# US 2024/0201248 A1 · Test arrangement and method for emulating the phase currents of an electric motor for testing a power electronics controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201248 A1 - Document ID: US20240201248A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/540,347 - Filed: 2023-12-14 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14 - Assignees: dSPACE GmbH - Applicants: dSPACE GmbH - Inventors: Daniel EPPING; Philipp KEMPER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201248A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/2848: {using simulation} - G01R 31/2829: {Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems (testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844)} - G01R 31/2837: {Characterising or performance testing, e.g. of frequency response (transient response G01R27/28)} - G01R 31/2839: {using signal generators, power supplies or circuit analysers (G01R31/2879 takes precedence; multimeters G01R15/12, network analysers G01R27/28)} - G01R 31/343: {in operation} - G01R 31/42: AC power supplies - H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A test arrangement for emulating the phase currents of an electric motor for testing a power electronics controller. The controller is set up to drive the electric motor and is connectable to the test arrangement. The test arrangement includes an inductance emulator which simulates the electric motor as an electrical load for the controller by means of a power electronics circuit, and includes a test device that is set up to switch the inductance emulator to a different operating mode depending on an analysis of an output voltage at an output of the controller. A method is also provided for emulating the phase currents of an electric motor by means of a test arrangement for testing a controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A test arrangement to emulate phase currents of an electric motor to test a power electronics controller that is adapted to drive the electric motor and is connectable to the test arrangement, the test arrangement comprising: an inductance emulator to simulate the electric motor as an electrical load for the controller via a power electronics circuit; and a test device to switch the inductance emulator to a different operating mode depending on an analysis of a parameter that depends on an output voltage at an output of the controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inductance emulator acts as the power source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inductance emulator is switched off in the different mode of operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The test arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the inductance emulator acts as a voltage source in the different mode of operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the test arrangement feeds a current into the output of the controller that depends on the output voltage of the controller and that was generated by the inductance emulator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the test device comprises a threshold decider that compares a parameter dependent on the output voltage of the controller with at least one threshold value, and wherein the test device is set up to switch the inductance emulator to the different mode of operation depending on this comparison. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The test arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the threshold decider compares the parameter dependent on the output voltage of the controller with two threshold values that lie on different sides of a zero crossing of the parameter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The test arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the test device switches the inductance emulator to the different mode of operation when a value is between the two threshold values. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The test arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the test device compares a further parameter dependent on the output voltage of the controller with a further threshold value and, depending on this comparison, switches the mode of operation of the inductance emulator so that the different mode of operation is exited, wherein the further parameter is in particular the output voltage of the controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The test arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the parameter of the current generated by the inductance emulator and/or the further parameter is the output voltage of the controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the test device has a resistor network that is connectable to the output of the controller, and wherein the resistor network draws the output voltage of the controller to a predetermined potential when the inductance emulator is switched off. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The test arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the resistor network has at least one ohmic resistor via which the test device detects the output voltage of the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The test arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the resistor network has two ohmic resistors connected symmetrically to the output of the controller, and wherein the two resistors have the same resistance value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inductance emulator is connected to the controller via an inductance network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the power electronics circuit has at least one bridge circuit with semiconductor circuit breakers or three parallel connected bridge circuits with semiconductor circuit breakers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the test arrangement has a respective inductance emulator and a respective test device per phase of the electric motor. ### Claim 17 A method to emulate phase currents of an electric motor via a test arrangement to test a controller that is adapted to drive the electric motor and is connectable to the test arrangement, the method comprising: providing an inductance emulator to simulate the electric motor as an electrical load for the controller via a power electronics circuit; and providing a test device that switches the inductance emulator to a different mode of operation depending on an analysis of an output voltage of the controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The test arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the inductance emulator is switched to a different operating mode from a normal operating mode, wherein, in the normal operating mode, the inductance emulator provides phase currents, and wherein, in the different operating mode, the inductance emulator does not provide phase currents.