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:
• execute at a first periodic interval,
• synchronize the first periodic interval of the communication module to a second periodic interval in a motor controller operatively connected to the motor,
• obtain a sampled value of an encoder feedback signal at a start of the first 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 second 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 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:

• synchronizing a second periodic interval executing on a communication module mounted in the motor with a first periodic interval executing on the motor controller;
• sampling a position feedback signal received from an encoder at the communication module, wherein the sampling occurs at a start of the second periodic interval;
• receiving a position read request from the motor controller at the communication module;
• 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.