Patents by Inventor Prerit Pramod

Prerit Pramod has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210305929
    Abstract: A system for controlling a synchronous motor drive may be configured to receive a command voltage signal and to identify, in the synchronous motor drive, a resistance imbalance signature from the command voltage signal. The system may determine, based on the resistance imbalance signature, respective phase resistances that correspond to phases of a synchronous motor of the synchronous motor drive. Each respective phase resistance may include a phase transistor resistance and a phase winding resistance. The system may identify, based on the phase resistances and an estimated average resistance between the phases of the synchronous motor, one or more phases of the synchronous motor that correspond to one or more phase resistances representing a resistance imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Rakesh Mitra, Darren Qu, Subhra Paul, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Patent number: 11117612
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for attenuating dither noise in a steering system. An example method includes computing multiple filter parameters, each filter parameter based on a corresponding signal in the steering system. The method further includes determining at least one final filter parameter from the plurality of filter parameters by arbitrating the plurality of filter parameters. The method further includes dynamically configuring a filter using the at least one final filter parameter. Further, the method includes filtering a motor torque command using the filter, a filtered motor torque command being applied to a motor to generate a corresponding amount of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Michael Eickholt, Krishna MPK Namburi, Matthew A. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 11101764
    Abstract: An electric motor drive system is provided. It includes a rotor having permanent magnets arranged therein and a stator surrounding the rotor an inverter having switches arranged therein, the switches operable to draw current from a direct current bus and operate the electric machine through windings of the stator and a controller operable to receive a source current limit, IS, and a source voltage limit, VDC, both associated with the direct current bus is also provided. The invertor is responding to a torque demand to operate the switches of the inverter to generate an alternating current corresponding to the torque demand and according to a torque limit defined by a source current torque limit corresponding to the source current limit when the source current torque limit is less than or equal to a source voltage torque limit corresponding to the source voltage limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Zhe Zhang, Prerit Pramod, Krishna Namburi
  • Patent number: 11091193
    Abstract: A system includes a first module that: receives the output current from the electric motor as a feedback, the output current including a direct axis component and a quadrature axis component; and generates a first voltage command based on a virtual resistance value, the feedback, and a targeted frequency characteristic of the motor control system. The system includes: a second module that: receives a difference between the feedback and a commanded current; and generates a second voltage command based on an estimated inductance value, an estimated resistance value of an electric motor, the virtual resistance value, a targeted frequency response characteristic of the motor control system, and the response of the d-axis component of the output current being decoupled from the response of the q-axis component. The system includes an addition module that generates an input voltage command for the electric motor by adding the first and second voltage commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20210167703
    Abstract: Systems and methods, for controlling an output torque of a permanent magnet direct current (PMDC) machine includes a PMDC motor that includes a plurality of winding sets and a controller. The PMDC motor is configured to generate the output torque. The controller is configured to: determine, for a first winding set of the PMDC motor, a first voltage command based on a first input torque command signal and a back-EMF drop voltage of the first winding set; determine, for a second winding set of the PMDC motor, a second voltage command based on a second input torque command signal; and selectively control the PMDC motor according to the first voltage command and the second voltage command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventor: Prerit Pramod
  • Publication number: 20210165022
    Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for a current measurement offset error in a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive are disclosed. The systems and methods include reading an output voltage command signal, extracting a signature of a current measurement offset error from the output voltage command signal, and compensating, based on the signature, for the current measurement offset error in a closed-loop using a feedback path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Zhe Zhang, Krishna MPK Namburi, Infane O. Lowe, Aparna Saha
  • Publication number: 20210159827
    Abstract: A system and method for improved anti-windup that minimizes supply current draw under voltage saturated current control operation of synchronous motor drives are provided. The system and method use a voltage limiting module configured to receive a pre-limit voltage command and generate a post-limit voltage command when the motor control system reaches configured threshold; and an anti-windup module configured to determine a voltage difference between the post-limit and pre-limit voltage commands, and compute an anti-windup feedback current using the voltage difference and compensation gains selected to minimize supply current. The compensation gains comprise a gain matrix of values selected to move a motor current trajectory toward a null motor current vector, and the anti-windup module multiplies the gain matrix values by the voltage difference. The anti-windup feedback current and an input current command are then added and provided as an input to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit PRAMOD, Zhe ZHANG, Krishna MPK NAMBURI
