# US 7,466,088 B2 · Signal control for motor position determination

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- Number: US 7,466,088 B2
- Document ID: US7466088B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/305,684
- Filed: 2005-12-16
- Published: 2007-06-21
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2005-12-16
- Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
- Inventors: Charles J. Romenesko; Vijay Maddali
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466088B2

## CPC

- H02P 6/18: without separate position detecting elements
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS

## Abstract

A controller estimates a motor position. The controller includes a driver and an injector. The driver generates a fundamental control signal. The injector generates a position carrier voltage that superimposed on the fundamental control signal. The injector alters the magnitude of the carrier voltage signal in response to the corresponding amplitude of the fundamental control signal. In a disclosed example, the injector increases the carrier voltage signal magnitude as the fundamental control current signal approaches a zero crossing. The injector then gradually decreases the carrier voltage signal magnitude as the fundamental control current signal magnitude increases from zero.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A controller comprising:
a driver that generates a fundamental control signal that has a varying amplitude; and
an injector that provides a carrier voltage signal that is superimposed upon said fundamental control signal and alters an amplitude of said carrier voltage signal responsive to the amplitude of said fundamental control signal, wherein said injector increases the amplitude of said carrier voltage signal when said fundamental control signal amplitude is zero.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein a peak amplitude of said carrier voltage signal corresponds to the zero amplitude of said fundamental control signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The controller of claim 1, wherein the amplitude of said carrier voltage signal is zero at an absolute value of said fundamental control signal.

### Claim 4

A controller comprising:
a driver that generates a fundamental control signal that has a varying amplitude; and
an injector that provides a carrier voltage signal that is superimposed upon said fundamental control signal and alters an amplitude of said carrier voltage signal responsive to the amplitude of said fundamental control signal, wherein said injector gradually increases the amplitude of said carrier voltage signal as the amplitude of said fundamental control signal approaches zero.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The controller of claim 4, wherein said injector linearly increases the amplitude of said carrier voltage signal as the amplitude of said fundamental control signal approaches zero.

### Claim 6

A controller comprising:
a driver that generates a fundamental control signal that has a varying amplitude; and
an injector that provides a carrier voltage signal that is superimposed upon said fundamental control signal and alters an amplitude of said carrier voltage signal responsive to the amplitude of said fundamental control signal, wherein said injector gradually decreases the amplitude of said carrier voltage signal as the amplitude of said fundamental control signal increases from zero.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The controller of claim 6, wherein said injector linearly decreases the amplitude of said carrier voltage signal as the amplitude of said fundamental control signal increases from zero.

### Claim 8

A controller comprising:
a driver that generates a fundamental control signal that has a varying amplitude; and an injector that provides a carrier voltage signal that is superimposed upon said fundamental control signal and alters an amplitude of said carrier voltage signal responsive to the amplitude of said fundamental control signal, wherein said fundamental control signal drives a motor having a rotor and a stator, wherein said carrier voltage signal instigates a responsive carrier current signal from the motor that provides an indication of a position of said rotor.

### Claim 9

A method of controlling a signal used for indicating a position comprising:
generating a fundamental control signal;
superimposing a carrier voltage signal over said fundamental control signal;
selectively altering said carrier voltage signal depending on an amplitude of said fundamental control signal; and
increasing said carrier voltage signal when the amplitude of said fundamental control signal is about zero.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as recited in claim 9, including gradually increasing said carrier voltage signal as said fundamental control signal approaches zero.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method as recited in claim 9, including linearly increasing said carrier voltage signal as said fundamental control signal approaches zero.

### Claim 12

A method of controlling a signal used for indicating a position comprising:
generating a fundamental control signal;
superimposing a carrier voltage signal over said fundamental control signal;
selectively altering said carrier voltage signal depending on an amplitude of said fundamental control signal; and
including gradually decreasing said carrier voltage signal as said fundamental control signal increases from zero.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method as recited in claim 12, including linearly decreasing said carrier voltage signal as said fundamental control signal increases from zero.