Motor control circuit and associated full bridge switching arrangement

• US 20040264226A1
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Strike, Nigel, Riddoch, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/00 Arrangements for controlling synchronous motors or other dynamo-electric motors using electronic commutation dependent on the rotor position; Electronic commutators therefor vector control H02P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/32 Arrangements for controlling wound field motors, e.g. motors with exciter coils
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/063 in field-effect transistor switches

Abstract

A motor control circuit for controlling a motor, the circuit comprising a switched mode power supply operable to drive a full bridge switching transistor arrangement and to provide a stable voltage to the motor control circuit, wherein the switching transistor arrangement is connectable to the windings of the motor to be controlled, and wherein the switching transistor arrangement comprises: a first set of transistors in an upper part of the full bridge and a second set of transistors in a lower part of the full bridge, the first set of transistors being driven by a first output of the switched mode power supply and the second set of transistors being driven by a second output of the switched mode power supply.

Claims

1. A motor control circuit for controlling a motor, the circuit comprising a switched mode power supply operable to drive a full bridge switching transistor arrangement and to provide a stable voltage to the motor control circuit, wherein the switching transistor arrangement is connectable to the windings of the motor to be controlled, and wherein the switching transistor arrangement comprises:

a first set of transistors in an upper part of the full bridge and a second set of transistors in a lower part of the full bridge, the first set of transistors being driven by a first output of the switched mode power supply and the second set of transistors being driven by a second output of the switched mode power supply.

2. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the full bridge switching transistor arrangement comprises a full bridge of FETs.

3. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein one of the switched mode power supply outputs is tied to a power supply rail having a predetermined voltage such that the effective voltage output is the sum of the switched mode power supply voltage output and the predetermined voltage.

4. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of the switched mode power supply outputs is tied to a power supply rail having a respective predetermined voltage such that the effective voltage output of the respective output is the sum of the respective switched mode power supply voltage output and the respective predetermined voltage.

5. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the switching transistor arrangement comprises a first set of transistors in an upper part of the full bridge and second set of transistors in a lower part of the full bridge, the first set of transistors being connected to the first output of the switched mode power supply via an array of switching transistors and voltage dividers.

7. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein one of the switched mode power supply outputs is tied to a power supply rail having a predetermined voltage such that the effective voltage output is the sum of the switched mode power supply voltage output and the predetermined voltage.

8. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein each of the switched mode power supply outputs is tied to a power supply rail having a respective predetermined voltage such that the effective voltage output of the respective output is the sum of the respective switched mode power supply voltage output and the respective predetermined voltage.

9. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein the switching transistor arrangement comprises a first set of transistors in an upper part of the full bridge and second set of transistors in a lower part of the full bridge, the first set of transistors being connected to the first output of the switched mode power supply via an array of switching transistors and voltage dividers.

10. A circuit according to claim 3, wherein the switching transistor arrangement comprises a first set of transistors in an upper part of the full bridge and second set of transistors in a lower part of the full bridge, the first set of transistors being connected to the first output of the switched mode power supply via an array of switching transistors and voltage dividers.

11. A circuit according to claim 4, wherein the switching transistor arrangement comprises a first set of transistors in an upper part of the full bridge and second set of transistors in a lower part of the full bridge, the first set of transistors being connected to the first output of the switched mode power supply via an array of switching transistors and voltage dividers.

6. (cancelled)