Drive Controller Ground Fault Detection via Rectifier Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric motor drive controllers, a common internal ground between systems can cause current to flow from one system's inverter to the other's ground connector, leading to overheating and subsequent abnormalities if an open abnormality occurs in one system's ground connector, unless detected and addressed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rectifying element and current detection element in each system's line connecting the ground connector to the common ground, allowing for detection of abnormalities and preventing series failures by managing current flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common internal ground is used between systems, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to current flowing from one system to another via the common ground when an open abnormality occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the common ground connection by introducing separate rectifying elements and current detection elements for each system. This segmentation allows independent monitoring of current flow paths while maintaining the physical common ground structure, thus preserving simplicity while enabling abnormality detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rectifying elements and current detection elements as intermediary components between the common ground and each system. These intermediaries enable the detection of abnormal current flow without disrupting the common ground architecture, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
2Device complexity
If ground connector abnormalities are not detected, then device complexity remains low, but harmful factors increase due to overheating and successive abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting ground connector abnormalities before they cause overheating and successive failures. The current detection elements continuously monitor current flow and enable early detection of open abnormalities, allowing preventive measures to be taken before harmful effects occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where current detection elements monitor the current flowing through rectifying elements in the ground connection. This feedback enables real-time detection of abnormal conditions and triggers appropriate responses to prevent overheating and successive abnormalities.
3Device complexity
If current flow through ground connectors is not monitored, then device complexity is low, but temperature increases leading to overheating and abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary monitoring of current flow through ground connectors using detection elements. This preliminary action enables the system to detect abnormal current conditions before they cause temperature increase and overheating, allowing preventive control actions to be taken.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring current flow through rectifying elements in the ground connection. This feedback enables real-time detection of abnormal conditions and allows the control system to take corrective actions to prevent temperature increase and overheating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection of ground connector abnormalities, preventing overheating and continuous operation of the electric motor drive systems by limiting current flow and reducing the risk of successive failures.
Implementation Method 1
a rectifying element that passes a current from the common ground to a ground connector is provided in a line that connects the ground connector and the common ground in each system
Implementation Method 2
a current detection element is provided in a line that connects a positive power supply and a line between the rectifying element and the ground connector and in each system
Data Source
AI summary
The drive controller for the electric motor according to the present invention comprises two drive control systems for two winding sets of the electric motor, each drive control system includes a control circuit, an inverter, a power supply connector and a ground connector, the two control circuits are connected to an internal common ground, each rectifying element that passes a current from the common ground to each ground connector is provided in a line that connects the ground connector and the common ground, each current detection element is provided in a line that connects each positive power supply and a line between the rectifying element and the ground connector, and whether an open fault has occurred in the ground connector is diagnosed based on the voltage that is applied to the current detection element.