Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for control operation of a boost converter. The boost converter includes an input, an output, and a plurality of paths electrically connecting the input to the output. The boost converter also includes a plurality of switches disposed along the paths to control current flow between the input and the output. The system includes a controller. The controller receives a desired current to be supplied at the output. The controller determines which of the paths to utilize based at least in part on the desired current. The controller controls the switches based at least in part on the determination of which of the paths to utilize.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for updating a duty cycle for a power converter. The system and method operate the power converter to compute a first duty cycle during a first pulse-width modulation period and updating a second duty cycle for a second pulse-width modulation period at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period. Next a third duty cycle for a third previous pulse-width modulation period is updated at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for updating a duty cycle for a power converter. The system and method operate the power converter to compute a first duty cycle during a first pulse-width modulation period and updating a second duty cycle for a second pulse-width modulation period at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period. Next a third duty cycle for a third pervious pulse-width modulation period is updated at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period.

Abstract: A method of calculating an arctangent includes coding a sign for a y-value an x-value into a 3-bit index. When the absolute value of the x-value is greater than the absolute value of the y-value, the absolute values of the x-value and the y-value are swapped, and a swap bit of the index is coded to indicate that the x-value and the y-value were swapped. The arctangent is calculated from the quotient of the swapped x-value divided by the swapped y-value. A segment base angle is extracted from a table, based on the coded x-bit, y-bit, and swap bit of the index. An encoded sign is extracted from the segment base angle and is applied to the calculated arctangent output value to define a corrected arctangent value. The segment base angle is added to the corrected arctangent value to define the arctangent of the point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a boost converter. In one embodiment, the method includes processing an input current command through a plurality of prioritized limiting circuits to determine whether to limit the input current command and limiting the input current command to limit the boost converter when it is determined to limit the input current command. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an energy source coupled to a boost converter that provides an output voltage responsive to a current command signal. An inverter is coupled to the boost converter to provide multiple phased currents to a multi-phase motor for a vehicle. A controller coupled to the boost converter for providing the current command signal by processing an input current command through a plurality of prioritized limiting circuits and determining whether to limit the input current command to provide the current command signal to the boost converter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an electrical system. The electrical system, for example, includes a first load, an interface configured to receive a voltage from a voltage source, and a controller configured to receive the voltage through the interface and to provide a voltage and current to the first load. The controller may be further configured to, receive information on a second load electrically connected to the voltage source, determine an amount of reactive current to return to the voltage source such that a current drawn by the electrical system and the second load from the voltage source is substantially real, and provide the determined reactive current to the voltage source.

Abstract: A system and method of discharging a bus capacitor of a bidirectional matrix converter of a vehicle are presented here. The method begins by electrically shorting the AC interface of the converter after an AC energy source is disconnected from the AC interface. The method continues by arranging a plurality of switching elements of a second energy conversion module into a discharge configuration to establish an electrical current path from a first terminal of an isolation module, through an inductive element, and to a second terminal of the isolation module. The method also modulates a plurality of switching elements of a first energy conversion module, while maintaining the discharge configuration of the second energy conversion module, to at least partially discharge a DC bus capacitor.

Abstract: A method of determining processor utilization includes: counting, via a first counter on a processor, a number of elapsed clock cycles while code is being executed; counting, via a second counter on a processor, a total number of free-running clock cycles; and dividing the number of clock cycles where code is being executed by the total number of free-running clock cycles to determine a CPU utilization.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for initiating a charging system. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to a battery up to a first predetermined threshold while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery from an initial voltage level of the battery up to a peak voltage of a voltage source while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, and providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery by incrementally increasing the duty cycle of the energy conversion module.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems and apparatus for controlling operation of an electric machine in a vector controlled motor drive system when the electric machine operates in an overmodulation region. The disclosed embodiments can reduce variations/errors in the phase voltage command signals applied to the multi-phase machine so that phase current may be properly regulated thus reducing current/torque oscillation, which can in turn improve machine efficiency and performance, as well as utilization of the DC voltage source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a boost converter. In one embodiment, the method processes a command signal in a slew rate limiting circuit. The output of the slew rate limiting circuit is then processed using one or more feedback parameters from the proportional integrator to provide a processed command signal. The processed command signal is processed with a controlled signal to provide an error signal which is provided to the proportional integrator to provide a current command signal. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an error generating circuit configured to provide a processed command signal using one or more feedback parameters from the proportional integrator, and to provide the error signal by subtracting a signal to be controlled from the processed command signal. A slew rate limiting circuit is used to receive a command signal and provide an output to the error generating circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for initiating a charging system. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to a battery up to a first predetermined threshold while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery from an initial voltage level of the battery up to a peak voltage of a voltage source while the energy conversion module has a zero-percent duty cycle, and providing, by the charging system, an incrementally increasing voltage to the battery by incrementally increasing the duty cycle of the energy conversion module.

