GB2268644A

GB2268644A - Electric motor control circuit.

Info

Publication number: GB2268644A
Application number: GB9316438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Osamu Yaguchi
Original assignee: Riken Corp
Current assignee: Riken Corp
Priority date: 1989-04-28
Filing date: 1993-08-06
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-06
Also published as: GB9316438D0; GB2268644B

Abstract

A circuit (70A) controls power supply to an electric motor (80) and de-energizes the motor when an overload state, indicated by a detected reduction in motor rotational speed, occurs. Rotational speed is monitored by a pulse detector (143) which detects pulses occurring at a motor terminal (T1) due to motor polarity switching. A particular application for the control circuit is driving the motor of an automatic car window, wherein a reduction in motor rotational speed may be due to an object trapped between window and frame during window closure. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUIT The present invention relates to a circuit for controlling an electric motor. The circuit is particularly, but not exclusively, suited for use in a motor-driven system for controlling opening/ closing of a window of an automobile or the like.

Attention is drawn to our copending U.K. application No.9306238.8 (publication No. 2264825) entitled "Electric Motor Control Circuit" from which the present application is divided and also application No.9009638.9 (publication No.2232255) entitled automatic Window/ Door System' from which application No.9306238.8 is divided.

A known conventional automobile window automatic motor-driven opening/closing system includes an electric motor for driving a window so as to open/close the window, a pressure responsive sensor arranged in association with the window, a detector circuit, coupled to the pressure responsive sensor, for detecting an squeezed object (typically, a part of a human body such as a hand) caught in a way of the window during a closing operation of the window, and a control circuit, coupled to the detector circuit, for controlling the electric motor in response to the squeezed object in such a direction to open the window, thereby releasing the object from the window.

SWEMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a circuit for controlling an electric motor, including: power source means for supplying a power to said motor; motor pulse detector means, coupled to said motor, for detecting pulses having a repetition rate substantially proportional to the rotational speed of said motor from said motor; and power-down means, coupled to said motor pulse detector means, for restricting the power to said motor in response to reduction in repetition rate of the pulses indicative of an overload state of said motor.

The control circuit of the arrangement detects a constraint condition (overload condition) of the electric motor and restricts a power supplied to the electric motor. Therefore, heat generation of the electric motor and an excessive electric motor current can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of a motor driven system for opening/closing a window including the motor control circuit of the present invention. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an overail arrangement of a motor-driven window opening/closing system including a motor control circuit embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view showing a window of an automobile having a pressure responsive sensor; Fig. 3 is a graph showing pressure-resistive characteristics of a conventional pressure responsive sensor switch; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure of a conventional pressure responsive sensor depending on a direction; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a structure of a pressure responsive sensor insusceptible to a pressure direction suitable for use in the system shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a graph showing pressure-resistance characteristics of the pressure responsive sensor shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional detector circuit for a pressure responsive sensor;; Figure 8 is a circuit diagram showing a detector circuit (suitable for use in the system shown in Fig. 1) having improved sensitivity for a pressure; Figure 9 is a graph showing a characteristic of an output voltage as a function of a pressure of the detector circuit shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a graph showing another characteristic of the output voltage as a function of the pressure of the detector circuit shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a detector circuit, suitable for use in the system shown in Fig. 1, for giving an output indicative of a rate of change of a pressure; Fig. 12A and 12B are views each showing an object squeezed in a way of a window; Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a detector circuit having a sensor fault diagnosing function;; Fig. 14 is a circuit diagram showing detailed arrangements of a sensor monitor circuit and an indicator shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a detailed arrangement of the motor control circuit embodying the invention; Fig. 16 is a timing chart showing signals of the motor control circuit shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a circuit diagram showing for comparison purposes, the motor control circuit of our copending U.K. application No.

9306238.8; and Fig. 18 is a timing chart showing signals of the motor control circuit shown in Fig. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows a motor-driven window opening/closing system.

This system is driven by an electric motor indicated by reference numeral 80 and includes a movable member such as a window of an automobile indicated by reference numeral 10. A pressure responsive sensor 20 is provided in association with the window 10.

Fig. 2 shows the pressure responsive sensor 20 mounted on the window 10. Referring to Fig. Z, a window glass 11 is closed (in an upward movement direction) and opened (in a downward movement direction) by the electric motor 80. The linear pressure responsive sensor 20 is mounted along a frame of the window 10. The pressure sensor 20 is a resistive sensor having a variable resistance depending on a pressure on the sensor.

The pressure responsive sensor 20 is preferably constituted by a coaxial sensor responsive to omnidirectional pressure. A detector circuit 30 is coupled to the pressure sensor 20 and detects a squeezed object (e.g., an object 14 squeezed between the window glass 11 and a window frame 12 shown in Fig. 12A or 12B) caught in a way of the window 10 during an operation of the system.

The detector circuit 30 preferably includes a differentiation circuit such as a capacitor for forming a signal indicative of a rate of change of a resistance of the sensor 20 and therefore a rate of change of a pressure.

The system further comprises a main controller 50 which can be realized by 2 microprocessor operated by programs. The rain controller 50 is coupled to the detector circuit 30 and receives a signal indicative of a squeezed object from the detector circuit 30. The main controller SO is also coupled to a downward movement (window opening) activation switch 60 and an upward movement (window closing) activation switch 62, both of which are manually operated.

In the main controller 50, sta=es of the downward and upward movement activation switches 60 and 62 are periodically scanned (52), and signals DOWN and Up indicative of window opening and closing modes are formed. That is, when the downward movement activation switch 60 is depressed, the DOWN mode is established.

