Abstract: A system includes an electronic device including a circuit having a semiconductor switch, and a switching control system operably connected to the semiconductor switch. The switching control system is configured to control a switching speed of the semiconductor switch based on a received voltage by altering at least one of a gate resistance and a gate capacitance of the semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A current sensing apparatus may include a common mode core surrounding two or more current conductors and a current sensing element proximate the common mode core.

Abstract: A vehicle, arc fault protection device of the vehicle and a method for mitigating an arc fault in an electrical system of the vehicle. The arc fault protection device includes a sensor, a switch, and a processor. The sensor is used for measuring a current in an electrical system. The processor is configured to determine a precursor phase of an arc fault from the current, wherein the precursor phase indicates an onset of an arc flash phase of the arc fault. The processor opens the switch to mitigate the arc fault during the arc flash phase.

Abstract: A power module includes: a first substrate layer that is disposed on a first plane; a second substrate layer that is disposed on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane; first and second electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first and second direct current (DC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a third plane that is parallel to the first and second planes; third, fourth, and fifth electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first, second, and third alternating current (AC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a fourth plane that is parallel to the first, second, and third planes; and a plurality of dies of switches, respectively, disposed between the first and second substrate layers.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system in a vehicle includes two or more battery packs. Each of the two or more battery packs corresponds with a battery monitoring system (BMS) that monitors a charge and voltage of the battery pack. The system also includes three or more switches coupled to the two or more battery packs and a vehicle controller to control the three or more switches for operation in multiple modes. In one of the multiple modes, the three or more switches are controlled by the vehicle controller to charge only one of the two or more battery packs with a charger external to the vehicle to equalize the voltage among the two or more battery packs.

Abstract: A system includes a current sensor disposed proximate to a first conductor of a conductor assembly, the current sensor configured to measure a current through the first conductor and generate a first current measurement. The system also includes a correction module configured to perform a correction method. The correction method includes determining a frequency of the first current measurement, and applying a gain correction factor to the first current measurement, the gain correction factor based on pre-characterization data relating a gain of a reference current sensor to frequency. In addition, or alternatively, the correction method includes determining a first phase of the first current measurement, acquiring a second current measurement of a second conductor of the conductor assembly, determining a second phase of the second current measurement, and applying a current adjustment to the first current measurement based on a temporal relationship between the first phase and the second phase.

Abstract: An electric vehicle, an electric drive system and method of operating the electric vehicle. The electric drive system provides a torque to a wheel of the electric vehicle. The processor is configured to obtain a value of the torque at which the electric drive system of the vehicle is operating, determine an optimal speed for the vehicle for the torque based on an efficiency model of the electric drive system, wherein the optimal speed corresponds to an optimal drive efficiency for the electric drive system, and operate the vehicle at the optimal speed.

Abstract: A cooling system for a drivetrain of an electric vehicle includes a coolant circuit directing a flow of coolant through a first inverter and a second inverter of the drivetrain, and an adjustable flow valve positioned along the coolant circuit to selectably alter proportions of the flow of coolant directed through each of the first inverter and the second inverter. A method of operating a cooling system for a first inverter and a second inverter of a vehicle drivetrain includes commanding a speed and torque of each of the first and second inverter, and estimating losses and temperature of each of the first inverter and the second inverter as a result of the commanded speed and torque. A valve position of an adjustable flow valve operably connected to the first inverter and the second inverter is selected, and a change of the valve position is commanded.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes an inverter configured to receive direct current (DC) power and convert the DC power to alternating current (AC) power, at least one capacitor having a first capacitance, and a busbar assembly electrically connected to the inverter and configured to electrically connect the inverter to a power source. The busbar assembly includes a positive busbar and a negative busbar, and a first capacitor layer disposed between the positive busbar and the negative busbar. The first capacitor layer is configured provide an amount of capacitance in addition to the first capacitance.

Abstract: A power control system for an electric vehicle includes a power inverter comprising a switch module including a plurality of power switches, a controller board, and a gate driver board in communication with the controller board and configured to drive gates of the plurality of switches. A first housing is made of polymer composite, encloses the power inverter, defines a first cooling cavity in thermal communication with a first surface of the switch module, and encapsulates a portion of at least one of the switch module, the controller board and the gate driver board.

Abstract: A rechargeable energy storage system may include a series arrangement of a plurality of batteries coupled to a first DC bus at a first DC voltage. A DC to DC converter may include a multi-input DC input stage coupled to a multi-output DC output stage. The multi-input DC input stage may include multiple distributed DC inputs, each distributed DC input being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of batteries. The multi-output DC output stage may include multiple aggregated DC outputs. At least one controllable switch may couple one or more of the multiple aggregated DC outputs to one or more other DC buses.

