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Method and apparatus for starting a sensorless polyphase DC motor in dual-coil mode and switching to single coil mode at speed

Assignee: STMicroelectronics lnc USA
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Filing: 1995-02-13
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Granted: 1995-10-03
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Expires: 2015-02-13
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for operating a polyphase dc motor selectively in dual-coil or uni-coil commutation modes. The motor has a plurality of "Y" connected driving coils connected together at a center tap. Each driving coil has an input node at an end opposite the center tap, and is driven by a switch pair. Each switch pair is arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, and has a node between each switch connected to a respective one of the coil input nodes. An additional pair of switches are provided for connection in series across the power supply with a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap. A circuit is provided to operate the switches to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of the driving coils for an initial start-up time. Also, a circuit to operate the switches after the initial start-up time is provided to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected only single ones of the driving coils and the center tap current input node. The apparatus also has a circuit for detecting a zero crossing of a bemf signal of a floating one of the driving coils and a delay circuit for establishing a delay between a zero crossing and a commutation of driving signals to the coils. A circuit operates the delay circuit to provide a first predetermined delay in dual-coil mode and a second predetermined delay in uni-coil mode.

Inventors

  • 👤 Scott W. Cameron

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 20:14
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P6/00; H02P6/08; H02P6/085; H02P6/20; H02P6/21

