Synchronous Machine PWM Control for Accurate 1-Shunt Current Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling synchronous machines, particularly in sensorless configurations, face challenges in accurately determining electrical phase currents due to noise issues caused by temporal jumps in switching signals during duty cycle changes, especially under high motor voltages and varying duty cycles.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating center-centered or non-center-centered pulse width modulated switching signals for half-bridges to ensure a sufficient minimum measurement period, avoiding temporal jumps by shifting switching signal edges based on duty cycle ratios, allowing for noise-optimized 1-shunt current measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If center-centered PWM switching signals are used, then control simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to insufficient minimum measuring duration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidcurrent measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the PWM switching signal configuration based on operational conditions. When center-centered signals provide insufficient measurement duration, the system transitions to non-centered signals, making the control approach adaptive rather than static to maintain measurement precision across varying operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameters of the PWM switching signals by shifting switching edges to create non-centered configurations. This parameter modification extends the minimum measuring duration while maintaining effective current measurement capability, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If switching signal edges are shifted to provide minimum measuring duration, then measurement precision is improved, but noise increases due to temporal jumps in phase current curves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent measurement precisionVSAvoidnoise in phase current
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-calculating and compensating for potential temporal jumps in phase current curves. The switching signal configuration is designed in advance to avoid jumps at duty cycle transitions, preventing noise generation before it occurs while maintaining sufficient measurement duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by adjusting switching signal edges to predetermined positions that guarantee adequate measuring duration. These pre-positioned edges are configured to avoid temporal jumps during duty cycle changes, ensuring both measurement precision and noise-free operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If 1-shunt current measurement is implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates under high motor voltages with varying duty cycles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware complexityVSAvoidcurrent measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temporal parameters of switching signals (edge positions, duty cycle timing) to optimize measurement conditions for 1-shunt current measurement. By adjusting these parameters, the system maintains measurement precision across high motor voltages and varying duty cycles while retaining the hardware simplicity of single-shunt measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3735741B1Method and apparatus for operating an electric synchronous machine with 1-shunt current measurement
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3735741B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3735741B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3735741B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an electric synchronous machine, having the steps of: - generating centered pulse-width-modulated switching signals for switching elements (T1...T6) of half-bridges, wherein two switching elements (T1...T6) are connected to a respective half-bridge in each case; second switching elements (T4...T6) of each half-bridge are actuated in a complementary manner to the first switching elements (T1...T3) of each half-bridge if a sufficient minimum measurement duration (TM) is thereby provided during which the switching signals of switching elements (T1...T6) of two half-bridges lie at different potentials; - otherwise: - generating pulse-width-modulated switching signals for the switching elements (T1...T6) of the half-bridges, said switching signals deviating from the center at least to such a degree that a sufficient minimum measurement duration (TM) is provided, wherein - the switching signals of the switching elements (T1...T6) are designed such that temporal changes corresponding to the minimum measurement duration (TM) in the switching signals of the switching elements (T1...T6) are prevented; and - carrying out a 1-shunt current measurement within the provided minimum measurement duration TM).