Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Philip K Schneider

David D Moller

Salvador A Canales

Oscar M Alcantara

Dennis W Berryman

A motor control system and method are provided for detecting current ripple in a commutated DC motor and further determining position and speed of the motor based on the detected ripple current. Ripples in the motor current are detected and a ripple frequency is calculated based on the time between successive ripples. A ripple count between successive frequencies is determined and the ripple count is compared to a threshold value, and an estimated ripple frequency is determined from a motor model when the ripple count exceeds the threshold value. A corrected ripple count is calculated from a ratio of the calculated ripple frequency and the estimated ripple frequency, and motor position and motor speed are determined based on the corrected ripple count.

System and method for determining position or speed of a commutated DC motor with error correction

A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and simultaneously driver motors in response to the error condition.

Method of selectable simultaneous/sequential motor drive in a multiple drive circuit including failure detection

Position detection and external driver multiplexing system for DC motors

A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and drive the connected motors in response to the error condition.

Voltage-sensitive oscillator frequency for rotor position detection scheme

Method of brake pulse rejection in commutation pulse detection circuits

A thermopile structure containing improved heat sinks for thermocouples in the detectors is described. The heat sinks are provided without additional processing. The heat sinks are added by using 'dummy traces' to the polysilicon mask. The 'dummy traces' act as heat sinks to transfer of thermal energy from the narrow metallic traces used in the thermocouple. The &#x201c;dummy traces&#x201d; are not electrically connected to the thermopile, therefore they do not affect the electrical resistance of the thermopile. Also, the &#x201c;dummy trace&#x201d; does not add significant mass to the thermopile/membrane system; therefore they do not adversely affect the thermal conductance of the system.

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El Paso, TX, United States of America

Philip K Schneider