Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor includes determining a PWM control signal, analyzing the PWM control signal to determine if components of the PWM signal are within a threshold amount of each other, applying duty-cycle blanking to the PWM control signal, if the components of the PWM control signal are within the threshold amount of each other, to generate an adjusted PWM control signal, and controlling the electric motor with the adjusted the PWM signal to limit parasitic effects.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor includes determining a PWM control signal, analyzing the PWM control signal to determine if components of the PWM signal are within a threshold amount of each other, applying duty-cycle blanking to the PWM control signal, if the components of the PWM control signal are within the threshold amount of each other, to generate an adjusted PWM control signal, and controlling the electric motor with the adjusted the PWM signal to limit parasitic effects.

Abstract: A method for controlling motor, the method including, receiving a motor torque command, calculating a first current associated with the motor torque command, calculating an estimated first current responsive to receiving a first regulated voltage associated with the first current and a motor speed signal, subtracting the estimated first current from the first current resulting in a first current error signal, and outputting the first regulated voltage to a voltage controller responsive to receiving the first current error signal, the estimated first current, and the motor speed signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling motor, the method including, receiving a motor torque command, calculating a first current associated with the motor torque command, calculating an estimated first current responsive to receiving a first regulated voltage associated with the first current and a motor speed signal, subtracting the estimated first current from the first current resulting in a first current error signal, and outputting the first regulated voltage to a voltage controller responsive to receiving the first current error signal, the estimated first current, and the motor speed signal.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling torque of a motor are provided. The method includes modifying a phase advance angle based on an identified phase coil that has a faulted condition, a type of fault condition, and a polarity of a commanded torque to obtain a desired output torque from a motor.

Abstract: A system and a method for controlling torque of a motor are provided. The method includes modifying a phase advance angle based on an identified phase coil that has a faulted condition, a type of fault condition, and a polarity of a commanded torque to obtain a desired output torque from a motor.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an electric machine using voltage mode control comprising: receiving a voltage command, the voltage command corresponding to a voltage control command for a position control loop, the position control loop configured to control a position of the electric machine; receiving a motor velocity signal; and determining a q-axis current. The method also includes computing a d-axis current to supplement the torque if a magnitude of a voltage supply for exciting the electric machine is not sufficient to provide a torque corresponding to the q-axis current, otherwise establishing the d-axis current at about zero; and generating command voltages for controlling the electric machine corresponding to the q-axis current and the d-axis current.

Abstract: A method of interfacing an electromagnetic sensor with a controller in a motor control system, the method including: applying an excitation signal to the electromagnetic sensor; receiving a first electromagnetic sensor output signal based on the excitation signal, the first electromagnetic sensor signal comprising an amplitude modulated signal corresponding to a position of a rotor of the electromagnetic sensor; and receiving a second electromagnetic sensor output signal based on the excitation signal, the second electromagnetic sensor signal comprising another amplitude modulated signal corresponding to the position of the rotor of the electromagnetic sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an electric machine using voltage mode control comprising: receiving a voltage command, the voltage command corresponding to a voltage control command for a position control loop, the position control loop configured to control a position of the electric machine; receiving a motor velocity signal; and determining a q-axis current. The method also includes computing a d-axis current to supplement the torque if a magnitude of a voltage supply for exciting the electric machine is not sufficient to provide a torque corresponding to the q-axis current, otherwise establishing the d-axis current at about zero; and generating command voltages for controlling the electric machine corresponding to the q-axis current and the d-axis current.

Abstract: A method of interfacing an electromagnetic sensor with a controller in a motor control system, the method including: applying an excitation signal to the electromagnetic sensor; receiving a first electromagnetic sensor output signal based on the excitation signal, the first electromagnetic sensor signal comprising an amplitude modulated signal corresponding to a position of a rotor of the electromagnetic sensor; and receiving a second electromagnetic sensor output signal based on the excitation signal, the second electromagnetic sensor signal comprising another amplitude modulated signal corresponding to the position of the rotor of the electromagnetic sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining motor current measurements from a DC bus current of an inverter that drives a pulse width modulated electric machine is disclosed. The method may include sensing a DC bus current in a sensor located on a bus of an inverter; sampling the DC bus current via an analog to digital converter wherein the sampling is controlled by sampling timing that is based on a pulse width modulation timing of the inverter; and determining three AC phase currents of the motor from the sampled DC bus current.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining motor current measurements from a DC bus current of an inverter that drives a pulse width modulated electric machine is disclosed. The method may include sensing a DC bus current in a sensor located on a bus of an inverter; sampling the DC bus current via an analog to digital converter wherein the sampling is controlled by sampling timing that is based on a pulse width modulation timing of the inverter; and determining three AC phase currents of the motor from the sampled DC bus current.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting current and voltage in a PM electric machine comprising: receiving a command indicative of a desired position control; obtaining a velocity value indicative of the rotational velocity of the electric machine; and computing a first voltage threshold for the electric machine based on a selected operating condition. If the voltage command exceeds the first voltage threshold, the method also includes establishing a modified voltage command as substantially equivalent to the first voltage threshold, otherwise establishing a modified voltage command as substantially equivalent to the voltage command.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a torque current in an electric machine coupled to a polyphase bus. The method comprises: detecting a rotational position of the electric machine with a position encoder; controlling an inverter comprising a plurality of switching devices, the inverter having an input coupled to a direct current bus, and an output coupled to the polyphase bus. Where the inverter is responsive to commands from a controller coupled to the inverter and to the position encoder. The method also includes measuring a current from the direct current bus; and capturing the current at a predefined interval of time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for parameter identification in a switched reluctance electric machine comprising: operating the switched reluctance electric machine in response to a desired command; and measuring an actual operating characteristic of the switched reluctance electric machine. The method also includes: modeling the switched reluctance electric machine to formulate an estimated operating characteristic based on the desired command; comparing the actual operating characteristic and the estimated operating characteristic to formulate an error there between; and determining a parameter estimate for the switched reluctance machine based on the error and a previous parameter estimate.

Abstract: A method for determining phase current for each of a plurality of individual phase coils of a switched reluctance machine (SRM) is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes determining the current passing through a first resistive element and a second resistive element in an SRM drive circuit. A conduction mode of the SRM drive circuit is determined, the conduction mode being based upon an ON/OFF state of each of a pair of switching transistors controlling current through each of the plurality of individual phase coils. The phase current through each of the plurality of individual phase coils is then calculated, based upon the conduction mode and the determined current passing through said first and second resistive elements.

Abstract: A variable reluctance rotational displacement sensor with: an annular sleeve; a coil coaxially aligned within the sleeve; a first ring in magnetic communication with the sleeve, coaxially aligned and configured to rotate relative to the sleeve. The first ring including a first plurality of axially directed teeth arranged about a circumference of the ring on a front portion thereof. The sensor also includes a second ring in magnetic communication with the first ring and the sleeve, the second ring coaxially aligned and configured to rotate relative to the first ring and the sleeve and including a second plurality of axially directed teeth configured substantially the same as the first plurality of axially directed teeth and oriented adjacent to the first plurality of axially directed teeth on a rear portion of the second ring. The coil generates a signal responsive to a differential displacement between the first and second rings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting current and voltage in a PM electric machine comprising: receiving a command indicative of a desired position control; obtaining a velocity value indicative of the rotational velocity of the electric machine; and computing a first voltage threshold for the electric machine based on a selected operating condition. If the voltage command exceeds the first voltage threshold, the method also includes establishing a modified voltage command as substantially equivalent to the first voltage threshold, otherwise establishing a modified voltage command as substantially equivalent to the voltage command.

Abstract: A variable reluctance rotational displacement sensor with: an annular sleeve; a coil coaxially aligned within the sleeve; a first ring in magnetic communication with the sleeve, coaxially aligned and configured to rotate relative to the sleeve. The first ring including a first plurality of axially directed teeth arranged about a circumference of the ring on a front portion thereof. The sensor also includes a second ring in magnetic communication with the first ring and the sleeve, the second ring coaxially aligned and configured to rotate relative to the first ring and the sleeve and including a second plurality of axially directed teeth configured substantially the same as the first plurality of axially directed teeth and oriented adjacent to the first plurality of axially directed teeth on a rear portion of the second ring. The coil generates a signal responsive to a differential displacement between the first and second rings.

Abstract: A method of detecting a sensed parameter for a motor control system comprising: receiving a sensor signal, the sensor signal exhibiting a frequency responsive to an inductance of a non-contacting variable reluctance rotational displacement sensor, wherein the inductance is indicative of a displacement of the sensor and responsive to the sensed parameter; capturing a first transition of the sensor signal and a time associated therewith; capturing a second transition of the sensor signal and a time associated therewith; calculating a period for the sensor signal; and computing a value for the sensed parameter, the value responsive to the period.