| 摘要 |
An electric motor system having substantially independent hardware-based and software-based pathways for detecting and initiating responses to fault conditions, such as over-current conditions, in an electric motor which is powered by a power inverter which is controlled by a power module and a microprocessor. Each pathway involves comparing a voltage, which is representative of an electric current flowing to the motor, to a predetermined maximum voltage, and if the former exceeds the latter using hardware or software to initiate shutting off the motor, such as by shutting off the power inverter. When one pathway detects a fault condition it may notify the other pathway, and the notified pathway may also initiate shutting off the motor. |
| 主权项 |
1. An electric motor system comprising:
an electric motor; and a motor control subsystem operable to control the electric motor, including detecting and responding to a fault condition in the electric motor, the motor control subsystem including—
a hardware-based pathway for detecting and initiating a response to the fault condition,
the hardware-based pathway including—a power module operable to generate a driving waveform to power the electric motor,a power inverter operable to convert direct current power to alternating current power at a frequency and an amplitude to power the electric motor, anda first resistor block electrically connected between the power inverter and the power module, and operable to generate a first voltage signal that is representative of an electric current flowing to the electric motor,wherein the power module compares the first voltage signal to a first predetermined maximum voltage signal, wherein the first voltage signal exceeding the first predetermined maximum voltage signal results in a detected fault condition, andwherein, using hardware, the hardware-based pathway responds to the detected fault condition by initiating shutting off the electric motor, anda software-based pathway for detecting and initiating a response to the fault condition,
the software-based pathway including—a microprocessor connected to the power module, and operable to process digital signals for controlling operation of the power module and the electric motor, anda second resistor block electrically connected between the power inverter and the microprocessor, and operable to generate a second voltage signal that is representative of the electric current flowing to the electric motor,wherein the microprocessor compares the second voltage signal to a second predetermined maximum voltage signal, wherein the second voltage signal exceeding the second predetermined maximum voltage signal results in the detected fault condition, andwherein, using software, the software-based pathway responds to the detected fault condition by initiating shutting off the electric motor, andwherein the hardware-based pathway and the software-based pathway are substantially independently operable to detect and initiate their responses to the fault condition. |
