Toshiba‘s patent involves a motor controller with a unique design. The controller adjusts drive current based on induced voltage, using a data table of thresholds. It distinguishes between low and high-speed operation regions, optimizing motor performance. GlobalData’s report on Toshiba gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Toshiba, Battery management systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Toshiba's grant share as of April 2024 was 35%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Stepping motor controller adjusting drive current based on induced voltage

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Toshiba Corp

A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11973458B2) discloses a controller for a motor that includes a first circuit to control the drive current to an exciting coil of a stepping motor, a second circuit to detect induced voltage, and a drive controlling circuit. The drive controlling circuit compares a threshold proportional to the switching signal frequency with the induced voltage and adjusts the drive current value accordingly. In the low-speed region, the threshold decreases with the switching signal frequency, while the excitation mode changes in the high-speed region based on the time interval from the drive current becoming zero to the next switching signal.

Furthermore, the controller generates a data table for the low-speed region threshold based on induced voltages at different switching signal frequencies. In the high-speed region, the excitation mode changes based on the time interval between drive current becoming zero and the next switching signal. The controller also includes an H-bridge circuit with two pairs of transistors for supplying the drive current to the exciting coil. The second circuit includes voltage detecting circuits for each pair of transistors to provide induced voltage information to the drive controlling circuit. Overall, the patent details a comprehensive control method for a motor, optimizing drive current control and excitation modes based on switching signal frequency and time intervals in different operation regions.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.