JP2007116827A - Motor drive circuit and disc drive employing it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove counter-electromotive noise suitably in a motor drive circuit performing pulse drive. <P>SOLUTION: A current/voltage converting section 20 converts a drive current flowing through each phase of a motor 50 into a voltage. A pulse modulation comparator 22 compares a detection voltage Vdet with a control voltage Vctrl. A pulse signal generation circuit 30 generates a pulse signal Vpulse having a low level indicative of the nonconduction state of each phase coil during an off-time Toff after the detection voltage Vdet has reached the control voltage Vctrl and having a high level indicative of the conduction state of each phase coil during the other period with reference to a comparison signal Vcmp outputted from the pulse modulation comparator 22. A mask signal generation circuit 40 generates a mask signal Smsk having a predetermined level during a period after the pulse signal Vpulse transited to low level before a first mask time Tmsk1 elapses and a period after the pulse signal Vpulse transited to high level before a second mask time Tmsk2 elapses. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a motor drive circuit that controls the rotation of a motor including a stator having a plurality of coils and a magnetic rotor, and more particularly to a motor drive circuit that is pulse-driven.

  In an electronic device using a disk-type medium such as a portable CD (Compact Disc) device or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a brushless DC motor is used to rotate the disk. Brushless direct current (DC) motors generally include a rotor with a permanent magnet and a stator with a plurality of star-connected coils of a phase, and the coil is excited by controlling the current supplied to the coil. The rotor is driven by rotating relative to the stator. In order to detect the rotational position of the rotor, the brushless DC motor generally includes a sensor such as a Hall element or an optical encoder, and switches the current supplied to the coil of each phase according to the position detected by the sensor. And apply an appropriate torque to the rotor.

  In order to further reduce the size of the motor, a sensorless motor that detects the rotational position of the rotor without using a sensor such as a Hall element has also been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). The sensorless motor obtains position information by detecting the induced voltage generated in the coil, for example, by measuring the potential of the midpoint wiring of the motor.

In Patent Document 2, as described as a problem to be solved by the invention, in such a sensorless motor, spike-like noise is generated in the counter electromotive voltage generated in each coil due to counter electromotive noise or the like, and rotation of the motor is performed. There is a problem that becomes unstable.
JP-A-3-207250 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243865

  In order to reduce the influence of the back electromotive noise, the applicant of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 masks signal level transitions caused by the back electromotive noise during a predetermined period in which the back electromotive noise is generated. Proposed a technique to reduce the impact on motor drive.

  Here, as a motor driving method, there are a linear driving method as described in the above-mentioned patent document and a pulse driving method for controlling energization of the motor coil so as to be pulsed. The present invention applies the above-described technology for removing back electromotive noise to a pulse drive type motor drive circuit, and an object thereof is to suitably remove back electromotive noise in a motor drive circuit that performs pulse drive. The provision of technology.

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to a motor drive circuit that drives a multiphase motor by supplying a drive current. This motor drive circuit compares a drive voltage flowing in the coils of each phase of a multiphase motor into a voltage, a current-voltage converter, and compares a detection voltage output from the current-voltage converter with a control voltage indicating torque. With reference to the pulse modulation comparator and the comparison signal output from the pulse modulation comparator, the first level indicating the non-energized state of the coil of each phase for a predetermined off time after the detection voltage reaches the control voltage, During other periods, a pulse signal generation circuit that generates a pulse signal that is a second level that indicates the energization state of the coils of each phase, and a predetermined first mask time after the pulse signal transitions to the first level A mask signal generation circuit that generates a mask signal that is at a predetermined level for a period until the time elapses, and a period until a predetermined second mask time elapses after the transition to the second level; The counter electromotive voltage generated in the coil of each phase of the phase motor is compared with the midpoint voltage of each phase coil, and output from the counter electromotive detection comparator that generates the first rectangular wave signal of each phase and the mask signal generation circuit The mask signal is referred to, a masking process for invalidating the level fluctuation of the first rectangular wave signal of each phase output from the back electromotive force detection comparator is performed for a period in which the mask signal is at a predetermined level, and the second rectangle of each phase A mask circuit that outputs a wave signal, and an output circuit that intermittently supplies a drive current to the coils of each phase of the multiphase motor based on the second rectangular wave signal and the pulse signal of each phase.

