High-frequency injection for sensorless control of a BLDC stand mixer
A method for operating an appliance, such as a stand mixer appliance, is provided. In one example implementation, the method can include injecting, via a controller of the stand mixer appliance, a high-frequency signal into a motor of the stand mixer appliance. The method can further include, responsive to injecting the high-frequency signal into the motor, processing, via the controller, one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection. The method can further include, responsive to processing the one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection, determining, via the controller, one or more operating parameters based at least in part on the high-frequency signal injection.
1 . A method for operating a stand mixer appliance, the method comprising:
injecting, via a controller of the stand mixer appliance, a high-frequency signal into a motor of the stand mixer appliance;
responsive to injecting the high-frequency signal into the motor, processing, via the controller, one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection;
responsive to processing the one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection, determining, via the controller, one or more operating parameters based at least in part on the high-frequency signal injection; and
operating, by the controller, the stand mixer appliance based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the high-frequency signal into the motor of the stand mixer further comprises:
determining, via the controller, an estimated operating parameter; and
injecting, via the controller, the high-frequency signal into a stator of the motor based at least in part on the estimated operating parameter.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the high-frequency signal is a signal from about 500 Hz to about 8 kHz.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the estimated operating parameter comprises a d-axis component and a q-axis component.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the estimated operating parameter is indicative of an estimated orientation of a rotor of the motor.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the high-frequency signal injection is based at least in part on the d-axis component of the estimated operating parameter or the q-axis component of the estimated operating parameter.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more signals associated with the high-frequency injection are current signals induced in the stator in response to the high-frequency signal injection.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high-frequency signal is a high-frequency voltage signal.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the high-frequency signal comprises a square wave waveform.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters are indicative of an orientation of a rotor of the motor.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM).
12 . A motor assembly for a stand mixer, comprising:
a motor comprising at least a rotor and a stator;
a motor drive;
a sensorless feedback system configured to determine an orientation of the rotor based at least in part on one or more electrical characteristics of the stator; and
a controller operably coupled with the sensorless feedback system, the controller configured to:
inject a high-frequency signal into the motor;
process one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection;
determine one or more operating parameters based at least in part on the high-frequency signal injection; and
operate the stand mixer based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters.
13 . The motor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the high-frequency signal is a high-frequency voltage signal.
14 . The motor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the motor is a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM).
15 . The motor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the high-frequency signal comprises a square wave waveform.
16 . The motor assembly of claim 12 , wherein the one or more signals associated with the high-frequency injection are current signals induced in the stator in response to the high-frequency signal injection.
17 . A stand mixer appliance, comprising:
a base;
a head pivotally mounted to the base;
a motor disposed within the head;
a mixer shaft rotatably mounted on the head; and
a controller operably coupled to the motor, the controller configured to:
inject a high-frequency signal into the motor;
process one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection;
determine one or more operating parameters based at least in part on the high-frequency signal injection; and
operate the stand mixer appliance based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters.
18 . The stand mixer appliance of claim 17 , wherein:
the motor comprises a rotor and a stator;
the high-frequency signal is injected into the stator; and
the one or more signals associated with the high-frequency signal injection are current signals induced in the stator in response to the high-frequency signal injection.
19 . The stand mixer appliance of claim 17 , wherein the high-frequency signal is a high-frequency voltage signal.
20 . The stand mixer appliance of claim 17 , wherein the motor is a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM).