A switching circuit of a motor drive includes a high-side switch configured to selectively conduct current between a DC positive conductor and an output conductor, and a low-side switch configured to selectively conduct current between the output conductor and a DC negative conductor. The high-side switch comprises a depletion mode (D-Mode) gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) and a Si-FET in a cascaded configuration, and the low-side switch comprises a D-Mode GaN HEMT. This arrangement can provide a safe state operation in which the switching circuit provides a default condition providing electrical continuity between the DC negative conductor and the output conductor and providing electrical isolation between the DC positive conductor and the output conductor in the event of a loss of control signals.

A switching circuit of a motor drive includes a high-side switch configured to selectively conduct current between a DC positive conductor and an output conductor, and a low-side switch configured to selectively conduct current between the output conductor and a DC negative conductor. The high-side switch comprises a depletion mode (D-Mode) gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) and a Si-FET in a cascaded configuration, and the low-side switch comprises a D-Mode GaN HEMT. This arrangement can provide a safe state operation in which the switching circuit provides a default condition providing electrical continuity between the DC negative conductor and the output conductor and providing electrical isolation between the DC positive conductor and the output conductor in the event of a loss of control signals.

The present disclosure relates to a motor driving apparatus and a method. More specifically, a motor driving apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: an electric motor; an inverter that drives the electric motor using a plurality of high-side switching elements and low-side switching elements; a rotary switch that connects the electric motor and the inverter to each other; and a controller that identifies a switching element in which a malfunction has occurred in a case where a malfunction has occurred in the inverter connected to the electric motor and performs control of the rotary switch such that connection with the identified switching element is cut out, and a switching element not connected to the electric motor is connected.

A motor control apparatus includes control circuitry and rotation direction adjusting circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to output, in accordance with a phase sequence with respect to a motor, a drive command signal which is generated based on a motor rotation signal output from a motor rotation detector to control the motor. The rotation direction adjusting circuitry is configured to match the phase sequence with rotation direction information included in the motor rotation signal if a first trouble signal showing excessive motor current or excessive motor speed is input via an operation unit.

Brushless direct current (BLDC) motors are becoming more common, such as in cars and other vehicles. Unreliable BLDC motors or control systems can lead to risk of people's safety. A redundant BLDC control system is provided to control two or more BLDC motors. A safety module controls an enabling switch in each of the motor drivers, so that in response to detecting a fault condition, a currently active BLDC motor is disabled and a redundant BLDC motor is enabled. A digital processor computes and transmits digital signals to all the motor drivers continuously and simultaneously, so that the transition from a currently active BLDC motor to a redundant BLDC motor is smooth and almost unnoticeable.

An apparatus for driving a motor of an MDPS may include: first to fourth driving power supply units configured to supply driving power to a driving motor; first to fourth inverters configured to switch the driving power supplied from the first to fourth driving power supply units, and supply the switched driving motor to the driving motor, in order to drive the driving motor; first to fourth driving units configured to drive the first to fourth inverters, respectively; a first control unit configured to operate the driving motor by switching the first and second inverters through the first and second driving units; a second control unit configured to operate the driving motor by switching the third and fourth inverters through the third and fourth driving units.

An apparatus for driving a motor of an MDPS may include: first to fourth driving power supply units configured to supply driving power to a driving motor; first to fourth inverters configured to switch the driving power supplied from the first to fourth driving power supply units, and supply the switched driving motor to the driving motor, in order to drive the driving motor; first to fourth driving units configured to drive the first to fourth inverters, respectively; a first control unit configured to operate the driving motor by switching the first and second inverters through the first and second driving units; a second control unit configured to operate the driving motor by switching the third and fourth inverters through the third and fourth driving units.

Systems and methods are provided for protecting a door system from damage by a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage generated when a door coupled to a door actuator is manually closed. The door system may include a driver configured to drive the door actuator to move the door, and a back EMF protection circuit. The back EMF protection circuit detects a back EMF voltage generated by the door actuator when the door is moved, and determines whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold. In response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, the back EMF protection circuit causes the driver to transition to an enabled state to short the back EMF voltage to ground.

Systems and methods are provided for protecting a door system from damage by a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage generated when a door coupled to a door actuator is manually closed. The door system may include a driver configured to drive the door actuator to move the door, and a back EMF protection circuit. The back EMF protection circuit detects a back EMF voltage generated by the door actuator when the door is moved, and determines whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold. In response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, the back EMF protection circuit causes the driver to transition to an enabled state to short the back EMF voltage to ground.

An electric powertrain system includes an electric machine having a rotor and stator. The stator has multiple phase legs, each respective one of which includes a single phase lead connected to two or more parallel stator windings. The stator thus has multiple phase leads collectively conducting phase currents. A rotary output member is connected to the rotor and connectable to a load. A traction power inverter module (TPIM) is electrically connected to the phase legs. Current sensors collectively measure the phase currents. Each respective current sensor is connected to a different phase lead. A controller in communication with the current sensors and the TPIM, in response to a commanded current and the measured phase currents, detects a threshold variation in the measured phase currents indicative of a phase current imbalance fault, and selectively changes a thermodynamic state of the electrified powertrain in response to the fault.