Adaptive electric motors and generators providing improved performance and efficiency
First Claim
1. A multiphase electric machine comprising:
- a rotor, a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, the plurality of stator core elements being arranged in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, each group of stator core elements being associated with a corresponding one of the phases of the multiphase machine, the stator core elements in each group being electromagnetically separated from the stator core elements in each other group, and a controller for controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a weight, wherein the torque and weight define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 20 Nm/kg.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adaptive architecture for electric motors, generators and other electric machines. An adaptive electric machine provides optimal performance by dynamically adapting its controls to changes in user inputs, machine operating conditions and machine operating parameters. Isolating the machine'"'"'s electromagnetic circuits allows effective control of more independent machine parameters, enabling greater freedom to optimize and providing adaptive motors and generators that are cheaper, smaller, lighter, more powerful, and more efficient than conventional designs. An electric vehicle with in-wheel adaptive motors enables delivery of higher power with lower unsprung mass, giving better torque-density. The motor control system can adapt to the vehicle'"'"'s operating conditions, including starting, accelerating, turning, braking, and cruising at high speeds, thereby consistently providing higher efficiency. A wind powered adaptive generator can adapt to changing wind conditions, consistently providing optimal performance. An adaptive architecture may improve performance in a wide variety of electric machine applications, particularly those requiring optimal efficiency over a range of operating conditions.
134 Citations
100 Claims
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1. A multiphase electric machine comprising:
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a rotor, a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, the plurality of stator core elements being arranged in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, each group of stator core elements being associated with a corresponding one of the phases of the multiphase machine, the stator core elements in each group being electromagnetically separated from the stator core elements in each other group, and a controller for controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a weight, wherein the torque and weight define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 20 Nm/kg. - View Dependent Claims (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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2. A multiphase electric machine comprising:
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a rotor, a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, the plurality of stator core elements being arranged in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, each group of stator core elements being associated with a corresponding one of the phases of the multiphase machine, the stator core elements in each group being electromagnetically separated from the stator core elements in each other group, and a controller for controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a volume, wherein the torque and volume define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 39,000 N/m2. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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4. A method comprising:
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providing a multiphase electric machine comprising at least a rotor and a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, arranging the plurality of stator core elements in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, each group of stator core elements being associated with a corresponding one of the phases of the multiphase machine, electromagnetically separating the stator core elements in each group from the stator core elements in each other group, and controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a weight, wherein the torque and weight define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 20 Nm/kg. - View Dependent Claims (6, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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5. A method comprising:
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providing a multiphase electric machine comprising at least a rotor and a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, arranging the plurality of stator core elements in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, each group of stator core elements being associated with a corresponding one of the phases of the multiphase machine, electromagnetically separating the stator core elements in each group from the stator core elements in each other group, and controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a volume, wherein the torque and volume define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 39,000 N/m2. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A multiphase electric machine comprising:
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a rotor, a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, the plurality of stator core elements being arranged in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, and a controller for controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a weight, wherein the torque and weight define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 20 Nm/kg. - View Dependent Claims (53, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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52. A multiphase electric machine comprising:
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a rotor, a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, the plurality of stator core elements being arranged in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, and a controller for controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a volume, wherein the torque and volume define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 39,000 N/m2. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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54. A method comprising:
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providing a multiphase electric machine comprising at least a rotor and a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, arranging the plurality of stator core elements in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, electromagnetically separating the stator core elements in each group from the stator core elements in each other group, and controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a weight, wherein the torque and weight define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 20 Nm/kg. - View Dependent Claims (56, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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55. A method comprising:
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providing a multiphase electric machine comprising at least a rotor and a stator, the stator comprising a plurality of stator core elements, arranging the plurality of stator core elements in groups, each group of stator core elements comprising at least one stator core element, electromagnetically separating the stator core elements in each group from the stator core elements in each other group, and controlling electrical flow in each group of stator core elements independently of electrical flow in each other group, whereby each phase of the multiphase machine is controllable independently of each other phase, thereby establishing relative rotation between the rotor and the stator at a speed and a torque that are dynamically selectable, wherein the machine has a volume, wherein the torque and volume define a ratio, and wherein the ratio has a value not less than 39,000 N/m2. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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Specification