Electrical systems for electric powered vehicles
AssigneeTesla Capital, LLC
InventorPaul Hightower
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to electric motor applications. The systems and techniques are described in the context of an electric powered vehicle. The electric powered vehicle includes a drive wheel, an electric motor configured to rotate the drive wheel by delivering power thereto, a speed sensor configured to monitor rotational speed of the drive wheel, and a controller configured to limit the power delivered to the drive wheel to a maximum level over a range of rotational speeds monitored by the speed sensor.
Claims19
An electric powered vehicle configured to operate without exceeding a maximum horsepower, comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- an electric motor having a horsepower rating greater than the maximum horsepower, the electric motor being configured to rotate the drive wheel;
- a throttle configured to produce a throttle voltage;
- a speed sensor configured to monitor rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to determine the maximum voltage that can be applied to the electric motor at the current rotational speed of the drive wheel without exceeding the maximum horsepower, and limit the throttle voltage applied to the electric motor to the maximum voltage.
An electric powered vehicle, comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- an electric motor configured to rotate the drive wheel;
- a throttle configured to produce a throttle voltage;
- a speed sensor configured to monitor rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to determine the voltage required by the electric motor to produce a target torque at the current rotational speed of the drive wheel when such speed is less than a threshold speed, and set the throttle voltage to such voltage.
A method of controlling an electric powered vehicle configured to operate without exceeding a maximum horsepower, comprising:
- rotating a drive wheel with an electric motor having a horsepower rating greater than the maximum horsepower;
- monitoring the rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- determining the maximum voltage that can be applied to the electric motor at the current rotational speed of the drive wheel without exceeding the maximum horsepower;
- producing a throttle voltage;
- and
- limiting the throttle voltage applied to the electric motor to the maximum voltage.
A method of controlling an electric powered vehicle, comprising:
- rotating a drive wheel with an electric motor;
- monitoring the rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- determining the voltage required by the electric motor to produce a target torque at the current rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- and
- setting the throttle voltage to such voltage.
An electric powered vehicle configured to operate without exceeding a maximum horsepower, comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- a throttle;
- an electric motor having a horsepower rating greater than the maximum horsepower, the electric motor being configured to rotate the drive wheel in response to an input from the throttle;
- a speed sensor configured to monitor rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to limit the throttle input to the electric motor to ensure that the torque produced by the electric motor does not exceed the maximum horsepower at the current rotational speed of the drive wheel.
An electric powered vehicle, comprising:
- a drive wheel;
- a throttle;
- an electric motor configured to rotate the drive wheel in response to an input from the throttle;
- a speed sensor configured to monitor rotational speed of the drive wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to determine the throttle input required by the electric motor to produce a target torque at the current rotational speed of the drive wheel when such speed is less than a threshold speed, and set the throttle input thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.