Abstract: A torque system includes a DC power device, a polyphase electric machine, a contactor pair, a power inverter module (PIM), and a controller. The PIM connects to the power device via the contactor pair and directly connects to the electric machine. The controller executes a method to control a fault response under a fault condition resulting in opening of the contactor pair and a polyphase short condition. The controller calculates a back EMF of the electric machine and transmits switching control signals to semiconductor switches of the PIM to transition from the polyphase short condition to a polyphase open condition only when the calculated back EMF is less than a calibrated value and a voltage rise on a DC side of the PIM is less than a calibrated voltage rise. A vehicle includes the DC power device, road wheels, electric machine, PIM, and controller.

Abstract: A torque system includes a DC power device, a polyphase electric machine, a contactor pair, a power inverter module (PIM), and a controller. The PIM connects to the power device via the contactor pair and directly connects to the electric machine. The controller executes a method to control a fault response under a fault condition resulting in opening of the contactor pair and a polyphase short condition. The controller calculates a back EMF of the electric machine and transmits switching control signals to semiconductor switches of the PIM to transition from the polyphase short condition to a polyphase open condition only when the calculated back EMF is less than a calibrated value and a voltage rise on a DC side of the PIM is less than a calibrated voltage rise. A vehicle includes the DC power device, road wheels, electric machine, PIM, and controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for reducing particle contamination in a plasma processing chamber. In one embodiment, a pasting disk is provided which includes a disk-shaped base of high-resistivity material that has an electrically conductive pasting material layer applied to a top surface of the base so that the pasting material layer partially covers the top surface of the base. The pasting disk is sputter etched to deposit conductive pasting material over a wide area on the interior surfaces of a plasma processing chamber while minimizing deposition on dielectric components that are used to optimize the sputter etch process during substrate processing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an electrical system of a vehicle. Sensors are used to obtain first data for a first path of calculations and second data for a second path of calculations. The first path comprises a first plurality of calculations of generating a value of a parameter pertaining to the electrical system, and the second path comprises a second plurality of calculations of monitoring the electrical system with respect to the first path. A processor is coupled to the plurality of sensors, and is configured to determine whether a data frozen flag is active, perform the first plurality of calculations of the first path using the first data if the first data flag is inactive, and perform the second plurality of calculations of the second path if the first data flag is active.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an electrically-powered torque machine configured to generate torque in a hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring signal outputs of a resolver configured to monitor rotational position of the torque machine. Upon detecting a fault warning state associated with the signal outputs of the resolver, a motor torque capacity of the torque machine is derated. Upon a clearing of the fault warning state, a torque ramp-up state to increase the motor torque capacity of the torque machine is executed. Notice of an incidence of a fault associated with the signal outputs of the resolver is provided only when the motor torque capacity fails to achieve a threshold motor torque capacity within a threshold recovery time period while executing the torque ramp-up state.

Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid powertrain system and an energy storage device. A method for operating the hybrid powertrain system includes initially operating the hybrid powertrain system in a charge-depletion mode to reduce a state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device. In response to an operator request, the hybrid powertrain system operates in an opportunity charging mode to opportunistically charge the energy storage device to increase the SOC of the energy storage device during a trip prior to achieving a minimum SOC that is associated with triggering operation in a charge sustaining mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for reducing particle contamination in a plasma processing chamber. In one embodiment, a pasting disk is provided which includes a disk-shaped base of high-resistivity material that has an electrically conductive pasting material layer applied to a top surface of the base so that the pasting material layer partially covers the top surface of the base. The pasting disk is sputter etched to deposit conductive pasting material over a wide area on the interior surfaces of a plasma processing chamber while minimizing deposition on dielectric components that are used to optimize the sputter etch process during substrate processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for reducing particle contamination in a plasma processing chamber. In one embodiment, a pasting disk is provided which includes a disk-shaped base of high-resistivity material that has an electrically conductive pasting material layer applied to a top surface of the base so that the pasting material layer partially covers the top surface of the base. The pasting disk is sputter etched to deposit conductive pasting material over a wide area on the interior surfaces of a plasma processing chamber while minimizing deposition on dielectric components that are used to optimize the sputter etch process during substrate processing.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a first event and executing a first procedure to identify a sensor offset in response to detecting the first event. The method further includes determining, via a computing device, whether the sensor offset was measured during the execution of the first procedure, scheduling a second procedure to execute in response to detecting a second event if the sensor offset was not measured during the first procedure, and scheduling the first procedure to execute in response to detecting a subsequent occurrence of the first event if the sensor offset was measured during the first procedure.

Abstract: A controller-implemented method for monitoring a permanent magnet electric machine includes determining a threshold direct-axis (d-axis) current corresponding to inception of irreversible demagnetization of the permanent magnet based upon material properties of a permanent magnet mounted in a rotor of the PM electric machine and a temperature of the permanent magnet. A d-axis current associated with controlling the PM electric machine is determined, and a state of health of the PM electric machine is determined based upon the threshold d-axis current and the monitored d-axis current.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a semiconductor device and methods and apparatuses of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a source and drain region and a gate electrode stack on the substrate between the source and drain regions. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, wherein the substrate includes a source and drain region, a gate dielectric layer between the source and drain regions, and a conductive film layer on the gate dielectric layer. The method also includes depositing a refractory metal nitride film layer on the conductive film layer, depositing a silicon-containing film layer on the refractory metal nitride film layer, and depositing a tungsten film layer on the silicon-containing film layer.

Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid powertrain system and an energy storage device. A method for operating the hybrid powertrain system includes initially operating the hybrid powertrain system in a charge-depletion mode to reduce a state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device. In response to an operator request, the hybrid powertrain system operates in an opportunity charging mode to opportunistically charge the energy storage device to increase the SOC of the energy storage device during a trip prior to achieving a minimum SOC that is associated with triggering operation in a charge sustaining mode.

Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine mechanically coupled to an internal combustion engine includes, upon detecting a pending fault associated with a power switch configured to control power flow to the torque machine, disabling torque output from the torque machine and executing retry events. The retry events are iteratively executed with a debounce time period preceding each retry event. Presence of a fault associated with the power switch is detected when a quantity of the retry events during a time window exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A method of controlling a powertrain system includes determining a torque request; selecting feasible input torque and input speed operating points; calculating aggregate system power losses; determining turbo efficiency as a function of a difference between a feasible input torque rate of change and a desired input torque rate of change required to reach the desired output torque; summing the turbo efficiency to the aggregate system power losses to determine total system losses corresponding to feasible input torques and input speed capable of producing the desired output torque; determining a feasible input torque and input speed corresponding to a substantially minimum total system power loss; and selecting as a desired input speed and input torque that corresponds to the substantially minimum total system power loss.

Abstract: A method to control a powertrain having an electric motor includes monitoring a torque command to the motor, predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor, comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque, and indicating a motor fault when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle includes electrical components, current sensors which determine current flowing through the electrical components, and a control system. The control system calculates and records error index values over an interval using the currents. The control system increments a first counter with every sample in the series, increments a second counter whenever a given error index value exceeds a calibrated high threshold, and decrements the second counter whenever the given error index value is less than a calibrated low threshold. A control action, e.g., recording a PASS or FAIL value, executes when either the absolute value of the second counter or the present value of the first counter reaches a corresponding limit or threshold. A method enhances the robustness of a hybrid vehicle torque security diagnostic using the control system. The vehicle and method use a signed X of Y debouncing or error signal processing method as noted above.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a semiconductor device and methods and apparatuses of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a source and drain region and a gate electrode stack on the substrate between the source and drain regions. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, wherein the substrate includes a source and drain region, a gate dielectric layer between the source and drain regions, and a conductive film layer on the gate dielectric layer. The method also includes depositing a refractory metal nitride film layer on the conductive film layer, depositing a silicon-containing film layer on the refractory metal nitride film layer, and depositing a tungsten film layer on the silicon-containing film layer.

Abstract: A method for monitoring electric isolation of a high voltage DC bus to detect ground isolation faults includes monitoring voltage differentials between a positive DC electric power bus and a negative DC electric power bus and a chassis ground. Electrical isolation between each of the positive and negative DC electric power buses and the chassis ground is monitored using a ratio of the voltage differentials.