Abstract: A system, for determining a starting position angle of an electric motor, includes a plurality of windings, a circuit, a processor, and at least one voltage sensor. The circuit is configured to create a pulse current field in at least one of the plurality of windings. The sensor is configured to sense a pulse current field response in a corresponding winding of the plurality of windings. The processor is in communication with the voltage sensor and is configured to determine the position angle of the rotor based on the pulse field response.

Abstract: A switching circuit for an electric machine is provided. The switching circuit includes switches for energizing the phase windings of the machine and sensors for driving the state of the switches. The switches are voltage-controlled devices and the sensors are coils.

Abstract: A switching circuit for an electric machine is provided. The switching circuit includes switches for energizing the phase windings of the machine and sensors for driving the state of the switches. The switches are voltage-controlled devices and the sensors are coils.

Abstract: A stator for an electric machine includes a stator core having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced and axially-extending core slots. The core slots extend between a first and a second end of the stator core and a stator winding having a plurality of phases is positioned therein. Each of the phases includes a first pair of conductors connected in parallel and a second pair of conductors connected in parallel, in turn connected to one another in series to define a single phase of the stator winding. The first pair of conductors and the second pair of conductors occupy adjacent slots such that each single phase of the stator winding occupies two adjacent slots within the stator core. Each conductor has a plurality of slot segments housed in the core slots that are alternately connected at the ends of the stator core by a plurality of end loop segments.

Abstract: An electric machine for a motor vehicle is provided, the electric machine generally comprising a claw-pole rotor and a stator circumscribing the rotor. Adjacent pole fingers of the rotor define a distance P representing the axial distance between the magnetic centers of the adjacent pole fingers. The stator generally includes a stator core defining a distance H representing the axial height of the lamination stack. Preferably, the electric machine has a ratio of P to H (P/H) in the range of 0.29 to 0.45, resulting in an improvement in the power output of the electric machine.

Abstract: A stator assembly for an alternator in accordance with the present invention includes a generally cylindrically-shaped stator core having a plurality of core slots formed along the inner surface thereof and defined by a radial depth and wherein a stator coil is disposed. The core slots thereby define a plurality of teeth therebetween, which are connected to the stator core by a yoke portion. The core slots are shaped and extend between a first and a second end of the stator core. A plurality of clips closely fit into one of said core slots for lining each respective core slot. The clips have a pair of extending leg members connected to a back end and forming an aperture therebetween. The clips are formed from a magnetically permeable material. A stator winding includes substantially straight wire segments that are received by the clips formed of substantially straight wire segments. The substantially straight wire segments of the stator winding and the clips are electrically insulated from one another.

Abstract: An alternator of the present invention includes a housing, a stator assembly mounted stationary within the housing, and a rotor assembly mounted rotatably within the housing in functional engagement with the stator assembly. An air gap extends annularly around the alternator between the rotor assembly and the stator assembly. The rotor assembly has a first end and a second end, and the air gap has a non-uniform thickness that varies along the axial length of the rotor assembly between the first and second ends of the rotor assembly. This non-uniform thickness is designed to avoid interference between rotor outer surface and stator inner surface at high rotor spin speed, but minimize the averaged air gap thickness for high alternator performance.

Abstract: An alternator of the present invention includes a housing, a stator assembly mounted stationary within the housing, and a rotor assembly mounted rotatably within the housing in functional engagement with the stator assembly. An air gap extends annularly around the alternator between the rotor assembly and the stator assembly. The rotor assembly has a first end and a second end, and the air gap has a non-uniform thickness that varies along the axial length of the rotor assembly between the first and second ends of the rotor assembly. This non-uniform thickness is designed to avoid interference between rotor outer surface and stator inner surface at high rotor spin speed, but minimize the averaged air gap thickness for high alternator performance.