Space vector pulse width modulation for multi-phase machines

1. A control system for controlling operation of a multiphase electric machine, comprising:

a signal generator configured to generate n number of duty cycle signals of a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme as a combination of a continuous PWM scheme and a noncontinuous PWM scheme, where the combination is based on a blending coefficient value, the signal generator configured to use each of the duty cycle signals to control switching of a DC power to a corresponding phase of the multiphase electric machine;

wherein n is an integer greater than 3;

wherein the signal generator is configured to use a blending function to determine relative weights of each of the continuous PWM scheme and the noncontinuous PWM scheme to generate the n number of duty cycle signals;

wherein the blending function is calculated based on a difference between the blending coefficient value and two threshold values; and

wherein the duty cycle signals are generated via the combination of the continuous PWM scheme and the noncontinuous PWM scheme based on the blending coefficient value being greater than or equal to a first threshold value and less than a second threshold value, the second threshold value greater than the first threshold value.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous PWM scheme is a sinusoidal PWM scheme.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the noncontinuous PWM scheme is one of a discontinuous PWM minimum (DPWMMIN) scheme and a discontinuous PWM minimum with offset (DPWMMINO) scheme.

4. The control system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a current command module configured to receive a torque command and output a current command;

a current controller module configured to generate a modulation index value based on the current command; and

wherein the blending coefficient value is a function of the modulation index value.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the duty cycle signals are generated via the continuous PWM scheme based on the blending coefficient value being less than a first threshold value; and

wherein the duty cycle signals are generated via the noncontinuous PWM scheme based on the blending coefficient value being greater than or equal to a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the blending coefficient value is a function of a phase current magnitude or a velocity or a torque of the multiphase electric machine.

7. A control system for controlling operation of a multiphase electric machine, comprising:

a signal generator configured to generate n number of duty cycle signals of a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme as a combination of a continuous PWM scheme and a noncontinuous PWM scheme, where the combination is based on a blending coefficient value, the signal generator configured to use each of the duty cycle signals to control switching of a DC power to a corresponding phase of the multiphase electric machine; and

wherein n is an integer greater than 3;

wherein the combination is calculated based on the following relation:

d APWM =d DPWMMIN +α×(1−max( d DPwMMIN ))

wherein d APWM is one of the duty cycle signals, d DPWMMIN is a duty cycle calculated based on the noncontinuous PWM scheme, and max(d DPWMMIN ) is a maximum value of the duty cycle, and α is the blending coefficient value.

8. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the multiphase electric machine is configured to perform at least one of: applying an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, and controlling the steering system.

9. A method of controlling a multiphase electric machine, comprising:

generating n number of duty cycle signals by a signal generator using a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme being a combination of a continuous PWM scheme and a noncontinuous PWM scheme, where the combination is based on a blending coefficient value, wherein n is an integer greater than 3; and

switching power to each of n number of phases of the multiphase electric machine using an associated one of the duty cycle signals; and

determining relative weights of each of the continuous PWM scheme and the noncontinuous PWM scheme using a blending function based on a difference between the blending coefficient value and two threshold values;

wherein the duty cycle signals are generated via the combination of the continuous PWM scheme and the noncontinuous PWM scheme based on the blending coefficient value being greater than or equal to a first threshold value and less than a second threshold value, the second threshold value greater than the first threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the continuous PWM scheme is a sinusoidal PWM scheme.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the noncontinuous PWM scheme is one of a discontinuous PWM minimum (DPWMMIN) scheme and a discontinuous PWM minimum with offset (DPWMMINO) scheme.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a torque command and outputting a current command by a current command module;

generating a modulation index value based on the current command; and

wherein the blending coefficient value is a function of the modulation index value.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of the duty cycle signals are generated via the continuous PWM scheme based on the blending coefficient value being less than a first threshold value; and

wherein each of the duty cycle signals are generated via the noncontinuous PWM scheme based on the blending coefficient value being greater than or equal to a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the blending coefficient value is a function of a phase current magnitude or a velocity or a torque of the multiphase electric machine.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the combination is calculated based on the following relation:

d APWM =d DPWMMIN +α×(1 max( d DPWMMIN ))

wherein d APWM is one of the duty cycle signals, d DPWMMIN is a duty cycle calculated based on the noncontinuous PWM scheme, and max(d DPWMMIN ) is a maximum value of the duty cycle, and a is the blending coefficient value.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the multiphase electric machine is configured to perform at least one of: applying an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, and controlling the steering system.