Stationary position detection circuit and motor drive circuit

Abstract

A stationary position detection circuit and a motor drive circuit capable of more properly detecting the rotor position are disclosed. The stationary position detection circuit supplies an alternating current to each phase load of the motor. The time during which the current flows in a first direction and the time during which the current flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction are converted into electrical signals and amplified. In accordance with the value of the electrical signals, the position of the motor rotor in stationary mode is determined. The use of the alternating current, unlike the kickback voltage, makes it possible to improve the detection accuracy by amplifying the electrical signals with an increased number of alternations. An increased number of alternations can amplify the electrical signals without increasing the value of the alternating current, and therefore, unlike in the case of the kickback voltage, the alternating current of a large value is not required. As a result, the alternating current can be reduced to a small value and the vibration can be suppressed.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 476,052 filed Jun. 28, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a stationary position detection circuit and a Hall sensorless motor drive circuit capable of detecting the position of a motor rotor. [0004] 2. Description of the Background Art [0005] In driving a motor having a rotor such as a small three-phase DC brushless motor, the motor drive circuit is required to be kicked at the time of starting. In the process, unless the rotor position can be detected properly, the proper starting is impossible. [0006] The rotor position can be detected by arranging a Hall sensor configured of a Hall element in the neighborhood of the motor rotor. The use of the Hall sensor, however, leads to an increased cost and a bulkiness. Currently, therefore, vigorous efforts are made to develop what is called a Hall sensorless motor using no Hall sensor. [000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a stationary position detection circuit and a motor drive circuit capable of detecting the rotor position more properly.

[0018] The time counter counts the first and second time, the time difference amplifier converts the first and second time to electrical signals and amplifies the electrical signals in accordance with a predetermined number of accumulations of the first and second time. The use of the alternating current, unlike the kickback voltage, makes it possible to amplify the electrical signals with an increased number of alternations for a higher detection accuracy. Also, in view of the fact that an increased number of alternations makes it possible to amplify the electrical signals without increasing the alternating current values α and β, the alternating current of a large value is not required unlike the kickback voltage. As a result, the alternating current can be reduced to a small value (about 0.1 A, for example) and the vibrations can be suppressed. Thus, a stationary position detection circuit capable of detecting the rotor position more properly is realized.

Problems solved by technology

In the process, unless the rotor position can be detected properly, the proper starting is impossible.

The use of the Hall sensor, however, leads to an increased cost and a bulkiness.

In the detection method using the kickback voltage, however, a large kickback voltage is required to be generated by supplying a large kickback current (for example, about 1 A) to detect the minuscule inductance difference due to the difference of rotor position.

The large kickback current is a cause of vibrations.

Also, in the detection method using the kickback voltage, the information indicating the inductance difference can be obtained only for the very short period during which the kickback occurs, and therefore the information may not be sufficiently detected.

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