Motor Control System Temperature Estimation Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In motor control systems, continuous computation of estimated motor temperature to prevent burnout leads to high power consumption, especially in vehicles where electric devices have a significant load on the battery, and existing protective devices increase motor size.

Innovation Solution

A motor control system that includes a control apparatus and an ambient temperature sensing apparatus, allowing the estimated temperature computing means to switch between active and sleep modes based on predetermined conditions, reducing the need for large protective devices and minimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous computing of estimated temperature is performed to ensure accurate temperature estimation during motor restart, then temperature estimation accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature estimation accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The computing means dynamically changes its operational state based on motor status. When the motor is stopped, the computing means switches to a low-power state or stops computation, and when the motor restarts, it resumes computation to ensure accurate temperature estimation at the critical restart moment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous computation, the system performs temperature estimation computation periodically or at specific intervals. The computing means is activated only when needed (e.g., before motor restart) and remains inactive otherwise, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining necessary measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If protective devices such as bimetal or PTC thermistor are provided in motor housing to protect from burnout, then motor protection reliability is improved, but motor size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor protection reliabilityVSAvoidmotor size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical protective devices (bimetal, PTC thermistor) with an electronic control system that uses a microcomputer to monitor motor temperature and control motor operation. This substitution eliminates the need for physical protective components inside the motor housing, thereby reducing motor size while maintaining protection functionality through software-based temperature management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7321214B2Motor control system

Publication Date: 2008.01.22 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A controller is operable in one of a plurality of operational modes, which include an estimated temperature computation performing mode for performing computing of an estimated temperature of the motor and an estimated temperature computation non-performing mode for stopping the computing of the estimated temperature of the motor. An operational mode of the controller is changed from the estimated temperature computation performing mode to the estimated temperature computation non-performing mode according to a predetermined condition in a stopped state of the motor.