Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080278106 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR SIMULATING OUTPUTS OF A RESOLVER TO TEST MOTOR-RESOLVER SYSTEMS - An apparatus, system, and method are provided for simulating outputs of a resolver. One apparatus includes an adjustable sine waveform generator for simulating first and second sine wave signals, and an adjustable cosine waveform generator for simulating first and cosine wave signals. The apparatus also includes an adjustable waveform generator and an adjustable gain circuit coupled to the sine waveform generator and cosine waveform generator. The system includes a device simulating a resolver coupled to a motor controller. The device includes an adjustable sine waveform generator and an adjustable cosine waveform generator coupled to an adjustable waveform generator and an adjustable gain circuit. One method includes transmitting a signal simulating at least one resolver fault condition to a motor controller to determine if the motor controller detects the fault condition(s). If the motor controller fails to detect the fault condition(s) and/or transmit an error message, the motor controller is malfunctioning. | 11-13-2008 |
20080284366 | APPARATUS AND MEHTODS FOR DIAGNOSING MOTOR-RESOLVER SYSTEM FAULTS - Apparatus and methods are provided for diagnosing faults in multiple, associated motor-resolver systems. One apparatus includes a swapping circuit coupling a first resolver to a first or second decoder, and a swapping circuit coupling a second resolver to the first or second decoder. One method includes applying a signal from a resolver to a first decoder to determine that the first decoder is malfunctioning if the first decoder continues to generate a fault signal, and applying a signal from a different resolver to a second decoder to determine that a motor associated with the first decoder is malfunctioning if the second decoder generates a fault signal. Another method includes transmitting a signal from a resolver to first and second decoders, transmitting a signal from a different resolver to the first and second decoders, and determining if the first decoder, second decoder, a first motor, or a second motor is malfunctioning. | 11-20-2008 |
20090066281 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR TORQUE MONITORING - Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring an achieved motor torque produced by an electric motor. The method includes determining the achieved motor torque based on a rotor position of the electric motor and a phase current of the electric motor when the motor speed is not greater than a first pre-determined threshold, determining the achieved motor torque based on a loss-compensated power supplied to the electric motor when the motor speed is greater than the first pre-determined threshold, comparing the achieved motor torque with the torque command, and indicating a fault when the achieved motor torque is not within a pre-determined margin of the torque command. | 03-12-2009 |
20090088294 | THERMAL PROTECTION OF AN ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM - Temperature of an electric drive is regulated to prevent undesirable thermal effects. Temperature conditions of the electric drive system are monitored and torque of the electric drive system is limited based on the temperature conditions. | 04-02-2009 |
20090099791 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - Temperature of an electric power device of a hybrid transmission is managed based upon device temperatures and power flow, ambient temperature, and a cooling circuit flow rate. | 04-16-2009 |
20090105898 | METHOD FOR MONITORING A MOTOR SPEED SENSOR - A method for detecting speed faults in a hybrid powertrain having engine and electric machine speed inputs includes directly sensing the engine and machine speeds and performing comparisons of sensed engine speed with engine speed determined based upon the machine speeds. | 04-23-2009 |
20090108673 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VOLTAGE LEVEL ACROSS AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT OF A POWERTRAIN - A method for determining a voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain includes measuring a plurality of voltage levels and utilizing a comparison test between at least two voltage levels of the plurality of voltage levels to determine the circuit voltage level. | 04-30-2009 |
20090118881 | DETECTING PROGRAM FLOW FAULT IN TORQUE SECURITY SOFTWARE FOR HYBRID VEHICLE ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM - A diagnostic system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a processor module and a motor control module. The processor module outputs a seed value. The motor control module controls torque output by an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle, receives the seed value, generates a final key value based on the seed value, and outputs the final key value to the processor module. | 05-07-2009 |
20090121668 | SHUTDOWN PATH PERFORMANCE TEST FOR PERMANENT MAGNET AC MOTOR IN HYBRID POWERTRAIN - A diagnostic system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a motor control module and a fault diagnostic module. The motor control module controls torque output of an electric motor having a predetermined number of phases. The fault diagnostic module determines a position of a rotor of the electric motor, aligns the rotor with a phase angle of one of the phases, selectively diagnoses a fault based on a current of at least one of the phases, and selectively disables the electric motor based on the diagnosis. | 05-14-2009 |
20090125171 | PROCESSOR SECURITY DIAGNOSTICS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM - A diagnostic system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a processor module and a motor control module. The processor module outputs a first seed value. The motor control module controls torque output by an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle and outputs a key value based on the first seed value. The processor module outputs a second seed value after receiving the key value, and the motor control module selectively diagnoses a fault in the processor module based on a comparison of the second seed value with the first seed value. | 05-14-2009 |
20090271060 | Method And Apparatus For Detecting An Insufficient Phase Current In A Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor - A method is provided for detecting an insufficient or missing phase current in a permanent magnet synchronous motor, and includes determining a composite vector position of a combined three-phase phase current with respect to a stationary portion of the motor, and assigning a sector to the position. The method includes comparing the phase current to a calibrated threshold current corresponding to the sector, and executing a response when the absolute value is less than the threshold. A vehicle includes an energy storage device (ESD), a motor/generator configured as a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a voltage inverter, and a bus for conducting DC current from the ESD to the inverter. A controller detects an insufficient phase current, determines a current vector position of the three-phase AC, assigns a sector to the position, and executes a response when an absolute value of the phase current is less than a calibrated threshold. | 10-29-2009 |
