Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080203973 | Interactive battery charger for electric vehicle - A method for recharging an electric storage battery in the charging system of an electric vehicle from an electric utility power grid includes determining the length of time required to recharge the battery, determining the desired time when the recharge is to be completed, transmitting to the electric power utility the length of time required to recharge the battery and the desired time, and recharging the battery from the utility grid during a period when projected load demand is lower than peak demand and ending no later than the desired time. | 08-28-2008 |
20080218121 | Charging a battery using a circuit having shared loads - A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through a power supply circuit, includes coupling the charger to the circuit, determining whether another appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current, determining a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, charging the battery at the maximum charge rate if no other appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and charging the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if another appliance in the circuit is drawing current. | 09-11-2008 |
20080265819 | Sensor calibration and parameter identification in a multi-phase motor drive - In a multi-phase motor drive that includes a bus capacitor, a multi-phase motor, a multi-phase inverter, multiple switches each having an on-state and an off-state, and multiple current sensors each being in series with respective phase winding, a method for checking the accuracy of circuit parameters of the motor drive, including using the switches to produce a first loop that includes the capacitor bank, a first phase winding, a first current sensor, a second phase winding, and a second current sensor, using the current sensors to determine a magnitude of current in the first and second phase windings, comparing a magnitude of current indicated by the first current sensor and the second current sensor, and determining a magnitude of a difference between the current in the first and second phase windings. | 10-30-2008 |
20090045688 | Permanent Magnet Machine - A permanent magnet electric machine with optimum motoring efficiency is disclosed. It is adapted for use in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. An asymmetric magnetic flux distribution pattern in the rotor of the machine is established to improve operating efficiency of the machine when it is in a motoring mode. | 02-19-2009 |
20090052213 | POWER CONVERTER SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING SAME - A DC/DC power converter includes an electrically configurable transformer/inductor. The electrically configurable transformer/inductor receives a power plug. The power plug, depending on its configuration, configures the operation of the transformer/inductor and therefore the DC/DC power converter. The power plug may permit access to power received from the power converter. The power plug may also pass power to the power converter from a remote electrical source. | 02-26-2009 |
20090231810 | DIRECT DIPPING COOLED POWER MODULE AND PACKAGING - A power module package including a fully enclosed package comprising sidewalls; wherein at least one of said sidewalls includes a conductive substrate; wherein circuit elements are mounted on said conductive substrate on a first side comprising an inner side of said enclosed package; and, wherein a majority area of a second side of said conductive substrate is exposed, the power package has an improved interconnection configuration and compact power I/O terminals, offering low electrical parasitics, a plurality of individual power module packages can be attached seamlessly and positioned in a liquid coolant with multiple top portion open channels, as well as attached to a laminar power connector (busbar) to form various electrical power conversion topologies, the module offers low thermal resistance and low electrical parasitics, in addition to small volume, light weight and high reliability. | 09-17-2009 |
20100066289 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR - A method for controlling an electric motor includes receiving a first control command that is indicative of a desired motor control. A current operating condition for the motor is determined. It is then determined whether the first control command meets at least one predetermined criterion at the current operating condition. A second control command that is different from the first control command is generated when the first control command meets the at least one predetermined criterion. Generating the second control command includes determining a current value of a motor parameter, changing the parameter value, and using the changed parameter value to generate the second control command. The second control command is then used to control the motor. | 03-18-2010 |
20100117475 | Permanent Magnet Machine with Offset Pole Spacing - An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. | 05-13-2010 |
20100123441 | MULTI-PHASE DC-DC CONVERTER CONTROL - A system and method of controlling a multi-phase DC-DC converter having a first phase-leg and a second phase-leg using a single current sensor and a controller is provided. The single current sensor senses an amount of current flowing through the direct current link. Based on the amount of current sensed, the controller controls current flowing through the first phase-leg as well as current flowing through the second phase-leg. | 05-20-2010 |
