Motor controller

Abstract

To provide a motor controller capable of achieving sharing of hardware resources, space saving of an entire vehicle, improvement of stability, and reduction of a failure rate.SOLUTION: The parking control unit, the differential locking control unit and the motor control unit are integrated on the control circuit board and controlled by the same microprocessor, thereby saving the layout space and the hardware resource cost of the entire vehicle. The closed-loop control of the parking function is realized by adding a control loop between the position feedback acquisition unit and the parking control unit. The closed-loop control of the diff-lock function is realized by adding a control loop between the state feedback acquisition unit and the diff-lock control unit. In this way, the technical effects of sharing hardware resources, improving stability, and reducing failure rate are achieved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates to the field of motor control, and more particularly to motor controllers. [Background technology]

[0002] The new energy industry has the advantages of being clean, low-carbon, safe, and highly efficient, which has led to an ever-increasing demand for electric vehicles. As the motor controller is a core component of the entire vehicle power system, the demand for motor controller integration is also increasing as the interior space of the entire vehicle becomes increasingly compressed.

[0003] In related art, the conventional approach to realize the parking function and differential lock function of the entire vehicle requires that the main drive system of the automobile is equipped with a motor controller, a parking controller, and a differential lock controller simultaneously. This distributed controller design not only increases the layout space of the entire vehicle and increases costs, but also requires procurement from different manufacturers, making development difficult. In addition, the distributed processor has a low level of safety and a high risk of failure. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present application proposes a motor controller that integrates a motor controller, a parking controller, and a differential lock controller into one unit and controls them with the same microprocessor, thereby achieving technical effects such as sharing hardware resources, saving space in the entire vehicle, improving stability, and reducing failure rate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The embodiments of the present application employ the following technical solutions.

[0006] A motor controller is provided, the motor controller including a housing and a control circuit board provided inside the housing, the control circuit board including a microprocessor, and a parking control unit and a differential lock control unit electrically connected to the microprocessor, respectively, wherein: the microprocessor is communicatively connected to an overall vehicle controller of the vehicle and is used to receive overall vehicle control commands; The parking control unit and the differential lock control unit are closed-loop controlled using the same microprocessor and are integrated on the control circuit board. The closed loop control includes a control circuit between a position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit, and a control circuit between a state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit.

[0007] Optionally, the control circuit board further includes a motor control unit, the motor control unit being electrically connected to the microprocessor; The motor control unit is controlled using the same microprocessor as the parking control unit and the differential lock control unit, and is integrated onto the control circuit board.

[0008] Optionally, the parking mechanism of the vehicle includes at least a parking actuator and a parking position sensor, and the parking control unit includes a parking driver; The parking driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to drive the parking actuator to realize a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation.

[0009] Optionally, in a control circuit between the position feedback collection means and the parking control unit: When the parking actuator performs a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation, the microprocessor outputs a first SENT signal as a first command signal to control the parking actuator to collect and obtain a parking position signal.

[0010] Optionally, the parking control unit further includes a position sampling circuit; The position sampling circuit is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to receive the parking position signal transmitted from the parking position sensor and transmit a sampled parking position signal to the microprocessor.

[0011] Optionally, in a control circuit between the position feedback collection means and the parking control unit: When the parking actuator performs a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation, the microprocessor outputs a PWM signal as a first command signal to control the parking position sensor to collect and obtain a parking position signal.

[0012] Optionally, the differential lock mechanism of the vehicle includes at least a differential lock and an inductive sensor, and the differential lock control unit includes a differential lock driver; The differential lock driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to drive the differential lock to achieve a locking or unlocking operation.

[0013] Optionally, in a control circuit between the state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit, When the differential lock performs a locking or unlocking operation, the microprocessor outputs a second PWM signal as a second command signal to control the inductive sensor to collect and obtain a differential lock state signal.

[0014] Optionally, the differential lock control unit further includes a low-side driver; The low-side driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to receive a differential lock status signal transmitted from the inductive sensor and transmit the differential lock status signal to the microprocessor.

