Systems and methods for mitigating noise and vibration in a portable oxygen concentrator

A device for providing oxygen enriched gas to a user, the device comprising:

• a compressor configured to pressurize and direct ambient air flowing into an interior of the device towards a gas separation system of the device, said compressor comprising a motor, at least one chamber for receiving at least a portion of the ambient air, and at least one piston operably coupled to the motor and configured to be moved within the at least one chamber via rotation of the motor, said motor applying a motor torque to the at least one piston responsive to rotation of the motor, said at least one piston applying a variable torque load to the motor that opposes said motor torque and varies as the at least one piston moves within the at least one chamber;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine an actual motor speed for each of a plurality of commutation steps of the motor during a first rotational cycle of the motor;
• determine an average motor speed during the first rotational cycle, wherein the average motor speed during the first rotational cycle differs from at least one of the actual motor speeds for the plurality of commutation steps during the first rotational cycle;
• and
• determine a voltage pattern to be used during at least a second rotational cycle of the motor, said voltage pattern determined based at least on a comparison of said average motor speed and said actual motor speeds for the plurality of commutation steps of the motor during the first rotational cycle.

A method of controlling operation of a motor in a compressor of an oxygen concentrator to reduce noise and vibration during use, the method comprising:

• determining an actual motor speed for each of a plurality of commutation steps of the motor during a first rotational cycle of the motor;
• determining an average motor speed during the first rotational cycle, wherein the average motor speed during the first rotational cycle differs from at least one of the actual motor speeds for the plurality of commutation steps during the first rotational cycle;
• and
• determining a voltage pattern to be used during at least a second rotational cycle of the motor, said voltage pattern determined based at least on a comparison of said average motor speed and said actual motor speeds for the plurality of commutation steps of the motor during the first rotational cycle.

The method of claim 21, wherein said voltage pattern comprises a first voltage pattern, and wherein the method further comprises:

• determining an actual motor speed for each of said plurality of commutation steps of the motor during the second rotational cycle of the motor;
• determining an average motor speed during the second rotational cycle of the motor;
• and
• determine a second voltage pattern to be used during at least a third rotational cycle of the motor, said second voltage pattern determined based on a comparison of said average motor speed during the second rotational cycle and the actual motor speeds for the plurality of commutation steps of the motor during the second rotational cycle, wherein said second voltage pattern differs from said first voltage pattern.