Abstract: A control system for a motor includes a pulse-width modulation module, a pulse skip determination module, and a duty cycle adjustment module. The pulse-width modulation module generates three duty cycle values based on three voltage requests, respectively. A plurality of solid-state switches control three phases of the motor in response to the three duty cycle values, respectively. The pulse skip determination module generates a pulse skip signal. The duty cycle adjustment module selectively prevents the plurality of solid-state switches from switching during intervals specified by the pulse skip signal.

Abstract: A system and method for determining electrical angles of electric motors at zero and low speeds without using angle sensors, and a system and method for estimating resistances and temperatures in electric motors, wherein the two systems and methods may be used separately or together. When used together, they substantially simultaneously estimate motor flux linkage, magnet flux, and motor resistance. In particular, the estimated magnet flux is used to derive the electrical angle and to estimate an average rotor temperature, and the estimated motor resistance is used to estimate the average stator temperature. A Kalman filter, which may be a linear Kalman filter or a Luenberger observer, is used to update state equations from which various motor parameters can be derived or estimated. The system and method which works for motors operating at zero and low speeds can be combined with systems and methods that work at high speeds.

Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the motor and speed of the motor. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.

Abstract: A control system for a motor includes an angle determination module, a control module, an angle generation module, and an estimator module. The angle determination module generates an output rotor angle indicative of a desired angle of a rotor of the motor. The control module controls current supplied to the motor based on the output rotor angle. The angle generation module generates a commanded rotor angle in response to a commanded speed. The estimator module determines an estimated rotor angle of the motor. Upon startup of the motor, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the commanded rotor angle. Upon beginning of a transition period, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the commanded rotor angle and the estimated rotor angle. Upon ending of the transition period, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the estimated rotor angle.

Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the motor and speed of the motor. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.

Abstract: Assemblies for HVAC systems and methods of operating HVAC systems are disclosed, including a method of operating an HVAC system having a compressor assembly and a condenser assembly. The compressor assembly includes a compressor having a compressor motor that is susceptible to backspinning and capable of generating electric power when backspinning. The condenser assembly includes a condenser motor operatively coupled to a fan. The condenser assembly is electrically coupled to the compressor assembly. The method includes using the condenser motor as an electric load to dissipate electric power generated by the compressor motor when the compressor motor backspins.

Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the motor and speed of the motor. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.

Abstract: A control system for a motor includes a pulse-width modulation module, a pulse skip determination module, and a duty cycle adjustment module. The pulse-width modulation module generates three duty cycle values based on three voltage requests, respectively. A plurality of solid-state switches control three phases of the motor in response to the three duty cycle values, respectively. The pulse skip determination module generates a pulse skip signal. The duty cycle adjustment module selectively prevents the plurality of solid-state switches from switching during intervals specified by the pulse skip signal.

Abstract: A control system for a motor includes an angle determination module, a control module, an angle generation module, and an estimator module. The angle determination module generates an output rotor angle indicative of a desired angle of a rotor of the motor. The control module controls current supplied to the motor based on the output rotor angle. The angle generation module generates a commanded rotor angle in response to a commanded speed. The estimator module determines an estimated rotor angle of the motor. Upon startup of the motor, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the commanded rotor angle. Upon beginning of a transition period, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the commanded rotor angle and the estimated rotor angle. Upon ending of the transition period, the angle determination module generates the output rotor angle based on the estimated rotor angle.

Abstract: Various methods of detecting a found rotor, a lost rotor, a locked rotor and a caught rotor after a power disruption using flux estimates are disclosed. Also disclosed are permanent magnet motor controllers and assemblies suitable for performing one or more of these methods.

Abstract: A system includes a control module that controls a motor based on a first rotor angle and an angle determination module that generates the first rotor angle. An estimator module determines an estimated rotor angle of the motor. A transition module generates a transition signal in response to convergence of the estimator module. The angle determination module initially generates the first rotor angle based on an open loop angle. In response to the transition signal, the angle determination module switches to generating the first rotor angle based on the estimated rotor angle and an offset value. The offset value is based on a difference between the estimated rotor angle and the open loop angle at the time when the transition signal is generated.

