System-specific interface module for motor control subassembly for electric motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016365818-A1
Application number	US-201615176941-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system-specific interface module for a motor control subassembly for controlling operation of an electric motor within a larger system which uses a particular system communication method. The motor control subassembly includes a standard power module and the interface module. The power module includes a controller processor configured to receive input for controlling and to generate output regarding operation of the motor. The interface module includes a communication interface hardware block configured to exchange input and output signals with the larger system, and an interface processor configured to translate the input and output signals between the particular system communication method used by the larger system and a standard internal communication method used by the power module. Thus, the motor control subassembly can be configured to accommodate any of a variety of different system communication methods and other input/output options by selecting and inserting the appropriate interface module.

First claim

1 . A system-specific interface module for a motor control subassembly for controlling operation of an electric motor within a larger system, wherein the larger system uses a particular system communication method, the motor control subassembly having a standard power module including—
a power converter configured to convert alternating current to direct current,
a controller processor configured to receive input for controlling operation of the electric motor and generate output regarding operation of the electric motor, and
a power inverter configured to convert the direct current to alternating current to drive the electric motor, and
the system-specific interface module comprising:
a communication interface hardware block configured to exchange input signals and output signals with the larger system using the particular system communication method; and
an interface processor configured to translate the input signals from the particular system communication method used by the larger system into a standard internal communication method used by the standard power module and to translate the output signals from the standard internal communication method used by the standard power module into the particular system communication method used by the larger system,
wherein the standard power module is not specifically configured to accommodate the particular system communication method, and the system-specific interface module is specifically configured to accommodate the particular system communication method.

2 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is selected from the group consisting of: three-phase, multi-pole alternating current induction motors, permanent magnet motors, and switched reluctance motors.

3 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the load is selected from the group consisting of: fans, pumps, blowers, and rotating drums.

4 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the larger system is a residential or commercial machine selected from the group consisting of: clothes dryers, clothes washers, ovens, heating units, ventilation units, air-conditioning units, refrigeration units, and pool pumps.

5 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system-specific interface module is connected to the standard power module by a header.

6 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system-specific interface module is connected to the standard power module by a wiring harness.

7 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , further including an isolation transformer, wherein isolated power is provided by the standard power module to the system-specific interface module via the isolation transformer.

8 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the particular system communication method is selected from the group consisting of: RS485, RS232, analog 0 V to 10 V, industrial (4 mA to 20 mA) current loop, pulse width modulation (PWM), 24 VAC 120 V/240 V, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 16 pin interface, and wireless.

9 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system-specific interface module is further configured to receive and translate input from a potentiometer into the standard internal communication method used by the standard power module.

10 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system-specific interface module is further configured to receive and translate input from a voltage sensor or a current sensor into the standard internal communication method used by the standard power module or into the particular system communication method used by the larger system.

11 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the interface processor communicates directly with the controller processor.

12 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system-specific interface module is provided on one or more printed circuit boards.

13 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 1 , further including an input element configured to receive an input signal from a sensor and to communication the input signal to the interface processor.

14 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the interface processor is further configured to translate the input signal into the standard internal communication method used by the standard power module.

15 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: speed sensors, voltage sensors, current sensors, temperature sensors, airflow sensors, and waterflow sensors.

16 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 13 , the system-specific interface module further including an output element configured to relay the input signal as an output signal to the larger system.

17 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the interface processor is further configured to translate the output signal into the particular system communication method used by the larger system.

18 . A system-specific interface module for a motor control subassembly for controlling operation of an electric motor configured to drive a load within a larger system, wherein the larger system uses a particular system communication method, the modular connector having a standard power module including—
a power converter configured to convert alternating current to direct current,
an isolation transformer configured to provide isolated power,
a controller processor configured to receive input for controlling operation of the electric motor and generate output regarding operation of the electric motor, and
a power inverter configured to convert the direct current to alternating current to drive the electric motor, and
the system-specific interface module comprising:
a communication interface hardware block configured to exchange input signals and output signals with the larger system using the particular system communication method; and
an interface processor configured to translate the input signals from the particular system communication method used by the larger system into a standard internal communication method used by the standard power module and to translate the output signals from the standard internal communication method used by the standard power module into the particular system communication method used by the larger system,
wherein the system-specific interface module is powered by the isolated power provided by the isolation transformer,
wherein the standard power module is not specifically configured to accommodate the particular system communication method, and the system-specific interface module is specifically configured to accommodate the particular system communication method.

19 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the load is selected from the group consisting of: fans, pumps, blowers, and rotating drums.

20 . The system-specific interface module as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the larger system is a residential or commercial machine selected from the group consisting of: clothes dryers, clothes washers, ovens, heating units, ventilation units, air-conditioning units, refrigeration units, and pool pumps.

21 . The system

Assignees

• Nidec Motor Corp

Inventors

• Shahi Prakash B
• Velayutham Anandan C
• Glenn Douglas D
• Schock Christopher D
• Skinner James L
• Bomkamp Randy L
• Carrier Mark E

Classifications

• H02K11/05 Primary

  Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets · CPC title

• H02K11/33

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

• H02K5/225

  Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132) · CPC title

• H02K11/35

  Devices for recording or transmitting machine parameters, e.g. memory chips or radio transmitters for diagnosis · CPC title

• H02P27/06 Primary

  using DC to AC converters or inverters (H02P27/05 takes precedence) · CPC title