U.S. patent application number 15/900828 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-22 for methods, systems and apparatus for controlling current supplied to control a machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. Invention is credited to Brent S. Gagas, Caleb W. Secrest, Dwarakanath V. Simili.
Application Number | 20190260319 15/900828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67482216 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-22 |
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20190260319/US20190260319A1-20190822-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20190260319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gagas; Brent S. ; et
al. |
August 22, 2019 |
METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CURRENT SUPPLIED TO
CONTROL A MACHINE
Abstract
A current regulator is provided for an electric machine drive
system for driving an electric machine. The current regulator
includes an adjustable damping module that has a value of virtual
damping resistance that is applied at the current regulator. The
value of virtual damping resistance is adjustable as a function of
sampling frequency. A controller can control the current regulator
by determining whether the sampling frequency has changed since a
previous execution cycle of the current regulator, and when the
sampling frequency has changed since the previous execution cycle,
the controller can modify the damping value as a function of the
sampling frequency to allow the damping value to change with the
sampling frequency. The damping value has a new value of virtual
damping resistance that is applied at the current regulator after
modifying the damping value. The controller can then execute the
current regulator in accordance with the modified damping value to
generate the voltage commands.
Inventors: |
Gagas; Brent S.; (Ferndale,
MI) ; Simili; Dwarakanath V.; (Oakland Township,
MI) ; Secrest; Caleb W.; (Oakland Township,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
LLC
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
67482216 |
Appl. No.: |
15/900828 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L 15/025 20130101;
B60L 2210/40 20130101; B60L 2220/14 20130101; H02P 27/08 20130101;
B60L 15/20 20130101; B60L 2240/429 20130101; B60L 50/51 20190201;
B60L 2240/421 20130101; B60L 2240/427 20130101; H02P 21/22
20160201; B60L 2220/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02P 21/22 20060101
H02P021/22; H02P 27/08 20060101 H02P027/08 |
Claims
1. A method for controlling a current regulator of an electric
machine drive system for driving an electric machine, the method
comprising: determining, at a controller, whether a sampling
frequency has changed since a previous execution cycle of the
current regulator; storing a previous damping value that is a
previous value of the virtual damping resistance applied during the
previous execution cycle of the current regulator; modifying, at
the controller when the sampling frequency has changed since the
previous execution cycle, a damping value of the current regulator
as a function of sampling frequency to allow the damping value to
change with the sampling frequency, wherein the damping value has a
new value of virtual damping resistance that is applied at the
current regulator after modifying, wherein the modifying comprises:
determining the modified damping value based on the sampling
frequency during a current execution cycle of the current
regulator, wherein the modified damping value is a new value of
virtual damping resistance based on a new sample frequency;
computing a change in damping value based on the difference between
the modified damping value and the previous damping value, wherein
the change in the damping value is a change in the virtual damping
resistance based on a difference between the new value of virtual
damping resistance and the previous value of virtual damping
resistance; and executing the current regulator to generate voltage
commands in accordance with the modified damping value.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modifying
comprises: setting the damping value as a function of the sampling
frequency.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modifying
comprises: updating the damping value based on the sampling
frequency.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modifying
comprises: computing the new value of virtual damping resistance
using an equation.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modifying
comprises: determining the new value of virtual damping resistance
via a lookup table.
6. (canceled)
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: prior to
executing the current regulator, reinitializing integration terms
generated by integrators of the current regulator when the virtual
damping resistance is updated.
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: prior to
executing the current regulator during a current execution cycle of
the current regulator, reinitializing integration terms generated
by integrators of the current regulator during a transition period
to avoid inducing disturbance voltages as when a previous damping
value is being updated to the modified damping value.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein executing the current
regulator in accordance with the modified damping value, comprises:
executing the current regulator using the modified damping value
and updated values of the integration terms generated by
integrators of the current regulator by setting each to presently
determined values to generate voltage commands for the current
execution cycle of the current regulator.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating
current error values, wherein each current error value is
determined based on a difference between a current command value
and a stator current value from the electric machine; applying, at
the current regulator, gains to the current error values prior to
providing the current error values to integrators of the current
regulator that generate integration terms.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric machine
comprises machine terminals, the method further comprising:
generating stationary reference frame voltage command values by
performing a dq-to-.alpha..beta. transformation on the voltage
commands; generating phase voltage command values based on the
stationary reference frame voltage command values; generating
switching vector signals based on the phase voltage command values;
generating three-phase alternating current voltage signal waveforms
based on switching vector signals and a DC input voltage; and
applying the three-phase alternating current voltage signal
waveforms to the machine terminals.
12. An electric machine drive system for driving an electric
machine, comprising: a current regulator configured to generate
voltage command values, the current regulator comprising: an
adjustable damping module that has a value of virtual damping
resistance that is applied at the current regulator, wherein the
value of virtual damping resistance is adjustable as a function of
sampling frequency; and a controller that is configured to control
the current regulator, the controller being configured to:
determine whether the sampling frequency has changed since a
previous execution cycle of the current regulator; store a previous
damping value that is a previous value of the virtual damping
resistance applied during the previous execution cycle of the
current regulator; modify, when the sampling frequency has changed
since the previous execution cycle, the damping value as a function
of the sampling frequency to allow the damping value to change with
the sampling frequency, wherein the damping value has a new value
of virtual damping resistance that is applied at the current
regulator after modifying the damping value, wherein the modified
damping value is determined based on the sampling frequency during
a current execution cycle of the current regulator, wherein the
modified damping value is a new value of virtual damping resistance
based on a new sample frequency; compute a change in damping value
based on the difference between the modified damping value and the
previous damping value, wherein the change in the damping value is
a change in the virtual damping resistance based on a difference
between the new value of virtual damping resistance and the
previous value of virtual damping resistance and execute the
current regulator to generate the voltage commands in accordance
with the modified damping value.
13. (canceled)
14. The electric machine drive system according to claim 12,
wherein the current regulator further comprises: integrators; and
wherein the controller is further configured to: reinitialize,
prior to executing the current regulator, integration terms
generated by the integrators of the current regulator based on the
change in the virtual damping resistance.
15. The electric machine drive system according to claim 14,
wherein the current regulator is further configured to: generate
voltage commands for the current execution cycle based on the
modified damping value and updated values of integration terms
generated by the integrators by setting each to presently
determined values.
16. The electric machine drive system according to claim 15,
wherein the current regulator is further configured to: generate
current error values, wherein each current error value is
determined based on a difference between a current command value
and a stator current value from the electric machine; apply gains
to the current error values prior to providing the current error
values to the integrators that generate integration terms.
17. The electric machine drive system according to claim 12,
further comprising: a synchronous-to-stationary transformation
module that generates stationary reference frame voltage command
values by performing a dq-to-.alpha..beta. transformation on the
voltage command values; an .alpha..beta.-to-abc transformation
module that receives the stationary reference frame voltage command
values, and generates phase voltage command values; a pulse width
modulation module that generates switching vector signals based on
the phase voltage command values; an inverter module that generates
three-phase alternating current voltage signal waveforms based on
switching vector signals and a DC input voltage; and an electric
machine comprising machine terminals, wherein the electric machine
is coupled to the inverter module and the three-phase alternating
current voltage signal waveforms are applied to the machine
terminals.
18. A vehicle comprising a multi-phase electric machine having
machine terminals and an electric machine drive system, comprising:
a current regulator configured to generate voltage command values
to control the multi-phase electric machine, the current regulator
comprising: an adjustable damping module that has a value of
virtual damping resistance that is applied at the current
regulator, wherein the value of virtual damping resistance is
adjustable as a function of sampling frequency; and a controller
that is configured to control the current regulator, the controller
being configured to: determine whether the sampling frequency has
changed since a previous execution cycle of the current regulator;
store a previous damping value that is a previous value of the
virtual damping resistance applied during the previous execution
cycle of the current regulator; modify, when the sampling frequency
has changed since the previous execution cycle, the damping value
as a function of the sampling frequency to allow the damping value
to change with the sampling frequency, wherein the damping value
has a new value of virtual damping resistance that is applied at
the current regulator after modifying the damping value, wherein
the modified damping value is determined based on the sampling
frequency during a current execution cycle of the current
regulator, wherein the modified damping value is a new value of
virtual damping resistance based on a new sample frequency; compute
a change in damping value based on the difference between the
modified damping value and the previous damping value, wherein the
change in the damping value is a change in the virtual damping
resistance based on a difference between the new value of virtual
damping resistance and the previous value of virtual damping
resistance; and execute the current regulator to generate the
voltage commands in accordance with the modified damping value.
19. (canceled)
20. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the current
regulator further comprises: integrators; and wherein the
controller is further configured to: reinitialize, prior to
executing the current regulator, integration terms generated by the
integrators of the current regulator based on the change in the
virtual damping resistance, and wherein the current regulator is
further configured to: generate current error values, wherein each
current error value is determined based on a difference between a
current command value and a stator current value from the electric
machine; apply gains to the current error values prior to providing
the current error values to the integrators that generate
integration terms.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to techniques for
controlling operation of multi-phase systems that include
alternating current (AC) machines, and more particularly relate to
methods, systems and apparatus for controlling current supplied to
control an electric machine.
