Back to results
US 12,009,769 B2Granted
Hardware based motor drive controller
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsNavaneeth Kumar Narayanasamy, Martin Staebler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor system with an input for coupling to a motor control signal that, when presented in a predetermined state, indicates a motor receiving power should be disabled from rotating. The system also includes controller circuitry for providing a disabling signal to motor rotation, independent of processor software control signaling and the power, in response to the control signal.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a first controller;
- a second controller coupled to the first controller, the second controller comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive a motor control signal from the first controller;
- a watchdog timer that includes an input coupled to the receiver and an output;
- a filter that includes an input coupled to the receiver;
- and
- a gate buffer that includes:
- a first enable input coupled to the output of the watchdog timer;
- a second enable input coupled to the output of the watchdog timer and to the output of the filter;
- and
- an output configured to output a gate driver signal.
8 more elements
A motor system, comprising:
- an input for a motor control signal;
- controller circuitry that includes:
- a watchdog timer that includes an input coupled to the input of the motor system and an output;
- a filter that includes an input coupled to the input of the motor system and an output;
- and
- a gating circuit that includes:
- a first enable input coupled to the output of the watchdog timer;
- and
- a second enable input coupled to the output of the watchdog timer and to the output of the filter;
- and
- an output for providing an output set of pulse width modulation signals configured to disable motor rotation, in response to the motor control signal;
- a gate driver coupled to the output of the gating circuit of the controller circuitry;
- and
- a bridge circuit coupled to the gate driver and to a motor.
11 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a receiver, a safe torque off (STO) signal;
- determining whether the STO signal comprises a fault;
- in response to the STO signal not comprising the fault:
- enabling a gate buffer based on a first enable input from a watchdog timer and a second enable input from logic circuitry coupled to the watchdog timer and to a filter;
- transmitting a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to the gate buffer from a microcontroller;
- generating and transmitting, by the enabled gate buffer, a plurality of gate drive output signals;
- in response to the STO signal comprising the fault:
- disabling the gate buffer based on the first enable input from the watchdog timer and the second enable input from the logic circuitry coupled to the watchdog timer and to the filter;
- and
- maintaining a state of the plurality of gate drive output signals from the disabled gate buffer.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.