U.S. patent application number 15/444262 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-15 for brushless dc motor control device and brushless dc motor device.
The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA. Invention is credited to Naoki OMURA.
Application Number | 20180076746 15/444262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61525661 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180076746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OMURA; Naoki |
March 15, 2018 |
BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE AND BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR DEVICE
Abstract
A control device includes: an induced voltage detection circuit
that detects induced voltages which is generated in at least one
coil of a brushless DC motor; a rotational position that detects
the rotational position of a rotor of the brushless DC motor; an
error correct circuit that calculates a first difference between a
phase of the induced voltage detected by the induced voltage
detection circuit and a phase of the rotational position detected
by the rotational position detection circuit; a correction circuit
that corrects the detected rotational position based on the first
difference and outputs a corrected rotational position signal; and
a drive signal generation circuit that adjusts a phase of a drive
signal which is supplied to the brushless DC motor based on the
corrected rotational position signal and generates the drive signal
whose phase has been adjusted.
Inventors: |
OMURA; Naoki; (Fuji
Shizuoka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
61525661 |
Appl. No.: |
15/444262 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02P 6/16 20130101; H02P
6/17 20160201; H02P 6/182 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02P 6/16 20060101
H02P006/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2016 |
JP |
2016-178645 |
Claims
1. A brushless DC motor control device comprising: an induced
voltage detection circuit that detects an induced voltage which is
generated in at least one coil of a brushless DC motor; a
rotational position detection circuit that detects a rotational
position of a rotor of the brushless DC motor; an error calculation
circuit that calculates a first difference between a phase of the
induced voltage detected by the induced voltage detection circuit
and a phase of the rotational position detected by the rotational
position detection circuit; a correction circuit that corrects the
detected rotational position based on the first difference and
outputs a corrected rotational position signal; and a drive signal
generation circuit that adjusts a phase of a drive signal which is
supplied to the brushless DC motor based on the corrected
rotational position signal and generates the drive signal whose
phase has been adjusted.
2. The brushless DC motor control device according to claim 1,
further comprising: a motor current detection circuit that detects
a motor current which is supplied to the at least one coil of the
brushless DC motor, wherein based on a second difference between a
phase of the motor current detected by the motor current detection
circuit and the phase of the induced voltage detected by the
induced voltage detection circuit, the drive signal generation
circuit adjusts the phase of the drive signal such that the phase
of the motor current and the phase of the induced voltage coincide
with each other.
3. The brushless DC motor control device according to claim 2,
wherein the induced voltage detection circuit detects a
zero-crossing of the induced voltage and the motor current
detection circuit detects a zero-crossing of the motor current.
4. The brushless DC motor control device according to claim 3,
wherein the induced voltage detection circuit detects the
zero-crossing of the induced voltage by comparing the induced
voltage and a first threshold voltage with a comparator, and the
motor current detection circuit detects the zero-crossing of the
motor current by comparing a voltage indicating the motor current
value and a second threshold voltage, in place of the first
threshold voltage, with the comparator.
5. The brushless DC motor control device according to claim 1,
wherein the rotational position detection circuit receives a
position detection signal from a position sensor attached to a
stator of the motor and detects the rotational position of the
rotor.
6. The brushless DC motor control device according to claim 5,
wherein the position sensor includes a Hall element.
7. A brushless DC motor device comprising: a brushless DC motor;
and a control device, wherein the control device includes an
induced voltage detection circuit that detects an induced voltage
which is generated in at least one coil of a brushless DC motor, a
rotational position detection circuit that detects a rotational
position of a rotor of the brushless DC motor, an error calculation
circuit that calculates a first difference between a phase of the
induced voltage detected by the induced voltage detection circuit
and a phase of the rotational position detected by the rotational
position detection circuit, a correction circuit that corrects the
detected rotational position based on the first difference and
outputs a corrected rotational position signal, and a drive signal
generation circuit that adjusts a phase of a drive signal which is
supplied to the brushless DC motor based on the corrected
rotational position signal and generates the drive signal whose
phase has been adjusted.
