IP Library Granted Patent US 8,773,060
Granted Patent B2
US 8,773,060 · App. 13/445,335 · Granted Jul 8, 2014

Brushless motor drive device and drive method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,773,060
App. No.
13/445,335
Granted
Jul 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a brushless motor drive device that performs switching determination of energization modes of a three-phase brushless motor according to a sensorless method, and a drive method thereof. A pulse induced voltage induced in a non-energized phase of three phases by a pulse voltage is compared with a threshold to determine the switching timing of the energization modes. Here, by limiting a duty ratio of a voltage application to equal to or greater than a lower limit, a situation in which the pulse induced voltage is sampled while the pulse induced voltage is oscillating is avoided, and a situation in which the pulse induced voltage falls below a voltage detection resolution is avoided. As a result, determination of energization mode switching timing based on a pulse induced voltage can be performed more stably.

Claims (40)

1. A brushless motor drive device comprising:

a switching section that includes a plurality of energization modes in which two phases to be applied with a pulse voltage are selected from three phases of a three-phase brushless motor, and is configured to switch the plurality of energization modes;

a determining section configured to determine switching timing of the energization modes based on a pulse induced voltage induced in a non-energized phase of the three phases by the pulse voltage; and

a restricting section configured to

set a duty ratio of the pulse voltage to be equal to or greater than a lower limit, and

set a duty ratio, with which the pulse voltage is applied, for a time longer than a sum of an oscillation time of the pulse induced voltage immediately after starting application of the pulse voltage and a time required for A/D converting of the pulse induced voltage, as the lower limit.

2. The brushless motor drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the restricting section is configured to set the lower limit as a duty ratio in an operation condition in which a load of the three-phase brushless motor is smaller than a set value.

3. The brushless motor drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the determining section is configured to compare the pulse induced voltage with a threshold for switching of the plurality of the energization modes, and the brushless motor drive device further comprises:

a learning section configured to learn the threshold in the determining section in a state with the duty ratio of the pulse voltage being set as the lower limit.

4. A brushless motor drive device comprising:

a switching section that includes a plurality of energization modes in which two phases to be applied with a pulse voltage are selected from three phases of a three-phase brushless motor, and which is configured to switch the plurality of energization modes;

a determining section configured to determine switching timing of the plurality of energization modes based on a pulse induced voltage induced in a non-energized phase of the three phases by the pulse voltage; and

a restricting section configured to

set a duty ratio of the pulse voltage to equal to or greater than a lower limit, and

set a duty ratio, with which the pulse voltage is applied, for a time longer than twice an oscillation time of the pulse induced voltage immediately after starting application of the pulse voltage, or a time required for A/D converting of the pulse induced voltage, whichever is longer, as the lower limit.

5. The brushless motor drive device according to claim 4 , wherein the restricting section is configured to set the lower limit as a duty ratio in an operation condition in which a load of the three-phase brushless motor is smaller than a set value.

6. The brushless motor drive device according to claim 4 , wherein the determining section is configured to compare the pulse induced voltage with a threshold for switching of the plurality of the energization modes, and the brushless motor drive device further comprises:

a learning section configured to learn the threshold in the determining section in a state with the duty ratio of the pulse voltage being set as the lower limit.

7. A brushless motor drive method, comprising:

determining switching timing of a plurality of energization modes based on a pulse induced voltage induced in a non-energized phase of three phases of a three-phase brushless motor;

switching the plurality of energization modes in which two phases to be applied with a pulse voltage are selected from the three phases of the three-phase brushless motor, at the switching timing of the plurality of energization modes;

setting a duty ratio, with which the pulse voltage is applied, for a time longer than a sum of an oscillation time of the pulse induced voltage immediately after starting application of the pulse voltage and a time required for A/D converting of the pulse induced voltage, as a lower limit;

setting a duty ratio of the pulse voltage to be equal to or greater than the lower limit; and

applying the pulse voltage to two phases corresponding to the energization modes.

8. The brushless motor drive method according to claim 7 , wherein

setting the duty ratio to be equal to or greater than the lower limit comprises setting the lower limit to a duty ratio in an operation condition in which a load of the three-phase brushless motor is smaller than a set value.

9. The brushless motor drive method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

at determination of the switching timing of the energization modes, comparing the pulse induced voltage with a threshold to determine the switching timing of the energization modes, and

learning the threshold in a state with the duty ratio of the pulse voltage being set as the lower limit.

10. A brushless motor drive method, comprising:

determining switching timing of a plurality of energization modes based on a pulse induced voltage induced in a non-energized phase of three phases of a three-phase brushless motor;

switching the plurality of energization modes in which two phases to be applied with a pulse voltage are selected from the three phases of the three-phase brushless motor, at the switching timing of the plurality of energization modes;

setting a duty ratio, with which the pulse voltage is applied, for a time longer than twice an oscillation time of the pulse induced voltage immediately after starting application of the pulse voltage, or a time required for A/D converting of the pulse induced voltage, whichever is longer, as a lower limit;

setting a duty ratio of the pulse voltage to equal to or greater than a lower limit; and

applying the pulse voltage to two phases corresponding to the energization modes.

11. The brushless motor drive method according to claim 10 , wherein setting the duty ratio to be equal to or greater than the lower limit comprises:

setting the lower limit to a duty ratio in an operation condition in which a load of the three-phase brushless motor is smaller than a set value.

12. The brushless motor drive method according to claim 10 , further comprising

at determination of the switching timing of the energization modes, comparing the pulse induced voltage with a threshold to determine the switching timing of the energization modes, and

learning the threshold in a state with the duty ratio of the pulse voltage being set as the lower limit.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 25, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 056299/0447 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2012
From: HANO, MASAKI
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 028041/0953 →