  According to this aspect, the energization of the coils of each phase of the multiphase motor is controlled based on the pulse signal whose off time is constant and the on time changes according to the torque. In this case, by setting the period from the positive edge and the negative edge of the pulse signal until the predetermined mask time elapses as a mask period, back electromotive noise generated at each cycle of the pulse signal is generated in each phase coil. The phase switching timing can be suitably set.

  The first mask time may be set shorter than the off time. In this case, it is possible to reliably provide a detection period for detecting a zero cross of the back electromotive voltage after the first mask time has elapsed. The first mask time may be set to be equal to or shorter than the second mask time.

The pulse signal generation circuit includes a counter circuit that starts counting off time triggered by the level transition of the comparison signal. The pulse signal generation circuit becomes the first level during the period from the level transition of the comparison signal to the completion of the count, and then the second level. A pulse signal transitioning to may be output.
The mask signal generation circuit may include a counter circuit that counts the first and second mask times triggered by the transition of the pulse signal.

  By configuring the pulse signal generation circuit and the mask signal generation circuit using a counter circuit, the off time and the mask time can be suitably set based on the system clock signal, and the time can be adjusted. It becomes easy.

  The pulse signal generation circuit and the mask signal generation circuit start counting with the level transition of the comparison signal as a trigger, the pulse signal whose level transitions after the off time has elapsed, and the second whose level transitions after the second mask time has elapsed. The first counter circuit that outputs the mask signal and the count start when triggered by the level transition of the pulse signal output from the first counter circuit, and outputs the first mask signal whose level transitions after the elapse of the first mask time. And a second counter circuit, and a logical operation result of the first mask signal and the second mask signal may be output as a mask signal.

  The motor drive circuit may be integrated on a single semiconductor substrate. “Integrated integration” includes the case where all of the circuit components are formed on a semiconductor substrate and the case where the main components of the circuit are integrated. A resistor, a capacitor, or the like may be provided outside the semiconductor substrate. In this case, the circuit area can be reduced.

  Another embodiment of the present invention is a disk device. The disk device includes a spindle motor that is a multiphase motor that rotates the disk, and the above-described motor drive circuit that drives the spindle motor. According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress the influence of back electromotive noise and stabilize the rotational speed of the disk.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the back electromotive noise can be suitably removed in the motor drive circuit which performs a pulse drive.

  FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a motor drive circuit 100 according to the embodiment. The motor drive circuit 100 supplies a drive current to a sensorless brushless DC motor (hereinafter simply referred to as “motor 50”) by a pulse drive method to control rotation. In the present embodiment, motor 50 is a three-phase DC motor including U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils 50a to 50c.

  The motor drive circuit 100 includes a back electromotive force detection comparator 10, a mask circuit 12, an output circuit 14, a current / voltage converter 20, a pulse modulation comparator 22, a pulse signal generation circuit 30, and a mask signal generation circuit 40. The motor drive circuit 100 is a functional IC integrated on a single semiconductor substrate.

  The back electromotive force detection comparator 10 compares the back electromotive voltages Vu to Vw generated in the coils 50a to 50c of each phase of the motor 50 with the midpoint voltage Vn of the multiphase coils, respectively, and the first rectangular wave signal Pu of each phase. ~ Pw is generated. The first rectangular wave signal Pu is at a high level when Vu> Vn, and is at a low level when Vu <Vn. Similarly, the first rectangular wave signal Pv is high when Vv> Vn, and low when Vv <Vn. The first rectangular wave signal Pw is high when Vw> Vn, and low when Vw <Vn. Become a level.

  The mask circuit 12 performs a masking process for removing noise components of the first rectangular wave signals Pv to Pw of each phase output from the back electromotive force detection comparator 10 using a mask signal Smsk described later, and performs a second process for each phase. Output as rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw.

