Linear electric motor controller and system for providing linear control

• US 7,265,516 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 2112376 Ontario Limited (Carter Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 2112376 Ontario Limited (Carter Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: LaCroix, Michael Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/017,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 388/806
• US Class Current: 318/806
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0822 Integrated protection, motor control centres
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/02 Providing protection against overload without automatic interruption of supply protection against faults of stepper motors H02P8/36

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of, and system for, linear speed control for an electric motor, in which a digital to analog converter means is used for converting an 8-bit digital signal to an analog voltage for setting voltage across a motor, a digital state machine means is used for converting the duty cycle of an input signal for output to the digital to analog converter means, and a closed loop feedback loop means is used for monitoring and setting the voltage across the motor. An over-current sense circuit can be used for monitoring the current across the electric motor. An over/under voltage sense circuit can be used for monitoring voltage of the electric motor. The resulting 8-bit digital control signal is converted to an analog voltage for the electric motor. Such methods and systems find particular use in automotive applications.

Claims

1. An electric motor linear speed controller, comprising:

a digital to analog converter means for converting an 8-bit digital signal to an analog voltage for setting voltage across a motor;

a digital state machine means comprising digital logic means and a state machine for converting the duty cycle of an input signal for output to the digital to analog converter means, wherein the digital logic means converts the input signal to a digital signal that identifies the duty cycle for input to the state machine; and

a closed loop feedback means for monitoring and setting the voltage across the motor.

2. The controller according to claim 1, further comprising an over-current sense circuit for monitoring the current across the electric motor.

3. The controller according to claim 1, further comprising an over/under voltage sense circuit for monitoring a supply voltage to the electric controller.

10. A system for controlling an electric automotive component comprising a component and the electric motor linear speed controller of claim 1.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the component is an electric motor.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the component is an electric light.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising an over-current sense circuit for monitoring the current across the electric motor.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising an over/under voltage sense circuit for monitoring a supply voltage to the electric controller.

4. A circuit arrangement in a variable speed electric motor controller, comprising:

a controller logic circuit for operating a controller logic finite state machine to convert an input signal to a digital signal to identify a duty cycle for input to the state machine, wherein the state machine sets the voltage supplied to an electric motor; and

a closed loop feedback circuit for generating a signal indicating the voltage across the electric motor, the signal being for comparison to the voltage set by the state machine.

5. The circuit arrangement of claim 4, wherein the state machine comprises at least a running state.

6. The circuit arrangement of claim 5, further comprising one or more of the following set of states:

a sleep state, a lockout state, an overcurrent state, a timeout state, or a battery check state.

7. The circuit arrangement of claim 4, wherein the controller logic circuit comprises a microprocessor and a memory, each configured for collectively controlling the state machine.

8. The circuit arrangement of claim 4, additionally comprising a digital to analog converter for converting an 8-bit digital signal to an analog voltage for setting the voltage supplied to the electric motor.

9. The circuit arrangement of claim 4, wherein the circuit arrangement is directly coupled with the electric motor.

15. An automobile comprising the circuit arrangement of claim 4.

16. The automobile of claim 15, wherein the circuit arrangement comprises a temperature-control system.

17. A linear speed controller for an automotive electric motor, comprising:

a digital state machine for converting the duty cycle of an input signal for setting the voltage to be supplied to the motor, wherein the duty cycle is provided to the digital state machine by digital circuitry that receives the input signal in pulse-width modulated form in accordance with the duty cycle;

an over-current sense circuit, for monitoring the current across said electric motor;

an over/under voltage sense circuit, for monitoring a supply voltage to the electric controller;

a digital to analog converter, for converting an 8-bit digital signal to analog voltage for setting voltage across said electric motor; and

a closed loop feedback loop adapted and configured to monitor the voltage across said motor and a generate a feedback signal for adjusting the voltage supplied to the motor.