# US 2026/0100658 A1 · One-half-and-half redundant motor controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0100658 A1 - Document ID: US20260100658A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/338,413 - Filed: 2025-09-24 - Published: 2026-04-09 - Earliest claimed: 2024-10-08 - Applicants: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Inventors: Payam Ramezani-Badr; Robby L. Linton; Krishna MPK Namburi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260100658A1 ## CPC - B62D 5/046: {Controlling the motor} - H02M 7/483: Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels - B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup} - B62D 5/003: {Backup systems, e.g. for manual steering (B62D5/30 takes precedence)} - B62D 5/0403: {characterised by constructional features, e.g. common housing for motor and gear box} - B62D 5/0406: {including housing for electronic control unit} - B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column} - B62D 5/0463: {calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input} - B62D 5/0484: {for reaction to failures, e.g. limp home} - B62D 5/0493: {detecting processor errors, e.g. plausibility of steering direction} - H02M 1/0012: {Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques (in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873)} - H02M 1/0067: {Converter structures employing plural converter units, other than for parallel operation of the units on a single load} - H02M 1/325: {with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters} - H02M 7/537: using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters - H02M 7/5387: in a bridge configuration - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A motor controller for a dual-wound motor includes: a first ECU including at least one first microcontroller unit (MCU), a first inverter having first output switches configured to supply a first AC power to a first winding set of the dual-wound motor, and a second inverter having second output switches configured to supply a second AC power to the second winding set of the dual-wound motor; a second ECU including a secondary MCU and a third inverter having third output switches configured to supply a third AC power to a second winding set of the dual-wound motor; and a gate logic switch selectively enabling each of the second output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by either of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU and selectively enabling the third output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by either of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor controller for a dual-wound motor having a first winding set and a second winding set isolated from the first winding set, said motor controller comprising: a primary electronic control unit (ECU) including at least one primary microcontroller unit (MCU), a first inverter having a first plurality of output switches configured to supply a first alternating current (AC) power to the first winding set of the dual-wound motor, and a second inverter having a second plurality of output switches configured to supply a second AC power to the second winding set of the dual-wound motor; a secondary ECU including a secondary MCU and a third inverter having a third plurality of output switches configured to supply a third AC power to the second winding set of the dual-wound motor; and a gate logic switch configured to selectively enable each of the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by either of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU and to selectively enable each of the third plurality of output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by either of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the gate logic switch is further configured to selectively enable each of the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by the at least one primary MCU in response to a first MCU enable signal from the at least one primary MCU. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the gate logic switch is further configured to selectively enable each of the third plurality of output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by the secondary MCU in response to a second MCU enable signal from the secondary MCU. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, wherein first plurality of output switches of the first inverter have a first current rating and the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter have a second current rating less than the first current rating. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, further including at least one isolator configured to communicate gate logic signals between the primary ECU and the secondary ECU, while providing electrical isolation therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the gate logic switch includes a first consensus and arbitration controller disposed in the primary ECU and a second consensus and arbitration controller disposed in the secondary ECU, wherein the first consensus and arbitration controller includes a first plurality of gate selectors, with each gate selector of the first plurality of gate selectors configured to selectively enable a corresponding one of the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by one of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU, and as selected in response to a first MCU enable signal from the at least one primary MCU, and wherein the second consensus and arbitration controller includes a second plurality of gate selectors, with each gate selector of the second plurality of gate selectors configured to selectively enable each of the third plurality of output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by one of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU, and as selected in response to a second MCU enable signal from the secondary MCU. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the primary ECU and the secondary ECU are each supplied power from corresponding independent direct current (DC) power sources. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, further including a power transfer switch configured to supply power to each of the primary ECU and the secondary ECU from at least one of: a first battery and/or a second battery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, further including a plurality of phase disconnects, wherein each phase disconnect of the plurality of phase disconnects is configured to selectively conduct current between: one of the first inverter, the second inverter, or the third inverter, and a corresponding one of the first winding set or the second winding set of the dual-wound motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The motor controller of claim 1, wherein the dual-wound motor is configured to perform at least one of: applying an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, or controlling the steering system. ### Claim 11 A motor control system comprising: a dual-wound motor having a first winding set and a second winding set isolated from the first winding set; a primary electronic control unit (ECU) including at least one primary microcontroller unit (MCU), a first inverter having a first plurality of output switches configured to supply a first alternating current (AC) power to the first winding set of the dual-wound motor, and a second inverter having a second plurality of output switches configured to supply a second AC power to the second winding set of the dual-wound motor; a secondary ECU including a secondary MCU, and a third inverter having a third plurality of output switches configured to supply a third AC power to the second winding set of the dual-wound motor; and a gate logic switch configured to selectively enable each of the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by either of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU and to selectively enable each of the third plurality of output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by either of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, wherein the gate logic switch is further configured to selectively enable each of the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by the at least one primary MCU in response to a first MCU enable signal from the at least one primary MCU. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, wherein the gate logic switch is further configured to selectively enable each of the third plurality of output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by the secondary MCU in response to a second MCU enable signal from the secondary MCU. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, wherein first plurality of output switches of the first inverter have a first current rating and the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter have a second current rating less than the first current rating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, further including at least one isolator configured to communicate gate logic signals between the primary ECU and the secondary ECU, while providing electrical isolation therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, wherein the gate logic switch includes a first consensus and arbitration controller disposed in the primary ECU and a second consensus and arbitration controller disposed in the secondary ECU, wherein the first consensus and arbitration controller includes a first plurality of gate selectors, with each gate selector of the first plurality of gate selectors configured to selectively enable a corresponding one of the second plurality of output switches of the second inverter to be controlled by one of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU, and as selected in response to a first MCU enable signal from the at least one primary MCU, and wherein the second consensus and arbitration controller includes a second plurality of gate selectors, with each gate selector of the second plurality of gate selectors configured to selectively enable each of the third plurality of output switches of the third inverter to be controlled by one of the at least one primary MCU or the secondary MCU, and as selected in response to a second MCU enable signal from the secondary MCU. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, wherein the primary ECU and the secondary ECU are each supplied power from corresponding independent direct current (DC) power sources. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, further including a power transfer switch configured to supply power to each of the primary ECU and the secondary ECU from at least one of: a first battery and/or a second battery. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, further including a plurality of phase disconnects, wherein each phase disconnect of the plurality of phase disconnects is configured to selectively conduct current between: one of the first inverter, the second inverter, or the third inverter, and a corresponding one of the first winding set or the second winding set of the dual-wound motor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The motor control system of claim 11, wherein the dual-wound motor is configured to perform at least one of: applying an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, or controlling the steering system.