Laundering apparatus, method of operating a laundry machine, control system for an electronically commutated motor, and method of operating an electronically commutated motor
First Claim
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1. A laundering apparatus comprising:
- means operable generally in a washing mode for agitating water and fabrics to be laundered therein and operable generally in a spin mode for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of water from the fabrics;
an electronically commutated motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages associated therewith and adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with said stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means in the washing mode operation and in the spin mode operation thereof upon the commutation of said winding stages, each of said winding stages having at least first and second terminals, said first terminals of each of said windng stages being connected at a first common point;
means for providing a plurality of first waveshapes;
means for selecting one of the first waveshapes;
means for selectively setting the maximum amplitude of the selected first waveshape, the selected first waveshape representing a profile of desired angular velocity of said rotatable means;
means for producing an effective voltage from a DC voltage in accordance with the selected first waveshapeand for commutating said winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence, including a plurality of switching means for connection in series with said winding stages, respectively, and means responsive to the angular position of said rotatable means for applying commutation signals in the at least one preselected sequence to said switching means to control their conductivity;
first diode means separately connected between said second terminal of eachof said winding stages and a second common point;
said plurality of switching means being connected between a third common point and said second terminal of each of said winding stages;
capacitor means connected between said first and second common points;
first impedance means and first transistor means for connection in series between said first and second common points;
voltage divider means and second transistor means for connection in series between said second and third common points, said voltage divider means including second and third impedance means for connection at a fourth common point coupled to said first transistor means so that the voltage at said fourth common point controls the conductivity of said first transistor means;
means for deriving a signal representative of the actual angular velocity of said rotatable means and for generating an error signal from the velocity signal and the selected first waveshape; and
means for decreasing the conductivity of said second transistor means when the error signal has a value corresponding to an excess of the actual angular velocity over the desired angular velocity determined by said selecting means and said maximum amplitude setting means, the decreased conductivity of said second transistor means being effective to increase the conductivity of said first transistor means.
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Abstract
A laundering apparatus includes a laundry machine having a spin tub and an agitator, and an electronically commutated motor is drivingly associated with the tub and agitator through a transmission. A system controls the energization of the electronically commutated motor to effect the laundering operations of the tub and the agitator in the laundry machine.
A method of operating a laundry machine, a control system for an electronically commutated motor, and a method of operating an electronically commutated motor are also disclosed.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. A laundering apparatus comprising:
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means operable generally in a washing mode for agitating water and fabrics to be laundered therein and operable generally in a spin mode for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of water from the fabrics; an electronically commutated motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages associated therewith and adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with said stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means in the washing mode operation and in the spin mode operation thereof upon the commutation of said winding stages, each of said winding stages having at least first and second terminals, said first terminals of each of said windng stages being connected at a first common point; means for providing a plurality of first waveshapes; means for selecting one of the first waveshapes; means for selectively setting the maximum amplitude of the selected first waveshape, the selected first waveshape representing a profile of desired angular velocity of said rotatable means; means for producing an effective voltage from a DC voltage in accordance with the selected first waveshape and for commutating said winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence, including a plurality of switching means for connection in series with said winding stages, respectively, and means responsive to the angular position of said rotatable means for applying commutation signals in the at least one preselected sequence to said switching means to control their conductivity; first diode means separately connected between said second terminal of eachof said winding stages and a second common point; said plurality of switching means being connected between a third common point and said second terminal of each of said winding stages; capacitor means connected between said first and second common points; first impedance means and first transistor means for connection in series between said first and second common points; voltage divider means and second transistor means for connection in series between said second and third common points, said voltage divider means including second and third impedance means for connection at a fourth common point coupled to said first transistor means so that the voltage at said fourth common point controls the conductivity of said first transistor means; means for deriving a signal representative of the actual angular velocity of said rotatable means and for generating an error signal from the velocity signal and the selected first waveshape; and means for decreasing the conductivity of said second transistor means when the error signal has a value corresponding to an excess of the actual angular velocity over the desired angular velocity determined by said selecting means and said maximum amplitude setting means, the decreased conductivity of said second transistor means being effective to increase the conductivity of said first transistor means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A control system for an electronically commutated motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with the stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each of the winding stages having at least first and second terminals, the first terminals of the winding stages being connected at a first common point, the control system comprising:
