Abstract: An electronically commutated asynchronous motor (12) features a stator (202), a short-circuit rotor (204), a controller (FOR 20) for field-oriented regulation of the motor (12), a sensor magnet (274) in thermally conductive connection with the short-circuit rotor (204), a rotor position sensor (14A; 18; 18?) arranged at a predetermined distance (d) from the sensor magnet (274) to generate an output signal (HALL, U, U1, U2) that is dependent upon the spatial orientation of the sensor magnet (274), and a temperature evaluation apparatus (CALC_T 44) configured to ascertain, during operation, from the sensor output signal (HALL, U, U1, U2), a temperature value (T) that characterizes a temperature (T_SM, T_S) in the motor (12).

Abstract: An improved electric motor has a rotor (124), a stator (125) having at least one phase winding strand (126), an output stage (122) for influencing the current flow in said phase winding strand, a DC link circuit (170) for supplying the output stage (122) with current, including a link circuit capacitor (178), and a control unit (132) having an arrangement (152) for sensing a value characterizing the current recharge into the link circuit capacitor (178), which control unit (132) is configured to specify commutation instants as a function of the sensed value, and to perform commutation operations in the power stage (122) at the commutation instants thus specified. Avoiding a need for prolonged “currentless intervals” permits achieving higher efficiency and power output, particularly in a motor having less than three winding phases.

Abstract: An electric motor has a stator (224) having a bearing tube (238) made of a magnetically transparent material; it also has a rotor (222) having a rotor shaft (234) that is at least partially journaled in the bearing tube (238), and has a ring magnet (250) that is fixedly arranged on the rotor shaft (234) inside the bearing tube (238). Two magnetic-field-dependent analog sensors (248?, 248?) are arranged on a circuit board (246) outside the bearing tube (238), at an angular distance (PHI) from one another, in order to generate rotor position signals as a function of the rotational position of the ring magnet (250). A corresponding device (150) that serves to control the motor is provided, in order to process these rotor position signals into a signal that indicates the absolute rotational position of the rotor (222).

Abstract: An electrically driven fan arrangement, suitable for energy-conserving installations, includes a fan, an electric motor (110) serving to drive the fan, and associated control apparatus, namely: a sensing apparatus (140) for sensing a volumetric air flow rate (125) generated by the fan (120) and for generating a measured volumetric air flow value (Vmess), and a volumetric flow rate control arrangement (160) for automatically controlling the volumetric air flow rate (125) generated by the fan (120) to a predetermined target volumetric air flow value (V_s). The volumetric flow rate control arrangement (160) is configured to generate a target rotation speed value (N_s) for the electric motor (110). A rotation speed controller (170), which automatically controls the rotation speed of the electric motor (110) to the target rotation speed rate (N_s) generated by the volumetric flow rate control arrangement (160), is also provided.

Abstract: A two-stranded electronically commutated DC motor has a permanent-magnet rotor (36), power supply terminals (28, 30) for connecting the motor to a current source (22) and a stator (102) having a winding arrangement which includes first and second winding strands (52, 54). The latter are controlled by respective first and second semiconductor switches (70, 80). The motor also has a third controllable semiconductor switch (50), arranged in a supply lead from one of the terminals (28, 30) to the winding strands (52, 54), which third switch is alternately switched on and off by applying to it a PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) signal 24. During switch-off intervals, magnetic flux energy stored in the motor causes a decaying loop current (i2) to run through the windings, continuing to drive the rotor. This facilitates conformal mapping of temperature information in the PWM signal onto a target motor rotation speed.

Abstract: An electronically commutated electric motor (110) has a permanent-magnet rotor (28), a stator having a stator winding arrangement (40), a motor control module (20) implemented as an IC and having a control logic unit (27), and an external power stage (50), separate from the IC, for influencing the current flow in the stator winding arrangement (40). The motor control module (20) has an internal power stage (29) having at least one open collector output (21, 23). The control logic unit (27) is configured to process a rotor position signal (24?, 24?) and to generate therefrom control signals (27?) for the internal power stage (29), which control signals (27?) serve to apply control to the internal power stage (29). Using an external power stage (50) reduces vulnerability to motor overheating and provides design flexibility.

Abstract: For many applications, it is desirable to use fans which weigh less than 30 grams and are driven by electric motors not more than a few centimeters in size. Mass-producing products this small, which nevertheless must be extremely reliable, poses unique manufacturing challenges, which are best overcome by an improved structure which is susceptible to automation. Preferably, the fan motor is electronically commutated and has an internal stator (50) and an external rotor (22) supported on a central rotor shaft (34). The shaft is journaled within a bearing tube (70) supporting first and second rotor bearings (72, 76). By injection-molding the bearing tube (70) with first and second axial extensions (90?, 90?), the extensions can hold the bearings in place and insure uniform manufacturing quality and a desirably long service life. One of the extensions can also be shaped to abut against a circuit board (46) which supports components which control commutation.

Abstract: An electronically commutated motor has a permanent-magnet rotor (124) having: at least two rotor poles (183, 186, 188, 189); at least one phase (126); a power stage (122); and a rotor position sensor (140). Associated therewith is a control circuit implemented to carry out the following steps in order to even out the motor current (320): A) after a change of the rotor position signal (182), referred to as a first pole change, a first value (I_MEAS(HCnt?1)) of the current through the at least one phase (126) is ascertained; B) after a predetermined time span (T_Default+T_Offset(HCnt?1)), a new commutation is carried out; C) after a change of the rotor position signal (182), referred to as a second pole change, a second value for the motor current (I_MEAS(HCnt)) is ascertained; D) as a function of the difference between the first value (I_MEAS(HCnt?1)) and second value (I_MEAS(HCnt)), the value for the predetermined time span is modified.