When the upward movement activation switch 62 is repressed, the UP. mode is established. In response to input signals from the detector circuit 30 and the downward and upward movement activation switches 60 and 62, the main controller 50 sends a signal for designating a moving direction of the glass 11 of the window 10.

When the UP mode is established upon depression of the upward movement activation switch 62, the main controller 50 energizes an upward movement relay 74 of the motor control circuit 70. Upon energization of the upward movement relay 74, the motor 80 is driven in such a direction to move (close) the window 10 upward. When the DOWN mode is established upon depression of the downward movement activation switch 60, the main controller 50 energizes a downward movement relay 2 of the motor control circuit 70.

Upon energization of the downward movement relay 72, the motor 80 is driven in such a direction to move (open) the window 10 downward.

The window 10 may catch and squeeze an object while it is moved upward from an open to closed state.

Such a squeezed object is detected by the detector circuit 30. If the main controller 50 receives a squeezed object detection signal from the detector circuit 30 during the UP mode, it generates an emergency downward movement signal via an AND gate 54 (56) . The emergency downward movement signal is supplied to the motor control circuit 70 via an OR gate 58 which also receives the DOWN mode signal, thereby energizing the downward movement relay 72.

As a result, a rotating direction of the motor 80 is switched to move the window 10 downward, thereby releasing the object from the window 10.

In addition to the direction switching means such as the downward and upward movement relays 72 and 74 (which can be constituted by a single relay for switching the rotating direction of the motor 80), the motor control circuit 70 comprises an overload detector means 76, coupled to the motor 80, for detecting a constraint or overload condition (caused by a squeezed object) of the motor 80, and a power-down circuit means 78, coupled to the overload detector means 76, for restricting (interrupting or reducing) a power supplied to the motor 80 in response to the overload state of the motor 80. With this arrangement, heat generation of the motor 80 caused by an overload can be prevented.

Each component of the system shown in Fig. 1 will be described in detail below.

[A] Pressure Sensitive Sensor Some conventional pressure responsive sensors are available as so-called pressure responsive switches.

pressure responsive sensor switch of this type has electrical characteristics as shown in a pressure- resistance characteristic graph of Fig. 3. That is, when a pressure P on the sensor switch is low, its resistance is very high (e.g., infinite). When a pressure higher than a threshold pressure P' or more is applied, the resistance varies to be a low value (e.g., 0).

An output from the ON/OFF type pressure responsive sensor of this type cannot quantitatively indicate the magnitude of a pressure applied to sensor. In addition, the threshold pressure P' varies in accordance with an environmental change or ageing.

Furthermore, the pressure responsive sensor is often bent and mounted on a support member such as a window frame (see Fig. 2).

Upon bending, a pressure is applied to 2 greater or lesser extent to the pressure responsive sensor. in this respect, the ON/OFF type pressure responsive senscr is not suitable for use in the motor-driven window openingiclosing system.

rig. 4 shows a pressure responsive sensor of this te generally indicated by reference number21 20P. This pressure responsive sensor 20P has a structure in which a pressure responsive element 23 having a variable resistance depending on a pressure on the sensor is interposed, via a gap 28, between elongated upper and lower electrodes 21 and 22 each having a substantially rectangular section. Because of a principle of this structure, sensitivity of the pressure responsive sensor 20P with respect to a pressure depends on a direction o a pressure on the sensor 20P.That is, the pressure responsive sensor 20P has maximum sensitivity to a pressure in z direction perpendicular to the two electrodes 21 and 22 and minimum sensitivity to a pressure in direction parallel to the electrodes 21 and 22.

This directional pressure responsive sensor 20P is not suitable for an~application of a motor-driven window opening/closing system because the pressure responsive sensor 20P is often mounted in an incorrect (minimum sensitivity) direction on a window frame.

Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of a pressure responsive sensor, suitable for use in the window opening/closing system of Fig. 1, and generally indicated by reference numeral 20A. This pressure responsive sensor 20A comprises an elongated inner electrode 26, a cylindrical outer electrode 25 arranged coaxially with the inner electrode 26, and a pressure responsive element 27 formed between the inner and outer electrodes 26 and 25 and having a variable resistance depending on a pressure on the sensor 20A. Since the pressure responsive sensor 20A has this coaxial structure, its sensitivity to a pressure is essentially constant in all directions of a pressure on the sensor.

When the pressure responsive sensor 20A is to be mounted on a support such as the window frame, therefore, a mounting direction of the sensor 20A need not be particularly cared. In addition, the pressure responsive sensor 20A uniformly responds to a pressure in an arbitrary direction caused by a squeezed object upon operation. The pressure responsive element 27 is preferably arranged to have a resistance substantially inversely related to a pressure on the sensor 20A, as shown in Fig. 6.

Note that as a material of the pressure responsive element 27, pressure responsive conductive rubber such as tCSS7-7R5C available from Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. may be used.

[B] Detector Circuit Fig. 7 shows a conventional detector circuit for detecting a squeezed object, generally indicated by reference numeral 30P. Referring to Fig. 7, a pressure responsive sensor 20 (e.g., the pressure responsive sensor 20A shown in Fig. 5) having a variable resistance indicated by R5 and z reference resistor 100 having a fixed reference resistance Rd are connected in series between a positive voltage Vc and the ground, thereby constituting a voltage dividing circuit. An output voltage VOUT of the detector circuit 30P is extracted from a contact between the pressure responsive sensor 20 and the reference resistance 100.

