Abstract: A method of starting and/or driving a fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising a BLDC motor having one or more coils, and a bearing comprising a lubricant. The method comprises performing a special action for intentionally heating up the one or more coils and thereby indirectly heating up the lubricant. The method may comprise measuring a temperature of the bearing, or measuring a value related to said temperature, and performing the special action only if said temperature is below a certain threshold temperature. Performing the special action comprises setting an off-time to a first predefined value and setting an on-time to a second predefined value, the first and second predefined value having a first ratio. Starting the motor comprises setting the off-time to a third value and setting the on-time to a fourth predefined value, the third and fourth predefined value having a second ratio larger than the first ratio.

Abstract: Method of driving a single-coil motor having a stator and a rotor and a coil, comprising the steps of: monitoring a position signal and determining when said signal passes a first threshold; b) providing control signals for energizing the coil; c) a predefined period later, providing control signals for stopping or reducing the energization of the coil; d) monitoring a second signal indicative of the coil current, and determining a third time when said signal passes a second threshold level; and monitoring the first signal, and determining a fourth time when said signal passes a third threshold level; e) updating the prediction period; f) repeating steps b) to e). A driver circuit adapted for performing such method. A system comprising such driver circuit.

Abstract: A method for controlling a single coil brushless DC motor, the method comprising at least a first EHP sequence which comprises: driving the motor using a driving signal during a torque generating period, to accelerate the motor, such that during a subsequent generator mode period a phase current goes in generator mode; driving the motor during the generator mode period using a generator mode signal, which allows the phase current to be in generator mode; monitoring the phase current during the generator mode period thereby obtaining phase current information; and determining parameters of a next EHP sequence based on the obtained phase current information.

Abstract: A method for controlling a single-coil BLDC motor, the method comprising: monitoring a signal indicative of a time derivative of a phase current through the coil of the BLDC motor during at least one commutation cycle; determining a first moment of the at least one commutation cycle such that at the first moment the absolute value of the time derivative of the phase current is smaller than or equal to a slope threshold; determining a rising edge of a driving signal in a commutation cycle, based on the first moment of that commutation cycle and/or based on the first moment of at least one earlier commutation cycle, and/or determining a falling edge of the driving signal in that commutation cycle based on the first moment of at least one earlier commutation cycle; driving the single-coil BLDC motor using the driving signal.

Abstract: A motordriver for controlling a brushless DC motor, comprises: an output driver for controlling phase commutation of a power stage; the motordriver can be powered in a pulsed way having a PWM ON and OFF period; a position module for monitoring a position and/or speed of a rotor; at least a part of the position module remains active during the PWM OFF period; a power module configured for powering the active part during the PWM OFF period, comprising an energy storage medium and a blocking module configured such that during the PWM ON period the energy storage medium can be charged by the power supply, and such that the blocking module can block current flowing back to the power supply and block current flowing from the energy storage medium to the motor during the PWM OFF period.

Abstract: A method for detecting rotor position for a single coil DC motor or 2-coil DC motor with non-parallel windings, with no need of Hall position sensor. The method comprises applying a first respectively second probe pulse for generating a first response pulse having a first direction or polarity and a second response pulse having a second direction or polarity. The probe pulses are adapted so they do not substantially move the rotor with respect to the stator, but affect the magnetic properties of the stator. By comparing the measured effects caused by the probe pulses, the initial position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. A method for start-up, a motor driver circuit, and a motor assembly comprising said motor and driver circuit are also provided.

Abstract: Method of driving a single-coil motor having a stator and a rotor and a coil, comprising the steps of: monitoring a position signal and determining when said signal passes a first threshold; b) providing control signals for energizing the coil; c) a predefined period later, providing control signals for stopping or reducing the energization of the coil; d) monitoring a second signal indicative of the coil current, and determining a third time when said signal passes a second threshold level; and monitoring the first signal, and determining a fourth time when said signal passes a third threshold level; e) updating the prediction period; f) repeating steps b) to e). A driver circuit adapted for performing such method. A system comprising such driver circuit.

