Suppressing phased motor voltage transients on disconnect
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsBrian Dean Boling, Michael Ernest Dickeson, Frank P. Domingo, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamping circuit is included in a phased motor control circuit, particularly on an electrical connection connected to at least one electrostatic discharge cell and/or the driver control electronics of the phased motor control circuit. The clamping circuit triggers when a voltage that exceeds a clamping turn-on threshold occurs on the electrical connector, sourcing or sinking the discharge current so as to protect the electrostatic discharge cells and/or driver control electronics from destruction by said discharge current.
Claims20
Motor control circuitry comprising:
- at least one electrostatic discharge cell connected to an electrical connection adapted to connect to a tap of a phased motor;
- a clamping circuit connected to the at least one electrostatic discharge cell via the electrical connection, the clamping circuit having a turn-on threshold lower in magnitude than the turn-on thresholds of the at least one electrostatic discharge cell.
A method comprising:
- connecting an electrical connection to a tap of a phased motor, the electrical connection being further connected to at least one electrostatic discharge cell and driver control electronics adapted to control rotation of the phased motor;
- rotating the phased motor via the driver control electronics;
- discharging current generated by the rotating phased motor through a clamping circuit, the clamping circuit having a turn-on threshold lower in magnitude than the turn-on thresholds of the at least one electrostatic discharge cell.
Motor control circuitry comprising:
- driver control electronics that control rotation of a phased motor and are connected to an electrical connection adapted to connect to a tap of the phased motor;
- a clamping circuit connected to the driver control electronics via the electrical connection, the clamping circuit having a turn-on threshold lower in magnitude than a breakdown voltage of the driver control electronics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.