US5814958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the electronic control of electric motor driven golf car
Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-31
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Granted: 1998-09-29
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Expires: 2016-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided for controlling a DC motor which is constructed to propel a golf car. The motor is a shunt wound motor having independently excited armature and field windings. The basic input to the armature of the motor is supplied through a pulse modulated chopper circuit which varies the width of the pulse in response to the throttle of the golf car. Full control of the input to the field winding is gained by the supply of power to an H bridge circuit. Armature current is continuously sensed to provide an indication of the status and performance of the car during operation. At a predetermined level of armature current the field current is adjusted to provide a higher torque at a specific speed. When armature current indicates a predetermined overspeed condition, field current is adjusted to enhance regeneration and the resultant braking. In addition, the stopped condition is continuously monitored. If movement of the car begins subsequent to stopping the vehicle, the direction can be established and the a current applied to the field winding to initiate regenerative braking and restrain movement.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Journey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L15/00; B60L15/20; B60L15/2009; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/52; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/22; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In an electric motor having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source or 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: (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) predetermining armature current levels in the characteristic performance profile of the motor which are indicative of specific operational events; (iv) predetermining field current levels which will enhance performance of the motor during the specific operational event to obtain the desired performance profile; (v) comparing said armature current signal and said predetermined armature current levels and generating a field current adjustment signal for the specific operational event in accordance with said predetermined field current levels, when said armature current signal approaches a selected armature current level; (vi) comparing the field current signal with the field current adjustment signal and adjusting the field current to obtain the predetermined field current and to obtain the desired performance profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an electric motor having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source or 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: (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) predetermining armature current levels in the characteristic performance profile of the motor which are indicative of specific operational events; (iv) predetermining field current levels which will enhance performance of the motor during the specific operational event to obtain the desired performance profile; (v) comparing said armature current signal and said predetermined armature current levels and generating a field current adjustment signal for the specific operational event in accordance with said predetermined field current levels, when said armature current signal approaches a selected armature current level; (vi) comparing the field current signal with the field current adjustment signal and adjusting the field current to obtain the predetermined field current and to obtain the desired performance profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
195 words
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 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) predetermining armature current levels in the characteristic performance profile of the motor which are 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 armature current signal and said predetermined armature current levels to determine 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
Dependent Claim
195 words
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 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) predetermining armature current levels in the characteristic performance profile of the motor which are 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 armature current signal and said predetermined armature current levels to determine 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
Dependent Claim
244 words
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 controller connected to receive signals from the armature current and field current monitors and further comprising: means to receive predetermined armature current 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 presence 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 6
Dependent Claim
244 words
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 controller connected to receive signals from the armature current and field current monitors and further comprising: means to receive predetermined armature current 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 presence 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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |