Motor Controller PWM Phase Sequence Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor control techniques result in current waveform distortion due to phase changes in PWM signals, leading to unwanted noise and discomfort in motor applications.

Innovation Solution

A motor controller that adjusts the time sequence order of PWM signal changes to maintain consistency, ensuring energization periods for current detection within half a carrier period, thereby reducing current distortion and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If PWM signal phase changes are allowed to occur naturally based on duty cycle adjustments, then motor control flexibility is improved, but current waveform distortion increases causing unwanted noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor control flexibilityVSAvoidcurrent waveform distortion and unwanted noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining fixed phase sequences for PWM signals before execution. The control unit determines a phase sequence for PWM signals based on current detection requirements, and adjusts duty cycles while maintaining this predetermined phase sequence. This ensures that current detection is performed during appropriate energization periods while preventing harmful current waveform distortion that would otherwise occur with arbitrary phase changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of phase sequence from a dynamic variable to a controlled fixed parameter. By determining a specific phase sequence for PWM signals and maintaining it during duty cycle adjustments, the system transforms the naturally varying phase relationships into a stable, predetermined sequence that enables reliable current detection while eliminating unwanted noise generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If current detection is performed during PWM energization periods, then accurate phase current detection is achieved, but PWM signal phase changes cause detection timing inconsistencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephase current detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection timing consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining the phase sequence of PWM signals before current detection occurs. The control unit establishes a fixed phase sequence that ensures current detection is performed during appropriate energization periods of the PWM signals. This preliminary determination of phase sequence maintains consistent detection timing across different operating conditions while preserving detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback by detecting phase currents during PWM energization periods and using this information to adjust duty cycles while maintaining the predetermined phase sequence. The current detection results feed back to the control unit, which adjusts duty cycles without altering the established phase sequence, thereby maintaining detection timing consistency while improving control accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11658600B2Motor controller, motor system and method for controlling motor
Publication Date: 2023.05.23 MINEBEAMITSUMI INC
  • US11658600B2 patent drawing
  • US11658600B2 patent drawing
  • US11658600B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A motor controller 100-1 includes an inverter 23, a current detection unit 24, and a current detector 27. The motor controller includes a duty-cycle setting unit 31 that sets a duty cycle of each of a first PWM signal, a second PWM signal, and a third PWM signal, based on a corresponding detected value for a given phase. The motor controller includes a PWM signal generator 32. The PWM signal generator 32 adjusts, upon occurrence of a condition in which a given setting value changes, a time sequence order of timings at which the first PWM signal, the second PWM signal, and the third PWM signal respectively change after a change in the given setting value, to be the same as a time sequence order of timings at which the first PWM signal, the second PWM signal, and the third PWM signal respectively change prior to the change in the given setting value, so that a first energization time period and a second energization time period are ensured within half of one period of the carrier. The first energization time period has an energization width in which the current detector enables detecting of a given phase current for any one of phases. The second energization time period has an energization width in which the current detector enables detecting of a given phase current for any one of the phases.