Patent ID: 9482149
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,F02B,F02D,Y02T

Claim Text:
1. A method of operating a supercharger for an automotive engine, the supercharger having: an input shaft for coupling to an engine crankshaft, and being coupled to a rotor of a first electrical machine and a first component of an epicyclic gear train; and an output shaft connected to a compressor and a second component of the epicyclic gear train; wherein a third component of the epicyclic gear train is connected to a rotor of a second electrical machine, wherein the first electrical machine is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine, wherein the supercharger is provided upstream in series with a turbocharger, and wherein the method includes the steps of: a) calculating, using a controller, a required rotor speed of the second electrical machine using a model-based approach for controlling a target pressure downstream of a compressor of the turbocharger that would give rise to a required pressure at an outlet downstream of the supercharger and the turbocharger; and b) setting, using the controller, the rotor speed of the second electrical machine to the calculated required speed.