Laundering apparatus

• US 4,642,537 A
• Filed: 12/13/1983
• Issued: 02/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Young, Glen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US06/561,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 318/138, 318/254, 318/254 A, 318/439, 318/696
• US Class Current: 318/400.35
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/182 using back-emf in windings

Abstract

Control system for an electronically commutated motor includes circuitry for integrating the back emf of an unenergized motor winding to determine motor rotor position. However, integration should not occur on a field collapse voltage which precedes the back emf. A zero-approaching detector enables the integration of the back emf only when a zero-approach occurs at the ending of the field collapse voltage. The integration is also inhibited from being spuriously enabled by zero approaches for a predetermined length of time after commutation and prior to the ending of the field collapse voltage. A system for controlling the average voltage cyclically applied to a load such as an electronically commutated DC motor includes circuitry for generating a direct function of the applied voltage. The function is compared to a reference by a comparator which indicates when the function reaches the reference. The end of each voltage cycle is signaled when the function of the applied voltage reaches a predetermined value. The external application of voltage to the load is terminated when the function of the applied voltage reaches the reference, and each voltage cycle is terminated when the function of the applied voltage reaches the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A control system for an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the control system comprising:

first means operable for electronic and energization commutation of at least one at a time of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly, at least one unenergized other of the winding stages during any one commutation exhibiting a terminal voltage including a back emf and a field collapse voltage ending prior to appearance of the back emf; and

second means for receiving and integrating the terminal voltage in response to its first approach to zero at the ending of the field collapse voltage and effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means when a predetermined level is reached in the integrating.

2. The control system claimed in claim 1 wherein said second means for receiving, integrating and effective comprises:

third means operable generally for receiving and integrating the terminal voltage;

means, responsive to a predetermined output level of said third means, for generating a commutation signal; and

fourth means responsive to the commutation signal for effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means and for inhibiting the operation of said third means for a predetermined length of time after a commencement of commutation and before the ending of the field collapse voltage and for initiating the operation of said third means when the terminal voltage first approaches zero after the predetermined length of time and at the end of the field collapse voltage.

3. The control system claimed in claim 2 wherein said integrating third means operates so as to ignore the terminal voltage when the terminal voltage has a polarity opposite to the field collapse voltage, and the commutation signal terminates the same commutation period as the commutation period during which the ending of the field collapse voltage occurred and initiated the operation of said third means so as to result in the communication signal.

4. A control system for an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the control system comprising:

electronic commutation means operable generally for electronic commutation of at least some of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly;

receiving and integrating means operable generally for receiving and integrating the terminal voltage of at least one of the winding stages, the terminal voltage including at least the back emf of the at least one winding stage and a field collapse signal ending prior to appearance of the back emf;

commutation signal generating means responsive to a predetermined output lever of said integrating means for generating a commutation signal for a predetermined length of time, the predetermined length of time expiring before the ending of the field collapse signal; and

means responsive to the commutation signal for effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means and for inhibiting the operation of said integrating means for the predetermined length of time and intiating the operation of said integrating means when the terminal voltage of the at least one winding stage first approaches zero after the predetermined length of time.

5. The control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said receiving and integrating means comprises at least one electronically controlled switch means for receiving the terminal voltage, said electronically controlled switch means being controlled in its opening and closing by said means for effecting, inhibiting and initiating thereby to inhibit and initiate the integrating.

6. The control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for effecting, inhibiting and initiating comprises flip-flop means for coupling with said integrating means, and comparator means for coupling with an input of said flip-flop means and responsive to the terminal voltage to initiate integration when the terminal voltage approaches zero.

7. The control system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said flip-flop means has a second input coupled to said commutation signal generating means so as to inhibit integration upon occurrence of the commutation signal.

8. A control system for an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the control system comprising:

means operable generally for electronic commutation and energization of at least one at a time of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly, at least one unenergized other of the winding stages during any one commutation exhibiting a terminal voltage including a back emf and a field collapse voltage ending prior to appearance of the back emf;

integrating means operable generally for integrating the terminal voltage of the at least one unenergized winding stages during any one commutation;

means responsive to a predetermined output level of said integrating means for generating commutation signal for effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means;

controlling means for controlling said integrating means, said controlling means being responsive to the commutation signal to disable said integrating means; and

comparing means for comparing the field collapse voltage with a predetermined level and, upon the field collapse voltage falling below the predetermined level, causing said controlling means to enable the operation of said integrating means.