INTRODUCTION
[0002] Electric machines are utilized in a wide variety of
applications. For example, hybrid/electric vehicles (HEVs)
typically include an electric traction drive system that includes a
multi-phase alternating current (AC) electric motor which is driven
by a power converter with a direct current (DC) power source, such
as a storage battery. Motor windings of the AC electric motor can
be coupled to inverter sub-modules of a power inverter module
(PIM). Each inverter sub-module includes a pair of switches that
switch in a complementary manner to perform a rapid switching
function to convert the DC power to AC power. This AC power drives
the AC electric motor, which in turn drives a shaft of HEV's
drivetrain. For instance, some traditional HEVs implement two
three-phase pulse width modulated (PWM) inverter modules and two
three-phase AC machines (e.g., AC motors) each being driven by a
corresponding one of the three-phase PWM inverter modules that it
is coupled to.
[0003] In such multi-phase systems, synchronous frame current
regulators are commonly used for current control of AC motors, such
as three-phase electric motors. By providing dynamic control over a
wide frequency range, synchronous frame current regulators are
suited to many industrial applications. In digital implementations
of conventional current regulators, as the ratio of the sampling
frequency to the fundamental frequency, or synchronous frequency,
of the AC motor decreases, the stability of these current
regulators tends to decrease. For example, delays in digital
implementation, increased sub-harmonics in voltage synthesis using
pulse width modulation (PWM), or the like, tend to introduce
instability. To produce high torque within a limited volume, a high
pole-count electric motor is useful, particularly for hybrid
vehicle applications (e.g., hybrid electric vehicles or the like).
An increased pole-count generally increases the fundamental
frequency associated with the AC motor, while the switching and
sampling frequency associated with the current regulation is
generally limited due to limitations of the switching power device
and the through-put of the processor. Typically, at maximum speed,
the ratio of sampling frequency to fundamental frequency,
f.sub.samp/f.sub.fund, can be very small (e.g., smaller than a
ratio of about ten (10)). When this ratio is less than about ten
(10), a discrete time domain controller may have a sufficiently
pronounced influence on the synchronous frame current regulator.
Furthermore, inner current loops associated with the current
regulator may incur instability due to digital delays.
Sub-harmonics associated with asynchronous PWM become significant
when the ratio is lower than about twenty-one (21).
[0004] Some current regulators perform better under certain
operating conditions, while others perform better under other
operating conditions. Some current regulators implement a virtual
damping resistance to reduce parameter sensitivity and increase the
disturbance rejection of the system, often described as increasing
the stiffness of the drive system. In such current regulators, the
virtual damping resistance is set to a constant value. One drawback
of this approach is that the maximum achievable virtual damping
resistance is limited to an extent by a minimum sampling frequency
condition observed by the current regulator.
[0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and systems
for controlling an AC motor that stabilize current regulation over
a wide range of motor operating conditions. It would also be
desirable to provide current regulator architectures that can be
modified during different operating conditions so that the current
regulator topology being used performs well under the present
operating condition. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide
methods and systems for current regulation of an AC motor that can
operate as sampling frequency varies. Furthermore, other desirable
features and characteristics of the present invention will become
apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended
claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the
foregoing technical field and background.
SUMMARY
[0006] In accordance with some of the disclosed embodiments, a
current regulator is provided for an electric machine drive system
for driving an electric machine. The current regulator includes an
adjustable damping module that has a value of virtual damping
resistance that is applied at the current regulator. The value of
virtual damping resistance is adjustable as a function of sampling
frequency. A controller can control the current regulator by
determining whether the sampling frequency has changed since a
previous execution cycle of the current regulator, and when the
sampling frequency has changed since the previous execution cycle,
the controller can modify the damping value as a function of the
sampling frequency to allow the damping value to change with the
sampling frequency. The damping value has a new value of virtual
damping resistance that is applied at the current regulator after
modifying the damping value. The controller can then execute the
current regulator in accordance with the modified damping value to
generate the voltage commands.
[0007] In one embodiment, the controller can store a previous
damping value that is a previous value of the virtual damping
resistance applied during the previous execution cycle of the
current regulator, determine the modified damping value based on
the sampling frequency during a current execution cycle of the
current regulator, and compute a change in damping value based on
the difference between the modified damping value and the previous
damping value. The modified damping value is a new value of virtual
damping resistance based on a new sample frequency, and the change
in the damping value is a change in the virtual damping resistance
based on a difference between the new value of virtual damping
resistance and the previous value of virtual damping
resistance.
[0008] In one embodiment, the current regulator includes
integrators, and the controller can reinitialize, prior to
executing the current regulator, integration terms generated by the
integrators of the current regulator when the virtual damping
resistance is updated. In one embodiment, the current regulator can
generate current error values and apply gains to the current error
values prior to providing the current error values to the
integrators that generate integration terms. Each current error
value is determined based on a difference between a current command
value and a stator current value from the electric machine. In one
embodiment, the current regulator can generate voltage commands for
the current execution cycle based on the modified damping value and
updated values of integration terms generated by the integrators by
setting each to presently determined values.
[0009] In one embodiment, the electric machine and the electric
machine drive system including the current regulator can be
implemented within a vehicle.
[0010] In one embodiment, the controller can perform a method to
control the current regulator. In accordance with the method, the
controller can determine whether a sampling frequency has changed
since a previous execution cycle of the current regulator. When the
sampling frequency has changed since the previous execution cycle,
the controller can modify a damping value of the current regulator
as a function of sampling frequency to allow the damping value to
change with the sampling frequency such that the damping value has
a new value of virtual damping resistance that is applied at the
current regulator after modifying. The controller can then execute
the current regulator to generate the voltage commands in
accordance with the modified damping value. The controller can
modify the damping value of the current regulator by updating and
setting the damping value as a function of the sampling frequency.
For instance, in one embodiment, the controller can compute the new
value of virtual damping resistance using an equation, and in
another embodiment, the controller can determine the new value of
virtual damping resistance via a lookup table.
[0011] In one embodiment, the controller can store a previous
damping value that is a previous value of the virtual damping
resistance applied during the previous execution cycle of the
current regulator; determine the modified damping value based on
the sampling frequency during a current execution cycle of the
current regulator; and compute a change in damping value based on
the difference between the modified damping value and the previous
damping value. The modified damping value is a new value of virtual
damping resistance based on a new sample frequency, and the change
in the damping value is a change in the virtual damping resistance
based on a difference between the new value of virtual damping
resistance and the previous value of virtual damping
resistance.
[0012] In one embodiment, the current regulator can generate
current error values, and apply gains to the current error values
prior to providing the current error values to integrators of the
current regulator. Each current error value is determined based on
a difference between a current command value and a stator current
value from the electric machine. In one embodiment, prior to
executing the current regulator during a current execution cycle of
the current regulator, the controller can reinitialize integration
terms generated by integrators of the current regulator when the
virtual damping resistance is updated. For example, the controller
can reinitialize integration terms generated by integrators during
a transition period to avoid inducing disturbance voltages as when
a previous damping value is being updated to the modified damping
value. In one embodiment, the controller can execute the current
regulator using the modified damping value and updated values of
the integration terms generated by the integrators by setting each
to presently determined values to generate voltage commands for the
current execution cycle of the current regulator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like
numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates one non-limiting example, of a vehicle in
which the disclosed embodiments may be implemented.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one example of a vector
controlled motor drive system in accordance with various
embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion of a motor drive
system including a three-phase voltage source inverter module
connected to a three-phase AC motor.
[0017] FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams of a current regulator in
accordance with one implementation of the disclosed
embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates a control method that
can be applied to at a current regulator of FIGS. 4A and 4B in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a graph that illustrates how the current regulator
can be configured to operate in a first operational mode in FIG. 4A
when the speed is greater than a first speed threshold
(.omega..sub.2), or can be configured to operate in a second
operational mode shown in FIG. 4B when the speed is below a second
speed threshold (.omega..sub.1) in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a current regulator in
accordance with another implementation of the disclosed
embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates another control
method that can be applied to at a current regulator of FIG. 7 in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a graph that illustrates how virtual damping
resistance (Rdamp) varies as a function sampling frequency
(F.sub.S) in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7
and 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in
nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses.
Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or
implied theory presented in the preceding technical field,
background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As
used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software,
firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and/or
processor device, individually or in any combination, including
without limitation: application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),
an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group)
and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs,
a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components
that provide the described functionality.
[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be described
herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components and
various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such block
components may be realized by any number of hardware, software,
and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified
functions. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may
employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory
elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements,
look-up tables, or the like, which may carry out a variety of
functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other
control devices. In addition, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure may be
practiced in conjunction with any number of systems, and that the
systems described herein are merely exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure.
[0025] For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to
signal processing, data transmission, signaling, control, and other
functional aspects of the systems (and the individual operating
components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein.
Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures
contained herein are intended to represent example functional
relationships and/or physical couplings between the various
elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional
functional relationships or physical connections may be present in
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an
example, instance, or illustration." The following detailed
description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to
limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention.
Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily
to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
embodiments. All of the embodiments described in this Detailed
Description are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons
skilled in the art to make or use the invention and not to limit
the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.
Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or
implied theory presented in the preceding technical field,
background, brief summary or the following detailed
description.
[0027] Before describing in detail embodiments that are in
accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that
the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps
and apparatus components related to controlling operation of a
multi-phase system. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the
invention described herein can be implemented using hardware,
software or a combination thereof. The control circuits described
herein may comprise various components, modules, circuits and other
logic which can be implemented using a combination of analog and/or
digital circuits, discrete or integrated analog or digital
electronic circuits or combinations thereof. As used herein the
term "module" refers to a device, a circuit, an electrical
component, and/or a software based component for performing a task.
