Priority-based matrix converter control in an electric motor drive unit

A method of operating a motor assembly comprising a matrix converter, the method comprising:

• by a hardware processor configured to implement a matrix converter controller,
• operating the matrix converter using a first modulation technique at a first time, wherein the first modulation technique controls operation of a set of bidirectional switches of the matrix converter, and wherein the first modulation technique is one of a plurality of modulation techniques supported by the matrix converter controller;
• determining a prioritization scheme for a set of control factors for the matrix converter;
• determining, at the first time, a metric value for each metric of a set of metrics associated with the motor assembly, wherein the set of metrics correspond to the set of control factors;
• ranking the set of metrics based on the prioritization scheme;
• determining, in order of the ranking of the set of metrics, whether the metric value for each metric satisfies a corresponding threshold;
• determining that a first metric value associated with a first metric of the set of metrics does not satisfy the corresponding threshold;
• selecting a second modulation technique from the plurality of modulation techniques based at least in part on the first metric;
• and
• operating the matrix converter using the second modulation technique at a second time that is later than the first time.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer-executable instructions that when executed by a hardware processor causes the hardware processor to at least:

• operate a matrix converter of a motor assembly using a first modulation technique at a first time, wherein the first modulation technique controls operation of a set of bidirectional switches of the matrix converter, and wherein the first modulation technique is one of a plurality of modulation techniques;
• determine a prioritization scheme for a set of metrics for the motor assembly;
• determine, at the first time, a metric value for each metric of the set of metrics associated with the motor assembly;
• rank the set of metrics based on the prioritization scheme;
• determine, in order of the ranking of the set of metrics, whether the metric value for each metric satisfies a corresponding threshold;
• determine that a first metric value associated with a first metric of the set of metrics does not satisfy the corresponding threshold;
• selecting a second modulation technique from the plurality of modulation techniques based at least in part on the first metric;
• and
• operating the matrix converter using the second modulation technique at a second time that is later than the first time.