# US 11,444,567 B2 · Apparatus and method for protecting overcurrent of clutch control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,567 B2 - Document ID: US11444567B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/116,753 - Filed: 2020-12-09 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-12 - Assignees: Hyundai Autoever Corp. - Applicants: Hyundai Autoever Corp. - Inventors: Joon-Hyun Park; Jeong-Yong Eom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444567B2 ## CPC - H02P 29/027: {the fault being an over-current} - H02P 27/06: using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting an overcurrent of a clutch control system including a motor, an inverter including a plurality of switching elements and configured to convert DC power into AC power by ON/OFF of the plurality of switching elements and to provide the AC power to the motor; a motor control unit configured to detect a current provided to the motor; and a microcomputer having an overcurrent threshold for overcurrent detection set for each of a predetermined number of levels, and configured to compare the detected current with the overcurrent threshold for each level, to diagnose whether there is a level corresponding to an overcurrent, to measure an overcurrent duration when there is a level corresponding to the overcurrent, and to control the inverter based on the overcurrent duration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for protecting an overcurrent of a clutch control system, the apparatus comprising: a motor; an inverter including a plurality of switching elements and configured to convert DC power into AC power by ON/OFF of the plurality of switching elements and to provide the AC power to the motor; a motor control unit configured to detect a current provided to the motor; and a microcomputer having an overcurrent threshold for overcurrent detection set for each of a predetermined number of levels, and configured to compare the detected current with the overcurrent threshold for each level, to diagnose whether there is a level corresponding to an overcurrent, to measure an overcurrent duration when there is a level corresponding to the overcurrent, and to control the inverter based on the overcurrent duration, wherein the microcomputer is further configured to measure an overcurrent duration by operating a corresponding counter of the level corresponding to the overcurrent, and to limit a duty of a pulse width modulation signal for controlling the plurality of switching elements to a target duty set for the level when the overcurrent duration is equal to or more than a limit time set for the level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is further configured to compare the current with the overcurrent threshold for each level, to diagnose whether the current is an overcurrent, and to diagnose a level corresponding to the overcurrent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer retains the target duty for a predetermined time based on the limit time, and releases the target duty limitation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer determines the motor as a fault when the overcurrent duration is equal to or more than a fault diagnosis time set for the level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the counter sets an up-count period for measuring the overcurrent duration to be different from a down-count period for measuring a time in a normal state after overcurrent diagnosis, and sets the down-count period to be larger than the up-count period. ### Claim 6 A method for protecting an overcurrent of a clutch control system, the method comprising: comparing a current provided to a motor with an overcurrent threshold for each level, to diagnose whether there is a level corresponding to an overcurrent, wherein the overcurrent threshold for overcurrent detection is set for each of a predetermined number of levels; and measuring an overcurrent duration when there is a level corresponding to the overcurrent; and controlling an inverter, which is configured to drive the motor, based on the overcurrent duration, wherein the controlling the inverter comprising: measuring the overcurrent duration by operating a corresponding counter of the level corresponding to the overcurrent; and limiting a duty of a pulse width modulation signal for controlling a plurality of switching elements of the inverter to a target duty set for the level when the overcurrent duration is equal to or more than a limit time set for the level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, the method further comprising: retaining the target duty for a predetermined time based on the limit time, and releasing the target duty limitation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the limiting the duty of the pulse width modulation signal to the target duty set for the level comprising: determining the motor as a fault when the overcurrent duration is equal to or more than a fault diagnosis time set for the level to the target duty set for the level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the counter sets an up-count period for measuring the overcurrent duration to be different from a down-count period for measuring a time in a normal state after overcurrent diagnosis, and sets the down-count period to be larger than the up-count period. ### Claim 10 A method for protecting an overcurrent of a clutch control system, the method comprising: comparing a current provided to a motor with an overcurrent threshold for each level, to diagnose whether there is a level corresponding to an overcurrent, wherein the overcurrent threshold for overcurrent detection set for each of a predetermined number of levels; and measuring an overcurrent duration when there is a level corresponding to the overcurrent; and controlling an inverter, which is configured to drive the motor, based on the overcurrent duration, wherein the controlling the inverter comprises: limiting a duty of a pulse width modulation signal for controlling a plurality of switching elements of the inverter to a target duty set for the level when the overcurrent duration is equal to or more than a limit time set for the level, and wherein the limiting the duty of the pulse width modulation signal to the target duty set for the level comprises: determining the motor as a fault when the overcurrent duration is equal to or more than a fault diagnosis time set for the level to the target duty set for the level.