Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor including a mechanical commutator, includes determining points in time at which commutation takes place by a sensor or without a sensor. The method further includes controlling the electric motor by a supply voltage signal having a sequence of pulses. The method further includes modulating the supply voltage signal by a modulation signal to reduce the magnitude of the supply voltage signal at the commutation points in time.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric motor including a mechanical commutator, includes determining points in time at which commutation takes place by a sensor or without a sensor. The method further includes controlling the electric motor by a supply voltage signal having a sequence of pulses. The method further includes modulating the supply voltage signal by a modulation signal to reduce the magnitude of the supply voltage signal at the commutation points in time.

Abstract: In a method for generating a blocking moment in a standstill state of an electrically commutated electric motor having at least two windings, on which electric motor a possibly varying load moment acts from outside in the standstill state, first, a blocking current is supplied at a maximum value into a first winding. This blocking current is successively reduced to, possibly, a minimum value. From that moment the inductivity of the electric motor is controlled, namely by controlling the blocking current if the control deviation between the actual value and the set value of the inductivity exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thereby, it is possible to control the blocking current in an adaptive manner insofar as, despite a varying load moment, the standstill state of the electric motor can be maintained by varying the blocking current.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an indication of a faulty load condition of a multi-phase electric motor includes: (a) starting, a time measurement unit, (b) measuring a recirculation time interval for as long as a current that continues to flow has a magnitude larger than a threshold value, (c) continuing, in case the recirculation time interval is not terminated during the switch-off interval, the time measurement at least in a next switch-off interval, (d) repeating, for additional switch-off intervals the steps (a), (b), and (c) for respective motor phases, (e) comparing (1) the measured recirculation time intervals for respective motor phases with each other and/or (2) for one motor phase in sequential succession with each other and/or (3) with the expectation value of the respective motor phase, and (f) determining, based on a deviation, the indication of the faulty load condition.

Abstract: An electric motor is electrically commutated with the aid of circuitry, in which the phase current experiences a zero crossing at certain time points per motor phase. Owing to the inductive load portion, the time of said zero crossing of a phase current occurs at different times to the time of the zero crossing that would arise with purely ohmic loads. Without a faulty load condition, the time of said zero crossing is within an expected value range (e.g., expected time window) which can be determined by the circuitry, the ambient conditions and by diverse motor parameters. During occurrence of the a high-side and/or low-side phase connection, it is determined whether and when the current through the switched-on high-side of low-side switch becomes greater or smaller than a predeterminable threshold wherein said time measurement can extend over one or more PWM cycles.

Abstract: In a method for generating a blocking moment in a standstill state of an electrically commutated electric motor having at least two windings, on which electric motor a possibly varying load moment acts from outside in the standstill state, first, a blocking current is supplied at a maximum value into a first winding. This blocking current is successively reduced to, possibly, a minimum value. From that moment the inductivity of the electric motor is controlled, namely by controlling the blocking current if the control deviation between the actual value and the set value of the inductivity exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thereby, it is possible to control the blocking current in an adaptive manner insofar as, despite a varying load moment, the standstill state of the electric motor can be maintained by varying the blocking current.

Abstract: An electric motor is electrically commutated with the aid of circuitry, in which the phase current experiences a zero crossing at certain time points per motor phase. Owing to the inductive load portion, the time of said zero crossing of a phase current occurs at different times to the time of the zero crossing that would arise with purely ohmic loads. Without a faulty load condition, the time of said zero crossing is within an expected value range (e.g., expected time window) which can be determined by the circuitry, the ambient conditions and by diverse motor parameters. During occurrence of the a high-side and/or low-side phase connection, it is determined whether and when the current through the switched-on high-side of low-side switch becomes greater or smaller than a predeterminable threshold wherein said time measurement can extend over one or more PWM cycles.

Abstract: An electric motor is electrically commutated with the aid of circuitry, in which the phase current experiences a zero crossing at certain time points per motor phase. Owing to the inductive load portion, the time of said zero crossing of a phase current occurs at different times to the time of the zero crossing that would arise with purely ohmic loads. Without a faulty load condition, the time of said zero crossing is within an expected value range (e.g., expected time window) which can be determined by the circuitry, the ambient conditions and by diverse motor parameters. During occurrence of the a high-side and/or low-side phase connection, it is determined whether and when the current through the switched-on high-side of low-side switch becomes greater or smaller than a predeterminable threshold wherein said time measurement can extend over one or more PWM cycles.

Abstract: An electric motor is electrically commutated with the aid of circuitry, in which the phase current experiences a zero crossing at certain time points per motor phase. Owing to the inductive load portion, the time of said zero crossing of a phase current occurs at different times to the time of the zero crossing that would arise with purely ohmic loads. Without a faulty load condition, the time of said zero crossing is within an expected value range (e.g., expected time window) which can be determined by the circuitry, the ambient conditions and by diverse motor parameters. During occurrence of the a high-side and/or low-side phase connection, it is determined whether and when the current through the switched-on high-side of low-side switch becomes greater or smaller than a predeterminable threshold wherein said time measurement can extend over one or more PWM cycles.

