IP Library Granted Patent US 10,938,335
Granted Patent B2
US 10,938,335 · App. 16/502,661 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Motor winding temperature estimator

Inventor: Gordon Ray Miller (Newnan, GA)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
H02P29/64G01K7/18G01K13/00H02K3/04H02K11/25G01K2205/00G01K2217/00H02K7/003H03M1/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,938,335
App. No.
16/502,661
Granted
Mar 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a device, method, and medium storing instructions for execution by a processor for estimating motor winding temperature. In an example, a device for estimating motor winding temperature includes a motor shaft and a motor winding. The device may include a current sense resistor to detect the current passing through a common wiring. The device may include a digital to analog converter to convert an input voltage to an analog signal for comparison to the voltage and to generate a differential voltage using the signals received from the current sense resistor and an initial voltage supplied to the motor winding. The device may include a processor to use the differential voltage and a current input value to calculate a resistance of the motor winding from comparison to a temperature conversion curve.

Claims (42)

1. A device for estimating motor winding temperature:

a motor shaft;

a motor winding comprising a first coil end and a second coil end where electrical current from the first coil end and the second coil end pass through a common wiring in response to activation of at least one of the first coil end or the second coil end to move the motor shaft;

a current sense resistor to measure a differential voltage through the common wiring;

an analog to digital converter to convert the output signal of the current sense resistor for comparison to the voltage and to generate a differential voltage using the signals received from the current sense resistor and an initial voltage supplied to the motor winding;

a processor to use the differential voltage and a current input value to calculate a resistance of the motor winding, the processor to generate an estimated motor winding temperature from a comparison of the resistance of the motor winding to a temperature conversion curve; and

an over-temperature condition shutdown switch to stop current from reaching the motor winding in response to a detection that the estimated motor winding temperature puts the motor into an over-temperature condition for longer than a set time duration.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the motor winding is for a stepper motor.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the motor winding is a haptic solenoid, the current sense resistor is connected through a field transistor array, and the motor shaft is an actuator.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the current sense resistor is a series current sense resistor.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature conversion curve is generated through calibration of the motor winding through use of a thermometer.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature conversion curve is generated through mathematically generated models based on the thickness and material of the motor winding.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein no thermometer is used for measuring temperature of the motor windings by contact or analysis of the surface of the motor winding.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein generating an estimated motor winding temperature includes a time of winding operation, a time since last winding operation, a previously estimated motor winding temperature, and a time of most recent previously estimated motor winding temperature.

9. A method for estimating motor winding temperature comprising:

activating at least one of a first coil end or a second coil end of a motor winding, where electrical current from the first coil end and the second coil end pass through a common wiring;

detecting current passing through the common wiring;

calculating a differential voltage using an initial voltage supplied to the motor winding and signals received from the current sense resistor measuring a differential voltage; and

calculating a resistance of the motor winding with a processor using the differential voltage signal output from the current sense resistor and a current input value; and

generating an estimated motor winding temperature from a comparison of the resistance of the motor winding to a temperature conversion curve, wherein the temperature conversion curve is generated through mathematically generated models based on the thickness and material of the motor winding.

10. The method of claim 9 , comprising an over-temperature condition shutdown switch to stop current from reaching the motor winding in response to a detection that the estimated motor winding temperature puts the motor into an over-temperature condition.

11. The method of claim 9 , comprising an over-temperature condition shutdown switch to stop current from reaching the motor winding in response to a detection that the estimated motor winding temperature puts the motor into an over-temperature condition for longer than a set time duration.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the motor winding is for a stepper motor.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the motor winding is a haptic solenoid, and the current sense resistor is connected through a field transistor array.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the current sense resistor is a series current sense resistor.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the temperature conversion curve is generated through calibration of the motor winding through use of a thermometer.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein no thermometer is used for measuring temperature of the motor windings by contact or analysis of the surface of the motor winding.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein generating an estimated motor winding temperature includes a time of winding operation, a time since last winding operation, a previously estimated motor winding temperature, and a time of most recent previously estimated motor winding temperature.

18. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, estimates motor winding temperature, the instructions to direct the processor to:

activate at least one of a first coil end or a second coil end of a motor winding, where electrical current from the first coil end and the second coil end pass through a common wiring;

detect current passing through the common wiring via a current sense resistor;

calculate a differential voltage using an initial voltage supplied to the motor winding and signals received from the current sense resistor measuring a differential voltage; and

calculate a resistance of the motor winding using the measured differential voltage;

generate an estimated motor winding temperature from a comparison of the resistance of the motor winding to a temperature conversion curve; and

activate an over-temperature condition shutdown switch to stop current from reaching the motor winding in response to a detection that the estimated motor winding temperature puts the motor into an over-temperature condition for longer than a set time duration.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the motor winding is for a stepper motor.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the motor winding is a haptic solenoid, and the current sense resistor is connected through a field transistor array.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the current sense resistor is a series current sense resistor.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the temperature conversion curve is generated through calibration of the motor winding through use of a thermometer.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the temperature conversion curve is generated through mathematically generated models based on the thickness and material of the motor winding.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein no thermometer is used for measuring temperature of the motor windings by contact or analysis of the surface of the motor winding.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein generating an estimated motor winding temperature includes a time of winding operation, a time since last winding operation, a previously estimated motor winding temperature, and a time of most recent previously estimated motor winding temperature.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 72222 FRAME 267. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC.
Reel/Frame 072930/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 072222/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: MILLER, GORDON RAY
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA, DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
Reel/Frame 049664/0313 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62694301 · Jul 5, 2018
Related Publication 20200014326A1 · Jan 9, 2020