Control of brushless motor
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsKevin Allan Dooley, Antwan Shenouda, Donglin Ma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for generating a signal useful in the commutation of current through windings of brushless direct current electric motors are provided. Such methods comprises detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of a motor; detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the detection of the kickback pulse; and using the detection of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal useful in commutation of the motor.
Claims20
A method for generating a signal useful in the commutation of current through windings of a brushless electric motor, the method comprising:
- detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of the motor;
- detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the detection of the kickback pulse;
- and
- using the detection of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal useful in commutation of current through the windings of the motor.
A brushless direct current electric motor comprising:
- a stator and a cooperating permanent magnet rotor, the stator having a plurality of windings;
- and
- circuitry configured to:
- detect a kickback pulse in at least one of the windings when that winding is not driven;
- detect a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the detection of the kickback pulse;
- and use the detection of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal useful in control of the motor.
A position sensing circuit for use in a brushless electrical motor comprising a stator and a rotor, the position sensing circuit comprising:
- means for detecting a kickback pulse in a non-driven winding of the stator;
- means for detecting a rotor-induced zero crossing in the non-driven winding following the kickback pulse;
- and
- means for using the detection of the rotor-induced zero crossing to generate a signal representative of the position of the rotor in relation to the stator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.