Method and apparatus for communication with a motor or load mounted device in motion applications

A communication module configured to be mounted proximate to a motor for use in controlling operation of the motor, the communication module comprising:

• an Ethernet communication interface;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a duration of a first periodic interval from a motor controller, wherein the motor controller is operative to execute a control module at the first periodic interval to determine a voltage for a motor connected to the motor controller,
• execute a second periodic interval at the duration of the first periodic interval,
• synchronize the second periodic interval of the communication module to the first periodic interval in the motor controller,
• obtain a sampled value of an encoder feedback signal at a start of the second periodic interval, wherein the encoder feedback signal is generated by an encoder mounted to the motor and wherein the encoder feedback signal corresponds to an angular position of the motor,
• receive a position read request from the motor controller, wherein the position read request is transmitted from the motor controller at the first periodic interval, and
• transmit the sampled value of the encoder feedback signal to the motor controller in response to receiving the position read request, wherein the motor controller is configured to output the voltage to the motor to control operation of the motor responsive to receiving the encoder feedback signal from the communication module.

A method for communicating at least one feedback signal between a motor controller and at least one device mounted proximate to a motor operatively connected to the motor controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting a duration of a second periodic interval, executing on a communication module mounted in the motor, equal to a duration of a first periodic interval, executing on the motor controller, wherein the communication module comprises an Ethernet communication interface;
• synchronizing the second periodic interval with the first periodic interval;
• sampling a position feedback signal received from an encoder at the communication module at a start of the second periodic interval, wherein the position feedback signal is generated by an encoder mounted to the motor and wherein the position feedback signal corresponds to an angular position of the motor;
• receiving a position read request from the motor controller at the communication module, wherein the position read request is transmitted from the motor controller at the first periodic interval;
• and
• transmitting the position feedback signal sampled at the start of the second periodic interval from the communication module to the motor controller responsive to the position read request, wherein the motor controller is configured to:
• execute a control module at the first periodic interval to determine a voltage for the motor connected to the motor controller, and
• output the voltage to the motor to control operation of the motor responsive to receiving the position feedback signal from the communication module.