A method of operating an electric or hybrid system comprising a synchronous reluctance electric motor coupled to an electric or hybrid powertrain is described herein. The method comprises determining (i) a torque demand required of the electric motor and (ii) a speed of rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, and storing kinetic energy in a rotor of the electric motor from the powertrain in response to at least one of (i) the determined torque demand falling below a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor being below a selected rotor speed threshold. The method further comprises operating the electric motor by powering the electric motor with electricity to deliver energy to the powertrain in response to at least one of: (i) the determined torque demand rising above a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor falling below a selected rotor speed threshold.

Disclosed herein are reluctance actuators and methods for feedback control of their applied force. Embodiments of the reluctance actuators include an electromagnet positioned to deflect a metallic plate to provide a haptic output. The control of the force is provided without force sensors (sensorless control) by monitoring voltage and/or current (V/I) applied during an actuation. For a given intended force output, an electrical parameter value (flux, current, or other parameter) is read from a look up table (LUT). The LUT may store a present value of the inductance of the reluctance actuator. The feedback control may be a quasi-static control in which the LUT is updated after actuation based on the monitored V/I. The feedback control may be real-time, with a controller comparing an estimated electrical parameter value based on the measured V/I with the value from the LUT.

Disclosed herein are reluctance actuators and methods for feedback control of their applied force. Embodiments of the reluctance actuators include an electromagnet positioned to deflect a metallic plate to provide a haptic output. The control of the force is provided without force sensors (sensorless control) by monitoring voltage and/or current (V/I) applied during an actuation. For a given intended force output, an electrical parameter value (flux, current, or other parameter) is read from a look up table (LUT). The LUT may store a present value of the inductance of the reluctance actuator. The feedback control may be a quasi-static control in which the LUT is updated after actuation based on the monitored V/I. The feedback control may be real-time, with a controller comparing an estimated electrical parameter value based on the measured V/I with the value from the LUT.

A traction motor with a switched reluctance motor of a motor vehicle includes a ferromagnetic rotor, a stator with stator poles each including a winding with at least one winding strand, and at least two winding strands of a stator pole or at least two winding strands arranged on diametrically opposite stator poles being assigned to a motor phase, the at least two winding strands being between a first supply line connected to a DC voltage source and a second supply line connected to a ground connection, and each winding strand being assigned an upper electronic switch and a lower electronic switch each having a freewheeling diode arranged in parallel, and a controller to control the electronic switches of the circuits as a function of a position of the rotor.

A traction motor with a switched reluctance motor of a motor vehicle includes a ferromagnetic rotor, a stator with stator poles each including a winding with at least one winding strand, and at least two winding strands of a stator pole or at least two winding strands arranged on diametrically opposite stator poles being assigned to a motor phase, the at least two winding strands being between a first supply line connected to a DC voltage source and a second supply line connected to a ground connection, and each winding strand being assigned an upper electronic switch and a lower electronic switch each having a freewheeling diode arranged in parallel, and a controller to control the electronic switches of the circuits as a function of a position of the rotor.

A switched reluctance motor includes a ferromagnetic rotor, a stator with stator poles each including a winding with at least one winding strand, and at least two winding strands of a stator pole or at least two winding strands on diametrically opposite stator poles being assigned to a motor phase, the at least two winding strands being between a first supply line connected to a DC voltage source and a second supply line connected to an earth connection, and each winding strand being assigned an upper electronic switch and a lower electronic switch each including a freewheeling diode arranged in parallel. The motor further includes a controller to control the electronic switches of the circuits as a function of the position of the rotor.

A motor control device controls a drive of a motor in a motor drive system including the motor and a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism has a detent member that rotates integrally with an output shaft to which the rotation of the motor is transmitted, and an engaging member that moves a valley portion by a rotation of the motor and positions the output shaft by stopping within a positioning range. The motor control device includes a positioning determination unit and an energization control unit. The positioning determination unit determines whether or not the engaging member is stopped within the positioning range based on control parameter other than a detection value of a motor rotation angle sensor that detects a motor rotation angle. When the energization control unit determines that the engaging member is stopped within the positioning range, the energization control unit turns off the energization of the motor.

A motor control device controls a drive of a motor in a motor drive system including the motor and a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism has a detent member that rotates integrally with an output shaft to which the rotation of the motor is transmitted, and an engaging member that moves a valley portion by a rotation of the motor and positions the output shaft by stopping within a positioning range. The motor control device includes a positioning determination unit and an energization control unit. The positioning determination unit determines whether or not the engaging member is stopped within the positioning range based on control parameter other than a detection value of a motor rotation angle sensor that detects a motor rotation angle. When the energization control unit determines that the engaging member is stopped within the positioning range, the energization control unit turns off the energization of the motor.

A method of operating an electric or hybrid system comprising a synchronous reluctance electric motor coupled to an electric or hybrid powertrain is described herein. The method comprises determining (i) a torque demand required of the electric motor and (ii) a speed of rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, and storing kinetic energy in a rotor of the electric motor from the powertrain in response to at least one of (i) the determined torque demand falling below a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor being below a selected rotor speed threshold. The method further comprises operating the electric motor by powering the electric motor with electricity to deliver energy to the powertrain in response to at least one of: (i) the determined torque demand rising above a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor falling below a selected rotor speed threshold.

A method of operating an electric or hybrid system comprising a synchronous reluctance electric motor coupled to an electric or hybrid powertrain is described herein. The method comprises determining (i) a torque demand required of the electric motor and (ii) a speed of rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, and storing kinetic energy in a rotor of the electric motor from the powertrain in response to at least one of (i) the determined torque demand falling below a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor being below a selected rotor speed threshold. The method further comprises operating the electric motor by powering the electric motor with electricity to deliver energy to the powertrain in response to at least one of: (i) the determined torque demand rising above a selected torque demand threshold and (ii) the speed of the rotor falling below a selected rotor speed threshold.