  Based on the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw of each phase and a pulse signal Vpulse output from a pulse signal generation circuit 30 to be described later, the output circuit 14 applies the coils 50a to 50c of each phase constituting the stator of the motor 50. Control the current supplied.

  The output circuit 14 includes a drive signal synthesis circuit 16 and a power transistor circuit 18. The power transistor circuit 18 includes six switching transistors Tr1 to Tr6. The power transistor circuit 18 controls which coil 50a to 50c is supplied with current depending on the on / off combination of the transistors Tr1 to Tr6, and the on / off time ratio. By controlling, pulse driving for adjusting torque is performed. In the embodiment, the transistors Tr1 to Tr6 are all MOSFETs. The transistors Tr1, Tr3, Tr5 have one end connected in common to a power supply line to which the power supply voltage Vdd is applied, and the other end connected to the coils 50a, 50b, 50c of each phase of the motor 50. One ends of the transistors Tr2, Tr4, Tr6 are connected to the transistors Tr1, Tr3, Tr5 and the coils 50a, 50b, 50c of each phase. On / off of the transistors Tr1 to Tr6 is controlled by the drive signal synthesis circuit 16.

  The drive signal synthesis circuit 16 synthesizes the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw output from the mask circuit 12 and a pulse signal Vpulse output from the pulse signal generation circuit 30 described later by a logical operation, so that the transistors Tr1 to Tr6 are combined. The drive signals Duu to Dul to be applied to the gates of are generated. That is, based on the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw, which group of transistors is turned on and which coil is energized is determined. In the embodiment, 180-degree energization may be performed or 120-degree energization may be performed. In addition, only the high-side transistors Tr1, Tr3, Tr5, only the low-side transistors Tr2, Tr4, Tr6, or both are used to adjust the on / off time ratio and perform torque control based on the pulse signal Vpulse. A switching operation may be performed.

  A current-voltage conversion unit 20 is provided between the power transistor circuit 18 and the ground. The current-voltage converter 20 includes a conversion resistor R1. A voltage drop proportional to the drive current flowing through the coils 50a, 50b, 50c of each phase of the motor 50 is generated in the conversion resistor R1. The current-voltage converter 20 outputs the voltage drop generated at the conversion resistor R1 as the detection voltage Vdet.

  The detection voltage Vdet output from the current-voltage conversion unit 20 is input to the non-inverting input terminal of the pulse modulation comparator 22. A control voltage Vctrl for instructing an externally input torque is input to the inverting input terminal of the pulse modulation comparator 22. The pulse modulation comparator 22 compares the detection voltage Vdet output from the current-voltage converter 20 with the control voltage Vctrl. The comparison signal Vcmp output from the pulse modulation comparator 22 is at a high level when Vdet> Vctrl, and is at a low level when Vdet <Vctrl. The comparison signal Vcmp output from the pulse modulation comparator 22 is input to the pulse signal generation circuit 30.

  The pulse signal generation circuit 30 refers to the comparison signal Vcmp output from the pulse modulation comparator 22, and after the comparison signal Vcmp transitions to a high level, a low level (first level) until a predetermined off time Toff elapses. 1), and a pulse signal Vpulse that is high (second level) for other periods is output. In other words, the pulse signal Vpulse is at a low level for a predetermined off time Toff after the detection voltage Vdet reaches the control voltage Vctrl, and is at a high level for other periods. For example, the off time Toff is set to several μs, more specifically, as an example, 5.7 μs.

  The pulse signal generation circuit 30 can be configured using, for example, a counter circuit that starts counting the off time Toff in response to the level transition of the comparison signal Vcmp. In this case, the counter circuit outputs a pulse signal Vpulse that is at a low level during the period from the level transition of the comparison signal Vcmp to the completion of counting and then transitions to a high level.

  Here, the low level (first level) of the pulse signal Vpulse is associated with the deenergized state of the coils 50a to 50c of each phase, and the high level (second level) is energized of the coils 50a to 50c of each phase. Associated with a state. That is, when the pulse signal Vpulse alternately repeats a high level and a low level, a current intermittently flows through the coils 50a to 50c of the motor 50, and is pulse-driven.

