Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor; a second transistor; an interlayer insulating film covering the transistors; a rectangular-shaped first bus formed on the interlayer insulating film and connected to first source/drain regions; a rectangular-shaped second bus formed on the interlayer insulating film with spacing from the first bus and connected to third source/drain regions; an inter-bus interconnect formed between the first and second buses for connecting these buses; a first contact pad provided on the first bus, to which a wire is connected; and a second contact pad provided on the second bus, to which a wire is connected. The inter-bus interconnect is in contact with part of the side of the first bus facing the second bus and part of the side of the second bus facing the first bus. The first and second contact pads are respectively in contact with part of the first and second buses.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor; a second transistor; an interlayer insulating film covering the transistors; a rectangular-shaped first bus formed on the interlayer insulating film and connected to first source/drain regions; a rectangular-shaped second bus formed on the interlayer insulating film with spacing from the first bus and connected to third source/drain regions; an inter-bus interconnect formed between the first and second buses for connecting these buses; a first contact pad provided on the first bus, to which a wire is connected; and a second contact pad provided on the second bus, to which a wire is connected. The inter-bus interconnect is in contact with part of the side of the first bus facing the second bus and part of the side of the second bus facing the first bus. The first and second contact pads are respectively in contact with part of the first and second buses.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a speed control circuit for outputting a speed control signal on the basis of a target speed command and rotating speed information of a motor, a PWM signal generating circuit for generating and outputting a PWM signal on the basis of the speed control signal, a switching circuit for feeding power to motor windings on the basis of the PWM signal, and a protection circuit including a full torque detecting circuit for detecting a full torque status in which the speed control signal is a signal for instructing maximum torque. The protection circuit outputs a signal for stopping the switching circuit when the full torque detecting circuit detects a full torque status continuously for a specified time.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a speed control circuit for outputting a speed control signal on the basis of a target speed command and rotating speed information of a motor, a PWM signal generating circuit for generating and outputting a PWM signal on the basis of the speed control signal, a switching circuit for feeding power to motor windings on the basis of the PWM signal, and a protection circuit including a full torque detecting circuit for detecting a full torque status in which the speed control signal is a signal for instructing maximum torque. The protection circuit outputs a signal for stopping the switching circuit when the full torque detecting circuit detects a full torque status continuously for a specified time.

Abstract: A current detecting switching element is connected to an output circuit having switching elements making a bridge connection, current flowing to the switching element is detected by a current detection circuit in response to a torque command signal, a PWM signal generation circuit generates a PWM signal according to the output, a synthesizing circuit synthesizes the output of a power switch circuit for determining an energized phase to a motor coil and the output signal of the PWM signal generation circuit, and PWM operation of a first state and a second state is repeated to control current supply to the motor coil. The first state enables current supply to the motor coil when the switching element on one side is conducting, the switching element on the other side is nonconducting, and the current detecting switching element is conducting.

Abstract: The motor driver having a plurality of output circuits each having two switching elements connected in series includes: a phase switch circuit for putting a switching element on one side of one output circuit among the plurality of output circuits in the ON state during a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle, and performing switching operation for switching elements on the other side of plural output circuits among the remaining output circuits; and a conduction period control section. The conduction period control section generates a signal for controlling the switching operation. Specifically, when the number of times of switching operation performed during the time period corresponding to the predetermined electrical angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a switching element corresponding to a phase, for which the magnitude of the current should be decreased, is turned OFF in the time period corresponding to the next predetermined electrical angle.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a pulse-width modulator and a PWM frequency switch for switching a carrier frequency of the modulator. The PWM frequency switch changes a carrier frequency in a start-up period of the motor to another frequency when the motor enters into a regular rotation. The carrier frequency in the start-up period is set at a lower level than that in the regular rotation period, so that the driving apparatus can reduce power-loss generated in the start-up period by switching actions of respective driving elements forming a first and a second drivers. In the regular rotation period, the driving apparatus performs PWM-driving with a high enough carrier frequency, so that the motor driven by this driving apparatus can realize accurate rotation.

