Patent ID: 8706346

Claim:
Method to control a powertrain comprising an electric motor, the method comprising: monitoring a torque command to the motor; predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, the predicting comprising, modeling operation of the motor based upon the torque command comprising modeling operation of components related to the motor based upon the torque command, the modeling operation of the components comprising modeling operation of a power inverter, modeling operation of a current controller, and modeling operation of a microprocessor used to control the motor, and predicting the motor torque based upon the modeled operation of the motor; monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor; comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque; indicating a torque error when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold; debouncing the torque error; and determining that the torque error has matured to a motor fault, said determining including requiring a certain number of faults in a time period and voiding faults occurring during active damping, during an engine start operation and during an engine stop operation; wherein the modeling of the motor comprises predicting an effect that connection to the powertrain comprising an engine and a transmission will have upon the motor torque.