Control system and methods for a multiparameter electronically commutated motor

A system for driving a component in response to a system control signal, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• a programmable memory for storing calibrating parameters representative of operation of said motor driving a predetermined load;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one calibrating parameter stored in the memory;
• means, responsive to the selected calibrating parameter and to the system control signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected calibration parameter and the system control signal.

A method for operating a system for driving a component of a heating ventilating, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to a system control signal provided by a central means, said system including a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a motor control signal;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• storing in a programmable memory parameters representative of the system;
• receiving a parameter select signal;
• selecting at least one of the parameters stored in the memory in response to the parameter select signal;
• and
• generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected parameter and the system control signal.

A method of operating a system for driving a component in response to a system control signal, said system having a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;

• said system comprising:
• storing in a programmable memory calibrating parameters representative of operation of said motor driving a predetermined load;
• receiving a parameter select signal;
• selecting at least one of the parameters stored in the memory in response to the parameter select signal;
• and
• generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected calibrating parameter and the system control signal.

A system for heating and/or cooling air comprising:

• means for generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature of the air;
• means for modifying the air temperature;
• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a motor control signal;
• a programmable memory for storing parameters representative of the system;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one of the parameters stored in the memory:
• means, including a microprocessor responsive to the selected parameter and to the temperature signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected parameter and the temperature signal;
• and
• an instruction memory for storing instructions controlling the operation of the microprocessor.

A method for calibrating a system for driving a component in response to a system control signal, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• a memory for storing parameters;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one of the parameters stored in the memory:
• means, responsive to the stored parameters and to the system control signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• operating the motor with a predetermined load;
• measuring parameters of the motor during operation;
• storing in the memory calibration parameters corresponding to the measured parameters;
• and
• controlling motor speed or torque as a function of the calibration parameters and the system control signal.

A method for operating an electronically commutated motor interconnected with a control having a memory for storing operating characteristics and having means, responsive to the memory and a system control signal, for controlling motor speed or torque;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• operating the motor and control with a predetermined load;
• measuring operating characteristics of the motor and control during operation;
• storing in the memory parameters representative of the load and information corresponding to the operating characteristics;
• receiving a parameter select signal;
• selecting at least one of the parameters stored in the memory in response to the parameter select signal;
• receiving the system control signal;
• and
• controlling motor speed or torque as a function of the stored information corresponding to the operating characteristics, the system control signal and the selected parameter.

A method of interrelationally calibrating a control having a programmable memory and an electronically controlled motor comprising the steps of:

• interconnecting the control and the motor;
• operating the interconnected control and motor under predetermined conditions;
• storing in the memory parameters representative of the predetermined conditions;
• receiving parameter select signal;
• selecting at least one of the parameters stored in the memory in response to the parameter select signal;
• sensing calibration information during said operating step;
• and
• storing in the memory operating characteristics corresponding to the sensed calibration information obtained during the sensing step and corresponding to the selected parameter so that the control circuit and its manufactured variations will be calibrated to the motor and its manufactured variations whereby the sensed calibration information is used in conjunction with subsequent operation of the control and the motor minimizing variations in control and motor characteristics caused by manufacturing.

A system for driving a component in response to a system control signal, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• a programmable memory for storing parameters defining direction of rotation fur operating said motor;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one parameter stored in the memory;
• and
• means, including a microprocessor responsive to the direction parameter and to the system control signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the direction parameter and the system control signal.

A system for driving a component in response to a system control signal, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• a programmable memory for storing parameters defining turn-on and turn-off time delays for operating said motor;
• and
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one parameter stored in the memory;
• and
• means, including a microprocessor responsive to the selected time delay parameter and to the system control signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected time delay parameter and the system control signal.

A system for driving a component in response to a system control signal, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• means for defining a reference current;
• a programmable memory for storing parameters defining a rate of linear increase of the reference current for operating said motor;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one parameter stored in the memory;
• and
• means, including a microprocessor responsive to the selected rate of linear increase parameter and to the system control signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque for starting said motor from standstill as a function of the selected rate of linear increase parameter and the system control signal.

A system for heating and/or cooling air comprising:

• means for generating a humidity signal representative of the humidity of the air;
• means for modifying the air humidity;
• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a motor control signal;
• a programmable memory for storing parameters representative of the system;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one parameter stored in the memory;
• means, including a microprocessor responsive to the selected parameter and to the humidity signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected parameter and the humidity signal;
• and
• an instruction memory for storing instructions controlling the operation of the microprocessor.

A system for driving a component of a heating ventilating, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to a system control signal provided by a central means, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly including windings and having a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• and
• means for starting said motor from a standstill, the motor starting means comprising:
• means for sequentially commutating the windings in a selected direction of rotation;
• and
• means for defining a reference current;
• means for detecting the current in one of the windings;
• and
• means for controlling the torque of the motor in response to a difference between the detected current and the reference current, said means for controlling linearly increasing the reference current from a minimum value to a maximum value, the minimum and maximum values and the duration of the linear increase being a predetermined function of the inertia of the load and the acceleration required for starting the motor from standstill.

A system for driving a component of a heating ventilating, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to a system control signal provided by a central means, said system comprising:

• a motor having a stationary assembly and a rotatable assembly in magnetic coupling relation to the stationary assembly, said rotatable assembly in driving relation to the component, said motor driving the component in response to a control signal;
• a programmable memory for storing calibrating parameters corresponding to the HVAC system and representative of operation of said motor driving a predetermined load;
• means for receiving a parameter select signal for selecting at least one calibrating parameter stored in the memory;
• means, including a microprocessor responsive to the selected calibrating parameter and to the system control signal, for generating control signals to control motor speed or torque as a function of the selected calibrating parameter and the system control signal such that the HVAC system delivers a substantially constant air flow.