9. The control system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said controlling means includes flip-flop means for connection to said integrating means to prevent integration at least during a predetermined length of time, the predetermined length of time expiring prior to the ending of the field collapse voltage.

10. The control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said comparing means incudes means for initiating the operation of said integrating means substantially when the terminal voltage first approaches zero after the predetermined length of time, the output of said operation intiating means being connected to an input of said flip-flop means to initiate integration.

11. The control system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the field collapse voltage has a peak value, the predetermined level for said comparing means being at least equal to a preselected percentage of the peak value.

12. The control system as set forth in claim 8 further including an electronically controlled switch having one input for each winding stage, each input being connected to its respective winding stage, and having at least two outputs, and logic circuit means being programmed to control said electronically controlled switch so that one output represents a neutral voltage and a second output represents the terminal voltage of the one of the windings.

13. A method of operating an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

commutating in response to a commutating signal at least some of the winding stages by applying a DC voltage thereto in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly;

generally integrating the terminal voltage of at least one of the winding stages, the terminal voltage including at least the back emf of the at least one winding stage and also including a field collapse voltage ending prior to appearance of the back emf;

generating the commutation signal when the integrating reaches a predetermined level; and

initiating the integrating in response to a first approach to zero at the ending of the field collapse voltage.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 comprising the intermediate steps of:

inhibiting the integrating for a predetermined length of time after the commutation of the at least some winding stages and prior to the initiating step; and

ignoring any part of the terminal voltage opposite in polarity to the field collapse voltage during the integrating.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 comprising the preliminary step of programming a logic circuit to supply an inhibit signal for the predetermined length of time after receipt of the commutation signal.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the predetermined length of time is between approximately 50 microseconds and approximately 100 microseconds.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the predetermined length time is approximately 70 microseconds.

18. An electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source comprising:

a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence;

a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages; and

a control system including;

electronic commutation means operable generally for electronic commutation of at least some of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable assembly;

integrating means operable generally for integrating a voltage across an unenergized one of the winding stages in each commutation period, the unenergized winding voltage including a back emf and a field collapse voltage ending prior to the back emf; and

effecting and preventing means responsive to a predetermined output level of said integrating means for effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means and for preventing the operation of said integrating means after the commencement of commutation of said at least some winding stages until the ending of the field collapse signal.

19. The electronically commutated motor as set forth in claim 18 wherein said effecting and preventing means comprises means for generating a commutation signal in response to the predetermined output level of said integrating means and electronic means responsive to the commutation signal for effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means and responsive to the field collapse signal for preventing the operation of said integrating means only until the ending of the field collapse signal.

20. The electronically commutated motor as set forth in claim 18 wherein the unenergized winding voltage is connected through at least one electronically controlled switch to said integrating means, an output of said effecting and preventing means being connected to said electronically controlled switch to control its opening and closing.

21. The electronically commutated motor as set forth in claim 18 wherein said effecting and preventing means includes means responsive to the predetermined output level of said integrating means for generating a commutation signal, and a logic circuit under programmed control, said logic circuit having as one input the output of said commutation signal generating means and being programmed to supply an inhibit signal for a predetermined length of time after receipt of the commutation signal.

22. The electronically commmutated motor as set forth in claim 21 further including an electronically controlled switch having one input for each winding stage, each input being connected to its respective winding stage, and having at least two outputs, said logic circuit being programmed to control said electronically controlled switch so that one output represents a neutral voltage and another output represents a terminal voltage of said unenergized one winding stage, said integrating means being coupled to said winding stages by said electronically controlled switch.

23. The electronically commutated motor as set forth in claim 21 wherein the predetermined length of time is between approximately 50 microseconds and approximately 100 microseconds.

24. The electronically commutated motor as set forth in claim 23 wherein the predetermined length of time is approximately 70 microseconds.

25. A laundering apparatus comprising in combination:

agitating and spinning means for agitating fluid and fabrics to be laundered thereby to launder the fabrics and for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of fluid from the fabrics;

an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source, said motor comprising a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, and rotatable assembly means associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means;

a control system connected to said motor; and

means for applying a DC voltage to said control system;

said control system including;

electronic commutation means operable generally for electronic commutation of at least some of said winding stages of said electronically commutated motor by applying the DC voltage thereto in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of said electronically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable assembly means;

integrating means operable generally for integrating the terminal voltage of at least one of said winding stages, the terminal voltage including at least the back emf of said at least one winding stage and a field collapse signal ending prior to appearance of the back emf;

commutation signal generating means responsive to a predetermined output level of said integrating means for generating a commutation signal for a predetermined length of time, the predetermined length of time expiring before the ending of the field collapse signal;

effecting and inhibiting means responsive to the commutation signal for effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means and for inhibiting the operation of said integrating means for the predetermined length of time; and

initiating means for initiating the operation of said integrating means when the terminal voltage of said at least one winding stage at least first approaches zero after the predetermined length of time.

26. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein said effecting and inhibiting means is a logic circuit under programmed control, said logic circuit having as one input the output of said commutation signal generating means and being programmed to supply an inhibit signal for the predetermined length of time after receipt of the commutation signal.

27. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 26 further including an electronically controlled switch having one input for each winding stage, each input being connected to its respective winding stage, and having at least two outputs, one output representing a neutral voltage and one output representing the voltage of said at least one winding stage, said logic circuit being programmed to control said electronically controlled switch to provide the terminal voltage of said at least one winding stage to said integrating means and to said initiating means.

28. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein the predetermined length of time is between approximately 50 microseconds and approximately 100 microseconds.

29. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein the predetermined length of time is approximately 70 microseconds.

30. A control system for an electrically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the control system comprising:

means operable generally for effecting the electronic commutation of at least some of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly whereby a motoring condition is achievable;

integrating means operable generally for integrating the terminal voltage of at least one of the winding stages the terminal voltage having a higher magnitude portion followed by a lower magnitude back emf portion under the motoring condition;

means responsive to a predetermined output level of said integrating means for generating a commutation signal; and

inhibiting means for inhibiting the operation of said integrating means until the terminal voltage of the at least one winding stage falls in magnitude below a selected level selected to exceed that of the back emf under the motoring condition.

31. The control system as set forth in claim 30 wherein the inhibiting means includes a comparator having one input being coupled to the terminal voltage, another input connected to an electrical reference, and an output connected to an enable input of the integrating means.

32. The control system as set forth in claim 31 wherein the reference is derived from the DC voltage.

33. A system for controlling the average voltage cyclically applied to a load comprising:

function generating means for generating a direct function of the applied voltage;

comparing means for comparing the function of the applied voltage to an electrical reference and for indicating when the function reaches the reference;

voltage cycle signaling means for signaling the end of each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches a predetermined value; and

terminating means responsive to said comparing means and to said signaling means for terminating application of voltage to the load when the function of the applied voltage reaches the reference and for terminating each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches the predetermined value.

34. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the function generating means provides an output that approximates said integral of the applied voltage.

35. The system as set forth in claim 34 wherein said function generating means includes a series resistor-capacitor circuit.

36. The system as set forth in claim 35 wherein said series resistor-capacitor circuit includes a low precision capacitor.

37. The system as set forth in claim 33 further including a logic circuit under programmed control for supplying the reference for said comparing means, the reference being changeable by said logic circuit.

38. The system as set forth in claim 37 wherein said logic circuit also includes an output for supplying a current reference, said system further including means for comparing the load current with the current reference, said terminating means being responsive to the load current exceeding the current reference to terminate the external application of voltage to the load.

39. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein said terminating means includes a latch having a clock input connected to said voltage cycle signaling means and a reset input connected to said comparing means.

40. The system as set forth in claim 39 further including an electronically controlled switch means for connecting the output of said comparing means to the reset input of said latch, said electronically controlled switch means having an input connected to an output of said latch.

41. The system as set forth in claim 33 further including means connected to the output of said voltage cycle at the end of each cycle.

42. A method of controlling the average voltage cyclically applied to a load, comprising the steps of:

generating a direct function of the applied voltage;

terminating application of voltage to the load when the function of the applied voltage reaches a first predetermined value selected to represent a desired average voltage; and

terminating each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches a second predetermined value.

43. The method as set forth in claim 42 wherein the generated function approximates the integral of the applied voltage.

44. The method as set forth in claim 42 including the further step of programming a logic circuit to supply the first predetermined value to a comparing circuit, the first value being changeable by the logic circuit.

45. The method as set forth in claim 42 wherein the voltage causes a current to flow in the load and the method includes the further step of terminating the external application of voltage to the load when the load current exceeds a current reference, the current reference being set by a logic circuit under programmed control.

