by the prime mover. | 08-07-2014 |
20140208589 | Method And Tool For Assisting Alignment Of A Pin Header - The present invention relates to a method and tool for assisting alignment of one or more pin headers. In particular, the invention relates to a tool-assisted method of aiding alignment of one or more pin headers placed on a printed circuit board (PCB) prior to soldering, as well as to the tool itself. | 07-31-2014 |
20140203843 | Desaturation Detection Circuit For Use Between The Desaturation Detection Input Of An Optocoupler And The Output Of A Power Switching Device - A desaturation detection circuit for use between the desaturation detection input of an optocoupler and the output of a power switching device, the desaturation detection circuit comprising: a threshold setting element having an input and an output, the input for connection to the output of a power switching device via one or more diode(s), the threshold setting element being arranged to set a threshold voltage at the input at which the threshold setting element will provide an output at the output of the threshold setting element when the input voltage is exceeded, and a detector having an input connected to the output of the threshold setting element and an output connectable to a desaturation detection input of an optocoupler, the detector being arranged to detect an output at the output of the threshold setting element and in response to provide a control signal at the output of the detector for the desaturation detection input to trigger a desaturation routine in the optocoupler. | 07-24-2014 |
20140172130 | Modular System And Associated Method - A method for setting-up a module of a modular industrial control system so that the module is easily integrated into the modular system is disclosed along with a method for setting-up a modular industrial control system for connecting a new module to the modular industrial control system, a module for forming part of a modular industrial control system comprising a plurality of modules and a controller for controlling the plurality of modules, a modular industrial control system, and a corresponding computer readable medium. The method for setting-up a module of a modular industrial control system so that the module is easily integrated into the modular system comprises programming a module for use in a modular industrial control system with a name corresponding to the name used by a control code of a controller of the modular industrial control system to control the module. | 06-19-2014 |
20140153308 | RECTIFIER CHARGE RATE CONTROLLER - A rectifier circuit comprising an AC input, at least one thyristor coupled to the AC input, a DC bus driven by the at least one thyristor, a controller arranged to: derive a first current in the DC bus, derive a maximum current demand on the DC bus, and provide a trigger signal to the at least one thyristor based on the derived maximum current and the derived first current. | 06-05-2014 |
20140153140 | Overvoltage Protection - A power supply arranged to charge a smoothing capacitance via a resistive element for soft-starting in the event that one or more conditions for normal operation are not complied with is arranged to detect that a voltage across at least part of the smoothing capacitance exceeds an excess voltage threshold and, responsive to the detecting, interrupt charging of the smoothing capacitance via the resistive element for soft-starting. | 06-05-2014 |
20140151311 | Mount For Electrical Equipment - A mount for supporting a housing of electrical equipment comprises a rectangular frame and a floating strut which rests on the frame to sub-divide the aperture into smaller spaces each for a housing. The frame of the strut engages a gasket on the housing to seal each side of the frame from the other. Multiple housings can be installed in the same frame and the strut and gaskets provide sealing between in the inside and the outside of the frame. | 06-05-2014 |
20140145531 | Conducted Emissions Filters - Conducting emission suppression in a power circuit for an electric motor comprises a negative temperature co-efficient resistor and capacitor connecting one of the power lines to ground. The NTC resistor is self-stabilising so that changes in the load current are automatically compensated for. | 05-29-2014 |
20140139169 | Reduction Of Periodic Disturbances - A method of reducing periodic disturbances in the feedback quantity of a controlled system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a feedback signal and repeatedly deriving respective magnitudes of harmonic components of the feedback signal to produce corresponding error signals. The error signals and harmonic components are used to generate harmonic control signals. The harmonic control signals are used to create a plurality of negative feedback loops acting to reduce the error signals. The present disclosure thus provides negative feedback control in the frequency domain. In one specific disclosed embodiment, the control is tied to the periodic domain resulting from the rotation of an actuator motor shaft. | 05-22-2014 |
20140125262 | Circuit For Monitoring The Operation Of An Electric Motor - A circuit for monitoring the operation of an electric motor comprises means for deriving a motor signal indicative of a relatively low frequency characteristic of the motor commutation current (for example the back EMF ripple) by rejecting the high frequency components which are mainly the result of the commutation events. The circuit also includes means for producing a pulse from the low frequency characteristic which has a duration related to the motor speed. | 05-08-2014 |
