1. A method for sensorless control of a permanent magnet motor comprising a plurality of phases, the method comprising the step of determining a sensorless position signal and a sensorless speed signal in a torque-speed plane in response to phase currents corresponding to currents on one or more of the plurality of phases.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of determining a sensorless position signal and a sensorless speed signal comprises the steps of:
determining a low speed error signal in response to a difference in the phase currents, a sensorless position feedback signal, and a sensorless speed feedback signal;
determining a high speed error signal in response to the difference in the phase currents, the position feedback signal, and the speed feedback signal; and
determining a sensorless position signal and a sensorless speed signal in response to the high speed error signal and the low speed error signal, wherein the sensorless position feedback signal is equivalent to the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal is equivalent to the sensorless speed signal.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the step of determining the high speed error signal comprises the step of determining the high speed error signal in response to the difference in the phase currents, a difference in phase voltages, the position feedback signal, and the speed feedback signal, wherein the phase voltages correspond to voltages on the one or more of the plurality of phases.
4. The method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising the steps of:
determining a low speed error component value in response to the low speed error signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal;
determining a high speed error component value in response to the high speed error signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal,
wherein the step of determining the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal comprises the step of combining the low speed error component signal and the high speed error component signal to generate a rotor position error signal, the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal being determined in response to the rotor position error signal.
5. The method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising the step of generating a low speed injection signal in response to the sensorless position signal, wherein the difference in the phase currents is determined in response to the low speed injection signal.
6. The method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising the step of determining a reset position signal in response to the sensorless position feedback signal and the difference in the phase currents, wherein the step of determining the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal comprises the step of determining the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal in response to the high speed error signal, the low speed error signal, and the reset position signal.
7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the step of determining the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal comprises the steps of:
determining the sensorless position signal and an observed speed signal in response to the high speed error signal, the low speed error signal, and the reset position signal; and
filtering the observed speed signal to generate the sensorless speed signal.
8. An electric motor system comprising:
a permanent magnet motor comprising a plurality of phases;
an inverter for generating a plurality of phase signals in response to modulated control signals and coupled to the permanent magnet motor for providing each of the plurality of phase signals to a corresponding one of the plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor;
a controller for generating the modulated control signals in response to a sensorless position signal, a sensorless speed signal and phase current signals, the phase current signals corresponding to currents of one or more of the plurality of phase signals; and
a sensorless position and speed estimator for calculating the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal in response to the phase current signals, wherein the sensorless position and speed estimator calculates the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal entirely in the torque-speed plane.
9. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the sensorless position and speed estimator comprises:
a low speed error extraction module for determining a low speed error signal in response to the phase currents, a sensorless position feedback signal, and a sensorless speed feedback signal;
a high speed error module for determining a high speed error signal in response to the phase currents, the sensorless position feedback signal, and the sensorless speed feedback signal; and
an error combining module for determining a sensorless position signal and a sensorless speed signal in response to the high speed error signal and the low speed error signal, wherein the sensorless position feedback signal is equivalent to the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal is equivalent to the sensorless speed signal, and wherein the phase currents correspond to currents on the plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor.
10. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the high speed error module determines the high speed error signal in response to a difference between two or more of the phase currents, a difference in two or more phase voltages, the sensorless position feedback signal, and the sensorless speed feedback signal, wherein the two or more phase voltages correspond to voltages on two or more of the plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor.
11. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the error combining module comprises:
a low speed error phase out module for determining a low speed error component value in response to the low speed error signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal;
a high speed error phase in module for determining a high speed error component value in response to the high speed error signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal; and
an error signal summer for combining the low speed error component signal and the high speed error component signal to generate a rotor position error signal, the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal being determined by the error combining module in response to the rotor position error signal.
12. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the low speed error extraction module determines the high speed error signal in response to a difference between two or more of the phase currents, the sensorless position feedback signal, and the sensorless speed feedback signal, and wherein the high speed error module determines the high speed error signal in response to the difference between the two or more of the phase currents, the sensorless position feedback signal, and the sensorless speed feedback signal, the electric motor system further comprising a low speed injection module for generating a low speed injection signal in response to the sensorless position signal, wherein the difference between the two or more of the phase currents is determined in response to the phase currents and the low speed injection signal.
13. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising low speed polarity detector for generating a reset position signal in response to the sensorless position feedback signal and the difference in phase currents, wherein the error combining module determines the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal in response to the high speed error signal, the low speed error signal, and the reset position signal.
14. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the error combining module comprises:
a speed observer module for determining the sensorless position signal and an observed speed signal in response to the high speed error signal, the low speed error signal, and the reset position signal; and
a speed filter for filtering the observed speed signal to generate the sensorless speed signal.
15. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the permanent magnet motor comprises a three phase synchronous permanent magnet motor comprising three phases.
16. The electric motor system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the sensorless position and speed estimator generates the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal in response to a difference in two of the phase current signals.
17. A vehicle comprising:
a transmission for controlling the movement of the vehicle;
one or more transmission fluid columns for retaining transmission fluid, wherein the transmission is submerged in the transmission fluid within the one or more transmission fluid columns; and
an electric transmission fluid pump for pumping the transmission fluid through the one or more transmission fluid columns when activated, the transmission fluid pump comprising:
a permanent magnet motor comprising a plurality of phases;
an inverter for generating a plurality of phase signals in response to modulated control signals and coupled to the permanent magnet motor for providing each of the plurality of phase signals to a corresponding one of the plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor;
a controller for generating the modulated control signals in response to a sensorless position signal, a sensorless speed signal and phase current signals, the phase current signals corresponding to currents in one or more of the plurality of phase signals; and
a sensorless position and speed estimator for calculating the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal in response to the phase current signals, wherein the sensorless position and speed estimator calculates the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed signal entirely in the torque-speed plane,
wherein the permanent magnet motor is submerged in the transmission fluid within the one or more transmission fluid columns, and wherein the inverter is located outside the one or more transmission fluid columns and coupled to the permanent magnet motor by a plurality of phase wires for providing the phase signals thereto, each of the plurality of phase wires corresponding to one of the plurality of phases of the permanent magnet motor, and wherein the controller and the sensorless position and speed estimator are also located outside the one or more transmission fluid columns, the controller and the sensorless position and speed estimator coupled to the phase wires for receiving the phase currents therefrom.
18. The vehicle in accordance with claim 17 wherein the sensorless position and speed estimator of the electric transmission fluid pump comprises:
a low speed error extraction module for determining a low speed error signal in response to the phase currents, a sensorless position feedback signal, and a sensorless speed feedback signal;
a high speed error module for determining a high speed error signal in response to the phase currents, the sensorless position feedback signal, and the sensorless speed feedback signal; and
an error combining module for determining a sensorless position signal and a sensorless speed signal in response to the high speed error signal and the low speed error signal,
wherein the sensorless position feedback signal is equivalent to the sensorless position signal and the sensorless speed feedback signal is equivalent to the sensorless speed signal.
19. The vehicle in accordance with claim 18 further comprising:
an internal combustion engine; and
a primary transmission fluid pump coupled to the internal combustion engine for pumping the transmission fluid through the one or more transmission fluid columns in response to the angular movement of the internal combustion engine, wherein the electric transmission fluid pump serves as an auxiliary transmission fluid pump The vehicle in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a transmission controller coupled to the auxiliary transmission fluid pump and the primary transmission fluid pump for activating and deactivating the auxiliary transmission fluid pump in response to the primary transmission fluid pump.
