Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

Other

Faraday & Future Inc.

David Yuang Tang

Silva Hiti

Steven E Schulz

Constantin C Stancu

Gregory S Smith

Mark D Korich

Daniel L Kowalewski

Brian A Welchko

Mark L Selogie

George John

Richard Michael Breese

James Michio Nagashima

Khwaja M Rahman

William R Cawthorne

Brendan M Conlon

Milun Perisic

Gabriel Gallegos-Lopez

Young Mok Doo

Douglas S Carlson

Seok-Joo Jang

Konstantinos Triantos

David F Nelson

Brian N Harries

Ronald W Young

Karl David Conroy

Nicholas Hayden Herron

Jonathan B Huse

Nitinkumar R Patel

Terence G Ward

Dominique M Durand

Keming Chen

Song He

Michael R Grimes

Brooks S Mann

Konstantin S Majarov

Khiet Le

Eric R Ostrom

Gholamreza Esmaili

Alan L Barry

Vicentiu Grosu

Ted D Peterson

Gregory D Rosdahl

Reynaldo Arturo Suazo Zepeda

Alicia L Jensen

Cindy Chou

Larry A Hagerty

Hector Romo

Marc Haeberlin

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controllers, dual power inverter modules, and electric vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller includes one or more processors associated with a first and second power inverter for the drive unit. Computer-readable media for the one or more processors are each configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to apply a same fault action to the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to a fault associated with an inverter chosen from the first power inverter and the second power inverter, wherein the same fault action includes applying equalized torque to each axle operatively coupled to the drive unit.

Torque-equalizing fault response for electric vehicle

An illustrative dual power inverter module includes a detection circuit configured to detect loss of low voltage DC electrical power supplied to a controller for a first power inverter and a second power inverter of a drive unit for an electric vehicle. A first backup power circuit is associated with the first power inverter and a second backup power circuit is associated with the second power inverter. Each backup power circuit is configured to convert high voltage DC electrical power to low voltage DC electrical power responsive to detection of loss of low voltage DC electrical power supplied to the controller. Three-phase short circuitry is configured to apply a same fault action to the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to detection of loss of low voltage DC electrical power supplied to the controller, wherein the same fault action includes applying equalized torque to each axle operatively coupled to the drive unit.

Torque-equalizing fault response for loss of low voltage DC electrical power in electric vehicle

A controller includes a first processor for a first power inverter. Computer-readable media is configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the first processor to: generate a first clock signal and a second clock signal; identify a pulse width modulation method of the first power inverter and a pulse width modulation method of a second power inverter; identify and compare a switching frequency of the first power inverter and a switching frequency of the second power inverter; determine an optimized phase shift between the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to the pulse width modulation method of the first power inverter and the pulse width modulation method of the second power inverter and the switching frequency of the first power inverter and the switching frequency of the second power inverter; and synchronize the optimized phase shift between the first power inverter and the second power inverter. A second processor for the second power inverter is configured to receive the second clock signal.

Pulse width modulation clock synchronization

An illustrative dual power inverter module includes a DC link capacitor electrically connectable to a source of high voltage direct current (DC) electrical power. A first power inverter is electrically connectable to the DC link capacitor and configured to convert high voltage DC electrical power to three phase high voltage alternating current (AC) electrical power and is configured to supply the three phase high voltage AC electrical power to a first electric motor. A second power inverter is electrically connectable to the DC link capacitor and configured to convert high voltage DC electrical power to three phase high voltage AC electrical power and is configured to supply the three phase high voltage AC electrical power to a second electric motor. A common controller is electrically connectable to the first power inverter and the second power inverter. The common controller is configured to control the first power inverter and the second power inverter.

Dual inverter with common control

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative controllers, dual power inverter modules, and electric vehicles. In an illustrative embodiment, a controller includes a first processor for a first power inverter. Computer-readable media is configured to store computer-executable instructions configured to cause the first processor to: generate a first clock signal and a second clock signal; identify a pulse width modulation method of the first power inverter and a pulse width modulation method of a second power inverter; identify and compare a switching frequency of the first power inverter and a switching frequency of the second power inverter; determine an optimized phase shift between the first power inverter and the second power inverter responsive to the pulse width modulation method of the first power inverter and the pulse width modulation method of the second power inverter and the switching frequency of the first power inverter and the switching frequency of the second power inverter; and synchronize the optimized phase shift between the first power inverter and the second power inverter. A second processor for the second power inverter is configured to receive the second clock signal.