20100259218 | BATTERY CHARGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A battery charger may be capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit. The charger may be configured to receive a request for reactive power and, in response, cause the requested reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259223 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING CURRENT OF A POWER DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT - A method of operating a battery charger electrically connected with a power distribution circuit having a power line and return line includes determining at least one of a temperature and a change in temperature of at least one of the power line and return line, and controlling a current through the power line based on the at least one of temperature and change in temperature. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259227 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING CURRENT FLOW THROUGH A POWER DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT - A method for controlling a current flow through a power distribution circuit includes determining a current flow through a load electrically connected with the power distribution circuit, and a wire gauge of the power distribution circuit based on a measured output current and output voltage of the power distribution circuit. The method also includes controlling the output current based on the current flow through the load and the wire gauge. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259229 | BATTERY CHARGING APPARATUS - A battery charger may be capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit including a fuse and may be configured to reduce reactive power through the fuse caused by at least one load, other than the charger, electrically connected with the power distribution circuit. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259242 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING TEMPERATUE OF A POWER DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT - A method for monitoring a temperature change of a power distribution circuit having a power line and return line includes measuring an output current and output voltage of the power distribution circuit at an input to a load electrically connected to the power distribution circuit, and determining a change in temperature of at least one of the power line and return line based on a change in at least one of the output current and output voltage. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262314 | POWER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A power system may include at least one controller configured to determine a net reactive power on at least one power distribution circuit and to issue at least one request for offsetting reactive power based on the determination to reduce the net reactive power on the at least one power distribution circuit. | 10-14-2010 |
20100308678 | Permanent Magnet Machine - A permanent magnet electric machine with optimum motoring efficiency is disclosed. It is adapted for use in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. An asymmetric magnetic flux distribution pattern in the rotor of the machine is established by asymmetrically positioning rotor openings relative to rotor magnets to improve operating efficiency of the machine when it is in a motoring mode. | 12-09-2010 |
20100320019 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE LUBRICATION FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID - In hybrid electric vehicles having increased battery storage capacity and plug-in capability, electric-only operation of significant duration is available. To supplement lubrication for the electric and mechanical component provided by an engine-driven mechanical pump, an electric pump is provided in parallel to the mechanical pump. A method to control the electric pump is also disclosed in which a first desired quantity of a first component and a second desired quantity of a second component are determined. The electric pump is commanded to provide the greater of the first and second quantities. The desired quantity can be based on preventing temperature in the component from exceeding a maximum design temperature and/or providing sufficient lubrication to rotating parts of the component. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321030 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE LUBRICATION FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID - In hybrid electric vehicles having increased battery storage capacity and plug-in capability, electric-only operation of significant duration is available. To supplement lubrication for the electric and mechanical components provided in a fluid circuit by an engine-driven mechanical pump, an electric pump is provided in parallel to the mechanical pump. When the electric pump is operating, a diagnostic can be performed to determine system integrity. According to one embodiment, an actual quantity provide to the circuit is determined; an expected quantity is estimated; and a fault is determined when the actual and expected quantities differ by more than a predetermined amount. The fault may indicate a leak or plug in the fluid circuit or a failure of a component in the fluid circuit. | 12-23-2010 |
20110001382 | Permanent Magnet Machine with Offset Pole Spacing - An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010126 | HIGH VOLTAGE INTERLOCK STRATEGY - A High Voltage Interlock Strategy (HVIS) uses feedback current to detect cable connectivity status for a high-voltage cable configured to connect a power conversion circuit with a remote permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). One or more feedback factors are calculated based on detected feedback current. Various algorithms for calculating a feedback factor, and for determining connectivity status based on calculated feedback factors, can be practiced, according to the PMSM operational mode. Fault detection action can be performed in response to detecting a cable disconnect. The HVIS can be implemented by software, making it a safe, economical solution for cable connectivity detection. | 01-13-2011 |