  • Publication number: 20210159838
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a current measurement gain error in a current measurement system is disclosed. The method includes reading an output voltage signal, extracting a signature of a current measurement gain error from the output voltage signal, detecting an existence of the current measurement gain error based on the signature, and responsive to detecting the existence of the current measurement gain error, identifying a diagnostic voltage phase in which the current measurement gain error exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Varsha Govindu, Krishan MPK Namburi
  • Publication number: 20210155285
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of an electric machine such as a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive or motor control system to protect against excessive machine current or voltage in a PMSM drive. Systems and methods employ a torque control algorithm for PMSMs that uses the constraints of both machine current and voltage capability in PMSM drives, and online torque command modification according to the maximum allowed torque under these machine current and voltage constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Haibo LI, Prerit PRAMOD, Krishna MPK NAMBURI, Zhe ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20210152115
    Abstract: An electric motor drive system is provided. It includes a rotor having permanent magnets arranged therein and a stator surrounding the rotor an inverter having switches arranged therein, the switches operable to draw current from a direct current bus and operate the electric machine through windings of the stator and a controller operable to receive a source current limit, IS, and a source voltage limit, VDC, both associated with the direct current bus is also provided. The invertor is responding to a torque demand to operate the switches of the inverter to generate an alternating current corresponding to the torque demand and according to a torque limit defined by a source current torque limit corresponding to the source current limit when the source current torque limit is less than or equal to a source voltage torque limit corresponding to the source voltage limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Zhe Zhang, Prerit Pramod, Krishna Namburi
  • Publication number: 20210152112
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of an electric machine such as a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive or motor control system to limit battery current and protect a battery from excessive discharging or charging current from the PMSM drive. Systems and methods employ a torque control algorithm for PMSMs that uses a battery current limit constraint when generating current commands during each of a maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) operation, and maximum torque per voltage (MTPV) operation. Torque search operations are performed in each of the MTPA and MTPV operation regions in a PMSM drive system until current commands are achieved under a given battery current limit constraint and while maintaining maximum voltage utilization throughout all PMSM operation regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Haibo LI, Prerit PRAMOD, Krishna MPK NAMBURI, Zhe ZHANG
  • Patent number: 10992245
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described herein for position estimation of permanent magnet synchronous machines through vibration induced saliency. An example permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) includes a motor control system to provide input command to the motor to cause a position of the motor to change. The PMSM further includes a motor position estimation module configured to estimate the position of the motor. The estimation includes measuring a current Iabc across the motor. The estimation further includes extracting a filtered current Iabc_inj at a predetermined frequency from the current Iabc. The estimation further includes estimating the position of the motor based on the filtered current Iabc_inj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Zhe Zhang, Prerit Pramod
  • Publication number: 20210111661
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of an inverter to manage voltage upon a direct current (DC) bus and regenerative power (current) provided to a battery. A control system and method are provided to control operation of an electric machine using a controller. More specifically, the controller is configured to calculate a current-based torque limit to satisfy a regenerative current limit, and a voltage-based torque limit to satisfy a voltage limit constraint of the DC bus. The controller is configured to calculate a torque limit to satisfy the regenerative current and voltage limits of the DC bus, and to command a plurality of switches within the inverter to generate a direct-axis current from the electric machine corresponding to a torque demand and according to the torque limit. The proposed system and method provide for motor current that exceed a demagnetizing current limit of the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit PRAMOD, Krishna NAMBURI, Zhe ZHANG
  • Patent number: 10960922
