# US 12,179,605 B1 · Voltage switching of an electric motor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,605 B1 - Document ID: US12179605B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/343,139 - Filed: 2023-06-28 - Published: 2025-01-02 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-28 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Orgun A. Guralp; Suresh Gopalakrishnan; Chandra S. Namuduri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179605B1 ## CPC - B60L 15/2045: {for optimising the use of energy} - B60L 50/60: using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) - B60L 15/007: {Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles} - B60L 50/51: characterised by AC-motors - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 58/19: Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules - B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage - B60L 2240/423: Torque - B60L 2240/526: Operating parameters - B60L 2240/527: Voltage - B60L 2240/545: Temperature - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES ## Abstract A system for controlling a propulsion system of a vehicle includes a switching system including a first switching device connecting a battery system to a first set of windings of an electric motor, and a second switching device connecting the battery system to a second set of windings. The system also includes a controller configured to transition the propulsion system from an initial propulsion mode in which an initial voltage is applied to the electric motor, to a target mode in which a target voltage is applied. The transitioning includes controlling the first switching device to provide current to the first set of windings at the initial voltage to produce torque, and subsequently controlling the second switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the second set of windings while the current is provided to the first set of windings at the initial voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling a propulsion system of a vehicle, comprising: a switching system connected to a battery system and the propulsion system, the battery system including a first battery assembly and a second battery assembly, the propulsion system including an electric motor having a first set of windings and a second set of windings, the switching system including a first switching device connecting the battery system to the first set of windings and a second switching device connecting the battery system to the second set of windings; and a controller configured to perform, during propulsion of the vehicle according to a commanded torque, transitioning the propulsion system from an initial propulsion mode in which an initial voltage is applied to the electric motor, to a target mode in which a target voltage is applied to the electric motor, the transitioning including: controlling the first switching device to provide current to the first set of windings at the initial voltage and operate the electric motor to produce torque used to propel vehicle; and subsequently controlling the second switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the second set of windings, wherein the second switching device is controlled while a current is provided to the first set of windings at the initial voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the transitioning further includes controlling the first switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the first set of windings while the battery system is applying the target voltage to the second set of windings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first switching device and the second switching device include mechanical switches or solid state switches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first battery assembly is connected to a first inverter configured to supply alternating current (AC) to the first set of windings, and the second battery assembly is connected to a second inverter configured to supply AC current to the second set of windings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the first battery assembly is selectively connected to a propulsion bus by a first switch, and the first switching device has a first switching position that connects the first inverter to a node between the first switch and the propulsion bus, and a second switching position that connects the first inverter to a node between the first switch and the first battery assembly; and the second battery assembly is selectively connected to the propulsion bus by a second switch, and the second switching device has a first switching position that connects the second inverter to a node between the second switch and the propulsion bus, and a second switching position that connects the second inverter to a node between the second switch and the second battery assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are single pole double throw switches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one of the initial voltage and the target voltage is a low voltage, the low voltage achieved by connecting the first battery assembly to a propulsion bus in parallel with the second battery assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein one of the initial voltage and the target voltage is a high voltage, the high voltage achieved by connecting the first battery assembly in series with the second battery assembly. ### Claim 9 A method of controlling a propulsion system of a vehicle, comprising: receiving a request to transition the propulsion system from an initial voltage to a target voltage, the propulsion system including an electric motor having a first set of windings and a second set of windings, the electric motor connected to a battery system including a first battery assembly and a second battery assembly, the propulsion system including a switching system having a first switching device connecting the battery system to the first set of windings and a second switching device connecting the battery system to the second set of windings; and during propulsion of the vehicle according to a commanded torque, transitioning the propulsion system from an initial propulsion mode in which the initial voltage is applied to the electric motor, to a target mode in which the target voltage is applied to the electric motor, the transitioning including: controlling the first switching device to provide current to the first set of windings at the initial voltage and operate the electric motor to produce torque used to propel vehicle; and subsequently controlling the second switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the second set of windings, wherein the second switching device is controlled while a current is provided to the first set of windings at the initial voltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the transitioning further includes controlling the first switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the first set of windings while the battery system is applying the target voltage to the second set of windings. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first switching device and the second switching device include mechanical switches or solid state switches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first battery assembly is connected to a first inverter configured to supply AC current to the first set of windings, and the second battery assembly is connected to a second inverter configured to supply AC current to the second set of windings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first battery assembly is selectively connected to a propulsion bus by a first switch, and the first switching device has a first switching position that connects the first inverter to a node between the first switch and the propulsion bus, and a second switching position that connects the first inverter to a node between the first switch and the first battery assembly; and the second battery assembly is selectively connected to the propulsion bus by a second switch, and the second switching device has a first switching position that connects the second inverter to a node between the second switch and the propulsion bus, and a second switching position that connects the second inverter to a node between the second switch and the second battery assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are single pole double throw switches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein one of the initial voltage and the target voltage is a low voltage, the low voltage achieved by connecting the first battery assembly to a propulsion bus in parallel with the second battery assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein one of the initial voltage and the target voltage is a high voltage, the high voltage achieved by connecting the first battery assembly in series with the second battery assembly. ### Claim 17 A vehicle system comprising: a memory having computer readable instructions; and a processing device for executing the computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions controlling the processing device to perform a method including: receiving a request to transition a propulsion system from an initial voltage to a target voltage, the propulsion system including an electric motor having a first set of windings and a second set of windings, the electric motor connected to a battery system including a first battery assembly and a second battery assembly, the propulsion system including a switching system having a first switching device connecting the battery system to the first set of windings and a second switching device connecting the battery system to the second set of windings; and during propulsion of a vehicle according to a commanded torque, transitioning the propulsion system from an initial propulsion mode in which the initial voltage is applied to the electric motor, to a target mode in which the target voltage is applied to the electric motor, the transitioning including: controlling the first switching device to provide current to the first set of windings at the initial voltage and operate the electric motor to produce torque used to propel vehicle; and subsequently controlling the second switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the second set of windings, wherein the second switching device is controlled while a current is provided to the first set of windings at the initial voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle system of claim 17, wherein the transitioning further includes controlling the first switching device to cause the battery system to apply the target voltage to the first set of windings while the battery system is applying the target voltage to the second set of windings. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The vehicle system of claim 17, wherein one of the initial voltage and the target voltage is a low voltage, the low voltage achieved by connecting the first battery assembly to a propulsion bus in parallel with the second battery assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle system of claim 19, wherein one of the initial voltage and the target voltage is a high voltage, the high voltage achieved by connecting the first battery assembly in series with the second battery assembly.