20100213948 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING A MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUIT IN A HYBRID VEHICLE - A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has an algorithm for executing a method for diagnosing a high-voltage (HV) fault condition aboard the HEV. The HEV includes a high-voltage (HV) battery, an auxiliary power module (APM), a power inverter module (PIM), and a three-phase motor/generator unit (MGU). A controller executes the method to thereby measure a DC output current from the HV battery, a DC inlet current into the APM, and a pair of AC phase currents in the MGU. The method further includes calculating a DC inlet current into the PIM using the AC phase currents, diagnosing the HV fault condition using the DC output currents and the DC inlet currents, and executing a control action in response to the diagnosed condition. The method can include shutting off the APM to determine whether the APM is the root cause of the HV fault condition. | 08-26-2010 |
20100295492 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING CURRENT SENSOR ERROR - Methods and systems are provided for controlling an electric motor in a vehicle. A method comprises measuring current associated with a first phase of the electric motor using a first current sensor resulting in a measured first phase current and measuring current associated with a second phase of the electric motor using a second current sensor resulting in a measured second phase current. The method further comprises determining a target value for the measured second phase current based on a value corresponding to a peak current for the first phase and identifying a current sensor error based on a difference between the measured second phase current and the target value. | 11-25-2010 |
20110043145 | METHOD AND CIRCUIT FOR PROCESSING A RESOLVER FAULT - A method of processing a resolver fault in a motor generator unit (MGU) includes receiving a position signal from a resolver describing a measured angular position of a rotor of the MGU, determining the presence of the resolver fault using the position signal, and calculating or extrapolating an estimated rotor position when the resolver fault is determined. A predetermined resolver fault state may be determined using a measured duration of the resolver fault, and the MGU may be controlled using the estimated rotor position for at least a portion of the duration of the resolver fault. A motor control circuit is operable for processing the resolver fault using the above method, and may automatically vary a torque output or a pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the MGU depending on the duration of the resolver fault. | 02-24-2011 |
20110163704 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A SYSTEM INCLUDING A SENSORLESS ELECTRIC MOTOR - A multiphase alternating current permanent magnet synchronous electric motor is coupled to an actuator. A sensorless electric motor drive control system controls operation of the electric motor. An initial phase angle and a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor are estimated. Operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor are monitored using the estimated initial phase angle and the estimated rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor. A fault in one of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor is detected based upon the monitored operation. | 07-07-2011 |
20110175619 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING ELECTRICAL GROUND ISOLATION IN A POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle including a high voltage electrical system including an electrical energy storage device electrically connected to switching circuits of an inverter device via a high voltage bus, the inverter device configured to transfer electric power to an electric machine via activation of a plurality of switch devices, includes monitoring electrical ground isolation of the high voltage electrical system during ongoing operation of the vehicle, detecting an electrical ground isolation fault in the high voltage electrical system, and detecting a location of the electrical ground isolation fault associated with at least one of the electrical energy storage device, the high voltage bus, the inverter device, and the electric machine subsequent to a vehicle key-off event. | 07-21-2011 |
20110202211 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF VEHICLES - Methods and systems are provided for controlling an electrical system of a vehicle. Sensors are used to obtain first data for a first path of calculations and second data for a second path of calculations. The first path comprises a first plurality of calculations of generating a value of a parameter pertaining to the electrical system, and the second path comprises a second plurality of calculations of monitoring the electrical system with respect to the first path. A processor is coupled to the plurality of sensors, and is configured to determine whether a data frozen flag is active, perform the first plurality of calculations of the first path using the first data if the first data flag is inactive, and perform the second plurality of calculations of the second path if the first data flag is active. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202226 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - Methods and systems are provided for monitoring an electrical system of a vehicle. Data pertaining to the electrical system is obtained. Calculation modules are performed using the data to generate intermediate determinations. An aggregate calculation module is performed using each of the intermediate determinations to generate an aggregate determination pertaining to the electrical system. Redundant intermediate calculations are performed using the data to generate redundant intermediate determinations. Each of the redundant intermediate determinations is used for comparison with a respective intermediate determination. | 08-18-2011 |
20110218745 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR LOSS OF GROUND ISOLATION OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE CIRCUIT - A method for monitoring electric isolation of a high voltage DC bus to detect ground isolation faults includes monitoring voltage differentials between a positive DC electric power bus and a negative DC electric power bus and a chassis ground. Electrical isolation between each of the positive and negative DC electric power buses and the chassis ground is monitored using a ratio of the voltage differentials. | 09-08-2011 |