20110013322 | AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE CHARGE PORT WITH FAULT INTERRUPT CIRCUIT - An automotive vehicle includes a charge port integrated with the vehicle. The charge port includes electrical contacts configured to receive electrical power from an electric grid, and a fault interrupt circuit electrically connected with the electrical contacts. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015881 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE STATE OF HEALTH OF A POWER ELECTRONIC SYSTEM - A system and method for monitoring the state of health of a power electronic system. Data representing an initial expected temperature of the circuit element and an initial value of an electrical parameter of the circuit element is obtained. An electrical pulse is applied to the circuit element to heat the circuit element. After the electrical pulse decays to a predetermined value, the electrical parameter of the circuit element is sensed and a subsequent value of the electrical parameter is obtained. A subsequent temperature of the circuit element is estimated based on the initial expected temperature of the circuit element, the initial and subsequent values of the electrical parameter, and the predetermined value of the electrical pulse. Based on the subsequent temperature, the signal that indicates whether the circuit element is operating as expected is generated. | 01-20-2011 |
20110031843 | Permanent Magnet Machine with Different Pole Arc Angles - An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. Asymmetry is achieved by placing adjacent permanent magnets or magnet sets on the rotor periphery with different rotor magnetic pole arc angles. | 02-10-2011 |
20110074243 | STATOR FOR AN ELECTRIC MACHINE - A stator for an electric machine has a circular stator body surrounding a rotor with an air gap therebetween. The stator has radially extending slots that define radially extending stator teeth. Multiple electric windings are located in the slots to define peripherally spaced magnetic poles. Separate coil groups establish multiple phases for the electric machine. Motor torque ripple is attenuated by forming the stator teeth with different widths for a given coil group. | 03-31-2011 |
20110084548 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING CURRENT FLOW THROUGH A POWER DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT - An automotive vehicle capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit including a power line and return line includes a controller disposed within the vehicle. The controller is configured to be electrically connected with the power distribution circuit, determine a difference between a resistance of the power line and a resistance of the return line, and control a current flow through the distribution circuit based on the determined difference. | 04-14-2011 |
20110144843 | PERMANENT MAGNET TEMPERATURE ESTIMATION - A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is controlled based on direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature-axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes estimating permanent magnet flux linkage based on q-axis voltage and electrical angular speed, and estimating permanent magnet temperature based on permanent magnet flux linkage and the temperature coefficient of the permanent magnet. The vehicle is controlled based on the estimated permanent magnet temperature. | 06-16-2011 |
20110163715 | System And Method For Charging A Vehicle Battery - An automotive vehicle power system includes a battery charger having an input and output. The battery charger receives electrical energy via the input when the input is electrically connected with an electrical energy source. The battery charger also reduces a current provided at the output from a commanded value to a target value that varies according to a voltage at the input if the voltage at the input falls within a predetermined range of voltages. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163716 | Battery Charger Temperature Control System And Method - A vehicle includes a traction battery and a battery charger. The battery charger receives electrical energy from an electrical power source if electrically connected with the electrical power source and provides a current to the traction battery at a target value that varies according to a temperature of the battery charger if the temperature falls within a predetermined range of temperatures. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163717 | System And Method For Vehicle Battery Charging - A vehicle power system includes a traction battery and a battery charger. The battery charger has an electrical output and a capacitor electrically connected with the electrical output. No more than two electrical contactors are electrically connected with the traction battery, capacitor and battery charger. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163722 | VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CHARGING BATTERY OF SAME - A method for charging a battery may include determining a degradation condition of the battery based on impedance parameters of the battery, altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition, and charging the battery with the altered charge profile. | 07-07-2011 |
20110164443 | Method And System For Controlling A Power Converter System Connected To A DC-BUS Capacitor - A method and system for controlling a power converter system with first, second, and third phase legs with respective first, second, and third associated phase currents determine direction of current flow in at least two phase legs and switch states of the power converter system in response to the current flow directions to reduce ripple current in a connected direct current (DC)-bus capacitor. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166728 | System And Method For Controlling Chassis Coupling Current - An automotive vehicle may include a battery charger that receives electrical energy, via an electrical connection including a ground wire, from an electrical source remote from the vehicle, and outputs the electrical energy to at least one electrical load. The vehicle may also include at least one controller that commands a change in the electrical energy output by the battery charger. The battery charger, in response to the command, may control a rate of change in the electrical energy output such that a coupling current to the ground wire resulting from the change in the electrical energy output by the battery charger has a magnitude less than a predetermined threshold. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166809 | POWER DISTRIBUTION CIRCUIT DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD - A diagnostic system for a power distribution circuit including a line, neutral and ground may include a switch configured to electrically connect the line and neutral, a first sensor configured to sense a line to neutral electrical parameter, and a second sensor configured to sense a neutral to ground electrical parameter. The system may also include a processor configured to close the switch, to observe at least some of the sensed electrical parameters before and after the switch is closed, and to identify a fault condition in the line or neutral based on the observed electrical parameters. | 07-07-2011 |
