Brushless Wiper Motor Timing Control for Torque Ripple and Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

SPM brushless motors with segment magnets experience increased torque ripple and noise due to changes in inductance with rotor rotation, which is exacerbated by the need for miniaturization and weight reduction.

Innovation Solution

A brushless motor design with a stator having annular teeth and a rotor with segment magnets, where salient poles protrude beyond the magnets' circumferential ends, and controlled voltage application using a rectangular wave with specific advance and conduction angles to minimize noise and torque ripple.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If SPM brushless motor uses segment magnet for miniaturization and weight reduction, then motor size and weight are reduced, but torque ripple increases and vibration and noises are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor weightVSAvoidtorque ripple and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the voltage application timing to start when the tip of the salient pole and the opening portion of the teeth do not face each other. This advance timing control prevents the harmful interaction between magnetic flux and inductance change that causes torque ripple and noise, while maintaining the benefits of segment magnet design for miniaturization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Volume of moving object

If SPM brushless motor uses segment magnet for miniaturization, then motor size is reduced, but inductance change with rotor rotation increases torque ripple

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor volumeVSAvoidtorque stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage application is controlled to start in advance when the salient pole tip and tooth opening portion are not yet facing each other. This preliminary timing control stabilizes the torque output by preventing the harmful interaction between magnetic flux and inductance variation that occurs in conventional designs, thereby maintaining torque stability while using compact segment magnet structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters by applying rectangular wave voltage with specific advance angle and conduction angle. This parameter optimization reduces the impact of inductance changes on torque ripple, maintaining stable torque characteristics in the miniaturized motor structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If rectangular wave voltage with advance angle is applied to coil, then torque ripple and noise are reduced, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system applies voltage in advance based on predetermined timing when the salient pole tip and tooth opening portion do not face each other. This approach reduces noise and torque ripple while maintaining relatively simple control logic by using fixed timing relationships rather than complex real-time adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design effectively reduces vibration and noise while maintaining torque, achieving a balance between miniaturization and performance by optimizing magnetic flux distribution and controlling voltage application.

Implementation Method 1

When electric power is supplied to the coil of such a brushless motor, an interlinking magnetic flux is formed in the stator, so that magnetic attractive or repulsive forces are generated between the formed interlinking magnetic flux and the permanent magnets provided on the rotor core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

magnetic attractive or repulsive forces are generated between the formed interlinking magnetic flux and the permanent magnets provided on the rotor core, and the rotor continuously rotates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 3

A salient pole located between the magnets circumferentially adjacent to each other on the outer circumferential surface of the rotor core and protruding further outward than a circumferential end of the magnet in the radial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic reluctance: Magnetic Reluctance

Data Source

PatentEP3883118B1Motor and brushless wiper motor
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 MITSUBA CORP
  • EP3883118B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3883118B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3883118B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing the occurrence of vibration and noise caused by an SPM brushless motor which has segment magnets as the magnetic circuit. This motor is provided with: a stator which has an annular stator core and multiple teeth protruding radially inwards from the inner peripheral surface of the stator core; a coil which is wound around the teeth; a shaft which rotates around the rotation axis radially inside of the stator core; a rotor core which is fixed to the shaft and which has the rotation axis as the radial center; magnets which are positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor core; a salient pole which is positioned between magnets adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor core and which protrudes radially outwards beyond the circumferential-direction end of the magnets; an applying unit which applies a voltage to the coil; and an applying control unit which controls the applying unit. The ratio of the number of magnetic poles of the magnets and the number of teeth is 2:3, the aforementioned voltage is a square wave, and application of the voltage is started at a time when the tip of the salient pole does not face an opening in the teeth.