Determination of magnetic flux and temperature of permanent magnets in washing machine motor

A method comprising:

• measuring a back electromotive force (BEMF) waveform from a motor of a washing machine;
• integrating the BEMF waveform to generate an integrated BEMF waveform;
• determining a magnetic flux of one or more permanent magnets of the motor as a function an amplitude of the integrated BEMF waveform;
• and
• controlling a current supplied to the motor based at least in part upon the determined magnetic flux.

One or more non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising a plurality of instructions which, when executed, cause an electronic control unit (ECU) of a washing machine to:

• receive a back electromotive force (BEMF) waveform measured from a motor of the washing machine;
• integrate the BEMF waveform to generate an integrated BEMF waveform;
• determine a magnetic flux of one or more permanent magnets of the motor as a function of an amplitude of the integrated BEMF waveform;
• and
• control a current supplied to the motor based at least in part upon the determined magnetic flux.