Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a rotating electromagnetic machine. The rotating machine, such as a permanent magnet motor or hybrid switched reluctance motor, includes a stator having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. A drive is connected to the phase windings for energizing the windings. A controller outputs a control signal to the drive in response to inputs of demanded torque, rotor position and/or speed. Control methods include calculating a scaled torque demand from the received torque demand to obtain substantially constant torque over a range of motor speeds, calculating an optimal dr-axis injection current using a cost function and a starting method that switches from speed control mode to torque control mode at a predetermined rotor speed or at predetermined start-up timing intervals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a rotating electromagnetic machine. The rotating machine, such as a permanent magnet motor or hybrid switched reluctance motor, includes a stator having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. A drive is connected to the phase windings for energizing the windings. A controller outputs a control signal to the drive in response to inputs of demanded torque, rotor position and/or speed. Control methods include calculating a scaled torque demand from the received torque demand to obtain substantially constant torque over a range of motor speeds, calculating an optimal dr-axis injection current using a cost function and a starting method that switches from speed control mode to torque control mode at a predetermined rotor speed or at predetermined start-up timing intervals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a rotating electromagnetic machine. The rotating machine, such as a permanent magnet motor or hybrid switched reluctance motor, includes a stator having a plurality of phase windings and a rotor that rotates relative to the stator. A drive is connected to the phase windings for energizing the windings. A controller outputs a control signal to the drive in response to an input demand such as a demanded speed or torque. Control methods (which can be implemented separately or in combination) include varying the gain of an estimator as a function of a demanded or estimated speed to position control system poles at desired locations, decoupling control system currents to achieve a constant torque with motor speed, compensating flux estimates of the estimator for saturation operation of the stator, estimating rotor position using averages of sample values of energization feedback, and calculating a trim adjusted speed error from a plurality of speed estimates.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the temperature of a rotating electromagnetic machine, such as an electric motor or generator. A temperature calibration parameter is calculated based on the temperature of an object situated close to the motor, such as a motor drive connected to the motor, and a first resistance value of the winding. In exemplary embodiments, the motor drive and first resistance value are determined only after the motor has been idle for some predetermined time period. Once the calibration parameter is calculated, the processor uses it along with subsequent resistance measurements to calculate the temperature of the motor.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine system and control methods. The washing machine system includes a cabinet having a drum rotatably mounted therein. A motor is coupled to the drum for rotating the drum within the cabinet. A memory device is accessible by a processor, such as a digital signal processor (DSP). The memory contains program code for implementing a method that includes determining the end of the washing machine's spin cycle by monitoring a parameter of the washing machine.