Therefore, the output voltage VOUT from the detector circuit 30 is given by:

In this arrangement, the output voltage VOUT from the detector circuit 30P is saturated with respect to a relatively high pressure on the sensor 20 In other words, sensitivity of the output signal V UT is reduced within the range of high pressures generated when an object is squeezed. Therefore, this detector circuit 30P cannot detect a squeezed object with high reliability.

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement of a preferred detector circuit generally denoted by reference numeral 3OA This detector circuit 30A supplies an output voltage VOUT substantially inversely related to 2 resistance R of a pressure responsive sensor 20 as a 5 function of a pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20. For this purpose, the detector circuit 30A includes an operational amplifier (A) 101.

A non-inverting input terminal 101a of the operational amplifier (A) 101 is connected to ground 106 via a resistor 105 having a resistance Rk A negative feedback resistor 102 having a resistance RS is connected between an output terminal 101c and an inverting input terminal lOib. One end of the pressure responsive sensor 20 having a variable resistance R 5 ,depending on a pressure P on the sensor 20 is connected to the inverting input terminal lOib. The other end of the pressure responsive sensor 20 is connected to another reference voltage source 104 for generating a predetermined reference voltage ~0 between the reference voltage source 104 and the ground 106.

Note that reference numeral 107 denotes an output terminal of the pressure detector circuit 30A connected to the output terminal 101c of the operational amplifier (A) 101.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the output voltage VOUT from the detector circuit 30A is given by.

VOUT = - (Rf/Rs). ...(1) That is, the output voltage is inversely related to the resistance Rs of the pressure responsive sensor 20.

S Therefore, the detector circuit 30A can correctly detect the magnitude o z pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20.

The resistance R5 of the pressure responsive sensor 20 typically satisfies the following relation with respect to the pressure D on the pressure responsive sensor 20 -N RS = K.P-N. ... (2) 5 where K is the proportional constant and N > O.

By substituting equation (2) into equation (1), the following relation is obtained between the pressure and the output voltage V OUT: VOUT = -(Rf.E0/K)-PN ... (3) That is, assuming that a pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20 is P, the output voltage VOUT from the detector circuit 30A is proportional to oN Characteristics of the detection voltage (output voltage) VOUT from the detector circuit 30A shown in Fig. 8 will be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10.Note that in each of Figs. 9 and 10, the abscissa indicates the pressure P and the ordinate indicates the out?ut voltage VOUT Fig. 9 shows characteristics obtained when N is 1 in equation (3). As shown in Fig. 9, the output voltage VOUT is essentially linearly proportional to the pressure P, and a rate of change (sensitivity) of the output voltage VOUT with respect to a uni. pressure change is constant regardless of the magnitude of the pressure P. For this reason, reliability of detection of the pressure P and therefore reliability of detection of a squeezed foreign matter (object) are improved.

ig. 10 shows characteristics obtained when N is larger than 1 in equation (3). As shown in Fig. 10, as the pressure P is increased, the rate of change (sensitivity) of the output voltage VOUT is increased.

Therefore, a high pressure can be correctly detected.

Although the voltage Eo or the reference voltage source 104 has a negative value in Fig. 8, it may have a positive value. In this case, the ordinate in Fig. 9 or 10 indicates negative values. Tf the voltage So is set to be O(i.e., the other end of the pressure responsive sensor 20 is essentially grounded) another reference voltage source corresponding to the reference voltage'source 104 is provided between the resistor 105 and the ground 106 to supply a bias voltage to the non-inverting input terminal loll.

When the bias voltage is supplied as described above, the same voltage as the bias voltage is included in the output voltage VOUT in equation (3).

A comparator circuit (not shown) may be coupled to the output terminal 107 o the detector circuit 30A to compare the output voltage VOUT with the reference voltage wit respect to a squeezed object, thereby outputting a signal indicative of te presence/absence of z squeezed object.

Fig. 11 shows an arrangement of another preferred detector circuit generally denoted by reference numeral 303. This detector circuit 303 generates a signal indicative or a change in resistivity of the pressure responsive sensor 20 (i.e., a rate of change of a pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20), thereby detecting a squeezed object.

The detector circuit 30B has a pressure detector circuit 110 constituted by a resistor 100 connected in series with the pressure responsive sensor 20. This circuit 110 is the same as the circuit shown in Fig. 7. Instead of the circuit 110, the pressure detector circuit 30A shown in Fig. 8 can be used. The detector circuit 30B further has z capacitor 114 coupled to a node 112 (or 107) of the pressure detector circuit 110 (or 30A) . The capacitor 114 functions as a differentiation circuit for removing a DC component of the pressure signal Vs at the noe 112, thereby differentiating the pressure signal Vs.

5 An output terminal Q is connected to the capacitor 114. Therefore, z voltage VQ at the output terminal Q is represented by: = = dV5/dt The output voltage VQ therefore represents a rate of change o z pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20. The detector circuit 30B for a rate of change of a pressure can detect z squeezed object wit high reliability.

A digital differentiation circuit can be used in place of the capacitor 114. More specifically, an A/D converter (not shown) is coupled to the output terminal 112 (or 107) of the pressure detector circuit 110 (or 30A), and the A/D converter forms z digital sample of a pressure signal at a predetermined sampling ric. Thereafter, a subtractor calculates a difference between two arbitrary digital samples.

Referring to Figs. 12A and 123, the object 14 (e.g., a hand) is squeezed between the window glass 11 and the window frame 12 having the pressure prur tPe sensor 20. In Fig. 12A, an area of the object 14 in contact with the pressure responsive sensor 20 is smaller than that shown in Fig. 123. Assuming that a force applied to the object 14 is the same in Figs. 12A and 12B, a pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20 shown in Fig. 12A having a comparatively small contact area wit the object 14 is generally higher than that of the pressure responsive sensor 20 shown in Fig. 123.