  The pulse signal Vpulse generated by the motor drive circuit 100 according to the present embodiment has a constant off time Toff and changes according to a control voltage Vctrl that instructs torque. That is, the motor 50 is pulse-driven by a pulse frequency modulation (PFM) system in which the off-time is constant and the frequency changes according to the torque.

  The mask signal generation circuit 40 refers to the pulse signal Vpulse output from the pulse signal generation circuit 30 and generates a mask signal Smsk. The mask signal generation circuit 40 sets the mask signal Smsk to a high level for a period from when the pulse signal Vpulse transitions to a low level (first level) until a predetermined first mask time Tmsk1 elapses. Further, the mask signal generation circuit 40 sets the mask signal Smsk to a high level for a period from when the pulse signal Vpulse transitions to a high level (second level) until a predetermined second mask time Tmsk2 elapses. .

  In the present embodiment, the first mask time Tmsk1 is preferably set shorter than the off time Toff. The first mask time Tmsk1 is preferably set to be equal to or shorter than the second mask time Tmsk2. In this embodiment, it is assumed that Tmsk1 = Tmsk2 = 4.7 μs.

  The mask signal generation circuit 40 can be configured to include, for example, a counter circuit that counts the first mask time Tmsk1 and the second mask time Tmsk2 triggered by the transition of the pulse signal Vpulse. In this case, the counter circuit counts 4.7 μs every time the pulse signal Vpulse transitions, that is, triggered by the positive edge and the negative edge, and sets the mask signal Smsk to the high level during the counting period.

  The pulse signal generation circuit 30 and the mask signal generation circuit 40 may be configured as follows. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the pulse signal generation circuit 30 and the mask signal generation circuit 40.

  The pulse signal generation circuit 30 and the mask signal generation circuit 40 in FIG. 2 are configured integrally including a first counter circuit 32, a second counter circuit 34, and an OR gate 36. The first counter circuit 32 starts counting with the level transition of the comparison signal Vcmp as a trigger. The first counter circuit 32 outputs a pulse signal Vpulse having a low level for a period from when the counting is started until the off time Toff elapses. Further, the first counter circuit 32 outputs the second mask signal Smsk2 that is at a high level during the period from the start of counting until the second mask time Tmsk2 elapses.

  When the pulse signal Vpulse output from the first counter circuit 32 transits from a high level to a low level, the second counter circuit 34 starts counting with this as a trigger. The second counter circuit 34 outputs the first mask signal Smsk1 that is at a high level during the period from the start of counting until the first mask time Tmsk1 elapses. The OR gate 36 outputs the logical sum of the first mask signal Smsk1 and the second mask signal Smsk2 as the mask signal Smsk. The mask signal Smsk is output to the mask circuit 12.

  The mask circuit 12 performs a masking process for removing noise components of the first rectangular wave signals Pv to Pw of each phase output from the back electromotive force detection comparator 10 using the mask signal Smsk, and the second rectangular wave of each phase. Output as signals Mu to Mw. More specifically, the mask circuit 12 performs a masking process for invalidating the level fluctuations of the first rectangular wave signals Pv to Pw of each phase output from the back electromotive force detection comparator 10 while the mask signal Sskk is at a high level. And output as second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw of each phase.

  That is, even when the signal level of the first rectangular wave signals Pu to Pw varies during the period when the mask signal MSK is at the high level, the variation is not reflected in the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw. On the other hand, during the period when the mask signal MSK is at a low level, the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw are equal to the first rectangular wave signals Pu to Pw, respectively.

  As described above, the output circuit 14 intermittently supplies the drive current to the coils of each phase of the multiphase motor based on the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw and the pulse signal Vpulse of each phase. The drive signal synthesis circuit 16 synthesizes the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw output from the mask circuit 12 and the pulse signal Vpulse output from the pulse signal generation circuit 30 by a logical operation, and gates the transistors Tr1 to Tr6. The drive signals Duu to Dul to be applied to are generated.

  The operation of the motor drive circuit 100 configured as described above will be described. FIGS. 3A to 3F are time charts showing the operation state of the motor drive circuit 100 of FIG. A state in which the signal Smsk is generated is shown.

