Method and apparatus for monitoring a system including a sensorless electric motor

1. Method for monitoring a multiphase alternating current permanent magnet synchronous electric motor mechanically coupled to an actuator to transfer torque thereto, comprising:

controlling operation of the electric motor with a sensorless electric motor drive control system;

estimating an initial phase angle and a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor;

monitoring operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor using the estimated initial phase angle and the estimated rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor, comprising:

commanding the sensorless electric motor drive control system to operate the electric motor at a commanded operating speed,

determining a stall speed threshold associated with the commanded operating speed, and

detecting a stall condition associated with the electric motor comprising detecting the estimated rotational speed of the rotor is less than the stall speed threshold; and

detecting a fault in one of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor based upon the monitored operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor; and

verifying the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor is correct based upon the polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor occurs only when the monitored polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor is verified as correct.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling operation of the electric motor with a sensorless electric motor drive control system occurs only when the monitored polarity of the initial phase angle of the rotor is verified as correct.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring the polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor comprises:

injecting a high frequency current into a d-axis of an electrical current that is input to the sensorless electric motor drive control system;

estimating rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor when a calibrated time associated with a polarity detection timer has elapsed;

comparing the estimated rotational speed to a threshold speed associated with motor polarity; and

determining the initial polarity detection is valid when the estimated rotational speed is less than the threshold speed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system further comprises:

commanding the sensorless electric motor drive control system to operate the electric motor at a commanded operating speed; and

comparing the estimated rotational speed of the rotor to the commanded operating speed.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising detecting a fault associated with the sensorless electric motor drive control system when the estimated rotational speed of the rotor diverges from the commanded operating speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the stall condition associated with the electric motor further comprises detecting that the electric motor cannot deliver sufficient torque to the actuator to maintain rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor in response to a commanded motor torque.

9. Method for monitoring an auxiliary system associated with a powertrain including an internal combustion engine coupled to a hybrid transmission, the auxiliary system including a sensorless electric motor drive control system controlling operation of an electric motor coupled to an actuator to transfer torque to the actuator, the method comprising:

commanding the electric motor to operate the actuator at a commanded auxiliary system operating state, wherein the commanded auxiliary system operating state comprises a commanded operating speed and torque;

estimating an initial phase angle and a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor;

monitoring operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor using the estimated initial phase angle and the estimated rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor, wherein monitoring operation of the electric motor comprises determining a stall speed threshold associated with the commanded operating speed and detecting a stall condition associated with the electric motor and the actuator when the estimated rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor is less than the stall speed threshold; and

detecting a fault in one of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor based upon the monitored operation.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

monitoring a polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor; and

verifying the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor is correct based upon the polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system and the electric motor occurs only when the monitored polarity of the estimated initial phase angle of the rotor is verified as correct.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein commanding the electric motor to operate the actuator at the commanded auxiliary system operating state occurs only when the monitored polarity associated with the initial phase angle of the rotor is verified as correct.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the commanded auxiliary system operating state comprises a commanded operating speed, and monitoring operation of the sensorless electric motor drive control system comprises comparing the estimated rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor to the commanded rotational speed.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic pump element to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hybrid transmission.