Abstract: According to the disclosure, the electric motor is electrically commutated with the aid of circuitry, in which the phase current experiences a zero crossing at certain time points per motor phase. Owing to the inductive load portion, the time of said zero crossing of a phase current occurs at different times to the time of the zero crossing that would arise with purely ohmic loads. Without a faulty load condition, the time of said zero crossing is within an expected value range (e.g., expected time window) which can be determined by the circuitry, the ambient conditions and by diverse motor parameters.

Abstract: A method for detecting blockages of unipolar stepper motors by analyzing the motor current supply, comprising impressing a current into one or more motor windings using a controllable switch, wherein the switch selectively connects a respective motor winding connection to a supply voltage connection and wherein the connections of each motor winding lying at a common potential are permanently connected to a second supply voltage connection, wherein a current feed variant has phases between the switching of the motor windings, in which phases the motor winding connections are switched with high resistance; detecting the voltage at a motor winding connection at least for the high-resistance phase and comparing the voltage to a threshold; detecting a time interval for which the voltage is greater than the threshold; comparing interval lengths for several motor winding connections, and detecting a blockage based on the comparisons of interval lengths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting blockages of unipolar stepper motors having one or more motor windings by analyzing the motor current supply, comprising the following method steps: impressing an operating current according to a current supply variant for the operation of the unipolar stepper motor into the one or more motor windings thereof by means of one controllable switch per motor winding connection, wherein the switch selectively connects the respective motor winding connection to a first supply voltage connection and wherein the connections of each motor winding lying at a common potential are permanently connected to a second supply voltage connection, wherein the current supply variant has phases between the switching of the motor windings, in which phases the motor winding connections of a motor winding connected to the switches are switched to high impedance, detecting the voltage at a motor winding connection switched to high impedance at least for the high-impedance phase and c

Abstract: In the method for addressing the participants of a bus system, the central control unit connects the bus line to one potential of the operating voltage, while each participant tries to pull the bus line to a reference potential, normally the operating voltage, wherein, due to the current source behavior of the switch placing the bus to the operating voltage, a current is detectable by a detector arranged in the bus line and associated with the participant. When the participant detects this decrease of current, said participant switches off its switch. Due to time-defined slow connection of the switched current sources, this process takes place sequentially within a group of participants until the last participant is reached. The detector associated with this participant does in no case detect a current, such that, after elapse of a predeterminable on-period, the switch of this participant is still open.

Abstract: In the method for addressing the participants (1 to 4) of a bus system, the central control unit (12) connects the bus line (12) to one potential of the operating voltage, while each participant tries to pull the bus line (12) to a reference potential, normally the operating voltage, wherein, due to the current source behaviour of the switch (26) placing the bus to the operating voltage, a current is detectable by a detector (22) arranged in the bus line and associated with the participant (1 to 4). When the participant detects this decrease of current, said participant switches off its switch (26). Due to time-defined slow connection of the switched current sources, this process takes place sequentially within a group of participants until the last participant is reached. The detector associated with this participant does in no case detect a current, such that, after elapse of a predeterminable on-period, the switch (26) of this participant (1 to 4) is still open.

Abstract: The electrical circuit for driving a load comprises a transistor (12;14;22) having a load current flowing therethrough, a measurement device (30,32) for determining the voltage drop across this transistor (12;14;22), a device (42) for impressing a measuring current into the transistor (12;14;22), and a device for determining the resistance value of the transistor (12;14;22) in its ON state, this resistance value being between a known maximum value (RXMAX) and a known minimum value (RXMIN). The device for determining the resistance value is provided with a measuring bridge (36) having the transistor (12;14;22) and a known reference resistor (RR) arranged in its first bridge arm (38) and having three respectively known resistors (R1,R2,R3) arranged in its second bridge arm (40).

Abstract: The electrical circuit for driving a load comprises a transistor (12;14;22) having a load current flowing therethrough, a measurement device (30,32) for determining the voltage drop across this transistor (12;14;22), a device (42) for impressing a measuring current into the transistor (12;14;22), and a device for determining the resistance value of the transistor (12;14;22) in its ON state, this resistance value being between a known maximum value (RXMAX) and a known minimum value (RXMIN). The device for determining the resistance value is provided with a measuring bridge (36) having the transistor (12;14;22) and a known reference resistor (RR) arranged in its first bridge arm (38) and having three respectively known resistors (R1,R2,R3) arranged in its second bridge arm (40).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for recognizing the step of stepping motors by analyzing the current that flows through the motor, without using any sensors. In order to overcome the problems caused by the use of a shunt resistance, the resulting current measurement errors and toggling, and to ensure an as disturbance-free and reliable operation as possible in all operation states of both unipolar and bipolar stepping motors, the disclosed process has the following steps: a defined current is transmitted to a motor winding after a reversal of the current flow direction in a first motor winding; a motor winding connection is switched with a high ohmic value; the response signal at the motor winding connection switched with a high ohmic value is sensed; the length of the response signal is evaluated. Alternatively, triggering is provoked by an external triggering signal, independently of the reversal of the current flow direction.