Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

General Electric Company

Michael G Reynolds

Chandra S Namuduri

Thomas W Nehl

Alan G Holmes

Venkata Prasad Atluri

Kenneth J Shoemaker

David W Walters

Madhusudan Raghavan

Robert S Conell

Alexandru Rajala

Bob R Powell

Eugene Victor Gonze

Suresh Gopalakrishnan

Lei Hao

Michael J Paratore, Jr

William Conrad Albertson

Joshua D Cowgill

Norman Schoenek

Gary E McGee

Shawn L Boozer

Goro Tamai

Shawn Harold Swales

Joel M Maguire

William C Lin

Michael Livshiz

Gregory Paul Prior

Douglas R Verner

Julian R Verdejo

Mike M McDonald

Todd Alan Anderson

Bryan K Pryor

Jihui Yang

Scott Joseph Chynoweth

Mark J Rychlinski

Rajeev Vyas

Danny Y Mui

Amin Abboud

Sharon Liu

Francis R Stabler

James F Crawford

Daniel G Foisy

Craig E Brittin

Peter T Karlson

William C Goodwin

Detlev Schäfer

Greogry P Meisner

Hendrik Pieter (Peter) Jacobus De Bock

Toufic M Hijazi

Theo L Moreno

A method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle includes opening and/or closing one or more of a first switching device, a second switching device, a third switching device, and engaging and/or disengaging at least one of a pair of actuators for a starter mechanism or a motor/generator clutch. Many different control modes are provided for the powertrain by changing the operation of a motor-generator between a motor or a generator, and changing the electrical connections between a first energy storage device, a second energy storage device, an auxiliary electric system, the starter mechanism, and the motor-generator.

Method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle

Method for voltage stabilization during an engine starting event of a vehicle includes receiving, at a switch device module, an active Start_ON signal from a starter solenoid module indicating initiation of the engine starting event. At the switch device module, an auxiliary electrical energy storage device (ESD) is electrically coupled to one or more auxiliary loads within a predetermined delay since the active Start_ON signal was received. A primary ESD and a starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads only after the auxiliary ESD has been electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads. In response to a predetermined condition occurring while the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads, the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads.

Apparatus and method for vehicle voltage stabilization

A rotor for a permanent magnet synchronous machine that includes a rotor core structure. A first set of permanent magnets forms poles within the rotor core structure. Each pole includes a pair of permanent magnets from the first set of permanent magnets. A first set of apertures is formed in a first radial layer of the rotor core structure. Each pole includes a pair of apertures from the first set of apertures. The first set of permanent magnets is inserted within the first set of apertures. Each pair of permanent magnets within a pole cooperatively generates a magnetic field in a same direction within the pole. The magnetic field generated by a respective pair of magnets in a respective pole is opposite to a magnetic field generated by a pair of permanent magnets in an adjacent pole.

Split pole spoke type PM machine with enclosed magnets

Apparatus for voltage stabilization in a vehicle includes a battery distribution module having a load module managing electrical power to one or more auxiliary loads, a first switch coupling a starter motor and an ESD to the load module only when closed, a second switch coupling an auxiliary ESD to the load module only when closed, and a controller integrated with a PC board attached to the first and second switch devices. The controller is configured to control opening and closing of the first and second switches based on at least one of a plurality of signals received by the controller. The primary ESD is electrically coupled a primary fuse terminal of the battery distribution module which electrically couples the primary ESD to a second terminal of the first switch and the starter motor. The auxiliary ESD is electrically coupled to an auxiliary fuse terminal of the battery distribution module which electrically couples a first terminal of the second switch to the auxiliary ESD.

Smart power distribution unit

A rotor of a permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a rotor core structure. A first set of apertures are formed in a first radial layer of the rotor core structure having a first set of permanent magnets disposed therein forming respective poles. A second set of apertures formed in a second radial layer of the rotor core structure of each pole. A third set of apertures is formed in a third radial layer of the rotor core structure. A second set of permanent magnets is inserted within the third set of apertures. A plurality of bridges each extends across a respective side of each of the third set of apertures in the third radial layer. The plurality of bridges provides structural support of the rotor core structure when operating. The plurality of bridges are integrally formed as single-piece laminations.

Spoke-type PM machine with bridge

A powertrain and an electromechanical apparatus are disclosed. A ring gear is attached to a first distal end of a crankshaft such that the ring gear and the crankshaft are rotatable in unison about a longitudinal axis. A motor-generator includes a motor/generator shaft being rotatable about a first axis spaced from the longitudinal axis. A starter mechanism includes a first starter gear coupleable to the motor/generator shaft and rotatable about a second axis spaced from the longitudinal axis. The first starter gear is movable along the second axis between a first position engaging the ring gear such that torque is transferred from the motor/generator shaft through the first starter gear and the ring gear to the crankshaft to start the engine, and a second position disengaged from the ring gear to rotatably disconnect the starter mechanism from the ring gear.

Powertrain for a vehicle and an electromechanical apparatus coupleable to an engine

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an auto stop feature of an engine of a vehicle. A sensor is configured to provide information pertaining to engine speed at first full compression of the engine and at predetermined times including and beyond the time to first full compression after commencement of engine crank. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to disable the auto stop feature if the engine speed is less than a predetermined speed threshold.

