Near-zero speed estimation method for a pulse counting speed calculation

Abstract

An improved speed indication method for a sensor that develops one or more electrical pulses per unit movement of a movable part, wherein the indicated speed is based on the number of speed pulses generated per unit time, but is constrained by a limit function based on the time elapsed without the generation of a speed pulse. When the pulse generation rate falls below the update rate of the speed indication, a maximum possible speed based on the duration of the “no pulse interval” is computed, and the indicated speed is reduced based on the computed maximum. When the next pulse occurs, the speed indication is updated based on the lower of a new speed calculation and the computed maximum speed. If speed pulses continue to be received, the computed maximum is no longer used as a limit, and the speed indication is updated in accordance with the pulse based speed calculation. As a result, the indicated speed provides a smoothly varying and more accurate representation of the shaft speed at very low speeds, enabling more accurate low speed control.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.