Systems and methods for sensorless trapezoidal control of brushless DC motors provide effective high-torque startup and low speed operation without the use of Hall effect sensors or encoders during motor operation. The systems and methods also provide the ability to boost signal-to-noise ratio for motor startup and low speed operation via an augmenting supply voltage. Sampling architectures and current-dependent inductance modeling architectures for the control systems are also described.

A control apparatus for a rotating electric machine is applied to a rotating electric machine system. The rotating electric machine system includes a rotating electric machine having a multiple-phase winding, a first inverter connected to a first end of the winding for each phase, a second inverter connected to a second end of the winding for each phase, a high-potential-side connection line, and a low-potential-side connection line. The control apparatus acquires a parameter that has a correlation with a fundamental current that flows to the winding of each phase. The control apparatus stores, in a storage unit, correspondence information in which the parameter is associated with an amplitude and a phase of a harmonic voltage that is generated in the rotating electric machine. The control apparatus controls each of the first inverter and the second inverter to suppress the harmonic voltage based on the correspondence information and the acquired parameter.

A control apparatus is provided for controlling energization of a multiple-winding rotating electric machine. The control apparatus includes inverters respectively corresponding to winding sets of the machine and a controller. The unit of a group of components provided for the energization of one winding set is defined as a system. The controller is configured to: (1) offset switching timings of switch elements of each of the inverters from those of switch elements of any other of the inverters; and (2) determine switching patterns of systems, based on an evaluation function of common-mode voltages of the systems, so as to minimize electro-magnetic interference due to the common-mode voltages. In each of the systems, the common-mode voltage of the system is defined as the difference in electric potential between a neutral point in voltage of a DC power source and a neutral point of the winding set corresponding to the system.

An electric winding exchanger system increases torque or speed performance of multi-phase electric motors and electric drive modules. The system includes an electronic control unit, a back electromotive force (EMF) boosting circuit, a plurality of high-voltage terminals, an electric motor, and a motor control unit. The electronic control unit receives and processes commands from the motor control unit. The back EMF boosting circuit adjusts the winding arrangements of the electric motor in order to change the state of the electric motor. The plurality of high-voltage terminals transfers high voltage electrical energy from the back EMF boosting circuit to the electric motor and vice versa. The motor control unit allows a user to input commands in order to activate increased torque or speed performance for the electric motor. The electric motor is preferably a multi-phase electric motor of an electric or hybrid vehicle.

Systems and methods for sensorless trapezoidal control of brushless DC motors provide effective high-torque startup and low speed operation without the use of Hall effect sensors or encoders during motor operation. The systems and methods also provide the ability to boost signal-to-noise ratio for motor startup and low speed operation via an augmenting supply voltage. Sampling architectures and current-dependent inductance modeling architectures for the control systems are also described.

An electric winding exchanger system increases torque or speed performance of multi-phase electric motors and electric drive modules. The system includes an electronic control unit, a back electromotive force (EMF) boosting circuit, a plurality of high-voltage terminals, an electric motor, and a motor control unit. The electronic control unit receives and processes commands from the motor control unit. The back EMF boosting circuit adjusts the winding arrangements of the electric motor in order to change the state of the electric motor. The plurality of high-voltage terminals transfers high voltage electrical energy from the back EMF boosting circuit to the electric motor and vice versa. The motor control unit allows a user to input commands in order to activate increased torque or speed performance for the electric motor. The electric motor is preferably a multi-phase electric motor of an electric or hybrid vehicle.

A method for detecting the angular position of an electric motor includes: applying a first drive signal with a first polarity between first and second drive terminals that are coupled to respective stator windings of the electric motor; sensing at a third drive terminal a first signal resulting from the application of the first drive signal; applying a second drive signal with a second polarity between the first and second drive terminals, the second polarity being opposite the first polarity; sensing at the third drive terminal a second signal resulting from the application of the second drive signal; and producing a sum signal by summing the first and second signals, wherein the sum signal is indicative of an angular position of a rotor of the electric motor with respect to the stator windings.

A control apparatus for a rotating electric machine is applied to a rotating electric machine system. The rotating electric machine system includes a rotating electric machine having a multiple-phase winding, a first inverter connected to a first end of the winding for each phase, a second inverter connected to a second end of the winding for each phase, a high-potential-side connection line, and a low-potential-side connection line. The control apparatus acquires a parameter that has a correlation with a fundamental current that flows to the winding of each phase. The control apparatus stores, in a storage unit, correspondence information in which the parameter is associated with an amplitude and a phase of a harmonic voltage that is generated in the rotating electric machine. The control apparatus controls each of the first inverter and the second inverter to suppress the harmonic voltage based on the correspondence information and the acquired parameter.

A method for detecting the angular position of an electric motor includes: applying a first drive signal with a first polarity between first and second drive terminals that are coupled to respective stator windings of the electric motor; sensing at a third drive terminal a first signal resulting from the application of the first drive signal; applying a second drive signal with a second polarity between the first and second drive terminals, the second polarity being opposite the first polarity; sensing at the third drive terminal a second signal resulting from the application of the second drive signal; and producing a sum signal by summing the first and second signals, wherein the sum signal is indicative of an angular position of a rotor of the electric motor with respect to the stator windings.

A power conversion device includes a first inverter connected to first ends of the first coil group, a second inverter connected to first ends of the second coil group, a separation relay circuit connected to second ends of the first coil group and second ends of the second coil group to switch between connection and disconnection of the first and second coil groups, a first neutral point relay circuit connected to the second ends of the first coil group to switch between connection and disconnection of the second ends of the first coil group, and a second neutral point relay circuit connected to the second ends of the second coil group to switch between connection and disconnection of the second ends of the second coil group.