Method for synchronizing commutated control circuits controlled by PWM control signals

1. A method for synchronizing at least one slave control circuit ( 1 S), of switched type, controlled by a slave control signal ( 2 S) having pulse width modulation exhibiting a slave period ( 3 S) and controlling a slave load ( 4 S), with a master control circuit ( 1 M), of switched type, controlled by a master control signal ( 2 M) having pulse width modulation exhibiting a master period ( 3 M) and controlling a master load ( 4 M), the method comprising the following steps:

the master control circuit ( 1 M) transmitting a synchronization signal ( 5 ) that is indicative of a master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) of an electrical quantity ( 7 M, 8 M) of the master circuit ( 1 M);

the slave control circuit ( 1 S) receiving the synchronization signal ( 5 );

repeatedly measuring an interval ( 9 SM) between a slave edge ( 67 S, 68 S) of the same electrical quantity ( 7 S, 8 S) of the slave circuit ( 1 S) and the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) of the electrical quantity ( 7 M, 8 M) of the master circuit ( 1 M) as indicated by the synchronization signal ( 5 ), and time-shifting ( 92 E, 92 T) the slave control signal ( 2 S) in a manner that decreases the measured interval ( 9 SM), until said interval ( 9 SM) is canceled out,

wherein the direction of the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) and the direction of the one or more slave edges ( 67 S, 68 S) of the measurement step are opposite.

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

prior to the measurement step, initially delaying the master control signal ( 2 M) so as to create a synchronization margin ( 13 ).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the slave period ( 3 S) is equal to the master period ( 3 M).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrical quantity ( 7 , 8 ) is the current ( 7 ) flowing through the control circuit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrical quantity ( 7 , 8 ) is the voltage ( 8 ) across the terminals of the load ( 4 ).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) and the one or more slave edges ( 67 S, 68 S) of the measurement step are chosen from among periodic edges.

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

configuring the master control signal ( 2 M) according to a first logic, with a choice of a high level ( 11 M) at the start of a period ( 3 M) or a high level ( 11 M) at the end of a period ( 3 M); and

configuring the one or more slave control signals ( 2 S) according to a second logic, different from the first logic.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the master load ( 4 M) is at least inductive.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more slave loads ( 4 S) are at least inductive.

10. An electronic component for synchronizing at least one slave control circuit ( 1 S), of switched type, controlled by a slave control signal ( 2 S) having pulse width modulation exhibiting a slave period ( 3 S) and controlling a slave load ( 4 S), with a master control circuit ( 1 M), of switched type, controlled by a master control signal ( 2 M) having pulse width modulation exhibiting a master period ( 3 M) and controlling a master load ( 4 M), implementing the method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising:

means for the master control circuit ( 1 M) to transmit a synchronization signal ( 5 ) that is indicative of a master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) of an electrical quantity ( 7 M, 8 M) of the master circuit ( 1 M);

means for the slave control circuit ( 1 S) to receive the synchronization signal ( 5 );

means for measuring an interval ( 9 SM) between a slave edge ( 67 S, 68 S) of the same electrical quantity ( 7 S, 8 S) of the slave circuit ( 1 S) and the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) of the electrical quantity ( 7 M, 8 M) of the master circuit ( 1 M) as indicated by the synchronization signal ( 5 );

means for time-shifting ( 92 E, 92 T) the slave control signal ( 2 S) so as to decrease said interval ( 9 SM).

11. The electronic component as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:

at least one master control circuit ( 1 M) and at least one slave control circuit ( 1 S), positioned within one and the same housing.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the slave period ( 3 S) is equal to the master period ( 3 M).

13. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the electrical quantity ( 7 , 8 ) is the current ( 7 ) flowing through the control circuit.

14. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the electrical quantity ( 7 , 8 ) is the current ( 7 ) flowing through the control circuit.

15. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the electrical quantity ( 7 , 8 ) is the voltage ( 8 ) across the terminals of the load ( 4 ).

16. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the electrical quantity ( 7 , 8 ) is the voltage ( 8 ) across the terminals of the load ( 4 ).

17. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) and the one or more slave edges ( 67 S, 68 S) of the measurement step are chosen from among periodic edges.

18. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) and the one or more slave edges ( 67 S, 68 S) of the measurement step are chosen from among periodic edges.

19. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the master edge ( 67 M, 68 M) and the one or more slave edges ( 67 S, 68 S) of the measurement step are chosen from among periodic edges.