Controlling/driving apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor in a car

• US 5,519,301 A
• Filed: 08/16/1994
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimiya, Masafumi, Yoshida, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/291,599
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 318/807, 318/808, 318/810, 318/811, 323/299, 323/300, 363/40, 363/41, 363/74, 363/131, 363/132, 363/133, 363/135, 363/136, 363/137, 363/141
• US Class Current: 318/811
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3222 characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0022 the disturbance parameters being input voltage fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53873 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/08 with pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/026 the fault being a power fluctuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A controlling/driving apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor of an air conditioner mounted in an automobile. The apparatus comprises a DC-AC converting invertor 4 for converting a DC voltage into a pseudo AC voltage (e.g. a pulse train of positive and negative pulses), a DC voltage detector 7, and a pulse width changing unit 8 for changing the width of each pulse of the pulse train in accordance with the DC voltage detected by the DC voltage detector. Thus, the apparatus enables safe and efficient operation of the compressor with improved electric insulation and durability when large fluctuations in the power source voltage of the compressor occur.

Claims

1. A compressor drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor for a car, said apparatus comprising:

an electrically-driven compressor including an electric motor;

DC-AC conversion means including a group of switching elements which receive and convert a DC voltage to a pseudo AC voltage which is formed of a train of positive and negative voltage pulses, said pseudo AC voltage for driving said motor;

DC voltage detection means for detecting said DC voltage; and

control means for generating and applying pulse-width modulation signals to said switching elements to generate said train of voltage pulses, said control means including (i) a memory for storing fundamental pulse width data, and (ii) pulse-width changing means for (1) storing programmed data, (2) reading at least a portion of said fundamental pulse-width data from said memory, and (3) changing the read-out fundamental pulse-width data in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means so as to generate said pulse-width modulation signals.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a microcomputer.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a first proportion of the DC voltage detected by said detection means to a preset DC voltage, and (ii) changing the pulse width of said pseudo AC voltage in response to said first proportion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a second proportion of a value of the pseudo AC voltage determined based upon a number or frequency of compressor revolutions with respect to a preset value of the pseudo AC voltage, and (ii) changing the pulse width of the pseudo AC voltage in response to said second proportion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a first proportion of the DC voltage detected by said detection means to a preset DC voltage, a second proportion of a value of the pseudo AC voltage determined based upon a number or frequency of compressor revolutions with respect to a preset value of the pseudo AC voltage, and a third proportion equal to a product of said first and second proportions, and (ii) changing the pulse width of said pseudo AC voltage in response to any one of said first to third proportions.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory for storing data of fundamental pulse widths operates to generate predetermined fundamental pseudo AC voltage pulses.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory is a read-only memory.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse-width changing means changes the data or pulse width to keep constant an effective value of the pseudo AC voltage so as to avoid possible significant variations due to running speed variations of said car.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

17. A compressor drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor for an electric car, said apparatus comprising:

an electrically-driven compressor including an electric motor;

DC-AC conversion means including a group of switching elements which receive and convert a DC voltage, which is generated by a car battery which is mounted in said car and which provides power for driving the car, to a pseudo AC voltage which is formed of a train of positive and negative voltage pulses, said pseudo AC voltage for driving said motor;

DC voltage detection means for detecting said DC voltage; and

control means for generating and applying pulse-width modulation signals to said switching elements to generate said train of voltage pulses, said control means including (i) a memory for storing fundamental pulse width data, and (ii) pulse-width changing means for (1) storing programmed data, (2) reading at least a portion of said fundamental pulse-width data from said memory, and (3) changing the read-out fundamental pulse-width data in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means so as to generate said pulse-width modulation signals.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said pulse-width changing means is adapted to change the data or pulse width to keep constant an effective value of the converted pseudo AC voltage without possible significant variations due to running speed variations of said electric car.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a first proportion of the DC voltage detected by said detection means to a preset DC voltage, and (ii) changing the pulse width of said pseudo AC voltage in response to said first proportion.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a second proportion of a value of the pseudo AC voltage determined based upon a number or frequency of compressor revolutions with respect to a preset value of the pseudo AC voltage, and (ii) changing the pulse width of the pseudo AC voltage in response to said second proportion.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said memory is a read-only memory.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

26. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

27. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a first proportion of the DC voltage detected by said detection means to a preset DC voltage, a second proportion of a value of the pseudo AC voltage determined based upon a number or frequency of compressor revolutions with respect to a preset value of the pseudo AC voltage, and a third proportion equal to a product of said first and second proportions, and (ii) changing the pulse width of said pseudo AC voltage in response to any one of said first to third proportions.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

29. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said memory for storing data of fundamental pulse widths operates to generate predetermined fundamental pseudo AC voltage pulses.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

31. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means includes a microcomputer.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

33. A compressor drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor for a car, comprising:

means for generating a DC voltage;

a hermetically-sealed type electrically-driven compressor including an electric motor and adapted to compress air conditioning coolant;

DC-AC conversion means including a group of switching elements and adapted to receive and convert the generated DC voltage to a pseudo AC voltage, formed of a train of positive and negative pulses, for driving said motor;

DC voltage detection means for detecting the DC voltage; and

control means for a generating and applying pulse-width modulation signals to said switching elements to generate the converted train of the pulse voltages, said control means including (i) a memory for storing fundamental pulse width data, and (ii) pulse-width changing means for storing programmed data for changing a pulse width of said pulse train in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said pulse-width changing means is adapted to read a fundamental pulse width data from said memory and to change the read fundamental pulse width data in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

36. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a first proportion of the DC voltage detected by said detection means to a preset DC voltage, and (ii) changing the pulse width of said pseudo AC voltage in response to said first proportion.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

38. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said control means includes a microcomputer.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

40. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

41. A compressor drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor for an electric car, said apparatus comprising:

a car battery mounted in said car as a power source for driving said car and generating a DC voltage;

a hermetically-sealed type electrically-driven compressor including an electric motor and adapted to compress air conditioning coolant;

DC-AC conversion means including a group of switching elements and adapted to receive and convert the generated DC voltage to a pseudo AC voltage, formed of a train of positive and negative pulses, for driving said motor;

DC voltage detection means for detecting the DC voltage; and

control means for a generating and applying pulse-width modulation signals to said switching elements to generate the converted train of the pulse voltages, said control means including (i) a memory for storing fundamental pulse width data, and (ii) pulse-width changing means for (1) storing programmed data, and (2) changing a pulse width of said pulse train in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said pulse-width changing means is adapted to change the data or pulse width to keep constant an effective value of the converted pseudo AC voltage without possible significant variations due to running speed variations of said electric car.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

44. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

45. A compressor drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor for a car, comprising:

a hermetically-sealed type electrically-driven compressor including an electric motor, said compressor for compressing air conditioning coolant;

DC-AC conversion means including a group of switching elements which receive and convert a DC voltage to a pseudo AC voltage which is formed of a train of positive and negative voltage pulses, said pseudo AC voltage for driving said motor;

DC voltage detection means for detecting the DC voltage; and

control means for generating and applying pulse-width modulation signals to said switching elements to generate said train of voltage pulses, said control means including (i) a memory for storing fundamental pulse width data, and (ii) pulse-width changing means for storing programmed data for changing a pulse width of said train of voltage pulses in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means;

wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a first proportion of the DC voltage detected by said detection means to a preset DC voltage, a second proportion of a value of the pseudo AC voltage determined based upon a number or frequency of compressor revolutions with respect to a preset value of the pseudo AC voltage, and a third proportion equal to a product of said first and second proportions, and (ii) changing the pulse width of said pseudo AC voltage in response to any one of said first to third proportions.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said memory for storing data of fundamental pulse widths operates to generate predetermined fundamental pseudo AC voltage pulses.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said memory is a read-only memory.

48. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

49. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

50. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.

51. A compressor drive control apparatus for an electrically-driven compressor for a car, comprising:

a hermetically-sealed type electrically-driven compressor including an electric motor, said compressor for compressing air conditioning coolant;

DC-AC conversion means including a group of switching elements which receive and convert a DC voltage to a pseudo AC voltage which is formed of a train of positive and negative voltage pulses, said pseudo AC voltage for driving said motor;

DC voltage detection means for detecting the DC voltage; and

control means for generating and applying pulse-width modulation signals to said switching elements to generate said train of voltage pulses, said control means including (i) a memory for storing fundamental pulse width data, and (ii) pulse-width changing means for storing programmed data for changing a pulse width of said train of voltage pulses in response to the DC voltage detected by said detection means;

wherein said pulse-width changing means includes means for (i) determining a second proportion of a value of the pseudo AC voltage determined based upon a number or frequency of the compressor revolutions with respect to a preset value of the pseudo AC voltage, and (ii) changing the pulse width of the pseudo AC voltage in response to said second proportion.

52. An apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said electric motor is disposed within a cavity of said compressor.