Digital communication link
First Claim
1. A method for interfacing an electric motor to a controller using an electrical interface circuit, the interface circuit including a controller circuit and a motor control circuit, the controller circuit including a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit, the motor control circuit including a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit, and the interface circuit electrically coupled to the controller and the electric motor, said method comprising the steps of:
- coupling the motor control circuit directly to the electric motor, wherein the motor control circuit is separate from the controller;
adjusting a level of a first signal received from the controller that is separate from a thermostat configured to communicate a temperature to the controller;
converting, by the interface circuit, the first signal received from the controller to generate a second signal including a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein the controller is coupled via the interface circuit to a microcontroller located within the electric motor comprising an electronically commutated motor;
outputting the second signal to control the electric motor, wherein said outputting the second signal comprises outputting, by the interface circuit, the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor;
receiving, by the motor control circuit, a third signal from the electric motor; and
transmitting the third signal from the electric motor to the controller.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A serial interface circuit electrically connected to a controller to control an electric motor. The interface circuit includes a controller circuit and a motor circuit. The controller circuit includes a transmitter and a receiver circuit, and the motor circuit includes a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit. The interface interrogates the motor to acquire status and diagnostic information by receiving commands from the controller, adjusts a voltage level to a desired level, outputs the voltage signal to command and control the motor, and receives a voltage response from the motor.
73 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for interfacing an electric motor to a controller using an electrical interface circuit, the interface circuit including a controller circuit and a motor control circuit, the controller circuit including a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit, the motor control circuit including a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit, and the interface circuit electrically coupled to the controller and the electric motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling the motor control circuit directly to the electric motor, wherein the motor control circuit is separate from the controller; adjusting a level of a first signal received from the controller that is separate from a thermostat configured to communicate a temperature to the controller; converting, by the interface circuit, the first signal received from the controller to generate a second signal including a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein the controller is coupled via the interface circuit to a microcontroller located within the electric motor comprising an electronically commutated motor; outputting the second signal to control the electric motor, wherein said outputting the second signal comprises outputting, by the interface circuit, the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; receiving, by the motor control circuit, a third signal from the electric motor; and transmitting the third signal from the electric motor to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrical interface circuit comprising:
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a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit further configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electric motor comprising an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to output the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electric motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit comprising a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals generated by said electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electrical interface circuit for a HVAC system comprising an electronically commutated motor, said electrical interface comprising:
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a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to communicate the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electronically commutated motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit coupled to said controller interface circuit by using a serial four-wire communications cable, said motor control interface circuit including a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals from said electronically commutated motor, said second transmitter circuit including a first optocoupler, and said second receiver circuit including a second optocoupler, said first and second optocouplers configured to isolate signals between said motor control interface circuit and said electronically commutated motor, and said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire status and diagnostic information. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. An electrical interface circuit for a HVAC system comprising an electronically commutated motor, said electrical interface comprising:
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a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to communicate the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electronically commutated motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit coupled to said controller interface circuit by using a digital wireless interface, said motor control interface circuit including a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals from said electronically commutated motor, said second transmitter circuit including a first optocoupler, said second receiver circuit including a second optocoupler, said first and second optocouplers configured to isolate signals between said motor control interface circuit and said electronically commutated motor, and said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire status and diagnostic information. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification