A system and method for determining the load in a material handling system is disclosed. The load weight detection system measures torque at four operating conditions both at constant speed and during acceleration. The level of torque generated by the motor under each of these operating conditions is stored in the motor drive. The motor drive also receives a signal corresponding to the speed of the hoist motor. Based on the measured torque, as well as the expected torque at no load and at rated load for the measured speed, the motor drive then determines the load present on the hoist. In some systems, two or more hoists are required to operate in tandem to lift a load. Each motor drive determines the weight of the load supported by its respective hoist motor and determines a total weight of the load based on the weights determined by each motor drive.

A drive device for a vehicle flap includes an electric motor (2) for driving the vehicle flap, and a supply switching circuit (3). The supply switching circuit (3) includes a first voltage source (9) for supplying current to the electric motor (2), a first electrical supply line (4) and a second electrical supply line (5). The first voltage source (9) is arranged between the first electrical supply line (4) and the second electrical supply line (5). The drive device also includes a control switching circuit (12) including a second voltage source (14) and a switching control device (13). The drive device includes a switching element (10) and a diode (11) connected between the first electrical supply line (4) and the second electrical supply line (5).

A drive with integrated dynamic load control includes a three-phase asynchronous motor having three phase legs connected in a star circuit, each phase leg having a winding having a coil end connected to a common star point. A load control circuit has a regulating module, an ammeter, a voltmeter and first and second switches. The ammeter and voltmeter detect a phase current and a phase voltage in one phase leg. The regulating module calculates an active power of the phase leg and a total active power of the motor responsive to the phase current and phase voltage. The switches are arranged in two of the phase legs between the respective coil end and the star point and the regulating module interrupts the two phase legs by using the switches when the active power, the total active power or a torque calculated from the total active power exceeds an adjustable limit value.

A drive with integrated dynamic load control includes a three-phase asynchronous motor having three phase legs connected in a star circuit, each phase leg having a winding having a coil end connected to a common star point. A load control circuit has a regulating module, an ammeter, a voltmeter and first and second switches. The ammeter and voltmeter detect a phase current and a phase voltage in one phase leg. The regulating module calculates an active power of the phase leg and a total active power of the motor responsive to the phase current and phase voltage. The switches are arranged in two of the phase legs between the respective coil end and the star point and the regulating module interrupts the two phase legs by using the switches when the active power, the total active power or a torque calculated from the total active power exceeds an adjustable limit value.

A system (1) has a control device (10) with central electronics (11) designed for connection and operation of differently coded electric motors (En), with different motor characteristics (Mn) and/or power classes (Ln), to a device connection (12) of the control device (10). The at least one electric motor (En) is selectable from a number (n) of electric motor (En), that can be connected as intended, has a coding element (Kn). The central electronics (11) have a coding capture device (2) to recognize, via coding element (n), the motor characteristics (Mn) and/or the power class (Ln) of the respective currently connected electric motor (En).

The pinch detector includes a first portion that, in a first situation in which the member is being closed in a first closing movement but is stopped in an intermediate position not completely closed, obtains a reference value of a measured physical quantity of the motor, when braking the motor is ordered to stop the member, said reference value representing the physical quantity of the motor just before motor braking; a second portion that, in a second situation following the first situation and in which the member is moved in a second closing movement from said intermediate position not completely closed, compares current values of the measured physical quantity of the motor to a threshold value depending on said reference value in order to detect a pinch at closing member based on a comparison result.

The pinch detector includes a torque estimator that estimates a motor torque from current values of physical quantities of the motor including a motor voltage, a motor current and a motor speed, using coefficients of an approximation function that calculates an energy conversion efficiency of the motor as a function of the motor torque; a converter that calculates a first estimation of a pinch force exerted by the opening and closing member on a pinched object by converting the estimated motor torque into an estimated pinch force using a torque to force conversion coefficient; a comparator that compares the estimated pinch force with a predetermined force limit in order to detect a pinch based on the comparison result.

A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided. The WWS includes a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a wiper arm and blade, a gearbox/converter operably interposed between the BLDC motor and the wiper arm and blade and a smart motor drive configured to determine a WWS failure condition and to operate the BLDC motor according to the determination.

The pinch detector includes a torque estimator that estimates a motor torque from current values of physical quantities of the motor including a motor voltage, a motor current and a motor speed, using coefficients of an approximation function that calculates an energy conversion efficiency of the motor as a function of the motor torque; a converter that calculates a first estimation of a pinch force exerted by the opening and closing member on a pinched object by converting the estimated motor torque into an estimated pinch force using a torque to force conversion coefficient; a comparator that compares the estimated pinch force with a predetermined force limit in order to detect a pinch based on the comparison result.

An electronic circuit for a surgical robotic system includes a central power node, a first voltage bus that electrically couples a first power source to the node, a second voltage bus that electrically couples a second power source to the node, and several robotic arms, each arm is electrically coupled to the node via an output circuit breaker and is arranged to draw power from the node. Each bus is arranged to provide power from a respective power source to the node and each bus has an input circuit breaker that is arranged to limit a first output current flow from the node and into the bus. Each breaker that is arranged to limit a second output current flow from the node and into a respective arm. A breaker is arranged to open in response to a fault occurring within the respective arm, while the other breakers remain closed.