In some implementations, the control circuits described herein can
be implemented using one or more application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), one or more microprocessors, and/or one or more
digital signal processor (DSP) based circuits when implementing
part or all of the control logic in such circuits. It will be
appreciated that embodiments of the invention described herein may
be comprised of one or more conventional processors and unique
stored program instructions that control the one or more processors
to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits,
some, most, or all of the functions for controlling operation of a
multi-phase system, as described herein. As such, these functions
may be interpreted as steps of a method for controlling operation
of a multi-phase system. Alternatively, some or all functions could
be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program
instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of
certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of
course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus,
methods and means for these functions will be described herein.
Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding
possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by,
for example, available time, current technology, and economic
considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles
disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such
software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal
experimentation.
Overview
[0028] Some current regulators perform better under certain
operating conditions, while others perform better under other
operating conditions. For example, a state feedback decoupling
(SFbD) performs well under high acceleration conditions (e.g.,
vehicle shudder, driveline-resonance, wheel slip conditions) and
when considering the effects of discrete control. By contrast, a
complex vector current regulator (CVCR) performs well when
operating under low and moderate acceleration conditions, but over
a very wide speed range, including high speeds with overmodulation
and six-step control operating conditions. The disclosed
embodiments provide a current regulator architecture that can be
varied to allow for multiple different current regulator topologies
to be used based on operating conditions where a particular current
regulator topology performs best. The disclosed embodiments can
allow for the appropriate current regulator configuration to be
selected based on speed (e.g., motor speed or electrical
fundamental frequency), and then instantaneously, and smoothly,
transition between the state feedback decoupling (SFbD) current
regulator configuration and the complex vector current regulator
configuration at set speed breakpoints. The disclosed embodiments
can utilize each current regulator configuration where it is most
advantageous to improve current control during high-acceleration
conditions without degrading performance in the overmodulation and
six-step operating regions.
[0029] In one embodiment, a current regulator is provided for an
electric machine drive system for driving an electric machine. The
current regulator is configurable to operate in a first
configuration or a second configuration depending on a synchronous
speed of the electric machine (or other machine or drive states). A
controller can configure an operational mode of the current
regulator by selecting, based on the synchronous speed of the
electric machine, either the first configuration of the current
regulator or the second configuration of the current regulator as a
currently active configuration, and can then execute the current
regulator in accordance with the currently active configuration.
The first configuration of the current regulator comprises a first
set of elements and cross-coupling gain blocks, whereas the second
configuration of the current regulator can include the first set of
elements without the cross-coupling gain blocks. The first set
elements can vary depending on the implementation, but can
generally include: summing junctions, integrators, and gain blocks.
In one embodiment, the current regulator is configured to operate
as a complex vector current regulator when configured in the first
configuration, and is configured to operate as a state feedback
decoupling (SFbD) current regulator when configured in the second
configuration.
[0030] Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods,
systems and apparatus for controlling operation of a multi-phase
system that can be implemented, for example, in operating
environments such as a hybrid/electric vehicle (HEV). Embodiments
of the present invention relate to methods, systems and apparatus
for current regulators. In the exemplary implementations which will
now be described, the control techniques and technologies will be
described as applied to a hybrid/electric vehicle. However, it will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same or similar
techniques and technologies can be applied in the context of other
systems in which it is desirable to control operation of a
multi-phase system. In this regard, any of the concepts disclosed
here can be applied generally to "vehicles," and as used herein,
the term "vehicle" broadly refers to a non-living transport
mechanism having an AC machine. In addition, the term "vehicle" is
not limited by any specific propulsion technology such as gasoline
or diesel fuel. Rather, vehicles also include hybrid vehicles,
battery electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, and vehicles which
operate using various other alternative fuels.
[0031] As used herein, the term "alternating current (AC) machine"
generally refers to "a device or apparatus that converts electrical
energy to mechanical energy or vice versa." AC machines can
generally be classified into synchronous AC machines and
asynchronous AC machines. Synchronous AC machines can include
permanent magnet machines and reluctance machines. Permanent magnet
machines include surface mount permanent magnet machines (SMPMMs)
and interior permanent magnet machines (IPMMs). Although an AC
machine can be an AC motor (e.g., apparatus used to convert AC
electrical energy or power at its input to produce to mechanical
energy or power), an AC machine is not limited to being an AC
motor, but can also encompass generators that are used to convert
mechanical energy or power at its prime mover into electrical AC
energy or power at its output. Any of the machines can be an AC
motor or an AC generator. An AC motor is an electric motor that is
driven by an alternating current. In some implementations, an AC
motor includes an outside stationary stator having coils supplied
with alternating current to produce a rotating magnetic field, and
an inside rotor attached to the output shaft that is given a torque
by the rotating field.
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates one non-limiting example, of a vehicle,
or automobile 1, in which the disclosed embodiments may be
implemented. The automobile 1 includes a driveshaft 12, a body 14,
four wheels 16, and an electronic control system 18. The body 14 is
arranged on the chassis and substantially encloses the other
components of the automobile 1. The body 14 and the chassis may
jointly form a frame. The wheels 16 are each rotationally coupled
to the chassis near a respective corner of the body 14.
[0033] The automobile 1 may be any one of a number of different
types of automobiles, such as, for example, a sedan, a wagon, a
truck, or a sport utility vehicle (SUV), and may be two-wheel drive
(2WD) (i.e., rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive), four-wheel
drive (4WD), or all-wheel drive (AWD). The automobile 1 may also
incorporate any one of, or combination of, a number of different
types of engines, such as, for example, a gasoline or diesel fueled
combustion engine, a "flex fuel vehicle" (FFV) engine (i.e., using
a mixture of gasoline and alcohol), a gaseous compound (e.g.,
hydrogen and natural gas) fueled engine, a combustion/electric
motor hybrid engine, and an electric motor.
[0034] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the
automobile 1 further includes a motor 20 (i.e., an electric
motor/generator, traction motor, etc.), energy sources 22, 24, and
a power inverter assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the motor 20 may
also include a transmission integrated therein such that the motor
20 and the transmission are mechanically coupled to at least some
of the wheels 16 through one or more half shafts 30.
[0035] As shown, the energy source 22, 24 are in operable
communication and/or electrically coupled to the electronic control
system 18 and the power inverter assembly 10. Although not
illustrated, the energy sources 22, 24 may vary depending on the
embodiment and may be of the same or different type. In one or more
embodiments, the energy sources 22, 24 may each comprise a battery,
a fuel cell, an ultracapacitor, or another suitable voltage source.
A battery may be any type of battery suitable for use in a desired
application, such as a lead acid battery, a lithium-ion battery, a
nickel-metal battery, or another rechargeable battery. An
ultracapacitor may comprise a supercapacitor, an electrochemical
double layer capacitor, or any other electrochemical capacitor with
high energy density suitable for a desired application.
[0036] The motor 20 can be a multi-phase alternating current (AC)
motor and includes windings, where each winding corresponds to one
phase of the motor 20, as will be described in greater detail
below. Although not illustrated, the motor 20 can include a stator
assembly (including the coils), a rotor assembly (e.g., including a
ferromagnetic core), and a cooling fluid (i.e., coolant), as will
be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The motor 20 may be an
induction motor, a permanent magnet motor, a synchronous reluctance
motor, or any type suitable for the desired application.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one example of a vector
controlled motor drive system 100 in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments. The system 100 controls a three-phase AC machine 120
via a three-phase pulse width modulated (PWM) inverter module 110
coupled to the three-phase AC machine 120 so that the three-phase
AC machine 120 can efficiently use a DC input voltage (Vdc)
provided to the three-phase PWM inverter module 110 by adjusting
current commands that control the three-phase AC machine 120. The
three-phase AC machine 120 can be used as the motor 20 of FIG. 1.
In one particular implementation, the vector controlled motor drive
system 100 can be used to control torque in an HEV.
[0038] In the following description of one particular non-limiting
implementation, the three-phase AC machine 120 is described as a
three-phase AC powered motor 120, and in particular a three-phase,
permanent magnet synchronous AC powered motor (or more broadly as a
motor 120); however, it should be appreciated that the illustrated
embodiment is only one non-limiting example of the types of AC
machines that the disclosed embodiments can be applied to, and
further that the disclosed embodiments can be applied to any type
of multi-phase AC machine that includes fewer or more phases.
[0039] The three-phase AC motor 120 is coupled to the three-phase
PWM inverter module 110 via three inverter poles and generates
mechanical power (Torque X Speed) based on three-phase sinusoidal
current signals received from the PWM inverter module 110. In some
implementations, the angular position of a rotor (.theta.r) of the
three-phase AC motor 120 or "shaft position" is measured using a
position sensor (not illustrated), and in other implementations,
the angular position of a rotor (.theta.r) of the three-phase AC
motor 120 can be estimated without using a position sensor by using
sensorless position estimation techniques.