Circuits and methods for driving a load are disclosed. An exemplary driving circuit may include first and second switching devices electrically connected with each other in parallel. The driving circuit may also include a current sensing circuit configured to generate a current sensing signal indicating a value of a current flowing through the first switching device. The current sensing signal may include an offset caused by parasitic inductance imbalance in electrical connections connecting the first and second switching devices. The driving circuit may further include a driver circuit configured to control switching operations of the first and second switching devices. The driver circuit may include an overcurrent protection circuit electrically connected to the current sensing circuit. In addition, the driving circuit may include a current sensing signal correction circuit configured to reduce the offset in the current sensing signal received by the overcurrent protection circuit during a switching transient period.

Method and system for overcurrent protection for insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules

A system for interconnecting parallel insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) modules is provided. A pair of switches selected from a plurality of the IGBT modules are assigned to a driver integrated circuit (IC). In the pair of switches, a master IGBT switch is selected, the other switch being a slave IGBT switch. A command signal from the driver IC is electrically coupled to both the master and slave IGBT switches. The master and slave IGBT switches both have protective circuits; however, the driver IC is electrically coupled to the protective circuits of the selected master IGBT switch only. The protective circuits include temperature and current sense circuits. The plurality of the IGBT modules may be formed by two hexpack power modules. The modules are configured such that only a single driver IC is needed for each pair of parallel IGBT switches, with equal current sharing of the paralleled modules.

Methods and systems for interconnecting parallel IGBT modules

A power electronic building block includes a housing; a power module mounted within the housing; a controller mounted within the housing and coupled to the power module; a capacitor assembly coupled to the power module and mounted within the housing; an AC bus bar mounted within the housing; and a DC bus bar coupling the capacitor assembly to the power module and mounted within the housing.

Scalable and modular approach for power electronic building block design in automotive applications

A method for monitoring an inverter module for a multi-phase electric motor/generator includes deactivating operation of the inverter module, monitoring voltage on a high-voltage bus configured to supply electric power to the inverter module, detecting occurrence of a true fault when a change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is greater than a predetermined threshold, and detecting occurrence of a false fault when the change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is less than the predetermined threshold.

Method and apparatus for detecting a desaturation fault in an inverter module

A power module system for a vehicle includes a circuit board, a power transistor mounted to the circuit board, and a temperature sensor mounted to the circuit board in a sensing location remote from the power transistor. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a real-time temperature at the sensing location. The system also includes a processor coupled to the temperature sensor to generate a predicted real-time silicon temperature for the power transistor from the measured real-time temperature at the sensing location. The predicted real-time silicon temperature is generated using a selected calibration curve that corresponds to a current operating state of the vehicle.

Prediction of transistor temperature in an inverter power module of a vehicle, and related operating methods

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring current in an electric motor. An electrical system includes a (DC) interface, an electric motor, an inverter module coupled between the DC interface and the electric motor, a first current sensor between a first phase leg of the inverter module and a first phase of the electric motor to measure a first current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor, a second current sensor between the first phase leg and the DC interface to measure a second current flowing through the first phase leg, and a control module coupled to the first current sensor and the second current sensor. The control module is configured to initiate remedial action based at least in part on a difference between the first current measured by the first current sensor and the second current measured by the second current sensor.

Systems and methods for monitoring current in an electric motor

A filter for an automotive electrical system includes a substrate having first and second conductive members. First and second input terminals are mounted to the substrate. The first input terminal is electrically connected to the first conductive member, and the second input terminal is electrically connected to the second conductive member. A plurality of capacitors are mounted to the substrate. Each of the capacitors is electrically connected to at least one of the first and second conductive members. First and second power connectors are mounted to the substrate. The first power connector is electrically connected to the first conductive member, and the second power connector is electrically connected to the second conductive member. A common mode choke is coupled to the substrate and arranged such that the common mode choke extends around at least a portion of the substrate and the first and second conductive members.

Electromagnetic interference filter for automotive electrical systems

Systems and methods are provided for discharging a voltage bus. An electrical system comprises a first switch coupled to a first voltage rail, a second switch coupled between the first switch and a second voltage rail, and a control system coupled to the first switch and the second switch. The control system is configured to alternately activate the first switch and the second switch such that an energy potential between the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail is dissipated through the first switch and the second switch.

Systems and methods for discharging bus voltage using semiconductor devices

Growing community of inventors

Bratenahl, OH, United States of America

David Yuang Tang