Motor interface controller having an integrated power supply

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10090738-B2
Application number	US-201615236989-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Jun 11, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A motor assembly broadly includes a motor, a motor controller, and an interface controller having an integrated power supply. The integrated power supply includes an AC to DC power conversion and voltage reduction component. The motor controller and the interface controller receive line voltage electrical power without the need for an external transformer.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A motor assembly comprising:
a motor;
a motor controller connected to the motor for controlling operation of the motor, the motor controller comprising:
a digital signal processor; and
an isolated interface circuit communicatively coupled to the digital signal processor,

an AC to DC power conversion component for converting AC power from an external power source to DC power for powering the digital signal processor and the motor; and
an interface controller for communicating with the motor controller, the interface controller comprising:
a user interface for receiving user input commands;
a micro-controller connected to the user interface for receiving the user input commands therefrom and being connected to the motor controller for instructing the motor controller how to control operation of the motor; and
an integrated AC to DC power conversion component connected to the micro-controller for converting AC power received from the external power source to DC power,
the isolated interface circuit being connected between the digital signal processor and the micro-controller such that the digital signal processor is electrically isolated from the interface controller for providing fault protection to the digital signal processor,
the digital signal processor being configured to convert commands sent from the interface controller through the isolated interface circuit into motor controlling signals for controlling operation of the motor.

2. The motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the integrated AC to DC power conversion component comprises a power switching component.

3. The motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor controller further comprises a DC to AC power inverter for converting the DC power to AC power.

4. The motor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the DC to AC power inverter converts the DC power to three phase AC power.

5. The motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller further comprises a power input terminal configured to be wired to the motor controller for receiving high voltage power from the external power source via the motor controller.

6. The motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller and the motor controller are each configured to separately receive high voltage power from the external power source.

7. The motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is compatible with a number of different motor models.

8. The motor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor is a variable speed AC induction or permanent magnet motor and the interface controller is configured to allow a user to select a motor speed, motor torque, or other motor operating command via the user interface of the interface controller.

9. A motor assembly comprising:
a motor comprising:
a stator;
a rotor;
a motor case enclosing the stator and the rotor; and
an output shaft connected to the rotor and extending from an opening in the motor case;

a motor controller connected to the motor for controlling operation of the motor, the motor controller comprising:
a digital signal processor; and
an isolated interface circuit communicatively coupled to the digital signal processor,

an AC to DC power conversion component for converting AC power from an external power source to DC power for powering the digital signal processor and the motor; and
an interface controller for communicating with the motor controller, the interface controller comprising:
a user interface for receiving user input commands;
a micro-controller connected to the user interface for receiving the user input commands therefrom and being connected to the motor controller for instructing the motor controller how to control operation of the motor; and
an integrated AC to DC power conversion component connected to the micro-controller for converting AC power received from the external power source to DC power,
the isolated interface circuit being connected between the digital signal processor and the micro-controller such that the digital signal processor is electrically isolated from the interface controller for providing fault protection to the digital signal processor,
the digital signal processor being configured to convert commands sent from the interface controller through the isolated interface circuit into motor controlling signals for controlling operation of the motor.

10. The motor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the interface controller and the motor controller are each configured to separately receive high voltage power from the external power source.

11. The motor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the interface controller is compatible with a number of different motor models.

12. The motor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the motor is a variable speed AC induction or permanent magnet motor and the interface controller is configured to allow a user to select a motor speed, motor torque, or other motor operating command via the user interface of the interface controller.

Assignees

• Nidec Motor Corp

Inventors

• Schock Christopher D
• Bomkamp Randy L

Classifications

• H02K11/05

  Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets · CPC title

• H02K11/33 Primary

  Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02K11/044

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02P6/085

  in a bridge configuration · CPC title

• H02P6/08

  Arrangements for controlling the speed or torque of a single motor (H02P6/10, H02P6/28 take precedence) · CPC title