Abstract: A motor control system is configured to: determine a current supply limit for an electric motor; receive a current supply of the electric motor; identify one or more motor commands; adjust the one or more motor commands in response to a determination that the current supply is greater than the current supply limit; and selectively control the electric motor using the adjusted one or more motor commands.

Abstract: A method includes, in response to an ignition on signal: determining, using one or more sensors, whether a host vehicle is moving from a first lane to a second lane; determining, using one or more sensors, whether an object is in at least one of a blind zone of the host vehicle and in the second lane within a threshold distance of the host vehicle; in response to a determination that an object is in at least one of the blind zone of the host vehicle and in the second lane within the threshold distance of the host vehicle, performing at least one operator assistance maneuver; and, in response to a determination that an object is not in at least one of the blind zone of the host vehicle and in the second lane within the threshold distance of the vehicle, not performing the at least one operator assistance maneuver.

Abstract: A control system for monitoring operation of an electric motor includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a position of the electric motor, an indirect position estimation module configured to indirectly estimate the position of the motor, and an error monitoring module. The error monitoring module is configured to perform at least one of: comparing a measured position from the plurality of position sensors to an estimated position from the sensor position estimation module, and detecting a failure of at least one of the one or more position sensors based on the comparison; and calculating a difference between the measured position from one of the plurality of position sensors and the measured position from another of the plurality of position sensors, and causing the indirect position estimation module to initiate estimation of the position of the motor based on the difference.

Abstract: A motor control system is configured to: determine a current supply limit for an electric motor; receive a current supply of the electric motor; identify one or more motor commands; adjust the one or more motor commands in response to a determination that the current supply is greater than the current supply limit; and selectively control the electric motor using the adjusted one or more motor commands.

Abstract: A control system for monitoring operation of an electric motor includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a position of the electric motor, an indirect position estimation module configured to indirectly estimate the position of the motor, and an error monitoring module. The error monitoring module is configured to perform at least one of: comparing a measured position from the plurality of position sensors to an estimated position from the sensor position estimation module, and detecting a failure of at least one of the one or more position sensors based on the comparison; and calculating a difference between the measured position from one of the plurality of position sensors and the measured position from another of the plurality of position sensors, and causing the indirect position estimation module to initiate estimation of the position of the motor based on the difference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor assembly with an upper rotor mounted on an upper shaft axially disposed about a rotational axis, an outer lower rotor axially disposed about the rotational axis, an inner lower rotor axially disposed about the rotational axis between the upper rotor and the outer lower rotor, and at least one probe positioned between the outer lower rotor and the inner lower rotor, the at least one probe measures flux generated by the upper rotor and directed by the outer lower rotor and the inner lower rotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a torque sensor assembly with an upper rotor mounted on an upper shaft axially disposed about a rotational axis, an outer lower rotor axially disposed about the rotational axis, an inner lower rotor axially disposed about the rotational axis between the upper rotor and the outer lower rotor, and at least one probe positioned between the outer lower rotor and the inner lower rotor, the at least one probe measures flux generated by the upper rotor and directed by the outer lower rotor and the inner lower rotor.

Abstract: A human exoskeleton includes a battery. The human exoskeleton also includes an electric motor electrically coupled to the battery and powered by the battery to actuate at least one component of the human exoskeleton in an activated state of the electric motor, the electric motor back-driven during a non-activated state of the electric motor to regenerate power in the battery.

