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:
Jun. 05, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1999
Ramani R. Kalpathi, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Peter T. Szymanski, Toledo, OH (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A method for controlling a motor and a circuit for implementing the method are provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first current to a first phase coil of a motor and determining a characteristic of the first current in the first phase coil wherein the characteristic is indicative of the position of the motor's rotor. The measured characteristic may comprise a time period required for the current to move between two predetermined current levels. The method further includes the step of controlling the first current in the first phase coil of the motor and a second current in a second phase coil of the motor responsive to the measured characteristic in the first phase coil. By controlling the current in multiple phase coils responsive to a current characteristic measured in one phase coil, current sensing in all but one phase coil may be eliminated thereby conserving microprocessor resources, increasing motor efficiency, speed, and braking torque, and reducing acoustic noise.