Abstract: A method may involve sending signals with a frequency modulated continuous wave radar, receiving the signals reflected at the radar, and processing the received signals into point cloud data having a plurality of points. The method may involve assigning the plurality of points to a track and determining track information based on the plurality of points assigned to the track. The method may involve comparing track information against debounce criteria, where track information may be flagged as dynamic clutter by using a Kalman filter based algorithm on the track information. The method may include calculating a velocity of the vehicle based on the flagged track information. The method may change an operation of the vehicle in response to the calculated velocity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a position sensor includes calculating an absolute value of a sine signal and an absolute value of a cosine signal from the position sensor. At least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is compared to a minimum threshold to determine if the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is less than the minimum threshold, or if the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is equal to or greater than the minimum threshold. A fault with the position sensor is indicated when the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is less than the minimum threshold.

Abstract: A rotary system includes a rotor, a vector-based position sensor, and a controller executing a method to eliminate fundamental harmonic position measurement error. The sensor measures angular position of the rotor and outputs raw sine and cosine signals representative of the angular position. The raw signals have a fundamental harmonic position measurement error at the frequency of the sensor signals. The controller receives the raw signals, adaptively adds or subtracts sensor signal offsets to or from the raw signals to generate offset sine and cosine signals, calculates a corrected position of the rotor using the offset sine and cosine signals eliminating the fundamental error, and controls an action or state of the rotary system using the corrected position. The rotor may be part of an electric machine, such as in a vehicle.

Abstract: A switching module switches between receiving a first output from a sensor and a second output from a sensor-less position detection module each indicating a rotor position error of a motor. A position determining module determines a rotor position of the motor based on an output of the switching module and generates a control signal to control a parameter of the motor. A sample and hold module operates on a sum of the output of the switching module and an output of the sample and hold module from a prior instance of switching between the first and second outputs. The position determining module scales the output of the sample and hold module using first and second gains to generate first and second scaled outputs, and generates the control signal based on the output of the switching module and the first and second scaled outputs.

Abstract: A switching module switches between receiving a first output from a sensor and a second output from a sensor-less position detection module each indicating a rotor position error of a motor. A position determining module determines a rotor position of the motor based on an output of the switching module and generates a control signal to control a parameter of the motor. A sample and hold module operates on a sum of the output of the switching module and an output of the sample and hold module from a prior instance of switching between the first and second outputs. The position determining module scales the output of the sample and hold module using first and second gains to generate first and second scaled outputs, and generates the control signal based on the output of the switching module and the first and second scaled outputs.

Abstract: Systems and method for operating motors are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a motor includes receiving a first output corresponding to a motor angular position. The method further includes synthesizing a synthesized second output from the first output and from an estimated motor angular velocity. The method also includes calculating the motor angular position from the first output and the synthesized second output. The method includes estimating the motor angular velocity from the motor angular position. Further, the method includes operating the motor to produce torque based on the motor angular position and the motor angular velocity.

Abstract: A rotary system includes a rotor, a vector-based position sensor, and a controller executing a method to eliminate fundamental harmonic position measurement error. The sensor measures angular position of the rotor and outputs raw sine and cosine signals representative of the angular position. The raw signals have a fundamental harmonic position measurement error at the frequency of the sensor signals. The controller receives the raw signals, adaptively adds or subtracts sensor signal offsets to or from the raw signals to generate offset sine and cosine signals, calculates a corrected position of the rotor using the offset sine and cosine signals eliminating the fundamental error, and controls an action or state of the rotary system using the corrected position. The rotor may be part of an electric machine, such as in a vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and method for operating motors are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a motor includes receiving a first output corresponding to a motor angular position. The method further includes synthesizing a synthesized second output from the first output and from an estimated motor angular velocity. The method also includes calculating the motor angular position from the first output and the synthesized second output. The method includes estimating the motor angular velocity from the motor angular position. Further, the method includes operating the motor to produce torque based on the motor angular position and the motor angular velocity.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a position sensor includes calculating an absolute value of a sine signal and an absolute value of a cosine signal from the position sensor. At least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is compared to a minimum threshold to determine if the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is less than the minimum threshold, or if the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is equal to or greater than the minimum threshold. A fault with the position sensor is indicated when the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is less than the minimum threshold.