[0015] Optionally, the motor control unit includes a motor driver and an IGBT power unit; The motor driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor, and converts and outputs a current control signal through the IGBT power unit to adjust the rotation speed and torque of the motor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As can be seen from the above, at least one of the technical solutions adopted in the embodiments of the present application can achieve the following beneficial effects: A motor controller is provided, the motor controller including a housing and a control circuit board disposed inside the housing, the control circuit board including a microprocessor and a parking control unit, a differential lock control unit, and a motor control unit, each electrically connected to the microprocessor. The parking control unit, the differential lock control unit, and the motor control unit are integrated and controlled using the same microprocessor, thereby saving space and hardware costs for the entire vehicle. A control circuit is added between the position feedback collection means and the parking control unit, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the parking function. A control circuit is added between the state feedback collection means and the differential lock control unit, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the differential lock function. This achieves technical effects such as sharing of hardware resources, improved stability, and reduced failure rate.

[0017] The above description is merely an outline of the technical solution of the present application. In order to make the technical solution of the present application more clearly understood and to be able to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to more easily understand the above and other features and advantages of the present application, specific embodiments of the present application are specifically cited below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] Various other benefits and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the present application. Furthermore, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an integrated schematic diagram of a motor controller according to one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a parking control unit in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a differential lock control unit in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020]

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present application are illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that the present application may be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present application may be better understood and the scope of the present application will be fully conveyed to those skilled in the art.

[0021] The technical concept of this application is to integrate the motor control function, parking control function and differential lock control function into a design where the motor control unit, parking control unit and differential lock control unit are controlled by the same microprocessor, and a feedback collection circuit is added to realize the closed-loop control functions of the parking module and the differential lock module, respectively, thereby realizing the sharing of hardware resources, saving the layout space of the entire vehicle, and improving the safety and stability of the motor controller.

[0022] Hereinafter, the technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] Fig. 1 is an integrated schematic diagram of a motor controller in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 1, the embodiment of the present application proposes a motor controller including a housing and a control circuit board provided inside the housing. For simplicity, Figs. 1 to 3 only show the control units of each circuit of the motor controller, and do not show the mechanical structure related to the motor controller, and the present application does not limit the related mechanical structure of the motor controller.

[0024] In this embodiment, the control circuit board is provided with a microprocessor 100, a parking control unit 200, and a differential lock control unit 300, which are electrically connected to the microprocessor 100. The microprocessor 100 is communicatively connected to the vehicle's overall controller and is used to receive overall vehicle control commands. The parking control unit 200 and the differential lock control unit 300 are controlled in a closed loop using the same microprocessor 100 and are integrated on the control circuit board. The closed loop control includes a control circuit between the position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit 200, and a control circuit between the state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit 300.

[0025] Specifically, the control circuit board is a PCBA circuit board, and the parking control unit 200 and the differential lock control unit 300 are integrated on the same PCBA circuit board and connected to the parking mechanism or the differential lock mechanism via a low-voltage connector 600 and a harness, allowing signals to be processed by the microprocessor 100. The microprocessor 100 can communicate with an overall vehicle controller, which is a central control unit and the core of the entire vehicle control system. As can be understood, the microprocessor 100 and the overall vehicle controller can be connected by a corresponding communication unit, and the microprocessor 100 can receive overall vehicle control commands issued from the overall vehicle controller, including, but not limited to, motor acceleration / deceleration commands, braking commands, parking commands, and differential lock commands. For example, to realize the parking and differential lock functions of the vehicle, the microprocessor 100 can send a control command for park-in / park-out operation to the parking actuator 810 and a control command for unlocking / locking operation to the differential lock.

[0026] It is worth mentioning that the improvement of the technical solution of the present application is the related design of the parking control unit 200 and the differential lock control unit 300. Of course, the motor controller may include components such as a communication unit, a film capacitor, a current sensor, a connector member, a magnetic ring assembly, a heat dissipation assembly, and a harness. However, the model numbers, mounting positions, and connection methods of the various components and electronic components in the motor controller can all be adjusted and installed by those skilled in the art, and are not limited here.

[0027] As can be seen, by using the above-mentioned motor controller, a control circuit board inside its housing is provided with a microprocessor, and a parking control unit and a differential lock control unit electrically connected to the microprocessor, which further improves the integration and reliability of the motor controller. The microprocessor is capable of communicating with the vehicle's overall vehicle controller to receive overall vehicle control commands. The parking control unit and the differential lock control unit are controlled in closed loop using the same microprocessor and are integrated on the control circuit board, which reduces the use of microprocessors and saves hardware resources. In addition, by providing a control circuit between the position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit, and a control circuit between the state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit, closed-loop control of the parking control unit and the differential lock control unit can be achieved based on position feedback or state feedback.

