Abstract: A motor controlling apparatus having a controller for controlling a plurality of inverters correspondingly provided to each of a plurality of alternating-current motors is reduced in size, mass, and cost by effectively grouping operations performed by each calculation unit included in the controller. This controller for controlling the inverters includes: a first common calculation unit and a second common calculation unit that calculate and output control signals that are common to each of the inverters; individual calculation units that individually calculate and output a control signal related to each of the inverters; and a common logic calculation unit 60 that outputs a gate signal for controlling switching of each of the inverters based on the signals received from the first common calculation unit, the second common calculation unit, and the individual calculation units.

Abstract: A motor driving device (100) includes an inverter (20), a speed control unit (40), and a regeneration preventing means (50). The inverter (20) converts supplied DC power to driving power for driving a motor (10), and supplies the driving power to the motor (10). The speed control unit (40) generates a speed control signal group based on a speed command signal Sref and a speed detection signal N, and adjusts the driving power based on a drive control signal VSP1 included in the speed control signal group, thereby controlling the speed of the motor (10).

Abstract: A drive device for a brushless motor executes an abnormality diagnosis (disconnection/short-circuit) of a motor side circuit. In detecting abnormality of the motor side circuit, the drive device includes a terminal voltage monitor circuit that monitors a terminal voltage of an output terminal that is connected to a motor terminal of respective phases. A microcomputer starts abnormality diagnosis under a condition where the motor is stopped, and an object to be driven has normally operated at the time of driving the motor. For executing the abnormality diagnosis, the microcomputer turns on/off only a transistor of the drive circuit of one phase in a state where all of transistors are turned off, and acquires monitor signals to execute the abnormality diagnosis based on signal levels of the monitor signals.

Abstract: A motor drive circuit includes a transistor that is connected in parallel to a first voltage divider resistance that forms a voltage divider circuit between the source and the gate of a second interrupting MOSFET. If a reverse connection of the battery occurs, a compensation drive circuit turns on the transistor using an output from the battery so that the source and the gate of the second interrupting MOSFET are short-circuited. Thus, formation of a closed circuit that includes the battery and the inverter circuit is prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent both terminals of the battery from being short-circuited.

Abstract: A motor lock detection circuit for detecting lock of a motor, comprising: a binarizing circuit to binarize a signal, obtained from the motor, having a frequency corresponding to rotation speed of the motor, to generate a binary signal; an edge detecting circuit to generate an edge detection signal when detecting an edge of the binary signal; a first counter to count based on a first counter clock, be reset according to the edge detection signal generated by the edge detecting circuit, and generate a count signal when counting for a first count period longer than an interval between edges of the binary signal; and a second counter to count based on a second counter clock, be reset according to the count signal, and generate a motor lock detection signal indicative of detection of lock of the motor when counting for a second count period longer than the first count period.

Abstract: A voltage command value of a converter is set by executing the step of determining a candidate voltage of a system voltage VH as a converter output voltage in a voltage range from the minimum necessary voltage corresponding to induction voltage of a motor generator and a maximum output voltage of the converter; the step of estimating power loss at the battery, converter, inverter and motor generator, at each candidate voltage, and calculating total sum of estimated power loss of the overall system; and the step of setting the voltage command value VH# based on the candidate voltage that minimizes the total sum of estimated power losses among the candidate voltages.

Abstract: A motor control device that includes a first speed estimator estimating the rotation speed of the rotor of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor and that controls the motor so that a first estimated rotation speed estimated by the first speed estimator follows the specified speed value further includes a second speed estimator that estimates the rotation speed of the rotor by an estimation method different from that used by the first speed estimator. The motor control device detects synchronization failure based on a comparison between a second estimated rotation speed estimated by the second speed estimator and the first estimated rotation speed or the specified speed value.

Abstract: A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.

Abstract: The invention teaches a brushless DC motor, comprising a brushless DC motor unit and a controller unit, wherein the brushless DC motor unit comprises a stator assembly, a permanent magnet rotor assembly magnetically coupled with the stator assembly, an enclosure supporting the installation of stator assembly and the permanent magnet rotator assembly, an end shield installed at the end of the enclosure, the rotating shaft of the permanent magnet rotor assembly projecting out of the end shield; the controller unit comprises an integrated power module, a microprocessor unit, a rotor position sensing circuit, a power source circuit, an I/O interface circuit, a current-sensing circuit, and a controller box; and the controller unit is electrically connected to the brushless DC motor unit.

