Method and apparatus for detecting a desaturation fault in an inverter module
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsKonstantin S. Majarov, David Tang, Reynaldo Arturo Suazo Zepeda, Nitinkumar R. Patel, Daniel L. Kowalewski
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Abstract
A method for monitoring an inverter module for a multi-phase electric motor/generator includes deactivating operation of the inverter module, monitoring voltage on a high-voltage bus configured to supply electric power to the inverter module, detecting occurrence of a true fault when a change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is greater than a predetermined threshold, and detecting occurrence of a false fault when the change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is less than the predetermined threshold.
Claims17
Method for monitoring an inverter module for a multi-phase electric motor/generator, comprising:
- in response to occurrence of a preliminary fault in the inverter module indicated by a hardware-based desaturation diagnostic scheme:
- deactivating operation of the inverter module;
- monitoring voltage on a high-voltage bus configured to supply electric power to the inverter module;
- detecting occurrence of a true fault when a change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is greater than a predetermined threshold;
- and
- detecting occurrence of a false fault when the change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is less than the predetermined threshold.
Method for monitoring an electric motor/generator, comprising:
- detecting a preliminary fault associated with an inverter module controlling the electric motor/generator based upon a hardware-based desaturation diagnostic scheme monitoring high-voltage switches of the inverter module;
- and
- subsequent to detecting a preliminary fault:
- deactivating operation of the inverter module for a predetermined switch cooling period and monitoring voltage on a high-voltage bus supplying electric power to the inverter module;
- and
- detecting an occurrence of a true fault when a change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is greater than a predetermined threshold during the switch cooling period.
Method for monitoring an inverter module for a multi-phase electric motor/generator configured to generate tractive torque for a vehicle, comprising:
- deactivating the inverter module for a predetermined switch cooling period in response to an occurrence of a preliminary fault indicated by a hardware-based desaturation diagnostic scheme;
- subsequent to deactivating the inverter module:
- monitoring voltage on a high-voltage bus supplying electric power to the inverter module;
- detecting occurrences of true faults when a change in the voltage on the high-voltage bus is greater than a predetermined threshold;
- executing a fault counter to count the occurrences of true faults;
- validating an inverter module fault when the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault count;
- and
- executing a shutdown to disable operation of the multi-phase electric motor/generator when the inverter module fault is validated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.