Electric compressor and control method therefor

• US 6,869,272 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Kazuya, Ieoka, Shoichi, Odachi, Yasuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Koczo, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/197,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 417/44.1, 417/44.11, 417/42, 417/45, 318/565, 318/138, 318/254, 318/439, 318/721, 318/432, 318/433, 318/268, 318/269, 318/270, 318/271, 318/272, 388/909
• US Class Current: 417/44.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0207 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2203/0209 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 27/0895 driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/03 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/08 characterised by varying the rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0085 Prime movers

Abstract

When an electric compressor is activated, initial current data is selected by a selector, and a motor is driven with the torque corresponding to the initial current data. When the motor is driven by a ½ turn, the selector selects current difference data. The current difference data corresponds to an instructed speed. After the switch of the selector, the motor is driven to rotate at the instructed speed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electric compressor having a motor for use in compressing a refrigerant, comprising:

driving the motor with predetermined torque until a rotor of the motor rotates by a predetermined amount of rotation; and

driving the motor at a predetermined speed after the rotor rotates by the predetermined amount of rotation.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

estimating or detecting an initial position of a rotor of the motor when the electric compressor is activated.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

driving the motor in a constant torque mode when the electric compressor is activated until the rotor rotates by the predetermined amount of rotation; and

switching an operation mode of the motor from the constant torque mode to a constant speed mode, when the rotor is driven by a predetermined amount of rotation from the initial position in the constant torque mode.

4. An electric compressor having a motor for use in compressing a refrigerant, comprising:

a controller including

an estimation unit estimating or detecting an initial position of a rotor of the motor when the electric compressor is activated;

a torque mode control unit driving the motor with predetermined torque; and

a speed mode control unit driving the motor at a predetermined speed after the rotor is driven by a predetermined amount of rotation from the initial position with the instruction of the torque mode control unit.

5. The electric compressor according to claim 4, further comprising:

a current detecting unit detecting a current flowing through the motor, wherein

said motor is driven based on a current detected by said current detection unit.