Diagnostic function for brushless blower motor
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the performance of a motor for a blower unit positioned in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- sensing one or more physical parameters of the motor by way of one or more sensors located at the motor;
diagnosing, by a blower motor control module, the motor based on predefined criteria and the one or more physical parameters sensed by the sensors;
identifying, by the blower motor control module, a performance mode from among a plurality of modes based on the diagnosis, wherein the plurality of modes are predefined and stored in the blower motor control module, wherein the plurality of modes include a motor failure mode, a motor no failure mode, and a warning mode in which the motor is under specific characteristics that can or cannot result in motor failure;
determining, by the blower motor control module, a mode message based on a signal code protocol, wherein the mode message is indicative of the performance mode identified and the signal code protocol associates each of the plurality of modes with a different coded signal; and
outputting, by the blower motor control module, a diagnostic signal that includes the mode message to a climate control module located in the vehicle separate from the motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to a method for monitoring the performance of a blower motor for a blower unit positioned in a vehicle. The method may include: diagnosing the motor based on predefined criteria and one or more physical parameters sensed by one or more sensors; identifying a performance mode from among a plurality of modes based on the diagnosis, where the plurality of modes are predefined; determining a mode message based on a signal code protocol, where the mode message is indicative of the performance mode identified and the signal code protocol associates each of the plurality of modes with a different coded signal; and transmitting a diagnostic signal that includes the mode message to a climate control module located in the vehicle separate from the motor.
19 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the performance of a motor for a blower unit positioned in a vehicle, the method comprising:
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sensing one or more physical parameters of the motor by way of one or more sensors located at the motor; diagnosing, by a blower motor control module, the motor based on predefined criteria and the one or more physical parameters sensed by the sensors; identifying, by the blower motor control module, a performance mode from among a plurality of modes based on the diagnosis, wherein the plurality of modes are predefined and stored in the blower motor control module, wherein the plurality of modes include a motor failure mode, a motor no failure mode, and a warning mode in which the motor is under specific characteristics that can or cannot result in motor failure; determining, by the blower motor control module, a mode message based on a signal code protocol, wherein the mode message is indicative of the performance mode identified and the signal code protocol associates each of the plurality of modes with a different coded signal; and outputting, by the blower motor control module, a diagnostic signal that includes the mode message to a climate control module located in the vehicle separate from the motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A blower unit for a HVAC system provided in a vehicle, the HVAC system is controlled by a climate control module, the blower unit comprising:
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a blower motor operable to draw air into the HVAC system; and a blower motor control module including a driver and a diagnostic module, wherein the driver outputs a drive signal to the blower motor to operate the blower motor at a desired speed, and the diagnostic module diagnoses the blower motor with a performance mode identified from among a plurality of modes and transmits a diagnostic signal that includes a mode message indicative of the performance mode to the climate control module; wherein the plurality of modes include a motor failure mode, a motor no failure mode, and a warning mode in which the motor is under specific characteristics that can or cannot result in motor failure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification