Method and system for operating an electric motor

1. A method for operating an electric motor having a plurality of windings with an inverter having a plurality of switches coupled to a voltage source, the method comprising:

applying a first plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the first plurality of switching vectors comprising a first ratio of first magnitude switching vectors to second magnitude switching vectors;

monitoring a direct current (DC) current associated with the voltage source during the applying of the first plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches;

selecting a second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors based on the monitoring of the DC current associated with the voltage source; and

applying a second plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the second plurality of switching vectors comprising the second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying of each of the first plurality of switching vectors and the applying of each of the second plurality of switching vectors comprises:

activating a first portion of the plurality of switches; and

deactivating a second portion of the plurality of switches.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the applying of each of the first magnitude switching vectors causes a first voltage to be applied across at least one winding of the plurality of windings, the applying of each of the second magnitude switching vectors causes a second voltage to be applied across the at least one winding of the plurality of windings, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of switching vectors corresponds to a first plurality of voltage vectors on a stationary frame of reference coordinate system, and the second plurality of switching vectors corresponds to a second plurality of voltage vectors on the stationary frame of reference coordinate system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the inverter is configured to apply third magnitude switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the third magnitude switching vectors corresponding to a third voltage being applied across the at least one winding of the plurality of windings, and wherein the third voltage is less than the second voltage.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of switching vectors does not comprise any of the third magnitude switching vectors, and wherein the second plurality of switching vectors does not comprise any of the third magnitude switching vectors.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

monitoring the DC current associated with the voltage source during the applying of the second plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches;

selecting a third ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors based on the monitoring of the DC current associated with the voltage source during the applying of the second plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches; and

applying a third plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the third plurality of switching vectors comprising the third ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring the DC current associated with the voltage source during the applying of the first plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches comprises monitoring a DC current ripple, and the monitoring the DC current associated with the voltage source during the applying of the second plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches comprises monitoring the DC current ripple.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inverter is at least a five-phase inverter.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors is approximately 3:1.

11. An automotive electrical system comprising:

an electric motor comprising at least five windings;

an inverter comprising a plurality of switches coupled to the at least five windings;

a voltage source coupled to the plurality of switches;

a current sensor coupled to the voltage source and configured to detect a direct current (DC) current associated with the voltage source and generate a signal representative thereof; and

a processor in operable communication with the plurality of switches and the current sensor, the processor being configured to:

apply a first plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the first plurality of switching vectors comprising a first ratio of first magnitude switching vectors to second magnitude switching vectors;

select a second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors based on the DC current associated with the voltage source; and

apply a second plurality of switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the second plurality of switching vectors comprising the second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors.

12. The automotive electrical system of claim 11 , wherein the second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors is approximately 3:1.

13. The automotive electrical system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured such that the applying of each of the first plurality of switching vectors and the applying of each of the second plurality of switching vectors comprises:

activating a first portion of the plurality of switches; and

deactivating a second portion of the plurality of switches.

14. The automotive electrical system of claim 13 , wherein the applying of each of the first magnitude switching vectors causes a first voltage to be applied across at least one winding of the at least five windings, the applying of each of the second magnitude switching vectors causes a second voltage to be applied across the at least one winding of the at least five windings, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

15. The automotive electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the inverter is configured to apply third magnitude switching vectors to the plurality of switches, the third magnitude switching vectors corresponding to a third voltage being applied across the at least one winding of the at least five windings, and wherein the third voltage is less than the second voltage.

16. An automotive propulsion system comprising:

an electric motor comprising at least five windings;

a direct current (DC) voltage supply;

a direct current-to-alternating current (DC/AC) power inverter comprising at least five pairs of power switching devices coupled to the at least five windings and the DC voltage supply; and

a processor in operable communication with the electric motor, the DC voltage supply, and the DC/AC power inverter, the processor being configured to:

apply a first plurality of switching vectors to the at least five pairs of power switching devices, the first plurality of switching vectors comprising a first ratio of first magnitude switching vectors to second magnitude switching vectors;

select a second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors based on a DC current associated with the DC voltage supply; and

apply a second plurality of switching vectors to the at least five pairs of power switching devices, the second plurality of switching vectors comprising the second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors.

17. The automotive propulsion system of claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of switching vectors corresponds to a first plurality of voltage vectors on a stationary frame of reference coordinate system, and the second plurality of switching vectors corresponds to a second plurality of voltage vectors on the stationary frame of reference coordinate system.

18. The automotive propulsion system of claim 17 , wherein the applying of each of the first magnitude switching vectors causes a first voltage to be applied across at least one winding of the at least five windings, the applying of each of the second magnitude switching vectors causes a second voltage to be applied across the at least one winding of the at least five windings, and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

19. The automotive propulsion system of claim 18 , wherein the inverter is configured to apply third magnitude switching vectors to the at least five pairs of power switching devices, the third magnitude switching vectors corresponding to a third voltage being applied across the at least one winding of the at least five windings, and wherein the third voltage is less than the second voltage.

20. The automotive propulsion system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured such that the second ratio of the first magnitude switching vectors to the second magnitude switching vectors is approximately 3:1.