Abstract: A controller for an electric machine. The controller includes a first voltage input that directly provides a first voltage to the electric machine, a second voltage input configured to receive a second voltage, and an inverter coupled to the second voltage input. The inverter is configured to be activated by the second voltage, to frequency-regulate the second voltage to generate a frequency-regulated voltage, and to provide the frequency-regulated voltage to the electric machine.

Abstract: An electric machine having a stator assembly that includes a stator core and a coil supported by the stator core and a rotor assembly that includes a shaft and a rotor supported by the shaft that is in magnetic interaction with the stator core. The electric machine may include a single sensor configured to detect magnetic polarities of the rotor as the rotor rotates relative to the sensor and to generate a signal representing the detected magnetic polarities of the rotor. The signal and an inverted version of the signal are utilized to control current through the coil. The current may be controlled indirectly by controlling the application of voltage to the coil. The sensor may be encapsulated on a circuit board to positively position the sensor relative to the circuit board. The circuit board may be mounted to a bearing housing of the electric machine. The sensor may be received in a pocket of a bearing housing of the electric machine so the sensor is positively positioned relative to the rotor.

Abstract: A motor control system that switches between voltage control and angle control. The motor control system includes a comparator, an angle control, and a voltage control.

Abstract: A controller for a motor and a method for controlling the operation of the motor. The controller includes a model of the motor, where the model is utilized to determine modeled values of first and second motor variables. An estimated value of slip is adjusted based at least in part on a comparison of the modeled value of the second motor variable and an estimated value of the second motor variable which is based at least in part on a value of bus voltage and a value of bus current. As the estimated value of slip is adjusted, the modeled values are updated and the voltage utilized to energize the motor is thereby updated to provide control of the motor based on the control of the first motor variable.

Abstract: A controller for a motor and a method for controlling the operation of the motor. The controller includes a model of the motor, where the model is utilized to determine modeled values of first and second motor variables. An estimated value of slip is adjusted based at least in part on a comparison of the modeled value of the second motor variable and an estimated value of the second motor variable which is based at least in part on a value of bus voltage and a value of bus current. As the estimated value of slip is adjusted, the modeled values are updated and the voltage utilized to energize the motor is thereby updated to provide control of the motor based on the control of the first motor variable.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for aligning the rotor of a switched reluctance motor includes regulating the electrical energy provided to two phases of the motor so that the rotor pole is moved to a desired position virtually without oscillation. Regulation of the electrical energy is based on an error signal produced by comparing a sensed current signal and a reference signal. If there is no overlap between the rotor pole and stator poles, the encoder is homed when the rotor is at a known position. If there is overlap, the rotor is moved to an aligned position by reducing the duty cycle command of one phase until all the electrical energy provided to the two phases is in the phase having a constant duty cycle. The rotor is then aligned with a stator pole of the phase with all the electrical energy and the encoder is homed.

Abstract: A method of establishing motor speed control, the method comprising the acts of generating a desired speed command, indirectly measuring the slip of the motor, and adjusting the speed command in response to the slip to maintain a constant speed.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for aligning the rotor of a switched reluctance motor includes regulating the electrical energy provided to two phases of the motor so that the rotor pole is moved to a desired position virtually without oscillation. Regulation of the electrical energy is based on an error signal produced by comparing a sensed current signal and a reference signal. If there is no overlap between the rotor pole and stator poles, the encoder is homed when the rotor is at a known position. If there is overlap, the rotor is moved to an aligned position by reducing the duty cycle command of one phase until all the electrical energy provided to the two phases is in the phase having a constant duty cycle. The rotor is then aligned with a stator pole of the phase with all the electrical energy and the encoder is homed.