[0040] Prior to describing operation details of the system 100, a
more detailed description of one exemplary implementation of the
three-phase voltage source inverter 110 will be provided (including
how it is connected to the three-phase AC motor 120) with reference
to FIG. 3.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portion of a motor drive
system including a three-phase voltage source inverter 110
connected to a three-phase AC motor 120. It should be noted that
the three-phase voltage source inverter 110 and the three-phase
motor 120 in FIG. 2 are not limited to this implementation; rather,
FIG. 3 is merely one example of how the three-phase voltage source
inverter 110 and the three-phase motor 120 in FIG. 2 could be
implemented in one particular embodiment.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the three-phase AC motor 120 has
three stator or motor windings 120a, 120b, 120c, connected to motor
terminals A, B, C, and the three-phase PWM inverter module 110
includes a capacitor 270 and three inverter sub-modules 115-117. In
this particular embodiment, in phase A the inverter sub-module 115
is coupled to motor winding 120a, in phase B the inverter
sub-module 116 is coupled to motor winding 120b, and in phase C the
inverter sub-module 117 is coupled to motor winding 120c. The
current flow is bi-directional into and out of all motor windings
120.
[0043] The resultant phase or stator currents (Ias-Ics) 122, 123,
124, flow through respective stator windings 120a-c. The phase to
neutral voltages across each of the stator windings 120a-120c are
respectively designated as VAN, VBN, VCN, with the back
electromotive force (EMF) voltages generated in each of the stator
windings 120a-120c respectively shown as the voltages E.sub.a,
E.sub.b, E.sub.c, produced by ideal voltage sources, each
respectively shown connected in series with stator windings
120a-120c. As is well known, these back-EMF voltages E.sub.a,
E.sub.b, E.sub.c, are the voltages induced in the respective stator
windings 120a-120c by the rotation of the rotor magnetic field.
Although not shown, the motor 120 is coupled to a drive shaft.
[0044] The inverter 110 includes a capacitor 270, a first inverter
sub-module 115 comprising a dual switch 272/273, 274/275, a second
inverter sub-module 116 comprising a dual switch 276/277, 278/279,
and a third inverter sub-module 117 comprising a dual switch
280/281, 282/283. As such, inverter 110 has six solid state
controllable switching devices 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, and
six diodes 273, 275, 277, 279, 281, 283, to appropriately switch DC
voltage (V.sub.DC) and provide three-phase energization of the
stator windings 120a, 120b, 120c of the three-phase AC motor
120.
[0045] A high-level motor controller 112 can receive motor command
signals and motor operating signals from the motor 120, and
generate control signals for controlling the switching of solid
state switching devices 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282 within the
inverter sub-modules 115-117. By providing appropriate control
signals to the individual inverter sub-modules 115-117, the
controller 112 controls switching of solid state switching devices
272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, within the inverter sub-modules
115-117 and thereby controls the outputs of the inverter
sub-modules 115-117 that are provided to motor windings 120a-120c,
respectively. The resultant stator currents (Ias . . . Ics) 122-124
that are generated by the inverter sub-modules 115-117 of the
three-phase inverter module 110 are provided to motor windings
120a, 120b, 120c. The voltages as V.sub.AN, V.sub.BN, V.sub.CN, and
the voltage at node N fluctuate over time depending on the
open/close states of switches 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282 in the
inverter sub-modules 115-117 of the inverter module 110, as will be
described below.
[0046] Referring again to FIG. 2, the vector control motor drive
system 100 includes a torque-to-current mapping module 140, a
synchronous (SYNC.) frame current regulator module 170, a
synchronous-to-stationary (SYNC.-TO-STAT.) transformation module
102, an .alpha..beta. reference frame-to-abc reference frame
(.alpha..beta.-to-abc) transformation module 106, a pulse width
modulation (PWM) module 108, a three-phase PWM inverter 110, an abc
reference frame-to-.alpha..beta. reference frame
(abc-to-.alpha..beta.) transformation module 127, and a
stationary-to-synchronous (STAT.-TO-SYNC.) transformation module
130.
[0047] The torque-to-current mapping module 140 receives a torque
command signal (Te*) 136, angular rotation speed (.omega.r) 138 of
the shaft that is generated based on the derivative of the
rotor/shaft position output (.theta.r) 121, and the DC input
voltage (V.sub.DC) 139 as inputs, along with possibly a variety of
other system parameters depending upon implementation. The
torque-to-current mapping module 140 uses these inputs to generate
a d-axis current command (Id*) 142 and a q-axis current command
(Iq*) 144 that will cause the motor 120 to generate the commanded
torque (Te*) at motor speed (.omega.r) 138. In particular, the
torque-to-current mapping module 140 uses the inputs to map the
torque command signal (Te*) 136 to a d-axis current command signal
(Id*) 142 and a q-axis current command signal (Iq*) 144. The
synchronous reference frame d-axis and q-axis current command
signals (Id*, Iq*) 142, 144 are DC commands that have a constant
value as a function of time during steady-state operation.
[0048] Blocks 127, 130 collectively make up a reverse
transformation module that can transform AC signals (e.g., the
three-phase sinusoidal stator currents) into DC Cartesian signals
(e.g., a d-axis synchronous frame stator current and a q-axis
synchronous frame stator current) for use by the current regulator
170. In one embodiment, a detector (not shown) may be coupled to
the AC motor 120 to sample the AC signals and supply these and
other measured quantities (e.g., from a variety of system outputs)
to the current regulator 170 (and other high-level controllers).
For example, the detector may measure a supply potential (e.g., a
battery potential or DC bus voltage (V.sub.dc)), the phase or
stator currents, a motor speed (.omega..sub.r) 138 of the AC motor
120, a rotor phase angle (.theta.r) 121 of the AC motor 120, or the
like.
[0049] In one embodiment, the abc-to-.alpha..beta. transformation
module 127 receives the measured three-phase stationary reference
frame feedback stator currents (Ias . . . Ics) 122-124 that are
fedback from motor 120. The abc-to-.alpha..beta. transformation
module 127 uses these three-phase stationary reference frame
feedback stator currents 122-124 to perform an abc reference
frame-to-.alpha..beta. reference frame transformation to transform
the three-phase stationary reference frame feedback stator currents
122-124 into stationary reference frame feedback stator currents
(I.alpha., I.beta.) 128, 129. The abc-to-.alpha..beta.
transformation is well-known in the art and for sake of brevity
will not be described in detail. The stationary-to-synchronous
transformation module 130 receives the stationary reference frame
feedback stator currents (I.alpha., I.beta.) 128, 129 and the rotor
angular position (.theta.r) 121 and generates (e.g., processes or
converts) these stationary reference frame feedback stator currents
(I.alpha., I.beta.) 128, 129 to generate a synchronous reference
frame d-axis current signal (Id) 132 and a synchronous reference
frame q-axis current signal (Iq) 134. The process of
stationary-to-synchronous conversion is well-known in the art and
for sake of brevity will not be described in detail.
[0050] The high-level controller 112 executes one or more programs
(e.g., to optimize commanded currents for a predetermined control
parameter, or the like) to determine operating inputs (e.g.,
modified commanded currents, commanded voltages, torque commands,
or the like) used for controlling the AC motor 120 via the current
regulator 170. In addition, the high-level controller can execute
logic to control the current regulator 170 as will be described
below in detailed with reference to FIGS. 4A through 9.
[0051] One or more of the components of the controller 112 may be
embodied in software or firmware, hardware, such as an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a
processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one
or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic
circuit, and/or other suitable components, or a combination
thereof. In one embodiment, the controller 112 is partitioned into
one or more processing modules that are associated with one or more
of the controller operations. For example, the current regulator
170 may be implemented as one of these processing modules. Although
not shown, the controller 112 may include additional modules, such
as a commanded current source, a torque module, a field-weakening
voltage control module, an overmodulation module or the like.
Additionally, one or more of the various processing modules of the
controller 112, as well as one or more of the operations of the
controller 112, may be embodied as separate components of the drive
system 100 or incorporated with another component of the drive
system 100.
[0052] Generally, the current regulator 170 produces commanded
voltages and supplies the commanded voltages to the inverter 110
through blocks 102, 106, 108, which collectively make up a
transformation module. The current regulator 170 produces direct
current (DC) Cartesian commanded voltages (e.g., a d-axis
synchronous frame commanded voltage and a q-axis synchronous frame
commanded voltage) in steady-state. The transformation module 102,
106, 108 converts the DC Cartesian commanded voltages to
three-phase AC commanded voltages (e.g., a first phase commanded
voltage (v.sub.as*), a second phase commanded voltage (v.sub.bs*),
and a third phase commanded voltage (v.sub.cs*)) and supplies the
three-phase AC commanded voltages to the inverter 110.
[0053] In one embodiment, to produce the d- and q-axis commanded
voltages 172, 174, the current regulator 170 utilizes several
inputs. For example, the current regulator 170 can use current
signals 132, 134 (d-axis and q-axis synchronous frame stator
currents), the commanded currents 142, 144, and decoupling voltages
(not shown in FIG. 2) provided by the controller 112 to produce the
d- and q-axis commanded voltages 172, 174. For example, the
controller 112 may retrieve the commanded currents from a commanded
current table 140 that can be stored in a memory of the controller
112. The commanded current table is preferably optimized for one or
more pre-determined control parameters (e.g., system efficiency)
and may be derived from any number of models for optimizing the
desired control parameter(s). Additionally, the commanded current
table may be pre-determined based on voltage and current limits of
the AC motor 120 such that the commanded current source applies an
appropriate amount of d-axis and q-axis currents to the AC motor
120 to produce a desired torque (e.g., with high efficiency) and
maintain current regulation stability. The inverter voltage limits
may be pre-determined based on the supply voltage or calculated
online, and the feedforward terms may be determined by the
controller 112 based on the d-axis and q-axis synchronous frame
stator currents, the motor speed, and the motor parameters.
