Process for driving an electric machine and driver system therefor

• US 8,125,171 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Rehm, Lothar, Von Raumer, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/579,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20090051309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,498 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318/434, 318/430, 318/440, 318/561, 318/727, 318/400.09, 361 30- 34, 361/23, 340/12.22, 340/425.5, 340/870.11, 701/49
• US Class Current: 318/430
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0844 Fail safe control, e.g. by comparing control signal and controlled current, isolating motor on commutation error

Abstract

A method for operating an electric machine with a driver system is provided, in which an operating variable of the electric machine and/or of the driver system is monitored. The validity of the input variables is checked with regard to their checksum and whether the input variables are up-to-date, and the permissibility of an actual moment (Mist2) of the electric machine depending on the operating state of the electric machine is checked. In case of invalid input variables or invalidity of the actual moment (Mist2), a fault reaction is initiated. In addition, the implementability of the planned change of rotary speed is checked and, in case of non-implementability, changed over into a more favorable mode of operation of the electric machine. An electric machine used as a starter/generator in a motor vehicle can be monitored.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electric machine in a motor vehicle with a driver system that includes a control unit, in which an operating variable of the electric machine or of the driver system is monitored, comprising:

checking, by the control unit, the validity of input variables of the driver system in two independent input validity checking function blocks, in parallel; and

producing a fault reaction by the control unit, if at least one of the two function blocks determines that at least one of the input variables is invalid,

wherein an operating mode of the electric machine is provided as an input variable of the driver system, wherein at least one moment mode, one charging mode, and one rotary speed mode are provided as operating modes of the electric machine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the driver system comprises a monitoring unit; and

one of the function blocks is associated, respectively, with each of the control unit and the monitoring unit.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a fault message is transmitted from the monitoring unit to the control unit, if the second function block determines that at least one of the input variables is invalid.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum and a minimum permissible moment are generated as a function of the mode of operation of the electric machine.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permissibility of an actual moment of the electric machine is checked in a multi-step comparison cascade using several different comparison variables.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permissibility of an actual moment of the electric machine is checked in a plurality of comparisons which are independent of one another and are carried out in parallel to one another with respect to different comparison variables.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a theoretical moment, depending on the operational parameters of the electric machine, is reduced.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reduced theoretical moment is compared to an actual moment and a fault reaction is initiated if the actual moment deviates from the reduced theoretical moment by more than a predefined tolerance range.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first actual moment is generated in the control unit, a second actual moment is generated in the monitoring unit, the first actual moment is compared to the second actual moment, and a fault reaction is initiated if the second actual moment deviates from the first actual moment by more than a predefined tolerance range.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a confirmed actual moment value is output if the second actual moment does not deviate from the first actual moment beyond the predefined tolerance range.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in case of a fault reaction, an emergency operation signal is output.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in case of a fault reaction, the electric machine is short-circuited.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in case of a fault reaction, a power stage is disabled.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein an actual rotary speed of the electric machine is compared to a theoretical rotary speed, and a change of operating mode is requested if the actual rotary speed deviates from the theoretical rotary speed beyond a predefined tolerance range.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the tolerance range is a function of the gradient of the theoretical rotary speed.