Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method that includes performing an electrical degradation analysis for a power inverter. The method further includes performing a thermal degradation analysis on the power inverter. The method further includes, responsive to at least one of a result of the electrical degradation analysis being indicative of an electrical issue of the power inverter or a result of the thermal degradation analysis being indicative of a thermal issue of the power inverter, implementing a corrective action for the power inverter.

Abstract: An inverter assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing with an inlet end for receiving a flow of coolant and an outlet end for discharging the flow of coolant. The assembly further includes a first plurality of power transistors conducting and switching an electrical current and generating a first amount of heat. The assembly further includes a second plurality of power transistors conducting and switching the electrical current and generating a second amount of heat that is less than the first amount of heat. A heat sink includes a plate with a first section adjacent to the first plurality of power transistors and a second section adjacent to the second plurality of power transistors. The heat sink further includes a first plurality of fins for drawing the first amount of heat from the first section and a guide vane directing the flow of coolant toward the first plurality of fins.

Abstract: A nipper device includes a first handle and a second handle pivotable relative to each other. The nipper includes a jaw with a first blade and an opposing second blade. The first and second blades include linear blade edges, which pivot relative to each other to enable trimming of a nail on a hand and/or a foot. The jaw and the handles are configured so that pivotable movement of the first handle relative to the second handle causes pivotal movement of the first blade relative to the second blade. The jaw blades include cavities located on the interior of the blades. The cavities are configured to collect nail particle trimmings from a user. The cavities function as a catching mechanism (catcher) to collect nail trimmings and prevent them from scattering.

Abstract: A power control system comprises a battery system including N battery packs. A plurality of contactors selectively connects N battery packs of a battery system in a first configuration supplying a first voltage level, a second configuration supplying a second voltage level, and a disconnected configuration. M power inverters connect the battery system to M electric machines, respectively. A controller is configured to determine when to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The controller is configured to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration by causing one of a positive torque transient and a negative torque transient to be generated by at least one of the M electric machines, transitioning the battery system from one of the first configuration and the second configuration to the disconnected configuration, and transitioning from the disconnected configuration to the other one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A power module includes: a first substrate layer that is disposed on a first plane; a second substrate layer that is disposed on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane; first and second electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first and second direct current (DC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a third plane that is parallel to the first and second planes; third, fourth, and fifth electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first, second, and third alternating current (AC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a fourth plane that is parallel to the first, second, and third planes; and a plurality of dies of switches, respectively, disposed between the first and second substrate layers.

Abstract: A power inverter includes first and second inputs and a plurality of power switches in communication with the first and second inputs. First, second and third outputs communicate with the plurality of power switches. First, second and third conductors are configured to connect the first, second and third outputs to an electric machine. Each of the first, second and third conductors comprise a plurality of twisted and segmented wires.

Abstract: A charging system for an electric vehicle comprises a charger connector configured to connect to a charge port on the electric vehicle and includes a housing, a first conductor passing through the housing, a second conductor passing through the housing, and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor to a battery system of the electric vehicle. A charger-side controller includes an arc fault detection module configured to selectively identify a DC arc fault in response to measured current sensed by the current sensor and to stop charging the electric vehicle in response to detecting the DC arc fault.

Abstract: A power control system includes a power inverter comprising a first side, a second side, and a plurality of power switches. The second side is configured to connect to an electric machine. A solid state fuse includes a power switch including a first terminal in communication with the first terminal of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of the electric vehicle and a second terminal in communication with the first side of the power inverter. A DC-DC converter is configured to convert a first voltage output by the RESS of the electric vehicle to a second voltage. One or more sensors configured to sense one or more operating parameters of the RESS. A fuse controller is configured to receive power from the DC-DC converter, to communicate with the one or more sensors and to cause the power switch to selectively change state in response to changes in the one or more operating parameters.

Abstract: A motor control system includes: a voltage command module configured to determine a target d-axis voltage for an electric motor and a target q-axis voltage for the electric motor; a target frequency module configured to: selectively set a target switching frequency to a first predetermined switching frequency; and selectively set the target switching frequency to a second predetermined switching frequency that is at least 2 kilohertz (kHz) greater than the first predetermined switching frequency; and a switching module configured to: based on the target d-axis voltage and the target q-axis voltage, determine target pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycles for phases, respectively, of the electric motor; and switch switches of legs of an inverter module connected to the phases of the electric motor at the target PWM duty cycles, respectively, and the target switching frequency.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a current regulator to obtain current commands from a controller based on a torque input and provide voltage commands and an inverter to use the voltage commands from the current regulator and direct current (DC) supplied by a battery to provide alternating current (AC). The system also includes an electric traction motor to provide drive power to a transmission of the vehicle based on injection of the AC from the inverter. The current regulator adjusts parameters of a transfer function implemented by the current regulator, based on feedback of an input to and an output from the electric traction motor to achieve the AC corresponding with the torque input in no more than two control cycles.

