Fan Motor Control Unit Dynamic Energization Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fan motor control units experience degradation in air volume characteristic and increased power loss as the load on the fan motor increases, due to constant energization timing and irregular current waveforms in brushless motors.

Innovation Solution

A fan motor control unit equipped with a rotational position detection sensor, a current sensor, and a switching control unit that advances the energization timing when the peak current exceeds a threshold, maintaining or increasing rotation speed and reducing power loss by selectively adjusting the timing based on detected rotational positions and current levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If constant energization timing is used in brushless motor, then control simplicity is maintained, but air volume characteristic degrades and power loss increases under high load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidair volume characteristic
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the energization timing variable rather than constant. The control unit dynamically adjusts the energization timing based on detected current waveforms and rotational position, advancing or retarding timing according to load conditions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing simple constant timing for low load while enabling optimized variable timing for high load conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of energization timing from a fixed constant to a variable parameter that adapts to load conditions. By detecting current waveform characteristics and rotational position, the system modifies the energization timing parameter in real-time, thereby improving air volume characteristic under high load while maintaining control simplicity through automated parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If constant energization timing is used in brushless motor, then control simplicity is maintained, but power loss increases under high load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidpower loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts energization timing based on detected current waveforms and rotational position, allowing simple constant timing for low load while enabling optimized variable timing for high load conditions to reduce power loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The energization timing parameter is changed from fixed to variable, adapting to load conditions by detecting current waveform characteristics and rotational position, thereby reducing power loss under high load while maintaining control simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If energization timing is advanced under high load, then rotation speed is maintained, but current waveform irregularity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation speedVSAvoidcurrent waveform regularity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback by detecting the actual current waveform and rotational position, then using this information to adjust energization timing. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to advance timing to maintain rotation speed under high load while monitoring and compensating for waveform irregularities, thus resolving the contradiction between speed maintenance and waveform stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The solution effectively suppresses air volume characteristic degradation and power loss increases, maintaining rotation speed and optimizing current waveforms even under higher loads, thereby enhancing the fan motor's performance and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of Hall elements to detect the rotational position of the rotor according to signals outputted by the Hall elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 2

the energization timing for the stator coil in the brushless motor is set in advance with respect to each of the rotational positions of the rotor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2814167B1Fan motor control unit
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 SANYO DENKI CO LTD
  • EP2814167B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2814167B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2814167B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fan motor control unit includes sensor units that each detect a rotational position of the fan motor, a switching unit that selectively connects each of stator coils of the fan motor to a rectifier circuit, a current sensor that detects a current flowing in the fan motor, and a switching control unit that advances, in the case where the current detected by the current sensor exceeds a threshold, a energization timing from the rectifier circuit to the stator coils with respect to the energization timing applied while the current detected by the current sensor is lower than the threshold, on the basis of the rotational position detected by the sensor units.