Methods and apparatus to reduce the stopping time of spindle motors
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorTriet Tieu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus to reduce the stopping time of a spindle motor are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a dissipation current flowing in a spinning motor; determining when the dissipation current drops below a threshold value; and, in response to the dissipation current dropping below the threshold value, applying a voltage to the motor to increase the dissipation current for a duration. In some examples, the voltage is removed from the motor when the motor reaches a predetermined rotational velocity to avoid reverse rotation.
Claims18
A motor control system associated with a spindle motor, comprising:
- a power source operatively coupled to one or more windings of the spindle motor to drive a rotation of the spindle motor;
- a detector having one or more sensors to detect a status of the spindle motor by measuring a motor inductance, wherein the status includes a level of dissipation current flowing through the spindle motor;
- and
- a controller coupled to the power source,
- wherein the controller causes the power source to apply a voltage to the spindle motor for a duration in response to the level of dissipation current dropping below a threshold, and wherein the voltage increases the dissipation current and actively stops the spindle motor, the voltage having a first polarity different than a second polarity of a back electromotive force of the spindle motor.
A method for actively breaking a spindle motor, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling a power source to one of more windings of the spindle motor for driving rotation of the spindle motor;
- detecting a status of the spindle motor by measuring a motor inductance, wherein the status includes a level of dissipation current flowing through the spindle motor;
- coupling a controller to the power source;
- and
- causing the power source to apply a voltage to the spindle motor for a duration in response to the level of dissipation current dropping below a threshold, and wherein the voltage increases the dissipation current and actively stops the spindle motor, the voltage having a first polarity different than a second polarity of a back electromotive force of the spindle motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.