Collectorless direct current motor, driver circuit for a drive and method of operating a collectorless direct current motor

Abstract

A method for the low-loss regulation of a collectorless direct current motor and a semiconductor circuit has, during the commutation phase given by a position sensor and with reduced motor output and number of revolutions, transistors or one end transistor which initially operates temporarily as a switch and thereafter operates temporarily as an analog amplifier element. During the analog period, a current is available which changes slowly according to a ramp function.

I claim: 
     
       1. Driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor including a permanent magnet rotor having at least two poles and at least one stator winding, comprising: a driver circuit end stage connected to the stator winding for temporarily operating as a switch,   a sensor for detecting a position of the rotor, said sensor producing sensor signals which are representative of a commutation phase,   a control siganl, said control signal being supplied to said driver circuit end stage during each said commutation phase, said control signal causing a ramp-shaped current curve to arise as a function of time in the stator winding,   said driver circuit end having a linkage circuit which is controlled by said control signal and by said sensor signals of said sensor, said linkage circuit producing an end stage control signal whose duration is variable and is less than the duration of a respective one of said sensor signals,   said driver circuit end stage including at least one semiconductor element which operates during said commutation phase for a first period of time as a switch and for a second period of time as an analog amplifier, current in said semiconductor element being relatively constant during said first period of time and changing according to a predetermined ramp function during said second period of time.   
     
     
       2. Driver circuit according to claim 1, wherein said linkage circuit includes switching transistors whose switching states are controlled by comparators which are connected with the outputs of a Hall generator. 
     
     
       3. Driver circuit according to claim 1, wherein said linkage circuit is connected with an output of a pulse width shaper including a comparison amplifier circuit having a first input which is connected to an output of a ramp generator and having a second input which is connected with a revolution rate setting circuit. 
     
     
       4. Driver circuit according to claim 3, .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.ramp generator furnishes a delta voltage as an output signal for said pulse width shaper. 
     
     
       5. Driver circuit according to claim 3, said revolution rate setting circuit is connected with an output of a revolution rate sensor for forming a closed control circuit. 
     
     
       6. A driver circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of semiconductor elements are included in said driver circuit .Iadd.end stage.Iaddend., each one of said plurality of semiconductor elements operating during a different portion of said commutation phase for a respective first period of time as a switch and for a respective second period of time as an analog amplifier, current in each said semiconductor element being relatively constant during said first period of time and changing according to a ramp function during said second period of time. 
     
     
       7. Collector less direct current motor for driving a fan comprising: a stator having at least one stator winding;   a permanent magnet rotor having at least two poles and being disposed in the field of said at least one stator winding,   said at least one stator winding being supplied with an operating voltage by a circuit, said circuit having a position sensing means for detecting a position of said permanent magnet rotor to determine a commutation phase thereof,   at least one semiconductor element supplying current to said stator winding,   a temperature sensing means for detecting temperature of an air stream drawn by the fan,   and a control means for controlling said at least one semiconductor element during said   commutation phase based upon the temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means,   said at least one semiconductor element included in said circuit being controlled by said control means to operate as a switch for supplying a relatively constant current over a part of the commutation phase and as an analog amplifier element over another part of the commutation phase,   said at least one semiconductor element, during a period of time .[.where in.]. .Iadd.wherein .Iaddend.a reduction in revolution rate of said permanent magnet rotor occurs, operating initially as a switch and thereafter operating temporarily as an analog amplifier, current in said at least one semiconductor element being reduced during said period of time according to a predetermined ramp function.     
     
     
       8. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein, near a maximum revolution rate of said permanent magnet rotor, said control means regulates said revolution rate predominantly by varying a turn-on duration of current to said at least one stator winding during said commutation phase and, in a lower revolution rate range, regulating said revolution rate additionally by varying the amplitude of the motor current. 
     
     
       9. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 8, wherein a temperature dependent safety element turns off said operating voltage after a settable time period upon occurrence of an overload condition. 
     
     
       10. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 8, further comprising a first comparison means for comparing a desired revolution rate value with an actual revolution rate value for regulating said revolution rate, an alarm signaling means, and   a second comparison means for comparing the desired revolution rate value with the actual revolution rate value for monitoring said revolution rate with respect to a given limit value at which an alarm signal is initiated by said alarm .[.signal.]. .Iadd.signaling .Iaddend.means.   
     
     
       11. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 10, wherein said given limit value for monitoring said revolution rate is also used for initiating a stop order. 
     
     
       12. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 10, further comprises a plurality of stator windings, wherein voltage induced by said permanent magnet rotor in one of said plurality of stator windings through which no current flows is used to measure said actual revolution rate value. 
     
