Motor Driving Circuit Segmentation for Phase Failure Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor driving circuits for multiphase motors face redundancy issues and increased development costs due to identical phase configurations, which can lead to failures extending across phases and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

A motor driving circuit with a pre-driver for each phase, utilizing an N-chip integrated circuit configuration that eliminates redundancy by grouping common functions and allowing switching between circuit functions based on operation mode, reducing the need for redundant circuit elements and lowering development costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If identical driving circuits are provided for each phase to ensure continued operation after failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and redundancy increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinued operation after phase failureVSAvoidredundant circuit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving circuit is segmented into phase-specific components (pre-drivers, current detection circuits) and common components (power supply circuit, control unit). This segmentation allows the common components to be shared across phases while maintaining phase-specific functionality, reducing redundancy while ensuring that failure in one phase does not affect other phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The power supply circuit and control unit are designed as universal components that serve multiple phases simultaneously. The power supply circuit provides power to all phases, and the control unit controls all three phases, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each phase while maintaining the ability to isolate and continue operation after a phase failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate driving circuits are provided for each phase to isolate failures, then reliability is improved, but packaging efficiency decreases due to redundancy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure isolation between phasesVSAvoidcircuit packaging area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Common functional components (power supply circuit, control unit) are merged into shared resources that serve all phases. The pre-drivers and current detection circuits are integrated in a compact arrangement where phase-specific functions are closely coupled with shared functions, reducing the total area required while maintaining failure isolation through the modular structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple circuit types are developed for different operation modes, then adaptability is improved, but development cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit function switching for different operation modesVSAvoiddevelopment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, allowing it to switch between different operation modes (e.g., normal operation, degraded operation with one phase failed, different motor control algorithms) without requiring hardware changes. This dynamic adaptability is achieved through software or programmable logic, eliminating the need to develop and manufacture multiple physical circuit variants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2890001B1Motor driving circuit, motor driving system, electric power steering system, electric brake system, and vehicle driving system
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP2890001B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2890001B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2890001B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In order to provide a motor driving circuit in which a portion corresponding to a failed phase can be separated while miniaturization and lower costs are achieved, a motor driving circuit for driving a motor includes: a second driver circuit for driving a driver circuit which supplies a drive current corresponding to one phase of a multiphase motor having three or more phases, to the multiphase motor; and an electrical circuit which includes a plurality of electrical components and switches a connecting relation between the electrical components according to an operation mode designated from outside the motor driving circuit, thereby providing a circuit function corresponding to the operation mode.