Abstract: A dual redundant permanent magnet type dynamoelectric machine includes a dual flux throttle system to selectively disable one of a first motor and a second motor.

Abstract: A drive device having an electric motor with a device for field oriented control of the electric motor and a method for operation thereof is disclosed. An error monitoring of a transducer on the electric motor is achieved by a comparator device for comparing a transducer signal of the transducer on the electric motor with a calculated parameter of the field oriented control, the comparator device recognizing a transducer error and/or a coupling error. The coupling error relates to a coupling for mounting the transducer on the electric motor.

Abstract: In a normal operating mode, a motor controller provides motor drive current to windings of a motor based on sensor signals to drive the windings in a normal commutation sequence, and monitors for occurrence of a motor stall condition. Upon detecting the motor stall condition in a given commutation state, then in a first driving step, the windings are momentarily driven according to an advanced commutation state, and during the first driving step, a reverse transition of the sensor signals to a state corresponding to a preceding commutation state is detected.

Abstract: A device for driving a single phase motor is provided. The device controls the rotation of the single phase motor according to at least a control signal. The single phase motor driving device includes a control apparatus and a detection apparatus. The control apparatus detects the rotation or stopped rotation of the single phase motor, and outputs a detection signal and at least the control signal. The detection apparatus coupled to the control apparatus generates a first comparison signal and a second comparison signal according to the detection signal, compares the first comparison signal with the second comparison signal to generate a comparison result, and then further outputs a rotation signal or a stopped rotation signal according the comparison result; wherein the control apparatus generates the at least the control signal according the rotation signal and the stopped rotation signal.

Abstract: In an AC rotating machine, a stator is provided with N-phase stator windings and located relative to the rotor. The N is an integer equal to or greater than 3, and the N-phase stator windings are arranged to be electrically isolated from each other. An inverter circuit is provided with first to N-th full-bridge inverters. Each of the first to N-th full-bridge inverters includes a first pair of series-connected switching elements and a second pair of series-connected switching elements. The first pair of series-connected switching elements and the second pair of series-connected switching elements are connected in parallel to each other. Each of the first to N-th full-bridge inverters is configured to individually apply a single-phase AC voltage to a corresponding one of the N-phase stator windings to thereby create a torque that rotates the rotor.

Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus includes a battery that is a direct current power source, a converter that increases the voltage of the battery, an inverter connected to a motor that drives the vehicle, an inverter connected to a motor generator that functions as a motor or generator, and a motor control device that controls the motor. The vehicle drive device is also provided with a voltmeter, non-energized state determination devices that determine a non-energized state of the inverters, and ammeters that detect currents applied to a motor from each phase arm of the inverters. Signals of these devices and a signal from the non-energized state determination device are sent to the motor control device.

Abstract: To provide a solar circulation pump for connection to a photovoltaic panel device, comprising an electric motor which is electronically commutated and has a control device for supplying a periodic commutation signal, it is proposed that the control device be so configured that the commutation signal is varied with respect to the ratio of switch-on time to switch-off time.

Abstract: A method for determining a direction of rotation for an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The motor is configured to rotate a blower and the method comprises rotating the blower using the ECM and determining if the resulting blower rotation is indicative of the desired direction of rotation for the blower.

Abstract: In order to control an electromotive drive, a control unit has control modules for controlling half-bridge end power stages. Two of the control modules are pre-configured for alternatively controlling a commutator motor or a brushless electric motor via two half-bridge end power stages. A third control module can be subsequently configured to control a third half-bridge end power stage or two individual switching elements. An electromotive drive ideally can be configured with the stated control unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.

Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a direct current power source, a three-phase alternating current motor, and a motor driving circuit. An emergency switching element is provided on at least two phases of a three-phase power supply line connected to the three-phase alternating current motor within the motor driving circuit, and the emergency switching element is turned off when an abnormality occurs such that the motor driving circuit is disconnected from the three-phase alternating current motor. The emergency switching element is a MOSFET, and the MOSFETs are provided in pairs in each of the two phases of the three-phase power supply line. Further, parasitic diodes of the pairs of MOSFETs are disposed in opposite orientations to each other.