8. The brushless DC motor device according to claim 7, further
comprising: a motor current detection circuit that detects a motor
current which is supplied to the at least one coil of the brushless
DC motor, wherein based on a second difference between a phase of
the motor current detected by the motor current detection circuit
and the phase of the induced voltage detected by the induced
voltage detection circuit, the drive signal generation circuit
adjusts the phase of the drive signal such that the phase of the
motor current and the phase of the induced voltage coincide with
each other.
9. The brushless DC motor device according to claim 8, wherein the
induced voltage detection circuit detects a zero-crossing of the
induced voltage and the motor current detection circuit detects a
zero-crossing of the motor current.
10. The brushless DC motor device according to claim 9, wherein the
induced voltage detection circuit detects the zero-crossing of the
induced voltage by comparing the induced voltage and a first
threshold voltage with a comparator, and the motor current
detection circuit detects the zero-crossing of the motor current by
comparing a voltage indicating the motor current value and a second
threshold voltage, in place of the first threshold voltage, with
the comparator.
11. The brushless DC motor device according to claim 7, wherein the
rotational position detection circuit receives a position detection
signal from a position sensor attached to a stator of the motor and
detects the rotational position of the rotor.
12. The brushless DC motor device according to claim 11, wherein
the position sensor includes a Hall element.
13. A brushless DC motor control device comprising: an induced
voltage detection circuit that detects a zero-crossing of an
induced voltage that is generated in at least one coil of a
brushless DC motor having a rotor and a stator with at least one
coil and a position sensor attached near the coil; a motor current
detection circuit that detects a zero-crossing of motor current to
the at least one coil of the brushless DC motor; a phase correction
circuit that receives the detected zero-crossing of the induced
voltage and the detected zero-crossing of the current in the at
least one coil of the brushless DC motor and generates phase
correction command information; a rotational position sensor edge
detection circuit that detects a zero-crossing of a position sensor
attached to the rotor and generates a position sensor edge angle
signal; a position sensor angle calculation circuit that receives
the detected zero-cross of the induced voltage and the position
sensor edge angle signal and generates a position sensor error
signal; and a drive signal generation circuit that generates a
drive signal that is adjusted based on the phase correction command
information, the position sensor error signal and the position
sensor edge angle signal and supplies the adjusted drive signal to
the brushless DC motor.
14. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 13, wherein the
phase correction circuit includes: an addition circuit that
generates a phase difference signal that reflects a difference
between the detected zero-crossing of the motor current and the
detected zero-crossing of the induced voltage; and a proportional
integration circuit that converts the phase difference signal to
the phase correction command information.
15. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 14, wherein the
phase correction command information specifies an amount of
correction that causes the phase difference signal to become
zero.
16. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 13, wherein the
position sensor angle calculation circuit includes: a first
addition circuit that generates an angular signal that reflects a
difference between the detected zero-crossing of the induced
voltage and a predetermined offset value; a second addition circuit
that generates the position sensor error signal indicating error in
the position sensor based on the angular signal and the position
sensor edge angle signal.
17. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 13, further
comprising: an addition circuit that generates a corrected position
sensor edge angle signal based on the position sensor edge angle
signal and the position sensor error signal; a rotor position
information reset circuit that generates a rotor changed-angle
signal and a reset time interval signal based on the corrected
position sensor edge signal; a speed calculation circuit that
generates a rotational-speed information signal based on the rotor
changed-angle signal and the reset time interval signal; and a
rotor position calculation circuit that generates a rotor position
information signal based on the rotational-speed information signal
and provides the rotor position information signal to the drive
signal generation circuit.
18. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 13, further
comprising: an addition circuit that generates a corrected position
sensor edge angle signal based on the position sensor edge angle
signal, the position sensor error signal and the phase correction
command information; a rotor position information reset circuit
that generates a rotor changed-angle signal and a reset time
interval signal based on the corrected position sensor edge signal;
a speed calculation circuit that generates a rotational-speed
information signal based on the rotor changed-angle signal and the
reset time interval signal; and a rotor position calculation
circuit that generates a rotor position information signal based on
the rotational-speed information signal and provides the rotor
position information signal to the drive signal generation
circuit.
19. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 13, wherein the
induced voltage detection circuit detects the zero-crossing of the
induced voltage by comparing the induced voltage and a first
threshold voltage with a comparator.
