Abstract: A DC/DC flyback converter that exhibits reduced switch and transformer voltage stresses in comparison to known flyback converters. The flyback converter also employs soft switching. Embodiments of such flyback converters may be used, without limitation, in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. A front-stage of the flyback converter comprises a DC/AC step-down circuit that may be separately used for various purposes.

Abstract: A power switching circuit provides temperature compensation for an insulated gate power switching device. A timing circuit determines a switch timing signal comprising desired on and off switching times of the switching device. A temperature monitor quantifies a device temperature. A gate drive profile generator generates a switching device drive signal according to the switch timing signal and having a dv/dt phase and a di/dt phase. The drive signal has a profile during the di/dt phase that is adjusted in response to the device temperature, and the drive signal has a profile during the dv/dt phase that is not adjusted in response to the device temperature.

Abstract: A power switching circuit provides temperature compensation for an insulated gate power switching device. A timing circuit determines a switch timing signal comprising desired on and off switching times of the switching device. A temperature monitor quantifies a device temperature. A gate drive profile generator generates a switching device drive signal according to the switch timing signal and having a dv/dt phase and a di/dt phase. The drive signal has a profile during the di/dt phase that is adjusted in response to the device temperature, and the drive signal has a profile during the dv/dt phase that is not adjusted in response to the device temperature.

Abstract: A system includes a control system and a Remote Terminal Unit (RTU). The control system is configured to communicate data with one or more field devices via the RTU. The RTU is configured to transmit received data from the one or more field devices and the control system. The RTU is also configured to activate a power saving mode that selectively provides power to transmit the received data. The RTU is further configured to, while the power saving mode is activated, prevent power from being provided to transmit the received data, and store the received data in a memory of the RTU when the power is not provided to transmit the received data. The RTU is configured to, while the power saving mode is activated, provide power to transmit the received data after storing the received data in the memory of the RTU.

Abstract: A DC/DC flyback converter that exhibits reduced switch and transformer voltage stresses in comparison to known flyback converters. The flyback converter also employs soft switching. Embodiments of such flyback converters may be used, without limitation, in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. A front-stage of the flyback converter comprises a DC/AC step-down circuit that may be separately used for various purposes.

Abstract: A system includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) and a portable storage medium (PSM), such as a secure digital (SD) card. The RTU includes processing circuitry. The RTU includes a portable storage interface configured to physically connect to the PSM and electrically couple the PSM to the processing circuitry. The RTU includes on-chip memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the PSM is coupled to the processing circuitry and access a specified folder of the PSM. The processing circuitry is configured to: in response to determining that the PSM stores function code in the specified folder, perform a specified function corresponding to the function code by executing the function code.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT and a gate driver. The IGBT is configured to energize an electric machine. The gate driver is configured to apply an off voltage less than a threshold voltage onto a gate of the IGBT while the IGBT is operating in a saturation mode, and in response to expiration of a delay from a transition from saturation to linear mode, apply a voltage pulse above the off voltage to reduce flyback from the electric machine. The gate driver may be configured to, in response to expiration of a delay from a transition from saturation to linear mode, apply a voltage pulse above the off voltage and below the threshold to reduce flyback from the electric machine.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an electric machine, an inverter including an IGBT having a gate configured to flow current through a phase of the electric machine, and a gate driver. The gate driver is configured to supply power onto the gate via a voltage regulated source, and in response to a collector current of the IGBT exceeding a previous steady state current through the phase, transition to a current regulated source to drive the gate. The gate driver may be configured to delay the transition by a predetermined time that is based on a difference between the previous steady state current and a reverse recovery peak current.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT and a gate driver. The IGBT is configured to energize an electric machine. The gate driver is configured to apply an off voltage less than a threshold voltage onto a gate of the IGBT while the IGBT is operating in a saturation mode, and in response to expiration of a delay from a transition from saturation to linear mode, apply a voltage pulse above the off voltage to reduce flyback from the electric machine. The gate driver may be configured to, in response to expiration of a delay from a transition from saturation to linear mode, apply a voltage pulse above the off voltage and below the threshold to reduce flyback from the electric machine.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an IGBT that conducts current between a supply and load. The vehicle powertrain also includes a controller that applies voltage to a gate of the IGBT at a first level for a first duration that depends on a capacitance of the gate, and increases the voltage over a second duration based on a rate of change of the current falling below a threshold defined by a supply voltage for the load.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, an IGBT, and a gate driver. The IGBT has a gate, an emitter, and a collector and is configured to flow an electric charge through a phase of the electric machine. The gate driver is configured to flow current onto the gate at a first level, and in response to a time integral of a voltage across the phase exceeding a predetermined level, transition from the first level to a second level less than the first level.

