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:
Sep. 25, 1996
Glen C Young, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
General Electric Company, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Abstract
A system for controlling circulating currents in a motor. A power supply link having upper and lower rails supplied by a power supply provides power to the motor windings. The power supply link also has power switches responsive to a motor control signal for selectively connecting the rails to the windings in alternating on and off intervals. The system includes a first resistive shunt in the upper rail of the power supply link between the power supply and the power switches and a second resistive shunt in the lower rail of the power supply link between the power supply and the power switches. The power supply link routes current circulating in the power supply link and windings through either the first or second resistive shunt for continuously sensing current in the rails. The system also includes a current regulation circuit which generates an overcurrent signal as a function of the current sensed in either the first or second resistive shunt exceeding a maximum current level. A control circuit responsive to the overcurrent signal causes each of the power switches to become nonconducting thereby to prevent excessive current from circulating in the motor.