     
       13. A collectorless direct c current motor according to claim 8 further comprising a first comparison means for comparing a desired revolution rate value with an actual revolution rate value for regulating said revolution rate, and a second comparison means for comparing the desired revolution rate value with the actual revolution rate value and initiating a stop order for cutting off the current upon reaching a given limit value.   
     
     
       14. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 8, wherein said control means derives a signal for regulation of said revolution rate is based upon a signal received from said temperature sensing means. 
     
     
       15. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 14, wherein said operating voltage for driving said at least one stator winding is used as a command variable for regulation of said revolution rate. 
     
     
       16. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 14, wherein a signal derived from the temperature sensing means and said operating voltage are command variables for regulation of said revolution rate. 
     
     
       17. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 8, wherein, when said revolution rate is reduced to less than 50% of said maximum revolution rate, a switching duration of said at least one semiconductor element in a switch mode is reduced until said at least one semiconductor element operates purely as said analog amplifier element. 
     
     
       18. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein said revolution rate is controlled by varying a transition interval between switch operation and subsequent analog operation of said semiconductor elements during said commutation phase. 
     
     
       19. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein, upon reduction of said revolution rate, an instant at which said semiconductor element is turned on is delayed with respect to a turn-on time given by said position sensing means. 
     
     
       20. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein control of motor output and revolution rate are effected in an open control chain by an externally given physical value. 
     
     
       21. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein control of motor output and revolution rate are effected in a closed control circuit by an externally given physical value. 
     
     
       22. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein control of motor output and revolution rate are effected by an essentially analog circuit and necessary time functions are generated by RC members. 
     
     
       23. A collectorless direct current motor according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of semiconductor elements are included in said circuit, each one of said plurality of semiconductor elements operating during a different portion of said commutation phase for a respective first period of time as a switch and for a respective second period of time as an analog amplifier, current in each said semiconductor element being relatively constant during said first period of time and changing according to a ramp function during said second period of time. .Iadd. 
     
     
       24.  A collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, comprising a stator having at least one stator winding,   a permanent magnet rotor having at least two poles and being disposed in the field of the at least one stator winding, and   circuit means for supplying the at least one stator winding with an operating current, the circuit means having a position sensing means for detecting a position of the permanent magnet rotor to determine a commutation phase for the operating current supplied by the circuit means to the stator winding,   the circuit means also including   at least one semiconductor element supplying current to the stator winding,   temperature sensing means for detecting a temperature influenced by the fan,   control means for controlling the at least one semiconductor element during the commutation phase based upon the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means,   the at least one semiconductor element being controlled by the control means to operate in a switched mode for supplying the current to the stator winding over a part of the commutation phase, which is less than all of the commutation phase, and   the at least one semiconductor element and the control means being coupled to the temperature sensing means and operating to switch the current on only once in a commutation phase in variable dependence upon the detected temperature to change the revolution rate of the motor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       25.  The collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, as claimed in claim 24, wherein the position sensing means comprises means for providing a commutation phase signal and the temperature sensing means provides a detected temperature signal, the motor further including   means for comparing the commutation phase signal to the detected temperature signal to apply to the at least one semiconductor element a turn-on pulse which becomes longer the higher the detected temperature is. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       26.  The collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, as claimed in claim 25, wherein the means for comparing the commutation phase signal to the detected temperature signal comprises   a capacitor and   a means for discharging the capacitor at the start of each commutation phase, and   the temperature sensing means comprises a thermistor influenced by the airstream of the fan for determining the charging current of the capacitor after the discharge has occurred to generate the detected temperature signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, as claimed in claim 25, wherein   the means for comparing the commutation phase signal to the detected temperature signal comprises a capacitor and means for discharging the capacitor at the start of each commutation phase, and   the temperature sensing means having a connection to the capacitor to supply charging current thereto and having a thermistor influenced by the airstream of the fan that provides the detected temperature signal and via the connection to the capacitor determines the charging current of the capacitor after discharge has occurred to provide a temperature-dependent, pulse width modulated signal to the at least one semiconductor element.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  A collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, comprising a stator having at least one stator winding,   a permanent magnet rotor having at least two poles and being disposed in the field of the at least one stator winding, and   circuit means for supplying the at least one stator winding with an operating current, the circuit means having a position sensing means for detecting a position of the permanent magnet rotor to determine a commutation phase for the operating current supplied by the circuit means to the stator winding,   the circuit means also including   at least one semiconductor element supplying current to the stator winding,   temperature sensing means for detecting a temperature influenced by the fan,   control means for controlling the at least one semiconductor element during the commutation phase based upon the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means,   the at least one semiconductor element being controlled by the control means to produce an at least partly analog signal determining the current to the stator winding, the current being supplied over a part of the commutation phase, which is less than all of the commutation phase, and   the at least one semiconductor element and the control means being coupled to the temperature sensing means and operating to supply the current continuously only once in a commutation phase in variable dependence upon the detected temperature to change the revolution rate of the motor.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  The collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, as claimed in claim 28, wherein the control means controls the at least one semiconductor element to operate essentially in an analog mode for supplying the current to the stator winding, the control means providing a rounded signal to facilitate   
     