20. The brushless DC motor control device of claim 13, wherein the
induced voltage detection circuit detects the zero-crossing of the
motor current by comparing the motor current and a second threshold
voltage with a comparator.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-178645, filed
Sep. 13, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to brushless
DC motor control devices and brushless DC motor devices.
BACKGROUND
[0003] One method for controlling a brushless DC motor a method
which detects the rotational angle of a rotor of the motor based on
information of a position sensor such as a Hall element, adjusts
the phase of a drive voltage of a drive signal that drives the
motor in accordance with the detected rotational angle and outputs
the resultant signal to the motor.
[0004] The position sensor is attached to the motor in a
predetermined position thereof. If an attachment error of the
position sensor occurs, even when the phase of the drive voltage of
the drive signal is adjusted based on the information of the
position sensor, the maximum efficiency cannot be attained.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram depicting an example of
the configuration of a brushless DC motor device according to an
embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram depicting the configuration of a
control device according to the embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the structure of a motor for
explaining the relationship between the phases of induced voltage
zero-crossing phase signals and position sensor edge angle signals
in a clockwise direction of a rotor of the motor according to the
embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting the structure of the motor for
explaining the relationship between the phases of the induced
voltage zero-crossing phase signals and the position sensor edge
angle signals in the clockwise direction of the rotor of the motor
according to the embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of a flux linkage, an induced
voltage, a Hall element output, a Hall element inverted output, and
a position detection signal in the U-phase at the time of clockwise
rotation of the rotor of the motor according to the embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting the structure of the motor for
explaining the relationship between the phases of the induced
voltage zero-crossing phase signals and the position sensor edge
angle signals in a counterclockwise direction of the rotor of the
motor according to the embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting the structure of the motor for
explaining the relationship between the phases of the induced
voltage zero-crossing phase signals and the position sensor edge
angle signals in the counterclockwise direction of the rotor of the
motor according to the embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of the flux linkage, the
induced voltage, the Hall element output, the Hall element inverted
output, and the position detection signal in the U-phase at the
time of counterclockwise rotation of the rotor of the motor
according to the embodiment; and
[0013] FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the configuration of a
comparison circuit according to a second modified example of the
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Embodiments provide a brushless DC motor control device and
a brushless DC motor device which can generate a motor drive signal
from which an attachment error of a position sensor is removed by
correction.
[0015] In general, according to one embodiment, a brushless DC
motor control device includes: an induced voltage detection circuit
that detects an induced voltage which is generated in at least one
coil of a brushless DC motor; a rotational position detection
circuit that detects the rotational position of a rotor of the
brushless DC motor; an error calculation circuit that calculates a
first difference between the phase of the induced voltage detected
by the induced voltage detection circuit and a phase of the
rotational position detected by the rotational position detection
circuit; a correction circuit that corrects the detected rotational
position based on the first difference and outputs a corrected
rotational position signal; and a drive signal generation circuit
that adjusts the phase of a drive signal which is supplied to the
brushless DC motor based on the corrected rotational position
signal and generates the drive signal whose phase has been
adjusted.
[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to
the drawings.
First Embodiment
(Configuration)
[0017] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram depicting an example of
the configuration of a brushless DC motor device according to the
present embodiment.
[0018] As depicted in FIG. 1, a brushless DC motor device 1
includes a brushless DC motor 2 and a control device 3 which is a
brushless DC motor control device. A command signal SV from a
microcomputer 4, which is an external apparatus, is provided to the
brushless DC motor device 1.
[0019] Here, the brushless DC motor (hereinafter also referred to
simply as the motor) 2 is a three-phase brushless motor. This
brushless DC motor 2 has a stator (not depicted in the drawing) in
which, for example, a U-phase coil, a V-phase coil, and a W-phase
coil are provided and a rotor (not depicted in the drawing) in
which a permanent magnet is provided. Alternatively, the brushless
DC motor may be an n (n is an integer)-phase brushless motor such
as a single-phase brushless motor or a two-phase brushless
motor.
[0020] The control device 3 is a semiconductor chip that controls
the driving of the motor 2 by supplying pseudo-sinusoidal drive
signals DV to the coils of the motor 2 from output terminals (not
depicted in the drawing).
[0021] The three-phase drive signals DV are supplied to the motor 2
via a current detection circuit 5. The current detection circuit 5
is provided on three signal lines by which three three-phase drive
signals DV are supplied, detects the current values of three motor
currents flowing through the three signal lines, and outputs three
motor current value signals Id indicating the three current values.
Each motor current value signal Id is a voltage signal in
proportion to the current value.
[0022] Moreover, the control device 3 supplies the three-phase
drive signals DV to the motor 2 from three terminals of the three
signal lines, and, as a result of the rotor rotating, three induced
voltage value signals Vd indicating induced voltage values which
are generated by the three coils are sent to the control device 3
from the motor 2.
[0023] A position sensor 6 is attached to an electric substrate,
which is incorporated into the motor 2, in a predetermined position
thereof. Here, the position sensor 6 is formed of three Hall ICs
6a, each having a Hall element. The position sensor 6 outputs three
position detection signals SH, each having an voltage induced by
the rotation of the rotor of the motor 2 and a fixed phase
difference. Each position detection signal SH is a pulse signal
obtained by converting the output of each Hall element into an
ON/OFF digital signal by a comparator.
[0024] The microcomputer 4 outputs the command signal SV governing
the driving of the motor 2 to the control device 3. The command
signal SV is an analog signal or a digital signal that designates
the output duty ratio or the average duty ratio of the
pseudo-sinusoidal drive signals DV which are supplied to the motor
2. The control device 3 controls the driving of the motor 2 by
supplying, from the output terminals, the pseudo-sinusoidal drive
signals DV to the coils of the motor 2 based on the position
detection signals SH and the command signal SV.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram depicting the configuration of
the control device 3.
[0026] The control device 3 is a semiconductor device including a
drive signal generation circuit 11, a switching circuit 12, a motor
current zero-crossing detection circuit 13, an induced voltage
zero-crossing detection circuit 14, a phase correction circuit 15,
a position sensor edge detection circuit 16, a position sensor
angle error calculation circuit 17, an addition circuit 18, a rotor
position information reset circuit 19, a speed calculation circuit
20, and a rotor position calculation circuit 21.
[0027] The control device 3 has an input terminal 31 to which the
command signal SV is input. Furthermore, the control device 3 has
three output terminals 32 from which three pseudo-sinusoidal drive
signals are output, three input terminals 33, three input terminals
34, and three input terminals 35.
[0028] The drive signal generation circuit 11 generates a
sinusoidal signal or a rectangular signal based on the command
signal SV from the input terminal 31, generates six drive signals
ds from the generated signal and outputs the resultant signals.
Here, each drive signal ds is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal
obtained by converting the generated signal into a necessary
potential.
[0029] The switching circuit 12 generates three pseudo-sinusoidal
drive signals DV for driving the motor 2 from a direct-current
power supply in accordance with the six drive signals ds and
outputs the three pseudo-sinusoidal drive signals DV to the motor 2
from the three output terminals 32. The three drive signals DV
cause a current to flow through each of the three coils of the
motor 2 and the rotor to rotate.
[0030] The switching circuit 12 has, for each phase, a
positive-side transistor, a positive-side diode, a negative-side
transistor, and a negative-side diode, for example. The switching
circuit 12 performs PWM control such that the positive-side
transistor and the negative-side transistor are turned on/off in a
complementary manner in accordance with the drive signals ds and
supplies the pseudo-sinusoidal drive signals DV to the three coils
of the motor 2 from the three output terminals 32.
[0031] The motor current zero-crossing detection circuit 13
receives the three motor current value signals Id from the current
detection circuit 5 via the three input terminals 33 and detects
the zero-crossing of each motor current based on, for example, a
change in the polarity of each signal. That is, the motor current
zero-crossing detection circuit 13 detects timing with which the
current value indicated by each motor current value signal Id
crosses a zero level. The motor current zero-crossing detection
circuit 13 outputs three motor current zero-crossing phase signals
It, each indicating timing of a zero-crossing phase. Each motor
current zero-crossing phase signal It is a timing signal, for
example, a pulse signal, indicating an electrical angle value from
a predetermined reference position.
[0032] The induced voltage zero-crossing detection circuit 14
receives the three induced voltage value signals Vd of the three
signal lines connected to the motor 2 via the three input terminals
34, and compares the three induced voltage value signals Vd with a
predetermined threshold voltage, for example, a midpoint potential
and thereby detects the zero-crossing of an induced voltage which
is generated in each coil of the motor 2. The induced voltage
zero-crossing detection circuit 14 outputs induced voltage
zero-crossing phase signals Vt, each indicating timing of the
zero-crossing phase of each induced voltage. Each induced voltage
zero-crossing phase signal Vt is also a timing signal, for example,
a pulse signal, indicating an electrical angle value from a
predetermined reference position.
[0033] In the induced voltage zero-crossing detection circuit 14,
timing with which a current is not passed thorough each coil is set
in advance, and the induced voltage zero-crossing detection circuit
14 detects the phase of the induced voltage at a zero-crossing
point with the set timing. The induced voltage zero-crossing
detection circuit 14 outputs three induced voltage zero-crossing
phase signals Vt with timing in accordance with the phase at a
zero-crossing point.
[0034] Since the detection of the zero-crossing of the induced
voltage is performed when the pseudo-sinusoidal drive voltage
signal DV is not supplied to each coil, the drive signal generation
circuit 11 turns off the output of each drive signal ds during a
period in which the zero-crossing of the induced voltage is
detected. Therefore, to the induced voltage zero-crossing detection
circuit 14, a sampling signal ss indicating zero-crossing detection
timing in a state in which the output of each drive signal ds from
the drive signal generation circuit 11 is off is input.
[0035] Even though, here, the induced voltage zero-crossing
detection circuit 14 detects the zero-crossing of the three induced
voltage value signals Vd of the three signal lines connected to the
motor 2, the induced voltage zero-crossing detection circuit 14 may
detect the zero-crossing of the induced voltage value signal Vd of
only one of the three signal lines.
[0036] Accordingly, the motor current zero-crossing detection
circuit 13 detects a motor current which is supplied to at least
one coil of the brushless DC motor 2. The induced voltage
zero-crossing detection circuit 14 forms an induced voltage
detection circuit that detects an induced voltage which is
generated in at least one coil of the brushless DC motor 2.
[0037] The phase correction circuit 15 includes an addition circuit
15a and a proportional integration circuit (PI) 15b.
[0038] The addition circuit 15a detects the three motor current
zero-crossing phase signals It from the motor current zero-crossing
detection circuit 13 and the three induced voltage zero-crossing
phase signals Vt from the induced voltage zero-crossing detection
circuit 14 and calculates three differences. That is, the addition
circuit 15a calculates three differences between the three motor
current zero-crossing phase signals It and the three induced
voltage zero-crossing phase signals Vt, and outputs a phase
difference signal ps indicating the average value of the three
phase differences to the proportional integration circuit 15b.
Alternatively, the phase difference signal ps may be a signal
indicating the value of one phase difference selected from the
three phase differences.
[0039] In some embodiments, an offset value (OFFSET) which is used
when the motor 2 is a motor having salient polarity, such as an
interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor, can be input to the addition
circuit 15a.
[0040] In the proportional integration circuit 15b, a proportional
component and an integral component are calculated based on the
input phase difference signal ps, and the proportional integration
circuit 15b outputs the proportional component and the integral
component to the drive signal generation circuit 11 as phase
correction command information ap. The proportional integration
circuit 15b generates the phase correction command information ap
with which the input phase difference signal ps becomes zero, and
holds that value.
[0041] Based on the phase correction command information ap, the
drive signal generation circuit 11 generates six drive signals ds
obtained by adjusting the voltage phases of the U-phase, V-phase,
and W-phase drive signals DV such that the phases of the motor
current signals of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase drive signals
DV and the phases of the induced voltages coincide with each
other.
