IP Library Granted Patent US 8,461,796
Granted Patent B2
US 8,461,796 · App. 12/976,305 · Granted Jun 11, 2013

Motor drive circuit for driving a synchronous motor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,461,796
App. No.
12/976,305
Granted
Jun 11, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A coil current detector detects a current component flowing through a coil. A scaling unit scales a drive signal. An induced voltage component extraction unit extracts an induced voltage component by removing the drive signal, scaled by the scaling unit, from the coil current component detected by the current detector. A phase difference detector detects a phase difference between the phase of the drive signal and that of the induced voltage component. A signal adjustment unit adjusts the drive signal so that the phase difference detected by the phase difference detector can be brought close to a target phase difference.

Claims (18)

1. A motor drive circuit, comprising:

a driver unit configured to supply current to a coil of a synchronous motor in response to a drive signal;

a coil current detector configured to detect a current component flowing through the coil;

a scaling unit configured to scale the drive signal;

an induced voltage component extraction unit configured to extract an induced voltage component by removing the drive signal, scaled by said scaling unit, from the coil current component detected by said current detector;

a phase difference detector configured to detect a phase difference between the phase of the drive signal and that of the induced voltage component; and

a drive signal adjustment unit configured to adjust the drive signal so that the phase difference detected by said phase difference detector is brought close to a target phase difference.

2. A motor drive circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said scaling unit scales the drive signal using a scaling factor that defines a relation between the drive signal in a state where an induced voltage occurring in the coil is zero and the coil current component detected by said coil current detector.

3. A motor drive circuit according to claim 2 , wherein said drive signal adjustment unit adjusts the amplitude of the drive signal.

4. A motor drive circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the synchronous motor is a stepping motor, and

wherein the target phase difference is set such that the phase of the induced voltage component is within positive 90 degrees through 0 degree relative to the phase of the scaled drive signal.

5. A motor drive circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the synchronous motor is a stepping motor, and

wherein when a rotor included in the stepping motor moves from a stop position to the next stop position, said drive signal adjustment unit adjusts the drive signal so that the phase difference is brought close to the target phase difference, and

while the rotor stops at a stop position, said drive signal adjustment unit ceases to adjust the drive signal.

6. A motor drive circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the synchronous motor is a stepping motor that includes a first coil and a second coil, and

wherein said motor drive circuit detects the phase difference in the first coil, and adjusts a drive signal of the first coil and a drive signal of the second coil so that the phase difference in the first coil is brought close to the target phase difference.

7. A motor drive circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the synchronous motor is a stepping motor that includes a first coil and a second coil, and

wherein said motor drive circuit detects the phase difference in the first coil and the phase difference in the second coil, and adjusts a drive signal of the first coil and a drive signal of the second coil so that an average value of the phase difference in the first coil and the phase difference in the second coil is brought close to the target phase difference.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038620, FRAME 0087 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064070/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 5859768 AND TO RECITE COLLATERAL AGENT ROLE OF RECEIVING PARTY IN THE SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038620 FRAME 0087. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039853/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038620/0087 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 033813 FRAME: 0420. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 21, 2015
From: SYSTEM SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034816/0510 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
To: SYSTEM SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034537/0044 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2014
From: SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 033813/0420 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT #12/577882 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026594 FRAME 0385. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 6, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032836/0342 →