A system and method for controlling an electric machine via an inverter comprises an speed estimator that is configured to estimate a rotor speed of an electric motor to determine whether to control the inverter to operate the electric motor in a first mode or a second mode. For example, the first mode comprises a current-frequency control mode and the second mode comprises a back electromagnetic force (BEMF) mode. An electronic data processor or controller is configured to determine a first (current) command associated with a first mode of operating the electric motor, if the estimated rotor speed is a less than a speed threshold. The electronic data processor or controller is configured to determine a second (current) command associated with a second mode of operating the electric motor if the estimated rotor speed is equal to or greater than the speed threshold.

A system and method for controlling an electric machine via an inverter comprises an speed estimator that is configured to estimate a rotor speed of an electric motor to determine whether to control the inverter to operate the electric motor in a first mode or a second mode. For example, the first mode comprises a current-frequency control mode and the second mode comprises a back electromagnetic force (BEMF) mode. An electronic data processor or controller is configured to determine a first (current) command associated with a first mode of operating the electric motor, if the estimated rotor speed is a less than a speed threshold. The electronic data processor or controller is configured to determine a second (current) command associated with a second mode of operating the electric motor if the estimated rotor speed is equal to or greater than the speed threshold.

A driveline for a vehicle includes a set of electric machines with variable regeneration efficiency level. The driveline includes a cooling system connected to each electric machine to remove heat generated by each electric machine. The driveline includes a control system adapted to receive status information of a current status of the driveline and for at least one, preferably each one, of the electric machines: receive braking torque information indicative of a requested braking torque to be produced by the electric machine; in response to the braking torque and the status information, determine a target relation between the electric energy and the thermal energy produced by the electric machine; control the electric machine to obtain the requested braking torque and the determined target relation between electric energy and thermal energy, and control the cooling system in response to the determined target relation between electric energy and thermal energy.

In a motor driving apparatus including an inverter connectable to n motors (n being an integer not less than 2) each including a rotor having a permanent magnet, braking operation is performed on i (i being an integer from 1 to n−1) of the n motors, and then braking operation is performed on j (j being an integer from 1 to n−i) of the n motors other than the i motors. It is possible to reduce the risks of failure of the inverter and demagnetization of the motors due to overcurrent by reducing current flowing through the inverter and the motors when the braking operation is performed.

In some embodiments, an inverter control apparatus and a method for controlling the same are provided. The inverter control apparatus may speed up the discharging of the residual energy at an inverter driven with an input power when a safety signal is input to the inverter. The inverter control apparatus may include an input power switchgear supplying an input power to the inverter according to switching operation; an I/O unit inputting a safety signal to the inverter according to a user control input and outputting a failure output relay signal to the input power switchgear when the safety signal is generated; and a controller performing speeding up the discharge of residual energy at the inverter when the input power is interrupted.

In some embodiments, an inverter control apparatus and a method for controlling the same are provided. The inverter control apparatus may speed up the discharging of the residual energy at an inverter driven with an input power when a safety signal is input to the inverter. The inverter control apparatus may include an input power switchgear supplying an input power to the inverter according to switching operation; an I/O unit inputting a safety signal to the inverter according to a user control input and outputting a failure output relay signal to the input power switchgear when the safety signal is generated; and a controller performing speeding up the discharge of residual energy at the inverter when the input power is interrupted.

The present invention relates to a motor drive apparatus and, more particularly, to a motor drive apparatus capable of immediately restarting by maintaining sensorless control during a stop operation of a motor. The motor drive apparatus comprises: an inverter for driving a motor by using an AC voltage; and a control unit for controlling operations of a switching element included in the inverter. At this time, when a stop command is input, the control unit decreases a duty ratio of a PWM signal until a present speed of the motor becomes smaller than a predetermined minimum speed, thereby decreasing the revolutions per minute of the motor. Then, when a restart command is input in a state where the duty ratio of the PWM signal is decreased, the control unit can immediately restart the motor by increasing the duty ratio of the PWM signal.

The present invention relates to a motor drive apparatus and, more particularly, to a motor drive apparatus capable of immediately restarting by maintaining sensorless control during a stop operation of a motor. The motor drive apparatus comprises: an inverter for driving a motor by using an AC voltage; and a control unit for controlling operations of a switching element included in the inverter. At this time, when a stop command is input, the control unit decreases a duty ratio of a PWM signal until a present speed of the motor becomes smaller than a predetermined minimum speed, thereby decreasing the revolutions per minute of the motor. Then, when a restart command is input in a state where the duty ratio of the PWM signal is decreased, the control unit can immediately restart the motor by increasing the duty ratio of the PWM signal.

A motor drive system according to an embodiment includes an inverter and a control device. The inverter causes a current to flow through a winding of an induction motor. The control device drives the induction motor by controlling the inverter through vector control. The control device includes a plurality of calculation criteria for a stator magnetic flux estimated value of the induction motor and includes an appropriate magnetic flux command generation unit that selects a calculation criterion for the stator magnetic flux estimated value that further increases a loss of the induction motor from among the plurality of calculation criteria on the basis of at least a rotation speed of the induction motor in the case of braking the induction motor.

A motor drive system according to an embodiment includes an inverter and a control device. The inverter causes a current to flow through a winding of an induction motor. The control device drives the induction motor by controlling the inverter through vector control. The control device includes a plurality of calculation criteria for a stator magnetic flux estimated value of the induction motor and includes an appropriate magnetic flux command generation unit that selects a calculation criterion for the stator magnetic flux estimated value that further increases a loss of the induction motor from among the plurality of calculation criteria on the basis of at least a rotation speed of the induction motor in the case of braking the induction motor.