# US 2019/0173399 A1 · Security mechanisms for electric motors and associated systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173399 A1 - Document ID: US20190173399A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/207,068 - Filed: 2018-11-30 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Gogoro Inc. - Applicants: Gogoro Inc. - Inventors: Shih-Yuan Lin; Yu-Se Liu; Liang-Yi Hsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173399A1 ## CPC - B60R 25/04: operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor - B62H 5/08: preventing the drive (by acting on powered drive B62M) - H02P 3/025: {holding the rotor in a fixed position after deceleration} - H02P 3/22: by short-circuit or resistive braking - H02P 27/06: using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62H: CYCLE STANDS; SUPPORTS OR HOLDERS FOR PARKING OR STORING CYCLES; APPLIANCES PREVENTING OR INDICATING UNAUTHORIZED USE OR THEFT OF CYCLES; LOCKS INTEGRAL WITH CYCLES; DEVICES FOR LEARNING TO RIDE CYCLES - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 being configured to short-circuit at least one set of the multiple sets of coils responsive to a signal from a controller, the signal indicating that the motor is turned off. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security unit comprises an actuator and a conductive plate, and wherein the actuator is configured to move the conductive plate to short-circuit the at least one set of the multiple sets of coils. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a solenoid valve or a linear motor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security unit comprises a switch configured to short-circuit the at least one set of the multiple sets of coils, and wherein the switch comprises: a mechanical switch configured to short-circuit the at least one set of the multiple sets of coils; or a transistor-based switch configured to short-circuit the at least one set of the multiple sets of coils. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor includes a stator assembly having the multiple sets of coils, and wherein the at least one short-circuited set of coils is configured to generate, in response to a change of a magnetic field caused by a rotation of a rotor assembly, a torque in a reverse direction of the rotation of the rotor assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor includes a rotor assembly having the multiple sets of coils, and wherein the at least one short-circuited set of coils is configured to generate, in response to a change of a magnetic field caused by a rotation of the rotor assembly, a torque in a reverse direction of the rotation of the rotor assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hub apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The hub apparatus of claim 5, 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive circuitry is configured to control the multiple sets of coils so as to generate a three-phase alternating current. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a relay electrically coupled between multiple sets of coils and the security unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hub apparatus of claim 10, wherein the relay is configured to form an open circuit when a current passing through the multiple sets of the coils exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal from the controller indicates that the motor has been turned off for a predetermined time period. ### Claim 13 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 being configured to short-circuit at least one set of the multiple sets of coils responsive to a signal from the controller, wherein the signal indicating that the motor is turned off. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the security unit comprises an actuator and a conductive plate, and wherein the actuator is configured to move the conductive plate to short-circuit the at least one set of the multiple sets of coils. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising: a wheel driven by the motor, wherein the motor is configured to drive the wheel via a power transmission component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a wheel driven by the motor, wherein a rotor assembly of the motor is fixedly coupled to the wheel. ### Claim 18 A method for securing a vehicle, comprising: receiving, by a controller, a signal regarding turning off the vehicle; instructing, by the controller, a security unit to short-circuit a plurality of coils of a motor in the vehicle; instructing, by the controller, a circuit controller to send a testing signal verify whether the plurality of coils are short-circuited; and entering a hibernation mode when receiving a confirmation signal that part or all of the plurality of coils are short-circuited. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: sending a notification to a user mobile device or a display on the vehicle if the confirmation is not successfully received: and entering the hibernation mode after sending the notification. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: 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.