DE-102024139853-A1 - Soft clamping circuit for a motor control device power supply rail with reverse polarity protection

DE102024139853A1DE 102024139853 A1DE102024139853 A1DE 102024139853A1DE-102024139853-A1

Abstract

A motor control system includes a motor controller and a switch located between a battery and a conductor. The motor controller closes the switch when the battery is supplying voltage and opens the switch when the battery is not supplying voltage. A clamping circuit is connected to the conductor. A capacitor is also connected to the conductor. An H-bridge controller is configured to selectively control multiple switches to: supply alternating current to a motor in response to a command from the motor controller; detect voltage on the conductor when the battery is not supplying power to the motor controller; then, when the voltage on the conductor is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold, close at least two of the multiple switches; and then, when the voltage on the conductor is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold, open at least two of the switches.

Inventors

Peter Rolf Irgens
Nicholas Logan Harvell
S.M. Nayeem Hasan

Assignees

GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241230
Priority Date: 20241112

Claims (10)

Motor control system comprising: a motor controller; a switch arranged between a battery and a conductor, wherein the motor controller is configured to close the switch when the battery provides battery voltage to the conductor and to open the switch when the battery does not provide battery voltage to the conductor; a clamping circuit connected to the conductor; a capacitor connected to the conductor; and an H-bridge controller configured to: selectively control multiple switches to supply alternating current to a motor in response to an instruction from the motor controller; detect voltage on the conductor when the battery is not providing power to the motor controller; close at least two of the multiple switches when the voltage on the conductor is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold, and open at least two of the switches when the The voltage across the conductor is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold.
Engine control system after Claim 1 , where the second specified voltage threshold is smaller than the first specified voltage threshold and larger than the battery voltage.
Engine control system after Claim 1 , where the clamping circuit contains a resistor and a Zener diode.
Engine control system after Claim 3 , where the Zener diode has a Zener voltage that is smaller than the second specified voltage threshold and larger than the battery voltage.
Engine control system after Claim 1 , wherein the multiple switches comprise: a first switch comprising a first terminal connected to the conductor; a second switch comprising a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first switch and a first terminal of the motor, and a second terminal connected to ground; a third switch comprising a first terminal connected to the conductor; a fourth switch comprising a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the third switch and a second terminal of the motor, and a second terminal connected to ground.
Engine control system after Claim 5 , wherein at least two of the multiple switches include the second switch and the fourth switch.
Engine control system after Claim 5 , wherein at least two of the multiple switches include the first switch and the third switch.
Engine control system after Claim 2 , where the first specified voltage threshold is in the range of 29 volts to 31 volts.
Engine control system after Claim 2 , where the second specified voltage threshold is in the range of 26 volts to 28 volts.
Engine control system after Claim 4 , where the Zener voltage is in the range of 19 to 21 volts and the battery voltage is in the range of 15 to 17 volts.

Description

INTRODUCTION The information provided in this section serves the purpose of providing a general overview of the context of the disclosure. Neither the work of the inventors currently named, to the extent described in this section, nor those aspects of the description that could not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are expressly or implicitly recognized as prior art against the present disclosure. The present disclosure relates to motor control systems and in particular to a soft-clamping circuit for a motor control device supply rail with reverse polarity protection. Vehicles can contain a component, such as a lifting flap, that is powered by a motor. During operation, a controller supplies power from the battery to a motor controller, which operates switches that supply alternating current to the motor. SUMMARY A motor control system includes a motor controller and a switch located between a battery and a conductor. The motor controller is configured to close the switch when the battery provides voltage to the conductor and to open the switch when the battery does not provide voltage. A clamping circuit is connected to the conductor. A capacitor is also connected to the conductor. An H-bridge controller is configured to selectively control multiple switches to: supply alternating current to a motor in response to a command from the motor controller; detect voltage on the conductor when the battery is not supplying power to the motor controller; then, when the voltage on the conductor is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold, close at least two of the multiple switches; and then, when the voltage on the conductor is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold, open at least two of the switches. According to further characteristics, the second predetermined voltage threshold is lower than the first predetermined voltage threshold and higher than the battery voltage. The clamping circuit contains a resistor and a Zener diode. The Zener diode has a Zener voltage that is lower than the second predetermined voltage threshold and higher than the battery voltage. The multiple switches include a first switch containing a first terminal connected to the conductor; a second switch containing a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first switch and the first terminal of the motor, and a second terminal connected to ground; a third switch containing a first terminal connected to the conductor; and a fourth switch containing a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the third switch and a second terminal of the motor, and a second terminal connected to ground. According to further specifications, at least two of the multiple switches include the second and fourth switches. At least two of the multiple switches include the first and third switches. The first predefined voltage threshold is in the range of 29 volts to 31 volts. The second predefined voltage threshold is in the range of 26 volts to 28 volts. The Zener voltage is in the range of 19 to 21 volts, and the battery voltage is in the range of 10 to 17 volts. A motor control system includes a motor controller and a switch located between a battery and a conductor. The motor controller is configured to close the switch when the battery provides voltage to the conductor and to open the switch when the battery does not provide voltage. A clamp circuit is connected to the conductor and includes a resistor connected in series with a Zener diode. A capacitor is also connected to the conductor. An H-bridge controller is configured to selectively control multiple switches to: supply alternating current to a motor in response to a command from the motor controller; detect voltage on the conductor when the battery is not supplying power to the motor controller; then, when the voltage on the conductor is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold, close at least two of the multiple switches; and then, when the voltage on the conductor is less than a second predetermined voltage threshold, open at least two of the switches. The second predetermined voltage threshold is less than the first predetermined voltage threshold and greater than the battery voltage. The Zener diode has a Zener voltage that is smaller than the second specified voltage threshold and larger than the battery voltage. According to further characteristics, the multiple switches include a first switch containing a first terminal connected to the conductor; a second switch containing a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first switch and a first terminal of the motor, and a second terminal connected to ground; a third switch containing a first terminal connected to the conductor; and a fourth switch containing a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the third switch and a second terminal of the motor, and a second terminal connected to ground. According to further specifications, at least two of the multip