Motor drive device that combined charge controller

• US 7,332,882 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Aoyagi, Shigehisa, Endo, Tsunehiro, Shirahama, Hidefumi, Ito, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLON SANTANA, EDUARDO
• Application Number:
  US11/493,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1407 on vehicles not being driven by a motor, e.g. bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5395 by pulse-width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A voltage detector is connected to a connection terminal connected to one phase of an AC output of an inverter through a diode. A removable charge power supply is connected to said connection terminal and another connection terminal. A charge-power-supply connection judging circuit judges whether the charge power supply is or isn'"'"'t connected, based on a charge power supply voltage detected by a voltage detector. A mode change control circuit outputs switch signal by the result of said judgment. By receiving this switch signal, the inverter controller switches the operation of the inverter between the Motor Drive mode or the Battery Charge mode.

Thereby, a motor drive device detects a connecting status of an external charge power supply and steadily switches the operation of the inverter between the Motor Drive mode or the Battery Charge mode.

Claims

1. A motor drive device equipped with an AC motor, an inverter, a rechargeable battery, a charge power supply, and an inverter controller and capable of doubling as a device to control charging of the rechargeable battery, wherein

the inverter controller of the motor drive device comprises

a connection judging section for judging whether the charge power supply is connected, and

a mode switch controller for switching between a Motor Drive mode which converts a DC voltage of the rechargeable battery into an AC voltage by the inverter and supplies the AC voltage to the AC motor and a Battery Charge mode which supplies the DC voltage from the rechargeable battery to the inverter through a winding of the AC motor and drives semiconductor switching devices to charge the rechargeable battery;

the connection judging section inputs a voltage value detected on the terminals connected to the charge power supply, compares the detected voltage value by a predetermined voltage value, and outputs whether the charge power supply is connected; and

the mode switch controller inputs the output from the connection judging section and switches between the Motor Drive mode and the Battery Charge mode after a predetermined mode transition period.

2. The motor drive device of claim 1, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device interrupts the operation of the inverter in the mode transition period in which the mode changes from Motor Drive mode to Battery Charge mode.

3. The motor drive device of claim 1, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which performs position-sensing control by using the output of a sensor which detects the position of the rotor of the AC motor in the Motor Drive mode.

4. The motor drive device of claim 1, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which performs position-sensorless control by estimating the rotor of the AC motor in the Motor Drive mode.

5. The motor drive device of claim 1, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which drives semiconductor switching devices respectively provided on multiple arms of the inverter in the Battery Charge mode.

6. A motor drive device equipped with an inverter which inputs direct current and outputs three-phase alternating current, a three-phase AC motor, a rechargeable battery, a charge power supply, and an inverter controller and capable of doubling as a device to control charging of the rechargeable battery, wherein

the inverter controller of the motor drive device comprises

a connection judging section for judging whether the charge power supply is connected,

a mode switch controller for switching between a Motor Drive mode which converts a DC voltage of the rechargeable battery into a three-phase AC voltage by the inverter and supplies the three-phase AC voltage to the three-phase AC motor and a Battery Charge mode which supplies the DC voltage from the rechargeable battery to the inverter through a winding of the three-phase AC motor and drives semiconductor switching devices of the inverter to charge the rechargeable battery, and

an inverter driving circuit which outputs signals to drive semiconductor switching devices of the inverter;

the connection judging section inputs a voltage value detected on the terminals connected to the charge power supply, compares the detected voltage value by a predetermined voltage value, and outputs whether the charge power supply is connected;

the mode switch controller inputs the output from the connection judging section and switches between the Motor Drive mode and the Battery Charge mode after a predetermined mode transition period; and

the inverter driving circuit turns off semiconductor switching devices of upper and lower arms relative to one output phase of the inverter, applies a DC voltage of the charge power supply to semiconductor switching devices of arms which output the other two phases through windings of the three-phase AC motor, and turns on and off semiconductor switching devices of arms which output the other two phases.

7. The motor drive device of claim 6, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device interrupts the operation of the inverter in the mode transition period in which the mode changes from Motor Drive mode to Battery Charge mode.

8. The motor drive device of claim 6, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which performs position-sensing control by using the output of a sensor which detects the position of the rotor of the AC motor in the Motor Drive mode.

9. The motor drive device of claim 6, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which performs position-sensorless control by estimating the rotor of the three-phase AC motor in the Motor Drive mode.

10. A motor drive device equipped with a three-phase AC motor, an inverter, a rechargeable battery, and an inverter controller and capable of doubling as a device to control charging of the rechargeable battery, wherein

the inverter controller of the motor drive device comprises

a connection judging section which inputs a voltage value detected on the terminals connected to the charge power supply, compares the detected voltage value by a predetermined voltage value, and outputs whether the charge power supply is connected,

a mode switch controller which inputs the output from the connection judging section and switches, after a predetermined mode transition period, between a Motor Drive mode which converts a DC voltage of the rechargeable battery into a three-phase AC voltage by the inverter and supplies the three-phase AC voltage to the three-phase AC motor and a Battery Charge mode which supplies the DC voltage from the rechargeable battery to the inverter through a winding of the three-phase AC motor and drives semiconductor switching devices of the inverter to charge the rechargeable battery, and

an inverter driving circuit which outputs signals to drive semiconductor switching devices of the inverter;

and

a module in which the inverter and the inverter controller are mounted on the same package.

11. The motor drive device of claim 10, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive interrupts the operation of the inverter in the mode transition period in which the mode changes from Motor Drive mode to Battery Charge mode.

12. The motor drive device of claim 10, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which performs position-sensing control by using the output of a sensor which detects the position of the rotor of the three-phase AC motor in the Motor Drive mode.

13. The motor drive device of claim 10, wherein the inverter controller of the motor drive device is equipped with an inverter driving circuit which performs position-sensorless control by estimating the rotor of the three-phase AC motor in the Motor Drive mode.