System and computer-implemented method for controlling motor operation using programmable multiplexed tap logic

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10608577-B2
Application number	US-201916239349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2019
Priority date	Jan 9, 2018
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A system and computer-implemented method for improving controlling the operation of an alternating current electric motor using programmable multiplexed tap input logic. Programmed bit patterns and corresponding tap numbers are stored in a look-up table in a non-volatile electronic read-write memory element. Input channels are monitored for tap input signals, and an input bit pattern is formed based on the tap input signals. The input bit pattern is compared to the programmed bit patterns, and if the input bit pattern matches a particular programmed bit pattern, then a control signal is transmitted to activate the particular tap number which corresponds to the particular programmed bit pattern, thereby controlling the operation of the motor. If there is no active tap, then the motor is turned off. The programmed bit patterns and/or the corresponding tap numbers may be changed by writing to the look-up table in the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element.

First claim

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

1. A system for improving controlling operation of an electric motor using a programmable multiplexed tap input logic, the system comprising:
an input mechanism configured to allow for generating one or more tap input signals;
a plurality of input channels configured to receive the one or more tap input signals;
a non-volatile electronic read-write memory element configured to store a plurality of programmed bit patterns, with each programmed bit pattern corresponding to a particular tap number, wherein one or more of the programmed bit patterns or the corresponding tap numbers are changeable by writing to the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element;
a processing element configured to—
form an input bit pattern based on the one or more tap input signals received by the plurality of input channels,
compare the input bit pattern to the plurality of programmed bit patterns stored in the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element, and
if the input bit pattern matches a particular programmed bit pattern from the plurality of programmed bit patterns, then output a control signal to activate the particular tap number corresponding to the particular programmed bit pattern; and

a motor controller configured to control operation of the electric motor, including receiving the control signal and activating the particular tap number corresponding to the particular programmed bit pattern.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is an alternating current electric motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system and the electric motor are incorporated into a residential or commercial system selected from the group consisting of: gas or electric furnaces, air handlers, and outdoor condensers.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of programmed bit patterns and the corresponding tap numbers are stored in the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element in the form of a look-up table.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element and the processing element are incorporated into the motor controller.

6. The system of claim 1 , further including the electric motor.

7. A system for improving controlling operation of an alternating current electric motor using a programmable multiplexed tap input logic, the system comprising:
an input mechanism configured to allow for generating one or more tap input signals;
a plurality of input channels configured to receive the one or more tap input signals; and
a motor controller configured to control operation of the electric motor, and including—a non-volatile electronic read-write memory element configured to store a plurality of programmed bit patterns, with each programmed bit pattern corresponding to a particular tap number in a look-up table, wherein one or more of the programmed bit patterns or the corresponding tap numbers are changeable by writing to the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element;
a processing element configured to—
form an input bit pattern based on the one or more tap input signals received by the input channels,
compare the input bit pattern to the plurality of programmed bit patterns stored in the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element, and
if the input bit pattern matches a particular programmed bit pattern from the plurality of programmed bit patterns, then output a control signal to activate the particular tap number corresponding to the particular programmed bit pattern, thereby controlling operation of the alternating current electric motor,

wherein the system and the alternating current electric motor are incorporated into a residential or commercial system selected from the group consisting of: gas or electric furnaces, air handlers, and outdoor condensers.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of input channels are incorporated into the motor controller.

9. The system of claim 7 , further including the alternating current electric motor.

10. A computer-implemented method for improving controlling operation of an electric motor with a motor controller using a programmable multiplexed tap input logic, the computer-implemented method comprising:
performing by the motor controller the following actions—
initializing one or more variables,
monitoring a plurality of input channels for one or more tap input signals,
forming an input bit pattern based on the one or more tap input signals,
comparing the input bit pattern to a plurality of programmed bit patterns stored in a non-volatile electronic read-write memory element,
if the input bit pattern matches a particular programmed bit pattern from the plurality of programmed bit patterns, then outputting a control signal to activate the particular tap number which corresponds to the particular programmed bit pattern, thereby controlling operation of the electric motor, and
changing one or more of the programmed bit patterns or corresponding tap numbers by writing to the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor is an alternating current electric motor.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the system and the electric motor are incorporated into a residential or commercial system selected from the group consisting of: gas or electric furnaces, air handlers, and outdoor condensers.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of programmed bit patterns and the corresponding tap numbers are stored in the non-volatile electronic read-write memory element in the form of a look-up table.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein initializing one or more variables includes setting a flag to indicate that operation of the electric motor will be controlled based on the multiplexed tap inputs.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein initializing one or more variables includes populating an array with the plurality of programmed bit patterns and corresponding tap numbers.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further including if there is no active tap, the motor controller turning off the electric motor.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further including the step of continuously monitoring the plurality of input channels for one or more new tap input signals.

Assignees

• Nidec Motor Corp

Inventors

• Hernandez Hector M

Classifications

• H02P27/024 Primary

  using AC supply for only the rotor circuit or only the stator circuit · CPC title

• H02P31/00 Primary

  Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00 · CPC title