BLDC Phase Advance Control for Flat Back-EMF Zero-Crossing

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Solution Overview

Problem

BLDC motors with non-ideal, trapezoidal induced voltages experience instability due to a flat region around the zero-crossing point, causing issues with phase advance monitoring and leading to oscillations in motor speed.

Innovation Solution

The method involves detecting the flat region through direct measurement of induced voltage or measurement of freewheel current extinction time, allowing for increased phase advance to bypass nonlinearities and stabilize motor control, using a gradual increase in the Hcoef parameter and applying a fixed increment to the H_coef parameter when the flat region is detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If phase advance monitoring is performed using zero-crossing detection of induced voltage, then motor position can be identified, but instability and oscillations occur when induced voltages present a flat region near zero-crossing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase advance monitoring accuracyVSAvoidmotor speed stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic flat region around zero-crossing from the induced voltage waveform and performs phase advance monitoring at a different electrical angle where the voltage waveform is linear and stable. This avoids the nonlinear and unpredictable effects in the zero-crossing region while maintaining accurate position identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary parameter (induced voltage at a specific electrical angle offset from zero-crossing) to mediate the phase advance monitoring process. Instead of directly measuring at the problematic zero-crossing point, the system uses this intermediary measurement point that provides stable and predictable voltage values for accurate position detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If conduction angle is increased from 120 degrees to 150 degrees to extend rotation speed, then average voltage applied to motor increases, but zero-crossing detection becomes unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor rotation speedVSAvoidzero-crossing detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs phase advance monitoring at a predetermined electrical angle before the zero-crossing point occurs. This preliminary action allows the system to determine motor position and adjust conduction angle while avoiding the unreliable zero-crossing region, enabling extended rotation speeds with maintained detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If open loop motor drive is used to extend driving angle up to 180 degrees, then average voltage and rotation increase, but control becomes unstable when load angle exceeds 90 degrees

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor rotation speedVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism using phase advance monitoring at a stable electrical angle to continuously track motor position and adjust control parameters. This feedback allows the system to operate at extended conduction angles (up to 180 degrees) while maintaining stability by detecting position changes and correcting control actions, preventing the instability that occurs when load angle exceeds 90 degrees in open-loop systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4233168B1Phase advance method in motors with permanent magnets presenting induced voltages with flat region
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 NIDEC GLOBAL APPLIANCE BRASIL LTDA
  • EP4233168B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4233168B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4233168B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

The present invention refers to the use of phase advance in motors with non-ideal induced voltages, especially in motors with induced voltages that present a flat region, to avoid instability in the control, wherein the first step is to detect the passage of the voltage induced by the flat region ofinstability, and then applya fixed increment in the phase advance in order to avoid the flatregion. Detection can be done in two ways: by direct measurement of induced voltage; and measuring the extinguishing time of the freewheel current.