  3A shows the detection voltage Vdet, FIG. 3B shows the comparison signal Vcmp, FIG. 3C shows the pulse signal Vpulse, and FIG. 3D shows the first mask signal smsk1. FIG. 4E shows the second mask signal Smsk2, and FIG. 5F shows the mask signal Smsk. In the following description, a case where a current flows through the coils 50a and 50b will be described.

  At time t0, the pulse signal Vpulse becomes high level (second level). When the pulse signal Vpulse becomes high level, the transistors Tr1 and Tr4 of the drive signal synthesis circuit 16 are turned on. Which transistor combination is turned on varies depending on the position of the rotor, and is determined based on the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw.

  When the transistors Tr1 and Tr4 are turned on, a drive current flows from the power supply line to the path of the transistor Tr1, the coils 50a and 50b, and the transistor Tr4, and the drive current starts to increase with time. The drive current flows to the ground via the conversion resistor R1 of the current-voltage conversion unit 20. Since the detection voltage Vdet is proportional to the drive current, it starts to increase with time after time t0.

  When the detection voltage Vdet reaches the control voltage Vctrl at time t1, the comparison signal Vcmp output from the pulse modulation comparator 22 becomes high level. When the comparison signal Vcmp becomes high level, the pulse signal generation circuit 30 sets the pulse signal Vpulse to low level (first level). When the pulse signal Vpulse is at a low level, the drive signal synthesis circuit 16 turns off the transistors Tr1 and Tr4.

  When the pulse signal Vpulse transitions from the high level to the low level at time t1, the mask signal generation circuit 40 sets the first mask signal Smsk1 to the high level, and at time t2 after the first mask time Tmsk1 has elapsed, the first mask signal Sskk1. To low level.

  The pulse signal generation circuit 30 switches the pulse signal Vpulse to the high level from time t1 to time t3 after the lapse of the off time Toff. At time t3, the transistors Tr1 and Tr4 are turned on again.

  When the pulse signal Vpulse transitions from low level to high level at time t3, the mask signal generation circuit 40 sets the second mask signal Sskk2 to high level, and at time t4 after the second mask time Tmsk2 has elapsed, the second mask signal Ssk2 To low level. The mask signal Smsk can be obtained by a logical sum of the first mask signal Smsk1 and the second mask signal Smsk2. The mask signal Smsk is output to the mask circuit 12, and the mask circuit 12 performs a masking process for invalidating the level fluctuations of the first rectangular wave signals Pu to Pw while the mask signal Smsk is at a high level.

  4A is a time chart showing the counter electromotive voltage Vu and the midpoint voltage Vn of the U-phase coil of the motor 50, and FIG. 4B is a time chart showing the mask signal Smsk. Although FIG. 4 shows a waveform when the motor 50 is driven by 180-degree energization, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be 120-degree energization. In the figure, the solid line indicates the U-phase counter electromotive voltage Vu, and the broken line indicates the midpoint voltage Vn. A similar waveform appears with the phase shifted by 60 degrees for the V phase and the W phase. The fluctuation cycle of the back electromotive voltage Vu changes depending on the frequency of pulse driving. When 180-degree energization is performed, as shown in FIG. 4, the U-phase counter electromotive voltage Vu is affected by the driving states of the V-phase and the W-phase. That is, during the period from time t0 to t1, the V phase and W phase counter electromotive voltages Vv and Vw are both low level and the V phase and W phase counter electromotive voltages Vv and Vw are at high level. The period φ2 is repeated. During the period from time t1 to t2, the U-phase counter electromotive voltage Vu is fixed at a high level. During the period from time t2 to time t3, the period φ3 in which both the V-phase and W-phase counter electromotive voltages Vv and Vw are both high level and the period in which one of the V-phase and W-phase counter electromotive voltages Vv and Vw is at the low level. Repeat φ4.

  As described above, the motor drive circuit 100 according to the embodiment performs phase switching based on the counter electromotive voltage Vu generated in the coils 50a to 50c, and drives the sensorless motor. Specifically, the back electromotive voltage detection comparator 10 compares the back electromotive voltage Vu with the midpoint voltage Vn to generate the first rectangular wave signal Pu.

