Control system for an electric motor having an integral flywheel rotor
First Claim
1. A control system for an electric motor having a stator and an integral flywheel-rotor with a plurality of position indicators, the system comprising:
- a sensor that generates a signal based on the movement of the position indicators of the rotor; and
a controller coupled to the sensor to receive the signal and operable to deliver an output signal to the stator such that the motor is stepped from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed in a series of increments, wherein the controller checks the rotational speed of the rotor before stepping the motor to the next increment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for an electric motor having an integral flywheel rotor. The motor includes a stator mounted co-axially with the engine crankshaft and a rotor surrounding the stator. A sensor is positioned near the rotor for sensing its rotational speed. The sensor is coupled to a controller. The controller is operable to deliver an output signal to the stator to start the internal combustion engine. While the engine is starting, the processor steps the starter motor from a low speed to a high speed. Once the engine has started and is rotating at a speed greater than a trigger speed, the processor delivers another output signal such that the motor is commutated at a speed that is less than the speed of the rotor to generate a speed slip. By commutating the motor in this manner, it acts as a generator. The speed slip is regulated when the motor is generating electric power so that the motor produces a constant output voltage.
108 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A control system for an electric motor having a stator and an integral flywheel-rotor with a plurality of position indicators, the system comprising:
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a sensor that generates a signal based on the movement of the position indicators of the rotor; and
a controller coupled to the sensor to receive the signal and operable to deliver an output signal to the stator such that the motor is stepped from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed in a series of increments, wherein the controller checks the rotational speed of the rotor before stepping the motor to the next increment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control system for a motor having a stator and an integral flywheel rotor, the system comprising:
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a sensor that generates a signal based on the rotation of the rotor; and
a controller coupled to the sensor to receive the signal, and operable to deliver an output signal to the stator such that the motor is commutated at a rotational speed that is less than the rotational speed of the rotor to generate a slip and to vary the slip such that the motor generates a substantially constant voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A control system for a motor having a stator and a rotor, the system comprising:
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a sensor generating a signal based on the speed of the rotor; and
a controller coupled to the sensor and operable to deliver an output signal to the stator when the speed of the rotor is below a predetermined speed such that the motor is stepped from a low speed to a high speed, the high speed being less than or equal to the predetermined speed, and to deliver another output signal when the speed of the rotor is equal to or above the predetermined speed such that the motor is commutated at a speed that is less than the speed of the rotor to generate a slip. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling a motor for an internal combustion engine, the motor having a stator, a rotor magnetically interacting with the stator, and a starter switch, the method comprising
sensing the rotational speed of the rotor; -
sensing engagement of the starter switch;
delivering an output signal to the stator to step the starter motor from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed after the starter switch is engaged;
sensing starting of the internal combustion engine; and
commutating the motor after the internal combustion engine is started and, when the rotational speed of the rotor is equal to or above a predetermined rotational speed, commutating the motor such that the motor is commutated at a rotational speed that is less than the rotational speed of the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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22. A method as claimed in 21, wherein the rotational speed indicative of starting is distinct for each step rotational speed.
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29. A method of controlling a starter motor for an internal combustion engine, the starter motor having a stator and an integral flywheel rotor magnetically interacting with the stator, the method comprising
sensing starting of the internal combustion engine; - and
commutating the starter motor after the internal combustion engine is started and, when the speed of the rotor is equal to or above a predetermined speed, commutating the starter motor such that the starter motor is commutated at a speed that is less than the speed of the rotor. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
establishing a desired output voltage for the starter motor;
checking the actual output voltage of the starter motor;
calculating a commutation frequency based at least in part on the difference between the desired output voltage for the starter motor and the actual output voltage of the starter motor; and
delivering a current with the commutation frequency to the stator.
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31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the calculating includes estimating a future speed of the rotor.
Specification