Method and apparatus for controlling at least one electric drive of a vehicle

• US 20070024226A1
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mersch, Gerhard
• Application Number:
  US11/489,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024226A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method for controlling at least one electric drive of a vehicle includes comparing a value of an electric variable to a threshold. The electric variable relates to an operation of the electric drive or is derived from the operation of the electric drive. The electric drive is stopped or operated with a reduced value of the electric variable if the threshold is reached and/or if the threshold is exceeded. The threshold is specified by a permissible value of the electric variable relating to an operation of several electric drives.

Claims

1. A method for controlling at least one electric drive of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

comparing a value of an electric variable that relates to an operation of the at least one electric drive to a threshold;

performing one of stopping the at least one electric drive and operating the at least one electric drive with a reduced value of the electric variable if the threshold is at least one of being reached and exceeded; and

specifying the threshold by a permissible value of the electric variable for operating several electric drives.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric variable comprises at least one of an electric current, a voltage, and an electric energy.

3. The method according to claim 1, including measuring the electric variable.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric drive is a window regulator drive.

5. The method according to claim 4 including operating the window regulator drive to control movement of a pane.

6. The method according to claim 4, including providing an anti-squeeze system.

7. The method according to claim 1, including operating the several electric drives on a basis of the permissible value of the electric variable.

8. The method according to claim 1, including operating the at least one electric drive in a multiplex-mode.

9. The method according to claim 1, including operating the at least one electric drive in a step-by-step mode.

10. The method according to claim 1, including stopping the at least one electric drive when the threshold is reached, while still operating any remaining drives of the several electric drives.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permissible value of the electric variable is approximately 30 Ampere.

12. The method according to claim 1, including determining the threshold based on a number of electric drives activated.

13. The method according to claim 1, including dynamically determining the threshold.

14. The method according to claim 1, including operating at least one additional load together with the at least one electric drive.

15. An apparatus for operating at least one electric drive of a vehicle comprising:

a control unit that compares a value of an electric variable that relates to an operation of the at least one electric drive to a threshold, performs one of stopping the at least one electric drive and operating the at least one electric drive with a reduced value of the electric variable if the threshold is at least one of being reached and exceeded, and specifies the threshold by a permissible value of the electric variable for operating several electric drives.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one electric drive comprises a window regulator drive.