Counter electro-motoric force based functional status detection of an electro-motor
AssigneesAirbus Deutschland GmbH, Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsJürgen Kelnhofer, Thomas Scherer, Steffen Kalsow, Alvy Biccum, John Maljanian, David Leenhouts, Walter S. Hojnowski
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a circuit for detecting a functional status of an electro-motor. Typical electro-motors need additional components to identify the functional status of the motor. This means additional weight for such motors determining the functional status. According to the present invention a circuit is provided using a part of a motor as a sensor for detecting the functional status of the electro-motor.
Claims9
Circuit for detecting a functional status of an electro-motor, the circuit comprising:
- a sensor;
- a detection unit;
- wherein the sensor is a part of the electro-motor;
- wherein the detection unit is adapted to detect the functional status of the electro-motor;
- wherein the functional status of the electro-motor is one of a turning functional status and a locking functional status;
- wherein the sensor further comprises a coil;
- wherein the coil is adapted such that a rotor of the electro-motor induces a counter electro-motoric force in the coil when it is turning;
- wherein the coil is a winding of a stator of the electro-motor;
- wherein the detection unit further comprises a differential amplifier;
- wherein the differential amplifier comprises a first and a second input;
- wherein the first input is connected to a supply voltage;
- wherein the second input is connected to the coil;
- wherein the differential amplifier further comprises a first output;
- wherein the differential amplifier is adapted to generate at the first output one of a first differential signal and a second differential signal;
- wherein the first differential signal corresponds to the turning functional status of the electro-motor;
- wherein the second differential signal corresponds to the locking functional status of the electro-motor;
- wherein the first differential signal and the second differential signal differ at a sample time point;
- wherein the sample time point lies in a sample time interval.
Method for detecting a functional status of an electro-motor comprising the steps of:
- detecting a functional status of an electro-motor by means of a sensor which is part of the electro-motor;
- turning a rotor of an electro-motor in a first direction;
- inducing a counter electro-motoric force in a coil;
- comparing the counter electro-motoric force with a supply voltage;
- generating one of a first differential signal and a second differential signal;
- wherein the first differential signal corresponds to a turning functional status of the electro-motor;
- wherein the second differential signal corresponds to a locking functional status of the electro-motor;
- wherein the first differential signal differs from the second differential signal at a sample time point;
- sampling one of the first differential signal and the second differential signal at the sample time point;
- comparing one of the first differential signal and the second differential signal with a reference voltage;
- determining the functional status of the electro-motor;
- providing the functional status of the electro-motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.