The invention involves a switched reluctance motor, comprising a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The stator comprises several circumferentially arranged coils and stator poles, the stator poles forming the cores of the coils. The rotor comprises several counter poles for interacting with the stator poles for applying a reluctance torque on the rotor. The motor comprises phase inputs for receiving an actuation signal for actuating one or more phase stages. Each stator coil is associated with a phase stage, such that each phase stage comprises at least two coils. Each phase stage comprises a circuit stage including a switching arrangement comprising switches for selectively switching the coils of said phase stage in either one of a parallel, a serial, or a parallel-serial electrical configuration.

The invention involves a switched reluctance motor, comprising a stator and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator. The stator comprises several circumferentially arranged coils and stator poles, the stator poles forming the cores of the coils. The rotor comprises several counter poles for interacting with the stator poles for applying a reluctance torque on the rotor. The motor comprises phase inputs for receiving an actuation signal for actuating one or more phase stages. Each stator coil is associated with a phase stage, such that each phase stage comprises at least two coils. Each phase stage comprises a circuit stage including a switching arrangement comprising switches for selectively switching the coils of said phase stage in either one of a parallel, a serial, or a parallel-serial electrical configuration.

A haptic system includes a haptic engine in which a reluctance motor is driven by a driver controller operated in conjunction with an impedance-estimator that uses amplitude-modulated calibration signals. An enveloped-calibration signal is superimposed on a haptic-drive signal to quickly, and accurately, estimate the driving coil's impedance, while minimizing power penalty.

A haptic system includes a haptic engine in which a reluctance motor is driven by a driver controller operated in conjunction with an impedance-estimator that uses amplitude-modulated calibration signals. An enveloped-calibration signal is superimposed on a haptic-drive signal to quickly, and accurately, estimate the driving coil's impedance, while minimizing power penalty.

A method for controlling switched reluctance machine (SRM) utilizing a SRM control system. The method allows for adaptive pulse positioning over a wide range of speeds and loads. An initial rotor position is provided for the SRM utilizing an initialization mechanism. A pinned point on a phase current waveform is defined during an initial current rise phase of the current waveform. A slope of the current rise is determined as the current waveform reaches the pinned point. The slope is then fed to the commutation module of the SRM control system. An error signal from calculated inductance or current slope is used as an input to a control loop in the SRM control system. The time determining module determines an optimum time signal to fire a next pulse. The optimum time signal is fed to the SRM for turning the plurality of SRM switches to on and off states.

A method for controlling switched reluctance machine (SRM) utilizing a SRM control system. The method allows for adaptive pulse positioning over a wide range of speeds and loads. An initial rotor position is provided for the SRM utilizing an initialization mechanism. A pinned point on a phase current waveform is defined during an initial current rise phase of the current waveform. A slope of the current rise is determined as the current waveform reaches the pinned point. The slope is then fed to the commutation module of the SRM control system. An error signal from calculated inductance or current slope is used as an input to a control loop in the SRM control system. The time determining module determines an optimum time signal to fire a next pulse. The optimum time signal is fed to the SRM for turning the plurality of SRM switches to on and off states.

Systems and methods to manipulate the noise and vibration of a switched reluctance machine (SRM), capable of being implemented in a controller. By use of vibration sensors and a real-time optimizer, the noise and vibration profile of an SRM and associated load can be modified in order to meet multiple control objectives, such as torque ripple mitigation (TRM), harmonic spectrum shaping, and efficiency improvement. The systems and methods can be adapted to high power, high pole count, and high speed applications, and applications where electrical or mechanical imbalance exists.

Systems and methods to manipulate the noise and vibration of a switched reluctance machine (SRM), capable of being implemented in a controller. By use of vibration sensors and a real-time optimizer, the noise and vibration profile of an SRM and associated load can be modified in order to meet multiple control objectives, such as torque ripple mitigation (TRM), harmonic spectrum shaping, and efficiency improvement. The systems and methods can be adapted to high power, high pole count, and high speed applications, and applications where electrical or mechanical imbalance exists.

Apparatus and methods of operating an electric motor are provided, comprising energising a plurality of stator coils in sequence to rotate a rotor. Each said coil is energised with a repeating pulse sequence comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions repeating alternately to form the repeating pulse sequence. The first portion comprises a first pattern of pulses, each pulse in the first pattern having either a first polarity or second polarity, and at least two consecutive pulses in the first pattern having the same polarity. The second portion comprises a second pattern of pulses, the second pattern of pulses having the same pattern as said first pattern of pulses, but having inverted polarity with respect to said first pattern of pulses.

Apparatus and methods of operating an electric motor are provided, comprising energising a plurality of stator coils in sequence to rotate a rotor. Each said coil is energised with a repeating pulse sequence comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions repeating alternately to form the repeating pulse sequence. The first portion comprises a first pattern of pulses, each pulse in the first pattern having either a first polarity or second polarity, and at least two consecutive pulses in the first pattern having the same polarity. The second portion comprises a second pattern of pulses, the second pattern of pulses having the same pattern as said first pattern of pulses, but having inverted polarity with respect to said first pattern of pulses.