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US 11,697,392 B2Granted
Security mechanisms for electric motors and associated systems
AssigneeGogoro Inc.
InventorsShih-Yuan Lin, Yu-Se Liu, Liang-Yi Hsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to security mechanisms for electric motors and associated systems. For example, the present technology includes a powertrain assembly having (1) a motor having multiple sets of coils; (2) a drive circuitry electrically coupled to the multiple sets of coils; and (3) a security unit electrically coupled to the drive circuitry and the multiple sets of coils. The security unit is configured to short-circuit at least one set of the multiple sets of coils responsive to a signal from a controller. The signal indicates that the motor is, or has been, turned off.
Claims17
A hub apparatus for driving a vehicle, comprising:
- a motor having multiple sets of coils;
- a drive circuitry electrically coupled to the multiple sets of coils;
- and
- a security unit electrically coupled to the drive circuitry and the multiple sets of coils, the security unit having a conducive plate being configured to be moved by an actuator toward the multiple sets of coils, so as to short-circuit at least one set of the multiple sets of coils, the actuator being moved responsive to a signal indicating that the motor is turned off, wherein, after the actuator is moved, a testing signal is sent to the drive circuitry so as to confirm that at least one set of the multiple sets of coils has been short-circuited,
- wherein the motor includes a stator assembly having the multiple sets of coils, and
- wherein the motor comprises a housing rotatably coupled to a shaft, and wherein the stator assembly is positioned inside the housing and coupled to the shaft, and wherein the stator assembly is electrically coupled to a battery assembly enclosed in the stator assembly, and wherein the stator assembly includes a coil assembly including the multiple sets of coils, and wherein the coil assembly is circumferentially positioned about the shaft.
3 more elements
A vehicle with a security system, the vehicle comprising:
- a motor having multiple sets of coils;
- a controller electrically coupled to the motor;
- a drive circuitry electrically coupled to the multiple sets of coils;
- and
- a security system having a security unit electrically coupled to the drive circuitry and the multiple sets of coils, the security unit having a conductive plate configured to be moved by an actuator toward the multiple sets of coils so as to short-circuit at least one set of the multiple sets of coils, the actuator being moved responsive to a signal indicating that the motor is turned off, wherein, after the actuator is moved, a testing signal is sent to the drive circuitry so as to confirm that at least one set of the multiple sets of coils has been short-circuited,
- wherein the motor includes a rotor assembly and a stator assembly, and wherein the security system further comprises:
- a locking device configured to at least partially prevent the rotor assembly from rotating relative to the stator assembly, the locking device having a stopper and an actuator coupled to the stopper, the stopper being configured to be moved by the actuator,
- wherein the stator assembly comprises a coil assembly including the multiple sets of coils, and wherein the coil assembly is circumferentially positioned about a shaft coupled to the rotor assembly.
5 more elements
A method for securing a vehicle, comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, a signal regarding turning off the vehicle;
- instructing, by the controller, an actuator of a security unit to move a conductive plate of the security unit toward plurality of coils of a motor in the vehicle so as to short-circuit at least one the plurality of coils of the motor;
- instructing, by the controller, a circuit controller to send a testing signal to a drive circuitry electrically coupled to the plurality of coils, so as to verify whether at least one of the plurality of coils is short-circuited;
- entering a hibernation mode when receiving a confirmation signal that part or all of the plurality of coils are short-circuited;
- and
- activating, by the controller, a locking device by instructing an actuator of the locking device to move a stopper of the locking device to contact a rotor assembly of the motor of the vehicle, when the control receives the confirmation signal that part or all of the plurality of coils are short-circuited,
- wherein the plurality of coils is circumferentially positioned about a shaft coupled to the rotor assembly.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.