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
A method for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap current input node, having a pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap connection, and a plurality of pairs of switches for connection, each pair being arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair having a connection node between each switch of each pair, connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising; commutating said plurality of pairs of switches to operate in a dual coil mode during a start-up time; and after the start-up time, selectively commutating said plurality of pairs of switches to operate in a uni-coil mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 154 words
A method for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap current input node, having a pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap connection, and a plurality of pairs of switches for connection, each pair being arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair having a connection node between each switch of each pair, connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising; commutating said plurality of pairs of switches to operate in a dual coil mode during a start-up time; and after the start-up time, selectively commutating said plurality of pairs of switches to operate in a uni-coil mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said switches is a MOSFET.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polyphase dc motor is a three-phase dc motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of driving coils comprise a wye connected set of driving coils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said motor has a two pole rotor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 434 words
A method for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap current input node, having a pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap connection, and a plurality of pairs of switches for connection, each pair being arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair having a connection node between each switch of each pair, connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising; operating said switches during an initial start-up time to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils in accordance with the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-B C ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF Phase A-C B ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 2 Phase B-C A OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 3 Phase B-A C OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF 4 Phase C-A B OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF 5 Phase C-B A OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF 6 __________________________________________________________________________ and after start-up, between only single ones of said driving coils and the center tap according to the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-C.sub.tap B&C ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON A+ Phase C.sub.tap -C A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF C- Phase B-C.sub.tap A&C OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON B+ Phase C.sub.tap -A B&C OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF A- Phase C-C.sub.tap A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON C+ Phase C.sub.tap -B A&C OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF B- __________________________________________________________________________ in which: the center tap is denoted C tap ; each coil is denoted respectively A, B, and C; each high side switch is denoted respectively uA, uB, uC, uC tap ; each low side switch is denoted respectively 1A, 1B, 1C, 1C tap ; each phase is denoted (+) if current flows into the designated coil to the center tap and (-) if current flows out of the designated coil from the center tap; and an open switch is denoted OFF, and a closed switch is denoted "ON".
Claim 8
Independent Claim 434 words
A method for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap current input node, having a pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap connection, and a plurality of pairs of switches for connection, each pair being arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair having a connection node between each switch of each pair, connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising; operating said switches during an initial start-up time to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils in accordance with the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-B C ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF Phase A-C B ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 2 Phase B-C A OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 3 Phase B-A C OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF 4 Phase C-A B OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF 5 Phase C-B A OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF 6 __________________________________________________________________________ and after start-up, between only single ones of said driving coils and the center tap according to the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-C.sub.tap B&C ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON A+ Phase C.sub.tap -C A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF C- Phase B-C.sub.tap A&C OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON B+ Phase C.sub.tap -A B&C OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF A- Phase C-C.sub.tap A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON C+ Phase C.sub.tap -B A&C OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF B- __________________________________________________________________________ in which: the center tap is denoted C tap ; each coil is denoted respectively A, B, and C; each high side switch is denoted respectively uA, uB, uC, uC tap ; each low side switch is denoted respectively 1A, 1B, 1C, 1C tap ; each phase is denoted (+) if current flows into the designated coil to the center tap and (-) if current flows out of the designated coil from the center tap; and an open switch is denoted OFF, and a closed switch is denoted "ON".
Claim 9
Independent Claim 215 words
A method for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap current input node, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap connection, and a plurality of pairs of switches for connection, each pair being arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair having a connection node between each switch of each pair, connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising; providing an additional pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap; operating said switches to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils for an initial start-up time; after the initial start-up time, operating said switches to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected only single ones of said driving coils and said center tap current input node; and establishing a predetermined first delay between a zero crossing of a bemf signal of a floating coil and a commutation of driving signals to said coils on the dual-coil mode and establishing a second predetermined delay in uni-coil mode.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 215 words
A method for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap current input node, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap connection, and a plurality of pairs of switches for connection, each pair being arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair having a connection node between each switch of each pair, connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising; providing an additional pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap; operating said switches to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils for an initial start-up time; after the initial start-up time, operating said switches to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected only single ones of said driving coils and said center tap current input node; and establishing a predetermined first delay between a zero crossing of a bemf signal of a floating coil and a commutation of driving signals to said coils on the dual-coil mode and establishing a second predetermined delay in uni-coil mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second predetermined delay is essentially zero.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 426 words
Apparatus for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap, and a plurality of switch pairs, each switch pair arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each switch pair having a node between each switch connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising: an additional pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap; a sequencing circuit for individually operating said switches during said start-up to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils in accordance with the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-B C ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF Phase A-C B ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 2 Phase B-C A OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 3 Phase B-A C OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF 4 Phase C-A B OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF 5 Phase C-B A OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF 6 __________________________________________________________________________ and after start-up, between only single ones of said driving coils and the center tap according to the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-C.sub.tap B&C ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON A+ Phase C.sub.tap -C A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF C- Phase B-C.sub.tap A&C OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON B+ Phase C.sub.tap -A B&C OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF A- Phase C-C.sub.tap A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON C+ Phase C.sub.tap -B A&C OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF B- __________________________________________________________________________ in which: the center tap is denoted C tap ; each coil is denoted respectively A, B, and C; each high side switch is denoted respectively uA, uB, uC, uC tap ; each low side switch is denoted respectively 1A, 1B, 1C, 1C tap ; each phase is denoted (+) if current flows into the designated coil to the center tap and (-) if current flows out of the designated coil from the center tap; and an open switch is denoted OFF, and a closed switch is denoted "ON".
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 426 words
Apparatus for operating a polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of driving coils connected together at a center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap, and a plurality of switch pairs, each switch pair arranged for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each switch pair having a node between each switch connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes comprising: an additional pair of switches arranged for connection in series across the power supply voltage and having a connection node between each switch connected to the center tap; a sequencing circuit for individually operating said switches during said start-up to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils in accordance with the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-B C ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF Phase A-C B ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 2 Phase B-C A OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 3 Phase B-A C OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF 4 Phase C-A B OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF 5 Phase C-B A OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF 6 __________________________________________________________________________ and after start-up, between only single ones of said driving coils and the center tap according to the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA 1A uB 1B uC 1C uC.sub.tap 1C.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-C.sub.tap B&C ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON A+ Phase C.sub.tap -C A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF C- Phase B-C.sub.tap A&C OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON B+ Phase C.sub.tap -A B&C OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF A- Phase C-C.sub.tap A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON C+ Phase C.sub.tap -B A&C OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF B- __________________________________________________________________________ in which: the center tap is denoted C tap ; each coil is denoted respectively A, B, and C; each high side switch is denoted respectively uA, uB, uC, uC tap ; each low side switch is denoted respectively 1A, 1B, 1C, 1C tap ; each phase is denoted (+) if current flows into the designated coil to the center tap and (-) if current flows out of the designated coil from the center tap; and an open switch is denoted OFF, and a closed switch is denoted "ON".
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 125 words
Apparatus for operating a three-phase polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of wye connected driving coils connected together at a center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap, and a four pairs of transistor switches for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair of transistor switches having a node respectively connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes and said center tap, comprising: a switch commutating circuit to operate said switches in a dual-coil mode; a switch commutating to operate said switches in a uni-coil mode; and. a circuit to selectively connect one of said switch operating circuits to change between dual-coil mode and uni-coil mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 125 words
Apparatus for operating a three-phase polyphase dc motor of the type having a plurality of wye connected driving coils connected together at a center tap, each driving coil having a coil current input node at an end opposite said center tap, and a four pairs of transistor switches for connection in series across a power supply voltage, each pair of transistor switches having a node respectively connected to a respective one of said coil current input nodes and said center tap, comprising: a switch commutating circuit to operate said switches in a dual-coil mode; a switch commutating to operate said switches in a uni-coil mode; and. a circuit to selectively connect one of said switch operating circuits to change between dual-coil mode and uni-coil mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said transistors switches is a MOSFET.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said motor is a sensorless three-phase dc motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said motor has a two pole rotor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 334 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a sequencing circuit for individually operating said switches during said start-up to cause a driving current to be passed between sequentially selected pairs of said driving coils and said center tap current input node in accordance with the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA lA uB lB uC lC uC.sub.tap lC.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-B C ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF Phase A-C B ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 2 Phase B-C A OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF 3 Phase B-A C OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF 4 Phase C-A B OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF 5 Phase C-B A OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF OFF 6 __________________________________________________________________________ and after startup, between only single ones of said driving coils and the center tap according to the following table: __________________________________________________________________________ Current flows Floating from-to Coils uA lA uB lB uC lC uC.sub.tap lC.sub.tap __________________________________________________________________________ Phase A-C.sub.tap B&C ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON A+ Phase C.sub.tap -C A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON OFF C- Phase B-C.sub.tap A&C OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON B+ Phase C.sub.tap -A B&C OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF A- Phase C-C.sub.tap A&B OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON C+ Phase C.sub.tap -B A&C OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF ON OFF B- __________________________________________________________________________ in which: the center tap is denoted C tap ; each coil is denoted respectively A, B, and C; each high side switch is denoted respectively uA, uB, uC, UC tap ; each low side switch is denoted respectively 1A, 1B, 1C, 1C tap ; each phase is denoted (+) if current flows into the designated coil to the center tap and (-) if current flows out of the designated coil from the center tap; and an open switch is denoted OFF, and a closed switch is denoted "ON".
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 45 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a circuit to select said circuit to operate said switches in a dual-coil mode for an initial start-up time and to select said a circuit to operate said switches after the initial start-up time in a uni-coil mode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 71 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a circuit for detecting a zero crossing of a bemf signal of a floating one of the driving coils; a delay circuit for establishing a delay between a zero crossing and a commutation of driving signals to said coils; and a circuit for operating said delay circuit to provide a first predetermined delay in dual-coil mode and a second predetermined delay in uni-coil mode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said second predetermined delay is essentially zero.

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