Fault detection device for inverter system

• US 9,360,515 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hirono, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): RHODES-VIVOUR, TEMILADE S
• Application Number:
  US14/359,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2221/00 Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof covered by H01L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/00 Arrangements for starting electric motors or dynamo-electric converters starting of synchronous motors with electronic commutators H02P6/20, H02P6/22; starting dynamo-electric motors rotating step by step H02P8/04; vector control H02P21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/06 using dc to ac converters or inverters H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/024 Detecting a fault condition, e.g. short circuit, locked rotor, open circuit or loss of load
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/0241 the fault being an overvoltage

Abstract

To provide a fault detection device for an inverter system, that detects a fault in the inverter system including an inverter circuit 2 that converts DC power into AC power and a motor 5 driven thereby. When a driving start signal Sig1 of the inverter circuit 2 is input, a test voltage applying unit 20 applies a predetermined first test voltage to a current measuring unit 10 that measures current flowing in the inverter circuit 2, and it is determined whether the current measuring unit 10 has failed, based on the first test voltage. A control unit 30 applies a predetermined second test voltage to the inverter circuit 2 and the motor 5, and it is determined whether the inverter circuit 2 and a motor coil have failed, based on the second test voltage.

Claims

1. A fault detection device for an inverter system, that detects a fault in the inverter system, the inverter system including:

an inverter circuit which converts input DC power into AC power;

a motor which is driven by the inverter circuit;

a current measuring unit that measures current flowing in the inverter circuit;

a test voltage applying unit which applies a predetermined first test voltage to the current measuring unit when a driving start signal of the inverter circuit is input, whether the current measuring unit has failed being determined based on the applied predetermined first test voltage; and

a control unit which applies a predetermined second test voltage to the inverter circuit and the motor, whether the inverter circuit and a coil of the motor have failed being determined based on the applied second test voltage;

wherein a driving start control of the inverter circuit is stopped upon determining failure of the current measuring unit based on the first test voltage;

wherein the driving start control of the inverter circuit is stopped upon determining the inverter circuit and the coil of the motor have failed based on the second test voltage after determining the current measuring unit is normal; and

wherein driving of the inverter circuit is started upon determining the inverter circuit and the coil of the motor are normal.

2. The fault detection device for an inverter system according to claim 1, wherein when the first test voltage amplified by an amplification circuit provided in the current measuring unit is greater than an upper limit value of a voltage range that is determined in advance based on the first test voltage or is less than a lower limit value thereof, the control unit determines that the current measuring unit has failed.

3. The fault detection device for an inverter system according to claim 1, wherein when the second test voltage amplified by an amplification circuit provided in the current measuring unit is greater than an upper limit value of a voltage range that is determined in advance based on the second test voltage or is less than a lower limit value thereof, the control unit determines that the inverter circuit and the coil of the motor have failed.

4. The fault detection device for an inverter system according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined time elapses from the start of application of the second test voltage, the control unit determines whether the inverter circuit and the coil of the motor have failed.