Deere + Company

Alan K Gilman

Long Wu

Robert B Shaw

Zimin W Vilar

Chris J Tremel

Brij N Singh

Tyge Sopko

Whitney M Aalund

Brij Nandan Singh

Provided is a method and controller for controlling a vehicle dc bus voltage. The method includes generating a parameter. The parameter is based on a reference dc bus voltage squared. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the parameter and a detected dc bus voltage. The method may also include generating another parameter based on a power demand associated with at least one of a motoring mode operation and a generating mode operation of a traction motor associated with the vehicle. The power demand is indicated in a message received via a dedicated high speed data bus. The method includes controlling the vehicle dc bus voltage based on the another parameter.

DC bus voltage control

For each phase of a controller, a pair of semiconductor switches comprises a high side switch and a low side switch. A direct current voltage bus provides electrical energy to the semiconductor switches at a test voltage level less than a full operational voltage level. A measuring circuit is adapted to measure the direct current bus voltage. A data processor determines that a deficiency in a tested, related semiconductor switch is present if the measured direct current bus voltage decreases or collapses upon activation of a particular semiconductor switch in the same phase of the controller, or if other sequential test results indicate a deficiency. If the deficiency in the related semiconductor switch is present the processor may prevent the voltage supply from providing the full operational voltage to the direct current data bus to prevent damage to the motor or the controller, for example.

Method and controller for an electric motor with switch testing

A memory management method including the steps of storing a value and writing data. The storing a value step stores a value representative of a number of erase/write cycles that a subset of memory space of a first memory has undergone. The first memory having an assigned predetermined maximum number of erase/write cycles. The writing data step writes data to the subset of memory space dependent upon whether the value is below the predetermined maximum number.

Memory life extension method and apparatus

Example embodiments disclose a drive system including a machine including a plurality of phases and configured to generate power based on a plurality of phase currents, each respectively associated with the plurality of phases and a direct current (DC) bus, operatively connected to the machine. The DC bus includes a high-side line, a low-side line, and an inverter including a plurality of switching systems, operatively connected between the high-side line and the low-side line, the plurality of switching systems, each configured to output a respective one of the plurality of phase currents. The drive system also includes a controller, operatively connected to the DC bus and the machine, the controller configured to determine if a failure exists in the drive system based on the plurality of phase currents and a DC bus voltage, the DC bus voltage being a voltage across the high-side line and the low-side line.

Machine systems including pre-power diagnostics

A pair of direct d-q-axis voltage commands is associated with a monotonically varying test sequence of test rotor angular positions to determine a correct rotational direction of a rotor of the motor in response to application of the pair of direct d-q-axis voltage commands to the motor. The rotor of the motor rotates (e.g., self spins in a diagnostic mode) in response to the applied direct d-q-axis voltage commands and applied monotonically varying test sequence of test rotor angular positions. The primary positioning module or data processor determines that conductor connections between the inverter (e.g., motor controller) and the motor are correct if the calculated shaft speed sign is positive with respect to an applied monotonically varying test sequence of rotor angular positions that monotonically increases.

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West Fargo, ND, United States of America

Alan K Gilman