Assuming that the pressure detector circuit 30P (110) or 303 (for detecting a squeezed object in accordance with the magnitude of a pressure) is connected to the pressure responsive sensor 20, the detector circuit does not detect a squeezed object until the window glass 11 is further moved upward to apply a higher (damaging) pressure, than that applied in the state shown in Fig. 12B in which the contact area isilarget on the object 14 in the state shown in Fig. 2A in which the contact area is small This problem can be solved by using the differentiation type detector circuit 303 as shown in Fig. 11 having a combination of the differentiation circuit 114 for evaluating the rate of change of 2 pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20 and the pressure detector circuit 110 or 30A.

Another advantage of the detector circuit 30B shown in Fig. ll ' is that the detector circuit 30B is essentially insusceptible to semistationary changes (e.g., external environmental changes such as aging, a humidity change and a temperature change) of the pressure responsive sensor 20.

The presence of a squeezed object is indicated when the voltage at the output terminal Q of the detector circuit 30B shown in Fig. 11 exceeds a predetermined voltage level. In order to assure this operation, a comparator (no. shown) may be provided such that z first input of the comparator is coupled to the output terminal Q and its second input is coupled to 2 predetermined reference voltage. In stead of the comparator, a semiconductor logic gate (see a gate 54 in Fig. 1) having a predetermined threshold voltage may be coupled to the output terminal Q. An output signal of logic "1" from the comparator or logic gate indicates the presence of a squeezed object.

Fig. 13 shows a saueezed object detector circuit including the differential capacitor 114 coupled to the pressure detector circuit 30A shown in Fig. 8 at the terminal 107. In this arrangement, since a voltage signal at the output terminal 107 of the pressure detector circuit 30A has improved sensitivity with respect to z comparatively high pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20, the åifzeren,iation output terminal Q generates a signal having a comparatively H (HICì) level in response to a squeezed object. In this manner, improved sensitivity can be obtained with respect to the squeezed object.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 13 further includes a monitor circuit 90, coupled to the pressure detector circuit 30A, for diagnosing a fault (characteristic degradation, disconnection short-circuiting and the like) of the pressure responsive sensor 20. An indicator 92 is coupled to the monitor circuit 90 to indicate a. current condition of the pressure responsive sensor 20.

Fig. 14 shows an arrangement including a practical arrangement (denoted by reverence numeral 90A) of the monitor circuit 90. The monitor circuit 90A is coupled to the output terminal 112 o the pressure detector circuit 110 of a pressure dividing type As shown in Fig. 13, the pressure detector circuit 30A including the operational amplifier (A) 101 may be coupled to the monitor circuit 90A instead of the pressure detector circuit 110. A voltage V at the 5 terminal 112 (or 107) is a function of a resistance of the pressure responsive sensor 20 which is a function or a pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20.

When the pressure responsive sensor 20 normally operates and no squeezed object is present, the resistance of the pressure responsive sensor 20 falls within a certain normal range, and the voltage at the terminal 112 (or 107) is therefore assumed to fall within a certain normal range.

she monitor circuit 90A is arranged to check whether the voltage at the output terminal 112 (or 107) of the pressure detector circuit as 2 measure of the resistance of the pressure responsive sensor 20 falls within a predetermined normal range indicating a normal state of the pressure responsive sensor 20. An indicator circuit 92A including green and red light-emitting diodes 134 and 136 is coupled to the monitor. circuit 90A. When the voltage at the terminal 112 (or 107) falls within the normal range, the green light-emitting diode 134 is turned on.When the voltage zt the termina or (or 107) falls outside the normal range, the red light-emitting diode 136 is turned on to indicate a fault of the pressure responsive sensor 20.

More specifically, a comparator circuit i25 is coupled to 2 pressure signal V5 of the output terminal 112 (or 107) of the pressure detector circuit.

The comparator circuit 125 is constituted by first and second voltage comparators (C1) 126 and (C2) 127. The detection voltage (pressure signal) Vs is supplied to the non-inverting input terminal of the first voltage comparator (C1) 126 and the inverting input terminal of the second voltage comparator (C2) 127. The invetting input terminal of the first comparator (C1) 126 and the non-inverting input terminal of the second comparator (C2) 127 receive comparative voltages el and e2- (el < e2) obtained by dividing the power source voltage VC by resistors R1 to R3, respectively.

When the detection voltage V5 satisfies a relation of el < VS < e2, both of signals S6 and 57 output from the first and second voltage comparators (C1) 126 and (C2) 127 to a NAND gate 130 go to H level When.. the. value of the detection voltage V5 is between the comparative voltages e.1 and e2 (i.e., a normal value), an output signal 510 from the NAND gate 130 is at t (LOW) level.

The output signal S1O from the NAND gate 130 is supplied to the indicator circuit 92A The indicator circuit 92A is provided to monitor the state of the pressure responsive sensor 20 and constituted by a normal state indicator circuit 132 and an abnormal state indicator circuit 133.

The normal state indicator circuit 132 is constituted by an npn transistor Q1 and a green light-emitting diode 134 connected to the collector of the transistor Q1 via a resistor R6.

The output signal S10 from the NAND gate 130 is supplied to the base of the transistor Q1 via an inverting amplifier (inverter) 135 and a resistor R4 The abnormal state indicator circuit 133 is constituted by an npn transistor Q2 and a red light-emitting diode 136 connected to the collector of the transistor Q2 via a resistor R7. The output signal 510 from the NAND gate 130 is supplied to the base of the transistor Q2 via a resistor R5.

