Digital adaptive sensorless commutational drive controller for a brushless DC motor
First Claim
1. An electrical motor that comprises:
- a rotor having multiple magnetic poles;
a stator having multiple windings configurable to exert a torque on the rotor when energized in a commutational sequence; and
a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to the windings of the stator and configured to apply the commutational sequence.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for controlling brushless, sensorless DC motors are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electrical motor is provided with a rotor, a stator, and a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC is configured to energize stator windings in a commutational sequence to drive the rotor. A motor controller embodiment is provided with a set of comparators and a clocked digital circuit. Each comparator determines a voltage polarity on a respective stator winding. The clocked digital circuit receives polarity signals from the comparators and detects zero crossings having an expected crossing direction, which are then used to determine a commutational sequence for energizing stator windings. A method embodiment is provided for driving DC motor windings. One method embodiment includes: receiving polarity signals, measuring intervals, and advancing a commutation state.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electrical motor that comprises:
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a rotor having multiple magnetic poles;
a stator having multiple windings configurable to exert a torque on the rotor when energized in a commutational sequence; and
a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to the windings of the stator and configured to apply the commutational sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A brushless DC motor controller that comprises:
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a set of comparators each configured to determine a voltage polarity on a respective winding of a stator;
a clocked digital circuit configured to receive polarity signals from the comparators, configured to detect in the polarity signals zero crossings having an expected crossing direction, and configured to determine a commutational sequence for energizing windings on the stator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of driving windings in a DC motor, the method comprising:
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receiving with a clocked digital circuit, polarity signals indicative of whether voltages on windings of the DC motor exceed a threshold voltage, wherein the clocked digital circuit is configured to operate in temperatures exceeding 150°
C.;
measuring intervals between transitions of the polarity signals in predicted directions; and
advancing a commutation state at a delay of some fraction of measured intervals after transitions of the polarity signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of applying a commutating sequence of voltages to windings of a DC motor, the method comprising:
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obtaining a first sample of a polarity signal that is indicative of whether a voltage on a winding of a DC motor exceeds a threshold voltage;
advancing the commutating sequence;
obtaining a second sample of the polarity signal following a predetermined delay after said advancing;
asserting a transition detection signal if the first and second samples are different;
otherwise, sampling the polarity signal until a transition is detected and then asserting a transition detection signal; and
advancing the commutating sequence following an adaptive delay after the asserting of the transition detection signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An integrated device that comprises:
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a processor core; and
an integrated motor controller coupled to the processor core by an internal bus. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification