Apparatus and method of determining rotor position in a salient-type motor
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Products, Inc.
InventorScott Robert Durkee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example apparatus includes a controller configured to control operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor. The controller is configured to calculate or receive values representing changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times or measurements proportional thereto, and calculate an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor. And the controller is configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor, and control operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a controller configured to control operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor,
- wherein the controller is configured to receive, as values, measurements proportional to changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times, the measurements being of voltages from a differentiator circuit, and calculate an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor, and
- wherein the controller is configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor, and control the operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
A method comprising:
- controlling operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor;
- receiving, as values, measurements proportional to changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times, the measurements being of voltages from a differentiator circuit, and calculating an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor;
- and
- determining a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor, and controlling the operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
A computer-readable storage medium for controlling operation of a salient-type, multiphase motor in accordance with a technique including periodic on and off-times, the motor including a stator and a rotor, the computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program portions comprising:
- a first executable portion configured to calculate or receive, as values, measurements proportional to changes in current to the motor during the respective on and off-times, the measurements being of voltages from a differentiator circuit, and calculate an inductance of the motor as a function of the values and a supply voltage to the motor;
- and
- a second executable portion configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the inductance of the motor to thereby permit controlling operation of the motor based on the position of the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.