[0028] Unlike the approach of conventional technical solutions that requires the main drive system of a vehicle to be simultaneously equipped with three types of controllers, i.e., a motor controller, a parking controller, and a differential lock controller, the adoption of the motor controller in the embodiments of the present application solves problems such as an increase in the layout space of the entire vehicle and high costs due to a distributed design, realizes the sharing of hardware resources, and achieves technical effects such as improving system stability and reducing the rate of control failure.

[0029] In some embodiments, still referring to FIG. 1, the control circuit board further includes a motor control unit that is electrically connected to the microprocessor 100 and is controlled by the same microprocessor 100 as the parking control unit 200 and the differential lock control unit 300, and is integrated into the control circuit board.

[0030] For example, the microprocessor 100 receives a motor control command for controlling the motor 700 from the overall vehicle controller, and the electrical energy in the battery pack is inverter-modulated via a power unit (e.g., an IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor)) and then converted into the electrical energy required for the motor 700. The microprocessor 100 outputs a current control signal to control the rotational speed and torque of the motor 700 and meet the overall driving requirements of the vehicle.

[0031] In some preferred embodiments, the microprocessor 100 may be a single-chip microcomputer with a high functional safety level, such as the TC377 chip, which can achieve the requirements of the ASILD (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) functional safety class. Of course, the present application does not limit the model number, connection relationship, installation position, etc. of the microprocessor 100. Those skilled in the art can refer to the relevant chip manuals to select and connect the electronic components in each functional circuit of the motor controller by themselves, and no further details will be given here.

[0032] 2 is a schematic diagram of a parking control unit in one embodiment of the present application, where the dashed-line box on the left side of FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a parking control circuit, and the dashed-line box on the right side of FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a parking mechanism. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in some preferred embodiments, a parking mechanism 800 of a vehicle includes at least a parking actuator 810 and a parking position sensor 820, and the parking control unit 200 includes a parking driver 210. The parking driver 210 is electrically connected to the microprocessor 100 and is used to drive the parking actuator 810 to realize a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation. This makes it possible to realize the parking function of the vehicle.

[0033] Of course, the parking mechanism 800 further includes mechanical structures such as a parking motor, a parking gear, a pole, a position limiting plate, a cam disc, etc., which can be installed by those skilled in the art and are not limited here.

[0034] In some embodiments, the parking control unit 200 receives parking control commands issued by the microprocessor 100 and controls the vehicle's parking mechanism 800 to perform a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation. For example, the microprocessor 100 can output a command signal for rotating the parking motor forward and backward. When the parking actuator 810 rotates forward, the position limiting plate rotates via the guide shaft, and the rotation of the position limiting plate compresses the spring, causing the cam disc to rotate. At this time, the rotation of the cam disc compresses the pawl, causing the pawl to mesh with the gear, thereby performing a parking-in operation. Also, for example, when the parking actuator 810 rotates backward, the position limiting plate returns to its original position, and at this time, the cam disc is returned to its original position by the position limiting plate, and the pawl is released by the thrust of the torsion spring and the rotation of the gear, thereby performing a parking-out operation.

[0035] In some preferred embodiments, as shown in Fig. 2, in the control circuit between the position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit 200, when the parking actuator 810 performs a parking-in or parking-out operation, the microprocessor 100 outputs a first SENT signal as a first command signal to control the parking actuator 810 to collect and obtain a parking position signal. The SENT (Single Edge Nibble Transmission) signal is a single-edge nibble transmission protocol, and the first command signal is a control command signal for collecting the parking position. Of course, other signal transmission methods may exist between the microprocessor 100 and the parking actuator 810, but these are not limited thereto.

[0036] That is, the parking actuator 810 in this embodiment has a parking position feedback function, and can collect the parking position under the control of the microprocessor 100 to obtain a parking position signal and detect whether the parking position has reached a predetermined position. For example, the parking actuator 810 is equipped with a sensor, and when it detects that the parking position has not reached the predetermined position, it feeds back the non-arrival signal to the microprocessor 100 to continue the parking operation, and when it detects that the parking position has reached the predetermined position, it feeds back the arrival signal to the microprocessor 100 to complete the parking. This realizes closed-loop control of the parking function.