When the output signal S10 from the NAND gate 130 is at L level indicative of a normal state 9= the pressure responsive sensor 20, the transistor Q1 is turned on and the transistor Q2 is turned off. As a result, the green light-emitting diode 134 is turned on to radiate green light 134a. When the output signal from the NAND gate 130 is at H level indicative o a fault of the pressure responsive sensor 20, the transistor Q2 is turned on and the transistor Q1 is turned off. As a result, the red light-emitting diode 136 is turned on to radiate red light 136a.

From light emission of the green light-emitting diode 134, therefore, z driver can recognize that the pressure responsive sensor 20 is in a normal state. From light emission of the red light-emitting diode 136, a driver can recognize that the pressure responsive sensor 20 is in an abnormal state.

When the output signal 56 from the first voltage comparator (C1) 126 is at L level, i.e., when the detection voltage V5 is lower than the comparative voltage e1 indicative of the lower limit, disconnection or a defective connection of the pressure responsive sensor 20 or degradation in the pressure responsive element 27 can be assumed.

When the output signal S7 from the second voltage comparator (C2) 127 is at L level (Vs > upper limit fez), short-circuiting of the pressure responsive sensor 20, an excessive pressure on the pressure responsive sensor 20, or degradation in the pressure responsive element 27 can be assumed.

If necessary, indicators (not shown) for indicating the output signal S6 from the lower-limit voltage comparator (C1) 126 and the output signal S7 from the upper-limit voltage comparator (C2) 127, respectively, may be provided.

[C] Motor Control Circuit Fig. 15 shows the motor control circuit of the invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 70A to be applied to the automatic window opening/closing system shown in Fig. 1. A pair of relay contacts 72a and 74a are provided on a power supply line 81 of the DC motor 80. The relay contact 72a is a contact of the downward movement relay 72 (Fig. 1) and moved from a position indicated by a solid line to a position indicated by a broken line when a downward movement relay coil is energized. In this case, the motor 80 is set so as to rotate in a first direction (to open a window).

The relay contact 74a is a contact of the upward movement relay 74 (Fig. 1) and moved from a position indicated by a broken 1ine to a position indicated by a 0lj:d liAe when an upward movement relay coil is energized. In this case, the motor 80 is set so as to rotate in an opposite direction (to close the window) . The power supply lines 81 of the motor 80 includes a power source E, an inductor 142 having an inductance L, the motor 80 and a power FZT (power transistor) Q10 to be ON/OFF-controlled, all of which are connected in series with each other.

When the DC motor 80 is stopped, a high-level voltage is supplied to one and the other input terminals 150a and 150b of a NAND gate 150 constituting 2 motor drive signal generating circuit -141. A voltage at he output terminal of the NAND gate 150 is at L level. The output voltage from the NAND gate 150 is supplied as an ON/OFF control signal SD to a gate electrode G of the power transistor Q10.

The power transistor Q1o is a field effect transistor provided between a terminal T2 of the DC motor 80 and the ground to drive the DC motor 80. The power transistor Qio is turned off when the ON/OFF control signal SD is at L level and is turned on when the signal SD is at H level. When an activation signal of of L level is supplied to the other terminal 150b of the NAND gate 150, the ON/OFF control signal SD output from the NAND gate 150 goes to H level.

As a result, the power transistor Q,0 is turned on since the potential of the gate electrode G goes to H level, and a drive voltage is supplied from the power source E to the DC motor 80, thereby rotating the DC motor 80. E2ch time the motor 80 is rotated through a predetermined angler polarity switching (connection switching between an armature winding and the power supply line 81) occurs, and 2 pulse D having a repetition rate essentially proportional to a rotational speed of the motor 80 -appears at a motor terminal Ti.

As shown in Fig. 16, the motor pulse P is abruptly and instantaneously generated in positive and negative irections. In this embodiment, the inductance L having z high impendance with respect to a high frequency is inserted between the motor terminal T1 and the power source E to, facilitate detection of the motor pulse P.

The motor pulse D is e.vJtracted from the contact 142 between the motor terminal T1 and the inductor L and supplied to a pulse detector circuit 143 including a capacitor C10. The pulse detector circuit 143 further includes a transistor Q20, biasing resistors R10 and R20 connected to the base o the transistor 2O' Z resistor R30 connected to the collector of the transistor Q20 and an AND gate 151.

The pulse P extracted from the contact 142 is supplied to a connection between the resistors R10 and R20 via.

the capacitor C10 and to the base of the transistor Q20 via the resistor R20 The transistor Q2O is a PNP transistor. The transistor Q20 is therefore instantaneously turned on in response to a negative component of the motor pulse P, and a positive pulse voltage having a generation interval of the motor pulse P (therefore, a generation interval corresponding to the rotational speed of the motor 80) appears at the collector of the transistor Q20.

This collector voltage S2 is supplied to one input terminal of the AND gate 151. The ON/OFF control.

sign21 SD from the NAND gate 150 is coupled to the other input terminal lSlb of the AND gate 151. When the ON/OFr control signal SD is at H level, a positive motor pulse detection signal 53 corresponding to motor pulses P1-; P2, P3, .. -, P as shown in Fig. 16 is n supplied 4rom the output terminal of the AND gate 151 to a drive period varying circuit (charging/discharging circuit) 144.

The drive period varying circuit 144 comprises a transistor Q30 and z time constant circuit 145 including a capacitor C20 connected to the collector of the transistor Q30, a variable resistor VR and a resistor R50 The motor pulse detection signal 53 from the AND gate 151 is supplied to the base of the transistor Q30 via a resistor R40 The transistor Q30 40 is therefore instantaneously turned on each time the motor pulse detection signal S3 is supplied.