Abstract: A load driving device includes a driver that supplies drive current to a load having an inductance component, a current sensing resistor that generates sensed voltage corresponding to switching current that flows in the driver, a switch circuit that delivers one of the sensed voltage and a predetermined bias voltage selectively, a comparator that compares a selected voltage of the switch circuit with a predetermined reference voltage, and a logic circuit that generates a drive control signal for the driver based on a comparison output signal of the comparator, so as to perform constant-current chopping control of the drive current with improved stability of the constant-current chopping control while avoiding malfunction due to noise.

Abstract: A protective device enables reliably cutting a drive region off the power supply of a guided vehicle. The drive region is connectible to the power supply via at least one drive region switch and it comprises stator sections that are strung together. The sections are connectible to a drive region supply line by way of a stator section switch. The protective device has a control unit for opening at least one switch in the event of a malfunction. The object is to provide a protective device that is inexpensive and that allows a flexible allocation of the power supply to the drive regions. For this purpose, the control is adapted to open all stator section switches and the one or more drive regions switches in the event of a malfunction.

Abstract: Method and system for motor oscillatory state detection. According to various embodiments, the present invention presents a method for determining whether a motor is in an oscillatory state. The method includes powering up a motor for a period of time and then monitoring the movement of the motor during a period after the power if turned off. Based on the movement of the motor and/or impeller during a time period after the power is turned off, whether the motor is in an oscillatory state is determined. The method also includes initiating a process for handle error if the motor is in the oscillation state.

Abstract: A method is described for determining an operating state on triggering a fan motor, the fan motor being operated with the aid of a switching device, the switching device being activated via a pulse-width-modulated triggering signal, a pulse duty factor of the triggering signal predefining a triggering state of the fan motor, a voltage potential at the node between fan motor and switching device or a motor current being measured as a measured variable, an operating state being determined on triggering the fan motor as a function of the measured variable and the pulse duty factor.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor is arranged to determine the position of the motor from at least one electrical parameter by means of a position determining algorithm. It is further arranged to monitor at least one algorithm parameter defined by the algorithm and if the monitored parameter meets a predetermined fault condition to generate a fault indication.

Abstract: Stall detection apparatus for an electric motor controller has an input for receiving a drive error flag indicating if the controller is unable to achieve the required motor velocity and an input for receiving a signal in order to measure, directly or indirectly, the actual motor velocity. The actual motor velocity is determined in order to indicate whether the motor is stationary and, only if so, a stall signal is outputted in order to indicate that said motor has stalled.

Abstract: An improved power tool system includes a power tool and an external power supply connected via a cable to provide utility and safety in a hazardous operation such as loading ammunition into a weapon in an environment of flammable materials and extreme environmental exposure. The power tool includes a sparkless motor, a sparkless controller and sparkless switches, in a sealed enclosure with improved heat transfer means. The power tool has improved torque controlling means to mitigate reaction torque to the operator and equipment when starting or stopping highly inertial loads. A sealed enclosure is provided to prevent liquids from entering the motor and controller cavity and includes a thermally conductive path to conduct heat from the motor and controller through the enclosure to cooling fins and a coolant path formed between the fins and an entrapment wall.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission position control by a motor, it is determined whether the present instant belongs to a starting period, that is, the present instant is immediately after resetting of a control unit or application of power to it. If it is the starting period, an actual shift position that is detected from an output of an output shaft sensor for detecting a rotation position of a motor is set as an instructed shift position. With this measure, even if the control unit is reset for a certain reason while the vehicle is running, the instructed shift position is not changed in association with the resetting. This prevents trouble that the shift position is switched contrary to the intention of the driver, whereby the reliability of a position switching control can be increased.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electric drive is proposed, in which, in the event of a fault, a motor control unit of an electric motor implements a safety measure to change over to a secure operating condition, such that when a faulty three-phase current feed to the electric motor is detected, a fault-associated operating mode is activated. In addition, an arrangement for controlling an electric drive comprising an electric motor with a motor control unit is proposed, which implements a safety measure in the event of a fault so as to change over to a secure operating condition, such that when a faulty three-phase current feed to the electric motor is detected, the motor control unit activates a fault-associated operating mode.

Abstract: A method for determining the magnet temperature of a permanent magnet electrical machine. The magnet temperature is able to be determined particularly simply and accurately if a phase voltage and the rotational speed of the electrical machine are measured, and the magnet temperature is determined from this.

