Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, Inc.

David M Barry

Dennis A Kramer

Ira B Goldberg

Pascal Emanuel Garrido

Charles Berry Hopson

Enrico Fin

George Chene

Dan Rogovin

Stephen Chiu

Jerome Quere

Craig Rae Fowler

A system for controlling multiple vehicle includes a twelve volt (12V)/forty-two volt (42V) battery power distribution system that provides direct current. The system converts single phase alternating current to multiple phase alternating current to simultaneously power multiple vehicle systems. A single pulse width modulation generator converts the direct current from the 12V/42V battery power distribution system to alternating current. This provides one power supply path of alternating current, which has a first phase. A splitter device splits the one power supply path of alternating current into three power paths. A lead/lag circuit is used to shift the alternating current of the second path to a second phase different than the first phase of the first power supply path. A second lead/lag circuit for shifts the alternating current of the third path to a third phase different than the first phase or the second phase. This creates a three-phase alternating current power from a single direct current source. The three-phase alternating current is used to power a plurality of induction motors that operate multiple vehicle systems.

Conversion of single phase to multiple phase alternating current

An AC motor is utilized to drive a closure on a vehicle. The use of the AC motor provides valuable benefits with regard to cost and size. Further, a three-phase AC motor may be utilized, and the pulses in its power supply monitored to determine an obstruction in the path of the closure. Frequency control may also be utilized to provide optimum control of the drive of the component at both start-up and stop.

AC motors for driving vehicle closures

An apparatus for controlling multiple vehicle systems includes a single power supply that provides a direct current source. The power supply is comprised of a thirty-six volt (36 V) battery power distribution system. A converter is electrically connected to the power supply to convert direct current to alternating current. A plurality of induction motors are used to operate various vehicle systems. The motors receive alternating current via electrical connections between the converter and the motors. A central processor is connected to relays sending power to each of the motors and provides control signals to the motors based on input from control members used to activate each of the various vehicle systems. At least one sensor is associated with each of the motors to monitor voltage or current of the respective motor and to generate a diagnostic signal that is sent to the processor. The processor generates a warning signal when any of the diagnostic signals indicates that voltage within the respective motor is outside a predetermined range. A piezoelectric material is associated with each of the motors to provide an internal control signal for the motor. The piezoelectric material can be used to control acceleration or deceleration of the motor based on the rotational force of a rotor within the motor or can be use to activate an auxiliary winding in the motor based on mechanical input to the respective controller.

Control system for an electric motor

A plurality of motors for use in driving accessories on a vehicle, are each powered by three-phase current. A single controller controls the supply three-phase current to the plurality of motors. In another aspect of the invention, pseudothree-phase current is created from a direct current voltage source. A chopping circuit chops the voltage into a plurality of pulses, and a phase shift circuit then creates phase-shifted power signals from those pulses. The present invention thus enables the use of three-phase alternating current motors on a vehicle to drive accessories. This reduces the cost and size of the required motors.

Controls to incorporate three-phase motors into vehicles

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Stratford upon Avon, United Kingdom

David M Barry