Patent ID: 6225767
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A flux control system comprising:an electromagnetic system comprising at least one phase coil and a core, wherein the phase coil is positioned such that the phase coil establishes a magnetic flux within the core when the phase coil is energized;a flux observer positioned to provide a flux feedback signal corresponding to the flux in the core; anda flux controller having a first input that receives a flux command signal, a second input that receives the flux feedback signal, and an output coupled to the phase coil, the flux comprising:a summing junction that receives the flux command signal and the flux feedback signal and provides an error signal that varies with the difference between the flux command signal and the flux feedback signal; andan energization control circuit that receives at an input the error signal, the energization control circuit: (a) energizing the phase coil to increase the flux in the phase coil when the error signal indicates that the flux command signal is greater than the flux feedback signal by at least a predetermined amount; and (b) energizing the phase coil to decrease the flux in the control system when the error signal indicates that the flux feedback signal is greater than the flux command signal by at least a predetermined amount.