Patents by Inventor Jesse Gerdes
Jesse Gerdes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10938332Abstract: A control system that includes a converter circuit and a control device is disclosed. The converter circuit may be configured to control a phase current of a switched reluctance machine. The control device may be configured to determine an estimated flux based on a bus voltage, a phase voltage, and a mutual voltage. The control device may be configured to determine a flux threshold based on the phase current, and determine a first limit and a second limit relative to the flux threshold. The first limit and the second limit may be scaled relative to the flux threshold based on one or more of the target speed, the load demand, or the bus voltage. The control device may be configured to compare the estimated flux with the first limit, and reset the estimated flux to the second limit based on determining that the estimated flux satisfies the first limit.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Khalil, James Thorne, Jackson Wai, Amara Ashfaq, Jesse Gerdes
-
Patent number: 10897217Abstract: A device may receive a current measurement of a motor identifying a plurality of component currents associated with a plurality of phases. The device may determine a position estimate for the motor based on the plurality of component currents associated with the plurality of phases. The device may control the motor based on the plurality of component currents.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Khalil, Sam Han, James Thorne, Jesse Gerdes, Jackson Wai, Carlos Nino Baron, Sajan Abdul
-
Patent number: 10715052Abstract: An electrical inverter may include a plurality of phase modules to provide a plurality of phase outputs. Two or more of the plurality of phase modules may share a common insulated-gate bipolar transistor.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Khalil, Jackson Wai, Jesse Gerdes, James Thorne, Amir Saad
-
Publication number: 20200067433Abstract: A device may receive a current measurement of a motor identifying a plurality of component currents associated with a plurality of phases. The device may determine a position estimate for the motor based on the plurality of component currents associated with the plurality of phases. The device may control the motor based on the plurality of component currents.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed KHALIL, Sam HAN, James THORNE, Jesse GERDES, Jackson WAI, Carlos NINO BARON, Sajan ABDUL
-
Publication number: 20200067422Abstract: An electrical inverter may include a plurality of phase modules to provide a plurality of phase outputs. Two or more of the plurality of phase modules may share a common insulated-gate bipolar transistor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Khalil, Jackson Wai, Jesse Gerdes, James Thorne, Amir Saad
-
Patent number: 10193475Abstract: A method for determining rotor position of a switched reluctance (SR) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The method may include injecting a test pulse into one or more idle phases of the SR machine, determining a decoupled flux value based at least partially on a total flux value corresponding to the test pulse and a mutual flux value, and determining the rotor position based at least partially on the decoupled flux value.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Seok-hee Han, Carlos Nino Baron, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Ernesto Inoa, Jesse Gerdes, James Michael Thorne
-
Patent number: 10097117Abstract: A control system is provided for an electric machine having a rotor and a stator. The control system has a converter circuit in electrical communication with the stator and a controller in electrical communication with the converter circuit. The controller is configured to receive a first signal indicating a torque applied to or output by the rotor and receive a second signal indicating a rotational speed of the rotor. The controller is also configured to determine at least one characteristic of a pulse signal based on at least one of the first or second signal. The controller is also configured to inject the pulse signal into one or more phases of the stator via the converter circuit according to the determined at least one characteristic. The controller is also configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the injected pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Khalil, Seok-Hee Han, Jackson Wai, Sangameshwar Sonth, Jesse Gerdes, James M. Thorne
-
Patent number: 10079566Abstract: A system and method for estimating a position and a speed of a rotor of a Switched Reluctance (SR) machine is provided. The SR machine comprises the rotor, a stator and at least one winding. The method includes generating a diagnostic pulse having a trapezoidal shape. The method further includes injecting a diagnostic pulse into the at least one winding of the SR machine. The method further includes measuring an actual stator current flowing through the at least one winding of the SR machine. The method further includes computing an estimated stator current flowing through the at least one winding using observer-based estimation technique. The estimated stator current is compared with the actual stator current to compute an error signal. At least one of the position and the speed of the rotor is estimated based on the error signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Khalil, Seok-Hee Han, Jackson Wai, James Michael Thorne, Jesse Gerdes, Sangameshwar Sonth
