Application Note 1829
6
AN1829.0
March 14, 2013
Switching Sequence Phase Currents
The following motor winding diagrams illustrate how currents
flow in a 3-phase BLDC motor during each switching period of the
6 step voltage waveform. These diagrams are for a very simple
motor with only 6 stator poles. Most 3-phase motors have more
stator poles (multiples of 6) to reduce torque modulation
(cogging) but the principles of operation are the same.
Each phase winding is color coded and black arrows indicate the
direction of positive current in that winding for each step. As
described in Figure 7, the half bridge state of each motor lead,
MA, MB, or MC, is labeled with
P
,
L
, or
Z
. Observe that the active
coils are highlighted. The inactive coils (those with no current) are
white.
The dark gray structures are the permanent magnets that are
mounted on the light gray rotor. The bold black arrow is the flux
vector of the permanent magnets. The bold dark blue arrow is
the magnetic flux vector generated by the active coils for each
waveform step. The switching step occurs when these two
vectors are perpendicular for maximum torque. Notice how the
flux vectors are rotating counter clockwise, 60° for each step.
This tutorial for BLDC motors is very fundamental. For more
information about a specific motor, please contact the motor
manufacturer.
FIGURE 7. SEQUENCE STEPS 1 TO 3
N
N
S
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
S
S
N
N
2
P
Z
L
3
P
L
Z
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
HC
HB
HA
MB
MA
MC
1
2
3
HC
HB
HA
MB
MA
MC
HC
HB
HA
MB
MA
MC
L
L
L
P
P
P
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
P
P
L
L
1
Z
L
NEUTRAL
P
Z
P
L
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
FIGURE 8. SEQUENCE STEPS 4 TO 6
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
4
Z
L
P
5
L
Z
P
6
L
P
Z
S
S
N
N
N
N
S
S
S
N
S
N
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
6
4
5
HC
HB
HA
MB
MA
MC
HC
HB
HA
MB
MA
MC
HC
HB
HA
MB
MA
MC
L
Z
P
L
L
P
P
Z
Z
Z
Z
Z
P
P
P
L
L
L
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL