Patent · US Expired

Sensorless commutation position detection for brushless motors

US5600218A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
26References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 11, 1995
Grant dateFeb 4, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 11, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02P6/34
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the sensorless determination of commutation position in a brushless motor. The electric current flowing within the active, or energized, stator coil during energization is differentiated to produce a current rate of change waveform. The current rate of change waveform is compared to a predetermined voltage threshold which is set to approximate the point at which the rotor is in direct positional alignment with the active stator. From this comparison, it is determined when the current rate of change waveform fails to intersect the predetermined voltage threshold. This information may be used to commutate the application of a driving signal to the next stator coil in succession to maintain continuous torque on the rotor. This information may also be indicative of a stalled condition, in which case a stall indicator is triggered to alert the user of the stalled condition.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.