Controller arrangement with adaptive non-overlapping commutation

1. A motor control circuit for a brushless direct current motor comprising first and second windings, said motor control circuit comprising:

a motor drive circuit coupled to said first and said second windings; and

a commutation circuit coupled to said motor and to said drive circuit;

said commutation circuit controlling said drive circuit to apply power from a power source to said first and said second windings, said commutation circuit controlling said drive circuit such that said drive circuit applies supply voltage from said power source to said second winding only after a first predetermined condition occurs, and such that said drive circuit applies power to said first winding only after a second predetermined condition occurs, said first predetermined condition being selected such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said second winding when said first winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby current spikes induced into said power source are reduced, and said second predetermined condition is selected such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said first winding when said second winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby that current spikes induced into said power source are reduced.

2. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

said first predetermined condition is that the voltage across said first winding is at a first predetermined level.

3. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 2 , wherein:

said second predetermined condition is that the voltage across said second winding is at a second predetermined level.

4. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 3 , wherein:

said first predetermined level is the same as said second predetermined level.

5. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 4 , wherein:

said first predetermined level and said second predetermined level is equal to or less than the motor supply voltage.

6. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

said first predetermined condition is that a first predetermined time interval occurs after a predetermined one edge of the leading edge or the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said first winding.

7. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein:

said second predetermined condition is that a second predetermined time interval occurs after the predetermined one edge of an energization pulse applied to said second winding.

8. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 7 , wherein:

said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are substantially the same.

9. A motor control circuit in accordance with claim 8 , wherein:

said first and said second time intervals are each selected to be within the range of 10 μsec. to 200 μsec.

10. A method of operating a brushless direct current motor comprising first and second windings said method comprising:

providing a motor drive circuit coupled to said first and second windings and to a power source for providing drive power thereto at a supply voltage;

providing a commutation circuit coupled to said drive circuit;

operating said commutation circuit such that said drive circuit delays applying said supply voltage to said second winding until a first predetermined condition occurs;

operating said commutation circuit such that said drive circuit delays applying said supply voltage to said first winding until a second predetermined condition occurs; and

selecting said first predetermined condition to be one of the voltage across said first winding being at a first predetermined level below said supply voltage or a first predetermined time interval occurring after the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said first winding, such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said second winding when said first winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby that current spikes induced into said power source are reduced.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 , comprising:

selecting said second predetermined condition to be the voltage across said second winding being at a second predetermined level, such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said first winding when said second winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby that current spikes induced into said power source are reduced.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 , comprising:

selecting said first predetermined level to be the same as said second predetermined level.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10 , comprising:

selecting said first predetermined condition to be a first predetermined time interval occurring after the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said first winding.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 , comprising:

selecting said second predetermined condition to be a second predetermined time interval occurring after the trailing edge of an energization pulse applied to said second winding.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 , comprising:

selecting said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval to be substantially the same.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 , comprising:

selecting said first and said second time intervals to each be within the range of 70 μsec. to 200 μsec.

17. A method of controlling a brushless direct current motor comprising first and second windings, said method comprising:

providing an input terminal;

providing a pulse width modulated control signal generator circuit responsive to input signals at said input terminal

providing a motor drive circuit to energize first and second windings of a brushless direct current motor in response to said pulse width modulated control signal generator;

operating said motor drive circuit such that it does not apply power to said second winding until a first predetermined condition occurs; and

operating said motor drive circuit such that it does not apply power to said first winding until a second predetermined condition occurs;

said first predetermined condition being selected such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said second winding when said first winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby current spikes induced into said power source are reduced and said second predetermined condition is selected such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said first winding when said second winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby that current spikes induced into said power source are reduced.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 , comprising:

providing a single integrated circuit having formed thereon said input terminal, said pulse width modulated control signal generator circuit, and said motor drive circuit.

19. A PWM controller for a direct current brushless motor comprising first and second windings, said controller comprising:

a single input terminal for receiving an analog control signal and a digital control signal;

a pulse width modulation control circuit coupled to said single input terminal, said control circuit being responsive to said digital control signal and to said analog control signal at said single input terminal to provide pulse width modulated control signals;

a motor drive circuit coupled to said pulse width modulation control circuit and to said first and said second windings; and

a control circuit having inputs coupled to said first and said second windings to control said pulse width modulation control circuit such that pulse width modulated control signals are provided to said motor drive circuit to drive one of said first or second windings only when the voltage across the other of said first and said second windings is at a predetermined level such that leakage inductance voltage induced into said one winding when said other winding is de-energized is less than said supply voltage and whereby that current spikes induced into said power source are reduced.