Methods and apparatus for fault-tolerant control of electric machines
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an electric machine having current sensors for less than every phase of the electric machine, when a fault occurs in one or more of the current sensors, said method comprising operating a processor to:
- perform a test to determine whether a fault exists in one or more of the current sensors;
utilize a state observer of the electric machine to estimate states of the electric machine, wherein said state observer is provided input measurements from non-faulty current sensors, if any, disregarding measurements from the current sensor or sensors determined to be faulty; and
control the electric machine utilizing results from the state observer.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling an electric machine having current sensors for less than every phase of the electric machine includes operating a processor to perform a test to preliminarily determine whether a fault exists in one or more of the current sensors and a test to finally determine that the fault exists in the one or more current sensors. The method further includes operating the processor to utilize a state observer of the electric machine to estimate states of the electric machine, wherein the state observer is provided state input measurements from each non-faulty current sensor, if any. Measurements from the current sensor or sensors determined to be faulty are disregarded. The processor controls the electric machine utilizing results from the state observer.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an electric machine having current sensors for less than every phase of the electric machine, when a fault occurs in one or more of the current sensors, said method comprising operating a processor to:
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perform a test to determine whether a fault exists in one or more of the current sensors;
utilize a state observer of the electric machine to estimate states of the electric machine, wherein said state observer is provided input measurements from non-faulty current sensors, if any, disregarding measurements from the current sensor or sensors determined to be faulty; and
control the electric machine utilizing results from the state observer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for controlling an electric machine having current sensors for less than every one of its phases, said apparatus comprising:
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an inverter configured to provide current to the electric machine;
a processor configured to control the current provided to the electric machine by the inverter in accordance with a desired torque, power, or speed;
said processor further configured to utilize the inverter to test the current sensors to determine whether a fault exists in one or more of the current sensors, and if a fault is determined to exist, to utilize a state observer of the electric machine to estimate states of the electric machine, utilizing state input measurements from each non-faulty current sensor, if any, disregarding the current sensor or sensors determined to be faulty; and
to control the electric machine utilizing the inverter and results from the state observer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification