Motor Duty Limit Control to Prevent Stall and Overcurrent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor devices face issues where sudden loads during startup can cause stalling due to a low duty ratio upper limit value, preventing the motor from increasing speed and potentially stopping.

Innovation Solution

A motor device with a control method that adjusts the duty ratio upper limit value dynamically based on rotation speed, allowing it to increase gradually as the motor accelerates, using a second upper limit value during acceleration and a first upper limit value during normal operation, preventing stalling and overcurrent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the duty ratio upper limit value is raised to prevent motor stoppage during acceleration, then motor acceleration capability is improved, but excessive current flow occurs when rotation speed is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor acceleration capabilityVSAvoidexcessive current flow
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The duty ratio upper limit value is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the duty ratio upper limit value based on the detected rotation speed of the motor. When rotation speed is high, a higher duty ratio upper limit value is permitted; when rotation speed is low, the duty ratio upper limit value is restricted. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing high duty ratios only when the motor is already rotating at sufficient speed, preventing excessive current during startup while enabling strong acceleration capability when safe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device changes the parameter (duty ratio upper limit value) based on another parameter (rotation speed). By establishing a relationship where the duty ratio upper limit value is determined by the current rotation speed, the system optimizes motor performance across different operating conditions. This parameter change strategy allows the system to prevent excessive current at low speeds while enabling aggressive acceleration at higher speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the duty ratio upper limit value is kept low to prevent excessive current at low speed, then current safety is improved, but motor stalling occurs when load is applied during startup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcessive current protectionVSAvoidmotor stall prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the duty ratio upper limit value based on real-time rotation speed detection. During motor startup when rotation speed is low, the duty ratio upper limit is restricted to prevent excessive current. Once the motor reaches sufficient rotation speed, the duty ratio upper limit is increased to provide the torque needed to overcome applied loads. This dynamic approach maintains both current safety and reliability under varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device performs preliminary action by gradually increasing the duty ratio upper limit value as the motor accelerates. Rather than immediately applying high duty ratios that could cause current damage, the system progressively increases the duty ratio upper limit as rotation speed increases, preparing the motor for higher power demands before they are needed, thus preventing both current damage and stalling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250309795A1Motor device, wiper device, and motor control method
Publication Date: 2025.10.02 MITSUBA CORP
  • US20250309795A1 patent drawing
  • US20250309795A1 patent drawing
  • US20250309795A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A motor device is provided that includes a motor, a drive signal generation portion configured to control a duty ratio indicating a drive output of the motor so as not to exceed a duty ratio upper limit value and generates a drive signal in accordance with the duty ratio, an inverter configured to output an output signal to rotationally drive the motor, a rotation speed detection portion configured to detect a rotation speed of the motor, an acceleration detection portion configured to detect whether the motor is accelerating or not, and an upper limit value setting portion configured to change the duty ratio upper limit value when a rotation speed of the motor exceeds a first threshold value and the motor is rotating under acceleration. The upper limit value setting portion sets the first upper limit value to gradually increase in accordance with an increase in the rotation speed.