[0037] 2, in some preferred embodiments, the parking control unit 200 further includes a position sampling circuit 220, which is electrically connected to the microprocessor 100 and the parking position sensor 820, and is used to receive the parking position signal transmitted from the parking position sensor 820 and transmit the sampled parking position signal to the microprocessor 100. Of course, in this embodiment, there is no limitation on the model number of the parking position sensor 820.

[0038] For example, in the control circuit between the position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit 200, when the parking actuator 810 performs a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation, the microprocessor 100 outputs a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal as a first command signal to control the parking position sensor 820 to collect and obtain a parking position signal, and the first command signal is a control command signal for collecting the parking position. Of course, there may be other signal transmission methods between the microprocessor 100 and the parking position sensor 820, but these are not limited here.

[0039] The parking position sensor 820 in this embodiment has a parking position feedback function, and can also collect and obtain a parking position signal under the control of the microprocessor 100 to detect whether the parking position has reached a predetermined position, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the parking function. That is, the position feedback functions of the parking actuator 810 and the parking position sensor 820 are redundant with each other, and even if one position feedback function fails, the other can still function to detect the parking position, thereby reducing the failure rate and meeting the functional safety requirements of the vehicle.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a differential lock control unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The dashed-line box on the left side of FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a differential lock control circuit, and the dashed-line box on the right side of FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a differential lock mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3, in some preferred embodiments, a vehicle differential lock mechanism 900 includes at least a differential lock 910 and an inductive sensor 920. The differential lock control unit 300 includes a differential lock driver 310, which is electrically connected to the microprocessor 100 and is used to drive the differential lock 910 to perform a locking or unlocking operation. This allows the vehicle differential lock function to be realized. Of course, this embodiment does not limit the mechanical structure of the differential lock mechanism 900, and those skilled in the art can install other structures by themselves.

[0041] In some embodiments, the differential lock control unit 300 receives a differential lock control command issued by the microprocessor 100 and controls the vehicle's differential lock mechanism 900 to lock or unlock the vehicle's differential lock mechanism 900. For example, in a control circuit between the state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit 300, when the differential lock 910 locks or unlocks the vehicle's differential lock mechanism 900, the microprocessor 100 outputs a second PWM signal as a second command signal to control the inductive sensor 920 to collect and obtain a differential lock state signal. The second command signal serves as a control command signal for collecting the differential lock state. Of course, other signal transmission methods may exist between the microprocessor 100 and the inductive sensor 920, but this is not limited thereto. The inductive sensor 920 is preferably an electric inductive sensor to improve the stability of the motor controller.

[0042] That is, the inductive sensor 920 in this embodiment has a differential lock status feedback function and can detect the differential lock status under the control of the microprocessor 100 to obtain a differential lock status signal and determine whether the differential lock 910 has been executed. For example, if a malfunction or invalid execution of the differential lock 910 is detected, the abnormal status signal is fed back to the microprocessor 100 to issue an alarm so that the unlocking / locking operation can continue. If it is detected that the differential lock 910 is operating normally or has been executed successfully, the normal status signal is fed back to the microprocessor 100 to complete the execution. This realizes closed-loop control of the differential lock function, which not only achieves the effect of zero or low power consumption, but also enables real-time diagnosis of the differential lock status, reduces controller failure, and improves the safety and stability of the motor controller.

[0043] 3 , in some embodiments, the differential lock control unit 300 further includes a low-side driver 320, which is electrically connected to the microprocessor 100 and is used to receive the differential lock status signal transmitted from the inductive sensor 920 and transmit the differential lock status signal to the microprocessor 100, thereby realizing switching control of the inductive sensor 920 and detecting the real-time status of the differential lock 910.

[0044] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , the motor control unit includes a motor driver 400 and an IGBT power unit 500, and the vehicle power drive system includes at least a motor 700. The motor driver 400 is electrically connected to the microprocessor 100. The motor control unit can receive motor control commands issued by the microprocessor 100. In response, the motor driver 400 converts and outputs a current control signal through the IGBT power unit 500 to adjust the rotation speed and torque of the motor 700. This achieves the motor control function of the vehicle. Of course, the related designs of the motor driver 400 and the IGBT power unit 500 should not be considered as improvements of the present application, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit other structures of the power drive system, which can be installed by those skilled in the art.