-
Publication number: 20180175754Abstract: A control system is provided for an electric machine having a rotor and a stator. The control system has a converter circuit in electrical communication with the stator and a controller in electrical communication with the converter circuit. The controller is configured to receive a first signal indicating a torque applied to or output by the rotor and receive a second signal indicating a rotational speed of the rotor. The controller is also configured to determine at least one characteristic of a pulse signal based on at least one of the first or second signal. The controller is also configured to inject the pulse signal into one or more phases of the stator via the converter circuit according to the determined at least one characteristic. The controller is also configured to determine a position of the rotor based on the injected pulse signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Ahmed KHALIL, Seok-Hee HAN, Jackson WAI, Sangameshwar SONTH, Jesse GERDES, James M. THORNE
-
Patent number: 9941831Abstract: A control system for a switched reluctance (SR) motor includes a Direct Current (DC) power source, and an inverter. The control system includes a user interface configured to enable an operator to specify a desired torque output. The control system further includes a controller which converts a DC current from the Alternating Current (AC) supplied to the SR motor by the inverter. The controller estimates an actual power output generated by the SR motor based on a DC voltage supplied by the DC power source to the inverter, and the converted DC current. The controller estimates an actual torque output based on the actual power output and a rotational speed of the SR motor. The controller compares the actual torque output and a desired torque output to calculate a torque error. The controller adjusts a torque output limit and the rotational speed of the SR motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jason L. Miller, Ernesto Inoa, Jesse Gerdes, Alexander C. Crosman, III, Carlos E. Nino-Baron, Thomas Michael Sopko, Jr., Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil
-
Patent number: 9899946Abstract: A control system for a switched reluctance (SR) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The control system may include a converter circuit in electrical communication between the stator and a common bus, and a controller configured to monitor a bus voltage of the converter circuit and a phase current of the SR machine. The controller may be configured to determine a phase voltage based on one or more of main pulses and any diagnostic pulses, determine an estimated flux based on the phase voltage and an associated mutual voltage, determine a rotor position based at least partially on the estimated flux, and control the SR machine based on the rotor position and a desired torque.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Seok-hee Han, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Ernesto Inoa, Sangameshwar Sonth, Jesse Gerdes, James Michael Thorne
-
Patent number: 9800192Abstract: A control system for a multi-phase switched reluctance (SR) machine, having at least two phases, is disclosed. The control system may include a converter circuit and a controller. The controller may include a phase voltage estimator module configured to determine a first phase voltage and a second phase voltage associated with a second phase second phase for the SR machine. The controller may further include a flux estimator module configured to determine first and second estimated fluxes, the first estimated flux associated with the first phase and based on the first phase voltage and an associated first mutual voltage and the second estimated flux the second estimated flux associated with the second phase and based on the second phase voltage and an associated second mutual voltage, and a position observer module configured to determine a rotor position based at least partially on the first estimated flux, the second mutual flux.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Seok-hee Han, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Jesse Gerdes, James Michael Thorne, Sangameshwar Sonth
-
Publication number: 20170294858Abstract: A control system for a multi-phase switched reluctance (SR) machine, having at least two phases, is disclosed. The control system may include a converter circuit and a controller. The controller may include a phase voltage estimator module configured to determine a first phase voltage and a second phase voltage associated with a second phase second phase for the SR machine. The controller may further include a flux estimator module configured to determine first and second estimated fluxes, the first estimated flux associated with the first phase and based on the first phase voltage and an associated first mutual voltage and the second estimated flux the second estimated flux associated with the second phase and based on the second phase voltage and an associated second mutual voltage, and a position observer module configured to determine a rotor position based at least partially on the first estimated flux, the second mutual flux.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Seok-hee Han, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Jesse Gerdes, James Michael Thorne, Sangameshwar Sonth
-
