Performance event sensing for control of electric motor driven golf car

Claim 2

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator, said motor having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, said motor having a characteristic performance profile, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile comprising the steps of: (i) sensing the armature current of the motor and generating a signal relative thereto; (ii) sensing the field current of the motor and generating a signal relative thereto; (iii) sensing the speed of the golf car and generating a signal relative thereto; (iv) predetermining armature current levels in the characteristic performance profile of the motor which are indicative of specific operational events; (v) predetermining speed values indicative of specific operational events; (vi) predetermining field current levels which will enhance performance of the motor in response to the specific operational event to obtain the desired performance profile; and said predetermined. armature current levels to identify the occurrence of an operational event; (viii) comparing said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of an operational event; (ix) generating a field current adjustment signal for the specific operational event in accordance with said predetermined field current levels, when said armature current signal indicates an operational event has occurred; and (x) comparing the field current signal with the field current adjustment signal and adjusting the field current to obtain the predetermined field current.

Claim 3

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile comprising the steps of: (i) sensing the field current of the motor and generating a signal relative thereto; (ii) sensing the speed of rotation of the motor and generating a signal relative thereto; (iii) predetermining speed values indicative of specific operational events; (iv) predetermining field current levels which will enhance performance of the motor in response to the specific operational event to obtain the desired performance profile; (v) comparing said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of an operational event; (vi) generating a field current adjustment signal for the specific operational event in accordance with said predetermined field current levels, when said armature current signal indicates an operational event has occurred; and (vii) comparing the field current signal with the field current adjustment signal and adjusting the field current to obtain the predetermined field current.

Claim 4

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile comprising the steps of: (i) sensing the field current of the motor and generating a signal relative thereto; (ii) sensing the speed of rotation of the motor and generating a signal relative thereto; (iii) predetermining speed values indicative of specific operational events; (iv) predetermining field current levels which will enhance performance of the motor in response to the specific operational event to obtain the desired performance profile; (v) comparing said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of an operational event; (vi) generating a field current adjustment signal for the specific operational event in accordance with said predetermined field current levels, when said armature current signal indicates an operational event has occurred; and (vii) comparing the field current signal with the field current adjustment signal and adjusting the field current to obtain the predetermined field current.

Claim 5

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, said motor having a characteristic performance profile, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile as described in claim 2 comprising the further steps of: setting a predetermined speed value at zero; sensing a condition when the operator desires to reduce the speed of the golf car to zero; initiating a timed interval when the sensed speed is zero; and generating a field current adjustment signal, upon the expiration of said timed interval, if the sensed speed is other than zero, said adjustment signal causing the field current to be applied to initiate dynamic braking.

Claim 6

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, said motor having a characteristic performance profile, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile as described in claim 2 comprising the further steps of: setting a predetermined speed value at zero; sensing a condition when the operator desires to reduce the speed of the golf car to zero; initiating a timed interval when the sensed speed is zero; and generating an adjustment signal, upon the expiration of said timed interval, if the sensed speed is zero, said adjustment signal causing the source of voltage to the armature to be reduced to zero.

Claim 7

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile as described in claim 2 comprising the further steps of: setting a predetermined speed value at substantially zero; sensing a condition when the operator desires to cause the motor to move the golf car; initiating a timed interval when the sensed speed is zero; and generating an adjustment signal upon the expiration of said timed interval if the sensed speed is still zero, said adjustment signal reducing the source of voltage to the armature as needed to prevent damage to the motor.

Claim 8

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile as described in claim 2 comprising the further steps of: sensing a condition when the motor is propelling the golf car; setting a predetermined speed of the golf car at a specific maximum speed; and generating a field current adjustment signal when the sensed speed is in excess of said predetermined maximum value, said adjustment signal causing an increase in the field current to enhance regenerative braking.

Claim 9

In an electric motor having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, said motor having a characteristic performance profile, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile as described in claim 2 further comprising the steps of: sensing the direction in which the operator desires to propel the golf car; setting a predetermined condition when the movement of the golf car is reverse to the desired direction; and generating a field current adjustment signal upon said sensed direction being reverse to the desired direction, said adjustment signal causing the field current to be applied to initiate dynamic braking.

Claim 10

In an electric motor used to propel a golf car under the control of an operator having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, said motor having a characteristic performance profile, a method of controlling the motor to obtain a desired performance profile as described in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: selecting a plurality of said predetermined armature current levels, speed values and field current levels into predetermined groups in accordance with a desired performance profile for a characteristic terrain; and selecting a class in accordance with the actual terrain.

Claim 11

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car comprising: a source of d. c. voltage; a motor armature connected to the voltage source through an armature control circuit to provide independent control of the armature; a motor field winding magnetically coupled to the motor armature in operative relation and connected directly to the source of voltage through a field winding control circuit to provide control of the field winding independent of the armature; an armature current monitor connected to sense the current in the armature and to generate a signal relative thereto; a field current monitor connected to sense the current in the field winding and to generate a signal relative thereto; a speed monitor connected to sense the movement of the golf car and to generate a signal relative thereto; a controller connected to receive signals from the armature current, field current and speed monitors and further comprising: means to receive predetermined armature current values indicative of specific performance conditions; means to receive predetermined speed values indicative of specific performance conditions; means to receive predetermined field current values indicative of the desired performance response to said predetermined condition; means to compare said armature current signals with said predetermined armature current value to identify the occurrence of a performance condition; means to compare said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of a performance condition; means to compare said field current monitor signal with said predetermined field current value for the desired response to said identified predetermined condition and to generate a signal relative to the field current adjustment necessary to obtain said response; and wherein the field winding control circuit adjusts the field current in response to the field current adjustment signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car comprising: a source of d. c. voltage; a motor armature connected to the voltage source through an armature control circuit to provide independent control of the armature; a motor field winding magnetically coupled to the motor armature in operative relation and connected directly to the source of voltage through a field winding control circuit to provide control of the field winding independent of the armature; an armature current monitor connected to sense the current in the armature and to generate a signal relative thereto; a field current monitor connected to sense the current in the field winding and to generate a signal relative thereto; a speed monitor connected to sense the movement of the golf car and to generate a signal relative thereto; a controller connected to receive signals from the armature current, field current and speed monitors and further comprising: means to receive predetermined armature current values indicative of specific performance conditions; means to receive predetermined speed values indicative of specific performance conditions; means to receive predetermined field current values indicative of the desired performance response to said predetermined condition; means to compare said armature current signals with said predetermined armature current value to identify the occurrence of a performance condition; means to compare said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of a performance condition; means to compare said field current monitor signal with said predetermined field current value for the desired response to said identified predetermined condition and to generate a signal relative to the field current adjustment necessary to obtain said response; and wherein the field winding control circuit adjusts the field current in response to the field current adjustment signal.

Claim 13

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car as described in claim 9 further comprising means to sense the motor being denergized and wherein: a predetermined speed value is set at zero; and the controller, in response to the signal of the speed monitor indicating a speed of zero, initiates a timed interval and, upon the expiration of said interval, generates a signal to cause the field current winding control circuit to reverse the direction of the field current and cause dynamic braking, if the signal of the speed monitor indicates a speed of other than zero.

Claim 14

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car as described in claim 9 wherein: a predetermined speed value is set at zero; and the controller, in response to the signal of the speed monitor indicating a speed of zero, initiates a timed interval and upon the expiration of said interval, generates a signal to cause the armature control circuit to reduce the voltage to the armature to zero if the speed value signal of the speed monitor still indicates a speed of zero.

Claim 15

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car as described in claim 9 further comprising means to sense a condition when the motor is energized to cause movement of the golf car, and further wherein: a predetermined speed value is set at zero; and the controller, in response to the signal of the speed monitor indicating a speed of zero, initiates a timed interval and, upon the expiration of said timed interval, generates a signal to cause the armature control circuit to reduce the voltage to the armature as needed to prevent damage to the motor, if the signal of the speed monitor still indicates a speed of zero.

Claim 16

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car as described in claim 9 further comprising means to sense a condition when the golf car is moving and further wherein: a predetermined speed value is set at a predetermined maximum value; and the controller, in response to the signal of the speed monitor indicating a speed in excess of said predetermined maximum value, generates a field current adjustment signal to cause an increase in the field current to enhance regenerative braking.

Claim 17

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car as described in claim 9 further comprising: means to sense a condition when the motor is energized to cause movement of the golf car in a particular direction; and means to sense the actual direction of movement of the golf car; and further wherein the controller, in response to the actual direction of movement being opposed to the energized direction, generates a signal to cause the filed winding control circuit to reverse the direction of the field current to cause dynamic braking in opposition to the actual movement.

Claim 18

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car as described in claim 9 wherein the controller further comprises: means to receive a plurality of said predetermined armature current values, speed values, and field current values grouped in accordance with the desired performance profile for a characteristic terrain; and means to select a group in accordance with the actual terrain.

Claim 19

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car comprising: a source of d. c. voltage; a motor armature connected to the voltage source through an armature control circuit to provide independent control of the armature; a motor field winding magnetically coupled to the motor armature in operative relation and connected directly to the source of voltage through a field winding control circuit to provide control of the field winding independent of the armature; a field current monitor connected to sense the current in the field winding and to generate a signal relative thereto; a speed monitor connected to sense the movement of the golf car and to generate a signal relative thereto; signal relative thereto; a controller connected to receive signals from the field current and speed monitors and further comprising: means to receive predetermined speed values indicative of specific performance conditions; means to receive predetermined field current values indicative of the desired performance response to said predetermined condition; means to compare said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of a performance condition; means to compare said field current monitor signal with said predetermined field current value for the desired response to said identified predetermined condition and to generate a signal relative to the field current adjustment necessary to obtain said response; and wherein the field winding control circuit adjusts the field current in response to the field current adjustment signal.

Claim 20

Apparatus for controlling the performance of a DC motor used for driving a golf car comprising: a source of d. c. voltage; a motor armature connected to the voltage source through an armature control circuit to provide independent control of the armature; a motor field winding magnetically coupled to the motor armature in operative relation and connected directly to the source of voltage through a field winding control circuit to provide control of the field winding independent of the armature; a field current monitor connected to sense the current in the field winding and to generate a signal relative thereto; a speed monitor connected to sense the movement of the golf car and to generate a signal relative thereto; signal relative thereto; a controller connected to receive signals from the field current and speed monitors and further comprising: means to receive predetermined speed values indicative of specific performance conditions; means to receive predetermined field current values indicative of the desired performance response to said predetermined condition; means to compare said speed signal and said predetermined speed value to identify the occurrence of a performance condition; means to compare said field current monitor signal with said predetermined field current value for the desired response to said identified predetermined condition and to generate a signal relative to the field current adjustment necessary to obtain said response; and wherein the field winding control circuit adjusts the field current in response to the field current adjustment signal.