[0054] In this embodiment, the synchronous frame current regulator
module 170 receives the synchronous reference frame d-axis current
signal (Id) 132, the synchronous reference frame q-axis current
signal (Iq) 134, the d-axis current command (Id*) 142 and the
q-axis current command (Iq*) 144, and uses these signals to
generate a synchronous reference frame d-axis voltage command
signal (Vd*) 172 and a synchronous reference frame q-axis voltage
command signal (Vq*) 174. The synchronous reference frame voltage
command signals (Vd*, Vq*) 172, 174 are commands that have a
constant value as a function of time when in steady state
operation. The synchronous frame current regulator module 170
outputs the synchronous reference frame d-axis voltage command
signal (Vd*) 172 and the synchronous reference frame q-axis voltage
command signal (Vq*) 174. Further detail regarding operation of the
synchronous frame current regulator module 170 and the process of
current to voltage conversion will be described in greater detail
below with reference to FIGS. 4A through 9. Because the current
commands are DC signals in the synchronous reference frame during
steady-state they are easier to regulate in comparison to AC
stationary reference frame current commands.
[0055] The synchronous-to-stationary transformation module 102
receives the voltage command signals (Vd *, Vq *) 172, 174 as
inputs along with the rotor position output (.theta.r) 121. In
response to the voltage command signals (Vd*, Vq*) 172, 174 and the
measured (or estimated) rotor position angle (.theta.r) 121, the
synchronous-to-stationary transformation module 102 performs a
dq-to-.alpha..beta. transformation to generate an .alpha.-axis
stationary reference frame voltage command signal (V.alpha.*) 104
and a .beta.-axis stationary reference frame voltage command signal
(V.beta.*) 105. The stationary reference frame .alpha.-axis and
.beta.-axis voltage command signals (V.alpha.*, V.beta.*) 104, 105
are in the stationary reference frame and therefore have values
that vary as a sine wave as a function of time in steady state. The
process of synchronous-to-stationary conversion is well-known in
the art and for sake of brevity will not be described in
detail.
[0056] The .alpha..beta.-to-abc transformation module 106 receives
the stationary reference frame voltage command signals (V.alpha.*,
V.beta.*) 104, 105, and based on these signals, generates
stationary reference frame voltage command signals (Vas* . . .
Vcs*) 107 (also referred to as "phase voltage command signals")
that are sent to the PWM module 108. The .alpha..beta.-to-abc
transformation is well-known in the art and for sake of brevity
will not be described in detail.
[0057] The three-phase PWM inverter module 110 is coupled to the
PWM module 108. The PWM module 108 is used for the control of pulse
width modulation (PWM) of the phase voltage command signals (Vas* .
. . Vcs*) 107. The switching vector signals (Sa . . . Sc) 109 are
generated based on duty cycle waveforms that are not illustrated in
FIG. 2, but are instead internally generated at the PWM module 108
to have a particular duty cycle during each PWM period. The PWM
module 108 utilizes the phase voltage command signals (Vas* . . .
Vcs*) 107 to calculate the duty cycle waveforms (not illustrated in
FIG. 2) to generate switching vector signals (Sa . . . Sc) 109,
which it provides to the three-phase PWM inverter module 110. The
particular modulation algorithm implemented in the PWM module 108
can be any known modulation algorithm including Space Vector Pulse
Width Modulation (SVPWM) techniques to control of pulse width
modulation (PWM) to create alternating current (AC) waveforms that
drive the three-phase AC powered machine 120 based on the DC input
139.
[0058] The switching vector signals (Sa . . . Sc) 109 control the
switching states of switches in PWM inverter 110 to generate the
commanded three-phase voltage at each phase A, B, C. The switching
vector signals (Sa . . . Sc) 109 are PWM waveforms that have a
particular duty cycle during each PWM period that is determined by
the duty cycle waveforms that are internally generated at the PWM
module 108.
[0059] The inverter 110 (e.g., a pulse width modulation (PWM)
voltage source inverter (VSI)) is coupled to the machine 120. In
response to the commanded voltages and a supply potential
(V.sub.dc), the inverter 110 produces AC voltages which are used to
drive the AC motor 120. As a result, stator currents are generated
in the windings of the AC motor 120. The inverter 110 can also vary
the amount of AC voltage applied to the AC motor 120 (e.g., the
inverter 110 can vary the voltage using PWM), thus allowing the
controller 12 to control the AC motor current. For example, the
amount of voltage that the inverter 110 applies to the AC motor 120
may be indicated by a modulation index, and the PWM may be
established between pre-determined modulation index limits. In one
embodiment, synchronous PWM is utilized to vary the amount of AC
voltage applied to the AC motor 120, although other PWM techniques
may also be used.
[0060] The three-phase PWM inverter module 110 receives the DC
input voltage (Vdc) and switching vector signals (Sa . . . Sc) 109,
and uses them to generate three-phase alternating current (AC)
voltage signal waveforms at inverter poles that drive the
three-phase AC machine 120 at varying speeds (.omega.r). The
three-phase machine 120 receives the three-phase voltage signals
generated by the PWM inverter 110 and generates a motor output at
the commanded torque Te* 136. In this particular implementation,
the machine 120 comprises a three-phase interior permanent-magnet
synchronous motor (IPMSM) 120, but the disclosed embodiments can be
any multi-phase AC machine having any number of phases.
[0061] Although not illustrated in FIG. 2, the system 100 may also
include a gear coupled to and driven by a shaft of the three-phase
AC machine 120. The measured feedback stator currents (Ia-Ic)
122-124 are sensed, sampled and provided to the
abc-to-.alpha..beta. transformation module 127 as described
above.
Current Regulator Module
[0062] In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, methods are
provided for instantaneously and smoothly transitioning between
current regulator topologies as a function of motor speed in this
example, but could be based on other equivalent motor states, such
as electrical fundamental frequency, inverter switching frequency
or motor acceleration. For example, in one embodiment, a method is
provided for instantaneously and smoothly transitioning between a
State Feedback Decoupling (SFbD) current regulator and a Complex
Vector Current Regulator (CVCR) as a function of motor speed. The
method utilizes each type of current regulator during the operating
conditions where it is most advantageous and where it performs
best. For example, SFbD current regulator performs well under high
acceleration conditions (e.g., vehicle shudder,
driveline-resonance, wheel slip conditions) and when considering
the effects of discrete control. The CVCR performs well in lower
acceleration conditions, and over a wider range of speed including
the overmodulation and six-step control regions. The method can
select, based on motor speed, which type of current regulator
should be active and transition between the different types of
current regulators (e.g., at set speed breakpoints). The disclosed
embodiments can allow each current regulator topology to be used in
the operating space where it performs best to improve current
control during high-acceleration conditions without degrading
performance in the overmodulation and six-step operating regions.
Improved current control can improve vehicle drive, as exhibited,
for example, by noise, vibration or harshness (NVH) (e.g.,
eliminate or reduce vehicle low-speed shudder) when using the SFbD
current regulator, and there is no negative impact on
overmodulation and six-step control by maintaining use of CVCR at
higher speeds.
[0063] FIGS. 4A and 4B are block diagrams of a current regulator
module 170 in accordance with one implementation of the disclosed
embodiments. The current regulator module 170 includes various
blocks shown in FIG. 4A. When all blocks are enabled, the current
regulator module 170 functions as a complex vector (CV) current
regulator module 170-1. By contrast, when certain blocks 324, 344
are disabled (e.g., when gains Kppd, Kppq are set to zero), as
shown in FIG. 4B, the current regulator module 170 functions as a
state feedback decoupling (SFbD) current regulator module 170-2. As
will be described in greater detail below, in accordance with the
disclosed embodiments, techniques are provided for switching
operational modes of the current regulator module 170, based on
speed (e.g., motor speed or electrical fundamental frequency)
breakpoints, to change its topology (in terms of active blocks) so
that it functions as either a complex vector (CV) current regulator
module 170-1 or a state feedback decoupling (SFbD) current
regulator module 170-2. In other words, based on speed breakpoints,
certain blocks of the current regulator module 170 can be disabled
or enabled to change its topology so that it functions as either
the complex vector current regulator module 170-1 or the state
feedback decoupling current regulator module 170-2. In addition, as
will also be described below, decoupling voltages that are applied
are changed based on whether the topology of the current regulator
module 170 functions as either a complex vector (CV) current
regulator module 170-1 or a state feedback decoupling (SFbD)
current regulator module 170-2.
[0064] FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a current regulator 170-1,
such as the current regulator 170 shown in FIG. 2, configured in
accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 4A will be described with
continued reference to FIG. 2. The current regulator 170 is a
complex vector current regulator having a d-axis regulating portion
302 and a q-axis regulating portion 304 with cross-coupling between
these portions. The d-axis regulating portion 302 receives the
synchronous reference frame d-axis current signal (Id) 132, and the
d-axis current command (Id*) 142 and generates a d-axis current
error (Iderror) 311, and the q-axis regulating portion 304 receives
the synchronous reference frame q-axis current signal (Iq) 134 and
the q-axis current command (Iq*) 144 and generates a q-axis current
error (Iqerror) 331. Each of the regulating portions 302 and 304
produces a synchronous frame commanded voltage (e.g., the
synchronous reference frame d-axis voltage command signal (Vd*) 172
and a synchronous reference frame q-axis voltage command signal
(Vq*) 174) as will be described below.
