IP Library Granted Patent US 10,132,264
Granted Patent B2
US 10,132,264 · App. 15/029,573 · Granted Nov 20, 2018

Method for controlling an electric motor of a vehicle pump

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,132,264
App. No.
15/029,573
Granted
Nov 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling an electric motor of a vehicle pump used to deliver a medium. According to the method, a period required for at least one partial revolution of a rotor of the electric motor is determined. The fluctuations during the period can represent a measurement of the true running of the electric motor. The speed of the electric motor can be altered depending on the deviation of the period from a comparative value. As a result, the true running of the electric motor can be guaranteed once again.

Claims (39)

1. A method for controlling an electric motor of a pump configured to deliver a medium, the method comprising:

ascertaining a period for at least a partial revolution of a rotor of the electric motor;

altering a speed of the electric motor when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from a predetermined comparison value by a minimum amount;

detecting an electromotive force of the electric motor; and

determining a period of the detected electromotive force of the electric motor,

wherein the period for the partial revolution of the rotor is ascertained based on the detected electromotive force.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating a difference between the determined period of the detected electromotive force of the electric motor and the predetermined comparison value; and

altering the speed of the electric motor when an absolute magnitude of the calculated difference is greater than the minimum amount;

wherein the predetermined comparison value is a mean value of a particular number of periods of the electromotive force of the electric motor.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing the speed of the electric motor by a predefined amount when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from the predetermined comparison value by the minimum amount.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the speed of the electric motor is increased by a predefined fixed amount.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing the speed of the electric motor continually until a deviation of the period from the predetermined comparison value is less than the minimum amount when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from the predetermined comparison value by the minimum amount.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

generating and sending a warning signal to an engine control unit when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from the predetermined comparison value by the minimum amount.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an instantaneous speed of the electric motor;

one of:

increasing the speed of the electric motor if the detected instantaneous speed of the electric motor drops below a first speed limit value when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from the predetermined comparison value by the minimum amount;

or

decreasing the speed of the electric motor if the ascertained instantaneous speed of the electric motor goes beyond a second speed limit value, when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from the predetermined comparison value by the minimum amount.

8. A program element stored on a nontransient computer readable medium which, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to execute a method comprising:

ascertaining a period for at least a partial revolution of a rotor of an electric motor;

altering a speed of the electric motor when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from a predetermined comparison value by a minimum amount;

detecting an electromotive force of the electric motor; and

determining a period of the detected electromotive force of the electric motor,

wherein the period for the partial revolution of the rotor is ascertained based on the detected electromotive force.

9. A delivery device of a vehicle, the delivery device comprising:

a pump configured to deliver a medium;

an electric motor having a rotor and configured to drive the pump; and

a control unit configured to control the electric motor by:

ascertaining a period for at least a partial revolution of the rotor;

altering a speed of the electric motor when the ascertained period for the partial revolution of the rotor deviates from a predetermined comparison value by a minimum amount;

detecting an electromotive force of the electric motor; and

determining a period of the detected electromotive force of the electric motor,

wherein the period for the partial revolution of the rotor is ascertained based on the detected electromotive force.

10. A vehicle with a delivery device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the pump of the delivery device is a fuel pump configured to deliver fuel to an internal combustion engine of the vehicle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2020
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 053262/0307 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2016
From: GRAF, ROLF; LUKAS, BERNHARD
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 038287/0495 →