Abstract: An electric motor or generator system comprising a rotor having a first set of magnet poles; a stator having a first sensor mounted on the stator and a second sensor mounted in substantially a diametrically opposite position on the stator relative to the first sensor, wherein the first sensor is arranged to output a first signal indicative of a first rotor flux angle associated with the first set of magnet poles as the rotor rotates relative to the stator and the second sensor is arranged to output a second signal indicative of a second rotor flux angle associated with the first set of magnet poles as the rotor rotates relative to the stator; and means arranged to determine a corrected rotor flux angle by averaging the first rotor flux angle indicated by the first sensor and the second rotor flux angle indicated by the second sensor.

Abstract: A control unit for identifying a fault in an electric motor or generator, the control unit comprising means for measuring a value of a first parameter associated with the operation of the electric motor or generator; means for increasing a counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value or a value derived from the measured value and a second value is greater than a first predetermined value; means for decreasing the counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value and the second value is less than the first predetermined value; and means for generating a signal indicative of a fault if the counter value exceeds a second predetermined value.

Abstract: An electric motor or generator comprising a stator having stator teeth for mounting electrical coils, a rotor, a first electrical device arranged to control current in the electric coils to generate a rotational torque on the rotor and a second electrical device arranged to modify current provided to the first electrical device, wherein the stator includes a cooling arrangement having a cooling channel arranged to cool the electrical coils, the first electrical device and the second electrical device.

Abstract: A control module for an electric motor having a stator that includes a first surface, wherein cooling fluid is arranged to flow within the stator for providing cooling to the first surface, the power module comprising a power device having switching elements for controlling current flow in coil windings mounted on the stator; a control device for controlling the operation of the switching devices; a housing with a first side for mounting to the first surface of the stator, wherein the first side of the housing includes an aperture for allowing a portion of the power device to be in contract with the first surface of the stator when the housing is mounted to the first surface for providing cooling to the switching elements, wherein the control device is arranged to be mounted in the housing on an opposite side of the power device to the first side of the housing and an elastomer is located over the power device and the control device for providing an electrical insulation barrier over the switches on the power

Abstract: An electric motor or generator system comprising a stator, a rotor, a first bearing, a first coupling device and a second coupling device, wherein the second coupling device includes a first coupling element arranged to be coupled to a vehicle and a second coupling element coupled to the rotor with a second bearing mounted between the first coupling element and the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the vehicle, wherein the first bearing is mounted between a surface of the stator and a surface of the rotor or the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the stator and the first coupling device is arranged to substantially preventing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in a first degree of freedom while allowing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in at least a second degree of freedom.

Abstract: An electric motor or generator comprising a stator with at least one coil winding, wherein the stator includes a first surface having a section of the at least one coil winding extending in a direction away from the first surface, and a control module having a housing with a first side that is arranged to be mounted to the first surface of the stator, wherein the housing includes a first element for detecting current flow, and a control device for controlling current flow in the at least one coil winding based upon the current flow detected by the first element, wherein the section of the at least one coil winding that is arranged to extend away from the first surface is arranged to extend through an aperture formed on the first side of the housing for coupling to the control device, wherein the first element is mounted in the housing adjacent to the aperture.

Abstract: An inverter for an electric motor or generator having a first device and a second device mounted on an element. The first device includes a first switch, a first contact arranged to be coupled to a first terminal of a power source, and a second contact. The second device includes a second switch, a third contact arranged to be coupled to a second terminal of a power source, and a fourth contact. The first device and the second device are mounted on the element such that a portion of the first contact of the first device that is arranged to be coupled to the first terminal of a power source and a portion of the third contact of the second device that is arranged to be coupled to second terminal of a power source are located adjacent to each other on a first region of the element and the second contact of the first device and the fourth contact of the second device are arranged to be coupled to a coil winding of the electric motor or generator.

Abstract: A stator for an electric motor or generator comprising a circumferential support having a plurality of protrusions circumferentially distributed about the support; and a plurality of teeth arranged to receive coil windings, wherein each tooth includes a recess with interlocking means formed within the recess for engaging with a protrusion mounted on the circumferential support in a radial direction.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor, the control system comprising a first control device arranged to control an operation of a first component of the electric motor; a second control device arranged to control an operation of a second component of the electric motor, wherein the first control device is arranged to transmit to the second control device a first signal for indicating the transmission of data over a first communication link to the second control device, wherein the second control device is arranged to use the timing of the first signal to synchronise the operation of the second component with the operation of the first component.

