Sensorless detection of a locked rotor in a switched reluctance motor

A method for detecting a locked rotor in a motor, comprising the steps of:

• measuring, at a predetermined frequency, the time for a current in said motor to move between a first predetermined current level and a second predetermined current level whereby a plurality of sample times are obtained;
• comparing a first sample time of said plurality of sample times to a second sample time of said plurality of sample times to obtain a time comparison value, said time comparison value indicative of a change in position of said rotor;
• and,
• comparing said time comparison value to a predetermined reference value.

A circuit for detecting a locked rotor in a motor, comprising:

• means for measuring, at a predetermined frequency, the time for a current in said motor to move between a first predetermined current level and a second predetermined current level whereby a plurality of sample times are obtained;
• and,
• means for comparing a first sample time of said plurality of sample times and a second sample time of said plurality of sample times to obtain a time comparison value
• wherein said time comparison value is indicative of a change in position of said rotor.