[0065] Block 320 applies a proportional gain (Kpd) to the d-axis
current error (Iderror) 311 to scale the d-axis current error
(Iderror) 311 and generate a d-axis proportional term 321, which is
a scaled value of the d-axis current error (Iderror) 311 scaled by
the proportional gain (Kpd). Block 314 applies an integral gain
(Kid) to the d-axis current error (Iderror) 311 to scale the d-axis
current error (Iderror) 311 and generate a d-axis integral term
315, which is a scaled value of the d-axis current error (Iderror)
311 scaled by the integral gain (Kid). Block 344 applies a complex
gain (.omega..sub.eKppd) to the q-axis current error (Iqerror) 331
to scale the q-axis current error (Iqerror) 331 and generate an
output 345, which is a scaled value of the q-axis current error
(Iqerror) 331 scaled by the complex gain (.omega..sub.eKppd). In
one embodiment, the value of We is the rotor flux speed in
electrical rad/s. The summing block 316 combines the d-axis
integral term 315 and output 345 to generate a d-axis integrator
input 317. The integrator 318 integrates the d-axis integrator
input 317 to generate a d-axis integration term (Itermd) 319, which
is a voltage. The summing block 322 combines the d-axis
proportional term 321 and the d-axis integration term (Itermd) 319
to generate the synchronous reference frame d-axis PI output signal
323. The summing block 328 combines the signal 323 and a d-axis
decoupling voltage (Vdcpld) 326 to generate the synchronous
reference frame d-axis voltage command signal (Vq*) 172.
[0066] Block 340 applies a proportional gain (Kpq) to the q-axis
current error (Iqerror) 331 to scale the q-axis current error
(Iqerror) 331 and generate a q-axis proportional term 341, which is
a scaled value of the q-axis current error (Iqerror) 331 scaled by
the proportional gain (Kpq). Block 334 applies an integral gain
(Kiq) to the q-axis current error (Iqerror) 331 to scale the q-axis
current error (Iqerror) 331 and generate a q-axis integral term
335, which is another scaled value of the q-axis current error
(Iqerror) 331 scaled by the integral gain (Kiq). Block 324 applies
a complex gain (.omega..sub.eKppq) to the d-axis current error
(Iderror) 311 to scale the d-axis current error (Iderror) 311 and
generate an output 325, which is a scaled value of the d-axis
current error (Iderror) 311 scaled by the complex gain
(.omega..sub.eKppq). The summing block 336 combines the q-axis
integral term 335 and output 325 to generate a q-axis integrator
input 337. The integrator 338 integrates the q-axis integrator
input 337 to generate a q-axis integration term (Itermq) 339. The
summing block 342 combines the q-axis proportional term 341 and the
q-axis integration term (Itermq) 339 to generate a synchronous
reference frame q-axis PI output signal 343. The summing block 348
combines the signal 343 and a q-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcplq)
346 to generate the synchronous reference frame q-axis voltage
command signal (Vq*) 174.
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the complex gain block 344
includes a gain term (Kppd) that can be set to zero to disable the
complex gain block 344 and effectively remove it from the d-axis
regulating portion 302 so that it is no longer part of the d-axis
regulating portion 302. Similarly, the complex gain block 324
includes a gain term (Kppq) that can be set to zero to disable the
complex gain block 324 and effectively remove it from the q-axis
regulating portion 304 so that it is no longer part of the q-axis
regulating portion 304. When the complex gain blocks 324, 344 are
removed from the complex vector current regulator module 170-1 that
is illustrated in FIG. 4A, the complex gain blocks 324, 344 have no
impact on the current regulation performed by the current regulator
170, and as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the current regulator module
170-2 then functions as a state feedback decoupling current
regulator module 170-2 (as opposed to functioning as a complex
vector current regulator module 170-1 that is illustrated in FIG.
4A).
[0068] Depending on which mode the current regulator 170 is
operating in at any particular time, the d-axis decoupling voltage
(Vdcpld) 326, 329 and the q-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcplq) 346,
347 are different. For example, when the current regulator 170
functions as the SFbD current regulator module 170-2 (FIG. 4B) for
an IPMSM, the d-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcpld) 329 and the q-axis
decoupling voltage (Vdcplq) 347 are shown in equations (1A) and
(2A) as follows:
Vdcpld=-.omega..sub.eL.sub.qI.sub.q (1A)
Vdcplq=.omega..sub.e.lamda..sub.pm+.omega..sub.eL.sub.dI.sub.d
(2A)
[0069] By contrast, when the current regulator 170 functions as the
CV current regulator module 170-1 (FIG. 4A) for an IPMSM, the
d-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcpld) 326 and the q-axis decoupling
voltage (Vdcplq) 346 are shown in equations (3A) and (4A) as
follows:
Vdcpld=0 (3A)
Vdcplq=.omega..sub.e.lamda..sub.pm (4A)
[0070] As another example, when the current regulator 170 is
operating as the SFbD current regulator module 170-2 (FIG. 4B) for
an induction machine, the d-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcpld) 329
and the q-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcplq) 347 are shown in
equations (1B) and (2B) as follows:
Vdcpld = - .omega. e L s .sigma. I q - .omega. r L m L r .lamda. dr
( 1 B ) Vdcplq = - .omega. e L s .sigma. I d + R r L m L r 2
.lamda. dr ( 2 B ) ##EQU00001##
[0071] and when the current regulator 170 functions as the CV
current regulator module 170-1 (FIG. 4A) for an induction machine,
the d-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcpld) 326 and the q-axis
decoupling voltage (Vdcplq) 346 are shown in equations (3) and (4)
as follows:
Vdcpld = - .omega. r L m L r .lamda. dr ( 3 B ) Vdcplq = R r L m L
r 2 .lamda. dr ( 4 B ) ##EQU00002##
[0072] In equations (1B), (2B), (3B) and (4B), R.sub.r is the rotor
resistance, L.sub.r is the rotor inductance, L.sub.m is the mutual
inductance, .omega..sub.r is the rotor speed (electrical rad/s),
.omega..sub.e is the rotor flux speed (electrical rad/s), L.sub.s
.sigma. is the stator transient inductance, and .lamda.d.sub.r is
rotor flux (in field oriented frame).
[0073] In addition, at the instant when the current regulator 170
switches from functioning as the SFbD current regulator module
170-2 (FIG. 4B) to the CV current regulator module 170-1 (FIG. 4A),
integration terms (Item) applied at the integrators 318, 338 can be
re-initialized or changed as shown in (5) and (6) as follows:
Iterm.sub.d=Iterm.sub.d+V.sub.dcpldprevious-V.sub.dcpld (5)
Iterm.sub.q=Iterm.sub.q+V.sub.dcplqprevious-V.sub.dcplq (6)
[0074] The integration terms (Iterm) 319, 339 in equations (5) and
(6) are applied at the integrators 318, 338 only at the instant
switching occurs from operating as the SFbD current regulator
module 170-2 (FIG. 4B) to the CV current regulator module 170-1
(FIG. 4A), or vice-versa (e.g., at the instant switching occurs
from operating as the CV current regulator module 170-1 (FIG. 4A)
to the SFbD current regulator module 170-2 (FIG. 4B)).
[0075] In equations (1A)-(4A), .omega..sub.e is the electrical
fundamental synchronous frequency of the machine (in radians per
second), I.sub.d and I.sub.q are the synchronous reference frame
d-axis and q-axis current signals 132, 134, .lamda..sub.pm is the
permanent magnet flux linkage, respectively, which are functions of
the d-axis and q-axis synchronous frame stator currents, L.sub.d
and L.sub.q are the d-axis and q-axis stator inductances, which are
functions of the synchronous reference frame d-axis and q-axis
current signals 132, 134.
[0076] In addition, it should be noted that in some embodiments,
but not all embodiments, a virtual damping resistance (that will be
described in greater detail below) can also be used in equations
(1) through (4) to contribute to the d-axis decoupling voltage
(Vdcpld) 326 and the q-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcplq) 346. For
example, equations (1A), (1B), (3A) and (3B) could be modified to
subtract a correction factor Rdampld, and equations (2A), (2B),
(4A) and (4B) could be modified to subtract a correction factor
RdampIq.
[0077] Thus, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B,
the current regulator can be configured to operate in a first
operational mode (as the CVCR 170-1) when the speed is greater than
a first speed threshold (.omega..sub.2), or can be configured to
operate in a second operational mode (as the SFbD 170-2) when the
speed is below a second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1). When the
speed is greater than a first speed threshold (.omega..sub.2), the
current regulator is configured to operate in the first operational
mode as a CVCR 170-1 and the cross-coupling gains (Kppd, Kppq) can
be set to non-zero values. In one embodiment, the values can be set
as follows: Kppd=.omega.b*Lq; Kppq=.omega.b*Ld. Here, L.sub.d and
L.sub.q are the d-axis and q-axis stator inductances, and
.omega..sub.b represents the commanded bandwidth of the current
regulator. When the speed is below the second speed threshold
(.omega..sub.1), the current regulator is configured to operate in
the second operational mode as a SFbD 170-2 and the cross-coupling
gains (Kppd, Kppq) can be set to zero. This allows a structure of
the current regulator to be modified on-the-fly by toggling certain
features. In addition to changing the values of the cross-coupling
gains (Kppd, Kppq), and the decoupling voltages (Vdcpld, Vdcplq),
depending on which mode the current regulator is operating in,
values of the integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 319, 339 can be
re-initialized of to ensure a smooth voltage output 172, 174 during
transitions between operational modes. As described above, values
of the d-axis and q-axis decoupling voltages (Vdcpld, Vdcplq) 326,
346 can be varied depending on which mode the current regulator is
currently operating in.