20. The vehicle in accordance with claim 19 wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle further comprising an electric engine, wherein the transmission controller is coupled to the internal combustion engine, the electric engine, and the auxiliary transmission fluid pump for activating the auxiliary transmission fluid pump when the electric engine is activated and deactivating the auxiliary transmission fluid pump when the internal combustion engine is activated.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A cosmetic dispenser for producing an axial movement of a volume of cosmetic between an extended disposition and a retracted disposition, the cosmetic dispenser comprising:
a cam member with a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an annular outer wall surface with an outer diameter;
an adapter member with a proximal end, a distal end, a wall with an inner wall surface with an inner diameter, and an open inner volume for receiving the distal portion of the cam member in a relatively rotatable, mating relationship;
an elevator member comprising a cosmetic retaining portion and an elevator rod wherein the elevator rod is retained for axial movement in relation to the adapter member;
a means for producing an axial movement of the elevator member in response to a rotation of the cam member in relation to the adapter member;
a means for inducing frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member during a rotation therebetween wherein the inner diameter of the adapter member is greater than the outer diameter of the cam member by a diametrical difference, wherein the means for inducing frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member comprises at least one drag protuberance interposed between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member wherein the at least one drag protuberance produces an effective change in diameter greater than the diametrical difference between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member, wherein the at least one drag protuberance projects from the inner wall surface of the wall of the adapter member, wherein the effective change in diameter produces a reduced effective diameter of the adapter member, wherein the wall of the adapter member is resiliently deflectable in proximity to the at least one drag protuberance whereby the at least one drag protuberance can resiliently deflect to enable the cam member to be engaged with the adapter member in a mating relationship and to produce a frictional drag therebetween, wherein the wall of the adapter member has a portion with a general wall thickness, wherein the wall of the adapter member has a thinned wall portion having a smaller area than an area of the portion of the wall having the general wall thickness and that surrounds the at least one drag protuberance, and wherein the thinned wall portion has a thickness that is less than the general wall thickness and that is sufficiently thin to permit a resilient deflection of the at least one drag protuberance.
2. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1 wherein the adapter member is tubular with an annular inner wall surface, wherein the adapter member has an elevator aperture in the distal end thereof, wherein a proximal portion of the elevator rod is received through the elevator aperture in the adapter member and into the cam member, and wherein the means for producing an axial movement of the elevator member in response to a relative rotation between the cam member and the adapter member comprises at least one helical thread disposed on the cam member in combination with a means for engaging the elevator rod with the at least one helical thread.
3. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the means for engaging the elevator rod with the at least one helical thread comprises at least one lug that projects from the elevator rod for engaging the at least one helical thread of the cam member.
4. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a means for preventing a rotation of the elevator rod in relation to the adapter member.
5. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 4 wherein the means for preventing a rotation of the elevator rod in relation to the adapter member comprises a formation of the elevator rod and the elevator aperture of the adapter member with noncircular cross sections.
6. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 5 wherein the elevator rod and the elevator aperture of the adapter member each has a generally rectangular cross section.
7. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 5 further comprising at least one retaining protuberance that projects from the elevator rod adjacent to the proximal end of the elevator rod wherein the at least one retaining protuberance is distal to the at least one lug whereby an overextension of the elevator rod is prevented.
8. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 7 wherein the elevator aperture has a flexible portion for enabling an insertion of the proximal end of the elevator rod through the elevator aperture without damage to the at least one retaining protuberance.
9. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1 wherein the wall of the adapter member with the general wall thickness is substantially inflexible.
10. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1 wherein there are at least first and second drag protuberances wherein the first and second drag protuberances project in general opposition from the inner wall surface of the wall of the adapter member and wherein a thinned wall portion is disposed in proximity to each of the first and second drag protuberances.
11. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least the thinned wall portion of the adapter member is formed from a resiliently deflectable material.
12. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 11 wherein at least the thinned wall portion of the adapter member is formed from polyoxymethylene.
13. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 12 wherein the cam member is formed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
14. A cosmetic dispenser for producing an axial movement of a volume of cosmetic between an extended disposition and a retracted disposition, the cosmetic dispenser comprising:
a cam member with a proximal portion and a distal portion and an annular outer wall surface with an outer diameter;
an adapter member with a proximal end, a distal end, a wall with an annular inner wall surface with an inner diameter, and an open inner volume for receiving the distal portion of the cam member in a relatively rotatable, mating relationship;
an elevator member comprising a cosmetic retaining portion and an elevator rod wherein the elevator rod is retained for axial movement in relation to the adapter member;
a means for producing an axial movement of the elevator member in response to a rotation of the cam member in relation to the adapter member;
a means for inducing frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member during a rotation therebetween wherein the inner diameter of the adapter member is greater than the outer diameter of the cam member by a diametrical difference and wherein the means for inducing frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member comprises at least first and second drag protuberances interposed between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member wherein the at least first and second drag protuberances produce an effective change in diameter greater than the diametrical difference between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member; and
at least first and second centering protuberances interposed between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member wherein the first and second centering protuberances cooperate to produce a centering diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the adapter member but greater than the reduced effective diameter.
15. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 14 wherein the first and second centering protuberances project from the inner wall surface of the wall of the adapter member.
16. A cosmetic dispenser with frictional swivel action for producing an axial movement of a volume of cosmetic between an extended disposition and a retracted disposition, the cosmetic dispenser comprising:
a cam member with a proximal portion and a distal portion with an annular outer surface with an outer diameter;
a tubular adapter member with a proximal end, a distal end with an elevator aperture, a wall with an annular inner wall surface with an inner diameter, and an open inner volume for receiving the distal portion of the cam member in a relatively rotatable, mating relationship wherein the inner diameter of the adapter member is greater than the outer diameter of the cam member by a diametrical difference;
an elevator member comprising a cosmetic retaining portion and an elevator rod received through the elevator aperture in the adapter member and into the cam member for axial movement in relation to the adapter member;
a means for producing an axial movement of the elevator member in response to a rotation of the cam member in relation to the adapter member;
at least one drag protuberance interposed between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member wherein the at least one drag protuberance produces an effective change in diameter greater than the diametrical difference between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member thereby to induce frictional drag between the cam member and the adapter member during a rotation therebetween;
at least first and second centering protuberances interposed between the inner diameter of the adapter member and the outer diameter of the cam member wherein the first and second centering protuberances cooperate to produce a centering diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the adapter member but greater than the reduced effective diameter;
wherein the wall of the adapter member is resiliently deflectable in proximity to the at least one drag protuberance whereby the at least one drag protuberance can resiliently deflect to enable the cam member to be engaged with the adapter member in a mating relationship and to produce a frictional drag therebetween.
17. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 16 wherein the at least one drag protuberance projects from the inner wall surface of the wall of the adapter member and wherein the effective change in diameter produces a reduced effective diameter of the adapter member.
18. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 17 wherein the wall of the adapter member has a thin wall area in proximity to the at least one drag protuberance wherein the thin wall area is sufficiently thin to permit a resilient deflection of the at least one drag protuberance.
19. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 18 wherein the thin wall area of the wall of the adapter member at least partially overlaps the at least one drag protuberance.
20. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 19 wherein the thin wall area of the wall of the adapter member substantially surrounds the at least one drag protuberance.
21. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 18 wherein the wall of the adapter member has a wall area outside of the thin wall area that is thicker than the thin wall area and is substantially inflexible.
22. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 18 wherein there are at least first and second drag protuberances wherein the first and second drag protuberances project in general opposition from the inner wall surface of the wall of the adapter member and wherein a thin wall area is disposed in proximity to each of the first and drag protuberances.
23. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 18 wherein at least the thin wall area of the adapter member is formed from a resiliently deflectable material comprising polyoxymethylene.
24. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 23 wherein the cam member is formed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
25. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 16 wherein the means for producing an axial movement of the elevator member in response to a relative rotation between the cam member and the adapter member comprises at least one helical thread disposed on the cam member in combination with at least one lug that projects from the elevator rod for engaging the at least one helical thread of the cam member and further comprising a means for preventing a rotation of the elevator rod in relation to the adapter member.