Abstract: Control apparatus includes an inverter having a plurality of switches arranged to generate a plurality of different voltage phases, and a switch arrangement having a rectifier arranged to be coupled to the respective plurality of coil windings. The rectifier is arranged to rectify an alternating current flowing in respective coil windings and provide the rectified AC current to a DC output, and a switch is coupled across the DC output. The switch is operable to electrically isolate the plurality of coil windings from each other. A controller is arranged to operate the switch to electrically isolate the plurality of coil windings upon a failure of an inverter switch or upon detection of a current flow in the inverter or the switch that is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor, the control system comprising a first control device arranged to control current in a first coil set of the electric motor and a second control device arranged to control current in a second coil set of the electric motor; wherein the first control device includes a first interface arrangement for receiving data from a first controller for allowing the first control device to determine a required current flow in the first coil set, wherein the first interface arrangement is arranged to communicate data to the second control device for allowing the second control device to determine a required current flow in the second coil set.

Abstract: A stator or rotor for an electric motor or generator comprising a circumferential support having a protrusion; a tooth arranged to receive coil windings, wherein the tooth includes a recess in which is housed the protrusion of the circumferential support, and the protrusion and the recess in the tooth are arranged to have a cavity or channel formed on an adjacent surface of the recess and the protrusion when the protrusion is housed in the recess, wherein a material is placed inside the cavities or channels formed by the adjacent surfaces of the recess and the protrusion for retaining the tooth to the support.

Abstract: An electric motor for rotating a wheel of a vehicle, the electric motor having a rotor, a stator and coil windings, a first sensor arranged to output a first signal indicative of a position of the rotor relative to the stator, a second sensor arranged to output a second signal indicative of a position of the rotor relative to the stator; wherein the first sensor and second sensor are offset with respect to each other such that upon rotation of the rotor relative to the stator the first output signal and second output signal allow the direction of the rotor to be determined; wherein the first output signal and second output signal are used for controlling current in the coil windings and at least one of the first output signal and second output signal are provided to a vehicle braking system to allow the vehicle braking system to determine a wheel lock condition or an onset of a wheel lock condition, wherein the onset of a wheel lock condition is determined based on predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A stator or rotor for an electric motor or generator comprising a plurality of teeth for receiving coil windings, wherein each tooth has an injection moulded plastic layer formed on a plurality of sides of each tooth with a first gap formed in the injection moulded plastic layer on a first side of each of the teeth with a first insulation element placed in the first gap formed in the injection moulded plastic layer, wherein the injection moulded plastic layer and first insulation element are arranged to electrically insulate the plurality of teeth from the coil windings.

Abstract: An electric motor or generator comprising a stator having two coil sets arranged to produce a magnetic field for generating a drive torque; two control devices; and a first capacitor arranged to be coupled to a power source for providing current to the two control devices, wherein the first control device is coupled to a first coil set and the first capacitor and the second control device is coupled to a second coil set and the first capacitor, wherein each control device is arranged to control current in the respective coil set to generate a magnetic field in the respective coil set.

Abstract: A capacitor component comprising a first busbar, a first electrode and a second electrode separated by a dielectric film, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode and the dielectric film are arranged in a annular ring with the first busbar arranged around the outer circumference of the annular ring, wherein the first busbar is in electrical contact with the first electrode and the first busbar includes a gap in a circumferential portion of the first busbar.

Abstract: A control unit for identifying a fault in an electric motor or generator, the control unit comprising means for measuring a value of a first parameter associated with the operation of the electric motor or generator; means for increasing a counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value or a value derived from the measured value and a second value is greater than a first predetermined value; means for decreasing the counter value if the difference between the measured first parameter value and the second value is less than the first predetermined value; and means for generating a signal indicative of a fault if the counter value exceeds a second predetermined value.

Abstract: An electric motor includes one or more separate coil sets arranged to produce a magnetic field of the motor. The electric motor also includes a plurality of control devices coupled to respective sub-sets of coils for current control. A similar arrangement is proposed for a generator. A coil mounting system for an electric motor or generator includes one or more coil teeth for windably receiving a coil for the motor and a back portion for attachably receiving a plurality of the coil teeth. A traction control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels independently powered by a respective motor. A suspension control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, each wheel being mounted on a suspension arm of the vehicle and being independently powered by a respective motor.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor having a first control device arranged to control current in a first coil set for generating a first torque on a rotor and a second control device arranged to control current in a second coil set for generating a second torque on the rotor, the system comprising a controller arranged to instruct the first control device to control current in the first coil set to generate a torque on the rotor to allow rotation of the rotor; and means for measuring a characteristic associated with the second coil set resulting from the rotation of the rotor from the torque generated by the first coil set while substantially no current is flowing in the coils of the second coil set.

Abstract: An electric motor or generator system comprising a stator, a rotor, a first bearing, a first coupling device and a second coupling device, wherein the second coupling device includes a first coupling element arranged to be coupled to a vehicle and a second coupling element coupled to the rotor with a second bearing mounted between the first coupling element and the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the vehicle, wherein the first bearing is mounted between a surface of the stator and a surface of the rotor or the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the stator and the first coupling device is arranged to substantially preventing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in a first degree of freedom while allowing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in at least a second degree of freedom.