[0078] FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates a control method 400
that can be applied to at a current regulator 170 of FIGS. 4A and
4B in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 5 will be described
with continued reference to FIGS. 1-4B. The control method 400 can
be performed by a high-level controller 112 and current regulator
170 of FIG. 2 in accordance with the present disclosure. Method 400
allow an operational mode of a current regulator 170 to be
configured before executing the current regulator 170 (at 426) in
that operational mode. As will be explained below, the method 400
is used to determine values for the cross-coupling gains (Kppd,
Kppq), and the decoupling voltages (Vdcpld, Vdcplq) 326, 346 for
the next execution cycle of the current regulator 170 before it is
executed in accordance with the particular operational mode that it
is currently configured to operate in. Furthermore, method 400 will
reinitialize the integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 319, 339 at the
instant that the operational mode of the current regulator 170 is
modified. As can be appreciated in light of the disclosure, the
order of operation within the method is not limited to the
sequential execution as illustrated in FIG. 5, but may be performed
in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with
the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the method 400 can
be scheduled to run based on one or more predetermined events,
and/or can run continuously during operation of the vehicle 1.
[0079] When the method 400 starts at 402, at 404, previous values
of the decoupling voltages (Vdcpld', Vdcplq') 326', 346' are stored
along with a previous operational mode (CVCR 170-1 or SFbD 170-2)
that the current regulator 170 has been set to.
[0080] The method then proceeds to 406, where a determination is
made regarding whether conditions have been satisfied for the
current regulator 170 to operate in a first configuration (as a
CVCR 170-1). In one embodiment, speed (e.g., motor speed or
electrical fundamental frequency) is compared to a first speed
threshold (.omega..sub.2). When the speed is greater than the first
speed threshold (.omega..sub.2), the method 400 proceeds to 408,
the current regulator 170 is placed in the first operational mode
to operate in a first configuration (as a CVCR 170-1). When the
speed is less than or equal to the first speed threshold
(.omega..sub.2), the method proceeds to 410.
[0081] At 410, a determination is made regarding whether conditions
have been satisfied for the current regulator 170 to operate in a
second configuration (as a SFbD 170-2). In one embodiment, speed is
compared to a second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1). When the
speed is less than the second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1), the
method 400 proceeds to 412, where the current regulator 170 is
placed in the second operational mode to operate in the second
configuration (as a SFbD 170-2).
[0082] When the speed is greater than or equal to the second speed
threshold (.omega..sub.1), the method proceeds to 414, where the
current regulator 170 remains in its current operational mode to
operate in a current configuration (as a CVCR 170-1 or SFbD 170-2)
depending on the previous operational mode (CVCR 170-1 or SFbD
170-2) that the current regulator 170 was currently set to at
404.
[0083] Following steps for 408, 412, and 414, the method 400
proceeds to 416, where the operational mode of the current
regulator 170 is applied. When the operational mode of the current
regulator 170 is in the first operational mode (as the CVCR 170-1),
the method proceeds to 418. At 418, the cross-coupling gains (Kppd,
Kppq) are enabled and the values of the decoupling voltages
(Vdcpld, Vdcplq) are updated (as described above) from the previous
values to configure the current regulator 170 in the first
operational mode (as the CVCR 170-1).
[0084] When the operational mode of the current regulator 170 is in
the second operational mode (as the SFbD 170-2), the method
proceeds to 420. At 420, the cross-coupling gains (Kppd, Kppq) are
disabled and the values of the decoupling voltages (Vdcpld, Vdcplq)
326, 346 are updated (as described above) from the previous values
to configure the current regulator 170 in the second operational
mode (as the SFbD 170-2). Thus, when operating as the SFbD current
regulator module, the cross-coupling gains (Kppd, Kppq) are set to
0, and when operating as the CV current regulator module
cross-coupling gains (Kppd, Kppq) are tuned accordingly to a
non-zero value as described above.
[0085] After 418 and 420, the method 400 proceeds to 422 where a
determination is made whether the operational mode of the current
regulator 170 has changed at 416 (i.e., during this execution of
method 400 the previous operational mode of the current regulator
stored in 404 is not equal to the present operational mode of the
current regulator set in 408 or 412). When it is determined (at
422) that the operational mode of the current regulator 170 has not
changed (at 416), the method proceeds directly to 426. When it is
determined (at 422) that the operational mode of the current
regulator 170 has changed (at 416) this means that a transition of
operational modes has occurred, and the method proceeds to 424,
where integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 319, 339 of the current
regulator 170 are reinitialized at 426 (as described above) before
executing a next cycle of the current regulator 170 to allow for a
smooth instantaneous transition between the different operating
modes.
[0086] At 426, the next execution cycle of the current regulator
170 is executed in accordance with the particular operational mode
that it is currently configured to operate in and with values of
the cross-coupling gains (Kppd, Kppq), the integration terms
(Itermd, Itermq) 319, 339 and the decoupling voltages (Vdcpld,
Vdcplq) 326, 346 set to their presently determined values for that
execution cycle.
[0087] The execution cycle of the method 400 ends at 428, but it
should be appreciated that this method 400 can run continuously to
adjust the operational mode of the current regulator 170 based on
speed, and that FIG. 5 simply shows one iteration of the method
400.
[0088] FIG. 6 is a graph that illustrates how the current regulator
can be configured to operate in a first operational mode (as the
CVCR 170-1) when the speed is greater than or equal to a first
speed threshold (.omega..sub.2), or can be configured to operate in
a second operational mode (as the SFbD 170-2) when the speed is
less than or equal to a second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1) in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments. In one embodiment, the
speed referenced in FIG. 6 is a fundamental electrical frequency,
but in other embodiments speed could also be mechanical shaft
speed. As noted above, this allows a structure of the current
regulator to be modified on-the-fly by toggling certain features.
In particular, FIG. 6 shows a hysteresis plot, where above first
speed threshold (.omega..sub.2), the CVCR will always be used,
below the second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1) SFbD will always
be used, but between the second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1) and
the first speed threshold (.omega..sub.2) the active current
regulator will never be changed. For example, if operating in SFbD,
the active current regulator configuration will not change to CVCR
until a speed higher than the first speed threshold (.omega..sub.2)
is reached, and the active current regulator configuration will not
change back to SFbD until a speed lower than the second speed
threshold (.omega..sub.1) is reached. This means that between the
second speed threshold (.omega..sub.1) and the first speed
threshold (.omega..sub.2), the currently active current regulator
configuration will be maintained.
[0089] In addition, it is noted that the sampling frequency of the
controller and switching frequency of the inverter can vary
considerably during operation of an electric machine. It would be
desirable to optimize the value of the virtual damping resistance
that is applied at the current regulator under all operating
conditions as sampling and switching frequencies vary during
operation. For example, high virtual damping resistance is
generally desired in AC current regulation because it can reduce
current regulator parameter sensitivity and can increase current
regulator dynamic stiffness thereby improving overall current
regulator robustness.
[0090] To address this issue, embodiments will now be described
that can allow for the value of virtual damping resistance to vary
as a function of switching frequency. This allows for the highest
possible value of virtual damping resistance to be utilized at the
current regulator in all switching frequency operating conditions.
This approach can be beneficial, for example, because increasing
the value of virtual damping resistance reduces current regulator
parameter sensitivity and increases current regulator dynamic
stiffness thereby improving overall current regulator
robustness.
[0091] In accordance with some of the disclosed embodiments, a
current regulator is provided for an electric machine drive system
for driving an electric machine. The current regulator includes an
adjustable damping module that has a value of virtual damping
resistance that is applied at the current regulator. The value of
virtual damping resistance is adjustable as a function of sampling
frequency. A controller can control the current regulator by
determining whether the sampling frequency has changed since a
previous execution cycle of the current regulator, and when the
sampling frequency has changed since the previous execution cycle,
the controller can modify the damping value as a function of the
sampling frequency to allow the damping value to change with the
sampling frequency. The damping value has a new value of virtual
damping resistance that is applied at the current regulator after
modifying the damping value. The controller can then execute the
current regulator in accordance with the modified damping value to
generate the voltage commands. Thus, in these embodiments, a
virtual damping factor that is applied at the current regulator
module 170 can be varied based on or changed as a function of
sampling frequency.
[0092] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a current regulator 770 in
accordance with another implementation of the disclosed
embodiments. The current regulator 770 of FIG. 7 includes many of
the same blocks as the current regulators 170-1, 170-2 of FIGS. 4A
and 4B, and the descriptions of FIGS. 4A and 4B are equally
applicable to FIG. 7. As such, any elements of FIGS. 4A and 4B that
function the same as corresponding elements of FIG. 7 are labeled
in FIG. 7 with the same reference numbers used in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
Any elements of FIG. 7 that perform or operate differently than
those shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are labeled in FIG. 7 with reference
numbers that begin with 7. Thus, although not illustrated in FIG.