As a result, a reference voltage at L level is established at an output terminal 145a of the time constant circuit 145 to charge the capacitor C20 Thereafter, the charged capacitor C20 is discharged via the resistor Rso and the variable resistor VR after the resetting transistor Q30 is turned toff by removing the motor pulse detection signal S3. As a result, he potential at the output terminal 145a of the time constant circuit 145 gradually rises in accordance with a discharging time constant determined by the capacitor C20, the resistor 50 and the variable resistor VR.

The voltage output from the output terminal 145a is supplied to one terminal lSOa of the NAND gate 150 as a drive control signal S4 Ass shown in Fig. 16, the drive control signal 54 repeats a pattern in which it falls (is reset) to 0 volt (ground level) upon generation of the motor pulse r and rises from 0 volt to a voltage E0 or the power source E until the next motor pulse P is generated.

The generation interval of the motor pulse P '5 proportional to the rotational speed of the motor 80. Therefore, when the DC motor 80 rotates at a predetermined speed or higher, the net motor pulse P is generated to reset the drive control signal 54 to be the ground level before the drive control signal S4 exceeds a threshold voltage 156 of the NAND gate 150.

Therefore, in a normal drive state in which the motor 80 rotates at a predetermined speed or higher, the ON/OFF control signal SD from the NAND gate 150 is et at H level to maintain conduction of the power transistor Q10 and continue energization of the motor 80.

If, however, the rotational speed of the DC motor- & is decreased by an overload (restraint) state of the motor caused by a squeezed object, the generation interval of the motor pulse P is prolonged as indicated by an interval " between P n and p Dn l in Fig. 16. As a result, the drive control voltage 54 exceeds the threshold value voltage 156 before the next motor pulse rnfl is generated. Therefore, since the output signal SD from the NAND gate 150 goes to t level; the power transistor Q10 is turned of to stop power supply to the DC motor SO.

In addition, since the AND gate 151 is disabled by the low-level signal 5D from the NAND gate 150, the motor pulse detection signal S3 is no longer supplied to the charging/discharging circuit 144, and the OFF state of the power transistor Q10 is maintained Therefore, since no electric energy is supplied to the motor 80, the motor 80 is stopped. In this manner, by stopping power supply to the DC motor 80 when the DC motor 80 is restrained, heat generation of the motor 80 is prevented.

Since a DC motor control circuit 70A shown in Fig. 15 detects the constraint state of the motor 80 on the basis of the generation interval of the pulse P indicative of the rotational speed of the motor 80, its operation is not adversely affected by a variation in power supply voltage.

In addition, since the DC motor control circuit 70A has no resistor for motor current detection, heat generation or an electric energy loss of the circuit can be minimized.

By varying the time constant of the charging/discharging circuit 144 by the variable resistor VR, a maximum interval of the pulse P in which the ON state of the power transistor Qio can continue (therefore, a critical rotational speed of the motor 80 for stopping the motor 80) can be arbitrarily set.

Fig. 17 shows, for comparison purposes, the motor control circuit of our copending U.K. application No. 9306238.8, generally denoted by reference numeral 70B. A pair of relay contacts 72-1 and 72-2 for setting a rotation direction of the DC motor 80 are provided on a power supply line 82 for the motor 80. A single relay coil (not shown) controls positions of the contacts 72-1 and 72-2.

In a downward movement mode (window opening mode) , both the contacts 72-1 and 72-2 are positioned as indicated by broken lines to set the DC motor 80 to rotate in a first direction (to open the window). In an upward movement mode (window closing mode), both the contacts 72-1 and 72-2 are moved to positions indicated by solid lines to set the DC motor 80 to rotate in a direction (to close the window) opposite to the first direction.

The power supply line 82 for the motor 80 includes a power source (not shown) for connecting a terminal in and the ground, the relay contact 72-1 connected in series with the power source, the motor 80, the relay contact 72-2 and-a driving power transistor (FET) 162.A voltage dividing circuit comprising 2 resistor RR1, a variable resistor VR1 and a resistor RR2 is coupled between 2 positive voltage VC of the terminal 166 and the ground The voltage dividing circuit supplies an adjustable reference voltage V21 indicative the critical repetition rate of the motor 80 tor stopping the motor 80, for controlling a period of z sawtooth wave signal V from a sawtooth wave forming circuit (to be described later).

The reference voltage V2 is coupled to the non-inverting input terminal of a comparator (C3) 163, and at a voltage VM indicative te the motor rotational speed at a point 190 on the power supply line between the motor 80 and the power transistor 162 is coupled to the inverting input terminal of the comparator (C3) 163 via a resistor RR3. When VM > V2 (i.e., when the motor rotational speed is lower than a reference critical rotational speed), the comparator (C3) 163 supplies an output signal V0 of L level. When V < V2 (i,e,, when the motor rotational speed is higher than a reference critical rotational speed), the comparator (C3) 163 supplies an output signal V0 of H level.

The output signal V0 from the comparator (C3) is coupled to the first input of an AND gate 164, and an output signal P2 from a pulse forming circuit (to be described to the having z flip-flop arrangement is coupled to the second input of the AND gate 164.

An output signal from the AND gate 164 is coupled to the gate electrode G of the power transistor 162 to ON/OFF-control the power transistor 162. The power transistor 162 is biased to be off by the output signal of Ia level from the AND gate 164. The power transistor 162 is biased to'be on by the output signal of H level from the AND gate 164 to supply power to the motor 80.- In addition, the output signal froin the AND gate 164is coupled to a sawtooth wave forming circuit (charging/discharging circuit) 172.