Abstract: A belt tensioner apparatus is provided for a pulley assembly having an input pulley rotatably connected to an output pulley via a flexible belt. The tensioner apparatus includes a belt contact device engaged with a first portion of the belt and also engaged with a second portion of the belt different from the first portion of the belt. The belt contact device is coupled to a base so as to enable movement of the belt contact device with respect to the base, such that the belt contact device moves against the second portion of the belt responsive to a tension force created in the first portion of the belt by rotation of the input pulley, to create a tension force in the second portion of the belt.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller responsive to at least one of: a current sensor, and a temperature sensor. Where the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value and a temperature estimate and the resultant of the parameter estimation process representing an estimate parameter of the electric machine. The parameter estimation includes a method for estimating a temperature of the electric machine comprising: the temperature sensor operatively connected to and transmitting a temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller, which executes the temperature estimation process responsive to a temperature signal from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a temperature of an electric machine comprising obtaining a temperature value responsive to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor is operatively connected to and transmitting the temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller. The controller executes a temperature estimation process; and is operatively connected to a switching device, where the switching device is operatively connected between the electric machine and a power source, the switching device being responsive to the controller. Also disclosed is a storage medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for estimating an operating temperature of an electric machine. The storage medium includes instructions for causing controller to implement method for estimating an operating temperature of an electric machine as described above.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller responsive to at least one of: a current sensor, and a temperature sensor. Where the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value, a torque command and the resultant of the parameter estimation process representing an estimated parameter of the electric machine. The parameter estimation includes a method for estimating a temperature of the electric machine comprising: a temperature sensor operatively connected to and transmitting a temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller, which executes a temperature estimation process responsive to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a temperature of an electric machine comprising obtaining a temperature value responsive to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor is operatively connected to and transmitting the temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller. The controller executes a temperature estimation process; and is operatively connected to a switching device, where the switching device is operatively connected between the electric machine and a power source, the switching device being responsive to the controller. Also disclosed is a storage medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for estimating an operating temperature of an electric machine. The storage medium includes instructions for causing controller to implement method for estimating an operating temperature of an electric machine as described above.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller responsive to at least one of: a current sensor, and a temperature sensor. Where the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value and a temperature estimate and the resultant of the parameter estimation process representing an estimated parameter of the electric machine. The parameter estimation includes a method for estimating a temperature of the electric machine comprising: the temperature sensor operatively connected to and transmitting a temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller, which executes the temperature estimation process responsive to a temperature signal from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller responsive to at least one of: a current sensor, and a temperature sensor. Where the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value, a torque command and the resultant of the parameter estimation process representing an estimated parameter of the electric machine. The parameter estimation includes a method for estimating a temperature of the electric machine comprising: a temperature sensor operatively connected to and transmitting a temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller, which executes a temperature estimation process responsive to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor.

Abstract: A pulse width modulation system provides for enhanced output resolution through software control. The pulse width modulation control system normally has a control period during which the pulse width modulation state assumes a predetermined one of a plurality of output states. The method herein toggles between two adjacent output states during any single control period to effectuate a resultant system response characteristic of a system having a greater number of available output states. Furthermore, certain preferred implementations may also suppress undesirable harmonic excitation of the system through quasi-random toggling.

Abstract: A rear steering system in which a rotary mechanical input obtained from one of the rear wheels is controllably applied to a rear steering rack through an electromagnetic clutch apparatus operated by an electronic control unit. The rotary mechanical input is achieved with a flexible cable gear driven by the rear wheel. The cable provides a rotary mechanical input to a magnetic particle clutch assembly, which in turn, interfaces with the rear steering rack via a bevel gearset. The clutch assembly is controlled by an electronic control unit which responds to a variety of system parameters such as the front and rear rack positions, forward/reverse indication and the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rear steering system in which a rotary mechanical input obtained from one of the rear wheels is controllably applied to a rear steering rack through an electromagnetic clutch apparatus operated by an electronic control unit. The rotary mechancial input is achieved with a flexible cable gear driven by the rear wheel. The cable provides a rotary mechanical input to a magnetic particle clutch assembly, which in turn, interfaces with the rear steering rack via a bevel gearset. The clutch assembly is controlled by an electronic control unit which responds to a variety of system parameters such as the front and rear rack positions, forward/reverse indication and the speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: An actuator has a permanent magnet ring with a plurality of radially magnetized poles rotatably positioned between a pair of toothed pole pieces with interdigitated teeth, an electromagnetic coil and pole elements coupling the coil flux to the pole pieces. The pole pieces may themselves be rotatable or stationary. The permanent magnet circuit attempts to move the magnet ring to a first position relative to the pole pieces, and the electromagnetic circuit, depending on the direction of current in the coil, torques the magnet in one direction or another toward stable positions on either side of the first position. The device is used as a two or three position actuator or as an actuator operating against an external force and seeking a position as a function of current.

Abstract: A homopolar actuator has a permanent magnet disk element rotatably positioned between a pair of toothed pole pieces with mutually offset teeth, an electromagnetic coil and pole elements coupling the coil flux to the pole pieces. The pole pieces may themselves be rotatable or stationary. The permanent magnet circuit attempts to center the disk element relative to the pole pieces, and the electromagnetic circuit, depending on the direction of current in the coil, either reinforces the centering action or overcomes the centering force to displace the elements from center position. The device is used as a two or three position actuator or as an actuator or magnetic spring operating against an external force and seeking a position as a function of current.