System and method for estimating motor temperature for motor overuse protection
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorThomas Chrostowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To protect against overuse of a motor, such as may be used to control seat position in an automotive vehicle, an estimated temperature of the motor is determined based on an ambient temperature, a current applied to the motor, a period of time during which the current is applied to the motor, and at least one thermal property. A voltage applied to the motor is reduced, such as by a motor controller, when the estimated motor temperature is greater than a safe operating temperature of the motor.
Claims20
A system for protecting a motor against overuse, the system comprising:
- a controller for controlling a voltage applied to the motor;
- and
- means for determining an estimated temperature of the motor based on an ambient temperature, a current applied to the motor, a period of time during which the current is applied to the motor, and at least one thermal property, wherein the determining means provides a signal for use by the motor controller to reduce the voltage applied to the motor when the estimated motor temperature is greater than a safe operating temperature of the motor and provides a signal for use by the motor controller to increase the voltage applied to the motor when the estimated motor temperature returns to a level no greater than the safe operating temperature of the motor.
A method for protecting a motor against overuse, the method comprising:
- determining an estimated temperature of the motor based on an ambient temperature, a current applied to the motor, a period of time during which the current is applied to the motor, and at least one thermal property, the estimated motor temperature for use in reducing a voltage applied to the motor when the estimated motor temperature is greater than a safe operating temperature of the motor and for use in increasing the voltage applied to the motor when the estimated motor temperature returns to a level no greater than the safe operating temperature of the motor.
A device for protecting a motor against overuse, the device comprising:
- an estimator for determining an estimated temperature of the motor based on an ambient temperature, a current applied to the motor, a period of time during which the current is applied to the motor, and at least one thermal property, wherein the estimator provides a signal for use in reducing the voltage applied to the motor when the estimated motor temperature is greater than a safe operating temperature of the motor;
- and wherein the estimator provides a signal for use in increasing the voltage applied to the motor when the estimated motor temperature returns to a level no greater than the safe operating temperature of the motor.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.