Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting junction device temperature of at least a first switching device in a power conversion module that includes the first switching device and at least a second switching device, the method comprising the steps of identifying a cross thermal impedance value indicative of how the temperature of the second switching device effects the first switching device temperature an using the cross thermal impedance value to predict the temperature of the at least a first switching device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for canceling dead time effects in the form of common mode voltages produced by a three-phase power conversion device in a rectifier/inverter variable frequency drive (VFD) system includes limiting the voltage difference between phase voltages at certain switching transition times to an amount ?, that is a function of the dead time that is specified for the switches and delaying gating signals to the switches to remove unexpected pulses produced by common mode voltages.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the common mode voltage generated by eliminating zero-voltage vectors in a rectifier/inverter variable frequency drive (VFD) system includes comparing three phase voltages to each other to determine a maximum voltage in one phase, a minimum voltage in another phase and a middle voltage in still another phase, inverting phase voltages for one phase having the maximum voltage and another phase having the minimum voltage, comparing the phase voltages to a carrier wave to determine gating signals for three respective phases of the inverter, and inverting gating signals for the one phase having the maximum voltage and for another phase having the minimum voltage to reduce the common mode voltage in the motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a controller for controlling a machine wherein a torque reference value is provided, the method for identifying an error representative of the difference between the torque reference value and the torque applied to the machine and using the error value to modify machine operation, the method comprising the steps of obtaining feedback current values corresponding to the currents provided to the machine, mathematically combining the feedback current values to generate an error value, mathematically combining the error value and the torque reference value to generate a torque command value and using the torque command value to control the machine.