Abstract: Electrical energy is transferred between an on-vehicle DC power source and an off-vehicle DC power source by controlling conduction of the phase legs of a power inverter to operatively configure the power inverter and the stator phase windings of a traction motor as a switched-mode power converter including the at least one phase winding and at least one switch of one of the phase legs.

Abstract: A valve system of a vehicle includes: a housing that is electrically conductive and made of a metal and that includes: an inlet configured to receive a fluid; an outlet configured to output the fluid; and a fluid channel fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet; a pintle disposed within the housing and that is electrically conductive and made of a metal; a ball that is mechanically fastened to the pintle, that is configured to close the outlet, and that is electrically conductive and made of a metal; an armature that is mechanically fastened to the pintle, that is disposed within the housing, and that is electrically conductive and made of a metal; a solenoid coil that is disposed within the housing and that surrounds the pintle; and an electrically insulative material configured to insulate the pintle from the housing.

Abstract: A method for operating an electromagnetic actuator includes an actuation event utilizing a current waveform for the actuator characterized by an initial peak pull-in current in a first direction of current flow when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position; and a reversed peak current in a second opposite direction of current flow applied after the actuator is commanded to a rest position. The reversed peak current has a magnitude that is greater than the magnitude of the initial peak pull-in current.

Abstract: A starter includes a three-phase switched reluctance electric motor including a rotor and a stator, a pinion gear, a power inverter that is connected to the stator, and a rotational position sensor. The rotor includes a quantity of rotor poles that is between 6 and 16, and the stator includes a quantity of stator poles that is between 8 and 24. An outer diameter of the electric motor is less than 85 mm. An active length of the motor is less than 50 mm. An airgap distance between the rotor and the stator is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. A ratio between a rotor pole arc and a stator pole arc is at least 1.0:1. A ratio between a stator diameter and a rotor diameter is at least 2.0:1, and a ratio between a stator pole height and a rotor pole height is at least 2.5:1.

Abstract: A multi-phase switched reluctance motor including a rotor and a stator, an electronic commutator subassembly, and a controller. The electronic commutator subassembly includes an electronic motor control unit, a power inverter, and a rotational position sensor, with the power inverter being electrically connected to the stator of the switched reluctance motor. The controller is in communication with the electronic motor control unit, the power inverter, and the rotational position sensor. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to characterize operation of the switched reluctance motor, dynamically determine inductance of the switched reluctance motor based upon the characterized operation, and execute a closed-loop torque control routine to control the switched reluctance motor based upon the dynamically determined inductance of the switched reluctance motor.

Abstract: A core structure for an electromagnetic actuator includes an electrically conductive magnetic core component having a magnetic axis, an outer surface between axially opposite ends and at least one slit arranged between said axially opposite ends through the outer surface.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a rotor having a stack of laminations positioned axially relative to one another. The stack of laminations includes a first rotor lamination that is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first rotor lamination is configured to have an asymmetric mass distribution such that the first portion has a first mass and the second portion has a second mass, with the first mass being different from the second mass. The electric motor is configured to selectively generate an unbalanced force during operation (i.e., when the rotor is spinning). The electric motor may include a stator configured to have an asymmetric magnetic field distribution. The electric motor may be employed in a haptic assembly and eliminates the need for a separate eccentric mass to generate a haptic signal.

Abstract: A brushless electric motor includes a motor casing having a first bearing, a motor end-cap including a second bearing, a multi-phase stator assembly, and a rotor assembly having a rotor shaft. The shaft has a first end, a second end, and a knurled section therebetween. The shaft also has a first bearing surface proximate the first end and supported by the first bearing, a second bearing surface proximate the second end and supported by the second bearing, and a rotor position and speed sensor target. The shaft additionally has a sun gear integrated with the shaft proximate the first bearing surface for engaging a partial planetary gear set. The rotor assembly also includes a rotor lamination fixed to the shaft at the knurled section and having opposing first and second sides, and first and second end plates arranged on the respective first and second sides of the rotor lamination.

