Embodiments of present disclosure relate to a Safe Torque Off (STO) circuit and a method for the STO circuit. The STO circuit has an input suitable for receiving an input signal, channels coupled to the input in parallel, wherein each of the channels includes a switch, a level conversion circuit, and an isolation circuit connected in series. Each isolation circuit being configured to be turned on when the respective switch is closed and to be turned off when the respective switch is opened. Each of the channels also includes an inverter module, a control unit, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit.

The disclosure relates to a brake device for an electric motor, which has at least one armature winding and at least one field winding, comprising at least one open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit at least for open-loop control and/or closed-loop control of at least one electric current through the armature winding and/or through the field winding. According to the disclosure, in the event of short-circuit braking of the electric motor, the open-loop and/or control-loop unit is intended to reduce, at least temporarily, an electric armature current flowing through the armature winding.

The disclosure relates to a brake device for an electric motor, which has at least one armature winding and at least one field winding, comprising at least one open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit at least for open-loop control and/or closed-loop control of at least one electric current through the armature winding and/or through the field winding. According to the disclosure, in the event of short-circuit braking of the electric motor, the open-loop and/or control-loop unit is intended to reduce, at least temporarily, an electric armature current flowing through the armature winding.

An image forming apparatus includes a stacking portion, a pickup roller, a motor, an image forming unit, and a controller. Upon receiving an instruction for starting a first image forming job, the controller performs an initial operation of supplying current to a motor winding of the motor in a stop state and determining a phase of the rotor based on the flowing current. Based on the determined phase, the controller supplies current to rotate the rotor from its stop state and holds the rotor at a first phase when the first job ends. Upon receiving start instructions for a second image forming job within a period until a predetermined time elapses from when the rotor is held at the first phase, the controller rotates the rotor without performing the initial operation. The controller stops supplying current to the winding if no instructions are not received for starting the second job.

A regenerative braking system includes a motor configured to rotate at a variable rotational speed in response to receiving power from a three-phase power supply, and a regenerative braking circuit in signal communication with the three-phase power supply to control the rotational speed of the motor. A brake controller is in signal communication with the regenerative braking circuit and is configured to selectively operate the regenerative braking circuit in a plurality of different braking modes based on the rotational speed of the motor.

The present disclosure provides a motor driving circuit of capable of stopping operation within a short period of time. A bridge circuit of the present disclosure is connected to a fan motor. In response to a stop instruction, a control logic circuit fixes an upper arm of a source phase in which a current flows out to be off in the bridge circuit, and maintains statuses of other upper arms and lower arms. The control logic circuit then fixes the upper arms and the lower arms of all phases of the bridge circuit to be off.

A method of controlling dissipation of regenerated power in a multi-channel drive system having a plurality of inverters connected in parallel across an input power supply to drive one or more loads via one or more motors. The method includes determining a circulation current demand for the inverters when the drive system is operating in regenerative mode, the circulating current demand being dependent on the regenerated power and applied to the inverters such that the regenerated power flows through the inverters and is dissipated by the inverters.

A method of controlling dissipation of regenerated power in a multi-channel drive system having a plurality of inverters connected in parallel across an input power supply to drive one or more loads via one or more motors. The method includes determining a circulation current demand for the inverters when the drive system is operating in regenerative mode, the circulating current demand being dependent on the regenerated power and applied to the inverters such that the regenerated power flows through the inverters and is dissipated by the inverters.

An electric-powered wheelbarrow in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a motor, a wheel, an electromagnetic brake, a control circuit, a signal-processing circuit, and a drive circuit. The electromagnetic brake includes an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic brake (i) applies a braking force to the wheel in response to the electromagnetic coil being de-energized and (ii) releases the braking force from the wheel in response to the electromagnetic coil being energized. The control circuit outputs a first control signal and a second control signal. The signal-processing circuit receives the first and second control signals to thereby output a deactivating signal. The drive circuit receives the deactivating signal and delivers an excitation current to the electromagnetic coil.

An electric-powered wheelbarrow in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a motor, a wheel, an electromagnetic brake, a control circuit, a signal-processing circuit, and a drive circuit. The electromagnetic brake includes an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic brake (i) applies a braking force to the wheel in response to the electromagnetic coil being de-energized and (ii) releases the braking force from the wheel in response to the electromagnetic coil being energized. The control circuit outputs a first control signal and a second control signal. The signal-processing circuit receives the first and second control signals to thereby output a deactivating signal. The drive circuit receives the deactivating signal and delivers an excitation current to the electromagnetic coil.