# US 2022/0045642 A1 · Drive controller for electric motor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0045642 A1 - Document ID: US20220045642A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/433,047 - Filed: 2020-03-04 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-04 - Assignees: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. - Applicants: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. - Inventors: Tomonobu KOSEKI; Mamoru OGURA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220045642A1 ## CPC - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - H02P 27/08: with pulse width modulation - B62D 5/0481: {monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures} - H02M 7/53871: {with automatic control of output voltage or current} - H02P 25/16: characterised by the circuit arrangement or by the kind of wiring - H02P 25/22: Multiple windings; Windings for more than three phases - B62D 5/046: {Controlling the motor} - B62D 5/0463: {calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input} - H02M 1/008: {Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators} - H02M 1/325: {with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters} - H02M 7/53873: {with digital control} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract The drive controller for the electric motor according to the present invention comprises two drive control systems for two winding sets of the electric motor, each drive control system includes a control circuit, an inverter, a power supply connector and a ground connector, the two control circuits are connected to an internal common ground, each rectifying element that passes a current from the common ground to each ground connector is provided in a line that connects the ground connector and the common ground, each current detection element is provided in a line that connects each positive power supply and a line between the rectifying element and the ground connector, and whether an open fault has occurred in the ground connector is diagnosed based on the voltage that is applied to the current detection element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive controller for use in an electric motor that includes a first winding set and a second winding set, the drive controller comprising: a first system that controls and drives the first winding set, the first system including a first control circuit, a first inverter, a first power supply connector, and a first ground connector; and a second system that controls and drives the second winding set, the second system including a second control circuit, a second inverter, a second power supply connector, and a second ground connector, wherein the first control circuit and the second control circuit are connected to an internal common ground, a first rectifying element that passes a current from the common ground to the first ground connector is provided in a line that connects the first ground connector and the common ground, a second rectifying element that passes a current from the common ground to the second ground connector is provided in a line that connects the second ground connector and the common ground, a first current detection element is provided in a line that connects a positive power supply and a line between the first rectifying element and the first ground connector , and a second current detection element is provided in a line that connects a positive power supply and a line between the second rectifying element and the second ground connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive controller for the electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the first control circuit has a first microcomputer, the first microcomputer detects a voltage that is applied to the first current detection element, and performs a process of dealing with an open abnormality of the first ground connector when the detected voltage is in a predetermined voltage range, the second control circuit has a second microcomputer, and the second microcomputer detects a voltage that is applied to the second current detection element, and performs a process of dealing with an open abnormality of the second ground connector when the detected voltage is in a predetermined voltage range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drive controller for the electric motor according to claim 2, wherein a first switch element is provided in parallel with the first rectifying element, and a second switch element is provided in parallel with the second rectifying element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drive controller for the electric motor according to claim 3, wherein a third current detection element is provided in series with the first switch element, and a fourth current detection element is provided in series with the second switch element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drive controller for the electric motor according to claim 4, wherein the first microcomputer turns off the first switch element before starting to energize the first inverter and turns on the first switch element when starting to energize the first inverter, and the second microcomputer turns off the second switch element before starting to energize the second inverter and turns on the second switch element when starting to energize the second inverter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drive controller for the electric motor according to claim 1, wherein a third switch element is provided in series with the first current detection element, and a fourth switch element is provided in series with the second current detection element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drive controller for the electric motor according to claim 1, wherein a fifth switch element is provided between the first inverter and the first power supply connector, and a sixth switch element is provided between the second inverter and the second power supply connector.