Publication number: 20170229992Abstract: A control system for a switched reluctance (SR) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The control system may include a converter circuit in electrical communication between the stator and a common bus, and a controller configured to monitor a bus voltage of the converter circuit and a phase current of the SR machine. The controller may be configured to determine a phase voltage based on one or more of main pulses and any diagnostic pulses, determine an estimated flux based on the phase voltage and an associated mutual voltage, determine a rotor position based at least partially on the estimated flux, and control the SR machine based on the rotor position and a desired torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Seok-hee Han, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Ernesto Inoa, Sangameshwar Sonth, Jesse Gerdes, James Michael Thorne
-
Patent number: 9647595Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor may include determining a desired torque at the electric motor. A current at a first phase of the electric motor may be calculated at a controller. The calculated current may be a current that results in supplying the desired torque at the electric motor. The controller may compare the calculated current to a predetermined threshold current, and when the calculated current is greater than the predetermined threshold current, the controller may reduce the calculated current to the predetermined threshold current and adjust a current in a second phase adjacent to the first phase of the electric motor to continue to supply the desired torque at the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jackson Wai, Carlos Nino Baron, Jesse Gerdes, Ernesto Inoa, Ahmed Khalil
-
Publication number: 20170126156Abstract: A method for determining rotor position of a switched reluctance (SR) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The method may include injecting a test pulse into one or more idle phases of the SR machine, determining a decoupled flux value based at least partially on a total flux value corresponding to the test pulse and a mutual flux value, and determining the rotor position based at least partially on the decoupled flux value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Seok-hee Han, Carlos Nino Baron, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Ernesto Inoa, Jesse Gerdes, James Michael Thorne
-
Publication number: 20160301347Abstract: A method of regulating a phase current of an electric motor is provided. The method may include selectively enabling one or more switches of each phase of the electric motor according to one of at least a soft chopping motoring routine and a soft chopping generating routine, monitoring the phase current relative to at least one limit of a hysteresis band and a switching period, and controlling the switches according to a hard chopping routine when the phase current does not reach the limit within the switching period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jesse Gerdes, Jackson Wai, Ahmed Khalil, Ernesto Inoa, Carlos Nino Baron
-
Publication number: 20160248362Abstract: A method of regulating a phase current of an electric motor is provided. The method may include selectively enabling one or more switches of each phase of the electric motor according to one of at least a soft chopping motoring routine and a soft chopping generating routine, monitoring the phase current relative to a first hysteresis band, controlling the switches according to the soft chopping motoring routine when the phase current exceeds the first hysteresis band while operating according to the soft chopping generating routine, and controlling the switches according to the soft chopping generating routine when the phase current exceeds the first hysteresis band while operating according to the soft chopping motoring routine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Carlos Nino Baron, Ernesto Inoa, Jackson Wai, Jesse Gerdes, Ahmed Khalil
-
Patent number: 9391555Abstract: A control system for a switched reluctance (SR) machine is disclosed. The SR machine may have a rotor and a stator. The control system may have a converter circuit operatively coupled to the stator and including a plurality of gates in selective communication with each phase of the stator, and a controller in communication with each of the stator and the converter circuit. The controller may be configured to command a fixed dwell of a theta-on angle and a theta-off angle and a varying current command to the plurality of gates when the SR machine is in a continuous conduction mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jackson Wai, Carlos Nino Baron, Jesse Gerdes, Ahmed Khalil
-
Patent number: 9340113Abstract: A control system for a generator of an electric drive is provided. The control system may include a converter circuit configured to communicate with one or more phases of a stator of the generator, and a controller in communication with the converter circuit and an engine associated with the electric drive. The controller may be configured to determine an operational state of the electric drive based on at least engine speed, and engage one of a map-lookup control scheme and a fixed-theta off control scheme for operating the generator based on the operational state of the electric drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jackson Wai, Thuong Le, Adam Braun, Jesse Gerdes, James Siegle, Mark Hartman