Abstract: Various methods of detecting a found rotor, a lost rotor, a locked rotor and a caught rotor after a power disruption using flux estimates are disclosed. Also disclosed are permanent magnet motor controllers and assemblies suitable for performing one or more of these methods.

Abstract: A controller includes a voltage determination module, a bus voltage command module, and a power factor correction (PFC) control module. The voltage determination module determines a desired direct current (DC) bus voltage for a DC bus electrically connected between a PFC module and an inverter power module that drives a compressor motor. The voltage determination module determines the desired DC bus voltage based on at least one of torque of the compressor motor, speed of the compressor motor, output power of the inverter power module, and drive input power. The bus voltage command module determines a commanded bus voltage based on the desired DC bus voltage. The PFC control module controls the PFC module to create a voltage on the DC bus that is based on the commanded bus voltage.

Abstract: A motor control system includes a control module, a switching module, and a filtering module. The control module determines output voltages for operating a motor based on a torque demand. The switching module generates switching signals for an inverter that drives the motor. The switching module generates the switching signals based on the output voltages. The switching module generates an out-of-volts (OOV) signal according to a comparison based on the output voltages, a maximum duty cycle, and a voltage of a direct current (DC) bus that provides power to the inverter. The filtering module generates an OOV amount by filtering the OOV signal. The control module selectively limits the torque demand based on the OOV amount.

Abstract: Various methods of detecting a found rotor, a lost rotor, a locked rotor and a caught rotor after a power disruption using flux estimates are disclosed. Also disclosed are permanent magnet motor controllers and assemblies suitable for performing one or more of these methods.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the temperature of a rotating electromagnetic machine, such as an electric motor or generator. A temperature calibration parameter is calculated based on the temperature of an object situated close to the motor, such as a motor drive connected to the motor, and a first resistance value of the winding. In exemplary embodiments, the motor drive and first resistance value are determined only after the motor has been idle for some predetermined time period. Once the calibration parameter is calculated, the processor uses it along with subsequent resistance measurements to calculate the temperature of the motor.

Abstract: Assemblies for HVAC systems and methods of operating HVAC systems are disclosed, including a method of operating an HVAC system having a condenser motor operatively coupled to a fan and a controllable bus voltage for powering the condenser motor. The method includes increasing the controllable bus voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage to increase a speed of the condenser motor.

Abstract: A system includes a control module that controls a motor based on a first rotor angle and an angle determination module that generates the first rotor angle. An estimator module determines an estimated rotor angle of the motor. A transition module generates a transition signal in response to convergence of the estimator module. The angle determination module initially generates the first rotor angle based on an open loop angle. In response to the transition signal, the angle determination module switches to generating the first rotor angle based on the estimated rotor angle and an offset value. The offset value is based on a difference between the estimated rotor angle and the open loop angle at the time when the transition signal is generated.

Abstract: A system includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) module, a subtraction module, an error reducing module, and a summing module. The PWM module controls switching of an inverter that powers a motor. The PWM module controls the switching based on a first angle in a first mode and a second angle in a second mode. The subtraction module determines a difference between the first and second angles. The error reducing module (i) stores the difference when a transition from the first mode to the second mode is commanded and (ii) decreases a magnitude of the stored difference to zero. The summing module calculates a sum of the stored difference and the second angle. The PWM module controls the switching based on the sum in the second mode.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the temperature of a rotating electromagnetic machine, such as an electric motor or generator. A temperature calibration parameter is calculated based on the temperature of an object situated close to the motor, such as a motor drive connected to the motor, and a first resistance value of the winding. In exemplary embodiments, the motor drive and first resistance value are determined only after the motor has been idle for some predetermined time period. Once the calibration parameter is calculated, the processor uses it along with subsequent resistance measurements to calculate the temperature of the motor.