Human interface module for motor drive
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsScott D. Braun, Wanda J. Miller, Calvin C. Steinweg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power electronics device with an improved human interface module (HIM) is provided. More specifically, a motor drive is provided that includes a HIM with a portable memory device that stores the programming configuration of the motor drive. The improved HIM with portable memory enables improved techniques for quickly and efficiently updating the programming configuration of one or several motor drives.
Claims43
A method for programming a motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that, in operation, converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, comprising:
- storing a programming configuration for driving the electric motor and controlling operation of the human interface module;
- prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor, coupling a flash memory to the motor drive, the motor drive being separate from the electric motor to be driven by the motor drive;
- and
- prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor, transferring a programming configuration to the flash memory of the motor drive based on the programming configuration, the programming configuration, in operation, determining operating characteristics of the motor drive.
A motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, comprising:
- drive circuitry separate from the electric motor to be driven by the motor drive, the drive circuitry configured to output an output power waveform that in operation drives the electric motor;
- a flash memory that, in operation, stores programming configuration for controlling the electric motor;
- and
- a memory port communicatively coupled to the drive circuitry and to the human interface module, wherein the memory port is configured to enable the flash memory to be added and removed from the assembled motor drive, wherein the flash memory, in operation, is configured to receive and store the programming configuration prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor.
A method for programming a motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, comprising:
- prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor, storing a programming configuration on a flash memory of the motor drive, the programming configuration for driving the electric motor and controlling operation of the human interface module;
- and
- removing the flash memory from the motor drive and installing the flash memory including the programming configuration in a second motor drive for driving the same electric motor.
A system for programming a motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, comprising:
- a flash memory configured to store a programming configuration for driving the electric motor and controlling operation of the human interface module prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor;
- and
- a second motor drive configured to receive the flash memory prior to placing the second motor drive in service to drive the same electric motor and to utilize the programming configuration stored on the flash memory for controlling the electric motor.
A method of installing a programming configuration of a motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, the motor drive separate from the electric motor to be driven by the motor drive, comprising:
- prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor, loading a programming configuration stored on a flash memory, the programming configuration for driving the electric motor and controlling operation of the human interface module;
- and
- prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor, installing the flash memory in the motor drive.
A motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, comprising:
- drive circuitry separate from the electric motor to be driven by the motor drive, wherein the motor drive is configured to output an output power waveform for driving the electric motor;
- a memory port communicatively coupled to the drive circuitry;
- and
- a flash memory installable and removable from the memory port and storing programming configuration for control of the motor drive;
- wherein the flash memory is installable in the memory port while storing the programming configuration but prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor.
A method for programming a plurality of motor drives having rectifiers that in operation convert alternating current (AC) voltage inputs to direct current (DC) voltage outputs and inverters that in operation convert the DC voltage outputs to controlled frequency AC outputs to drive a plurality of electric motors, and at least one human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the plurality of electric motors, comprising:
- transferring programming configuration stored on flash memory to a respective flash memory of a plurality of motor drives that are separate from a plurality of motors to be driven by the respective motor drives, the programming configuration for driving the plurality of electric motors, the transferring occurring prior to placing each of the motor drive in service to drive a respective electric motor.
A system for programming a plurality of motor drives having rectifiers that in operation convert alternating current (AC) voltage inputs to direct current (DC) voltage outputs and inverters that in operation convert the DC voltage outputs to controlled frequency AC outputs to drive a plurality of electric motors, and at least one human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the plurality of electric motors, comprising:
- a plurality of motor drives separate from a plurality of motors to be driven by the respective motor drives, each motor drive comprising an external port for receiving flash memory;
- a plurality of flash memories configured to store programming configuration for operation of the motor drives in driving the respective electric motors;
- wherein each flash memory unit is configured to receive the programming configuration prior to placing the motor drives in service to drive the respective electric motors, and to allow an operator to update programming configuration of each motor drive after coupling the motor drive to the respective electric motor.
A method of updating a programming configuration of a motor drive separate from a motor to be driven by the motor drive, the motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, comprising:
- restricting access to a first set of operating parameters of the motor drive to a programmer of the motor drive;
- customizing the motor drive for a control system application by manipulating the first set of operating parameters, wherein customizing the first set of operating parameters comprises updating the first set of operating parameters by transferring a configuration file to a flash memory prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor;
- and
- after coupling the motor drive to the electric motor, enabling an operator to access to a second set of operating parameters of the motor drive via a human interface module, that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor.
A motor drive having a rectifier that in operation converts an alternating current (AC) voltage input to a direct current (DC) voltage output and an inverter that in operation converts the DC voltage output to a controlled frequency AC output to drive an electric motor, and a human interface module that in operation displays settings for driving the electric motor, the motor drive separate from the electric motor to be driven by the motor drive, comprising:
- a memory port communicatively coupled to drive circuitry, wherein the memory port is configured to enable a flash memory storing programming configuration to be added and removed from the assembled motor drive after loading the programming configuration on the flash memory but prior to placing the motor drive in service to drive the electric motor;
- and
- the drive circuitry configured to output an output power waveform for driving the electric motor;
- wherein access to a first set of operating parameters of the motor drive is restricted, and second set of operating parameters of the motor drive is accessible to be customized via the human interface module after coupling the motor drive to the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.