20110169369 | STATOR FOR AN ELECTRIC MACHINE - An electric machine having a stator surrounding a rotor with an air gap therebetween. The stator has slots in its inner margin for accommodating stator coil windings. Stator teeth defined by the slots have irregular shapes to modify a variable flux flow pattern in the air gap to reduce harmonic torque components with minimal effect on an average value of rotor torque. | 07-14-2011 |
20110221392 | VEHICLE AND METHOD OF DIAGNOSING BATTERY CONDITION OF SAME - A method for diagnosing a battery may include applying a generally constant current to the battery for a period of time, measuring a response voltage of the battery to the applied current, determining battery impedance parameters based on at least one of the applied current, period of time, and response voltage, and determining a degradation condition of the battery based on the battery impedance parameters. | 09-15-2011 |
20110285239 | Permanent Magnet Machine with Offset Pole Spacing - An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. | 11-24-2011 |
20120032549 | Permanent Magnet Machine - A permanent magnet electric machine with optimum motoring efficiency is disclosed. It is adapted for use in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. An asymmetric magnetic flux distribution pattern in the rotor of the machine is established by asymmetrically positioning rotor openings relative to rotor magnets to improve operating efficiency of the machine when it is in a motoring mode. | 02-09-2012 |
20120081072 | VEHICLE BATTERY CHARGER AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A battery charger electrically connected with a power distribution circuit may select a charge rate to charge a vehicle battery in response to whether a load other than the battery charger is electrically connected with the power distribution circuit, and charge the vehicle battery at the selected charge rate. | 04-05-2012 |
20120105078 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AN OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC ASSOCIATED WITH AN INDUCTOR IN A POWER CONVERTER SYSTEM - A method and system is provided for determining at least one operating characteristic associated with an inductor in a power converter system. The operating characteristic may be current through the inductor. The power converter system may be of the type used in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) to convert electric power from a high-voltage traction battery to drive an electric motor and/or a generator in the HEV. | 05-03-2012 |
20120153895 | System And Method For Controlling AC Line Current And Power During Vehicle Battery Charging - An automotive vehicle power system includes a battery charger having an input and output. The battery charger receives electrical energy via the input when the input is electrically connected with an electrical power source. The battery charger also alters at least one of a voltage set point and current provided at the output such that a power associated with the energy received from the power source remains approximately equal to a power target as a voltage associated with the energy received from the power source varies. | 06-21-2012 |
20120161925 | VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING A CHARGE STATION - A vehicle may include a battery that receives energy from a charge station remote from the vehicle, and a controller. The controller may request that the station provide information about an electrical parameter associated with energy being supplied by the station, may determine information about an electrical parameter associated with energy received by the battery, and may prevent the battery from further receiving energy if the provided information is different than the determined information. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166026 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING A VEHICLE BATTERY - An automotive vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery charger that receives electrical energy from a power distribution circuit remote from the vehicle. The at least one controller may request that a battery charger of another vehicle draw a specified current, and may establish a battery charging schedule with the another vehicle for the battery charger if, after issuing the request, the at least one controller detects a drop in voltage on the power distribution circuit. | 06-28-2012 |
20120230070 | Method And System For Controlling A Power Converter System Connected To A DC-Bus Capacitor - A method and system for controlling a power converter system with a direct current (DC)-bus capacitor connected to at least a first converter and a second converter. The first converter is with associated first current and the second converter is with associated second current. Switching states of the first and second converters are determined. The switching states of the second converter are sequenced relative to the first converter to reduce a difference of sums of the associated first and second currents between adjacent time intervals. | 09-13-2012 |
20120280646 | VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CHARGING VEHICLE BATTERIES - An automotive vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery and at least one controller. The at least one controller may be configured to cause a specified charge current to be provided to the traction battery and to cause another specified charge current to be provided to the auxiliary battery if the current being provided to the traction battery is increasing or decreasing. | 11-08-2012 |