Abstract: A system includes a rotary device, a vector-based position sensor outputting raw sine and cosine signals indicative of an angular position of the rotary device, and a controller. The controller executes a method by receiving the raw sine and cosine signals from the sensor, generating corrected sine and cosine signals by applying an amplitude error input signal to a first integrator block using a first predetermined trigonometric relationship, and executing a control action for the rotary device via output signals using the corrected signals. The first predetermined trigonometric relationship is SC2?CC2, with SC and CC being the respective corrected sine and cosine signals. The controller may use a second predetermined trigonometric relationship, SC·CC, to apply an orthogonality error input signal to a second integrator block.

Abstract: A system includes a rotary device, a vector-based position sensor outputting raw sine and cosine signals indicative of an angular position of the rotary device, and a controller. The controller executes a method by receiving the raw sine and cosine signals from the sensor, generating corrected sine and cosine signals by applying an amplitude error input signal to a first integrator block using a first predetermined trigonometric relationship, and executing a control action for the rotary device via output signals using the corrected signals. The first predetermined trigonometric relationship is SC2-CC2, with SC and CC being the respective corrected sine and cosine signals. The controller may use a second predetermined trigonometric relationship, SC·CC, to apply an orthogonality error input signal to a second integrator block.

Abstract: An inverter electrically connected to an electric machine is described. A method for controlling switching in the inverter includes determining a torque output of the electric machine and determining a temperature related to an inverter cooling circuit. A preferred inverter switch control mode for controlling the inverter is selected based upon the torque output of the electric machine and the temperature related to the inverter cooling circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an erratic state of a monitored sensor includes generating a variation value for a monitored signal generated by a monitored sensor and a variation value for an estimated signal estimated based on a predictive signal generated by predictive sensor, where the predictive signal is predictive of the monitored signal. The monitored signal can rapidly fluctuate based on system operating conditions. A dynamic threshold value is generated based on the estimated variation value, and the monitored signal is compared with the dynamic threshold value to determine if the monitored signal is in an erratic state. The detection method is sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between rapid fluctuation of the monitored sensor and an erratic state.

Abstract: A method for detecting a sensor that is stuck in range includes computing a variation value for each of a first signal and a second signal generated by a respective first and second sensor, wherein the first and second signals are correlated signals. The variation value for each of the first and second signals is computed for the same diagnostic period, such that when one of the first and second sensors is generating a signal which is stuck in range during the diagnostic period, the signal stuck in range will be characterized by a variation value which is much less than the variation value of the correlated signal. The magnitude of difference between the variation values of the first and second signals can be compared to a predetermined fault threshold to diagnose a sensor stuck in range.

Abstract: An inverter electrically connected to an electric machine is described. A method for controlling switching in the inverter includes determining a torque output of the electric machine and determining a temperature related to an inverter cooling circuit. A preferred inverter switch control mode for controlling the inverter is selected based upon the torque output of the electric machine and the temperature related to the inverter cooling circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an erratic state of a monitored sensor includes generating a variation value for a monitored signal generated by a monitored sensor and a variation value for an estimated signal estimated based on a predictive signal generated by predictive sensor, where the predictive signal is predictive of the monitored signal. The monitored signal can rapidly fluctuate based on system operating conditions. A dynamic threshold value is generated based on the estimated variation value, and the monitored signal is compared with the dynamic threshold value to determine if the monitored signal is in an erratic state. The detection method is sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between rapid fluctuation of the monitored sensor and an erratic state.

Abstract: A method for detecting a sensor that is stuck in range includes computing a variation value for each of a first signal and a second signal generated by a respective first and second sensor, wherein the first and second signals are correlated signals. The variation value for each of the first and second signals is computed for the same diagnostic period, such that when one of the first and second sensors is generating a signal which is stuck in range during the diagnostic period, the signal stuck in range will be characterized by a variation value which is much less than the variation value of the correlated signal. The magnitude of difference between the variation values of the first and second signals can be compared to a predetermined fault threshold to diagnose a sensor stuck in range.