Abstract: Methods, system and apparatus are provided for controlling third harmonic voltages when operating a multi-phase machine in an overmodulation region. The multi-phase machine can be, for example, a five-phase machine in a vector controlled motor drive system that includes a five-phase PWM controlled inverter module that drives the five-phase machine. Techniques for overmodulating a reference voltage vector are provided. For example, when the reference voltage vector is determined to be within the overmodulation region, an angle of the reference voltage vector can be modified to generate a reference voltage overmodulation control angle, and a magnitude of the reference voltage vector can be modified, based on the reference voltage overmodulation control angle, to generate a modified magnitude of the reference voltage vector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a boost converter. In one embodiment, the method includes processing an input current command through a plurality of prioritized limiting circuits to determine whether to limit the input current command and limiting the input current command to limit the boost converter when it is determined to limit the input current command. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an energy source coupled to a boost converter that provides an output voltage responsive to a current command signal. An inverter is coupled to the boost converter to provide multiple phased currents to a multi-phase motor for a vehicle. A controller coupled to the boost converter for providing the current command signal by processing an input current command through a plurality of prioritized limiting circuits and determining whether to limit the input current command to provide the current command signal to the boost converter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an electrical system. The electrical system includes a load, an interface configured to receive a voltage from a voltage source, and a controller configured to receive the voltage from the voltage source through the interface and to provide a voltage and current to the load. Wherein, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, the controller provides a constant voltage to the load, when the controller is in a constant current mode, the controller provides a constant current to the load, and when the controller is in a constant power mode, the controller provides a constant power to the load.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering energy using an energy conversion module. An exemplary method for delivering energy from an input interface to an output interface using an energy conversion module coupled between the input interface and the output interface comprises the steps of determining an input voltage reference for the input interface based on a desired output voltage and a measured voltage at the output interface, determining a duty cycle control value based on a ratio of the input voltage reference and the measured voltage, operating one or more switching elements of the energy conversion module to deliver energy from the input interface to the output interface with a duty cycle influenced by the duty cycle control value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering energy from an input interface to an output interface. An electrical system includes an input interface, an output interface, an energy conversion module between the input interface and the output interface, an inductive element between the input interface and the energy conversion module, and a control module. The control module determines a compensated duty cycle control value for operating the energy conversion module to produce a desired voltage at the output interface and operates the energy conversion module to deliver energy to the output interface with a duty cycle that is influenced by the compensated duty cycle control value. The compensated duty cycle control value is influenced by the current through the inductive element and accounts for voltage across the switching elements of the energy conversion module.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for control operation of a boost converter. The boost converter includes an input, an output, and a plurality of paths electrically connecting the input to the output. The boost converter also includes a plurality of switches disposed along the paths to control current flow between the input and the output. The system includes a controller. The controller receives a desired current to be supplied at the output. The controller determines which of the paths to utilize based at least in part on the desired current. The controller controls the switches based at least in part on the determination of which of the paths to utilize.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, systems and apparatus for controlling operation of an electric machine in a vector controlled motor drive system when the electric machine operates in an overmodulation region. The disclosed embodiments can reduce variations/errors in the phase voltage command signals applied to the multi-phase machine so that phase current may be properly regulated thus reducing current/torque oscillation, which can in turn improve machine efficiency and performance, as well as utilization of the DC voltage source.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering energy from an input interface to an output interface. An electrical system includes an input interface, an output interface, an energy conversion module coupled between the input interface and the output interface, and a control module. The control module determines a duty cycle control value for operating the energy conversion module to produce a desired voltage at the output interface. The control module determines an input power error at the input interface and adjusts the duty cycle control value in a manner that is influenced by the input power error, resulting in a compensated duty cycle control value. The control module operates switching elements of the energy conversion module to deliver energy to the output interface with a duty cycle that is influenced by the compensated duty cycle control value.