A permanent-magnet three-phase duplex motor is provided with two systems, namely a system that includes a first three-phase winding and a first inverter circuit, and a system that includes a second three-phase winding and a second inverter circuit, and a controlling apparatus is configured such that when one system fails, the controlling apparatus stops operation of the inverter circuit of the failed system, and controls operation of the inverter circuit of the normal system to increase the driving current that is supplied from the inverter circuit of the normal system, and the first three-phase winding and the second three-phase winding are configured such that magnetic fields that act on the permanent magnets in a demagnetizing direction when the increased driving current is supplied from the inverter circuit of the normal system are equal to magnetic fields that normally act on the permanent magnets in the demagnetizing direction.

A computer implemented method for controlling commutation of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The method includes controlling a switching array to drive the BLDC motor at a first commutation, receiving and monitoring power consumption signals indicating power consumption of the BLDC motor, determining whether the power consumption exceeds a first threshold value, and controlling the switching array to drive the BLDC motor at a second commutation when the power consumption exceeds the first threshold value.

A computer implemented method for controlling commutation of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The method includes controlling a switching array to drive the BLDC motor at a first commutation, receiving and monitoring power consumption signals indicating power consumption of the BLDC motor, determining whether the power consumption exceeds a first threshold value, and controlling the switching array to drive the BLDC motor at a second commutation when the power consumption exceeds the first threshold value.

A motor controller that is configured to switch power supply phases of the motor, to perform a limit-position abutment control by rotating the motor to a movable limit of a movable range of the rotation object to learn a reference position of the motor, perform a power-saving return control afterwards, in which a power supply to the motor is stopped, thereby returning a rotation position of the motor toward a target rotation position, and stop the rotation of the motor by simultaneously supplying power to a preset phase of the motor, when the rotation position of the motor reaches the target rotation position. In such manner, the power consumption as well as the heat generation of the motor are reduced for returning the rotation position of the motor to a preset rotation position after the abutment control of the motor.

Described embodiments provide circuits, systems and methods for controlling operation of brushless direct current motors that include a plurality of windings. A gate driver provides control signals to switching elements that control a voltage applied to each of the windings of the motor. A zero crossing detector detects zero crossings of a voltage applied to the windings and transitions a zero crossing signal between a first logic level and a second logic level based on the detected zero crossings. A position estimator estimates an angular position of the motor, and counts in a first direction based on the first logic level of the zero crossing signal, and in a second direction based on the second logic level of the zero crossing signal. An observer determines a value of the counter after an elapsed time, and generates an angular position signal based upon the value of the counter.

A motor driving apparatus includes a boosting section, a drive voltage output section, a detecting section, a storage section and a determining section. The boosting section generates a post-boosting voltage by boosting an input voltage. The drive voltage output section generates a drive voltage to drive a motor using the post-boosting voltage. The detecting section detects a value of the input voltage or a variation width relative to a reference value of the input voltage as variation power source variation information when there is power source variation. The storage section stores target value association information associating the power source variation information and a boosting target value of the post-boosting voltage. The determining section determines the boosting target value based on the power source variation information and target value association information. The target value association information is determined based on a range of operations of the drive voltage output section.

An inverter apparatus includes: an inverter including three high-voltage side switching elements and three low-voltage side switching elements respectively provided in three phases one by one, and driving a three-phase brushless motor; an opening and closing control unit performing controlling so as to cause an electrical angle of the motor to pass through an angle corresponding to a first combination, to rotate twice by 120° each time to one side in a rotary direction, and to rotate once by 120° to the other side in the rotary direction thereafter, by sequentially closing four combinations each of which is formed with one among the high-voltage side switching elements and one among the low-voltage side switching elements; and a detection unit detecting a conduction state of a circuit including the closed high-voltage side and low-voltage side switching elements, wherein all the high-voltage side and low-voltage side switching elements are closed at least once in the four combinations.

An inverter apparatus includes: an inverter including three high-voltage side switching elements and three low-voltage side switching elements respectively provided in three phases one by one, and driving a three-phase brushless motor; an opening and closing control unit performing controlling so as to cause an electrical angle of the motor to pass through an angle corresponding to a first combination, to rotate twice by 120° each time to one side in a rotary direction, and to rotate once by 120° to the other side in the rotary direction thereafter, by sequentially closing four combinations each of which is formed with one among the high-voltage side switching elements and one among the low-voltage side switching elements; and a detection unit detecting a conduction state of a circuit including the closed high-voltage side and low-voltage side switching elements, wherein all the high-voltage side and low-voltage side switching elements are closed at least once in the four combinations.

A motor drive device includes a plurality of control systems that individually supply drive currents to a plurality of coil groups included in a motor. The motor drive device independently sets the current command values for the respective control systems. Based on the set current command values, drive instructions are supplied to drive circuits of inverters with respect to the respective control systems, thereby supplying drive currents from the inverters to the coil groups. The motor drive device detects a failure in any of the inverters and the coil groups with respect to each control system, and stops only the failed control system or causes only the failed control system to fall back. The motor drive device further includes a main computing device, and an auxiliary computing device. Consequently, if the auxiliary computing device is normal even in case the main computing device fails, driving of the motor can be continued using one or some of the control systems.

A motor drive device includes a plurality of control systems that individually supply drive currents to a plurality of coil groups included in a motor. The motor drive device independently sets the current command values for the respective control systems. Based on the set current command values, drive instructions are supplied to drive circuits of inverters with respect to the respective control systems, thereby supplying drive currents from the inverters to the coil groups. The motor drive device detects a failure in any of the inverters and the coil groups with respect to each control system, and stops only the failed control system or causes only the failed control system to fall back. The motor drive device further includes a main computing device, and an auxiliary computing device. Consequently, if the auxiliary computing device is normal even in case the main computing device fails, driving of the motor can be continued using one or some of the control systems.