Method, apparatus and article for load stabilization

• US 7,456,598 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hampo, Richard J., Nallapa, Venkatapathi R., Prenner, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/023,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 318/623, 318/609, 318/610, 318/400.15, 318/434, 318/432
• US Class Current: 318/623
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A system, method, and article for protecting a power source for a machine from sudden changes in load. In one embodiment, energy is wasted in a winding of a motor in response to a decrease in a load presented to the power source.

Claims

1. A control system for a machine, comprising:

a first bi-directional limiter comprising;

a first input to receive a signal corresponding to a desired energy-wasting component of a flux current;

a second input to receive a signal corresponding to a lower limit on the energy-wasting component of the flux current;

a third input to receive a signal corresponding to an upper limit on the energy-wasting component of the flux current; and

a first output; and

a proportional and integral regulator comprising;

a fourth input electrically coupled to the first output;

a fifth input to receive a signal for controlling a proportional gain of the proportional and integral regulator;

a sixth input to receive a signal for controlling an integral gain of the proportional and integral regulator; and

a second output.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the proportional and integral regulator further comprises a seventh input to receive a signal for limiting the output of the proportional and integral controller.

3. The control system of claim 2, further comprising:

a first signal combiner comprising;

an eighth input to receive a signal corresponding to a maximum flux current;

a ninth input to receive a signal corresponding to a mode of operation of the machine; and

a third output electrically coupled to the seventh input.

4. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second bi-directional limiter comprising;

a seventh input electrically coupled to the second output;

a third output;

an eighth input to receive a signal for controlling a minimum value of the third output; and

a ninth input to receive a signal for controlling a maximum value of the third output.

5. The control system of claim 4, further comprising:

a first signal combiner comprising;

a tenth input to receive a signal corresponding to a maximum flux current;

an eleventh input to receive a signal corresponding to a mode of operation of the machine; and

a fourth output electrically coupled to the ninth input.

6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first signal combiner comprising;

a seventh input to receive a signal corresponding to a speed of a rotor of the machine;

an eighth input to receive a signal corresponding to an estimated torque of the rotor; and

a third output;

a first low-pass filter comprising;

a ninth input electrically coupled to the third output;

a tenth input to receive a signal corresponding to a first time constant; and

a fourth output; and

an adder comprising;

an eleventh input electrically coupled to the fourth output;

a twelfth input to receive a signal corresponding to a commanded level of energy wasting;

a thirteenth input to receive a signal corresponding to a loss of the machine; and

a fifth output electrically coupled to the first input.

7. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first low-pass filter comprising;

a seventh input electrically coupled to the first input;

an eighth input to receive a first time constant; and

a third output.

8. The control system of claim 7, further comprising:

a comparator comprising;

a ninth input electrically coupled to the third output;

a tenth input to receive a threshold value; and

a fourth output.

9. The control system of claim 8, further comprising:

a logical gate comprising;

an eleventh input electrically coupled to the fourth output;

a twelfth input to receive a signal corresponding to an operational mode of the machine; and

a fifth output.

10. The control system of claim 9 wherein the logical gate comprises an OR gate.

11. The control system of claim 9 wherein the logical gate comprises a NAND gate.

12. A control system for a machine, comprising:

a first signal combiner comprising;

a first input to receive a signal corresponding to a speed of the machine;

a second input to receive a signal corresponding to an estimated torque of the machine; and

a first output;

a first low-pass filter comprising;

a third input electrically coupled to the first output;

a fourth input to receive a signal corresponding to a first time constant; and

a second output;

an adder comprising;

a fifth input electrically coupled to the second output;

a sixth input to receive a signal corresponding to a loss of the machine;

a seventh input to receive a signal corresponding to a commanded energy-wasting flux current; and

a third output;

a first bi-directional limiter comprising;

an eighth input electrically coupled to the third output;

a fourth output;

a ninth input to receive a signal corresponding to an upper limit on the fourth output; and

a tenth input to receive a signal corresponding to a lower limit on the fourth output;

a proportional and integral regulator comprising;

an eleventh input electrically coupled to the fourth output;

a fifth output;

a twelfth input to receive a signal for controlling a proportional gain of the proportional and integral regulator; and

a thirteenth input to receive a signal for controlling an integral gain of the proportional and integral regulator; and

a second bi-directional limiter comprising;

a fourteenth input electrically coupled to the fifth output;

a sixth output;

a fifteenth input to receive a signal corresponding to a lower limit on the sixth output; and

a sixteenth input corresponding to an upper limit on the sixth output.