SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR WIRELESSLY COMMUNICATING WITH ELECTRIC MOTORS

• US 20140079564A1
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Inventors: Becerra, Roger Carlos, Beifus, Brian L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,006,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0693 Details or arrangements of the wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity

Abstract

An electric motor communication system for use with a fluid moving system is provided. The electric motor communication system includes an electric motor including a wireless communication device configured to transmit and receive wireless signals, and a processing device coupled to the wireless communication device and configured to control the electric motor based at least in part on wireless signals received at the wireless communication device. The electric motor communication system further includes at least one external device configured to communicate wirelessly with the electric motor.

Claims

1. An electric motor communication system for use with a fluid moving system, said electric motor communication system comprising:

an electric motor comprising;

a wireless communication device configured to transmit and receive wireless signals; and

a processing device coupled to said wireless communication device and configured to control said electric motor based at least in part on wireless signals received at said wireless communication device; and

at least one external device configured to communicate wirelessly with said electric motor.

2. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one external device is a system controller configured to transmit wireless signals that include at least one of configuration data for said electric motor and control commands for said electric motor.

3. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said system controller is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system controller.

4. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one external device is a diagnostic tool configured to wirelessly collect diagnostic information from said electric motor.

5. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one external device is a thermostat including a plurality of user-selectable modes and configured to transmit wireless signals to said electric motor that cause said electric motor to operate in accordance with a selected mode of the plurality of user-selectable modes.

6. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one external device is a sensor configured to wirelessly transmit sensor measurements to said electric motor.

7. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said sensor is at least one of a CO/NO_x sensor, a CO₂ sensor, a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor, a diagnostic sensor, an indoor air quality (IAQ) sensor, and a sensor that measures at least one operating parameter of said electric motor.

8. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one external device is a database server configured to wirelessly receive and store information from said electric motor.

9. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip, and wherein said at least one external device is an RFID reader.

10. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said RFID reader is configured to update configuration data stored on said RFID chip by wirelessly transmitting updated configuration data to said RFID chip.

11. An electric motor communication system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said electric motor further comprises a motor control connector, and wherein said RFID chip is installed on said motor control connector.

12. An electric motor for use in a fluid-moving system, said electric motor comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to transmit and receive wireless signals to and from at least one external device; and

a processing device coupled to said wireless communication device and configured to control said electric motor based at least in part on wireless signals received at said wireless communication device.

13. An electric motor in accordance with claim 12, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to transmit and receive wireless signals to and from at least one of a system controller, a thermostat, a diagnostic tool, a database server, and a sensor.

14. An electric motor in accordance with claim 12, wherein said wireless communication device is a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip configured to communicate wirelessly with an RFID reader.

15. An electric motor in accordance with claim 14, further comprising a daughterboard comprising said wireless communication device and said processing device, said daughterboard coupled to a controller of said electric motor.

16. An electric motor in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a substantially transparent holder, wherein said substantially transparent holder facilitates maintaining a connection between said daughterboard and said controller.

17. A method of operating an electric motor in a fluid-moving system, said method comprising:

communicatively coupling the electric motor to at least one external device, the electric motor including a wireless communication device and a processing device coupled to the wireless communication device;

receiving, at the wireless communication device, wireless signals from the at least one external device; and

controlling, using the processing device, the electric motor based at least in part on the received wireless signals.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein receiving wireless signals from the at least one external device comprises receiving wireless signals from a system controller.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein receiving wireless signals from the at least external device comprises receiving wireless signals from a thermostat that includes a plurality of user-selectable modes and wherein the wireless signals specify a selected mode of the plurality of user-selectable modes.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein receiving wireless signals comprises receiving wireless signals that include configuration data for the electric motor.