A drive device for operating an electrical machine has a regulator for driving a rotor winding, which has a highside switch and a de-energization switch. A first terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to a positive supply terminal via the high-side switch, the first terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to a negative supply terminal via a semiconductor component, and a second terminal of the rotor winding can be connected to the negative supply terminal via the de-energization switch. The drive device is arranged to enter a safe state in the presence of at least one fault by disconnecting and/or de-energizing the rotor winding from the positive supply terminal. At least one of the switches is designed to be redundant; and/or the regulator has a plurality of measuring points.

The method of control according to the invention slaves a DC voltage generated by the alternator to a predetermined setpoint value by controlling an excitation current flowing in an excitation circuit comprising an excitation winding of a rotor of the alternator. The excitation current is controlled by means of a semiconductor switch, in turn controlled by a control signal having a predetermined period. The method comprises a detection of a failure of the excitation circuit. At least one short-circuit of the excitation winding is detected. According to another characteristic of the method, the control signal is generated on the basis of a combination of a setpoint signal formed by pulses of the predetermined period exhibiting a duty ratio representative of the setpoint value and of a detection signal indicative of the short-circuit.

A powertrain system including an electric machine rotatably coupled to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine via a belt is described, wherein the electric machine is disposed to generate torque. A method for controlling the electric machine includes monitoring rotational position of the electric machine, and periodically executing a speed observer to determine a rotational speed of the electric machine based upon the monitored rotational position of the electric machine. An acceleration observer is periodically executed to determine an acceleration rate, wherein the acceleration rate is determined based upon a time-based change in the rotational speed of the electric machine. A virtual inertia term is determined based upon the acceleration rate, and a torque compensation term is determined based upon the virtual inertia term and the acceleration rate. The electric machine is controlled to generate torque based upon the torque compensation term.

Systems and methods are described for controlling an electric motor. An exemplary system may include a torque detector configured to detect an output torque of the electric motor. The system may also include a controller configured to control a voltage source to apply a predetermined voltage to drive the electric motor and determine an operating table containing a plurality of operating points. The controller may select an operating current value and generate a plurality of current commands. The controller may also apply each of the plurality of current commands to drive the electric motor and determine an output torque generated by the electric motor. The controller may further determine a target current command that generates a maximum output torque. In addition, the controller may determine an operating point of the operating table based on the target current command. Moreover, the controller may control the electric motor using the operating table.

A regulator has a circuit generating an activation command by bringing, to a first voltage higher than a high reference voltage, a bidirectional line connected to a detection circuit for detecting a status of the activation command. The detection circuit comprises generation means for generating a fault signal from a flag indicating a failure of the alternator, linking the line to a ground by means of a switching element, thus bringing the line to a second voltage lower than a fault voltage lower than the high reference voltage, and the control circuit comprises detection means for detecting the fault signal. The control circuit further transmits a setpoint PWM signal having a maximum higher than the high reference voltage and a minimum lower than a low reference voltage higher than the fault voltage, a duty ratio of the setpoint signal being representative of a setpoint voltage (V0) of the regulator.

When an abnormality is detected by an abnormality detection unit, a first switching stop device turns OFF all of switching elements connected to one arm of either an upper arm or a lower arm of a power converter, and turns ON all of the switching elements connected to the arm, which are not turned OFF; when the abnormality is continuously detected even after operating the first switching stop device, a second switching stop device turns ON or turns OFF the switching elements connected to the upper arm and the lower arm so that the turn-ON and the turn-OFF are reversed to the operation by the first switching stop device; and when the abnormality is continuously detected even after operating the second switching stop device, a third switching stop device turns OFF all of the switching elements in the upper arm and the lower arm.

A variable magnetization machine control system comprising a controller configured to generate a reversely rotating d-axis/q-axis current vector trajectory during a change in a magnetization state of a variable magnetization machine to drive the variable magnetization machine at a predetermined speed while maintaining the driving voltage below a predetermined maximum magnitude.

An electric power supply system configured to supply electric power to an electrical load device in accordance with a current requirement. The electric power supply system includes an engine configured to output rotational power, a generator configured to receive the rotational power and to supply a current to the electrical load device. The generator includes a rotor, and a stator including a winding and a stator core with the winding wound thereon, a magnetic circuit for the winding passing through the stator core, and a supply current adjustment device configured to adjust magnetic resistance of the magnetic circuit for the winding, to thereby change an inductance of the winding to adjust the supplied current. The electric power supply system further includes a control device configured to control the engine to adjust the output rotational power and to control the supply current adjustment device to adjust the inductance of the winding.

A multi-input charging system and method using a motor driving system can prevent relay fusing or cutting in a motor and damage of a neutral point capacitor provided in a charging power input stage in a process of receiving external charging power through a neutral point of the motor and charging a battery.

Systems and methods for dynamic control of a configuration of electrical circuits are provided. An example system includes a plurality of electric power sources and a plurality of switches configured to connect and disconnect some of the electric power sources. The system may include a controller coupled to the switches. The controller may be configured to enable and disable the switches to cause a change in a configuration of the connections between the electric power sources. The electric power sources can include at least one generator and at least two batteries. The controller can be further configured to cause a change in the configuration to connect the two batteries in series to a load for discharging and connect the two batteries in parallel to the generator for recharging.