  Here, in the counter electromotive voltage Vu of FIG. 4A, spike-like counter electromotive noise Nx is generated according to the pulse drive cycle. Therefore, when the magnitude relationship between the midpoint voltage Vn and the counter electromotive voltage Vu is inverted by the spike-like counter electromotive noise, the counter electromotive noise also appears in the first rectangular wave signal Pu.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the mask signal Smsk becomes a high level for a predetermined mask time from the positive edge and the negative edge of the pulse signal Vpulse that is the source of pulse driving. The mask circuit 12 invalidates the level fluctuation of the first rectangular wave signal Pu while the mask signal Smsk output from the mask signal generation circuit 40 is at a high level. Therefore, the noise component of the first rectangular wave signal Pu that appears during the period when the mask signal Sskk is at a high level does not appear in the second rectangular wave signal Mu. As a result, the zero-crossing point where the U-phase counter electromotive voltage Vu and the midpoint voltage Vn cross each other can be suitably detected, and the phase can be switched satisfactorily.

  The V phase and the W phase are similarly processed, and second rectangular wave signals Mv and Mw in which noise components are masked from the first rectangular wave signals Pv and Pw are generated.

  The motor driving circuit 100 performs pulse driving of the motor 50 by repeating the above operation. According to motor drive circuit 100 according to the present embodiment, every time energization to the coil of motor 50 is switched on and off by pulse driving, mask signal Smsk that is at a high level for a predetermined time is generated. Therefore, the back electromotive noise generated when the energization of the coil of the motor 50 is switched can be suitably removed by the mask signal Smsk that becomes high level in accordance with this timing.

  Further, according to the motor drive circuit 100 according to the present embodiment, the zero cross at which the back electromotive voltage intersects occurs during the period in which the mask signal Smsk is at a low level. The phase can be switched. Furthermore, in the embodiment, since the relationship between the first mask time Tmsk1 and the second mask time Tmsk2 is set so that Tmsk1 ≧ Tmsk2, the detection time when the mask signal Smsk becomes low level is ensured. Can be secured.

  If the motor is driven by a pulse width modulation (PWM) method, the off time changes according to the torque. In this case, when the torque is increased and the off time is shortened, it is difficult to set the mask. On the other hand, since the motor driving circuit 100 according to the present embodiment employs the PFM method instead of the PWM method, the off-time Toff of a predetermined period can be ensured immediately before the on-time when back electromotive noise appears. The mask time can be set reliably.

  FIGS. 5A to 5F are time charts showing operation states of the motor drive circuit 100 of FIG. 1 when the control voltage Vctrl is low. In this case, the energization time of the coil of the motor 50 is shorter than the second mask time Tmsk2. Therefore, zero cross detection during the on-time is not performed. Also in this case, since Toff <Tmsk1, the mask signal Smsk is at a low level for a certain period immediately before the pulse signal Vpulse is at a high level, so that zero crossing can be detected reliably.

  Finally, an application of the motor drive circuit 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a disk device 200 on which the motor drive circuit 100 of FIG. 1 is mounted. The disk device 200 is a unit that performs recording and reproduction processing on an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD, and is mounted on an electronic device such as a CD player, a DVD player, or a personal computer. The disk device 200 includes a pickup 210, a signal processing unit 212, a disk 214, a motor 50, and a motor driving circuit 100.

  The pickup 210 writes desired data by irradiating the disk 214 with a laser, or reads the data written on the disk 214 by reading reflected light. The signal processing unit 212 performs necessary signal processing such as amplification processing, A / D conversion, or D / A conversion on data read and written by the pickup 210. The motor 50 is a spindle motor provided to rotate the disk 214. Since the disk device 200 as shown in FIG. 6 is particularly required to be downsized, a sensorless type that does not use a Hall element or the like is used as the motor 50. The motor drive circuit 100 according to the present embodiment can be suitably used to stably drive such a sensorless spindle motor.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  In the embodiment, the case of driving a three-phase motor has been described. However, the present invention can also be suitably used for driving a sensorless motor other than the three-phase motor.

