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US 9,048,776 B2Granted
Modular motor drive configuration system and method
AssigneeRockwell Automation Asia Pacific Business Center Pte. Ltd.
InventorsDonald Yuen Leong Tio, Jimmy See Yong Koh, Scott Miles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor drive system includes a power sub-assembly that comprises power electronic components and driver circuitry for controlling gate drive signals to the power electronic components. A control sub-assembly is removably mounted to the power sub-assembly and comprises control circuitry for implementing a motor control routine for control of an electric motor. In operation, all control signals originate in the control-subassembly, and are transmitted via mating connectors to the power sub-assembly for driving the motor.
Claims18
A motor drive system comprising:
- a power subassembly including power electronic switches controllable to provide controlled frequency AC power to an electric motor, and driver circuitry configured to apply gate drive signals to the power electronic switches;
- and
- a control subassembly separable from the power subassembly but physically configured to be toollessly attached to the power subassembly and to make electrical connections with the power subassembly when attached, the control subassembly including a user interface and control circuitry that, in operation, applies control signals to the drive circuitry for controlling the power electronic switches, wherein the power and control subassemblies comprise mating multi-conductor connectors that mate when the control subassembly is attached to the power subassembly to convey signals between the power and control subassemblies.
A motor drive system comprising:
- a control subassembly separable from but physically configured to be toollessly attached to a power subassembly and to make electrical connections with the power subassembly when attached, the control subassembly including a user interface and control circuitry that, in operation, applies control signals to drive circuitry within the power subassembly for controlling power electronic switches to provide controlled frequency AC power to an electric motor;
- and
- a multi-conductor connector that mates with a complementary connector of the power subassembly when the control subassembly is attached to the power subassembly to convey signals between the power and control subassemblies.
A motor drive method comprising:
- connecting a power subassembly to an electric motor, the power subassembly including power electronic switches controllable to provide controlled frequency AC power to an electric motor, and driver circuitry configured to apply gate drive signals to the power electronic switches;
- and
- toollessly attaching a programmed control subassembly to the power subassembly to make electrical connections with the power subassembly, the control subassembly including a user interface and control circuitry that, in operation, applies control signals to the drive circuitry for controlling the power electronic switches;
- and
- prior to attaching the programmed control subassembly to the power subassembly, configuring the control subassembly via a configuration station connected to a connector interface on a side of the control subassembly that faces the power subassembly when the control assembly is attached to the power subassembly.
2 more elements
A motor drive system comprising:
- a power subassembly including power electronic switches controllable to provide controlled frequency AC power to an electric motor, and driver circuitry configured to apply gate drive signals to the power electronic switches;
- a control subassembly separable from the power subassembly but physically configured to be toollessly attached to the power subassembly and to make electrical connections with the power subassembly when attached, the control subassembly including a user interface and control circuitry that, in operation, applies control signals to the drive circuitry for controlling the power electronic switches, wherein the power and control subassemblies comprise mating multi-conductor connectors that mate when the control subassembly is attached to the power subassembly to convey signals between the power and control subassemblies;
- and
- wherein the control subassembly is configured to be removed from the power subassembly for connection to a configuration station, and to be attached to the power subassembly following configuration.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.