Method and system for programming a motor controller

• US 20020151993A1
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Drives A/S (Danfoss A/S)
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Drives A/S (Danfoss A/S)
• Inventors: Krogh, Egon, Toennes, Michael, Olesen, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US10/129,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23409 Portable, detachable programmer has emulation for fixed control panel
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/0077 Characterised by the use of a particular software algorithm

Abstract

The invention relates to the programming of a motor controller by means of a configuration file which is sent to the motor controller. The configuration file is typically sent from a PC, but with this invention it is now possible to generate and to download the file directly to the motor controller from an Internet server. The Internet server is provided by the manufacturer of the motor controller and contains an interactive programming software, a motor controller database, a compiler and a transmitter unit. The invention makes up-dating and maintenance of the motor controller software quicker and easier as known so far.

Claims

1. A method for programming a motor controller where an operator before start-up of the motor controller generates a configuration file which is sent to the motor controller characterized in that the operator via a user interface interactively generates the configuration file on an Internet server and then downloads the configuration file to the motor controller, and where the operator on the Internet server performs the steps of

A) using an interactive programming software for the selection of configuration parameters

B) accessing a database containing data about motor controllers, which database is accessed and updated via the Internet by a manufacturer of the motor controller

C) using a compiler which generates the configuration file from selected configuration parameters and related data about motor controllers;

and

D) using a transmitter unit for sending the configuration file via the Internet

2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the user interface is a PC which contains Internet-browser-software, that the motor controller communicates with the PC, that the PC communicates with the Internet-server and that the operator via the Internet-browser-software activates the elements A-D.

3. Method according to claim 2 characterized in that the Internet-browser-software on activation of the transmitter unit on the Internet-server downloads the configuration file directly to the motor controller.

4. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the user interface is placed on the motor controller and that the program units A-D of the Internet-server are activated from this user interface.

5. A method according to claim 4 characterized in that the motor controller informs the Internet-server about the type of the user interface and/or the type of motor controller.

6. A method according to one of the previous claims characterized in that the motor controller communicates via a communication interface which is connected with the motor controller on one side and a PC or the Internet server on the other side.

7. Method according to claim 6 characterized in that the communication interface is a portable graphical user interface as for example a mobile telephone and that the portable graphical user interface is wirelessly connected with the motor controller or the PC or the Internet server.

8. System for programming a motor controller where the motor controller is programmed with a configuration file which is sent to the motor controller characterized in that the system contains a user interface (4, 14) and that the configuration file is generated on an Internet server (7) via this user interface, and that the Internet server contains the following elements:

(A) an interactive programming software (8) for the selection of configuration parameters

(B) a database (10) containing data about motor controllers, which database is accessed and updated via the Internet by a manufacturer of the motor controller

(C) a compiler (11) for generating the configuration file from selected configuration parameters and relevant data about motor controllers

(D) a transmitting unit (12) for sending the configuration file via the Internet

9. System according to claim 8 characterized in that the user interface is a PC (4) with Internet-browser-software, that the motor controller (1) communicates with the PC, that the PC communicates with the Internet-server (7) and that an operator via the Internet-browser-software activates the elements A-D (8, 10, 11, 12).

10. System according to claim 8 characterized in that the user interface (14) is placed on the motor controller (1), or in a portable communication unit outside the motor controller, and that the programming units A-D (8, 10, 11, 12) of the Internet server are activated from this user interface.

11. System according to one of the claims 8-10 characterized in that the data-base (10) incorporates application specific data.