Abstract: A detection system for a capacitor of a power inverter of an electric vehicle includes a protection circuit including a current sensor and a power switch having a first terminal in communication with a battery system of the electric vehicle. The protection circuit is configured to selectively generate a pulse and to sense a measured current flowing through the power switch. A voltage sensor configured to sense a measured voltage across the capacitor. A controller in communication with the voltage sensor and the protection circuit is configured to estimate a capacitance value of the capacitor based on the measured current and the measured voltage.

Abstract: A power control system includes a power inverter comprising a first side, a second side, and a plurality of power switches. The second side is configured to connect to an electric machine. A solid state fuse includes a power switch including a first terminal in communication with the first terminal of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of the electric vehicle and a second terminal in communication with the first side of the power inverter. A DC-DC converter is configured to convert a first voltage output by the RESS of the electric vehicle to a second voltage. One or more sensors configured to sense one or more operating parameters of the RESS. A fuse controller is configured to receive power from the DC-DC converter, to communicate with the one or more sensors and to cause the power switch to selectively change state in response to changes in the one or more operating parameters.

Abstract: A rechargeable energy storage system may include a series arrangement of a plurality of batteries coupled to a first DC bus at a first DC voltage. A DC to DC converter may include a multi-input DC input stage coupled to a multi-output DC output stage. The multi-input DC input stage may include multiple distributed DC inputs, each distributed DC input being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of batteries. The multi-output DC output stage may include multiple aggregated DC outputs. At least one controllable switch may couple one or more of the multiple aggregated DC outputs to one or more other DC buses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrical energy transfer between a pair of series connected batteries coupled between positive and negative DC rails of a power inverter operatively connected to a plurality of stator phase windings of a stator winding of a motor may include coupling a midpoint of the pair of series connected batteries to the stator winding of the motor, and controlling the power inverter to operate the power inverter and the stator winding as a switched-mode power converter to charge at least one of the stator phase windings from one of the pair of series connected batteries and to discharge the at least one of the stator phase windings to the other of the pair of series connected batteries.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method that includes performing an electrical degradation analysis for a power inverter. The method further includes performing a thermal degradation analysis on the power inverter. The method further includes, responsive to at least one of a result of the electrical degradation analysis being indicative of an electrical issue of the power inverter or a result of the thermal degradation analysis being indicative of a thermal issue of the power inverter, implementing a corrective action for the power inverter.

Abstract: An inverter assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing with an inlet end for receiving a flow of coolant and an outlet end for discharging the flow of coolant. The assembly further includes a first plurality of power transistors conducting and switching an electrical current and generating a first amount of heat. The assembly further includes a second plurality of power transistors conducting and switching the electrical current and generating a second amount of heat that is less than the first amount of heat. A heat sink includes a plate with a first section adjacent to the first plurality of power transistors and a second section adjacent to the second plurality of power transistors. The heat sink further includes a first plurality of fins for drawing the first amount of heat from the first section and a guide vane directing the flow of coolant toward the first plurality of fins.

Abstract: A nipper device includes a first handle and a second handle pivotable relative to each other. The nipper includes a jaw with a first blade and an opposing second blade. The first and second blades include linear blade edges, which pivot relative to each other to enable trimming of a nail on a hand and/or a foot. The jaw and the handles are configured so that pivotable movement of the first handle relative to the second handle causes pivotal movement of the first blade relative to the second blade. The jaw blades include cavities located on the interior of the blades. The cavities are configured to collect nail particle trimmings from a user. The cavities function as a catching mechanism (catcher) to collect nail trimmings and prevent them from scattering.

Abstract: A power control system comprises a battery system including N battery packs. A plurality of contactors selectively connects N battery packs of a battery system in a first configuration supplying a first voltage level, a second configuration supplying a second voltage level, and a disconnected configuration. M power inverters connect the battery system to M electric machines, respectively. A controller is configured to determine when to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The controller is configured to transition between the first configuration and the second configuration by causing one of a positive torque transient and a negative torque transient to be generated by at least one of the M electric machines, transitioning the battery system from one of the first configuration and the second configuration to the disconnected configuration, and transitioning from the disconnected configuration to the other one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

Abstract: A power module includes: a first substrate layer that is disposed on a first plane; a second substrate layer that is disposed on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane; first and second electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first and second direct current (DC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a third plane that is parallel to the first and second planes; third, fourth, and fifth electrical conductors that are configured to be electrically connected to first, second, and third alternating current (AC) reference potentials, respectively, and that extend outwardly from the power module on a fourth plane that is parallel to the first, second, and third planes; and a plurality of dies of switches, respectively, disposed between the first and second substrate layers.