The sawtooth wave worming circuit 172 comprises resistors RR4 and ;RR5, z variable resistor (speed setting unit) VR2, diodes D1 and D2 and a capacitor C1 That is, the resistor RR4 is connected between the gate electrode G of the power transistor 162 and a slidable contact of the variable resistor VR2. - One end of the variable resistor VR2 is connected to one end of the resistor RRs, the other end of the resistor PR is connected to the anode of the diode D1, and the cathode of the diode D1 is connected to the anode of the diode D2 and grounded via the capacitor C1 The other end of the variable resistor VR is connected to the cathode of the diode D2, and the anode of the diode D2 is connected to the capacitor C and the cathode of the diode D,. The AND gate 164, the resistor RR4, the variable resistor 2' the resistor RR5, the diode 1 and the capacitor C1 form a charging circuit.

The AND gate 164, the resistor RR4, the variable resistor VR2, the diode D2 and the capacitor C1 form a discharging circuit. A junction between the capacitor C1 and each of the diodes D1 and D2 is an output terminal of the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172.

A voltage VN at the output terminal of the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 is connected to the inverting input terminal of a voltage comparator (C4) 167 end the non-inverting input terminal of the voltage comparator (C5) 168. The non-inverting input terminal of the voltage comparator (C4) 167 is connected to a reference voltage V2 at a slideable contact 200 of a torque controlling variable resistor VR1. Wher the output voltage VN from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 is lower than a set voltage V2, the voltage comparator (C4) outputs a voltage V3 of H level.When the sawtooth-output voltage--V N from the circuit 172 exceeds the set voltage V2, the voltage comparator (C4) 167 outputs a voltage V3 of L level.

The output signal from the voltage comparator (C4) 167 is connected to a set input terminal SZT of the pulse forming circuit 171. Upon. application of the low-level voltage V3 indicative of VN > V2 from the comparator (C4) 167, the pulse worming circuit 171 is set to output z signal P2 of t level for interrupting power supply to the motor SO.

The inverting input terminal of the voltage comparator (C5) 168 receives a reverence voltage (V1) (V1 < V2) obtained by divining a DC power source voltage V C by resistances RR6 and RR7 of resistors 186 and 187, respectively. Therefore, the voltage comparator 168 compares the sawtooth wave signal VN from the sawtoothwave worming circuit 172 with the reference voltage V1. When the voltage VN is higher than the voltage V1, the voltage comparator (c5) 168 outputs a voltage V4 of H level. When the voltage VN is lower than the voltage V1, the voltage comparator (cog) 168 outputs he voltage V4 of L level.

The output terminal of the voltage comparator (C5) 168 is connected to a reset input terminal PrS of the pulse forming circuit 171. The pulse forming circuit 171 is reset by the voltage V4 of L level indicative of VN < V1 from the comparator (C4) 167, and its output signal P2 changes to H level.

In this embodiment, the pulse forming circuit 171 is constituted by an RS flip-flop composed of cross-coupled NAND gates 169 and 170. - The pulse forming circuit 171 operates to cause the charging/discharging circuit 172 to repeatedly generate a sawtcoth wave signal. When the charging/discharging circuit 172 is charged and its output voltage VN reaches the upper limit reference voltage V2, the pulse forming circuit 171 is set to output the signal P2 of L level, thereby discharging the charging/discharging circuit 172 via the AND gate 164.When the output voltage VN from the charging/discharging circuit 172 falls to the lower limit reference' voltage V1, the pulse forming circuit 171 is reset to output the signal P2 of H level, 2 thereby charging the chzrging/discharging circuit 172 (provided that the signal VO of H level indicative of normal rotation of the motor 80 is supplied from the comparator (C3) 163).

An operation of the DC motor control circuit 703 shown in Fig. 17 will be described below with reference to a timing chart. shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a timing chart showing voltage waveforms or main parts of the DC motor control circuit 70B shown in Fig. 17 Assuming that the DC motor 80 is stopped.

Since an induced electromotive force of the DC motor 80 is zero when the DC motor 80 is stopped, the voltage VM is equal to the DC power source voltage +Vc Since, therefore, the voltage VM is higher than the set voltage V2, the output voltage V0 from the voltage comparator 163 is at L level. For this reason, since the output signal from the AND gate 164 is zlso at > level, a drain-source path cf the power transistor 162 is in an OFF state.In addition, since the output signal from the AND gate 164 is at L level, the output voltage VN from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 is a voltage (0 V) of L level (before time tl in Fig. 18).

Since the output voltage N from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 is at L level, the output voltage V3 from the voltage comparator 167 is a voltage of H level. Similarly, the output voltage V4 from the voltage compara o~ (C5) 168 is a voltage of L level.

Therefore, the voltage V3 of H level is supplied to the set input terminal SET or the pulse forming circuit 171, and the voltage V4 of L level is supplied to its reset input terminal RES.

Since the voltage V4 supplied to the reset input terminal PS is at S level, the pulse forming circuit 171 outputs the output signal P2 of H level from its output terminal as indicated at time t in Fig. 18. This output signal P2 of H level is supplied to the input terminal of the AND gate 164.

Assuming that an output shaft (not shown) of the DC motor 80 is rotated by a starter (not shown) and an armature connected to the output shaft is rotated.