20140117905 | Rotor Control - A method arranged to control a motor for driving a load is disclosed. The motor and load form at least a part of a system and the motor comprises a stator arranged to produce a varying magnetic field responsive to an applied AC voltage and a rotor arranged to rotate responsive to the varying magnetic field produced by the stator, the rotor rotating at a speed synchronised to a frequency of the applied AC voltage. The method comprises receiving a target rotor speed, determining a voltage level for the applied AC voltage for producing a magnetic field having magnetic flux of sufficient magnitude to maintain the rotor in synchronisation with the frequency of the applied AC voltage when rotating at the target speed of rotation. The voltage level is determined in accordance with the target rotor speed and a model of the system. The model comprising a plurality of model elements, wherein one or more of the model elements is indicative of an effect of one or more parts of the system on rotation of the rotor when the speed of the rotor is constant and one or more of the model elements are indicative of an effect of one or more parts of the system on rotation of the rotor when the speed of the rotor is dynamic. The method further comprising applying the applied AC voltage to the stator at the determined voltage level and at a frequency required to provide the target rotor speed. | 05-01-2014 |
20140097784 | Rotor Control - A method for controlling a motor at low operational speed is disclosed, wherein the motor comprises a magnetic rotor and a stator arranged to produce a magnetic field responsive to an applied electric current, wherein the method comprises ramping up an electric current applied to a stator from an initial current level to a synchronisation current level over a period of time. The initial current level is less than a minimum current required by the stator to produce a magnetic field having magnetic flux of a sufficient magnitude for synchronising a position of the magnetic rotor with respect to the magnetic field. The synchronisation current level is greater than or equal to the minimum current required to produce a magnetic field having magnetic flux of a sufficient magnitude to synchronise the position of the magnetic rotor with the magnetic field. | 04-10-2014 |
20140095104 | Method And Apparatus To Monitor The Condition Of An Apparatus - A method and apparatus to monitor the condition of an apparatus (e.g a variable speed drive), the apparatus comprising: a processor, a plurality of devices and a plurality of temperature sensors, each sensor associated with a device, the processor being arranged in use to: determine, for each of a plurality of sensors, the temperature of the associated device based on the temperature sensed by the sensor and the mode of operation of the device; compare the determined temperatures for each device with stored data relating to the mode of operation of the apparatus; and based on the comparison determine whether the apparatus is operating as expected in the mode of operation. | 04-03-2014 |
20140085835 | DC Link Capacitor Bank - A capacitor bank comprising at least two series chains each comprising a plurality of capacitors, wherein the series chains are coupled in parallel at corresponding points; and a fusible link arranged to form at least part of each coupling; wherein the corresponding points of each chain that are coupled to one another are at the same voltage when the capacitor bank is operational. | 03-27-2014 |
20140077848 | Semiconductor Device Driving Unit - A semiconductor device driving unit to supply a drive signal to a gate of a semiconductor switching device, the semiconductor device driving unit comprising: a plurality of gate impedance circuits selectably connectable to the gate of the semiconductor switching device; and a selector to select one or more of the gate impedance circuits to connect to the semiconductor switching device. Also provided is a method of supplying a drive signal to a gate of a semiconductor switching device, the method comprising: selecting one or more of a plurality of gate impedance circuits to be connected to the gate of the semiconductor switching device based on one or more operating conditions and stored data relating to the one or more operating conditions; and connecting the selected one or more of the gate impedance circuits to the semiconductor switching device. | 03-20-2014 |
20140052863 | Node Address Allocation - There is provided a method for allocating node addresses in a computer network architecture and a computer network architecture for performing such a method. The computer network architecture comprises at least one master node and at least one slave node serially connected downstream of the master node. Each slave node includes a switch for connecting an upstream transmit line with a downstream transmit line at the slave node. When the switch is open, the master node and any upstream slave nodes are not connected via the transmit line to any downstream slave nodes. When the switch is closed, the master node and any upstream slave nodes are connected via the transmit line to any downstream slave nodes. | 02-20-2014 |
20140049999 | Modulation Of Switching Signals In Power Converters - There is provided a method and control system for reducing noise in a power converter by controlling a switching device in the power converter according to a modulation scheme. The switching device couples a direct current (DC) source to provide an alternating current (AC) output at a particular switching frequency. The method comprises the step of, in each switching period, switching the switching device between active configurations providing a finite voltage at the output and inactive configurations providing a zero voltage at the output. The ratio between the total period of time in which the switching device is in an active configuration and the total period of time in which the switching device is in an inactive configuration is the same for each switching period and is determined according to the desired voltage at the AC output. | 02-20-2014 |
