AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL FOR TWO SEPARATELY EXCITED MOTORS UTILIZING A SINGLE ELECTRONIC CONTROL
First Claim
1. An automatic traction control system for a vehicle driven by first and second serially connected electric motors that are powered by batteries, said system comprising:
- an operator interface for generating an operator input signal representing a desired acceleration for the vehicle as applied to an accelerator pedal of the vehicle;
a main electronic power switch coupled between the second electronic motor and a negative terminal of the batteries for selectively varying current flowing through the first and second serially connected electric motors in response to a main power switch control signal;
a first electronic power switch coupled across an armature of the first electric motor for selectively diverting current from the armature of the first electric motor in response to a first power switch control signal;
a second electronic power switch coupled across an armature of the second electric motor for selectively diverting current from the armature of the second electric motor in response to a second power switch control signal;
a first voltage monitor terminal coupled between the armatures of the first and second electric motors;
a second voltage monitor terminal coupled between the armature of the second electric motor and the main electronic power switch; and
a microprocessor coupled to said operator interface for receiving the operator input signal, said microprocessor monitors the voltage across the armatures of the first and second electric motors, and generates the switch control signals as a function of the operator input signal, the voltage across the armature of the first electric motor, and the voltage across the armature of the second electric motor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic traction control system is provided for an electric or hybrid-electric vehicle. The automatic traction control system may be used with vehicles using two separately excited motors where the armatures of the motors are connected in series to provide differential control. The automatic traction control system monitors and compares the voltages across the armatures of the two motors. If the voltage differential exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that one of the wheels is spinning and current is diverted from the motor driving the spinning wheel to the motor driving the non-spinning wheel.
9 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An automatic traction control system for a vehicle driven by first and second serially connected electric motors that are powered by batteries, said system comprising:
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an operator interface for generating an operator input signal representing a desired acceleration for the vehicle as applied to an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; a main electronic power switch coupled between the second electronic motor and a negative terminal of the batteries for selectively varying current flowing through the first and second serially connected electric motors in response to a main power switch control signal; a first electronic power switch coupled across an armature of the first electric motor for selectively diverting current from the armature of the first electric motor in response to a first power switch control signal; a second electronic power switch coupled across an armature of the second electric motor for selectively diverting current from the armature of the second electric motor in response to a second power switch control signal; a first voltage monitor terminal coupled between the armatures of the first and second electric motors; a second voltage monitor terminal coupled between the armature of the second electric motor and the main electronic power switch; and a microprocessor coupled to said operator interface for receiving the operator input signal, said microprocessor monitors the voltage across the armatures of the first and second electric motors, and generates the switch control signals as a function of the operator input signal, the voltage across the armature of the first electric motor, and the voltage across the armature of the second electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A drive system for an electric vehicle comprising:
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an accelerator pedal; batteries having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a first electronic motor having an armature and a first field component; a second electronic motor having an armature and a second field component, said armatures of said first and second electric motors being serially connected between said positive and negative terminal of said batteries; an operator interface for generating an operator input signal representing a desired acceleration for the vehicle as applied to said accelerator pedal; a main electronic power switch coupled between said second electronic motor and said negative terminal of said batteries for selectively varying current flowing through said armatures of said first and second electric motors in response to a main power switch control signal; a first electronic power switch coupled across said armature of said first electric motor for selectively diverting current from said armature of said first electric motor in response to a first power switch control signal; a second electronic power switch coupled across said armature of said second electric motor for selectively diverting current from said armature of said second electric motor in response to a second power switch control signal; a first current monitor for monitoring the current passing through said armature of said first electric motor; a second current monitor for monitoring the current passing through said armature of said second electric motor; a first voltage monitor terminal coupled between said armatures of said first and second electric motors; a second voltage monitor terminal coupled between said armature of said second electric motor and said main electronic power switch; a power interface coupled to said main electronic power switch, said first electronic power switch, said second electronic power switch, said first current monitor, said second current monitor, said first voltage monitor terminal, and said second voltage monitor terminal; and a microprocessor coupled to said operator interface for receiving the operator input signal, and coupled to said power interface for monitoring the current flowing through each of said armatures of said first and second electric motors, the voltage across said armatures of said first and second electric motors, and for generating the switch control signals as a function of the operator input signal, the current flowing through said armature of said first electric motor, the current flowing through said armature of said second electric motor, the voltage across said armature of said first electric motor, and the voltage across said armature of said second electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An automatic traction control system for a vehicle driven by first and second serially connected electric motors that are powered by batteries, said system comprising:
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an operator interface for generating an operator input signal representing a desired acceleration for the vehicle as applied to an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; a main electronic power switch coupled between the second electronic motor and a negative terminal of the batteries for selectively varying current flowing through the first and second serially connected electric motors in response to a main power switch control signal; a first electronic power switch coupled across an armature of the first electric motor for selectively diverting current from the armature of the first electric motor in response to a first power switch control signal; a second electronic power switch coupled across an armature of the second electric motor for selectively diverting current from the armature of the second electric motor in response to a second power switch control signal; a first current monitor for monitoring the current passing through the armature of the first electric motor; a second current monitor for monitoring the current passing through the armature of the second electric motor; and a microprocessor coupled to said operator interface for receiving the operator input signal, said microprocessor monitors the current flowing through each of the armatures of the first and second electric motors, and generates the switch control signals as a function of the operator input signal, the current flowing through the armature of the first electric motor, and the current flowing through the armature of the second electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification