IP Library Granted Patent US 11,817,803
Granted Patent B2
US 11,817,803 · App. 17/735,576 · Granted Nov 14, 2023

Methods and systems for detecting a winding resistance and winding temperature of an alternating current electrical machine

Inventors: Tejas Desai (Troy, MI); Robert S. Kleinhardt (Romeo, MI); Yida Yang (Lasalle, CA); Claudio Bruning (Royal Oak, MI)
Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
H02P21/14H02P25/182H02P27/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,817,803
App. No.
17/735,576
Granted
Nov 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes determining a vector state of an alternating current (AC) electrical machine. The method includes, when the vector state is a zero-vector state, obtaining a plurality of phase current samples of the AC electrical machine, determining a decay time constant based on the plurality of phase current samples, and determining a resistance of a winding of the AC electrical machine based on the decay time constant. The method further includes selectively activating a plurality of switches of an inverter configured to provide power to the AC electrical machine based at least on the resistance of the winding of the AC electrical machine.

Claims (42)

1. A method comprising:

determining a vector state of an alternating current (AC) electrical machine;

when the vector state is a zero-vector state:

obtaining a plurality of phase current samples of the AC electrical machine;

determining a decay time constant based on the plurality of phase current samples; and

determining a resistance of a winding of the AC electrical machine based on the decay time constant; and

selectively activating a plurality of switches of an inverter configured to provide power to the AC electrical machine based at least on the resistance of the winding of the AC electrical machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vector state is determined based on a plurality of switches of the inverter.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vector state is the zero-vector state when each of the plurality of switches and a power supply collectively form a short circuit.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vector state is the zero-vector state when the AC electrical machine operates at a steady state stall condition.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the AC electrical machine based on a space vector pulse width modulation routine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on a first current magnitude of a first phase current sample of the plurality of phase current samples and a second current magnitude of a second phase current sample of the plurality of phase current samples.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on a difference between a first natural log of the first current magnitude and a second natural log of the second current magnitude.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on a first timestamp of a first phase current sample of the plurality of phase current samples and a second timestamp of a second phase current sample of the plurality of phase current samples.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on a difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resistance is determined based on a baseline inductance of the winding.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a temperature of the winding based on the resistance.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the temperature is determined based on a baseline resistance of the winding and a temperature coefficient of resistance of the winding.

13. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a nontransitory computer-readable medium including instructions that are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions include:

determining a vector state of an alternating current (AC) electrical machine;

when the vector state is a zero-vector state:

obtaining a plurality of phase current samples of the AC electrical machine;

determining a decay time constant based on the plurality of phase current samples; and

determining a resistance of a winding of the AC electrical machine based on the decay time constant; and

selectively controlling a plurality of switches of an inverter configured to provide power to the AC electrical machine based at least on the resistance of the winding of the AC electrical machine.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the vector state is determined based on a plurality of switches of an inverter communicably coupled to the processor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the vector state is the zero-vector state when each of the plurality of switches and a power supply collectively form a short circuit.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the vector state is the zero-vector state when the AC electrical machine operates at a steady state stall condition.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on a first current magnitude of a first phase current sample of the plurality of phase current samples and a second current magnitude of a second phase current sample of the plurality of phase current samples.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on a first timestamp of the first phase current sample and a second timestamp of the second phase current sample.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the decay time constant is determined based on:

a difference between a first natural log of the first current magnitude and a second natural log of the second current magnitude; and

a difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp.

20. A method comprising:

determining a vector state of an alternating current (AC) electrical machine, wherein the vector state is one of a zero-vector state and a nonzero-vector state;

when the vector state is in the nonzero-vector state:

obtaining a plurality of phase current samples of the AC electrical machine;

determining a rise time constant based on the plurality of phase current samples; and

determining a resistance of a winding of the AC electrical machine based on the rise time constant; and

selectively activating a plurality of switches of an inverter configured to provide power to the AC electrical machine based at least on the resistance of the winding of the AC electrical machine.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: AMERICAN AXLE MANUFACTURING, INC.; MD INVESTORS CORPORATION; AAM NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073005/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070700/0839 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2022
From: DESAI, TEJAS; KLEINHARDT, ROBERT S.; YANG, YIDA; BRUNING, CLAUDIO
To: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
Reel/Frame 059799/0265 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part PCTUS2021059486 · Nov 16, 2021
Provisional Application 63140579 · Jan 22, 2021
Related Publication 20220263443A1 · Aug 18, 2022