20140028239 | Control System And Method - Embodiments of the present invention relate to an a method, apparatus and computer program product for controlling the operation of a drive unit comprising a plurality of switching modules arranged to receive a DC electricity supply and generate an AC electricity supply for driving a load from the received DC electricity supply, the AC electricity supply being generated by the switching of the plurality of switching modules between a conducting state and a non-conducting state. The method comprises receiving one or more characteristics associated with each of the switching modules, comparing, for each switching module of the plurality of switching modules, a characteristic of the switching module with an equivalent characteristic associated with one or more other switching modules of the plurality of switching modules, and controlling a time period during which one or more of the plurality of switching modules are in the conducting state in accordance with a result of the comparison. | 01-30-2014 |
20130332529 | Method And System For Communicating Between Devices - A network communication method is provided, said network comprising first and second nodes. The method comprises: transmitting a message from the first node to the second node, wherein the message comprises a data content portion and an identifying portion, wherein said identifying portion includes a first unique identifier corresponding to a time source which controls a time value at the first node; receiving the transmitted message at the second node; comparing the first unique identifier to a second unique identifier, wherein said second unique identifier corresponds to a time source which controls a time value at the second node; and if the result of said comparison is positive, accepting the message for processing at the second node. | 12-12-2013 |
20130317664 | Thermal Model Optimisation - A method for controlling the temperature of a component is disclosed. The component is part of a drive configured to drive an electrical machine via an electrically conductive member. The method comprises determining a value of an attribute of the electrically conductive member; configuring a model to calculate the temperature of the component, the model being configured based on the determined value of the attribute of the electrically conductive member; using the model to calculate the temperature of the component; and if the calculated temperature of the component does not meet a predetermined temperature condition, issuing a command to control the operation of the drive such that the temperature of the component is changed to meet the predetermined temperature condition. | 11-28-2013 |
20130313905 | Power Conversion System - The present disclosure relates to a power conversion system comprising a transformer comprising first, second, and third inductive coupling elements, a first power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the first coupling element, a second power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the second coupling element, an output arranged to receive a voltage from the third coupling element. In use, the voltage across the first coupling element and the voltage across the second coupling element are arranged to induce a voltage in the third coupling element. The system also comprises a control arrangement arranged to independently control the operation of the first and second power supplies. | 11-28-2013 |
20130313715 | Component Leg Arrangement - An electronic component including one or more legs for attachment to a circuit board, wherein at least one of said legs includes a spring-acting kink, arranged so as to offers resilience to relative displacement between the end of said leg and the body of said component. The kink may be substantially S-shaped, Z-shaped, U-shaped, wave-shaped or coil-shaped. | 11-28-2013 |
20130307457 | Method Of Optimising Input Components - A method of controlling a current flowing through a component of a drive comprising the steps of: estimating the current flowing through a component; estimating the temperature of the component; comparing the estimated temperature with a desired maximum temperature for the component; and adjusting the current flowing through the component based on the result of the comparing step. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307223 | Sealing Element - A sealing element ( | 11-21-2013 |
20130306281 | Plate - The present disclosure relates to a plate for use with a heatsink. The plate is adapted to engage with the heatsink and a fan subassembly, and comprises a first substantially planar section which is adapted to engage with the heatsink and a second substantially planar section which is adapted to engage with the fan subassembly. | 11-21-2013 |
20130264985 | Fail-Safe Interface - Circuits arranged to produce first and second outputs produced by first and second switch-mode converters, respectively, wherein each switch-mode converter comprises a converter input, a converter output, a converter controller, a converter controller enable input arranged to provide power to the controller, and a semiconductor power switching device coupled between the converter input and the converter controller. A first output of the first converter and a second output of the second converter are each arranged to produce a voltage of higher magnitude than the voltage at the respective converter controller enable input and converter input when the converter controller is enabled. Methods of controlling first and second outputs from first and second switch-mode converters are also disclosed. | 10-10-2013 |
20130092431 | Enclosure - The invention relates to an enclosure | 04-18-2013 |