  The high-level and low-level logic settings of the signals described in the embodiment are merely examples, and various modifications can be considered for the configuration of the logic circuit block, and such modifications are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the case where the motor drive circuit 100 is integrally integrated has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transistors Tr1 to Tr6 constituting the power transistor circuit 18 and the conversion resistor R1 include the motor drive circuit. It may be provided outside the 100 as a discrete element or a chip component.

It is a circuit diagram which shows the structure of the motor drive circuit which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of a pulse signal generation circuit and a mask signal generation circuit. FIGS. 3A to 3F are time charts showing operation states of the motor drive circuit of FIG. 4A and 4B are time charts showing a U-phase back electromotive force voltage, a midpoint voltage, and a mask signal. FIGS. 5A to 5F are time charts showing operation states of the motor drive circuit of FIG. 1 when the control voltage is low. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the disc apparatus carrying the motor drive circuit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Motor drive circuit, 10 Back electromotive force detection comparator, 12 Mask circuit, 14 Output circuit, 20 Current voltage conversion part, 22 Pulse modulation comparator, 30 Pulse signal generation circuit, 32 1st counter circuit, 34 2nd counter circuit, 36 OR Gate, 40 mask signal generation circuit, 50 motor, 50a-50c coil, 200 disk device, 214 disk.

Claims (8)

A motor drive circuit that drives a multiphase motor by supplying a drive current,
A current-voltage converter that converts the drive current flowing in the coils of each phase of the multiphase motor into a voltage; and
A pulse modulation comparator that compares the detection voltage output from the current-voltage converter with a control voltage that indicates torque;
With reference to a comparison signal output from the pulse modulation comparator, a first level indicating a non-energized state of the coils of each phase is obtained during a predetermined off time after the detection voltage reaches the control voltage. A pulse signal generation circuit that generates a pulse signal that is a second level that indicates the energization state of the coil of each phase during a period other than
A period from when the pulse signal transitions to the first level until a predetermined first mask time elapses, and a period from when the pulse signal transitions to the second level until a predetermined second mask time elapses A mask signal generation circuit for generating a mask signal having a predetermined level;
A back electromotive force detection comparator that compares the back electromotive voltage generated in each phase coil of the multiphase motor with the midpoint voltage of each phase coil and generates a first rectangular wave signal of each phase;
Referring to the mask signal output from the mask signal generation circuit, the level fluctuation of the first rectangular wave signal of each phase output from the back electromotive detection comparator is invalidated while the mask signal is at the predetermined level. A mask circuit that performs a masking process and outputs a second rectangular wave signal of each phase;
An output circuit that intermittently supplies the drive current to the coils of each phase of the multiphase motor based on the second rectangular wave signal of each phase and the pulse signal;
A motor drive circuit comprising:   The motor driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first mask time is set shorter than the off time.   The motor driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first mask time is set to be equal to or shorter than the second mask time. The pulse signal generation circuit includes:
A counter circuit that starts counting the off-time triggered by the level transition of the comparison signal, and becomes the first level during the period from the level transition of the comparison signal to the completion of the count, and then to the second level 4. The motor drive circuit according to claim 1, wherein the pulse signal that makes a transition is output.   5. The motor drive circuit according to claim 1, wherein the mask signal generation circuit includes a counter circuit that counts the first and second mask times triggered by a transition of the pulse signal. 6. . The pulse signal generation circuit and the mask signal generation circuit are:
The count is started when the level of the comparison signal is changed, and the pulse signal whose level transitions after the off time has elapsed and the second mask signal whose level transitions after the second mask time has elapsed are output. A counter circuit;
A second counter circuit that starts counting upon a level transition of the pulse signal output from the first counter circuit and outputs a first mask signal whose level transitions after the first mask time has elapsed;
6. The motor drive circuit according to claim 1, wherein a logic operation result of the first mask signal and the second mask signal is output as the mask signal. .   7. The motor driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein the motor driving circuit is integrated on a single semiconductor substrate. A spindle motor that is a multi-phase motor that rotates a disk;
The motor drive circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which drives the spindle motor;
A disk device comprising:

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