Power converter control system for electric powertrains

• US 7,936,081 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Jason Lee, Lindsey, Robert Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/010,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 307/24, 307/45, 307/86, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1415 with a generator driven by a prime mover other than the motor of a vehicle

Abstract

A power converter control system for electric powertrains is disclosed. The power converter control system may include at least one power producing device and at least one power consuming device. The power converter control system may further include at least one power electronics module configured to convert and condition a flow of electrical current between the at least one power producing device and the at least one power consuming device. The at least one power electronics module may further be configured to serialize a flow of a first set of signals between the at least one power electronics module and at least one controller. The first set of signals may correspond to at least one characteristic of the at least one power electronics module.

Claims

1. A power converter control system, comprising:

at least one power producing device;

at least one power consuming device; and

at least one power electronics module configured to;

convert and condition a flow of electrical current between the at least one power producing device and the at least one power consuming device; and

serialize a flow of a first set of signals between the at least one power electronics module and at least one controller,

wherein at least one of the first set of signals corresponds to at least one characteristic of the at least one power electronics module; and

wherein the at least one controller is configured to;

process a second set of signals into commutation signals for controlling at least one switch in the at least one power electronics module;

serialize the commutation signals; and

direct the serialized commutation signals to the at least one power electronics module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to de-serialize the first set of signals.

3. The system of claim 1, further including at least one electronic control module configured to generate the second set of signals indicative of an operation of the at least one power producing device and the at least one power consuming device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power electronics module is further configured to de-serialize the serialized commutation signals.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one power electronics module is further configured to convert and condition the flow of electrical current between the at least one power producing device and the at least one power consuming device corresponding to the de-serialized commutation signals.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one power electronics module is located within a housing of the at least one power producing device.

7. A method for operating a power converter control system, comprising:

generating a first set of signals indicative of a desired operation of a machine;

processing the first set of signals into commutation signals;

serializing the commutation signals;

de-serializing the commutation signals; and

converting, conditioning, and directing a flow of electrical current corresponding to the de-serialized commutation signals.

8. The method of claim 7, further including generating a second set of signals corresponding to characteristics of a power electronics module.

9. The method of claim 8, further including serializing the second set of signals, wherein the serializing is completed within the power electronics module.

10. The method of claim 9, further including de-serializing the serialized second set of signals, wherein the de-serializing is completed remote from the power electronics module.

11. The method of claim 10, further including alerting an operator to the characteristics of the power electronics module via the de-serialized second set of signals.

12. The method of claim 7, further including controlling at least one switch in a power electronics module responsive to the de-serialized commutation signals.

13. An electric powertrain, comprising:

at least one engine;

at least one generator;

at least one motor; and

at least one controller configured to;

receive control signals indicative of a desired operation of the electric powertrain;

process the control signals into commutation signals for controlling at least one switch in at least one power electronics module;

serialize the commutation signals; and

direct the serialized commutation signals to the at least one power electronics module.

14. The electric powertrain of claim 13 wherein the at least one power electronics module is configured to de-serialize the commutation signals.

15. The electric powertrain of claim 14 wherein the at least one power electronics module is further configured to convert, condition, and direct a flow of electrical current corresponding to the de-serialized commutation signals.

16. The electric powertrain of claim 15 wherein the at least one power electronics module is further configured to receive at least one second signal from at least one sensor, wherein the at least one second signal corresponds to at least one characteristic of the at least one power electronics module.

17. The electric powertrain of claim 16 wherein the at least one power electronics module is further configured to serialize the at least one second signal and direct the at least one second signal to the at least one controller.

18. The electric powertrain of claim 17, wherein the at least one power electronics module is located within a housing of the at least one generator.

19. The electric powertrain of claim 14, wherein the at least one power electronics module is configured to control the at least one switch in at least one power electronics module, and at least one of the generator or the motor responsive to the de-serialized commutation signals.

20. The electric powertrain of claim 17, wherein the at least one power electronics module is located within a housing of the at least one motor.