Single wire digital width modulation for fan control with tachometer feedback
First Claim
1. A motor driver system having tachometer feedback, the system having a motor controller circuit operable to generate a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal, and a motor driver circuit operable to driver a motor at a duty cycle associated with the PWM control signal, comprising:
- a motor position detection circuit operable to generate a signal associated with a predetermined position of a rotor of the motor;
a current pulse generation circuit operable to generate a current pulse associated with the PWM control signal in response to the signal from the motor position detection circuit; and
a motor speed determination circuit operable to determine a speed of the motor using the current pulse.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a motor drive system which comprises a fan controller circuit operable to generate a PWM control signal for control of a motor speed. The fan controller circuit comprises a current detection circuit and a motor speed determination circuit. The system further comprises a fan driver circuit operable to drive a motor at a duty cycle based on the PWM control signal from the fan controller circuit. The fan driver circuit comprises a current sink circuit operable to draw current from the PWM control signal when the PWM control signal is high and when the motor reaches a predetermined position. In the addition, the current detection circuit is operable to detect the current draw on the PWM control signal and provide an indication signal to the fan speed determination circuit associated with such detection. Further, the motor speed determination circuit is operable to determine the speed of the motor based upon a timing associated with successive current draw detections. The present invention also relates to a method of determining a motor speed which comprises driving a motor at a duty cycle dictated by a PWM control signal and detecting a predetermined rotor position of the motor. The method further comprises generating a current pulse based on the rotor position, wherein the current pulse is convolved with the PWM control signal, detecting the current pulse, and determining the motor speed using successive detected current pulses.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A motor driver system having tachometer feedback, the system having a motor controller circuit operable to generate a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal, and a motor driver circuit operable to driver a motor at a duty cycle associated with the PWM control signal, comprising:
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a motor position detection circuit operable to generate a signal associated with a predetermined position of a rotor of the motor;
a current pulse generation circuit operable to generate a current pulse associated with the PWM control signal in response to the signal from the motor position detection circuit; and
a motor speed determination circuit operable to determine a speed of the motor using the current pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A motor drive system, comprising:
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a motor controller circuit operable to generate a PWM control signal for control of a motor speed, the motor controller circuit comprising;
a current detection circuit; and
a motor speed determination circuit;
a motor driver circuit operable to drive a motor at a duty cycle based on the PWM control signal from the motor controller circuit, the motor driver circuit comprising;
a current sink circuit operable to draw current from the PWM control signal when the PWM control signal is high and when the motor reaches a predetermined position, wherein the current detection circuit is operable to detect the current draw on the PWM control signal and provide an indication signal to the motor speed determination circuit associated with such detection, and wherein the motor speed determination circuit is operable to determine the speed of the motor based upon a timing associated with successive current draw detections. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of determining a motor speed, comprising:
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(a) driving a motor at a duty cycle dictated by a PWM control signal;
(b) detecting a predetermined rotor position of the motor;
(c) generating a current pulse based on the rotor position, wherein the current pulse is convolved with the PWM control signal;
(d) detecting the current pulse;
(e) repeating steps (b)-(d); and
(f) determining the motor speed using successive detected current pulses. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification