Controller arrangement with adaptive non-overlapping commutation

• US 20060097678A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Andigilog, Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brannen, Robert Alan, Alberkrack, Jade H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/400.02
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/16 Circuit arrangements for detecting position
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/20 Arrangements for starting H02P6/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/34 Modelling or simulation for control purposes

Abstract

A PWM controller for a direct current brushless motor comprising first and second windings includes a motor drive circuit receiving pulse width modulation control signals to drive the first and the second windings; and a control circuit having inputs coupled to the first and second windings to control a pulse width modulation control circuit such that pulse width modulated control signals are provided to the motor drive circuit only when the voltage across the first and second windings are at a predetermined level.

Claims

1. A motor control circuit for a brushless direct current motor comprising first and second windings, said motor control circuit comprising:

a motor drive control circuit coupled to said first and said second windings; and

a commutation circuit coupled to said motor and to said drive circuit;

said commutation circuit controlling said drive circuit to apply power to said first and said second windings, said commutation circuit controlling said drive circuit such that said drive circuit applies power to said second winding only after a first predetermined condition occurs, and such that said drive circuit applies power to said first winding only after a second predetermined condition occurs.

2. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first predetermined condition is that the voltage across said first winding is at a first predetermined level.

3. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said second predetermined condition is that the voltage across said second winding is at a second predetermined level.

4. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said first predetermined level is the same as said second predetermined level.

5. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said first predetermined level and said second predetermined level is equal to or less than the motor supply voltage.

6. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first predetermined condition is that a first predetermined time interval occurs after a predetermined one edge of the leading edge or the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said first winding.

7. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said second predetermined condition is that a second predetermined time interval occurs after the predetermined one edge of an energization pulse applied to said second winding.

8. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are substantially the same.

9. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 8, wherein:

said first and said second time intervals are each selected to be within the range of 10 μ

sec. to 200 μ

sec.

10. A method of operating a brushless direct current motor comprising first and second windings, said method comprising:

providing a motor drive circuit coupled to said first and second windings for providing drive power thereto;

providing a commutation circuit coupled to said drive circuit;

operating said commutation circuit such that said drive circuit delays applying power to said second winding until a first predetermined condition occurs; and

operating said commutation circuit such that said drive circuit delays applying power to said first winding until a second predetermined condition occurs.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

selecting said first predetermined condition to be the voltage across said first winding being at a first predetermined level.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

selecting said second predetermined condition to be the voltage across said second winding being at a second predetermined level.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11, comprising:

selecting said first predetermined level to be the same as said second predetermined level.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

selecting said first predetermined condition to be a first predetermined time interval occurring after the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said first winding.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising:

selecting said second predetermined condition to be a second predetermined time interval occurring after the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said second winding.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, comprising:

selecting said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval to be substantially the same.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, comprising:

selecting said first and said second time intervals to each be within the range of 70 μ

sec. to 200 μ

sec.

18. A method of controlling a brushless direct current motor comprising first and second windings, said method comprising:

providing an input terminal;

providing a pulse width modulated control signal generator circuit responsive to input signals at said input terminal

providing a motor drive circuit to energize first and second windings of a brushless direct current motor in response to said pulse width modulated control signal generator;

operating said motor drive circuit such that it does not apply power to said second winding until a first predetermined condition occurs; and

operating said motor drive circuit such that it does not apply power to said first winding until a second predetermined condition occurs.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, comprising:

providing a single integrated circuit having formed thereon said input terminal, said pulse width modulated control signal generator circuit, and said motor drive circuit.

20. A PWM controller for a direct current brushless motor comprising first and second windings, said controller comprising:

an input terminal for receiving an analog control signal and a digital control signal;

a pulse width modulation control circuit coupled to a single input terminal, said control circuit being responsive to digital input signals and to analog input signals at said single input terminal to provide pulse width modulated control signals;

a motor drive circuit coupled to said pulse width modulation control circuit and to said first and said second windings; and

a control circuit having inputs coupled to said first and said second windings to control said pulse width modulation control circuit such that pulse width modulated control signals are provided to said motor drive circuit only when the voltage across said first and said second windings are at a predetermined level.