Packet-based networking of variable frequency drives
AssigneeKimidrive LLC
InventorsMichael Reda Samuel, Sami Boutros
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) are connected to a packet network and the power transistor drive signals normally generated by the VFD to produce a desired Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) motor drive signal are generated by a software controller located in the packet network and transmitted to the VFD. The control of the VFDs can be (1) centralized using some centralized software controller communicating to the VFDs over the packet network, and/or (2) distributed, in which case VFDs can peer with each other over the packet network, to communicate control state.
Claims40
A method of controlling one or more Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), each VFD configured to generate a Pulse Wdth Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, characterized by:
- for each controlled VFD, calculating a plurality of drive signals to switch a plurality of power transistors in the VFD for a first time interval, to generate a desired PWM signal;
- and
- wirelessly transmitting, in advance of the first time interval, the plurality of drive signals to respective VFDs in at least a main downlink (DL) frame of a transmission packet.
A controller configured to control one or more Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), each VFD configured to generate a Pulse Wdth Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, the controller comprising:
- a processor operatively connected to the wireless transceiver, and configured to:
- for each controlled VFD, calculate a plurality of drive signals to switch a plurality of power transistors in the VFD for a time interval, to generate a desired PWM signal;
- and
- wirelessly transmit the plurality of drive signals, to each controlled VFD, in advance of the time interval in which they are to be applied, in at least a main downlink (DL) frame of a transmission packet.
A method of generating a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, by a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controlled by a remote controller, comprising:
- wirelessly receiving from the controller, in a main downlink (DL) frame of a received packet, a plurality of drive signals for a time interval;
- and
- in a subsequent time interval, switching a plurality of power transistors, according to the received drive signals, to generate the PWM signal.
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) configured to generate a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, controlled by a remote controller, said VFD comprising:
- a transceiver;
- and
- a processor operatively connected to the wireless transceiver, and configured to:
- wirelessly receive from the controller, in a main downlink (DL) frame of a received packet, a plurality of drive signals for a time interval;
- and
- in a subsequent time interval, switch a plurality of power transistors, according to the received drive signals, to generate the PWM signal.
A method of controlling two or more Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), each VFD configured to generate a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, comprising, in each of a plurality of successive time intervals and for each controlled VFD:
- calculating a plurality of drive signals to switch a plurality of power transistors in a power section of the VFD for a subsequent time interval, to generate a desired PWM signal;
- wirelessly transmitting, the plurality of drive signals to the VFD in a single main downlink (DL) frame of a DL transmission packet, the DL frame instructing the VFD as to which of the plurality of power transistors are switched on and off in the subsequent time interval;
- and
- wherein the DL transmission packet for each VFD includes an individual identifier for the VFD and is transmitted over a packet-switched network.
A method of generating a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, by a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controlled by a remote controller, comprising:
- wirelessly receiving from the controller, in a first time interval, a single main downlink (DL) frame of a DL transmission packet containing a plurality of drive signals for switching a plurality of power transistors in a power section of the VFD in a subsequent time interval;
- and
- in the subsequent time interval, switching the plurality of power transistors, according to the received drive signals, to generate the PWM signal;
- and
- wherein the DL transmission packet for each VFD includes an individual identifier for the VFD and is transmitted over a packet-switched network.
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) configured to generate a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, wherein the VFD is controlled by a remote controller, the VFD comprising:
- a wireless transceiver;
- a processing circuit operatively connected to the wireless transceiver, and configured to:
- wirelessly receive from the controller, in a first time interval, a single main downlink (DL) frame of a DL transmission packet containing a plurality of drive signals for switching a plurality of power transistors in a power section of the VFD in a subsequent time interval;
- and
- in the subsequent time interval, switch the plurality of power transistors, according to the received drive signals, to generate the PWM signal;
- and
- wherein the DL transmission packet for each VFD includes an individual identifier for the VFD and is transmitted over a packet-switched network.
A controller configured to control two or more Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), each VFD configured to generate a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to drive a motor, the controller comprising:
- a wireless transceiver;
- a processing circuit operatively connected to the wireless transceiver, configured to, in
- each of a plurality of successive time intervals and for each controlled VFD:
- calculate a plurality of drive signals to switch a plurality of power transistors in a power section of the VFD for a subsequent time interval, to generate a desired PWM signal;
- wirelessly transmit, the plurality of drive signals to respective VFDs in a single main downlink (DL) frame of a DL transmission packet for the VFD, the DL frame instructs the VFD as to which of the plurality of power transistors are switched on and off in the subsequent time interval;
- and
- wherein the DL transmission packet for each VFD includes an individual identifier for the VFD and is transmitted over a packet-switched network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.