Motor controller system for battery-powered motors

A motor controller system for dc-powered motors comprised of a dc power source, a motor and corresponding circuit, said motor control system being effective to maximize motor efficiency and extend the life of said dc power source, and comprising:

• a. a current sensor device which measures the current of said motor and the rate of change of said current and generates a corresponding voltage signal;
• b. a programmable input/output processor which receives as input said current sensor voltage signal and a voltage signal from the dc power source voltage for said motor, compares one or more of said voltage signals to at least one corresponding control parameter, and, based upon said comparison, generates a control signal in the form of the duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal;
• c. a switching mechanism which receives said control signal and, based on said control signal, periodically interrupts said motor current and thereby makes adjustments to the operational parameters of said motor, said control signal further triggering an interrupt service routine which synchronizes the routine of said current sensor device and processor so that said routines occur after a fixed delay from completion of the routine of said switching mechanism;
• and
• d. a protection diode positioned in an additional circuit path parallel to both said sensor device for said motor current and said motor, said motor and said motor current sensor device being placed in series with said motor positioned between said switching mechanism and said motor current sensor device, said protection diode acting to dissipate current and voltage resulting from the inductance of said motor when said switching mechanism is open and thereby protect said switching mechanism from destructive high voltage.