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means for providing a plurality of first waveshapes; means for selecting one of the first waveshapes; means for selectively setting the maximum amplitude of the selected first waveshape, the selected first waveshape representing a waveshape of desired angular velocity of the rotatable means; first diode means for separate connection between the second terminal of each of the winding stages and a second common point; means for producing an effective voltage from a DC voltage in accordance with the selected first waveshape, and for commutating the winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence and including switching means for connection between a third common point and the second terminal of each of the winding stages; means responsive to the angular position of the rotatable means for rendering said switching means conductive in the at least one preselected sequence; capacitor means for connection between said first and second common points; first impedance means and first transistor means for respective connection in series between said first and second common points; voltage divider means and second transistor means for connection in series between said second and third common points, said voltage divider means including second and third impedance means for connection at a fourth common point coupled to said first transistor means so that the voltage at said fourth common point controls the conductivity of said first transistor means; means for deriving a signal representative of the actual angular velocity of the rotatable means and for generating an error signal from the velocity signal and the selected first waveshape; and means for decreasing the conductivity of said second transistor means when the error signal has a value corresponding to an excess of the actual angular velocity over the desired angular velocity determined by said selecting means and said maximum amplitude setting means, the decreased conductivity of said second transistor means being effective to increase the conductivity of said first transistor means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a laundry machine driven by an electronically commutated DC motor energized by a DC voltage provided across a pair of DC lines as a full wave rectified sinusoidal signal derived from an AC source, the laundry machine having a pair of rotatable components, and the motor having a stationary assembly including a plurality of winding stages and also having a rotatable assembly adapted to be selectively coupled to at least one of the rotatable components, the method comprising the steps of:
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converting the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal into voltage pulses having a frequency which is high with respect to the frequency of the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal; imposing a first control function on the operation of the laundry machine by modulating the width of the voltage pulses in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of first waveshapes to provide a resultant effective voltage to the motor; imposing a second control function on the operation of the laundry machine through the pulse width modulation to selectively set the maximum amplitude of the effective voltage; limiting the voltage pulses to a variable time interval in each half cycle of the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal during which the amplitude thereof exceeds the amplitude of the effective voltage; and commutating the winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in sequence; whereby the first and second control functions jointly determine the angular velocity of the at least one rotatable component and the power factor reflected to the AC source is enhanced.
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21. A method of operating a laundry machine driven by an electronically commutated DC motor responsive to a control circuit with the motor being energized by a DC voltage provided across a pair of DC lines as a full wave rectified sinusoidal signal derived from an AC source, the laundry machine having a pair of rotatable components, the motor having a stationary assembly with a plurality of winding stages and also having a rotatable assembly adapted to be selectively coupled to at least one of the rotatable components, and the control circuit having a plurality of current paths each including at least one of the winding stages, the method comprising the steps of:
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converting the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal into voltage pulses having a frequency which is high with respect to the frequency of the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal; imposing a first control function on the operation of the laundry machine by modulating the width of the voltage pulses in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of first waveshapes to provide a resultant effective voltage to the winding stages; imposing a second control function on the operation of the laundry machine through the pulse width modulation to selectively set the maximum amplitude of the effective voltage; commutating the winding stages by sequentially allowing the current paths to become conductive; and controlling the conductivity of respective current paths with the voltage pulses when the current paths are sequentially rendered conductive; whereby the first and second control functions jointly determine the angular velocity of the at least one rotatable component. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of operating an electronically commutated DC motor energized by a DC voltage provided across a pair of DC lines as a full wave rectified sinusoidal signal derived from an AC source, the motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages, and a rotatable assembly adapted to apply torque and to impart angular motion to a load selectively coupled thereto, the method comprising:
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converting the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal into voltage pulses having a frequency which is high with respect to the frequency of the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal; imposing a first control function on the operation of the motor by modulating the width of the voltage pulses in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of first waveshapes to provide a resultant effective voltage of the motor; imposing a second control function on the operation of the motor through the pulse width modulation to selectively set the maximum amplitude of the effective voltage; and limiting the voltage pulses to a variable time interval in each half cycle of the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal during which the amplitude of thereof exceeds the amplitude of the effective voltage; and commutating the winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in sequence; whereby the first and second control functions jointly determine the angular velocity of the rotatable assembly.