[0042] That is, the drive signal generation circuit 11 also adjusts
the phases of the drive signals DV such that, based on the phase
correction command information ap indicating the differences
between the phases of the motor currents detected by the motor
current zero-crossing detection circuit 13 and the phases of the
induced voltages detected by the induced voltage zero-crossing
detection circuit 14, the phases of the motor currents and the
phases of the induced voltages coincide with each other.
[0043] The position sensor edge detection circuit 16 receives the
three position detection signals SH via the three input terminals
35, detects the edge of each position detection signal SH based on
the rising edge of the pulse signal, and outputs three position
sensor edge angle signals Pa indicating electrical angle values
from a predetermined reference position to the position sensor
angle error calculation circuit 17 and the addition circuit 18.
[0044] That is, the position sensor edge detection circuit 16 forms
a rotational position detection circuit that receives the position
detection signals SH from the position sensor 6 attached to the
stator of the motor 2 and detects the rotational position of the
rotor of the motor 2.
[0045] The position sensor angle error calculation circuit 17
includes two addition circuits 17a and 17b.
[0046] The addition circuit 17a adds the three induced voltage
zero-crossing phase signals Vt from the induced voltage
zero-crossing detection circuit 14 and a predetermined offset value
and outputs the values obtained by the addition to the addition
circuit 17b as output signals. The predetermined offset value is a
value for correcting the phase differences between the three
induced voltage zero-crossing phase signals Vt and the three
position sensor edge angle signals Pa from the position sensor edge
detection circuit 16. Here, as the offset value, there are two
offset values: an offset value) (-150.degree. at the time of
clockwise rotation and an offset value) (-30.degree. at the time of
counterclockwise rotation. The output signals of the addition
circuit 17a are angular signals RD.
[0047] Here, these offset values will be described.
[0048] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams, each depicting the structure of
the motor for explaining the relationship between the phases of the
induced voltage zero-crossing phase signals Vt and the position
sensor edge angle signals Pa in a clockwise direction of the rotor
of the motor 2. When a rotor 2a rotates in a clockwise direction
CW, the positional relationship between the magnets of the rotor 2a
and the coils of a stator 2b changes from the positional
relationship depicted in FIG. 3 to the positional relationship
depicted in FIG. 4.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of a flux linkage .phi.u, an
induced voltage EMFu, a Hall element output Hup, a Hall element
inverted output HuM, and the position detection signal SH in the
U-phase at the time of clockwise rotation of the rotor of the motor
2.
[0050] An N-pole magnet and an S-pole magnet are affixed to the
rotor 2a, and the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils are wound
around iron cores on the stator 2b. FIG. 3 depicts a state in which
the U-phase coil and the S-pole magnet are facing each other, and
FIG. 4 depicts a state in which the U-phase coil and the N-pole
magnet are facing each other.
[0051] As depicted in FIG. 3, the Hall IC 6a is disposed between
the adjacent coils of the stator 2b. When the drive signal DV is
supplied to each coil of the motor 2, the flux linkage .phi.u is
generated in the U-phase. The phase of the Hall element output Hup
of the Hall element of the Hall IC 6a leads the phase of the flux
linkage .phi.u by 60 (deg) in terms of an electrical angle.
[0052] Since the induced voltage EMFu lags the flux linkage .phi.u
by .pi./2, the phase of the induced voltage EMFu lags the position
detection signal SH by 150 (deg) in terms of an electrical
angle.
[0053] FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams, each depicting the structure of
the motor for explaining the relationship between the phases of the
induced voltage zero-crossing phase signals Vt and the position
sensor edge angle signals Pa in a counterclockwise direction of the
rotor of the motor 2. When the rotor 2a rotates in a
counterclockwise direction CCW, the positional relationship between
the magnets of the rotor 2a and the coils of the stator 2b changes
from the positional relationship depicted in FIG. 6 to the
positional relationship depicted in FIG. 7.
[0054] FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram of the flux linkage .phi.u, the
induced voltage EMFu, the Hall element output Hup, the Hall element
inverted output HuM, and the position detection signal SH in the
U-phase at the time of counterclockwise rotation of the rotor of
the motor 2. FIG. 6 depicts a state in which the U-phase coil and
the S-pole magnet are facing each other, and FIG. 7 depicts a state
in which the U-phase coil and the N-pole magnet are facing each
other.
