阅读说明：本技术 多相电动机的控制电路 (Control circuit for multiphase motor ) 是由 N·莱斯 T·泰迪 C·马亨德拉贾赫 M·库达诺夫斯基 于 2018-11-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：多相电动机57的控制电路包含多个逆变器桥、多个输出端和至少一个隔离开关62、63。每个逆变器桥被布置成为所述电动机57的相提供输出电压。每个输出端被布置成耦合到所述电动机57的一个相,以向所述电动机57的所述相提供所述输出电压。每个隔离开关62、63耦合在所述逆变器桥中的一个和所述输出端中的一个之间,以便选择性地将所述输出端与所述逆变器桥隔离。每个隔离开关62、63包含氮化镓(GaN)晶体管。(The control circuit of the multiphase motor 57 comprises a plurality of inverter bridges, a plurality of outputs and at least one disconnector 62, 63. Each inverter bridge is arranged to provide an output voltage for a phase of the electric motor 57. Each output is arranged to be coupled to a phase of the motor 57 to provide the output voltage to the phase of the motor 57. Each isolation switch 62, 63 is coupled between one of the inverter bridges and one of the output terminals to selectively isolate the output terminals from the inverter bridges. Each isolation switch 62, 63 comprises a gallium nitride (GaN) transistor.)

1. A control circuit for a multi-phase electric motor, the control circuit comprising:

a plurality of inverter bridges, each inverter bridge arranged to provide an output voltage for a phase of the electric motor;

a plurality of outputs, each output arranged to be coupled to a phase of the electric motor to provide the output voltage to the phase of the electric motor; and

at least one isolation switch, each isolation switch coupled between one of the inverter bridges and one of the output terminals to selectively isolate the output terminals from the inverter bridge;

wherein each of the isolation switches comprises a gallium nitride (GaN) transistor.

2. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein each GaN transistor provides selective isolation of each isolation switch.

3. A control circuit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each inverter bridge not coupled to an isolation switch is coupled to an output.

4. A control circuit according to any preceding claim provided with a controller arranged to close each disconnector in a normal operating mode so that each disconnector does not isolate its output from its inverter bridge and allows the output voltage from its inverter bridge to be applied to its output.

5. The control circuit of claim 4, wherein the controller is arranged to apply a positive voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal of each GaN transistor in the normal mode of operation.

6. A control circuit according to any preceding claim wherein the controller is arranged in an isolated mode of operation such that at least one of the isolated switches isolates the output to which it is coupled from the inverter bridge to which it is coupled.

7. A control circuit according to claim 6 when dependent on claim 5 wherein the controller is arranged to apply, in an isolated mode, a voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal of each of the isolated switches to be isolated:

applying a zero voltage if the voltage across the GaN transistor is positive; and

if the voltage across the GaN transistor is negative, a negative voltage is applied.

8. The control circuit of claim 7, wherein the controller is arranged such that the negative voltage applied between the gate terminal and the source terminal of each GaN transistor may depend on the voltage across the GaN transistor.

9. A motor arrangement comprising a motor having a plurality of phases and a control circuit according to any preceding claim, wherein each phase is coupled to one of the outputs of the control circuit.

10. An electric power steering device comprising a steering mechanism of a vehicle and the motor device of claim 9, wherein the motor is coupled to the steering device so as to drive the steering mechanism to change the steering of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle having an electric power steering apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electric power steering apparatus is arranged to change the steering of the vehicle so as to change the direction in which the vehicle moves.

12. A method of controlling a control circuit of a multi-phase electric motor, the control circuit comprising:

a plurality of inverter bridges, each inverter bridge arranged to provide an output voltage for a phase of the electric motor;

a plurality of outputs, each output arranged to be coupled to a phase of the electric motor to provide the output voltage to the phase of the electric motor; and

at least one isolation switch, each isolation switch coupled between one of the inverter bridges and one of the output terminals to selectively isolate the output terminals from the inverter bridge;

wherein each of the isolation switches comprises a gallium nitride (GaN) transistor;

the method comprises the following steps: in a normal operating mode, closing each isolation switch by making each GaN transistor conductive; and in an isolated mode of operation, isolating at least one output from the inverter bridge to which it is coupled by turning off at least one isolation switch by causing each GaN transistor to cease conducting.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising applying a positive voltage between a gate terminal and a source terminal of each GaN transistor in the normal mode of operation.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising, in an isolation mode, applying a voltage between the gate terminal and the source terminal of each of the isolation switches to be isolated:

applying a zero voltage if the voltage across the GaN transistor is positive; and

if the voltage across the GaN transistor is negative, a negative voltage is applied.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the negative voltage applied between the gate terminal and the source terminal of each GaN transistor is dependent on the voltage across the GaN transistor.