Abstract: A power control system for a battery system includes a resistor including a first terminal and a second terminal. A normally closed transistor includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal. The first terminal of the transistor is connected to a second terminal of the resistor and the second terminal of the transistor is connected to a second terminal of the battery system. A capacitor includes a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the resistor and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the battery system. A power inverter includes a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the resistor, a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the battery system and an output connected to a load.

Abstract: A motor control system includes: a voltage command module configured to determine a target d-axis voltage for an electric motor and a target q-axis voltage for the electric motor; a target frequency module configured to: selectively set a target switching frequency to a first predetermined switching frequency; and selectively set the target switching frequency to a second predetermined switching frequency that is at least 2 kilohertz (kHz) greater than the first predetermined switching frequency; and a switching module configured to: based on the target d-axis voltage and the target q-axis voltage, determine target pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycles for phases, respectively, of the electric motor; and switch switches of legs of an inverter module connected to the phases of the electric motor at the target PWM duty cycles, respectively, and the target switching frequency.

Abstract: A bidirectional switch fault protection circuit includes a bidirectional switch circuit, a desaturation detection circuit, and a gate driver. The bidirectional switch circuit generates first and second switch voltages based on a direction of electric current. The desaturation detection circuit outputs the first switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in a first direction and outputs the second switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in a second direction opposite the first direction. The gate driver receives the first switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in the first direction and the second switch voltage in response to the electric current flowing in the second direction. The gate driver detects a first short circuit condition based on the first switch voltage and a second short circuit condition based on the second switch voltage.

Abstract: A detection system for a capacitor of a power inverter of an electric vehicle includes a protection circuit including a current sensor and a power switch having a first terminal in communication with a battery system of the electric vehicle. The protection circuit is configured to selectively generate a pulse and to sense a measured current flowing through the power switch. A voltage sensor configured to sense a measured voltage across the capacitor. A controller in communication with the voltage sensor and the protection circuit is configured to estimate a capacitance value of the capacitor based on the measured current and the measured voltage.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes monitoring, using a microcontroller, an electric circuit of a vehicle, the electric comprising a battery source and a load. The battery source supplies electric power to the load. The method further includes detecting, using the microcontroller, a high current event in the electric circuit by comparing a current level of a current flowing through the electric circuit to a time-based current threshold. The method further includes responsive to detecting the high current event, controlling a gate driver to cause a switch of an electronically resettable fuse to open the electric circuit to stop the flow of the current through the electric circuit.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a current regulator to obtain current commands from a controller based on a torque input and provide voltage commands and an inverter to use the voltage commands from the current regulator and direct current (DC) supplied by a battery to provide alternating current (AC). An electric traction motor provides drive power to a transmission of the vehicle based on injection of the AC from the inverter. A current observer obtains measured input current signals based on the AC for a current control cycle and provides predicted current signals for a next control cycle to the current regulator using a model. The current observer includes a controller to check output of the model against the measured input current signals. The current observer tunes parameters of the controller and the model used to generate the predicted current signals based on the measured input current signals.

Abstract: An inverter assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing with an inlet end for receiving a flow of coolant and an outlet end for discharging the flow of coolant. The assembly further includes a first plurality of power transistors conducting and switching an electrical current and generating a first amount of heat. The assembly further includes a second plurality of power transistors conducting and switching the electrical current and generating a second amount of heat that is less than the first amount of heat. A heat sink includes a plate with a first section adjacent to the first plurality of power transistors and a second section adjacent to the second plurality of power transistors. The heat sink further includes a first plurality of fins for drawing the first amount of heat from the first section and a guide vane directing the flow of coolant toward the first plurality of fins.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes monitoring, using a microcontroller, an electric circuit of a vehicle, the electric comprising a battery source and a load. The battery source supplies electric power to the load. The method further includes detecting, using the microcontroller, a high current event in the electric circuit by comparing a current level of a current flowing through the electric circuit to a time-based current threshold. The method further includes responsive to detecting the high current event, controlling a gate driver to cause a switch of an electronically resettable fuse to open the electric circuit to stop the flow of the current through the electric circuit.