US6008615A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Commutation controller
Assignee: Nidec SR Drives Ltd
•
Filing: 1998-12-11
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Granted: 1999-12-28
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Expires: 2018-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A commutation controller for a switched reluctance machine has separate timer circuits for determining the firing signals for motoring and generating modes. Each timer circuit comprises a ramp generator and a pair of comparators which denote the ON- and OFF-angle as the ramp output passes preset thresholds applied to the comparators. A multiplexer selects the output from one of the motoring and generating timers according to the mode of machine operation. By producing timing signals for the motoring and generating modes separately and continuously, a transition between motoring and generating modes can be carried out smoothly without timing error.
Inventors
- 👤 David Mark Sugden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:31
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P3/00; H02P3/06; H02P3/065; H02P25/00; H02P25/02; H02P25/08; H02P25/092; H02P25/0925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A commutation control circuit for an electronically commutated electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, the control circuit comprising: position detection means for providing a position detection signal indicative of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator; a motoring timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing motoring firing pulses for a motoring mode of the machine; a generating timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing generating firing pulses for a generating mode of the machine; and means for selecting between the firing pulses of the motoring and generating timers to produce firing pulses for commutating the machine in one of the motoring and generating modes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A commutation control circuit for an electronically commutated electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, the control circuit comprising: position detection means for providing a position detection signal indicative of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator; a motoring timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing motoring firing pulses for a motoring mode of the machine; a generating timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing generating firing pulses for a generating mode of the machine; and means for selecting between the firing pulses of the motoring and generating timers to produce firing pulses for commutating the machine in one of the motoring and generating modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for selecting comprises a multiplexer responsive to a selection signal to select between the motoring and generating firing pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the motoring timer and the generating timer is responsive to the position detection signal for initiating the respective firing pulse and is also responsive to the position detection signal for terminating the respective firing pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 1 in which the motoring timer comprises: a ramp generator arranged to start a ramp output in response to the position detection signal at a first predetermined position of the rotor with respect to the stator; and motoring comparator means operable to initiate a motoring firing pulse when the ramp output passes a motoring turn-on threshold value, and further operable thereafter to terminate the motoring firing pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 4 in which the motoring comparator means is operable to terminate the motoring firing pulse when the ramp output passes a motoring turn-off threshold value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 3 in which the generating timer comprises: a ramp generator arranged to start a ramp output in response to the position detection signal at a second predetermined position of the rotor with respect to the stator; and generating comparator means operable to initiate a generating firing pulse when the ramp output passes a generating turn-on threshold value, and further operable thereafter to terminate the generating firing pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 6 in which the generating comparator means is operable to terminate the generating firing pulse when the ramp output passes a generating turn-off threshold value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A switched reluctance system comprising: a reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator and at least one phase winding; switch means for controlling energization of the or each phase winding; and a controller arranged to actuate the switch means, the controller including a commutation control circuit as claimed in claim 1, the switch means being responsive to the motoring and generating firing pulses of the commutation control circuit to energize the or each phase winding according to the selected motoring or generating mode.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of timing commutation in an electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, for motoring or generating, the method comprising: producing a position detection signal indicative of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator; producing motoring firing pulses in response to the position detection signal for operating the machine in a motoring mode of the machine; concurrently generating firing pulses in response to the position detection signal for operating the machine in a generating mode of the machine; and selecting between the firing pulses of the motoring and generating modes to run the machine in the selected mode.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of timing commutation in an electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, for motoring or generating, the method comprising: producing a position detection signal indicative of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator; producing motoring firing pulses in response to the position detection signal for operating the machine in a motoring mode of the machine; concurrently generating firing pulses in response to the position detection signal for operating the machine in a generating mode of the machine; and selecting between the firing pulses of the motoring and generating modes to run the machine in the selected mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, including producing a continuous sequence of motoring firing pulses and, concurrently, producing a continuous sequence of generating firing pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the production of firing pulses for the motoring and the generating modes further comprises initiating the firing pulses at a first predetermined rotor position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the production of the firing pulses for the motoring and/or the generating modes further comprises terminating the firing pulses at a second predetermined rotor position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A commutation control circuit for an electronically commutated electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, the control circuit comprising: a position detector, the position detector generating a position detection signal indicative of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator; a motoring timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing motoring firing pulses for a motoring mode of the machine; a generating timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing generating firing pulses for a generating mode of the machine; and a selector for selecting between the firing pulses of the motoring and generating timers to produce firing pulses for commutating the machine in one of the motoring and generating modes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A commutation control circuit for an electronically commutated electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, the control circuit comprising: a position detector, the position detector generating a position detection signal indicative of the position of the rotor with respect to the stator; a motoring timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing motoring firing pulses for a motoring mode of the machine; a generating timer responsive to the position detection signal for producing generating firing pulses for a generating mode of the machine; and a selector for selecting between the firing pulses of the motoring and generating timers to produce firing pulses for commutating the machine in one of the motoring and generating modes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 13, in which the selector structure comprises a multiplexer responsive to a selection signal to select between the motoring and firing pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 13 in which at least one of the motoring timer and the generating timer is responsive to the position detection signal for initiating the respective firing pulse and is also responsive to the position detection signal for terminating the respective firing pulse.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 13 in which the motoring timer comprises: a ramp generator arranged to start a ramp output in response to the position detection signal at a first predetermined position of the rotor with respect to the stator; and a motoring comparator constructed to initiate a motoring firing pulse when the ramp output passes a motoring turn-on threshold value, and further operable thereafter to terminate the motoring firing pulse.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 16 in which the motoring comparator is operable to terminate the motoring firing pulse when the ramp output passes a motoring turn-off threshold value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 15 in which the generating timer comprises: a ramp generator arranged to start a ramp output in response to the position detection signal at a second predetermined position of the rotor with respect to the stator; and a generating comparator constructed to initiate a generating firing pulse when the ramp output passes a generating turn-on threshold value, and further operable thereafter to terminate the generating firing pulse.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 18 in which the generating comparator is operable to terminate the generating firing pulse when the ramp output passes a generating turn-off threshold value.
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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) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |