US 12,479,302 B2
Control system for a vehicle
Richard Burke, Farnham (GB)
Assigned to PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED, Farnham (GB)
Filed by PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED, Farnham (GB)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/119,642.
Application 18/119,642 is a continuation of application No. 16/631,490, abandoned, previously published as PCT/IB2018/055255, filed on Jul. 16, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1711413 (GB), filed on Jul. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278429 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B60L 3/00 (2019.01); B60K 7/00 (2006.01); B60L 3/04 (2006.01); B60L 3/10 (2006.01); B60L 15/20 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 3/0084 (2013.01) [B60K 7/0007 (2013.01); B60L 3/0061 (2013.01); B60L 3/0069 (2013.01); B60L 3/04 (2013.01); B60L 3/102 (2013.01); B60L 15/2036 (2013.01); B60L 2240/421 (2013.01); B60L 2240/423 (2013.01); B60L 2240/429 (2013.01); B60L 2240/463 (2013.01); B60Q 2300/134 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for a vehicle having a first wheel arranged to be driven by a first electric motor and a second wheel arranged to be driven by a second electric motor, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are transversely located on the vehicle relative to each other, the control system comprising:
a first controller associated with the first electric motor; and
a second controller associated with the second electric motor,
wherein:
the first controller includes:
means for estimating a first power value for the power applied to the second wheel by the second electric motor when the second electric motor is placed in a first motor configuration; and
means for estimating a second power value for the power applied to the second wheel by the second electric motor when the second electric motor is placed in a second motor configuration,
wherein:
a first one of the first motor configuration and the second motor configuration corresponds to:
the second electric motor being disconnected from a voltage supply, or
coil windings of the second electric motor being placed in a short circuit configuration, or
coil windings of the second electric motor being placed in an open circuit configuration to allow current generated by the second electric motor to flow onto a power source busbar, and
a second one of the first motor configuration and the second motor configuration corresponds to:
the second electric motor being disconnected from a voltage supply, or
coil windings of the second electric motor being placed in a short circuit configuration, or
coil windings of the second electric motor being placed in an open circuit configuration to allow current generated by the second electric motor to flow onto a power source busbar,
the second one of the first motor configuration or the second motor configuration differing from the first one of the first motor configuration or the second motor configuration; and
wherein:
upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, the first controller is arranged to determine a first power differential between the power being applied to the first wheel by the first electric motor and the first power value and a second power differential between the power being applied to the first wheel by the first electric motor and the second power value, and
if the first controller determines that if either the first power differential or the second power differential is greater than a predetermined value the first controller is arranged to adjust the torque generated by the first electric motor or if both the first power differential and the second power differential are less than a predetermined value the first controller is arranged to maintain the torque generated by the first electric motor.