A motor starter for operating an electric motor connected to a multiphase power supply includes a semiconductor switch arranged in a current-carrying phase of the multiphase power supply, and an electromechanical switch arranged in parallel relation to the semiconductor switch in the current-carrying phase. The electromechanical switch includes a movable switching piece configured tiltable to reduce a current gradient in the semiconductor switch.

Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor using a motor controller including a processor are provided. The method includes transmitting, by the processor, a no-spin signal commanding the electric motor not to spin, receiving temperature information associated with a temperature of the electric motor, comparing the temperature information to a predetermined threshold temperature to determine whether the temperature is at a sufficient level to prevent icing, and adjusting current applied to the electric motor when the temperature measurement is below the predetermined threshold.

Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor using a motor controller including a processor are provided. The method includes transmitting, by the processor, a no-spin signal commanding the electric motor not to spin, receiving temperature information associated with a temperature of the electric motor, comparing the temperature information to a predetermined threshold temperature to determine whether the temperature is at a sufficient level to prevent icing, and adjusting current applied to the electric motor when the temperature measurement is below the predetermined threshold.

A computer-implemented method includes, responsive to absence of a motor controller receiving communication packets for a predetermined time during a drive cycle, operating by the controller (i) an inverter to output voltage at a setpoint defined by an inverter terminal voltage at expiration of the predetermined time, and (ii) a motor coupled with the inverter to apply torque according to a change in the voltage.

A method of detecting a permanent magnet rotor of a synchronous machine, includes: injecting a voltage waveform to the stator windings of the synchronous machine, measuring two phase currents in the stator winding, transforming the two phase currents to a rotor reference frame to obtain a current waveform, sampling the current waveform to obtain positive and negative portion values, constructing first and second periodic waveforms by using the sampled positive and negative portion values, performing a frequency analysis of a first and second spectrums of the periodic waveforms, and determining whether a permanent magnet is present in the synchronous machine based on the spectrums.

A method of detecting a permanent magnet rotor of a synchronous machine, includes: injecting a voltage waveform to the stator windings of the synchronous machine, measuring two phase currents in the stator winding, transforming the two phase currents to a rotor reference frame to obtain a current waveform, sampling the current waveform to obtain positive and negative portion values, constructing first and second periodic waveforms by using the sampled positive and negative portion values, performing a frequency analysis of a first and second spectrums of the periodic waveforms, and determining whether a permanent magnet is present in the synchronous machine based on the spectrums.

A method for starting an induction machine without residual flux includes: scanning a state of the induction machine with different stator frequencies by controlling a supply voltage applied to the induction machine; determining whether a slip value, being a difference between a rotor frequency and a stator frequency, is within a slip interval; and, when it has been determined that the slip value is in the slip interval, regulating the slip value towards zero and magnetising the machine to the required level.

A method for starting an induction machine without residual flux includes: scanning a state of the induction machine with different stator frequencies by controlling a supply voltage applied to the induction machine; determining whether a slip value, being a difference between a rotor frequency and a stator frequency, is within a slip interval; and, when it has been determined that the slip value is in the slip interval, regulating the slip value towards zero and magnetising the machine to the required level.

A method for improving a start-up of an internal combustion engine with the aid of a belt-driven starter generator which includes a stator winding and a rotor winding, the starter generator for generating a start-up torque being operated in such a way that the stator winding and the rotor winding are energized essentially at the same time immediately after a start-up request of the starter generator. Also described is a processing unit to perform the method and a computer readable medium.

A method includes monitoring electrical output in an open control loop from a variable speed drive to a remote permanent magnet motor, the variable speed drive electrically connected to the permanent magnet motor via a power transmission line. The method includes, in response to detecting a variation in the electrical output at the variable speed drive, synchronizing a frequency of a rotor shaft of the permanent magnet motor with a constant electromagnetic field frequency of a stator of the permanent magnet motor for a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time, the method includes increasing the electromagnetic field frequency of the stator to an operational frequency threshold to accelerate the frequency of the rotor shaft of the permanent magnet motor. In response to reaching the operational frequency threshold, the method includes determining an internal position of the rotor based on the variable electromagnetic field frequency.