[0055] As depicted in FIG. 6, the Hall IC 6a is disposed between
the adjacent coils of the stator 2b. When the drive signal DV is
supplied to each coil of the motor 2, the flux linkage .phi.u is
generated in the U-phase. The phase of the Hall element output Hup
of the Hall element of the Hall IC 6a lags the phase of the flux
linkage .phi.u by 60 (deg) in terms of an electrical angle.
[0056] Since the induced voltage EMFu lags the flux linkage .phi.u
by .pi./2, the phase of the induced voltage EMFu lags the position
detection signal SH by 30 (deg) in terms of an electrical
angle.
[0057] Referring back to FIG. 2, as described earlier, the angular
signals RD indicate the positions of the phases of the three
position sensor edge angle signals which are originally detected
based on the zero-crossing phase signals Vt signals and offset
values.
[0058] The addition circuit 17b calculates differences between the
angular signals RD which are output from the addition circuit 17a
and the position sensor edge angle signals Pa from the position
sensor edge detection circuit 16 and holds the differences, and
outputs three position sensor error signals .alpha. indicating an
error in the position sensor 6.
[0059] Thus, the addition circuit 17b in effect forms an error
calculation circuit that calculates differences between the phases
of the induced voltages detected by the induced voltage
zero-crossing detection circuit 14 and the phase of the rotational
position of the rotor of the motor 2 detected by the position
sensor edge detection circuit 16.
[0060] In one embodiment, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2,
a nonvolatile memory 17c may be provided in the position sensor
angle error calculation circuit 17 such that the three position
sensor error signals .alpha. are stored in the nonvolatile memory
17c.
[0061] The addition circuit 18 adds the position sensor error
signals .alpha. to the position sensor edge angle signals Pa or
subtracts the position sensor error signals .alpha. from the
position sensor edge angle signals Pa and outputs to the rotor
position information reset circuit 19 corrected position sensor
edge angle signals RP obtained by correcting errors in the position
sensor edge angle signals Pa, that is, electrical angle errors
caused by an attachment error at the time of attachment of the
position sensor 6 to the motor 2.
[0062] Thus, the addition circuit 18 forms a correction circuit
that corrects the detected rotational position of the rotor of the
motor 2 based on the position sensor error signals .alpha. and
outputs the corrected position sensor edge angle signals RP which
are corrected rotational position signals.
[0063] The rotor position information reset circuit 19 calculates a
changed angle of the rotor by resetting the phase at each
60.degree. and outputs a rotor changed-angle signal RA and a reset
time interval signal TA to the speed calculation circuit 20. The
rotor changed-angle signal RA indicates the changed-angle value of
the rotor, and the reset time interval signal TA indicates a reset
time interval.
[0064] The speed calculation circuit 20 receives the rotor
changed-angle signal RA and the reset time interval signal TA from
the rotor position information reset circuit 19, calculates a rotor
rotational-speed information signal RS by dividing the rotor
changed-angle value by the reset time interval, and outputs the
rotor rotational-speed information signal RS to the rotor position
calculation circuit 21.
[0065] The rotor position calculation circuit 21 has an integrator,
and integrates the rotational speed of the rotor of the rotor
rotational-speed information signal RS and outputs a rotor position
information signal .theta. to the drive signal generation circuit
11. The rotor position information signal .theta. indicates an
electrical angle in the range of 0.degree. to 360.degree..
[0066] Based on the command signal SV, the rotor position
information signal .theta., and the phase correction command
information ap, the drive signal generation circuit 11 generates
drive signals ds for outputting three-phase drive voltage signals
DV to the motor 2.
[0067] As described above, the control device 3 controls the
driving of the motor 2 by supplying, from the output terminals,
pseudo-sinusoidal drive signals DV to the coils of the motor 2
based on the position detection signals SH and the command signal
SV from the outside.