Upon rotation of the armature, an electromotive force EM is induced across the DC motor 80 Therefore, the motor terminal voltage VM is reduced from the DC power source voltage +VC When the notor terminal voltage VM becomes lower than the set voltace V2 as the motor rotational speed is increased, the voltage comparator (C3) 163 changes its output voltage V0 from Ia to :: level At this time, since the output signal P2 from 2 the pulse forming circuit 171 is z voltage of B level, a signal of z level is supplied to the gate electrode G of the power transistor 162 via. the AND gate 164, thereby turning on the power transistor 162 As a result, the DC power source voltage +VC is applied to the DC motor 80 to allow the output shaft of the DC motor 80 to continuously rotate.

By the voltage of H level from the AND gate 164, the capacitor C1 is charged via the resistor RR4, the variable resistor VR, the resistor PR5 and the diode D1 in the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 (in a period from time t1 to time t2 in Fig 189. Therefore, the output voltage VN from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 gradually rises. When the voltage VN reaches the value of the reverence voltage V1, the voltage comparator (C5) 168 changes its output voltage V4 from L to H level (at the time t2 in Fig. 18) and supplies it to the reset input terminal RES of the pulse forming circuit 171.

The state of the pulse forming circuit 171, however, is not changed by the above voltage but the output signal P2 of X level is maintained.

2 After time t2, the output voltage VN from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 is further increased.

When the voltage VN reaches the value of the set voltage V2, the voltage comparator (C4) 167 changes its output voltage V3 from H to L level (at time t3 in Fig.

18). When the voltage V3 goes to L level, a voltage of L level is input to the set input terminal S=T of the pulse forming circuit 171. Therefore, the pulse worming circuit 171 is set to change its output signal P2 to be a voltage -of t level.

2 As a result, the AND gate 164 is disabled, and its output signal goes to L level. Therefore, the power transistor 162 is turned of= to temporarily interrupt power supply to the DC motor- 80.

By the output signal of L level om the AND gate 164, the capacitor C1 immediately starts discharging via a path constituted by the diode D2, the variable resistor VR2 and the resistor RR4 Therefore, the output voltage V N from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 is immediately reduced to be lower than the set voltage V2 When the output voltage VN from the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 falls to be lower-limit set voltage V1; the output voltage V4' from the comparator (C5) 168 goes to L level. Therefore, the pulse forming circuit 171 is reset to return its output signal 7 to H level.

At this time, if the output voltage signal VO of H level is generated by the comparator (C3) 163, the power transistor 162 iS turned on again by the AND gate 164 to restart power supply to the motor 80.

Therefore, as long as the motor 80 normally rotates, the sawtooth wave forming circuit 172 generates the output voltage VN having a repetitive sawtooth waveform. In-a waveform rise period from time 2 to time t3 (charging period), the power transistor is kept on to supply power to the motor 80. In a waveform fall period from time t3 to time t4 (discharging period), the power transistor 162 is biased to be off t6 disconnect the motor 50 from the power source.

If, however, z squeezed object is present or the point of full closure of a window is reached to increase the load on the motor 80 to set the motor 80 in an overload state, the rotational speed of the motor is reduced or the motor 80 is stopped. When the motor 80 is disconnected from the power source, he ter:alnal voltage VM of the motor 80 has a magnitude indicative of a rotational speed of the motor 80. When the rotational speed of the motor 80 is reduced upon overloading, the voltage VM becomes higher than the set voltage V2, and z signal of L'level for disabling the AND gate 164 is supplied from the comparator (C3 163 to the AND gate 164.

The AND gate 164, therefore, no longer passes the signal P2 of H level from the pulse forming circuit 171, and the power transistor 162 is not turned on thereafter. As a result, the motor 80 is kept disconnected from the power source. In this manner, the motor control circuit 70B detects the overload state of the motor 80 and stops power supply to the motor 80 in response to the overload state, thereby preventing heat generation of the motor 80.

Referring to Fig. 17, te set voltage V2 define the critical rotational speed of the motor 80 associated with the overload state of the motor 80.

The set voltage V2 also has a function of adjusting z period of the output voltage (sawtooth wave signal) VN zrom the sawtooth wave zooming circuit 172 (therefore, an ON/OFF cycle time of the power transistor 162). The set voltage V2 can be arbitrarily adjusted by the variable resistor VR1. A charging/discharging time constant (i.e., a charging-to-discharging time ratio of the sawtooth waveform signal VN) and therefore a duty ratio of the motor 80 can be adjusted by the variable resistor VR2 in the saw tooth wave forming circuit 172.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be limited by only the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A circuit for controlling an electric motor, including: power source means for supplying a power to said motor; motor pulse detector means, coupled to said motor, for detecting pulses having a repetition rate substantially proportional to the rotational speed of said motor from said motor; and power-down means, coupled to said motor pulse detector means, for restricting the power to said motor in response to reduction in repetition rate of the pulses indicative of an overload state of said motor.

2. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said power-down means includes stopping means for selectively stopping a power supplied to said motor in dependence on the repetition rate of the pulses.

3. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein said stopping means includes a charging/discharging circuit, said charging/discharging circuit including means for charging said charging/discharging circuit in response to the pulse from said motor to establish a reference potential at an output terminal of said charging/discharging circuit, and means for discharging said charging/discharging circuit until the next pulse is supplied from said motor to increase the potential at said output terminal of said charging/discharging circuit, and said stopping means further includes means, coupled to said output terminal of said charging/discharging circuit, for deenergizing said motor when the potential at said output terminal exceeds a predetermined level.

4. A circuit according to claim 3, wherein said charging/ discharging circuit includes a circuit element for setting a variable time constant of said charging/discharging circuit.

5. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said motor pulse detector means includes: an inductor coupled in series with said motor; and a capacitor, coupled to a junction between said motor and said inductor, for passing the pulse from said motor.

6. A circuit for controlling an electric motor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 15 and 16.