US 11,967,866 B2
System and method for controlling a multi-tunnel electric machine
Fred E. Hunstable, Granbury, TX (US)
Assigned to Linear Labs, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by Linear Labs, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/375,863.
Application 17/375,863 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/013966, filed on Jan. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/804,102, filed on Feb. 11, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/801,237, filed on Feb. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/793,359, filed on Jan. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0006340 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. H02K 3/04 (2006.01); H02K 1/02 (2006.01); H02K 1/14 (2006.01); H02K 1/17 (2006.01); H02K 1/276 (2022.01); H02K 1/278 (2022.01); H02K 3/12 (2006.01); H02K 21/24 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 1/278 (2013.01) [H02K 1/02 (2013.01); H02K 1/2773 (2013.01); H02K 3/12 (2013.01); H02K 21/24 (2013.01); H02K 1/148 (2013.01); H02K 1/17 (2013.01); H02K 3/04 (2013.01); H02K 2213/03 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric machine comprising:
a toroidal magnetic cylinder including:
a first magnetic tunnel segment having a NNNN magnetic pole configuration,
a second magnetic tunnel segment having a SSSS magnetic pole configuration positioned circumferentially adjacent to the first magnetic tunnel,
a coil assembly positioned within the toroidal magnetic cylinder, the coil assembly including a plurality of coils wherein the first or second magnetic tunnel segment surrounds a first number of coils of the coil assembly,
wherein the coil assembly is configured for the first number of coil phases and the plurality of coils is divided to create a subgroups of coils wherein each subgroup of coils is assigned to one of the first number of coil phases;
a controller in electrical communication with the coil assembly and the plurality of parameter detection sensors, the controller including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing instructions for:
monitoring a parameter value of the electric machine;
determining if the parameter value has reached a first target value; if not, continue to monitor the parameter value;
if the parameter value has reached the first target value, emulating a second number of coil phases for the coil assembly by simultaneously energizing a first subgroup of coils and a second subgroup of coils such that the first subgroup of coils and second subgroup of coils to act as members of a single coil phase group.