[0068] Even when an attachment error at the time of attachment of
the position sensor 6, such as the Hall IC 6a or the like, to the
motor 2 occurs, differences between the phase of the rotational
position detected by the position sensor 6 and the phases of the
induced voltages of the motor 2 are calculated, and the rotational
position information of the position sensor 6 is corrected based on
the differences. As a result, even when an attachment error of the
position sensor 6 occurs, the phase of a drive voltage of a motor
drive signal is adjusted based on the corrected rotational position
information, whereby the motor 2 can be driven at the maximum
efficiency.
[0069] That is, the drive signal generation circuit 11 adjusts the
phases of the drive signals DV which are supplied to the motor 2
based on the corrected position sensor edge angle signals RP and
generates the drive signals DV whose phases have been adjusted.
[0070] Furthermore, since the phases of the drive signals DV are
adjusted based on the differences between the phases of the motor
currents and the phases of the induced voltages such that the
phases of the motor currents and the phases of the induced voltages
coincide with each other, the motor 2 can be driven more
efficiently.
[0071] Next, modified examples will be described.
[0072] As a first modified example, while, in the above-described
embodiment, the phase correction command information ap which is a
signal about the differences between the phases of the motor
currents and the phases of the induced voltages is supplied to the
drive signal generation circuit 11, the phase correction command
information ap may be supplied to the addition circuit 18 as
indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2 and the three
position sensor edge angle signals Pa may be corrected in the
addition circuit 18 such that the phases of the motor currents and
the phases of the induced voltages coincide with each other.
[0073] Furthermore, as a second modified example, the motor current
zero-crossing detection circuit 13 and the induced voltage
zero-crossing detection circuit 14 may be formed as one
circuit.
[0074] FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the configuration of a
comparison circuit according to the second modified example of the
present embodiment. A comparison circuit 41 includes an input
terminal 42 that is connected to a current-carrying terminal of the
motor 2, a selection circuit 43 that selects any one of two inputs,
a comparator 44, and an output terminal 45 that outputs the
comparison result of the comparator 44. The comparator 44 has a
first input connected to the input terminal 42 and a second input
connected to an output terminal of the selection circuit 43, and
compares the first input and the second input and outputs the
comparison result.
[0075] The selection circuit 43 selects any one of GND and a
predetermined voltage, here, (1/2)DC, in accordance with a
selection control signal SC, and the selected one is connected to
the second input of the comparator 44. Here, DC is a terminal
voltage of the motor 2 which is generated when the drive signals DV
are provided thereto. The selection control signal SC is supplied
from the drive signal generation circuit 11.
[0076] As described earlier, timing with which the zero-crossing of
the motor current is detected and timing with which the
zero-crossing of the induced voltage is detected are different from
each other. Thus, with the timing with which the zero-crossing of
the motor current is detected, the selection control signal SC
operates the selection circuit 43 such that the potential of GND is
provided to the second input of the comparator 44. With the timing
with which the zero-crossing of the induced voltage is detected,
the selection control signal SC operates the selection circuit 43
such that the potential of (1/2)DC is provided to the second input
of the comparator 44.
[0077] That is, the induced voltage zero-crossing detection circuit
14 detects the zero-crossing of the induced voltage by comparing
the induced voltage and a first threshold voltage with the
comparator 44, and the motor current zero-crossing detection
circuit 13 detects the zero-crossing of the motor current by
comparing a voltage indicating the motor current value with a
second threshold voltage, in place of the first threshold voltage,
with the comparator 44.
[0078] By doing so, the circuit size of the control device 3 can be
reduced and the cost can also be reduced accordingly.
[0079] As described above, according to the above-described
embodiment and modified examples, a brushless DC motor control
device and a motor device which can output a motor drive signal
from which an attachment error of a position sensor is removed by
correction can be provided.
[0080] In particular, in the above-described embodiment and
modified examples, since an attachment error of the position sensor
6 attached to the motor 2 is detected by using a timing signal of
the zero-crossing of the induced voltage detected by the induced
voltage zero-crossing detection circuit 14, even when an attachment
error occurs in the position sensor 6, in other words, even when
the position sensor 6 is not attached to the motor 2 accurately,
the brushless DC motor control device and the motor device can
output a motor drive signal from which the attachment error of the
position sensor 6 is removed by correction.
[0081] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in
the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying
claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or
modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the
inventions.
* * * * *