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US 10,396,689 B2Granted
PCB-based motor starter
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAndrew John Jaap, Michael Lee Gasperi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A PCB motor controller comprises relays mounted on a PCB and interconnected to power traces in or on the PCB to receive incoming three-phase power and to output three-phase power to a motor. Control power traces in or on the PCB connect the relays to control circuitry, also mounted on the PCB. A power supply is mounted on the PCB and connected to the control circuitry to provide power for its operation and for switching of the relays. The relays are switched in accordance with a point-on-wave (POW) switching scheme, allowing for the use or relays and the PCB, which may not otherwise be suitable for motor control applications.
Claims19
A motor starter comprising:
- a printed circuit board having three phase conductors for conveying incoming three phase power from a source and for outputting three phase power to a three-phase AC electric motor;
- control circuitry mounted on and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board and receiving power from a power supply;
- and
- three single pole relays mounted on and electrically coupled to respective phase conductors to receive the incoming power and to provide the outgoing power when closed based upon signals from the control circuitry to start the electric motor;
- wherein the control circuitry is programmed to monitor a polarity of at least one of the phases of incoming power and to control timing for closing and/or opening of at least one of the relays based upon the monitored polarity;
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to control switching for at least one phase of incoming power based on polarity of incoming power.
3 more elements
A motor starter comprising:
- a printed circuit board having three phase conductors for conveying incoming three phase power from a source and for outputting three phase power to a three-phase AC electric motor;
- at least one current sensor that, in operation, detects current of the incoming power, and at least two voltage sensors that, in operation, detect voltage of the incoming power;
- control circuitry mounted on and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board and receiving power from a power supply;
- and
- three single pole relays mounted on and electrically coupled to respective phase conductors to receive the incoming power and to provide the outgoing power when closed based upon signals from the control circuitry to start the electric motor;
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to close and open the relays in accordance with a point-on-wave switching scheme based upon sensed parameters of current and/or voltage of the incoming three phase power;
- and
- wherein the control circuitry is programmed to monitor a polarity of at least one of the phases of incoming power based upon current and/or voltage detected by the current and/or voltage sensors, and to control timing for closing and/or opening of at least one of the relays based upon the monitored polarity;
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to control switching for at least one phase of incoming power based on polarity of incoming power.
6 more elements
A motor starter comprising:
- a printed circuit board having three phase conductors for conveying incoming three phase power from a source and for outputting three phase power to a three-phase AC electric motor;
- at least one current sensor that, in operation, detects current of the incoming power, and at least two voltage sensors that, in operation, detect voltage of the incoming power;
- control circuitry mounted on and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board and receiving power from a power supply;
- and
- three single pole relays mounted on and electrically coupled to respective phase conductors to receive the incoming power and to provide the outgoing power when closed, the relays each having a direct current operator that receives control signals from the control circuitry to switch in accordance with a point-on-wave switching scheme to close at desired times of an AC waveform of the incoming power and thereby complete current carrying paths from the source through the power conductors to the motor;
- wherein the control circuitry is programmed to monitor a polarity of at least one of the phases of incoming power based upon current and/or voltage detected by the current and/or voltage sensors, and to control timing for closing and/or opening of at least one of the relays based upon the monitored polarity;
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to control switching for at least one phase of incoming power based on polarity of incoming power.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.