Abstract: A motor drive method for a motor driver having output circuits each including upper and lower side switching elements connected in series, and a current detection resistance connected in series with the output circuits in common. The motor drive method includes the steps of: turning ON a switching element on one side of one of the output circuits for a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle; and repeatedly switching switching elements on the other side of a plurality of output circuits among the remaining ones of the output circuits. In the switching step, each of a plurality of periods obtained by dividing the time period corresponding to the predetermined electrical angle includes a first period in which one of the switching elements to be switched is turned ON and a second period in which another one of the switching elements is turned ON.

Abstract: A current detecting switching element is connected to an output circuit having switching elements making a bridge connection, current flowing to the switching element is detected by a current detection circuit in response to a torque command signal, a PWM signal generation circuit generates a PWM signal according to the output, a synthesizing circuit synthesizes the output of a power switch circuit for determining an energized phase to a motor coil and the output signal of the PWM signal generation circuit, and PWM operation of a first state and a second state is repeated to control current supply to the motor coil. The first state enables current supply to the motor coil when the switching element on one side is conducting, the switching element on the other side is nonconducting, and the current detecting switching element is conducting.

Abstract: The motor driver having a plurality of output circuits each having two switching elements connected in series includes: a phase switch circuit for putting a switching element on one side of one output circuit among the plurality of output circuits in the ON state during a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle, and performing switching operation for switching elements on the other side of plural output circuits among the remaining output circuits; and an conduction period control section. The conduction period control section generates a signal for controlling the switching operation so that when the number of times of switching operation performed during the time period corresponding to the predetermined electrical angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a switching element corresponding to a phase for which the magnitude of the current should be decreased is turned OFF in the time period corresponding to the next predetermined electrical angle.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus includes a pulse-width modulator and a PWM frequency switch for switching a carrier frequency of the modulator. The PWM frequency switch changes a carrier frequency in a start-up period of the motor to another frequency when the motor enters into a regular rotation. The carrier frequency in the start-up period is set at a lower level than that in the regular rotation period, so that the driving apparatus can reduce power-loss generated in the start-up period by switching actions of respective driving elements forming a first and a second drivers. In the regular rotation period, the driving apparatus performs PWM-driving with a high enough carrier frequency, so that the motor driven by this driving apparatus can realize accurate rotation.

Abstract: A motor driver having output circuits each including upper and lower side switching elements connected in series. The motor driver includes: a current detection resistance connected in series with the output circuits in common; a phase switch circuit for turning ON a switching element on one side of one of the output circuits for a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle and switching switching elements on the other side of a plurality of output circuits among the remaining ones of the output circuits; and an ON-period control section for generating a signal for controlling the switching operation so that each of periods obtained by dividing the time period includes a first period in which a plurality of switching elements are turned ON and a second period in which one of the switching elements turned ON in the first period is kept ON.

Abstract: A motor drive method for a motor driver having output circuits each including upper and lower side switching elements connected in series, and a current detection resistance connected in series with the output circuits in common. The motor drive method includes the steps of: turning ON a switching element on one side of one of the output circuits for a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle; and repeatedly switching switching elements on the other side of a plurality of output circuits among the remaining ones of the output circuits. In the switching step, each of a plurality of periods obtained by dividing the time period corresponding to the predetermined electrical angle includes a first period in which one of the switching elements to be switched is turned ON and a second period in which another one of the switching elements is turned ON.

Abstract: A motor driver having output circuits each including upper and lower side switching elements connected in series. The motor driver includes: a current detection resistance connected in series with the output circuits in common; a phase switch circuit for turning ON a switching element on one side of one of the output circuits for a time period corresponding to a predetermined electrical angle and switching switching elements on the other side of a plurality of output circuits among the remaining ones of the output circuits; and an ON-period control section for generating a signal for controlling the switching operation so that each of periods obtained by dividing the time period includes a first period in which a plurality of switching elements are turned ON and a second period in which one of the switching elements turned ON in the first period is kept ON.