Variable flux bridge for rotor an electric machine

An electric machine assembly for an electrified vehicle comprising:

• a stator core defining a cavity;
• a rotor disposed within the cavity and including a bridge;
• a first pair of magnets each arranged with one another to generate current along a first D-axis when the rotor is rotating and the stator core is activated;
• a second pair of magnets each arranged with one another to generate current along a second D-axis when the rotor is rotating and the stator core is activated;
• and
• a trapezoidal-shaped variable flux magnet embedded in the bridge and arranged with the first and second pairs of magnets such that current associated with a Q-axis bisecting the variable flux magnet travels in a substantially horizontal path through the variable flux magnet.

An electric machine assembly comprising:

• a rotor disposed within a stator core and including a bridge;
• a variable flux magnet embedded in the bridge;
• and
• first and second magnets arranged to define a D-axis therebetween and to define an inverted slope to focus magnetic flux associated with the D-axis into the variable flux magnet and increase a current effect associated with the D-axis on magnetization of the variable flux magnet.