Method for the detection of abnormalities of electric motors

• US 7,385,365 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Feick, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin; Rita
• Application Number:
  US10/503,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20050092105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 318/254, 318/138, 318/439, 318/434, 318/700, 318/708, 318/400.01, 318/400.07, 318/400.08, 318/400.14, 318/400.15, 318/400.16, 361/23
• US Class Current: 318/400.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/02 Providing protection against overload without automatic interruption of supply protection against faults of stepper motors H02P8/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/34 Modelling or simulation for control purposes

Abstract

In a method for error detection of a brushless electric motor, at least one first motor parameter is measured or determined, and a second, estimated motor parameter is estimated on the basis of the first motor parameter. The second, estimated motor parameter is compared to a second, measured or determined motor parameter. An error of the electric motor can be found out according to the comparison.

Claims

1. Method for error detection of a brushless electric motor,

wherein at least one first motor parameter is measured or determined, and a second estimated motor parameter is estimated on the basis of the first motor parameter, wherein the second estimated motor parameter is compared to a nominal current producing a motor torque, and an error of the electric motor is found out according to the comparison, wherein an estimated current producing a motor torque and a quantity derived therefrom is the second estimated motor parameter and is estimated based on at least one phase motor current and a rotor position or a phase position of the electric motor, and wherein an absolute rotor position or an absolute phase position relative to a stator of the electric motor is defined by measuring a respective actual phase position variation of the rotor relative to the stator and determining the absolute phase position therefrom.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the second estimated motor parameter is estimated on the basis of a model.

5. Method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the error of the electric motor is detected by comparing a requested torque of the brushless electric motor and a current consumption of an end stage that actuates the electric motor.

6. Method a s claimed in claim 1,

wherein, if an error is found out, an alarm is issued.

7. Method a s claimed in claim 1,

wherein, if an error is found out, an error report is issued and a redundant system is activated.

3. Method for error detection of a brushless electric motor,

wherein at least one first motor parameter is measured or determined, and a second estimated motor parameter is estimated on the basis of the first motor parameter, wherein the second estimated motor parameter is compared to a nominal current producing a motor torque, and an error of the electric motor is found out according to the comparison, wherein an estimated current producing a motor torque and a quantity derived therefrom is the second estimated motor parameter and is estimated based on at least one phase motor current and a rotor position or a phase position of the electric motor, and wherein the at least one phase motor current is estimated based on phase voltages in consideration of induced countervoltages proportional to rotational speed.

4. Method for error detection of a brushless electric motor,

wherein at least one first motor parameter is measured or determined, and a second estimated motor parameter is estimated on the basis of the first motor parameter, wherein the second estimated motor parameter is compared to a nominal current producing a motor torque, and an error of the electric motor is found out according to the comparison, wherein an estimated current producing a motor torque and a quantity derived therefrom is the second estimated motor parameter, and wherein a temperature of the electric motor or windings of the electric motor or both is measured and also taken into consideration in estimating the estimated current producing the motor torque.