20130065718 | Counter-Rotation Electric Machine - A motor vehicle powertrain includes an engine, a motor/generator including a rotor, gearing including an input driveably connected to the engine, and an output secured to the rotor and driven in a rotary direction opposite to that of the input. | 03-14-2013 |
20130069570 | PWM Strategy for Reduction of Inverter Hotspot Temperature and Overall Losses - A PWM strategy can be implemented to reduce device power losses and hotspot temperature in an inverter circuit that drives a synchronous motor. A method includes migrating a phase current from a power device with higher losses to a power device with lower losses. A PWM modulation signal can be modified to alter the inverter duty cycle and migrate phase current in the direction of lower losses. As an example, a PWM reference signal can be shifted to a lower value. A PWM loss reduction strategy can be performed while a motor is in a rotor-lock state to reduce device hotspot temperature. The PWM loss reduction strategy can also be performed when a motor is operating in a normal state, pushing PWM to DPWM, reducing switching and overall losses. The strategy can be practiced while a PMSM is operating as a motor, and can also be practiced during regenerative braking. | 03-21-2013 |
20130093369 | CONTROLLING TORQUE RIPPLE IN INTERIOR PERMANENT MAGNET MACHINES - A system for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor, includes a controller. The controller is configured to control the motor with a motor current. In the presence of a predetermined condition, the motor current results in increased winding loss and reduced torque ripple with respect to optimal motor current for minimal winding loss. | 04-18-2013 |
20130119900 | MOTOR TORQUE RIPPLE COMPENSATION - A system for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle including an electric machine, includes a controller. The controller is configured to control the electric machine with an electric machine current including a plurality of current harmonic components. At least two of the current harmonic components have different magnitudes. When a torque ripple of the electric machine is an electrical k-th order harmonic, the plurality of current harmonic components may include an electrical k-1 order harmonic component having a first magnitude and an electrical k+1 order harmonic component having a second magnitude different than the first magnitude. | 05-16-2013 |
20130187600 | Electric Vehicle Charging System Adaptor - An adaptor is provided for connecting an EV/PHEV charging system to a grounded extension cord that may be plugged into a conventional NEMA receptacle. A proximity detection switch is provided within the adaptor. A pulse width modulated signal is limited by the control logic to limit the current provided to the vehicle charging system so that the current drawn by the system does not exceed the current carrying capacity of the extension cord. The adaptor has a NEMA plug on one side and a J1772 connector receptacle on another side. | 07-25-2013 |
20130200828 | PWM Frequency Pattern Optimization for NVH - An optimized pseudo-random period pattern can reduce audible noise in a system that includes an inverter circuit configured to provide power to an electric machine. A system can include a PWM optimization module (POM) comprising the PPP. A carrier period for a carrier signal used to provide PWM inverter drive signals can be selected in accordance with the PPP. The PPP can be expressed as an array of 200-400 elements, each element a period belonging to a finite set of 2 or more predetermined periods. A period can be selected by index from the array, and the index incremented to progress through the PPP, which can be repeated upon its completion. The PPP can be optimized to reduce audible noise while mitigating inverter losses. Modeling techniques can determine the number of array elements, the number of possible periods, and the period values that optimize the PPP. | 08-08-2013 |
20130270974 | High-Frequency Signal Injection Based High Voltage Interlock - Systems, methods and apparatus are presented to determine high voltage cable connectivity between an inverter module and a remote electric machine. A high frequency (HF) interlock module can be configured to inject a high frequency excitation signal that can be superimposed on inverter drive signals. High frequency current components can be determined and used to determine connectivity status. The sum and difference of positive and negative sequence component values can be compared to predetermined limitations to detect one or more open phases. An example method can include enabling a HF detection strategy under predetermined conditions. In response to an open phase detection a fault flag can be set. | 10-17-2013 |
20130342043 | PERMANENT MAGNET MACHINE WITH DIFFERENT POLE ARC ANGLES - An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. Asymmetry is achieved by placing adjacent permanent magnets or magnet sets on the rotor periphery with different rotor magnetic pole arc angles. | 12-26-2013 |
20140001985 | VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING A VOLTAGE CONVERTER | 01-02-2014 |
20140062349 | CONTROL STRATEGY FOR AN ELECTRIC MACHINE IN A VEHICLE - A hybrid-electric vehicle and method of controlling a hybrid-vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a traction battery, at least one electric-machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to alter a voltage between the battery and the electric-machine based on a measured voltage of the battery or the high voltage bus. In response to an indication that the measured voltage is faulty during a drive cycle, the controller instead alters the voltage between the battery and the electric machine based on a substituted battery voltage signal such that the electric-machine remains operable for the drive cycle. | 03-06-2014 |