Abstract: A control circuit for an electronically commutated motor (120), having a power stage (122) that comprises at least two semiconductor switches (216, 218) to influence the motor current. The semiconductor switches are controllable by way of commutation signals. The control circuit comprises a current measuring element (170) to make available a motor current control variable (I) dependent on the motor current, a base diode (240) that is arranged in series with the current measuring element and between the current measuring element and the at least two semiconductor switches, and a motor current setting element (180) with which the commutation signals can be influenced as a function of the motor current control variable.

Abstract: An easy-to-assemble electric motor (21) features an internal stator (50), an external rotor (22) having a shaft (34), which external rotor is configured as a rotor cup or bell (24) having an outer side and an inner side (25), a bearing tube (70) for receiving a bearing arrangement (60) journaling the shaft (34), which bearing tube (70) has a first end portion (71) facing toward the inner side (25) of the external rotor (22) and being formed with an inwardly protruding stop (73), the bearing tube having a second end portion (75) facing away from the first end portion (71) and being joined to a plastic part (80) that likewise forms an inwardly protruding stop (77) adjacent a second end portion (75), the bearing arrangement (60) being located in the bearing tube (70) in a chamber defined between said two inwardly protruding stops (73, 77).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically commutated motor (10) and to a method of controlling an electronically commutated motor (10). In order to reduce commutation noise, it is proposed to influence the working range of the power-stage transistors (20, 22) with the aid of a component (48), in such a way that each transistors produces, during energization of each respective stator winding, a substantially constant current through the stator winding (12, 14). Preferably, each power-stage transistor operates within a pinch-off range.

Abstract: An arrangement for conveying fluids has a fluid pump (174) having a rotatably journaled pump wheel (172) that is joined to a first permanent magnet (186) and an electronically commutated internal-rotor motor (152) having a stator (154) and a rotor (156), as well as a shaft (160) associated with the latter, which shaft is journaled rotatably relative to the stator (154) . The arrangement also has a second permanent magnet (184) joined nonrotatably to the rotor (156) , which magnet coacts with the first permanent magnet (186) to serve as a magnetic coupling. A separating can (170, 180, 188) hermetically separates the first permanent magnet (186) arranged inside the separating can, from the second permanent magnet (184) arranged outside the separating can. A fan wheel (218) mounted on the motor shaft, provides cooling air.

Abstract: An equipment fan has a housing (100) which is configured as a plug-in module for an equipment rack. The housing has a front side (102) and a back side (104), the latter being slid into the equipment rack (320) first upon installation. For latching into this kind of equipment, the housing (100) has at least one resiliently deflectable detent member (142, 152), which, for its actuation, is associated with a respective actuation member (144, 154) that is operable from the front side of the housing. Troughs (160, 170) are located on the front side (102), and a respective actuator (146, 148, 156, 158) for each deflectable member is located in each. The detent member (142, 152) has pretensioning which urges the detent member away from the housing (100) so that, when the housing is slid into a piece of equipment, latching of the housing (100) therein is accomplished.

Abstract: An electronically commutated motor (ECM 20) has terminals (56, 62) for connection to a DC power source (63). It has a permanent-magnet rotor (22), also a first and a second series circuit (40, 50) in each of which a stator winding strand (30, 32) is connected in series with a controllable semiconductor switch (34, 44), which two series circuits are connected in parallel to form a parallel circuit (52). In addition to the strand-connected switches (34, 44) typically found in an ECM, in a supply lead to said parallel circuit (52), a third controllable semiconductor switch (60) controls energy supply from the DC power source (63). In order to increase motor efficiency and minimize the size of any motor capacitor required, special switching steps are performed so that electromagnetic energy, remaining in the winding(s) after shutoff of power application, is converted into motor torque, instead of being dissipated as heat.

Abstract: An improved drum motor, preferably electronically commutated, features a unitary stationary central shaft (18) supporting a stationary inner stator (52), and an external rotor (49), including permanent magnets (54), secured to an inner surface of a generally cylindrical rotatable casing part (18). This permits variable speed operation while avoiding any need for an internal gear linkage. Safety is improved by making sealing plates (76, 78) at respective axial ends of the casing (14) stationary, and providing an annular peripheral seal (90) around each sealing plate. Respective rolling bearings (24, 44) near each end of the casing (14) facilitate rotation of the external rotor (49) relative to the stator (52), and a clamping arrangement (30) minimizes noise from the bearings.

Abstract: An arrangement, for heat dissipation from a component that is to be cooled, features: a pump for pumping a coolant, which pump comprises a pump rotor; a fan that comprises a fan rotor associated with which is an electric motor to drive it, the pump rotor and the fan rotor being separated from one another in fluid-tight fashion and drivingly connected to one another via a magnetic coupling. A corresponding method for heat dissipation from a component that is to be cooled, uses a fan having a fan rotor and a drive motor, a pump having a pump rotor, a coolant that is pumpable by means of the pump, to perform the steps of A) imparting a rotational motion to the fan rotor by means of the drive motor; B) imparting a rotational motion to the pump rotor via the magnetic coupling; and C) causing the coolant to flow by the rotational motion of the pump.

Abstract: A circuit board (20) is equipped with at least one conductor path (22) and a contact element (44). The latter is adapted to mechanically engage and electrically contact an electrical conductor (66). In the region of a conductor path (22), the circuit board (20) has passthrough orifices (24, 26, 28, 30, 32). The contact element (44) has a base part (46) and feet (34, 36, 38, 40, 42) which press-fit into the orifices (24 to 32) of the circuit board (20). The contact element (44) has a contact tongue (54) that is resiliently articulated on the base part (46) and clamps the electrical conductor (66). This makes possible a secure connection from the electrical conductor (66) to the circuit board (20), e.g. for connecting a device having a large current demand.