Control signal and power bus connector arrangement for a multi-axis motor control

In a motor control system including a motor control unit including a first line of output connectors including a first pair of power connectors, and a first axis module including a first line of input connectors electrically connected to the first line of output connectors and including a second pair of power connectors connected to the first pair of power connectors, and a second line of output connectors parallel to the first line of input connectors and including a third pair of power connectors connected to the second pair of power connectors, a second axis module comprising:

• a second line of input connectors electrically connected to the second line of output connectors and including a fourth pair of power connectors connected to the third pair of power connectors;
• and
• a third line of output connectors parallel to the second line of input connectors and including a fifth pair of power connectors connected to the fourth pair of power connectors;
• wherein each line of connectors includes a first set of communication connectors adjacent a second set of communication connectors, and a third set of communication connectors, the first sets of communication connectors in the first output line and the first input line being connected, the second set of communication connectors in the first input line being connected with the first set of the communication connectors on the second output line, the first set of communications connectors on the second output line being connected to the first set of communications connectors on the second input line, the second set of communications connectors on the second input line being connected with the first set of communications connectors on the third output line, and the third set of communication connectors from all lines being connected.

An axis module of the type including electric motor control circuitry, the module comprising:

• a first line of at least twenty-two connectors;
• and
• a second line of at least eighteen connectors parallel to the first line;
• wherein the bottom two connectors of the first and second lines are power connectors, the bottom four connectors of the first and second lines are electrically connected;
• the top four connectors of the first line are electrically connected to the motor control circuitry, the bottom four of the top eight connectors of the first line are electrically connected to the top four connectors of the second line, the bottom four of the top twelve connectors of the first line are electrically connected to the bottom four of the top eight connectors of the second line, and the bottom four of the top sixteen connectors of the first line are electrically connected to the bottom four of the top twelve connectors of the second line.

A motor control system comprising:

• a motor control unit including housing having a first face surface bounded by a first side, and a first line of electrical connectors disposed at and parallel to the first side;
• a first axis module including a second housing having a second face surface having a width bounded by second and third sides, and second and third lines of electrical connectors mechanically supported by a first support having a width at least as narrow as the width, the first support being slidably supported by the first axis module at the second face;
• a second axis module including a third housing having a third face surface having the width bounded by fourth and fifth sides, and fourth and fifth lines of electrical connectors mechanically supported by a second support having a width at least as narrow as the width, the second support being slidably supported by the second axis module at the third face;
• and
• a mechanical support configured to support the control unit and modules such that the first, second and third faces lay in generally the same plane, the first and second side substantially abut, and the third and forth sides substantially abut, wherein the first support overlaps the first face when the first and second lines of connectors are electrically connected, and the second support overlaps the second face when the third and forth lines of connectors are electrically connected.

In a motor control system including a motor control unit including housing having a first face surface bounded by a first side, and a first line of electrical connectors disposed at and parallel to the first side;

• a first axis module including a second housing having a second face surface having a width bounded by second and third sides, and second and third lines of electrical connectors mechanically supported by a first support having a width at least as narrow as the width, the first support being slidably supported by the first axis module at the second face;
• and a mechanical support;
• a second axis module comprising:
• a third housing having a third face surface having the width bounded by fourth and fifth sides;
• a second support having a width at least as narrow as the width, the second support being slidably supported by the second axis module at the third face;
• and
• fourth and fifth lines of electrical connectors mechanically supported by the second support;
• wherein the mechanical support is configured to support the control unit and modules such that the first, second and third faces lay in generally the same plane, the first and second side substantially abut, and the third and forth sides substantially abut, wherein the first support overlaps the first face when the first and second lines of connectors are electrically connected, and the second support overlaps the second face when the third and forth lines of connectors are electrically connected.