Motor control unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11855569-B2
Application number	US-202117154819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2021
Priority date	Jan 22, 2020
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

A motor control unit for a vehicle comprising an electric drive motor, the motor control unit comprising a first processor, a second processor and a third processor, in which: the third processor is configured to: receive an actuation demand for the vehicle; calculate a torque for the motor in dependence on the actuation demand; and provide the calculated torque to the first processor; the first processor is configured to: receive the calculated torque and a control input of the vehicle; and determine a first control output for the electric drive motor in dependence on the calculated torque and the control input; and the second processor is configured to: receive the first control output from the first processor and the control input of the vehicle; calculate a second control output for the motor in dependence on the control input; and validate the first control output by comparison to the second control output.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor control unit for a vehicle comprising an electric drive motor, the motor control unit comprising a first processor, a second processor and a third processor, in which:
the third processor is configured to:
receive an actuation demand for the vehicle;
calculate a torque for the electric drive motor in dependence on the actuation demand; and
provide the calculated torque to the first processor;

the first processor is configured to:
receive the calculated torque and a control input of the vehicle; and
determine a first control output for the electric drive motor in dependence on the calculated torque and the control input; and

the second processor is configured to:
receive the first control output from the first processor and the control input of the vehicle;
calculate a second control output for the electric drive motor in dependence on the control input; and
validate the first control output by comparison to the second control output;

wherein the motor control unit is configured to provide the first control output to the electric drive motor in order to control the electric drive motor.

2. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first processor is configured to provide the first control output to the electric drive motor.

3. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 1 , the motor control unit further comprising:
a dedicated communication bus configured to provide the actuation demand to the third processor, the dedicated communication bus being configured to communicate information related to actuation demands only.

4. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 1 , the motor control unit further comprising:
a general communication bus configured to provide the control input of the vehicle to the first processor and the second processor.

5. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuation demand received by the third processor is a raw control input.

6. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuation demand received by the third processor is a pre-processed control input.

7. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third processor is further configured to:
monitor at least one of the first processor and the second processor; and
control the electric drive motor in the event of a fault of one or more of the first processor and/or second processor.

8. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the third processor executes safety functions for the electric drive motor in the event of a fault of one or more of the first processor and/or second processor.

9. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the third processor is connected to the gate drivers of the electric drive motor.

10. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the third processor causes an active short circuit of the electric drive motor.

11. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the third processor is further configured to monitor a second third processor comprised within a second motor control unit for a second electric drive motor of the vehicle.

12. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the third processor is further configured to execute safety functions for the second electric drive motor in the event that a fault is detected during monitoring the second third processor comprised within the second motor control unit.

13. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the third processor causes an active short circuit of the second electric drive motor.

14. A motor control unit for a vehicle comprising an electric drive motor, the motor control unit comprising a first processor, a second processor and a third processor, in which:
the first processor is configured to:
receive a control input of the vehicle; and
determine a first control output for the electric drive motor in dependence on the control input;

the second processor is configured to:
receive the first control output from the first processor and the control input of the vehicle;
determine a second control output for the electric drive motor in dependence on the control input; and
validate the first control output by comparison to the second control output; and

the third processor is configured to:
monitor at least one of the first processor and the second processor; and
control the electric drive motor in the event of a fault of one or more of the monitored first processor and/or second processor by executing one or more safety functions for the electric drive motor.

15. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the third processor is connected to the gate drivers of the electric drive motor.

16. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the third processor causes an active short circuit of the electric drive motor.

17. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the third processor is further configured to monitor a second third processor comprised within a second motor control unit for a second electric drive motor of the vehicle.

18. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the third processor is further configured to execute safety functions for the second electric drive motor in the event that a fault is detected during monitoring the second third processor comprised within the second motor control unit.

19. A motor control unit as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the third processor causes an active short circuit of the second electric drive motor.

Assignees

• Mclaren Automotive Ltd

Inventors

• George Sunoj Cherian
• Chang Tao

Classifications

• H02P29/032 Primary

  Preventing damage to the motor, e.g. setting individual current limits for different drive conditions · CPC title

• B60L15/12

  with circuits controlled by relays or contactors · CPC title

• B60L15/32

  Control or regulation of multiple-unit electrically-propelled vehicles · CPC title

• B60L2240/423

  Torque · CPC title

• B60L3/0092 Primary

  with use of redundant elements for safety purposes · CPC title