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US 9,520,816 B2Granted
Electric motor signature reduction system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsChristopher Pete Benson, Peng Zeng, Douglas C. Cameron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a group of electric motors. A controller is configured to identify a group of switching frequencies for a desired signature for the group of electric motors. The controller is further configured to control switching of a current supplied to the group of electric motors with the group of switching frequencies for the desired signature identified.
Claims23
An apparatus comprising:
- a controller configured to
- identify a group of switching frequencies for a desired signature for a group of electric motors;
- control switching of a current supplied to the group of electric motors with the group of switching frequencies for the desired signature identified;
- determine a group of average efficiency values for an electric motor in the group of electric motors based on the group of switching frequencies;
- and
- identify a selected switching frequency from the group of switching frequencies using an average efficiency value in the group of average efficiency values that complies with an operating parameter and the desired signature;
- wherein the desired signature comprises at least one of electromagnetic signals and acoustic signals generated by operation of the group of electric motors;
- wherein the controller is distributed among the group of electric motors and comprises a primary controller and a plurality of secondary controllers;
- wherein a first secondary controller in the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to send a request to the primary controller to use a requested switching frequency, a second secondary controller in the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to send a request to the primary controller to use the requested switching frequency, and in response to the requests, the primary controller assigns the selected switching frequency from the group of switching frequencies for the desired signature to the first secondary controller based on a priority scheme;
- and
- wherein the primary controller selects the selected switching frequency depending on whether detectability of an acoustic signature is prioritized during a particular phase of flight.
8 more elements
An electric motor system comprising:
- a group of electric motors;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- identify a group of switching frequencies for a desired signature for the group of electric motors;
- control switching of a current supplied to the group of electric motors with the group of switching frequencies identified;
- determine a group of average efficiency values for an electric motor in the group of electric motors based on the group of switching frequencies;
- and
- identify a selected switching frequency from the group of switching frequencies using an average efficiency value in the group of average efficiency values that complies with an operating parameter and the desired signature;
- wherein the desired signature comprises at least one of electromagnetic signals and acoustic signals generated by operation of group of electric motors;
- wherein the controller is distributed among the group of electric motors and comprises a primary controller and a plurality of secondary controllers;
- wherein a first secondary controller in the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to send a request to the primary controller to use a requested switching frequency, a second secondary controller in the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to send a request to the primary controller to use the requested switching frequency, and in response to the requests, the primary controller assigns the selected switching frequency from the group of switching frequencies for the desired signature to the first secondary controller based on a priority scheme;
- and
- wherein the primary controller selects the selected frequency depending on whether detectability of an acoustic signature is prioritized during a particular phase of flight.
10 more elements
A method for controlling a group of electric motors, the method comprising:
- identifying a group of switching frequencies for a desired signature for the group of electric motors;
- controlling switching of a current supplied to the group of electric motors with the group of switching frequencies identified;
- determining a group of average efficiency values for an electric motor in the group of electric motors based on the group of switching frequencies;
- and
- identifying a selected switching frequency from the group of switching frequencies using an average efficiency value in the group of average efficiency values that complies with an operating parameter and the desired signature;
- wherein the desired signature comprises at least one of electromagnetic signals and acoustic signals generated by operation of group of electric motors;
- wherein the controller is distributed among the group of electric motors and comprises a primary controller and a plurality of secondary controllers;
- and
- wherein a first secondary controller in the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to send a request to the primary controller to use a requested switching frequency, a second secondary controller in the plurality of secondary controllers is configured to send a request to the primary controller to use the requested switching frequency, and in response to the request, the primary controller assigns the selected switching frequency from the group of switching frequencies for the desired signature to the first secondary controller based on a priority scheme;
- and
- wherein the primary controller selects the selected switching frequency depending on whether detectability of an acoustic signature is prioritized during a particular phase of flight.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.