Abstract:
In driving a load in a PWM mode in function of numeric command values of a certain N number of bits by converting the current numeric command value in at least a driving PWM signal (PWM_A, PWM_B) having a fixed frequency and a duty cycle proportional to the numeric command value, comparing through a comparator (COMPARATOR) the N bit numeric value with the counter of an up/down counter of the same number (N) of bits (N BIT UP/DOWN COUNTER) functioning in a continuous mode at the frequency of a system's clock signal (SysClk), the definition of the conversion may be enhanced withtout correspondingly increasing the number of bits of the UP/DOWN COUNTER. This is achieved by incrementing by more than a unit (N+3) the number of bits on which a certain command value is mapped; converting the N most significant bits with the exception of said additional bits of said command value by means of said comparator and up/down counter; decoding said additional bits by generating a corresponding plurality of intermediate levels of variation of the duty cycle, each of which has a duration of half a clock period (SysClk/2) producing a plurality of signals, outphased among each other by half a clock period (A, B, C, D, B, A', B', C', D', E'); generating said driving PWM signal (IN_A, IN_B) by multiplating (MULTIPLEXER) said signals outphased among each other by half a clock period, carrying out logic combinations of such signals in function of the most significative bit (MSB) of the numeric command value and of said least significative additional bits.
Abstract:
A method of driving a multiphase brushless motor with N star-connected windings wherein all the N windings are driven according to a certain predefined periodic voltage profile intended as the differential voltage between the winding's terminal and the star center, includes cyclically keeping for a certain time interval one of the N windings in a fixed state of low or high saturation by applying to the other N-1 phase windings instantaneous voltages according to a profile such that the modulated voltage of the star center subtracted or added to the low or high saturation voltage applied to the terminal of said one winding produce a resultant voltage on the winding of a value coherent with said predefined voltage profile. The number of intervals, in an entire electric period, in which said fixed high or low saturation state of one winding is produced, depends on the predefined driving profile and upon the number N of windings of the motor.
Abstract:
There is described a driving apparatus for an electromagnetic load (10), said apparatus comprises at least one pair of first (M4) and second (M5) transistors both arranged so as to form a current path with the electromagnetic load for discharging the current (Im) produced by the electromagnetic load. The first transistor (M4) comprises an inherent diode (D4) between the non-drivable terminals and the apparatus comprises means (120) to control the switching on and off of said at least one pair of first and second transistors, means (100) adapted to allow the second transistor (M5) to be diode connected, with said first (M4) switched off and said second transistor (M5) deactivated, so that the current (Im) produced by said electromagnetic load, crossing said inherent diode, creates an overvoltage between the terminals of the second diode-configured transistor such to exceed the conduction threshold voltage (Vt) thereof.
Abstract:
A driving circuit of a DC motor comprises a control circuit producing a control signal, a motor drive circuit, commanded by the control circuit, producing respective command signals for the switches of an output power stage driving the windings of the motor connected to supply lines in parallel to a filter capacitor. The driving circuit prevents generation of voltage surges of significant magnitude on the supply lines because the driving circuit has logic circuits preventing any substantial inversion of direction of flow of the current in the supply lines whenever the motor behaves as a current generator. The driving circuit implements a method of preventing generation of voltage surges on the supply lines of a DC motor comprising monitoring and comparing with a respective threshold at least a working parameter of the motor belonging to the group composed of: the voltage on the supply node of an output power stage of the motor, the voltage on at least a winding of the motor, the direction of flow of the current in the supply lines of the output power stage and the phase difference between the current circulating in at least a winding of the motor and the back electromotive force induced on the same winding; whenever at least one of the monitored parameters exceeds its respective threshold, forcing on each winding of the motor a voltage such to prevent substantial inversion of the direction of flow of the current on the supply lines.