     
        low noise operation of the motor. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  The collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, as claimed in claim 28, wherein the control means comprises means for starting the charging of a capacitor at the start of the commutation phase to produce a first signal,   the temperature sensing means comprises means for controlling the rate of charging of the capacitor, and means, including means for filtering and integrating the first signal to produce a rounded signal, for initiating conduction in the one semiconductor element after the start of the commutation phase. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The collectorless direct current motor for driving a fan, as claimed in claim 30, in which the means for initiating conduction in the one semiconductor element after the start of the commutation phase comprises   a control element having a control electrode and a controlled signal path,   means for coupling the control electrode to the position sensing means to receive a signal having steps at the beginning and end of the determined commutation phase,   means for coupling the controlled signal path to the filtering and integrating means to determine the passage of the rounded signal to the one semiconductor element, and   the filtering and integrating means and the one semiconductor element together providing a current-starting signal value which the rounded signal reaches significantly after the start of the commutation phase.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor including a permanent magnet rotor having at least two poles and at least one stator winding, comprising: a driver circuit end stage connected to the stator winding for temporarily operating as a switch,   a sensor for detecting a position of the rotor, said sensor producing sensor signals which are representative of a commutation phase,   a ramp generator responding to said sensor signals and producing a ramp-shaped control signal,   said control signal being supplied to said driver circuit end stage during each said commutation phase, said control signal causing a current curve as a function of time in the stator winding, and   a sensor for detecting a temperature influenced by the fan, said sensor producing a temperature-dependent signal,   said driver circuit end stage having a linkage circuit which is controlled by said control signal, by said sensor signals and by said temperature-dependent signal, said linkage circuit producing an end stage control signal whose duration is variable and is less than the duration of   
     
     
        a respective one of said sensor signals. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor including a permanent magnet rotor having at least two poles and at least one stator winding, comprising: a driver circuit end stage connected to the stator winding for temporarily operating as a switch,   a sensor for detecting a position of the rotor, said sensor producing sensor signals which are representative of a commutation phase,   a ramp generator responding to said sensor signals and producing a ramp-shaped control signal,   said control signal being supplied to said driver circuit end stage during each said commutation phase, said control signal causing a current curve as a function of time in the stator winding, and   means for providing, separate from said control signal, a command signal for said driver circuit end stage,   said driver circuit end stage having a linkage circuit which is controlled by said control signal, by said sensor signals and by said command signal, said linkage circuit producing an end stage control signal whose duration is variable and is less than the duration of a respective one of said sensor signals. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor as claimed in claim 33,   further including temperature sensing means for supplying to an input node of the linkage circuit as said command signal a temperature signal responsive to a temperature influenced by the fan,   wherein the linkage circuit is controlled by said control signal, by said sensor signals, and by said temperature signal to apply to the driver circuit end stage a turn-on pulse which becomes longer the higher the   
     
     
        detected temperature is. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor as claimed in claim 34, wherein the linkage circuit comprises a capacitor and means for discharging the capacitor at the start of each commutation phase, and   the temperature sensing means is connected to the capacitor to supply charging current thereto, the temperature sensing means comprising a thermistor influenced by the airstream of the fan for determining the charging current of the capacitor after discharge has occurred to generate a temperature-dependent, pulse width modulated signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor as claimed in claim 33, wherein   the linkage circuit is controlled by said control signal, by said sensor signals and by said command signal to turn on as a switch with respect to the stator winding and thereafter to provide an effect upon the stator winding to promote low-noise motor operation. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor as claimed in claim 36, wherein   the linkage circuit includes means responsive to at least said control signal and said command signal for providing a filtered signal, and     
     
     
       an analog switch responsive to the filtered signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor as claimed in claim 37, wherein the means for providing a filtered signal includes an integrator. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. In a fan, a driver circuit for a collectorless direct current motor as claimed in claim 36, wherein   the command signal providing means includes temperature sensing means for supplying to said driver circuit end stage as said command signal a temperature signal responsive to a temperature influenced by the fan,   wherein the linkage circuit is controlled by said control signal, by said sensor signals, and by said temperature signal to apply to the driver circuit end stage a turn-on pulse which becomes longer the higher the detected temperature is and has a magnitude dependent upon the detected temperature. .Iaddend.