Abstract: An inverter includes an N-channel IGBT, with a freewheeling diode, coupled to a phase of an electric machine, and has a MOSFET coupling a local voltage with a gate of the IGBT and configured to transition from saturation to linear operation as a current flow direction through the diode switches from positive to negative while the IGBT initiates a current through the electric machine.

Abstract: A system includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) and a portable storage medium (PSM), such as a secure digital (SD) card. The RTU includes processing circuitry. The RTU includes a portable storage interface configured to physically connect to the PSM and electrically couple the PSM to the processing circuitry. The RTU includes on-chip memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the PSM is coupled to the processing circuitry and access a specified folder of the PSM. The processing circuitry is configured to: in response to determining that the PSM stores function code in the specified folder, perform a specified function corresponding to the function code by executing the function code.

Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle using switching loss information of a semiconductor switching device, the switching loss information derived from a conduction loss and a combined conduction and switching loss.

Abstract: A system includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) controller module. Each RTU controller module comprises a controller board configured to couple to a carrier board that includes first and second Ethernet ports. Each controller module comprises computer processing circuitry including the first and second MACs and configured to select to transmit a packet to the first Ethernet port through the first MAC and to alternatively select to transmit the packet to the second Ethernet port through the second MAC. Each controller module comprises an Ethernet switch configured to receive the packet from the first media access control (MAC) and transmit the packet to the first Ethernet port. Each controller module comprises a physical Ethernet interface (PHY) configured to receive the packet from the second MAC and transmit the packet to the second Ethernet port. The computer processing circuitry, the Ethernet switch, and the PHY are mounted on the controller board.

Abstract: A method includes receiving inputs including a serial communication protocol specification and serial port settings associated with a serial communication channel. The method includes determining a transmission speed, a request size, and a response size of the serial communication channel based on the inputs. The method includes determining a timeout value corresponding to the serial communication channel based on the transmission speed, the request size, and the response size. The method includes automatically setting a timeout parameter for the serial communication using the determined timeout value. The timeout parameter defines a length of time between a start time of a transmission of a request through the serial communication channel and an end time of waiting to receive a response. The method includes in response to not receiving the response before the end time, determining that a first device is not connected to a second device through the serial communication channel.

Abstract: A system includes a control system and a Remote Terminal Unit (RTU). The control system is configured to communicate data with one or more field devices via the RTU. The RTU is configured to transmit received data from the one or more field devices and the control system. The RTU is also configured to activate a power saving mode that selectively provides power to transmit the received data. The RTU is further configured to, while the power saving mode is activated, prevent power from being provided to transmit the received data, and store the received data in a memory of the RTU when the power is not provided to transmit the received data. The RTU is configured to, while the power saving mode is activated, provide power to transmit the received data after storing the received data in the memory of the RTU.

Abstract: A DC/DC flyback converter that exhibits reduced switch and transformer voltage stresses in comparison to known flyback converters. The flyback converter also employs soft switching. Embodiments of such flyback converters may be used, without limitation, in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. A front-stage of the flyback converter comprises a DC/AC step-down circuit that may be separately used for various purposes.

Abstract: A vehicle power stage assembly is disclosed which may include a power stage housing, a power stage supported by the housing, and a pair of stacked DC leadframes. The pair of stacked DC leadframes are of opposite polarity and spaced apart from one another. Each of the DC leadframes may extend from the power stage and each has distal and proximal ends. The spacing between the leadframes may be such that parasitic inductances associated with current flowing through each of the leadframes at least partially cancel one another. Each of the leadframes may define a first and second side surface opposite one another. The first side surfaces may be coplanar and the second side surfaces may be coplanar. A distance between the spaced apart pair of DC leadframes may be based on a preselected amount of current and a material of the DC leadframes.

Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle using switching loss information of a semiconductor switching device, the switching loss information derived from a conduction loss and a combined conduction and switching loss.