20140070738 | ELECTRIC MOTOR TORQUE CONTROL - A vehicle includes one or more inverter-fed electric machines such as permanent magnet synchronous motors. In response to a torque request, a controller issues commands to an inverter calculated to cause the motor to produce the requested torque. A method of operating the inverter may determine the commands based on the ratio of rotor speed to inverter input voltage, reducing the approximation error associated with multi-dimensional lookup tables. When the speed and voltage vary while maintaining a constant ratio and constant torque request, the issued commands produce a winding current in the electrical machine with constant direct and quadrature components. | 03-13-2014 |
20140077737 | VEHICLE ELECTRIC MACHINE CONTROL STRATEGY - A vehicle having a traction battery and at least one electric machine for propelling the vehicle is provided. A high voltage DC bus electrically connects the traction battery to the electric machine. A controller monitors and commands power flow through the DC bus, the electric machine, and the battery. In response to a key-off event, the controller immediately discharges the DC bus by providing a current to the electric machines. This discharge continues until the voltage on the DC bus reaches a threshold. As the speed of the electric machine decreases towards a speed threshold, the voltage in the DC bus is maintained. Once the electric machine speed reduces past the threshold, the DC bus discharges the remaining voltage in the DC bus at a rate slower than the first immediate discharge. | 03-20-2014 |
20140077739 | ELECTRIC MOTOR POSITION SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZED OPERATION - An embedded controller in a vehicle electronics subsystem includes a signal processing circuit used to communicate with an electric machine. The signal processing circuit may be configured to receive an input signal from the electric machine and provide digital output signals to the embedded controller. The digital output signals may include Hall position and rotor position signals. Once the digital output signals are processed by a processor embedded within the controller, the processor may issue a control command to the electric machine. The processor may have memory containing software to make the processor execute the computation of the control command of the electric machine in accordance with a torque command. | 03-20-2014 |
20140154097 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE LUBRICATION FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID - In hybrid electric vehicles having increased battery storage capacity and plug-in capability, electric-only operation of significant duration is available. To supplement lubrication for the electric and mechanical components provided in a fluid circuit by an engine-driven mechanical pump, an electric pump is provided in parallel to the mechanical pump. When the electric pump is operating, a diagnostic can be performed to determine system integrity. According to one embodiment, an actual quantity provide to the circuit is determined; an expected quantity is estimated; and a fault is determined when the actual and expected quantities differ by more than a predetermined amount. The fault may indicate a leak or plug in the fluid circuit or a failure of a component in the fluid circuit. | 06-05-2014 |
20140175867 | LIQUID COOLED POWER INDUCTOR - A vehicle electrical power system includes a variable voltage converter. The variable voltage converter includes an inductor assembly having a housing that defines a chamber containing dielectric fluid. An inductor is disposed within the chamber and is in contact with the fluid. The power system also includes a pump configured to circulate the dielectric fluid to cool the inductor. | 06-26-2014 |
20140302415 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEATING A FUEL CELL STACK - An apparatus for heating a fuel cell stack in a cold start mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a fuel cell stack, a power converter, and a controller. The power converter may include a power switch and resistive heating element that is thermally coupled to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to activate the power converter, if a temperature is below a predetermined temperature value, to draw current from the fuel cell stack to cause the fuel cell stack to generate heat. Heat from the power converter is also applied to the fuel cell stack. | 10-09-2014 |
20140312881 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ROTOR POSITION OFFSET OF AN ELECTRIC MACHINE - A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, detecting a position, including a polarity, of a rotor to detect incorrect rotor position offset of an electric machine without generating torque or motion within the electric machine. | 10-23-2014 |
20150022150 | BATTERY OVERCHARGE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An exemplary battery charge monitoring method includes, among other things, calculating expected charge data for a battery using at least a capacity of the battery and a charge rate, and comparing actual charge data to the expected charge data to identify differences between the actual charge data and the expected charge data. | 01-22-2015 |
20150054433 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR - A method for controlling an electric motor includes receiving a first control command that is indicative of a desired motor control. A current operating condition for the motor is determined. It is then determined whether the first control command meets at least one predetermined criterion at the current operating condition. A second control command that is different from the first control command is generated when the first control command meets the at least one predetermined criterion. Generating the second control command includes determining a current value of a motor parameter, changing the parameter value, and using the changed parameter value to generate the second control command. The second control command is then used to control the motor. | 02-26-2015 |