IP Library Granted Patent US 11,637,513
Granted Patent B2
US 11,637,513 · App. 17/695,663 · Granted Apr 25, 2023

Methods of optimizing waveforms for electric motors

Inventors: Andrew W. Phillips (Rochester, MI); Matthew A. Younkins (Campbell, CA); Paul Carvell (San Jose, CA); John M. Fuerst (Campbell, CA)
H02P6/10H02P2101/45H02P2205/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,637,513
App. No.
17/695,663
Granted
Apr 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of controlling an electric motor includes receiving a duty cycle for the electric motor for delivering a target torque from the electric motor, generating a pulse train, and pulsing the electric motor with the generated pulse train. Generating the pulse train being at least partially based on the received duty cycle. The generated pulse train optimized to improve at least one of noise, vibration, or harshness of the electric motor when compared to a constant pulse frequency.

Claims (57)

1. A method of controlling an electric motor, the method comprising:

receiving, with a controller, a duty cycle for an electric motor to deliver a target torque from the electric motor;

generating, with the controller, a torque pulse train at least partially based on the received duty cycle including a first pulse, a second pulse, and a third pulse, wherein at least one of:

a first time is defined from a stop time of the first pulse to a start time of the second pulse and a second time is defined from the stop time of the second pulse to a start time of the third pulse, the first time being different from the second time, or

the first pulse has a first torque and the second pulse has a second torque different from the first torque; and

pulsing the electric motor with the generated torque pulse train, the generated torque pulse train optimized to improve at least one of noise, vibration, or harshness of the electric motor.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating a pulse train having a range of 2 to 20 pulses.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes the first time being different from the second time.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train in which the first time is greater than the second time.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes the first pulse having the first torque and the second pulse having the second torque different from the first torque.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train comprising a third pulse having a third torque different from the first torque and the second torque.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train in which a pulse torque of each pulse of the torque pulse train is within 10% of an average torque of the torque pulse train.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train based at least partially on operating conditions of driven equipment.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train in which each pulse of the torque pulse train has a pulse torque greater than the target torque.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein pulsing the electric motor with the generated torque pulse train propels a vehicle.

11. A controller to operate an electric motor to rotate a driven component, the controller comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including a program to cause the processor to:

generate a torque pulse train based at least partially on a received duty cycle, the torque pulse train including a first pulse, a second pulse, and a third pulse, wherein at least one of:

a first time is defined from a stop time of the first pulse to a start time of the second pulse and a second time is defined from the stop time of the second pulse to a start time of the third pulse, the first time being different from the second time, or

the first pulse has a first torque and the second pulse has a second torque different from the first torque; and

pulse an electric motor with the generated torque pulse train, the generated torque pulse train optimized to improve at least one of noise, vibration, or harshness of the electric motor to deliver a target torque.

12. The controller according to claim 11 , wherein the processor generates the torque pulse train to include a range of 2 to 20 pulses.

13. The controller according to claim 11 , wherein the memory includes a plurality of optimized torque pulse trains corresponding as a function of a received duty cycle.

14. A drive system comprising:

a structure having at least one resonant frequency;

a driven component;

an electric motor fixed to the structure for rotating the driven component; and

a controller according to claim 11 .

15. A method of controlling an electric motor, the method comprising:

receiving, with a controller, a requested torque for the electric motor to propel of a vehicle;

generating, with the controller, a torque pulse train at least partially based on the requested torque including a first pulse, a second pulse, and a third pulse, wherein at least one of:

a first time is defined from a stop time of the first pulse to a start time of the second pulse and a second time is defined from the stop time of the second pulse to a start time of the third pulse, the first time being different from the second time, or

the first pulse has a first torque and the second pulse has a second torque different from the first torque; and

pulsing the electric motor with the generated torque pulse train at a pulsed torque greater than the requested torque to deliver the requested torque.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein receiving the requested torque for the electric motor includes receiving or calculating a duty cycle for the electric motor to deliver the requested torque by pulsing the electric motor at an optimum efficiency point.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the generated torque pulse train is optimized to improve at least one of noise, vibration, or harshness of the electric motor.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train having a range of 2 to 20 pulses.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train comprising a first pulse, a second pulse, and a third pulse, a first time defined from a stop time of the first pulse to a start time of the second pulse, a second time defined from a stop time of the second pulse to a start time of the third pulse, the first time being different from the second time.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train in which the first time is greater than the second time.

21. The method according to claim 17 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train comprising a first pulse and a second pulse, the first pulse having a first torque and the second pulse having a second torque different from the first torque.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train comprising a third pulse having a third torque different from the first torque and the second torque.

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train in which a torque of each pulse of the torque pulse train is within 10% of an average torque of the torque pulse train.

24. The method according to claim 17 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train based at least partially on operating conditions of driven equipment.

25. The method according to claim 17 , wherein generating the torque pulse train includes generating the torque pulse train in which each pulse of the torque pulse train has a pulse torque greater than the requested torque.

26. A controller to operate an electric motor to rotate a driven component, the controller comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including a program to cause the processor to:

execute the method of claim 15 to pulse the electric motor at a pulsed torque to rotate the driven component such that the driven component propels a vehicle.

27. The controller according to claim 26 , wherein the program further causes the processor to:

generate a torque pulse train based at least partially on the requested torque; and

pulse the electric motor with the generated torque pulse train, the generated torque pulse train optimized to improve at least one of noise, vibration, or harshness of the electric motor to deliver a target torque.

28. A drive system comprising:

a structure having at least one resonant frequency;

a driven component;

an electric motor fixed to the structure for rotating the driven component; and

a controller according to claim 26 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2022
From: PHILLIPS, ANDREW W; YOUNKINS, MATTHEW A; CARVELL, PAUL; FUERST, JOHN M
To: TULA ETECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 060996/0533 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63219441 · Jul 8, 2021
Provisional Application 63161405 · Mar 15, 2021
Related Publication 20220294368A1 · Sep 15, 2022
Cited By (5)
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