Auxiliary power conversion for an electric vehicle using high frequency injection into a PWM inverter

• US 6,262,896 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hiti, Silva, Stancu, Constantin C., Nagashima, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/596,694
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 363/15, 363/16, 363/17, 363/98, 363/132, 318/801, 318/802, 318/811
• US Class Current: 363/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/08 using pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0006 Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53875 with analogue control of three-phase output
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An electric power system for an electric vehicle includes an electric drive motor, a high voltage bus for supplying operating power to energize the drive motor, and an inverter including power switching devices and having an inverter output. The inverter is coupled between the high voltage bus and the electric drive motor and a controller is coupled to the inverter and provides motor control signals and high frequency injection signals to the inverter. An auxiliary power unit is coupled to the inverter output and has a DC output for supplying DC operating power. The auxiliary power unit supplies DC power in response to the high frequency injection signals. The electric drive motor operates in response to the motor control signals and is substantially unaffected by the high frequency injection signals.

Claims

1. An electric power system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

an electric drive motor;

a high voltage bus for supplying operating power to energize said drive motor;

an inverter including power switching devices and having an inverter output, wherein the inverter is coupled between the high voltage bus and the electric drive motor;

a controller coupled to the inverter and providing motor control signals and high frequency injection signals to the inverter;

an auxiliary power unit coupled to said inverter output and having a DC output for supplying a DC operating power, wherein the auxiliary power unit supplies the DC operating power in response to the high frequency injection signals;

wherein the electric drive motor operates in response to the motor control signals and is substantially unaffected by the high frequency injection signals.

2. An electric power system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

an electric drive motor;

a high voltage bus for supplying operating power to energize said drive motor;

an inverter including power switching devices and having an inverter output, wherein the inverter is coupled between the high voltage bus and the electric drive motor;

a controller coupled to the inverter and providing motor control signals and high frequency injection signals to the inverter;

an auxiliary power unit coupled to said inverter output and having a DC output for supplying a DC operating power, wherein the auxiliary power unit supplies the DC operating power in response to the high frequency injection signals;

wherein the electric drive motor operates in response to the motor control signals and is substantially unaffected by the high frequency injection signals, and

wherein the electric drive motor couples the auxiliary power unit to the inverter output.