CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS OF UTILITY VEHICLES
First Claim
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1. A utility vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of vehicle systems comprising a steering system, an accelerator system, a power system, a traction system, and an auxiliary system;
a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the vehicle each associated with one of the plurality of vehicle systems;
a plurality of sensors each associated with at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems; and
an electric motor control system in communication with the plurality of vehicle systems, the plurality of operator interfaces, and the plurality of sensors;
the traction system comprising;
at least one drivable wheel;
at least one electric drive transaxle in communication with the drivable wheel;
the auxiliary system comprising;
an auxiliary mechanism; and
an electric auxiliary motor in communication with the auxiliary mechanism;
the electric motor control system comprising;
a traction controller in communication with the steering system, the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the power system, the auxiliary system, and the at least one electric drive transaxle of the traction system; and
an auxiliary controller in communication with the traction controller, the power system, and the electric auxiliary motor.
1 Assignment
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Abstract
Electronic control systems and related control methods for controlling electric auxiliary motors for performing work, such as electric deck motors for mower blades. The apparatus is shown in use with a vehicle that includes a mowing deck. Features of the control systems allow for safe and efficient use of the vehicle.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A utility vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of vehicle systems comprising a steering system, an accelerator system, a power system, a traction system, and an auxiliary system; a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the vehicle each associated with one of the plurality of vehicle systems; a plurality of sensors each associated with at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems; and an electric motor control system in communication with the plurality of vehicle systems, the plurality of operator interfaces, and the plurality of sensors; the traction system comprising; at least one drivable wheel; at least one electric drive transaxle in communication with the drivable wheel; the auxiliary system comprising; an auxiliary mechanism; and an electric auxiliary motor in communication with the auxiliary mechanism; the electric motor control system comprising; a traction controller in communication with the steering system, the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the power system, the auxiliary system, and the at least one electric drive transaxle of the traction system; and an auxiliary controller in communication with the traction controller, the power system, and the electric auxiliary motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A utility vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of vehicle systems comprising a steering system, an accelerator system, a power system, a traction system, and an auxiliary system; a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the vehicle each associated with one of the plurality of vehicle systems; a plurality of sensors each associated with at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems; and an electric motor control system in communication with the plurality of vehicle systems, the plurality of operator interfaces, and the plurality of sensors; the traction system comprising; a first drivable wheel; a second drivable wheel; a first electric drive motor in communication with the first drivable wheel; and a second electric drive motor in communication with the second drivable wheel; the auxiliary system comprising; an auxiliary mechanism; and
an electric auxiliary motor in communication with the auxiliary mechanism;the electric motor control system comprising; a first traction controller in communication with the steering system, the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the power system, the auxiliary system, and the first electric drive motor of the traction system; a second traction controller in communication with the steering system, the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the first traction controller, the power system, and the second electric drive motor of the traction system; and an auxiliary controller in communication with the first traction controller, the power system, and the electric auxiliary motor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electric auxiliary motor control system for a utility vehicle having a left and a right electric auxiliary motor, the system comprising:
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a left controller; a right controller; a common interface in communication with the left and the right controllers; a left power inverter in communication with the common interface and the left electric auxiliary motor; and a right power inverter in communication with the common interface and the right auxiliary motor; wherein the left and the right controllers respectively send control signals to the left and the right power inverters to respectively drive the left and the right electric auxiliary motors. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. An auxiliary controller for an electric auxiliary motor of a utility vehicle, the controller comprising:
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a digital signal processor configured to receive and process data signals received from a plurality of systems of the vehicle, and output at least one driver signal; an analog/digital interface in communication with the digital signal processor and configured to receive analog data signals from at least one of a plurality of systems of the vehicle, convert the analog data signals to digital data signals, and send the digital data signals to the digital signal processor; and an oscillator in communication with the digital signal processor to effectuate output of a clocking signal for the digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. An auxiliary controller for an AC PMSM electric auxiliary motor of a utility vehicle, the controller comprising a digital signal processor configured to receive and process data signals received from a plurality of systems of the vehicle, and output at least one driver signal for use in driving the electric auxiliary motor, the digital signal processor having processor executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of:
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receiving three phase signals each indicative of one of each phase of AC current in the auxiliary motor; converting the phase signals into a DC reference frame utilizing a Clark Transform, a Park Transform, and a rotor position estimator and a speed estimator; receiving at least one control signal associated with the auxiliary motor and determining a desired speed of the auxiliary motor; applying an Inverse Park Transform and a Clark Transform to the DC reference frame to determine an error between an actual magnetic flux associated with the estimators and a desired magnetic flux associated with the desired speed; and generating a plurality of pulse-width modulated control signals based on the error to drive the auxiliary motor.
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Specification