Abstract: A controller for an electromechanical transducer is provided. The controller comprises driving means operable to actuate a mechanical output of the transducer; impedance cancelling means operable to at least partially cancel an electrical impedance of the transducer; and linearising means between an input of the controller and the driving means. The linearising means are operable to generate an output signal by modifying an input signal of the linearising means to compensate for nonlinear behaviour of the transducer. The linearising means are operable to receive one or more state signals indicative of one or more state variables of the transducer, the one or more state signals comprising a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the mechanical output of the transducer.

Abstract: A controller for an electromechanical transducer is provided. The controller comprises driving means operable to actuate a mechanical output of the transducer; impedance cancelling means operable to at least partially cancel an electrical impedance of the transducer; and linearising means between an input of the controller and the driving means. The linearising means are operable to generate an output signal by modifying an input signal of the linearising means to compensate for nonlinear behaviour of the transducer. The linearising means are operable to receive one or more state signals indicative of one or more state variables of the transducer, the one or more state signals comprising a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the mechanical output of the transducer.

Abstract: In an electrical machine which has unidirectional excitation applied to its windings, the mean values of voltage and current can be computed from the instantaneous phase voltage and current by the use of, for example, low-pass filters (in either the analogue or digital domain). The value of winding resistance can then be calculated by dividing the mean voltage by the mean current. This avoids the cost, fragility and potential inaccuracy of conventional temperature sensors, and provides the controller with an ongoing estimate of winding temperature.

Abstract: In an electrical machine which has unidirectional excitation applied to its windings, the mean values of voltage and current can be computed from the instantaneous phase voltage and current by the use of, for example, low-pass filters (in either the analogue or digital domain). The value of winding resistance can then be calculated by dividing the mean voltage by the mean current. This avoids the cost, fragility and potential inaccuracy of conventional temperature sensors, and provides the controller with an ongoing estimate of winding temperature.

Abstract: A wound core assembly for an electrical machine comprising a stack of laminations defining a core having a plurality of poles, the wound core assembly further comprising at least one slot wedge, wherein the slot wedge comprises a first portion arranged between adjacent poles and at least one second portion protruding from the first portion and abutting an end face of the core in the region of at least one of the poles. The at least one second portion may apply axial pressure to the end face to reduce the tendency of the laminations to splay axially outwards.

Abstract: A brushless electrical machine has at least one phase winding which produces magnetic flux in the machine. A controller controls the flux in the machine with reference to a demanded flux and a stabilisation signal which, in combination, enable the controller to operate in a stable manner in the presence of disturbances in the inputs or parameters of the controller. The controller is able to operate with either a hardware rotor position detector or with a sensorless position algorithm.

Abstract: A wound core assembly for an electrical machine comprising a stack of laminations defining a core having a plurality of poles, the wound core assembly further comprising at least one slot wedge, wherein the slot wedge comprises a first portion arranged between adjacent poles and at least one second portion protruding from the first portion and abutting an end face of the core in the region of at least one of the poles. The at least one second portion may apply axial pressure to the end face to reduce the tendency of the laminations to splay axially outwards.

Abstract: A brushless electrical machine has at least one phase winding which produces magnetic flux in the machine. A controller controls the flux in the machine with reference to a demanded flux and a stabilisation signal which, in combination, enable the controller to operate in a stable manner in the presence of disturbances in the inputs or parameters of the controller. The controller is able to operate with either a hardware rotor position detector or with a sensorless position algorithm.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is supplied from a power source. The phases of the machine are controlled by a current controller which uses an excitation strategy to minimize the supply current drawn for a particular output. The strategy alternates the excitation between two phases for a given time until the rotor moves to a desired position. A method of starting a switched reluctance motor having a stator with at least two phases, a moveable part, and a position transducer includes determining from transducer output a plurality of phases that are available to produce force in a desired direction, energizing a first phase of the available phases for a predetermined time period that is independent of the transducer output, and energizing a second phase of the available phases after energization of the first phase is initiated.

Abstract: A power train controller can operate in either motoring or braking modes. Its prime mover accepts a limited proportion of braking power and the remainder of the braking power is dissipated in an energy dump. A control system is arranged to maintain the voltage bus of the power train at a constant value throughout both modes.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive, operating either as a motor or a generator, is controlled in a stable manner in the continuous current mode in the presence of supply voltage or electrical load variation. The use of a current control parameter Ix in addition to the conventional on- and off-angles ?on, ?off gives the ability to operate smoothly in the continuous current mode and to transition smoothly between operating modes. Once the phase current reaches a pre-determined level Ix, the phase winding may be placed in a freewheel state, thereby controlling the standing current in the phase winding and/or the output voltage.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is operated as a generator on a high voltage supply which has no long-term energy storage capability. A low voltage supply is used to start the generator through the use of a dedicated priming winding, which provides sufficient energy to allow the generator to build up charge in DC link capacitor(s). Once sufficient charge has built up, the priming winding is de-energized and the generator continues in a steady-state operation.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is supplied from a power source. The phases of the machine are controlled by a current controller which uses an excitation strategy to minimize the supply current drawn for a particular output. The strategy alternates the excitation between two phases for a given time until the rotor moves to a desired position.

Abstract: A power train controller can operate in either motoring or braking modes. Its prime mover accepts a limited proportion of braking power and the remainder of the braking power is dissipated in an energy dump. A control system is arranged to maintain the voltage bus of the power train at a constant value throughout both modes.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is operated as a generator on a high voltage supply which has no long-term energy storage capability. A low voltage supply is used to start the generator through the use of a dedicated priming winding, which provides sufficient energy to allow the generator to build up charge in DC link capacitor(s). Once sufficient charge has built up, the priming winding is de-energized and the generator continues in a steady-state operation.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is supplied from a power source and has a DC link capacitor. The phases of the machine are controlled by a current chopping controller which, during phase conduction overlap, controls the initiation of chopping in a second phase so as to minimize the current drawn from the capacitor, thereby allowing a reduction in the capacitor rating.

Abstract: A transducer circuit, particularly for monitoring current, compensates for offset in the transducer output by sampling the output periodically at a moment at which the output is known, and storing the sampled value as an offset. The offset is compared with subsequent outputs from the transducer to provide a difference signal which is the compensated output of the transducer. When the calibrated output of the transducer is non-zero at the said moment, the non-zero value is added as a reference to the compensated value to correct the magnitude of the transducer output.

Abstract: A switched reluctance drive is supplied from a power source and has a DC link capacitor. The phases of the machine are controlled by a current chopping controller which, during phase conduction overlap, controls the initiation of chopping in a second phase so as to minimize the current drawn from the capacitor, thereby allowing a reduction in the capacitor rating.

Abstract: A current controller for a switched reluctance machine is disclosed. The current controller controls the switching frequency of the power devices that control the energization of the phase windings of the machine and the peak magnitude of the phase current in response to a single pulse width modulated signal. Also disclosed is a method and circuit for implementing slope compensation in a current controller for a switched reluctance machine where the magnitude of the slope compensation is proportional to the voltage of the power supply from which the phase windings are energized.

Abstract: A switching circuit for a reluctance machine includes one or more half-bridge converter modules including serially connected switches connected between power rails +V.sub.dc and -V.sub.dc. A pair of capacitors are also connected between the power rails, and the phase winding of the machine is connected at one end between transistors and at the other end between the capacitors. The switches act as separate power circuits, alternately conducting to excite the phase winding either during alternate phase conduction periods or during alternate groups of phase periods. The half-bridge modules are commercially readily available as cost-effective preassembled items.