Method and apparatus for generating pulse-width modulated waveform

1. A method of generating pulse-width modulated waveforms through a first terminal and a second terminal, the method comprising:

the step 1 of determining the cycle of a carrier wave for the waveforms, a first dead time value, and a second dead time value;

the step 2 of determining the range of counting by a plurality of up-down counters according to the carrier-wave cycle, the first dead time value, and the second dead time value;

the step 3 of counting in the range determined by the up-down counters in the step 2 ;

the step 4 of comparing a value determined according to the carrier-wave cycle with a first count value of a first one of the up-down counters;

the step 5 of comparing a value determined according to the carrier-wave cycle with a second count value of a second one of the up-down counters other than the first up-down counter; and

the step 6 of generating the pulse-width modulated waveforms through the first and the second terminals according to the comparison in the steps 4 and 5 .

2. The method of generating the pulse-width modulated waveforms, according to claim 1 , wherein

the first dead time value is determined for the first terminal;

the second dead time value is determined for the second terminal;

the method further comprising the step of loading the first count value of the first up-down counter in the second up-down counter.

3. The method of generating the pulse-width modulated waveforms, according to claim 2 , wherein

the first up-down counter has a first count range determined by a first lower limit and a first upper limit and performs counting within the first count range;

the first lower limit being equal to a half of the first dead time value while the first upper limit is equal to a sum of the half of the first dead time value and a half of the carrier-wave cycle;

the second up-down counter having a second count range determined by a second lower limit and a second upper limit and performs counting in the second count range;

the second lower limit being equal to zero while the second upper limit is equal to a sum of the half of the first dead time value, the half of the second dead time value, and the half of the carrier-wave cycle;

the first count value being loaded in the second up-down counter when the first count value is equal to either of the first upper limit and the first lower limit.

4. The method of generating pulse-width modulated waveform, according to claim 1 , wherein

the first dead time value is indicative of a dead time of switching from OFF of a positive phase to ON of a negative phase;

the second dead time value is indicative of a dead time of switching from OFF of the negative phase to ON of the positive phase; and

when a third up-down counter measures the cycle of the carrier wave,

the first up-down counter performs counting with a time difference of the first dead time value relative to the third up-down counter, and

the second up-down counter performs counting with a time difference of the second dead time value relative to the third up-down counter.

5. The method of generating pulse-width modulated waveform, according to claim 4 , wherein

the first up-down counter performs counting in a range in which the sum of the first and second dead time values is a first lower limit and the sum of the first lower limit and a half of the carrier-wave cycle is a first upper limit; and

the second up-down counter performs counting in a range in which zero is a second lower limit and a half of the carrier-wave cycle is a second upper limit.

6. An apparatus for generating pulse-width modulated waveforms through a first terminal and a second terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of up-down counters that perform counting in a range determined according to a predetermined carrier-wave cycle, first dead time value, and second dead time value;

a first comparator that compares a value determined according to the carrier-wave cycle with a first count value of a first one of the up-down counters;

a second comparator that compares a value determined according to the carrier-wave cycle with a second count value of a second up-down counter other than the first up-down counter; and

waveform generating means that generates pulse-width modulated waveform according to the outputs of the first and the second comparators.

7. The apparatus for generating the pulse-width modulated waveforms, according to claim 6 , wherein

the first dead time value is determined for the first terminal;

the second dead time value is determined for the second terminal; and

the apparatus further comprises means for loading the first count value of the first up-down counter in the second up-down counter.

8. The apparatus for generating pulse-width modulated waveform according to claim 7 , wherein:

the first up-down counter performs counting in a range in which a half of the first dead time value is a first lower limit and the sum of a half of the first dead time value and a half of the carrier-wave cycle is a first upper limit;

the second up-down counter performs counting in a range in which zero is a second lower limit and the sum of a half of the first dead time value, a half of the second dead time value, and a half of the carrier-wave cycle is a second upper limit; and

when the first count value is either of the first upper limit and the first lower limit, the loading means loads the first count value in the second up-down counter.

9. The apparatus for generating pulse-width modulated waveform according to claim 6 , wherein

the first dead time value is indicative of a dead time of switching from OFF of a positive phase to ON of a negative phase;

the second dead time value is indicative of a dead time of switching from OFF of the negative phase to ON of the positive phase; and

the apparatus includes a third up-down counter that measures the cycle of the carrier wave as one of the plurality of up-down counters; wherein

the first up-down counter performs counting with a time difference of the first dead time value relative to the third up-down counter, and

the second up-down counter performs counting with a time difference of the second dead time value relative to the third up-down counter.

10. The apparatus for generating pulse-width modulated waveform according to claim 9 , wherein

the first up-down counter performs counting in a range in which the sum of the first and second dead time values is a first lower limit and the sum of the first lower limit and a half of the carrier-wave cycle is a first upper limit; and

the second up-down counter performs counting in a range in which zero is a second lower limit and a half of the carrier-wave cycle is a second upper limit.

11. An apparatus for generating multiphase alternating pulse-width modulated waveform, the apparatus comprising a pulse-width modulated waveform generation apparatus comprising:

a plurality of up-down counters that perform counting in a range determined according to a predetermined carrier-wave cycle, first dead time value, and second dead time value;

a first comparator that compares a value determined according to the carrier-wave cycle with a first count value of a first one of the up-down counters;

a second comparator that compares a value determined according to the carrier-wave cycle with a second count value of a second up-down counter other than the first up-down counter; and

waveform generating means that generates pulse-width modulated waveform according to the outputs of the first and the second comparators.

12. A multiphase alternating-current motor that is driven by the apparatus for generating the multiphase alternating pulse-width modulated waveform according to claim 11 .