Abstract: A vehicle includes an inverter having a supply bus including a contactor operable to conduct current through a resistive element connected to a capacitive element having a voltage supplied by a battery. The vehicle includes a controller configured to energize a first gate of the inverter. The energization is responsive to the voltage exceeding a threshold. The controller is configured to detect current flow between a first phase associated with the gate and the bus based on a voltage drop associated with the voltage.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle may include a variable voltage converter (VVC), and a controller. The VVC may include an inductor, a bus capacitor and a flying capacitor. The controller may be configured to, in response to a power demand signal exceeding a threshold, modulate switches of the VVC such that an inductor current created by a collapsing field of the inductor is directed into the flying capacitor or the bus capacitor such that a bus capacitor voltage exceeds a flying capacitor voltage, and in response to the power demand signal dropping below the threshold, modulate switches such that the flying capacitor and the bus capacitor are coupled in parallel.

Abstract: A vehicular system includes a pump, configured to circulate coolant for a traction inverter, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to each of a temperature of the traction inverter falling outside a first range or a requested flow rate of the pump falling outside a second range, operate the pump at a predefined speed, otherwise, operate the pump at a speed based on a difference between the temperature and a temperature associated with the coolant.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor; and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on a measurement performed in a vehicle, that a parameter of a power device is outside of a predetermined range; and actuate components in the vehicle to heat the power device.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a monolithically integrated load switch, mirror switch, and temperature array, and a gate driver. The gate driver includes a first comparator configured to filter a current level of the mirror switch, and a second comparator configured to provide a reference to the first comparator based on temperature array output such that a gate discharge rate of the switch, enabled by the first comparator, varies proportionally with a temperature adjusted filtered current level.

Abstract: A variable voltage converter for an electric drive system has upper and lower switching devices in series between positive and negative buses. An inductance couples a junction between the switching devices to a DC battery. A controller is configured to drive the switches according to PWM gate signals based on an expected boost ratio of the converter. The PWM gate signals have a nominal dead-time insertion for both the upper and lower switching devices when the expected boost ratio is greater than a predetermined boost ratio. In order to extend a range of achievable boost ratios during regeneration operation, the PWM gate signals are without dead-time insertion for the upper switching device and the lower switching device remains continuously off when the expected boost ratio is less than the predetermined boost ratio.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine configured to provide propulsive force to the vehicle, and a power inverter configured to supply power from a traction battery to the electric machine using a first and second switch configured as a half-bridge, wherein the first switch is controlled by a gate driver. The gate driver is configured to operate in a soft turn-off mode when a load current exceeds a threshold for a time period defined by a mask timer, operate in a fast turn-off mode when the load current is below the threshold, and in response to a turn-off request received prior to expiration of the mask timer after the load current exceeds the threshold, enable the soft turn-off mode.

Abstract: A powertrain includes a DC-DC converter, an electric machine, and a controller. The DC-DC converter may be configured to output a bus voltage. The controller may be configured to, in response to a torque request exceeding an available torque of the electric machine, command the converter to boost the bus voltage to a discrete step value selected from a predetermined number of available discrete step values, that changes in response to a selected operating mode of the powertrain changing, to increase the available torque.

Abstract: A wireless charging arrangement has primary side circuitry including a voltage source, switches, and a primary coil arranged to couple with a secondary coil. The primary side circuitry forms a series resonant converter when transferring power from the primary coil to the secondary coil. The wireless charging arrangement also includes a controller to selectively activate the switches to cause the transferring such that for each fundamental cycle, a pair of consecutive active resonant cycles have same polarity.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain has a power inverter that includes a load switch with a main emitter and a current mirror emitter, a variable resistor coupled between the current mirror emitter and the main emitter, and a controller. The controller may be configured to adjust a gate voltage based on a voltage across the variable resistor, and responsive to the gate voltage exceeding a Miller plateau gate voltage, increase a variable resistor resistance such that feedback increases as the load switch saturates.

Abstract: A wireless charging arrangement has primary side circuitry including a voltage source, switches, and a primary coil arranged to couple with a secondary coil. The primary side circuitry forms a series resonant converter when transferring power from the primary coil to the secondary coil. The wireless charging arrangement also includes a controller to selectively activate the switches to cause the transferring such that for each fundamental cycle, a pair of consecutive active resonant cycles have same polarity.

Abstract: A DC link capacitor in a drive system for an electric vehicle is quickly discharged using only local action within an inverter module and without any extra components to dissipate the charge. The inverter has a phase leg comprising an upper switching device and a lower switching device coupled across the capacitor. A gate driver is coupled to the phase leg to alternately switch the switching devices to ON state according to a PWM signal during pulse-width modulation of the drive system. The gate driver is configured to discharge the link capacitor during a discharge event by simultaneously activating the upper and lower switching devices to transitional states. Thus use of transitional states ensures that the switching devices provide an impedance that dissipates the capacitor charge while protecting the devices from excessive temperature.

Abstract: A vehicular system includes a pump, configured to circulate coolant for a traction inverter, and a controller, The controller may be configured to, responsive to each of a temperature of the traction inverter falling outside a first range or a requested flow rate of the pump falling outside a second range, operate the pump at a predefined speed, otherwise, operate the pump at a speed based on a difference between the temperature and a temperature associated with the coolant.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The electric machine has electrically isolated windings and is coupled with an inverter. The controller may be programmed to configure respective terminals of the windings to form a Y-connection, and responsive to an electrical connection between the vehicle and a 3-phase power grid, reconfigure the respective terminals such that each is coupled to a respective phase of the 3-phase power grid.

Abstract: A computer includes a processor; and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on a measurement performed in a vehicle, that a parameter of a power device is outside of a predetermined range; and actuate components in the vehicle to heat the power device.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain has a power inverter that includes a load switch with a main emitter and a current mirror emitter, a variable resistor coupled between the current mirror emitter and the main emitter, and a controller. The controller may be configured to adjust a gate voltage based on a voltage across the variable resistor, and responsive to the gate voltage exceeding a Miller plateau gate voltage, increase a variable resistor resistance such that feedback increases as the load switch saturates.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a variable voltage converter, a bypass diode and a controller. The bypass diode may be coupled in parallel with the converter and configured to clamp an output of the converter to a battery voltage. The controller may be configured to, while in a boost mode and in response to a rate of change of a converter inductor current exceeding a boost threshold, open switches of the converter to divert propulsive energy through the bypass diode. The controller may also be configured to, while in buck mode and in response to a magnitude of a converter inductor current exceeding a buck threshold, open switches of the converter to divert regenerative energy through the bypass diode, while reversed biased, to the battery.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The electric machine has electrically isolated windings and is coupled with an inverter. The controller may be programmed to configure respective terminals of the windings to form a Y-connection, and responsive to an electrical connection between the vehicle and a 3-phase power grid, reconfigure the respective terminals such that each is coupled to a respective phase of the 3-phase power grid.

Abstract: A gate driver of a power device includes a power supply and a resonant circuit. The power supply may have a positive potential and a negative potential. The resonant circuit may include an inductor and be configured to recirculate charge during turn-off by inducing a first field based on a positive charge from a gate caused by the positive potential, and in response to reversal of a voltage across the inductor, collapsing the first field to draw charge from the gate.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an inverter having a supply bus including a contactor operable to conduct current through a resistive element connected to a capacitive element having a voltage supplied by a battery. The vehicle includes a controller configured to energize a first gate of the inverter. The energization is responsive to the voltage exceeding a threshold. The controller is configured to detect current flow between a first phase associated with the gate and the bus based on a voltage drop associated with the voltage.