4A and 4B, it should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the
current regulator 170 can be also include features of FIG. 7 so
that it also implements a virtual damping resistance that can be
modified as a function of sampling frequency (F.sub.S). The
sampling frequency (F.sub.s) refers to the rate at which the
controller samples feedback signals, performs control calculations,
and updates its outputs. The sampling frequency (F.sub.s) is
expressed in hertz (Hz). Depending on the implementation, this
sampling frequency (F.sub.s) can be proportional or equal to
switching frequency of the inverter module. In this regard it is
noted that the sampling frequency (F.sub.s) can be the same or a
multiple of the switching frequency (F.sub.SW) so that
synchronization between sampling and PWM can be achieved.
[0093] In this embodiment, damping value (Rdamp) 710 is multiplied
by the synchronous reference frame d-axis current signal (Id) 132
and to the synchronous reference frame q-axis current signal (Iq)
134 to generate damped current signals 712, 722. In accordance with
the disclosed embodiments, the controller 112 (of FIG. 2) can vary
the damping value (Rdamp) 710 based on the sampling frequency
(F.sub.s) whenever the sampling frequency changes. The damping
value (Rdamp) 710 can be updated regularly based on sampling
frequency (F.sub.s).
[0094] The integrator 318 integrates the d-axis integrator input
317 to generate a d-axis integration term (Itermd) 719, and the
integrator 338 integrates the q-axis integrator input 337 to
generate a q-axis integration term (Itermq) 739. As the damping
value transitions, the controller 112 can also reinitialize
integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739 before the current
regulator 770 executes (for the present execution cycle) to help
ensure smooth synchronous reference frame voltage command signals
(Vd*, Vq*) 172, 174 while the damping value is being updated to the
new damping value (Rdamp). Notably, applying the gains 314, 324,
334, 344 before integration process at 318, 338 allows for easier
reinitialization of integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739 so
that the transition to the new damping value (Rdamp) goes smoothly
and does not induce disturbances into the synchronous reference
frame voltage command signals (Vd*, Vq*) 172, 174 during the
transition.
[0095] In one embodiment, to reinitialize the integration terms
(Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739, the controller 112 stores the previous
damping value for use in further computations when it updates the
new damping value (Rdamp) based on the newest sampling frequency
(F.sub.s). For example, in one embodiment, a change in the damping
value (.DELTA.Rdamp) is calculated by subtracting the previous
damping value (Rdamp') from the new damping value (Rdamp), and
while the previous damping value (Rdamp') is being updated to the
new damping value (Rdamp), the integration terms (Itermd, Itermq)
719, 739 of the current regulator 770 are reinitialized to ensure a
smooth voltage output. The integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 719,
739 of the current regulator 770 can be reinitialized in accordance
with equations (7) and (8) as follows:
Iterm.sub.d=Iterm.sub.d,previous+.DELTA.Rdamp I.sub.d (7)
Iterm.sub.q=Iterm.sub.q,previous+.DELTA.Rdamp I.sub.q (8)
[0096] In this embodiment, the summing block 328 combines the
signal 323 and the damping voltage signal 712 to generate the
synchronous reference frame d-axis voltage command signal (Vq*)
172. In one embodiment, the d-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcpld) (not
shown in FIG. 7) is set to zero. The summing block 348 combines the
signal 343, the damping voltage signal 722, and a q-axis decoupling
voltage (Vdcplq) 724 to generate the synchronous reference frame
q-axis voltage command signal (Vq*) 174. In one embodiment, the
q-axis decoupling voltage (Vdcplq) 724 is set to the back-EMF
voltage (e.g., .omega.e.lamda..sub.pm for a synchronous
machine).
[0097] FIG. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates a control method 800
that can be applied to at a current regulator 770 of FIG. 7 in
accordance with various embodiments. In particular, FIG. 8
illustrates a method 800 for modifying a damping value (Rdamp) 710
of a current regulator 770 as a function of, for example, sampling
frequency (F.sub.s) and then executing the current regulator 770 in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments. However, it should be
appreciated that other equivalent measures of sampling frequency
(F.sub.s) could be utilized in conjunction with the method 800
including those described above. As will be explained below, the
method 800 is used to set the damping value (Rdamp) 710 as a
function of sampling frequency, and to set appropriate integration
terms (Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739 for the next execution cycle of the
current regulator 770 before it is executed to ensure a smooth
output voltage 172, 174 during a transition period.
[0098] When the method 800 starts at 802, at 804, it is determined
whether the sampling frequency (F.sub.s) has changed. When it is
determined (at 804) that the sampling frequency (F.sub.s) has not
changed, the method 800 proceeds to 814, where the current
regulator 770 is executed.
[0099] When it is determined (at 804) that the sampling frequency
(F.sub.s) has changed, the method 800 proceeds to 806. Steps 806
through 812 are performed to update the damping value (Rdamp) 710
based on sampling frequency (F.sub.s) and to reinitialize
integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739 before the current
regulator 770 is executed at 814 to ensure a smooth voltage output
after the damping value has been updated to the new damping value
(Rdamp) that was calculated at 808.
[0100] At 806, the previous damping value is stored for use in
further computations. At 808, the new damping value (Rdamp) is
updated based on the present sampling frequency (F.sub.s). At 810,
a change in the damping value is calculated by subtracting the
previous damping value (Rdamp') from the new damping value
(Rdamp).
[0101] At 812, the integration terms (Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739 of
the current regulator 770 are reinitialized to ensure no
disturbance at the output voltage occurs when the new damping value
(Rdamp) that was calculated at 808 is applied.
[0102] At 814, the next execution cycle of the current regulator
770 is executed in accordance with the updated value of the damping
value (Rdamp) 710 and updated values of the integration terms
(Itermd, Itermq) 719, 739 set to their presently determined values
for that execution cycle. The execution cycle of the method 800
ends at 816, but it should be appreciated that this method 800 runs
continuously to adjust the current regulator and that FIG. 8 simply
shows one iteration of the method 800.
[0103] FIG. 9 is graph that illustrates an example of how virtual
damping resistance (Rdamp) could vary as a function sampling
frequency (F.sub.S) in accordance with the embodiment illustrated
in FIGS. 7 and 8. As the sampling frequency (F.sub.S) increases,
the virtual damping resistance (Rdamp) increases, and conversely,
as the sampling frequency (F.sub.S) decreases, the virtual damping
resistance (Rdamp) decreases.
[0104] Thus, various embodiments have been described for current
regulators that can be used for controlling operation of a
multi-phase machine in a vector controlled motor drive system. The
disclosed embodiments provide a current regulator 170 that can be
configured to operate in a first operational mode (as the CVCR
170-1) when the speed (e.g., motor speed or electrical fundamental
frequency) is greater than a first speed threshold (.omega..sub.2),
or can be configured to operate in a second operational mode (as
the SFbD 170-2) when the speed is greater than a second speed
threshold (.omega..sub.1). This allows a structure of the current
regulator to be modified on-the-fly by toggling certain features.
The disclosed embodiments can also provide a mechanism for
modifying a damping value (Rdamp) of a current regulator as a
function of sampling frequency (F.sub.s).
[0105] In other embodiments, a current regulator is provided that
allows for the value of virtual damping resistance to vary as a
function of switching frequency. This allows for the highest
possible value of virtual damping resistance to be utilized at the
current regulator in all switching frequency operating conditions.
This current regulator can help optimize the value of the virtual
damping resistance that is applied at the current regulator under
all operating conditions as sampling and switching frequencies vary
during operation. This current regulator can reduce parameter
sensitivity and can increase dynamic stiffness thereby improving
overall robustness of the current regulator.
[0106] Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the
various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and
algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments
disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware,
computer software, or combinations of both. Some of the embodiments
and implementations are described above in terms of functional
and/or logical block components (or modules) and various processing
steps. However, it should be appreciated that such block components
(or modules) may be realized by any number of hardware, software,
and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified
functions.
[0107] To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware
and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,
circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of
their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as
hardware or software depends upon the particular application and
design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans
may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each
particular application, but such implementation decisions should
not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the
present invention. For example, an embodiment of a system or a
component may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g.,
memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic
elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carry out a
variety of functions under the control of one or more
microprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments described
herein are merely exemplary implementations.
[0108] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed
herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose
processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array
(FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or
transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination
thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the
alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,
controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also
be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0109] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection
with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in
hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a
combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory,
flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers,
hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage
medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to
the processor such the processor can read information from, and
write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the
storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and
the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a
user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage
medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.
[0110] In this document, relational terms such as first and second,
and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action
from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or
implying any actual such relationship or order between such
entities or actions. Numerical ordinals such as "first," "second,"
"third," etc. simply denote different singles of a plurality and do
not imply any order or sequence unless specifically defined by the
claim language. The sequence of the text in any of the claims does
not imply that process steps must be performed in a temporal or
logical order according to such sequence unless it is specifically
defined by the language of the claim. The process steps may be
interchanged in any order without departing from the scope of the
invention as long as such an interchange does not contradict the
claim language and is not logically nonsensical.
[0111] Furthermore, depending on the context, words such as
"connect" or "coupled to" used in describing a relationship between
different elements do not imply that a direct physical connection
must be made between these elements. For example, two elements may
be connected to each other physically, electronically, logically,
or in any other manner, through one or more additional
elements.
[0112] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented
in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated
that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be
appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments
are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope,
applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way.
Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those
skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the
exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be
understood that various changes can be made in the function and
arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the
disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal
equivalents thereof.
* * * * *