# US 11,114,957 B2 · Vacuum pump and motor controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,114,957 B2 - Document ID: US11114957B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/642,883 - Filed: 2018-08-24 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-05 - Assignees: Edwards Japan Limited - Applicants: Edwards Japan Limited - Inventors: Kou Sato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114957B2 ## CPC - H02P 3/08: for stopping or slowing a DC motor - F04D 19/04: specially adapted to the production of a high vacuum, e.g. molecular pumps - F04D 19/042: {Turbomolecular vacuum pumps} - H02M 7/02: Conversion of AC power input into DC power output without possibility of reversal - H02P 3/18: for stopping or slowing an AC motor - H02P 29/032: Preventing damage to the motor, e.g. setting individual current limits for different drive conditions - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A vacuum pump and a motor controller that make a safe transition to a regeneration mode while avoiding an overvoltage are provided. A turbo molecular pump includes a power supply unit that converts alternating-current power to direct-current power and outputs the power, the alternating-current power being obtained from an alternating-current power supply, and the motor controller that controls a motor. The motor controller includes: a motor driving circuit that drives the motor when receiving direct-current power or regenerated power; a backflow prevention diode interposed between the power supply unit and the motor driving circuit; a power-failure detection circuit that detects a primary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; a driving-voltage sensing circuit that detects a secondary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; and a motor control circuit that determines, when the primary voltage drops to a predetermined power-failure detection threshold value, whether a power failure is a primary power failure of the alternating-current power or a secondary power failure of the direct-current power based on a voltage difference between the primary voltage and the secondary voltage, and controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter a regeneration mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum pump comprising: a motor that generates regenerated power according to a rotation of a rotor during a power failure; a power supply unit that converts alternating-current power to direct-current power and outputs the direct-current power, the alternating-current power being obtained from an alternating-current power supply; and a motor controller that controls the motor, the motor controller comprising: a motor driving circuit that drives the motor when receiving one of the direct-current power and the regenerated power; a backflow prevention diode interposed between the power supply unit and the motor driving circuit; a power-failure detection circuit that detects a primary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; a driving-voltage sensing circuit that detects a secondary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; and a motor control circuit that determines, when the primary voltage drops to a predetermined power-failure detection threshold value, whether the power failure is a primary power failure of the alternating-current power or a secondary power failure of the direct-current power based on a voltage difference between the primary voltage and the secondary voltage; and controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter a regeneration mode in which the motor is driven by the regenerated power. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein if the motor control circuit determines that the power failure is the primary power failure, the motor control circuit controls the motor driving circuit so as to immediately enter the regeneration mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein if the control circuit determines that the power failure is the secondary power failure, the motor control circuit controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter the regeneration mode after the secondary voltage drops to a predetermined regeneration-mode transition threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein if the motor control circuit determines that the power failure is the secondary power failure, the motor control circuit controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter the regeneration mode after a lapse of a predetermined time from start of a reduction of the secondary voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vacuum pump according to claim 3, wherein the motor driving circuit sets a maximum value of a current command value of the regeneration mode during the secondary power failure such that the maximum value is smaller than a maximum value of a current command value during the primary power failure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vacuum pump according to claim 1, wherein the motor control circuit adjusts a maximum value of a current command value of the motor according to a rotational speed of the rotor at a transition to the regeneration mode. ### Claim 7 A motor controller used for a vacuum pump, the motor controller comprising: a motor driving circuit that drives a motor when receiving one of a direct-current power and a regenerated power; a backflow prevention diode interposed between a power supply unit and a motor driving circuit; a power-failure detection circuit that detects a primary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; a driving-voltage sensing circuit that detects a secondary voltage of the backflow prevention diode; and a motor control circuit that determines, when the prima voltage drops to a predetermined power-failure detection threshold value, whether the power failure is a primary power failure of the alternating-current power or a secondary power failure of the direct-current power based on a voltage difference between the primary voltage and the secondary voltage, and controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter a regeneration mode in which the motor is driven b the regenerated power. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The motor controller according to claim 7, wherein if the motor control circuit determines that the power failure is the primary power failure, the motor control circuit controls the motor driving circuit so as to immediately enter the regeneration mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The motor controller according to claim 7, wherein if the control circuit determines that the power failure is the secondary power failure, the motor control circuit controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter the regeneration mode after the secondary voltage drops to a predetermined regeneration-mode transition threshold value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The motor controller according to claim 7, wherein if the motor control circuit determines that the power failure is the secondary power failure, the motor control circuit controls the motor driving circuit so as to enter the regeneration mode after a lapse of a predetermined time from start of a reduction of the secondary voltage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The motor controller according to claim 9, wherein the motor driving circuit sets a maximum value of a current command value of the regeneration mode during the secondary power failure such that the maximum value is smaller than a maximum value of a current command value during the primary power failure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The motor controller according to claim 7, wherein the motor control circuit adjusts a maximum value of a current command value of the motor according to a rotational speed of the rotor at a transition to the regeneration mode.