46. A control system for an electronically commutated DC motor having a stationary assembly with a plurality of winding stages and a rotatable assembly arranged in selective magnetic coupling relation therewith, the control system comprising:

means responsive to a set of control signals for commutating the winding stages by cyclically applying a DC voltage thereto in at least one preselected sequence to cause rotation of the rotatable assembly;

function generating means for generating a direct function of the applied voltage;

comparing means for comparing the function of the applied voltage to a reference and for indicating when the function reaches the reference;

cycle signaling means for signaling the end of each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches a predetermined value; and

terminating means responsive to said comparing means and to said signaling means for terminating application of voltage to the motor when the function of the applied voltage reaches the reference and for terminating each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches the predetermined value.

47. The control system as set forth in claim 46 wherein said function generating means provides an output that approximates the integral of the applied voltge.

48. The control system as set forth in claim 47 wherein said function generating means includes a series resistor-capacitor circuit.

49. The control system as set forth in claim 48 wherein said resistor-capacitor circuit includes a low precision capacitor.

50. The control system as set forth in claim 46 further including a logic circuit under programmed control for supplying the reference for said comparing means, the reference being changeable by said logic circuit.

51. The control system as set forth in claim 50 wherein said logic circuit also includes an output for supplying a current reference, said control system further including means for comparing the motor current with the current reference, said terminating means being responsive to the motor current exceeding the current refrence to terminate application of voltage to the motor.

52. The control system as set forth in claim 46 wherein said terminating means includes a latch whose clock input is connected to said cycle signaling means and whose reset input is connected to said comparing means.

53. The control system as set forth in claim 52 further including electronic means for connecting the output of said comparing means to the reset input of said latch, said electronic means having an input terminal coupled to an output of said latch whereby the output of said latch is reset at the end of each voltage cycle.

54. The control system as set forth in claim 46 further including means connected to said cycle signaling means for resetting said function generating means at the end of each voltage cycle.

55. A method of controlling the average voltage cyclically applied to an electronically commutated motor, comprising the steps of:

generating a direct function of the applied voltage;

terminating application of voltage to the motor when the function of the applied voltage reaches a first predetermined value selected to represent a desired average voltage; and

terminating each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches a second predetermined value.

56. The method as set forth in claim 55 wherein the generated function approximates the integral of the applied voltage.

57. The method as set forth in claim 55 including the further step of programming a logic circuit to supply the first predetermined value to a comparing circuit, the first value being changeable by the logic circuit.

58. The method as set forth in claim 55 including the further step of terminting the external application of voltage to the motor when the motor current exceeds a current reference, the current reference being set by a logic circuit under programmed control.

59. A laundering apparatus comprising in combination:

agitating and spinning means for agitating fluid and fabrics to be laundered thereby to launder the fabrics and for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of fluid from the fabrics;

an electronically commutated motor, said motor comprising a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and rotatable assembly means associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means;

a control system;

connected to said motor; and

means for applying a DC voltage to said control system;

said control system including;

means operable generally for effecting the electronic commutation of at least some of said winding stages of said electronically commutated motor by applying the DC voltage thereto in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of said electronically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable assembly means;

function generating means for generating a function of the applied voltage;

comparing means for comparing the function of the applied voltage to a reference and for indicating when the function reaches the reference;

cycle signaling means for signaling the end of each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches a predetermined value; and

terminating means responsive to said comparing means and to said cycle signaling means for terminating application of voltage to said motor when the function of the applied voltage reaches the reference and for terminating each voltage cycle when the function of the applied voltage reaches the predetermined value.

60. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 59 wherein said the function generating means provides an output that approximat the integral of the applied voltage.

61. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 60 wherein said function generating means includes a series resistor-capacitor circuit.

62. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 61 wherein said series resistor-capacitor circuit includes a low wherein said series resistor-capacitor circuit includes a low precision capacitor.

63. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 59 further including a logic circuit under programmed control for supplying the reference for said comparing means, the reference being changeable by said logic circuit.

64. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 63 wherein said logic circuit also includes an output for supplying a current reference, said control system further including means for comparing the motor current with the current reference, said terminating means being responsive to the motor current exceeding the current reference to terminate the external application of voltage to the motor.

65. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 59 further including means connected to the output of said cycle signaling means for rapidly resetting said function generating means at the end of each voltage cycle.

66. A control system for an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the control system comprising:

electronic commutation means operable for electronic commutation of at least one at a time of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly, at least one other of the winding stages during any one commutation exhibiting a terminal voltage including a back emf and a field collapse voltage ending prior to appearance of the back emf; and

means for generating a direct function of the terminal voltage during each commutation in response to its first approach to zero at the ending of the field collapse voltage and effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means when the direct function of the terminal voltage thereafter reaches a predetermined level during each same commutation.