Abstract: A single phase motor drive circuit for driving a single phase motor, comprising: a timer unit for receiving a sensor signal indicative of an angular position of a rotor, and for providing a timing signal in phase with the sensor signal; a waveform generator for generating a waveform for energizing the motor, the waveform generator being adapted for receiving the timing signal and a configurable setting, and for generating the waveform based thereon; a configuration unit for receiving an input signal indicative of a desired motor speed, the configuration unit being adapted for generating the configurable setting as a function of the input signal, and for providing the setting to the waveform generator to dynamically configure the waveform generator. A method, an assembly and a cooling system includes the single phase motor driver circuit.

Abstract: A method of starting and/or driving a fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising a BLDC motor having one or more coils, and a bearing comprising a lubricant. The method comprises performing a special action for intentionally heating up the one or more coils and thereby indirectly heating up the lubricant. The method may comprise measuring a temperature of the bearing, or measuring a value related to said temperature, and performing the special action only if said temperature is below a certain threshold temperature. Performing the special action comprises setting an off-time to a first predefined value and setting an on-time to a second predefined value, the first and second predefined value having a first ratio. Starting the motor comprises setting the off-time to a third value and setting the on-time to a fourth predefined value, the third and fourth predefined value having a second ratio larger than the first ratio.

Abstract: A single phase motor drive circuit for driving a single phase motor, comprising: a timer unit for receiving a sensor signal indicative of an angular position of a rotor, and for providing a timing signal in phase with the sensor signal; a waveform generator for generating an waveform for energizing the motor, the waveform generator being adapted for receiving the timing signal and at least one configurable setting (Soff), and for generating the waveform based thereon; a configuration unit adapted for receiving a first input signal indicative of a desired motor speed and a second input signal (Vbat) indicative of the supply voltage, and for determining the configurable setting based on the input signals, and for providing the setting to the waveform generator to dynamically configure the waveform generator. A method of driving a single phase motor.

Abstract: A method for detecting rotor position for a single coil DC motor or 2-coil DC motor with non-parallel windings, with no need of Hall position sensor. The method comprises applying a first respectively second probe pulse for generating a first response pulse having a first direction or polarity and a second response pulse having a second direction or polarity. The probe pulses are adapted so they do not substantially move the rotor with respect to the stator, but affect the magnetic properties of the stator. By comparing the measured effects caused by the probe pulses, the initial position of the rotor with respect to the stator is determined. A method for start-up, a motor driver circuit, and a motor assembly comprising said motor and driver circuit are also provided.

Abstract: A single phase motor drive circuit for driving a single phase motor, comprising: a timer unit for receiving a sensor signal indicative of an angular position of a rotor, and for providing a timing signal in phase with the sensor signal; a waveform generator for generating a waveform for energizing the motor, the waveform generator being adapted for receiving the timing signal and a configurable setting, and for generating the waveform based thereon; a configuration unit for receiving an input signal indicative of a desired motor speed, the configuration unit being adapted for generating the configurable setting as a function of the input signal, and for providing the setting to the waveform generator to dynamically configure the waveform generator. A method, an assembly and a cooling system includes the single phase motor driver circuit.

Abstract: Tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle includes sensor units mounted in each tire of the vehicle, each sensor unit being operable to output an RF signal indicative of the pressure in the tire in which it is mounted; a pair of communicator units for receiving signals from said sensor units, said pair of communicator units being provided at different locations on the vehicle; and a control unit connected to said communicator units wherein said control unit is operable to determine which sensor unit is associated with which tire by monitoring the strength of the RF signal received from each respective sensor unit by each communicator unit.

Abstract: Tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle includes sensor units mounted in each tire of the vehicle, each sensor unit being operable to output an RF signal indicative of the pressure in the tire in which it is mounted; a pair of communicator units for receiving signals from said sensor units, said pair of communicator units being provided at different locations on the vehicle; and a control unit connected to said communicator units wherein said control unit is operable to determine which sensor unit is associated with which tire by monitoring the strength of the RF signal received from each respective sensor unit by each communicator unit.