The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1996
Paul C Doyle, Northville, MI (US);
United Technologies Automotive, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A current measuring apparatus measures current flowing through a phase winding of a switched reluctance motor while dissipating very little power. The apparatus includes a control for controlling the current flowing through the winding. A gate is operatively connected to the control for switching the current flowing through the winding. The arrangement is such that in a first mode of the gate, the current flows through the phase winding. In a second mode of the gate, flow of the current through the winding is inhibited. The gate includes a sense means for sensing a fraction of the current when the gate is in the first mode thereof. A resistor of relatively high resistance is electrically connected in series with the sense means such that a voltage drop occurs across the resistor when the gate is in the first mode. The voltage drop signal is fed back to the control so that dependent on the signal, the current flowing through the phase winding of the motor is maintained in order to maximize motor efficiency.