    Abstract: A control system for monitoring operation of an electric motor includes a plurality of position sensors configured to measure a position of the electric motor, an indirect position estimation module configured to indirectly estimate the position of the motor, and an error monitoring module. The error monitoring module is configured to perform at least one of: comparing a measured position from the plurality of position sensors to an estimated position from the sensor position estimation module, and detecting a failure of at least one of the one or more position sensors based on the comparison; and calculating a difference between the measured position from one of the plurality of position sensors and the measured position from another of the plurality of position sensors, and causing the indirect position estimation module to initiate estimation of the position of the motor based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Rakesh Mitra, Jeffery A. Zuraski, Ashok Chandy, Julie A. Kleinau
  • Publication number: 20210083615
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of a multiphase electric machine using a signal generator configured to generate n number of duty cycle signals of a combination pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme comprising of a continuous PWM scheme and a noncontinuous PWM scheme, with n being an integer greater than 3. A blending coefficient value determines relative weights of each of the continuous and noncontinuous PWM schemes in forming the combination PWM scheme. A blending function determines relative weights of each of the continuous PWM scheme and the noncontinuous PWM scheme used to generate the duty cycle signals. The bending function is calculated piecewise based on a difference between the blending coefficient value and two threshold values. The signal generator uses each of the duty cycle signals to control switching of a DC power to a corresponding phase of the multiphase electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Zhe ZHANG, Prerit PRAMOD
  • Patent number: 10946894
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for providing driver warning using steering systems. An example steering system includes a motor control system that sends a command to a motor. The steering system further includes a fault monitoring system that sets a fault indication flag by monitoring one or more components of the steering system. The steering system further includes a driver warning feedback system that generates a warning injection signal based on and in response to the fault indication flag being set. Further, the motor control system generates a driver feedback by modifying the command to the motor using the warning injection signal, and sending the modified command to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solution IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Tejas M. Varunjikar, Dennis B. Skellenger, Nicholas M. Trewhella, Jeffrey A. Zuraski, Jeffrey T. Klass, Michael K. Hales
  • Publication number: 20210067078
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for preventing controller windup in a motor control system. An example system includes a first anti-windup module that receives a commanded voltage and a limited voltage command. The limited voltage command is applied to an electric motor, where the first anti-windup module generates a first modified current command by modifying a current command that is applied to the motor control system. The modification is based on a ratio of the commanded voltage and the limited voltage command. The system further includes a second anti-windup module that receives the commanded voltage and the limited voltage command. The second anti-windup module generates a second modified current command by modifying the first modified current command. The modification based on a difference between the commanded voltage and the limited voltage command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Zhe Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210016826
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steer by wire system that includes a controller operable to operate a roadwheel actuator such that a position command to the roadwheel actuator based on a handwheel orientation is a magnitude corresponding to a handwheel orientation offset value in an opposite direction to reduce a difference between the handwheel orientation offset value and a predetermined handwheel zero value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Apurv Naman, Tejas M. Varunjikar, Bhuvanesh Sainath, Rangarajan Ramanujam, Prerit Pramod
  • Publication number: 20200353976
    Abstract: A method for vehicle stabilization includes, in response to a determination that a fault occurred in a rear steering mechanism, identifying a fault type associated with the fault. The method also includes determining whether a position of a rack of the rear steering mechanism is controllable based on the fault type. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the position of the rack is controllable, selectively positioning the rack to a center position and holding, using a motor control system of the rear steering mechanism, the rack in the center position. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the position of the rack is not controllable, holding, using the motor control system of the rear steering mechanism, the rack in a current position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Michael A. Eickholt, David P. Holm, Rakesh Mitra
  • Patent number: 10833620
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the technical solutions described herein, an example method includes determining an input voltage (Vinv) of an inverter in a power circuit. The method further includes measuring an input current (Ii) of the inverter. The method further includes estimating a power supply current from a power supply of the power circuit based on the input voltage and the input current using a state observer and a plant model of the power circuit, the power supply current estimated at a non-steady state. The method further includes performing an active power management of a motor that receives electric power via the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Aparna Saha, Infane O. Lowe