67. The control system as set forth in claim 66 for an electronically commutated motor having only three winding stages wherein said commutation means comprises means operable for electronic commutation of pairs of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying a DC voltage from the power source to pairs of the terminals of the winding stages in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly, the third winding stage during any one commutation exhibiting the terminal voltage including the back emf and the field collapse voltage ending prior to appearance of the back emf.

68. A control system for an electronically commutated motor adapted to be energized from a DC power source and including a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and a rotatable assembly associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with the winding stages, each winding stage having a terminal associated therewith, the control system comprising:

commutation means operable for electronic commutation of at least one at a time of the winding stages of the electronically commutated motor by applying thereto a DC voltage from the power source in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of the electronically commutated motor and the rotation of the rotatable assembly; and

means connected to said commutation means for causing said commutation means to apply the DC voltage during each commutation in pulse width modulated cycles, including means for supplying a reference voltage which is independent of the DC voltage and further including an oscillator circuit having a resistor connected to a capacitor that is charged from the DC voltage, said oscillator circuit having a cycle time which approximately equals the length of time in which a current flowing between said resistor and said capacitor causes the voltage across said capacitor to reach a second voltage, and means for signalling said commutation means to apply the DC voltage to the winding stages in any one cycle only until the capacitor voltage reaches the reference voltage, so that the average voltage of the pulse width modulated cycles is substantially independent of the capacitance of said capacitor.

69. The control system as set forth in claim 68 further comprising means for deriving the second voltage as a predetermined fraction of the DC voltage from which said capacitor is charged so that the cycle time of said oscillator circuit is substantially independent of the magnitude of the DC voltage.

70. The control system as set forth in claim 69 wherein said oscillator circuit further has means for comparing the voltage across said capacitor to the second voltage, and upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the second voltage, resetting the voltage across said capacitor to begin another voltage cycle.

71. The control system as set forth in claim 68 wherein said means for supplying the reference voltage comprises a digital computer and a digital-to-analog converter.

72. The control system as set forth in claim 68 wherein said means for signalling said commutation means comprises means for comparing the voltage across said capacitor to the reference voltage and, upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the reference voltage, terminating application of voltage to the motor until the next cycle of said oscillator circuit.

73. The control system as set forth in claim 68 wherein said means for signalling said commutation means comprises a latch connected to said oscillator circuit for producing an output which is set to a first logic level at the end of each cycle and, upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the reference voltage, reset to a complementary logic level, the output of said latch being connected to the commutation means so that said commutation means is caused to apply the DC voltage only when the latch output is at the first logic level.

74. The control system as set forth in claim 73 further comprising electronically controlled switch means connected to the output of said latch for resetting said latch just prior to the end of each cycle if it has not already been reset during the same cycle.

75. A laundering apparatus comprising in combination:

agitating and spinning means for agitating water and fabrics to be laundered thereby to launder the fabrics and for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of fluid from the fabrics;

an electrically commutated motor, said motor comprising a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapated to be electrically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and rotatable assembly means associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means;

commutation means operable generally for effecting the electronic commutation of at least some of said winding stages of said electronically commutated motor by applying a DC voltage thereto in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of said electronically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable assembly; and

means connected to said commutation means for causing said commutation means to apply the DC voltage during each commutation in pulse width modulated cycles, including means for supplying a reference voltage which is independent of the DC voltage and further including an oscillator circuit having a resistor connected to a capacitor that is charged from the DC voltage, said oscillator circuit having a cycle time which approximately equals the length of time in which a current flowing between said resistor and said capacitor causes the voltage across said capacitor to reach a second voltage, and means for signalling said commutation means to apply the DC voltage to said winding stages in any cycle only until the capacitor voltage reaches the reference voltate, so that the average voltage of the pulse width modulated cycles is substantially independent of the capacitance of said capacitor.

76. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 75 further comprising means for deriving the second voltage as a predetermined fraction of the DC voltage from which said capacitor is charaged so that the cycle time of said oscillator circuit is substantially independent of the magnitude of the DC voltage.

77. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 76 wherein said oscillator circuit further has means for comparing the voltage across said capacitor to the second voltage and upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the second voltage, resetting the voltage across said capacitor to begin another voltage cycle.

78. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 75 wherein said means for supplying a reference voltage comprises a digital computer and a distal-to-analog converter.

79. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 75 wherein said means for signalling said commutation means comprises means for comparing the voltage across said capacitor to the reference voltage and, upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the reference voltage, terminating application of voltage to said electronically commutated motor until the next cycle of said oscillator circuit.

80. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 75 wherein said means for signalling said commutation means comprises a latch connected to said oscillator circuit for producing an output which is set to a first logic level at the end of each cycle and, upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the reference voltage, reset to a complementary logic level, the output of said latch being connected to said commutation means so that said commutation means is caused to apply the DC voltage only when the latch output is at the first logic level.

81. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 80 further comprising electronically controlled switch means connected to the output of said latch for resetting said latch just prior to the end of each cycle if it has not already been reset during the same cycle.

82. A laundering apparatus comprising in combination:

agitating and spinning fluid means for agitating and fabrics to be laundered thereby to launder the fabrics and for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of fluid from the fabrics;

an electrically commutated motor, said motor comprising a stationary assexbly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and rotatable assembly means associated in selective magnetic coupling relation with said winding stages for driving said agitating and spinning means;

commutation means operable generally for effecting the electronic commutation of at least some of said winding stages of said electronically commutated motor by applying a DC voltage thereto in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of said electrically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable assembly; and

means connected to said commutation means for causing said commutation means to apply the DC voltage during each commutation in pulse width modulated cycles, including a logic circuit for supplying a reference voltage which is independent of the DC voltage, a resistor connected in series with a capacitor that is charged from the DC voltage through said resistor, means connected to the same DC voltage for deriving another voltage value which is a predetermined fraction of the same DC voltage from which said capacitor is charged, comparing means for controllably discharging said capacitor to begin another cycle upon the voltage across said capacitor reaching the other voltage value, and signalling means for signalling said commutation means to apply the DC voltage to said winding stages in any one cycle only until the capacitor charges to the reference voltage, so that the average voltage of the pulse width modulated cycles is substantially independent of variations in the DC voltage and substantially independent of the capacitance of said capacitor.

83. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 82 further comprisng a second resistor connected between said capacitor and said first-named resistor, said deriving means including first, second, and third voltage divider resistors connected in series across said DC voltage, and said comparing means including a first comparator having a first input connected to said capacitor to sense the capacitor voltage, a second input connected to the junction of said first and second voltage divider resistors, and an output connected by a diode to the junction of said second and third voltage divider resistors, said comparing means further including a second comparator having a first input connected to the output of said first comparator, a second input supplied with a second reference voltage, and an output connected to the junction of said first-namsd resistor and said second resistor through which said capacitor is charged.

84. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 83 wherein said signalling means includes a third comparator having a first input connected to the reference voltage supplying circuit, a second input connected to said capacitor, and an output, and further includes a latch having a clock input connected to said first comparator output, a reset input connected to said third comparator output, and an output connected to said commutation means.

85. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 84 further comprising means for comparing the current flowing in said winding stages of said electronically commutated motor with another reference voltage from said logic circuit, said current comparing means having an output connected to said reset input of said latch.

86. A laundering apparatus comprising in combination:

agitating and spinning means for agitating fluid and fabrics to be laundered thereby to launder the fabrics and for thereafter spinning the fabrics to effect centrifugal displacement of fluid from the fabrics;

an electronically commutated motor comprising a stationary assembly having a plurality of winding stages adapted to be electronically commutated in at least one preselected sequence, and rotatable means associated in selective mgnetic coupling relation with said winding states for driving said agitating and spinning means;

electronic commutation means operable generally for effecting the electronic commutation of at least some of said winding stages of said electronically commutated motor by applying a DC voltage thereto in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of said electronically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable means, at least one of said winding stages during any one commutation exhibiting a terminal voltage including a back emf and a field collapse voltage ending prior to appearance of the back emf; and

generating means for generating a function of the terminal voltage during each commutation in response to its first approach to zero at the ending of the field collapse voltage and thereafter effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means when the function of the terminal voltage reaches a predetermined level during each same commutation.

87. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 86 wherein said generating means includes integrating means for integrating the terminal voltage in response to its first approach to zero at the ending of the field collapse voltage and effecting the operation of said electronic commutation means when the predetermined level is reached in the integrating.

88. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 87 wherein said integrating means includes means for preventing the terminal voltage from affecting the integrating when the terminal voltage has a polarity opposite to the field collapse voltage.

89. The laundering apparatus as set forth in claim 86 wherein said winding stages have at least one terminal each and said commutation of at least two of said winding stages at a time by applying the DC voltage to said terminals thereof in the at least one preselected sequence to effect the energization of said electronically commutated motor and the rotation of said rotatable means.