20110288698 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MOTOR TORQUE IN HYBRID VEHICLES - Methods and systems are provided for motor torque control for hybrid vehicles having a motor and a communications bus. The motor torque is controlled using a first motor torque capacity if the communications bus is healthy. The motor torque is controlled using a second motor torque capacity if the communications bus is unhealthy. The first motor torque capacity has a first absolute value. The second motor torque capacity has a second absolute value that is less than the first absolute value. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288699 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOTOR TORQUE CONTROL FOR VEHICLES WHEN A CURRENT SENSOR IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY - Methods and systems for controlling motor torque in a hybrid vehicle are provided. A current sensor provides a feedback current when the sensor is operating properly. A processor controls the motor torque using the feedback current if the current sensor is operating properly. The processor controls the motor torque using a slip value for the hybrid vehicle if the current sensor is not operating properly. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288723 | MODULAR TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE DIAGNOSTIC FOR A VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a power inverter module (PIM), a motor/generator unit (MGU), vehicle components, temperature sensors, and a controller. The sensors measure temperatures of a motor winding of the MGU, and temperatures of the multiple phase outputs of the PIM. The second plurality of temperature sensors measures temperatures of the vehicle components. The controller calculates an average temperature of the components, and individually diagnoses each temperature sensor using the average temperature. A control circuit for the vehicle includes the first and second plurality of sensors and the controller. A temperature performance diagnostic method includes using the first plurality to measure a temperature of the motor winding and the phase outputs of the PIM, using the second plurality to measure a temperature of the components, calculating an average temperature of the components, and individually diagnosing the performance of each of the first plurality of sensors using the average temperature. | 11-24-2011 |
20120084039 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MEASURING A SENSOR OFFSET - A method includes detecting a first event and executing a first procedure to identify a sensor offset in response to detecting the first event. The method further includes determining, via a computing device, whether the sensor offset was measured during the execution of the first procedure, scheduling a second procedure to execute in response to detecting a second event if the sensor offset was not measured during the first procedure, and scheduling the first procedure to execute in response to detecting a subsequent occurrence of the first event if the sensor offset was measured during the first procedure. | 04-05-2012 |
20120101672 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING THE ROBUSTNESS OF A HYBRID VEHICLE TORQUE SECURITY DIAGNOSTIC - A vehicle includes electrical components, current sensors which determine current flowing through the electrical components, and a control system. The control system calculates and records error index values over an interval using the currents. The control system increments a first counter with every sample in the series, increments a second counter whenever a given error index value exceeds a calibrated high threshold, and decrements the second counter whenever the given error index value is less than a calibrated low threshold. A control action, e.g., recording a PASS or FAIL value, executes when either the absolute value of the second counter or the present value of the first counter reaches a corresponding limit or threshold. A method enhances the robustness of a hybrid vehicle torque security diagnostic using the control system. The vehicle and method use a signed X of Y debouncing or error signal processing method as noted above. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109431 | ROBUST MOTOR TORQUE PERFORMANCE DIAGNOSTICS ALGORITHM FOR ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEMS IN HYBRID VEHICLES - A method to control a powertrain having an electric motor includes monitoring a torque command to the motor, predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor, comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque, and indicating a motor fault when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold. | 05-03-2012 |
20120203405 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A RESOLVER IN A TORQUE MACHINE - A method for monitoring an electrically-powered torque machine configured to generate torque in a hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring signal outputs of a resolver configured to monitor rotational position of the torque machine. Upon detecting a fault warning state associated with the signal outputs of the resolver, a motor torque capacity of the torque machine is derated. Upon a clearing of the fault warning state, a torque ramp-up state to increase the motor torque capacity of the torque machine is executed. Notice of an incidence of a fault associated with the signal outputs of the resolver is provided only when the motor torque capacity fails to achieve a threshold motor torque capacity within a threshold recovery time period while executing the torque ramp-up state. | 08-09-2012 |
20130006453 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FAULT DETECTION IN A TORQUE MACHINE OF A POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine mechanically coupled to an internal combustion engine includes, upon detecting a pending fault associated with a power switch configured to control power flow to the torque machine, disabling torque output from the torque machine and executing retry events. The retry events are iteratively executed with a debounce time period preceding each retry event. Presence of a fault associated with the power switch is detected when a quantity of the retry events during a time window exceeds a threshold. | 01-03-2013 |
20140172206 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING CHARGE DEPLETION IN A PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE - A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid powertrain system and an energy storage device. A method for operating the hybrid powertrain system includes initially operating the hybrid powertrain system in a charge-depletion mode to reduce a state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device. In response to an operator request, the hybrid powertrain system operates in an opportunity charging mode to opportunistically charge the energy storage device to increase the SOC of the energy storage device during a trip prior to achieving a minimum SOC that is associated with triggering operation in a charge sustaining mode. | 06-19-2014 |
20150022126 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A PERMANENT MAGNET ELECTRIC MACHINE - A controller-implemented method for monitoring a permanent magnet electric machine includes determining a threshold direct-axis (d-axis) current corresponding to inception of irreversible demagnetization of the permanent magnet based upon material properties of a permanent magnet mounted in a rotor of the PM electric machine and a temperature of the permanent magnet. A d-axis current associated with controlling the PM electric machine is determined, and a state of health of the PM electric machine is determined based upon the threshold d-axis current and the monitored d-axis current. | 01-22-2015 |