A wide drive frequency matching method for harmonic suppression and voltage stabilization of ultrasonic motors.

To reduce harmonic components, balance system impedance, and stabilize driving voltage, an additional matching circuit is required for ultrasonic motors (USMs) driver. However, the performance of inductor or capacitor matching can be seriously weakened with changes in driving frequency. Therefore, this paper presents a simple and effective LC matching method against driving frequency adjustment for USMs. First, the driving scheme of the USM is proposed and the electromechanical coupling model is analyzed. Subsequently, the output characteristics of the full-bridge inverter are derived theoretically when the driving frequency deviates from the mechanical resonant frequency. Then, the impedance circular transform method is proposed, which can intuitively analyze the effect of matching parameters on the voltage amplitude. A matching objective function is established that can consider both the voltage stabilization and harmonic suppression. The matching parameters are solved using random weight particle swarm optimization. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that within the operating frequency of the USM, the proposed matching method can effectively prevent overvoltage and suppress harmonic components. Furthermore, compared with the existing resonant matching method, the proposed matching method can realize more stable driving capability at different frequencies. The proposed method could be useful for USMs' variable-frequency driver design.

Note: Performance estimation of a rotary ultrasonic motor based on two-dimensional analytical model.

The comprehension of ultrasonic motor performances as a function of input parameters is a key to intelligent motion control of motor. This paper presents a performance estimation model of a novel rotary ultrasonic motor as a function of input parameters. To evaluate performances of the proposed motor, the finite element software is used to derive the vibration displacements of stator surface points. The output displacements of the points in time domain, which determines the contact state and contact time, are analyzed and compared. Then, a two-dimensional analytical model is constructed. The performances of stead rotation speed and stall torque are deduced. According to the simulated results, a prototype motor is manufactured and tested. The experimental results agree well with the simulation results, which verifies the effectiveness of the presented model.

Temperature evaluation of traveling-wave ultrasonic motor considering interaction between temperature rise and motor parameters.

In this paper, a novel model for evaluating the temperature of traveling-wave ultrasonic motor (TWUSM) is developed. The proposed model, where the interaction between the temperature rise and motor parameters is considered, differs from the previous reported models with constant parameters. In this model, losses and temperature rises of the motor were evaluated based on the temperature-related varying parameters: the feedback voltage Vaux of the stator, dielectric permittivity ɛ and dielectric loss factor tanδ. At each new temperature, Vaux, ɛ and tanδ were updated. The feasibility and effectiveness of this proposed model was verified by comparing the predicted temperatures with the measured one. The effects of driving voltage, driving frequency and ambient temperature on the predicted temperature were also analyzed. The results show that the proposed model has more accurate predicted temperature than that with constant parameters. This will be very useful for the optimal design, reducing the heat loss, improvement of control and reliability life of TWUSM.

A numerical method to enhance the performance of a cam-type electric motor-driven left ventricular assist device.

Pulsatile left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) driven by electric motors have been widely accepted as a treatment of heart failure. Performance enhancement with computer assistance for this kind of LVAD has seldom been reported. In this article, a numerical method is proposed to assist the design of a cam-type pump. The method requires an integrated model of an LVAD system, consisting of a motor, a transmission mechanism, and a cardiovascular circulation. Performance indices, that is, outlet pressure, outlet flow, and pump efficiency, were used to select the best cam profile from six candidates. A prototype pump connected to a mock circulatory loop (MCL) was used to calibrate the friction coefficient of the cam groove and preliminarily evaluate modeling accuracy. In vitro experiments show that the mean outlet pressure and flow can be predicted with high accuracy by the model, and gross geometries of the measurements can also be reproduced. Simulation results demonstrate that as the total peripheral resistance (TPR) is fixed at 1.1 mm Hg.s/mL, the two-cycle 2/3-rise profile is the best. Compared with other profiles, the maximum increases of pressure and flow indices are 75 and 76%, respectively, and the maximum efficiency increase is over 51%. For different TPRs (0.5∼1.5 mm Hg.s/mL) and operation intervals (0.1∼0.4 s) in counterpulsation, the conclusion is also acceptable.

Study of a new type linear ultrasonic motor with double-driving feet.

A new type linear USM with double-driving feet has been developed. The stator consists of eight piezoelectric ceramic plates and one brass plate. Piezoelectric ceramics plates are polarized along the thickness and are symmetrically bonded to the two surfaces of one rectangle brass plate. Double-driving feet are assembled on the same side of the brass plate. The working vibration mode is a composite in-plane bimode, which consists of the first longitudinal in-plane vibration mode and the second bending one. The basic size of the linear USM is determined carefully by FEA. The characteristics of the prototype motor were measured experimentally.