Method and Apparatus for Communication in a Motor Drive Application

A method for managing communication of real-time control data in a motor drive application, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data formatted in one of a first data protocol, a second data protocol, and a third data protocol at one of a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port of a network switching device embedded in a motor drive;
• identifying the data as belonging to one of a first data type, a second data type, and a third data type with a controller in the embedded network switching device, wherein the first data type corresponds to data formatted in the first data protocol, the second data type corresponds to data formatted in the second data protocol, and the third data type corresponds to data formatted in the third data protocol;
• and
• transmitting the data received to another of the first port, second port, third port, and fourth port as a function of the data type, wherein the first data type is real-time control data requiring deterministic communications and wherein the first data type is transmitted between at least one control device external to the motor drive and a network interface of the motor drive.

A system for managing communication of real-time control data in a motor drive application, the system comprising:

• a motor drive including a first embedded network switching device, the first embedded network switching device including:
• a first controller,
• a first port in communication with the first controller and configured to be connected to an industrial network,
• a second port in communication with the first controller and configured to be connected to at least one control device for real-time communication of control data,
• a third port in communication with the first controller and configured to be connected to the industrial network, and
• a fourth port in communication with the first controller and configured to be connected to a network interface of the motor drive, wherein the first controller is operative to receive data formatted in one of a plurality of data protocols at any one of the first, second, third, and fourth ports and to transfer the data to another of the first, second, third, and fourth ports as a function of the data protocol in which the data was received;
• and
• a motor including a second embedded network switching device, wherein the motor is the at least one control device to which the second port of the first embedded network switching device is connected, the second embedded network switching device including:
• a second controller,
• a fifth port in communication between the second controller and the second port, and
• a sixth port in communication with the second controller and configured to be connected to a sensing device, wherein the second controller receives real time control data from the fifth port and sensing data from the sixth port.