Auto stop engine control for vehicles

An electrical system includes an engine, a motor-generator and a starter mechanism, and engine systems also include the engine. The electrical system includes a first energy storage device having a first voltage level and a second energy storage device having a second voltage level less than the first voltage level. The electrical system further includes a controller configured to control the motor-generator, the starter mechanism and first and second switching devices. Current from at least one of the first and second energy storage devices is delivered to the motor-generator when at least one of the first switching device is in a first closed state and the second switching device is in a second closed state such that the motor-generator transfers torque to the starter mechanism and the starter mechanism uses the torque to start the engine.

Powertrain for a vehicle

A vehicle includes an engine, transmission, auxiliary and high-voltage electrical loads, a drivetrain, and an electrical system. The electrical system, characterized by an absence of a DC-DC converter, includes a full-bridge active rectifier/inverter, a semi-active auxiliary rectifier, an MGU connected to the engine via the drivetrain, and a controller. The controller executes a first operating mode in which the bridge rectifier is disabled and the MGU operates as a motor to restart or assist the engine, and a second operating mode in which the MGU is a generator, with the rectifier/inverter powering the HV-ESS and HV electrical load. The auxiliary rectifier provides an auxiliary DC output voltage to the LV-ESS and auxiliary electrical load. Switches may be positioned between a DC bus connection point and the HV-ESS and LV-ESS, with a switch closed and another opened in the first operating mode, and vice versa in the second operating mode.

Motor generator unit with multiplexed output

A powertrain is disclosed. A ring gear is attached to a first distal end of a crankshaft such that the ring gear and the crankshaft are rotatable in unison about a longitudinal axis. A motor-generator includes a motor/generator shaft rotatable about a first axis spaced from the longitudinal axis. A starter mechanism includes a first starter gear coupleable to the motor/generator shaft and rotatable about a second axis spaced from the longitudinal axis. The first and second axes are spaced and substantially parallel to each other. The first starter gear is movable along the second axis between a first position engaging the ring gear such that torque is transferred from the motor/generator shaft through the first starter gear and the ring gear to the crankshaft to start the engine, and a second position disengaged from the ring gear to rotatably disconnect the starter mechanism from the ring gear.

A powertrain includes a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. The powertrain also includes a first energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. Additionally, the powertrain includes a first switching device selectively transitionable between a first open state to electrically disconnect the first energy storage device from at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system, and a first closed state to electrically connect the first energy storage device to at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system. The motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system are operable regardless of the first switching device being in the first open and closed states.

A powertrain includes an engine and an electrical circuit having a motor-generator and a starter mechanism coupled to the engine. A first energy storage device is disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with the starter mechanism. A second energy storage device is disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with the motor-generator. A first auxiliary electric system is disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with both the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device. A first switch is disposed within the electrical circuit between the first energy storage device and the first auxiliary electric system. A second switch is disposed within the electrical circuit between the second energy storage device and the first auxiliary electric system. The first auxiliary electric system is disposed, within the electrical circuit, between the first switch and the second switch.

Vehicle powertrain

A powertrain for a vehicle is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine, a motor-generator and a starter mechanism. The powertrain also includes a first energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. Additionally, the powertrain includes a first switching device selectively transitionable between a first open state to electrically disconnect the first energy storage device from at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system, and a first closed state to electrically connect the first energy storage device to at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system. Electrical communication between the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system is independent of the first switching device being in the first open and closed states.

A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission connected to the engine, an auxiliary electrical load, and an electrical system. The electrical system includes a high-voltage energy storage system (HV-ESS), an auxiliary/low-voltage energy storage system (LV-ESS) connected to the load, a full-bridge active rectifier/inverter, a semi-active auxiliary rectifier, and a motor generator unit (MGU) connected to the HV-ESS via the active rectifier/inverter, and to the LV-ESS via the semi-active auxiliary rectifier. A controller establishes a first operating mode in which the MGU is operated as a motor for restarting or assisting the engine via the active rectifier/inverter, and second operating mode in which the MGU operates as a generator and the semi-active rectifier provides an auxiliary DC output voltage to the LV-ESS and the load. Another vehicle has first and second switches in lieu of the semi-active rectifier, with the active rectifier connected to the HV-ESS and LV-ESS via different switches.

A method and device for regulating charging and discharging current through a battery pack. Two or more battery packs are connected in parallel to an inverter, such that the inverter can use grid power to charge the battery packs or the battery packs can provide AC power through the inverter. A current balancing circuit device is placed in series with each battery pack and is used to regulate the current through the battery pack so that none of the battery packs is excessively charged or discharged. The current balancing circuit includes two field effect transistors (FETs) arranged in series and in opposite directions, where one FET controls charging current and the other controls discharging current. The balancing circuit also includes a current sensor, and uses proportional-integral control to provide a signal to the FETs such that the actual current flowing through the circuit is regulated to a target current value.

Battery parallel balancing circuit

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Michael G Reynolds