Abstract: A monitoring device for an electric motor has in input a signal representing zero crossings of the back-electromotive force of the motor and comprises a monitor that detects the signal in first periods of time arranged around instants of time in which the zero crossings are expected. The device comprises a setting circuit that sets second periods of time that are less than the first periods of time and each second period of time is centered on the instant of time in which the zero crossing is expected. The monitor comprises a detector that tests whether each actual zero crossing occurs inside the second period of time and a controller that modifies by a quantity the subsequent period of electric revolution time between two consecutive expected instants of zero crossing if said actual zero crossing occurs outside the second period of time.

Abstract: A static switch for DC motors of climate control units, comprising a signal side and a power side, which are mutually separated by means of optoisolators, the side comprising in input at least one terminal for a motor on/off signal and a terminal for a pulse width modulation signal PWM to provide the amplitude modulation, on the power side, of a motor speed signal, the switch comprising a precharging device which has a control terminal connected to a power-on optoisolator and a precharging current supply terminal connected to a motor power supply pole, the switch further comprising at least one power-on transistor connected to the same motor supply pole of the power supply terminal of the device, so that a voltage applied across the power-on transistor that exceeds a certain threshold switches off the motor power-on transistor.

Abstract: A motor driver circuit comprising a diving circuit for driving at least one motor, a plurality of DC/DC converters, and a stopping circuit for stopping the DC/DC converter if failure is detected in an output of the DC/DC converter, wherein a first signal is outputted when a specific DC/DC converter of the plurality of DC/DC converters is stopped by the stopping circuit, and a specific DC/DC converter is recovered when a second signal is inputted. A CPU of an apparatus incorporated with the motor driver circuit is informed that the specific DC/DC converter has been stopped by the stopping circuit. Moreover, the stopped DC/DC converter can be recovered without need for turning off a power supply of the motor driver circuit itself.

Abstract: A rotating electrical machine includes a DC power supply; a rotating electrical machine; an inverter provided between the DC power supply and the rotating electrical machine to control current flowing in the rotating electrical machine; and a control device that: determines a rotational speed as a rotational speed requested for the rotating electrical machine and a requested torque as a torque requested for the rotating electrical machine; and limits a torque of the rotating electrical machine. The inverter is operated based on the rotational speed and the requested torque determined by the control device, and the control unit changes a limit of the torque in accordance with an inverter voltage which is a voltage applied to a frequency conversion portion provided in the inverter.

Abstract: The invention provides a control unit for at least one electric motor, wherein the control unit performs open-loop or closed-loop control of the motor speed of the electric motor in such a way that in the case of control values in specific ranges which are typical of a fault when the setpoint value is being predefined, such a fault being, for example, a line break, a voltage failure or a short circuit, the control unit drives the motor with a predefined setpoint value which differs from the current control value.

Abstract: Temperature of an electric drive is regulated to prevent undesirable thermal effects. Temperature conditions of the electric drive system are monitored and torque of the electric drive system is limited based on the temperature conditions.

Abstract: In a PWM-controlled motor, a motor rotation frequency f, lock determination frequency d, and power supply voltage E are acquired (S1 to S3). The d is compared to the f (S4). When f is not less than that of d, Max.Duty is calculated by the following equation for setting: Max.Duty=D0*Kf (S5, S6). D0 is an allowable Duty value and can be calculated by [DP0=a?bE] (a: fixed Duty value, b: Duty characteristic coefficient). Kf is a frequency adjustment coefficient. Kf corrects the allowable Duty value D0 in accordance with the motor rotation frequency f and can be calculated by the following equation: Kf=1+(f?d)/c (c: restriction start frequency, d: lock determination frequency). When f is less than d, Max.Duty=D0 is set (S7, S6). When the motor enters a locked state, the Duty value is suppressed to not more than the allowable Duty value D0 to thereby suppress a lock current. This reduces a lock current at low temperature time to prevent demagnetization of a magnet as well as reduces a load of a switching device.