Abstract: A starter includes a three-phase switched reluctance electric motor including a rotor and a stator, a pinion gear, a power inverter that is connected to the stator, and a rotational position sensor. The rotor includes a quantity of rotor poles that is between 6 and 16, and the stator includes a quantity of stator poles that is between 8 and 24. An outer diameter of the electric motor is less than 85 mm. An active length of the motor is less than 50 mm. An airgap distance between the rotor and the stator is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. A ratio between a rotor pole arc and a stator pole arc is at least 1.0:1. A ratio between a stator diameter and a rotor diameter is at least 2.0:1, and a ratio between a stator pole height and a rotor pole height is at least 2.5:1.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a rotor having a stack of laminations positioned axially relative to one another. The stack of laminations includes a first rotor lamination that is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first rotor lamination is configured to have an asymmetric mass distribution such that the first portion has a first mass and the second portion has a second mass, with the first mass being different from the second mass. The electric motor is configured to selectively generate an unbalanced force during operation (i.e., when the rotor is spinning). The electric motor may include a stator configured to have an asymmetric magnetic field distribution. The electric motor may be employed in a haptic assembly and eliminates the need for a separate eccentric mass to generate a haptic signal.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle propulsion includes an engine and a first electric machine, where each is configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. The propulsion system also includes a second electric machine coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. The propulsion system further includes a controller programmed to deactivate the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to the vehicle being driven at a steady-state speed for a predetermined duration of time. The controller is also programmed to restart the engine using the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source.

Abstract: An electric machine is provided that includes a rotor assembly having a rotor core configured to support permanent magnets spaced around the rotor core to define a number of rotor poles. The rotor core has multiple rotor slots arranged as multiple barrier layers at each of the rotor poles. The rotor core is configured so that the electric machine satisfies predetermined operating parameters. In one embodiment, the electric machine is coupled with an engine through a belt drive train and provides cranking (engine starting), regeneration and torque assist modes.

Abstract: A method for providing consistent actuator events for each of a plurality of consecutive actuator events of an electromagnetic actuator, includes applying a first bi-directional current waveform for a first actuator event and applying a second bi-directional current waveform for a second actuator event immediately subsequent to the first actuator event. The first bi-directional current waveform includes applying current in a first direction when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position and applying current in a reversed second direction when the actuator is commanded to a rest position. The second bi-directional current waveform includes applying current in the reversed second direction when the actuator is commanded to an actuated position and applying current in the first direction when the actuator is commanded to a rest position.

Abstract: An electromagnetically-activated actuator includes an electrical coil, an armature moveable between rest and actuated positions, and a bi-directional driver. A method for controlling an actuator event includes applying a supply voltage at a first polarity across the coil for a first duration to drive a forward current through the coil effective to move the armature away from the rest position. The forward current has a forward current peak at the end of the first duration. After the first duration, the supply voltage is applied at a second polarity across the coil for a second duration to drive a reverse current through the coil. The second duration terminates when the reverse current attains a predetermined reverse current peak, wherein the predetermined reverse current peak is coincident with the armature returning to the rest position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuation system includes an electrical coil, a magnetic core, an armature, a controllable bi-directional drive circuit for selectively driving current through the coil in either of two directions, and a control module providing an actuator command to the drive circuit. Current is driven though the electrical coil in a first direction when an actuation is desired. When the actuation is not desired current is driven through the electrical coil including in a second direction sufficient to reduce residual flux within the actuator below a level passively attained within the actuator at zero coil current.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle propulsion includes an engine and a first electric machine, where each is configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. The propulsion system also includes a second electric machine coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. The propulsion system further includes a controller programmed to deactivate the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to the vehicle being driven at a steady-state speed for a predetermined duration of time. The controller is also programmed to restart the engine using the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuation system includes an actuator having an electrical coil, a magnetic core, and an armature. The system further includes a controllable drive circuit for selectively driving current through the electrical coil. A control module provides an actuator command to the drive circuit effective to drive current through the electrical coil to actuate the armature. The control module includes a magnetic force control module configured to adapt the actuator command to converge magnetic force within the actuator to a preferred force level.

Abstract: An electromagnetically-activated actuator includes an electrical coil, an armature moveable between rest and actuated positions, and a bi-directional driver. A method for controlling an actuator event includes applying a supply voltage at a first polarity across the coil for a first duration to drive a forward current through the coil effective to move the armature away from the rest position. The forward current has a forward current peak at the end of the first duration. After the first duration, the supply voltage is applied at a second polarity across the coil for a second duration to drive a reverse current through the coil. The second duration terminates when the reverse current attains a predetermined reverse current peak, wherein the predetermined reverse current peak is coincident with the armature returning to the rest position.

Abstract: A core structure for an electromagnetic actuator includes an electrically conductive magnetic core component having a magnetic axis, an outer surface between axially opposite ends and at least one slit arranged between said axially opposite ends through the outer surface.

Abstract: A method for parameter estimation in an electromagnetic actuator having an electrical coil and an armature includes applying a voltage pulse to the electrical coil of the actuator prior to an actuator event and of sufficient duration to ensure that a resulting electrical current achieves steady state. At least one parameter of the actuator is estimated based upon the voltage pulse and the steady state current.