[0045] In summary, the technical solution of the present application achieves at least the following technical effects: A motor controller is provided, the motor controller including a housing and a control circuit board disposed inside the housing, the control circuit board comprising a microprocessor and a parking control unit, a differential lock control unit, and a motor control unit, each electrically connected to the microprocessor. The parking control unit, the differential lock control unit, and the motor control unit are integrated and controlled using the same microprocessor, thereby saving overall vehicle space and hardware costs. Closed-loop control of the parking function is achieved by adding a control circuit between the position feedback collection means and the parking control unit. Closed-loop control of the differential lock function is achieved by adding a control circuit between the state feedback collection means and the differential lock control unit. This achieves technical effects such as sharing of hardware resources, improved stability, and reduced failure rate.

[0046] It should be noted that the specification provided herein sets forth many specific details. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the present application may be practiced without these specific details. In some embodiments, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this specification.

[0047] It should be noted that the above embodiments are illustrative of the present application, not limiting it, and that those skilled in the art may design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The terms "comprises" and "comprises" do not exclude the presence of elements or steps not recited in the claims. The words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present application may be implemented by hardware including several different elements and by a suitably programmed computer. In product claims enumerating several devices, several of these devices may be embodied by the same hardware element. The use of terms such as "first," "second," and "third" does not indicate any ordering. These terms may be interpreted as names. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 100 microprocessor, 200 parking control unit, 300 differential lock control unit, 400 motor driver, 500 IGBT power unit, 600 low voltage connector, 700 motor, 800 parking mechanism, 900 differential lock mechanism, 210 parking driver, 220 position sampling circuit, 310 differential lock driver, 320 low side driver, 810 parking actuator, 820 parking position sensor, 910 differential lock, 920 inductive sensor.

Claims

1. A motor controller including a housing and a control circuit board provided inside the housing, the control circuit board having a microprocessor and a parking control unit and a differential lock control unit electrically connected to the microprocessor, the control circuit board including: the microprocessor is communicatively connected to an overall vehicle controller of the vehicle and is used to receive overall vehicle control commands; The parking control unit and the differential lock control unit are closed-loop controlled using the same microprocessor and are integrated on the control circuit board. The motor controller, wherein the closed-loop control includes a control circuit between a position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit, and a control circuit between a state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit.

2. the control circuit board further includes a motor control unit, the motor control unit being electrically connected to the microprocessor; 2. The motor controller according to claim 1, wherein the motor control unit is controlled by the same microprocessor as the parking control unit and the differential lock control unit, and is integrated on the control circuit board.

3. the parking mechanism of the vehicle includes at least a parking actuator and a parking position sensor, and the parking control unit includes a parking driver; 2. The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the parking driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to drive the parking actuator to realize a parking-in operation or a parking-out operation.

4. a control circuit between the position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit, 4. The motor controller of claim 3, wherein when the parking actuator performs a park-in operation or a park-out operation, the microprocessor outputs a first SENT signal as a first command signal to control the parking actuator to collect and obtain a parking position signal.

5. the parking control unit further includes a position sampling circuit; 5. The motor controller of claim 3, wherein the position sampling circuit is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to receive the parking position signal transmitted from the parking position sensor and transmit a sampled parking position signal to the microprocessor.

6. a control circuit between the position feedback collecting means and the parking control unit, 6. The motor controller of claim 5, wherein when the parking actuator performs a park-in operation or a park-out operation, the microprocessor outputs a PWM signal as a first command signal to control the parking position sensor to collect and obtain a parking position signal.

7. the differential lock mechanism of the vehicle includes at least a differential lock and an inductive sensor, and the differential lock control unit includes a differential lock driver; 2. The motor controller according to claim 1, wherein the differential lock driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to drive the differential lock to realize a locking operation or an unlocking operation.

8. a control circuit between the state feedback collecting means and the differential lock control unit, 8. The motor controller according to claim 7, wherein when the differential lock performs a locking operation or an unlocking operation, the microprocessor outputs a second PWM signal as a second command signal to control the inductive sensor to collect and obtain a differential lock state signal.

9. the differential lock control unit further includes a low-side driver; 9. The motor controller of claim 8, wherein the low-side driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor and is used to receive a differential lock status signal transmitted from the inductive sensor and transmit the differential lock status signal to the microprocessor.

10. the motor control unit includes a motor driver and an IGBT power unit; 3. The motor controller of claim 2, wherein the motor driver is electrically connected to the microprocessor, and the motor driver converts and outputs a current control signal through the IGBT power unit to adjust the rotation speed and torque of the motor.

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