Patent US6441580B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6441580B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Brushless machine control
Assignee: Nidec SR Drives Ltd
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Filing: 2000-12-15
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Granted: 2002-08-27
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Expires: 2020-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A switched reluctance machine uses a Hall-effect device to detect the flux in the flux path for each machine phase. The flux signal from the Hall-effect device is fed back to a controller which compares the flux feedback with a demand signal to produce an error signal. The error signal is used to control the machine flux using a control law function actuating timed switches for each phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Gerald Marcinkiewicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:04
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P25/00; H02P25/02; H02P25/08; H02P3/00; H02P3/06; H02P3/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A brushless electrical machine comprising: an unmagnetized rotor; an unmagnetized stator; at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine including the rotor and stator; and a transducer arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, the transducer being arranged in the flux path; wherein the rotor defines rotor poles and the stator defines stator poles, the rotor and the stator being arranged for relative rotation to define an air gap between the rotor poles and stator poles, the transducer being disposed to border the said air gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A brushless electrical machine comprising: an unmagnetized rotor; an unmagnetized stator; at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine including the rotor and stator; and a transducer arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, the transducer being arranged in the flux path; wherein the rotor defines rotor poles and the stator defines stator poles, the rotor and the stator being arranged for relative rotation to define an air gap between the rotor poles and stator poles, the transducer being disposed to border the said air gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the transducer includes a Hall-effect device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the transducer is attached to the stator pole for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the stator poles define pole faces, the transducer being mounted on one of the pole faces for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A machine as claimed in claim 4 in which the stator has an axial dimension, the transducer being mounted part way along the said axial dimension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the transducer is operable to produce the flux signal as a voltage or current directly proportional to the flux.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1 constructed as a reluctance machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A brushless electrical machine comprising: an unmagnetized rotor; an unmagnetized stator; at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine including the rotor and stator; and a transducer arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, wherein the transducer is attached to a stator pole for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A brushless electrical machine comprising: an unmagnetized rotor; an unmagnetized stator; at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine including the rotor and stator; and a transducer arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, wherein the transducer is attached to a stator pole for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the transducer includes a Hall-effect device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the transducer is arranged in the flux path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which stator poles of the stator define pole faces, the transducer being mounted on one of the pole faces for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A machine as claimed in claim 11 in which the stator has an axial dimension, the transducer being mounted part way along the said axial dimension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine as claimed in claim 8 in which the transducer is operable to produce the flux signal as a voltage or current directly proportional to the flux.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A machine as claimed in claim 8 constructed as a reluctance machine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A brushless electrical machine comprising: an unmagnetized rotor; an unmagnetized stator; at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine including the rotor and stator; and a transducer arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding; wherein at least one of the rotor and the stator has an axial dimension, the transducer being disposed part way along the said axial dimension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A brushless electrical machine comprising: an unmagnetized rotor; an unmagnetized stator; at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine including the rotor and stator; and a transducer arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding; wherein at least one of the rotor and the stator has an axial dimension, the transducer being disposed part way along the said axial dimension.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
175 words
A brushless electrical machine drive system comprising: a brushless electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine; transducer means arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, wherein the transducer means is arranged in the flux path of at least one phase winding; switch means electrically connected with the at least one phase winding; and flux control means having an input signal representing the demanded output of the machine, which control means is responsive to the input signal and the flux signal to produce control signals for controlling the flux in the or each phase winding; wherein the rotor defines rotor poles and the stator defines stator poles, the rotor and stator being arranged for relative rotation to define an air gap between the rotor poles and stator poles, the transducer means being disposed to border the air gap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
175 words
A brushless electrical machine drive system comprising: a brushless electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine; transducer means arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, wherein the transducer means is arranged in the flux path of at least one phase winding; switch means electrically connected with the at least one phase winding; and flux control means having an input signal representing the demanded output of the machine, which control means is responsive to the input signal and the flux signal to produce control signals for controlling the flux in the or each phase winding; wherein the rotor defines rotor poles and the stator defines stator poles, the rotor and stator being arranged for relative rotation to define an air gap between the rotor poles and stator poles, the transducer means being disposed to border the air gap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the transducer means is a Hall-effect device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the transducer means is attached to the stator pole for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 in which the stator poles define pole faces, the transducer means being mounted on the pole face of one of the stator poles for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 19 in which the stator has an axial dimension, the transducer means being mounted part way along said axial dimension.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the transducer means is operable to produce the flux signal as a voltage or current directly proportional to the flux.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 constructed and arranged as a switched reluctance machine drive.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the flux control means is responsive to the input signal and the flux signal to produce the control signals according to a proportional, proportional-plus-integral, proportional/integral/derivative, time optimal or feedback linearized control law.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 , including rotor position detection means operable to produce a rotor position signal indicative of the position of the rotor relative to the stator, and in which the flux control means include timing means responsive to the rotor position signal for timing the control signals for controlling the flux in the at least one phase winding.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the input signal to the flux control means is a flux demand signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
133 words
A brushless electrical machine drive system comprising: a brushless electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine; transducer means arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, wherein the transducer means is attached to a stator pole for the at least one phase winding; switch means electrically connected with the at least one phase winding; and flux control means having an input signal representing the demanded output of the machine, which control means is responsive to the input signal and the flux signal to produce control signals for controlling the flux in the or each phase winding.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
133 words
A brushless electrical machine drive system comprising: a brushless electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding arranged to establish flux in a magnetic circuit in the machine; transducer means arranged in relation to the magnetic circuit to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in a flux path associated with the at least one phase winding, wherein the transducer means is attached to a stator pole for the at least one phase winding; switch means electrically connected with the at least one phase winding; and flux control means having an input signal representing the demanded output of the machine, which control means is responsive to the input signal and the flux signal to produce control signals for controlling the flux in the or each phase winding.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 in which stator poles of the stator define pole faces, the transducer means being mounted on the pole face of one of the stator poles for the at least one phase winding.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 27 in which the stator has an axial dimension, the transducer means being mounted part way along said axial dimension.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 in which the transducer means is operable to produce the flux signal as a voltage or current directly proportional to the flux.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 26 constructed and arranged as a switched reluctance machine drive.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of controlling a brushless electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding, the rotor defining rotor poles and the stator defining stator poles, the rotor and the stator being arranged for relative rotation to define an air gap between the rotor poles and stator poles, the method comprising: arranging a transducer in a magnetic circuit of the machine to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in the at least one phase winding, the transducer being arranged in the flux path and bordering the air gap; producing an input signal representing a demanded output of the machine; and controlling energization of the at least one phase winding in response to the input signal and the flux signal.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of controlling a brushless electrical machine having a rotor, a stator and at least one phase winding, the rotor defining rotor poles and the stator defining stator poles, the rotor and the stator being arranged for relative rotation to define an air gap between the rotor poles and stator poles, the method comprising: arranging a transducer in a magnetic circuit of the machine to produce a flux signal indicative of the flux in the at least one phase winding, the transducer being arranged in the flux path and bordering the air gap; producing an input signal representing a demanded output of the machine; and controlling energization of the at least one phase winding in response to the input signal and the flux signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-26 | 2006-02-25 | 2006-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-26 | 2010-02-25 | 2010-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-26 | 2014-02-25 | 2014-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |