Abstract: A control system, method and article allows a monitoring module to monitor operation of a main controller in an electric drive, by providing questions and evaluating the accuracy and/or timeliness of responses from the main controller. Upon detection of an excessive number of incorrect or late responses, the monitoring module can shutdown operation, and may provide an alternative communications path, thereby preventing corrupt data from reaching a vehicle network, while providing communications for diagnostic and recovery such as by provision of new software or firmware instructions. The main controller may monitor the operation of the monitoring module, taking appropriate action if a fault is detected. Disabling a supply of power to a traction motor may be based on current operating conditions, such as speed.

Abstract: A system, method, and article for protecting a power source for a machine from sudden changes in load. In one embodiment, energy is wasted in a winding of a motor in response to a decrease in a load presented to the power source.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting failure of a cooling system in an alternating current machine, such as a motor and/or a generator. For example, in one embodiment energy wasting is initiated and a failure is indicated if a temperature rises by more than a selected amount over a selected time period.

Abstract: An encoder failure detector system and method for detecting failure of an encoder at near-zero rotational speeds. For example, in one embodiment a failure is indicated if a torque command exceeds a selected threshold for a selected period of time and no movement of a rotor is detected during the selected period of time.

Abstract: A control subsystem for an electric motor determines whether power was interrupted, and delays torque production if power was interrupted. The control subsystem may employ two separate non-volatile memory locations, or alternatively a single non-volatile memory location.

Abstract: A torque current peak compensation value is subtracted from a torque current reference value, where the torque current peak compensation value is based at least in part on a determined peak of vibration. A torque current compensation value is subtracted from the results to produce an adjusted torque current reference value.

Abstract: A controller implements a state machine for operating the bidirectional power converter with a flexible load pattern while maintaining a thermal condition of the power converter within acceptable limits. The state machine implements a wait loop in response to selected conditions to maintain the thermal condition.

Abstract: An efficient emulation of EEPROM employing flash memory employs a fixed location for an address pointer in flash memory and such that an erase operation is required only once every nth update where n is the number of bits at the fixed location, thus avoiding the need to erase the sector on every update and avoiding delays associated with linked lists for determining the address of the most up-to-date information. Use of bit shifting provides fast determination of the desired address.