Abstract: A method for collecting operational parameters of a motor may include controlling the energization of a phase winding of the motor to establish an operating point, monitoring operational parameters of the motor that characterize a relationship between the energization control applied to the motor's phase winding and the motor's response to this control, and collecting information of the operational parameters for the operating point that characterizes the relationship between the applied energization control and the motor's response. The collected information characterizing the relationship between the applied energization control and the motor's response may be employed by a neural network to estimate the regions of operation of the motor. And a system for controlling the operation of motor may employ this information, the neural network, or both to regulate the energization of a motor's phase winding di-ring a phase cycle.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided with a motor drive device, a fan motor, and a Hall element. The motor drive device includes a lock protection circuit and a lock controller. When a control signal instructing rotation of the fan motor that is to be driven instructs stoppage of the motor for a predetermined time-period or longer, the lock controller has the lock protection circuit inactive. At an occasion when the control signal has continued to instruct stoppage of the fan motor for a first time-period or longer, a standby controller starts time measurement, and after a further predetermined second time-period has elapsed, makes at least a part of the motor drive device transition to a standby mode.

Abstract: Motors comprising stators and rotors having a plurality of north poles and south poles and methods of controlling the same. A first sensor and a second sensor are provided. The first and second sensors are disposed on the stator in a manner that the first and second sensors never simultaneously detect boundaries between the north and south poles during rotation of the rotor. If any one of the first and second sensors continuously detects a north pole or a south pole for a predetermined duration, the motor is shut off.

Abstract: A protection circuit is configured to change control modes in a drive control process of a drive circuit for a motor when overvoltage is applied to a power source line while the motor is driven. With overvoltage applied, the control process is changed to a control mode to perform forced commutation control. When a predetermined time period passes after the voltage of the power source line returns to a predetermined level, the control process is changed to a sensorless control mode using a position detection circuit. This configuration can provide a motor drive apparatus capable of performing an overvoltage protection operation appropriately even when the sensorless control mode is adopted.

Abstract: A control circuit for a motor includes a voltage regulator having a thermal shutdown apparatus that turns off the voltage regulator when the temperature of the control circuit rises above a pre-determined threshold level, wherein the voltage regulator is used to provide power to a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors controlling a plurality of stator windings of the motor. Thus the voltage regulator prevents the control circuit and the various components on the control circuit from being damaged from overheating. An embodiment of the control circuit is adapted to generate an error code in response to the shutdown of the voltage regulator and to monitor the operation of the motor to ensure that the motor has been turned off and then on before turning on the power supply to a plurality of phase windings.

Abstract: A motor driver circuit includes a diving circuit for driving at least one motor, a plurality of DC/DC converters for respectively generating different voltages, a detection circuit to detect an output failure in the plurality of DC/DC converters, and a stopping circuit for stopping a specific DC/DC converter if failure is detected in an output of the specific DC/DC converter. In addition, a signal output circuit outputs a first signal if the specific DC/DC converter of the plurality of DC/DC converters is stopped by the stopping circuit, recovery means recovers the specific DC/DC converter when a second signal is inputted, and a reset circuit stops the rest of the plurality of DC/DC converters, if the stopping circuit stops any one of the plurality of DC/DC converters other than the specific DC/DC converter.

Abstract: A drive device for a brushless motor executes an abnormality diagnosis (disconnection/short-circuit) of a motor side circuit. In detecting abnormality of the motor side circuit, the drive device includes a terminal voltage monitor circuit that monitors a terminal voltage of an output terminal that is connected to a motor terminal of respective phases. A microcomputer starts abnormality diagnosis under a condition where the motor is stopped, and an object to be driven has normally operated at the time of driving the motor. For executing the abnormality diagnosis, the microcomputer turns on/off only a transistor of the drive circuit of one phase in a state where all of transistors are turned off, and acquires monitor signals to execute the abnormality diagnosis based on signal levels of the monitor signals.

Abstract: In order to control an electromotive drive, a control unit has control modules for controlling half-bridge end power stages. Two of the control modules are pre-configured for alternatively controlling a commutator motor or a brushless electric motor via two half-bridge end power stages. A third control module can be subsequently configured to control a third half-bridge end power stage or two individual switching elements. An electromotive drive ideally can be configured with the stated control unit.

Abstract: A motor drive unit is adapted to detect a motor lock-up condition (in which an electric motor is accidentally locked during driving) based on the fact that motor drive current increases in that event. Then, a capacitor for generating a voltage signal is charged with an arbitrarily adjustable charging current to overcome the motor lock-up. To do this, an IC is formed to incorporate therein such components as a first discharging circuit for discharging the electric charge of the capacitor and a hysteresis-type comparison circuit for comparing the charging current with a threshold level to thereby adjust the charging current suitable for the motor used. Such a versatile IC as described above enables adjustment of the motor startup trial period for individual motors having different characteristics.