Brushless motor, method for operating brushless motor and method for manufacturing brushless motor

• US 6,495,938 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanimura, Satohi, Komatsu, Izumi, Naito, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, Burton S.
• Application Number:
  US09/766,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 310/71, 310/68.R, 310/DIG.6, 361/799
• US Class Current: 310/71
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/40 Structural association with grounding devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/08 using magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-plates, magneto-resistors H02K29/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/085 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/06 Printed-circuit motors and components

Abstract

A direct PWM brushless motor has a motor main body mounted on a metal substrate and a motor drive circuit formed on a circuit substrate that is separated from the metal substrate. The motor drive circuit includes switching elements that are directly turned on and off, in which a switching pulse width for the switching elements is modulated to control current conducting through drive coils. The direct PWM brushless motor has a wiring cable connection device for connecting the motor main body and a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit, and a conduction device that conductively connects a metal plate portion of the metal substrate to the wiring cable connection device.

Claims

1. A direct PWM brushless motor comprising:

a motor main body mounted on a metal substrate having a metal plate portion, the motor main body having a bearing, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor capable of rotating with the rotor shaft, and a stator having at least one core with a driving coil wound around the core;

a motor drive circuit having at least one switching element that is directly turned on and off, in which a switching pulse width for the switching element is modulated to control current conducting through the driving coil, wherein the motor drive circuit is formed on a circuit substrate that is mechanically separate from the metal substrate;

a wiring cable connection device for electrically connecting the motor main body to a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit; and

a conduction device in electrical contact between the metal plate portion of the metal substrate and the wiring cable connection device, such that the metal plate portion is maintained at the fixed potential;

wherein the wiring cable connection device includes a wiring cable and the conduction device has a connector mounted on the metal substrate and connected to wiring cable, wherein the metal plate portion of the metal substrate and the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit are electrically conductive through the wiring cable and the connector; and

wherein the metal plate portion is formed from iron, an insulating layer is provided on the metal plate portion, and a wiring pattern is provided on the insulting layer for the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit.

2. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 1, wherein the conduction device is a pin of the connector mounted on the metal substrate.

3. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 1, wherein the connector has a pin that makes the metal plate portion of the metal substrate to be conductive with the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit.

4. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 1, wherein the wiring cable connection device is a lead wire that makes the metal plate portion of the metal substrate to be electrically conductive with the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit.

5. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 2, wherein the fixed potential is one of a ground potential of the motor drive circuit and a power source potential of the motor drive circuit.

6. A direct PWM brushless motor comprising:

a motor main body mounted on a metal substrate having a metal plate portion, the motor main body having a bearing, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor capable of rotating with the rotor shaft, and a stator having at least one core with a driving coil wound around the core;

a motor drive circuit having at least one switching element that is directly turned on and off, in which a switching pulse width for the switching element is modulated to control current conducting through the driving coil, wherein the motor drive circuit is formed on a circuit substrate that is mechanically separate from the metal substrate;

a wiring cable connection device for electrically connecting the motor main body to a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit; and

a conduction device in electrical contact between the metal plate portion of the metal substrate and the wiring cable connection device, such that the metal plate portion is maintained at the fixed potential;

wherein the wiring cable connection device includes a wiring cable and the conduction device has a connector mounted on the metal substrate and connected to wiring cable, wherein the metal plate portion of the metal substrate and the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit are electrically conductive through the wiring cable and the connector; and

wherein the conduction device is a tap screw that is fixed on the metal substrate.

7. A direct PWM brushless motor comprising:

a motor main body mounted on a metal substrate having a metal plate portion, the motor main body having a bearing, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor capable of rotating with the rotor shaft, and a stator having at least one core with a driving coil wound around the core;

a motor drive circuit having at least one switching element that is directly turned on and off, in which a switching pulse width for the switching element is modulated to control current conducting through the driving coil, wherein the motor drive circuit is formed on a circuit substrate that is mechanically separate from the metal substrate;

a wiring cable connection device for electrically connecting the motor main body to a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit; and

a conduction device in electrical contact between the metal plate portion of the metal substrate and the wiring cable connection device, such that the metal place portion is maintained at the fixed potential;

wherein the wiring cable connection device includes a wiring cable and the conduction device has a connector mounted on the metal substrate and connected to wiring cable, wherein the metal plate portion of the metal substrate and the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit are electrically conductive through the wiring cable and the connector;

wherein the wiring cable connection device is a lead wire that makes the metal plate portion of the metal substrate to be electrically conductive with the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit; and

wherein the conduction device is a soldered portion of the lead wire or a tap screw that is fixed on the metal substrate.

8. A direct PWM brushless motor comprising:

a motor main body mounted on a substrate having a metal plate, a dielectric layer formed on the metal plate and a wiring layer formed on the metal plate, the motor main body having a bearing, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor capable of rotating with the rotor shaft, and a stator having at least one core with a driving coil wound around the core;

a motor drive circuit having at least one switching element in which a switching pulse width applied to the switching element is modulated to control current conducting through the driving coil, wherein the motor drive circuit is formed on a circuit substrate that is mechanically separate from the metal substrate; and

a connection device for electrically connecting the metal plate of the substrate to a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit;

wherein the connection device includes a wiring cable and a connector mounted on the substrate and connected to the wiring cable, wherein the metal plate of the substrate and the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit are conductively connected through the wiring cable and the connector; and

wherein the metal plate portion is formed from iron, an insulating layer is provided on the metal plate portion, and a wiring pattern is provided on the insulting layer for the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit.

9. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 8, wherein the connector includes a pin conductively connected to the metal plate of the substrate.

10. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 8, wherein the connector has a pin that makes the metal plate of the substrate to be conductive with the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit.

11. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 8, wherein the connection device includes a lead wire that conductively connects the metal plate of the substrate to the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit.

12. A direct PWM brushless motor according to claim 8, wherein the fixed potential is one of a ground potential of the motor drive circuit and a power source potential of the motor drive circuit.

13. A direct PWM brushless motor comprising:

a motor main body mounted on a substrate having a metal plate, a dielectric layer formed on the metal plate and a wiring layer formed on the metal plate, the motor main body having a bearing, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor capable of rotating with the rotor shaft, and a stator having at least one core with a driving coil wound around the core;

a motor drive circuit having at least one switching element in which a switching pulse width applied to the switching element is modulated to control current conducting through the driving coil, wherein the motor drive circuit is formed on a circuit substrate that is mechanically separate from the metal substrate; and

a connection device for electrically connecting the metal plate of the substrate to a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit;

wherein the connection device includes a wiring cable and a connector mounted on the substrate and connected to the wiring cable, wherein the metal plate of the substrate and the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit are conductively connected through the wiring cable and the connector; and

wherein the connector includes a tap screw that is conductively connected to the metal plate of the substrate.

14. A direct PWM brushless motor comprising:

a motor main body mounted on a substrate having a metal plate, a dielectric layer formed on the metal plate and a wiring layer formed on the metal plate, the motor main body having a bearing, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the bearing, a rotor capable of rotating with the rotor shaft, and a stator having at least one core with a driving coil wound around the core;

a motor drive circuit having at least one switching element in which a switching pulse width applied to the switching element is modulated to control current conducting through the driving coil, wherein the motor drive circuit is formed on a circuit substrate that is mechanically separate from the metal substrate; and

a connection device for electrically connecting the metal plate of the substrate to a fixed potential of the motor drive circuit;

wherein the connection device includes a lead wire that conductively connects the metal plate of the substrate to the fixed potential of the motor drive circuit; and

wherein the lead wire of the connection device includes a soldered portion or a tap screw that is conductively connected to the metal plate of the substrate.