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29. A method of operating an electronically commutated DC motor in response to a control circuit, the motor being energized by a DC voltage provided across a pair of DC lines as a full wave rectified sinusoidal signal derived from an AC source with the motor having a stationary assembly including a plurality of winding stages and a rotatable assembly adapted to apply torque and to impart angular motion to a load selectively coupled thereto, and the control circuit having a plurality of current paths each including at least one of the winding stages, the method comprising:
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converting the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal into voltage pulses having a frequency which is high with respect to the frequency of the full wave rectified sinusoidal signal; imposing a first control function on the operation of the motor by modulating the width of the voltage pulses in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of first waveshapes to provide a resultant effective voltage to the winding stages; imposing a second control function on the operation of the motor through the pulse width modulation to selectively set the maximum amplitude of the effective voltage; commutating the winding stages by sequentially allowing the current paths to become conductive; and controlling the conductivity of respective current paths with the voltage pulses when the paths are sequentially rendered conductive; whereby the first and second control functions jointly determine the angular velocity of the rotatable assembly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for controlling the energization of an electronically commutated motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with the stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, the system comprising:
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means for providing a first signal representative of a preselected angular velocity of the rotatable means; means for providing a second signal representative of the actual angular velocity of the rotatable means; means for comparing the first and second signals to provide a first error signal; switching means including a first input, an output, and a control input; means for applying a full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage to said first input; means responsive to the first error signal for applying a regulation signal to said control input to control the duration of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage at said output of said switching means, said regulation signal applying means including means for initiating a ramp signal at a predetermined time after the beginning of each of a plurality of successive half cycles of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage and means for comparing a sum of signals at least including the ramp signal and the first error signal in each of the successive half cycles with a reference voltage and, upon the sum exceeding the reference voltage, initiating the regulation signal and thereby initiating switching by said switching means; filter means for connection at said output of said switching means for producing an effective voltage which varies with the controlled duration of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage at said output of said switching means; and means responsive to the angular position of the rotatable means for applying the effective voltage from said switching means output in at least one preselected sequence to the winding stages to effect rotation of the rotatable means generally at the preselected angular velocity therefor. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for controlling the energization of an electronically commutated motor from a source of full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage, the motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with the stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, the system comprising:
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means for producing an effective voltage from the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage in response to a first signal and for commutating at least some of the winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence to rotate the rotatable means; means for deriving a first error signal as a function of the difference between the actual angular velocity of the rotatable means and a desired angular velocity; means for initiating a ramp signal at a predetermined time after the beginning of each of a plurality of successive half cycles of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage; and means for comparing a sum of signals at least including the ramp signal and the first error signal in each of the successive half cycles with a reference voltage and, upon the sum exceeding the reference voltage, initiating the first signal to control the effective voltage producing and commutating means in each of the successive half cycles. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A laundering apparatus adapted to be energized by a source of full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage, the laundering apparatus comprising:
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means operable generally in a washing mode in strokes of agitation for agitating water and fabrics to be laundered therein and operable generally in a spin mode for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of water from the fabrics; an electronically commutated motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages associated therewith and adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with said stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means in the washing mode operation and in the spin mode operation thereof upon the commutation of said winding stages; means for producing an effective voltage from the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage in response to a first signal and for commutating at least some of said winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence to rotate said rotatable means; means for deriving a first error signal as a function of the difference between the actual angular velocity of said agitating and spinning means and a desired angular velocity; means for initiating a ramp signal at a predetermined time after the beginning of each of a plurality of successive half cycles of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage; and means for comparing a sum of signals at least including the ramp signal and the first error signal in each of the successive half cycles with a reference voltage and, upon the sum exceeding the reference voltage, initiating the first signal to control the effective voltage producing and commutating means in each of the successive half cycles. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method for controlling the energization of an electronically commutated motor from a source of full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage, the motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with the stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, the method comprising the steps of:
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producing an effective voltage from the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage in response to a first signal and commutating at least some of the winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence to rotate the rotatable means; deriving a first error signal as a function of the difference between the actual angular velocity of the rotatable means and a desired angular velocity; initiating a ramp signal at a predetermined time after the beginning of each of a plurality of successive half cycles of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage; and comparing a sum of signals at least including the ramp signal and the first error signal in each of the successive half cycles with a reference voltage and, upon the sum exceeding the reference voltage, initiating the first signal for the effective voltage producing and commutating step in each of the successive half cycles. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A method for operating laundering apparatus adapted to be energized by a source of full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage and including means operable generally in a washing mode in strokes of agitation for agitating water and fabrics to be laundered therein and operable generally in a spin mode for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of water from the fabrics, and an electronically commutated motor including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages associated therewith and adapted to be selectively commutated, and rotatable means associated with the stationary assembly in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages for driving the agitating and spinning means in the washing mode operation and in the spin mode operation thereof upon the commutation of the winding stages, the method comprising the steps of:
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producing an effective voltage from the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage in response to a first signal and commutating at least some of the winding stages by applying the effective voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence to rotate the rotatable means and drive the agitating and spinning means; deriving a first error signal as a function of the difference between the actual angular velocity of the agitating and spinning means and a desired angular velocity; initiating a ramp signal at a predetermined time after the beginning of each of a plurality of successive half cycles of the full wave rectified sinusoidal voltage; and comparing a sum of signals at least including the ramp signal and the first error signal in each of the successive half cycles with a reference voltage and, upon the sum exceeding the reference voltage, initiating the first signal for the effective voltage producing and commutating step in each of the successive half cycles. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82)
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Specification