MEMS based motor starter with motor failure detection
First Claim
1. A motor starter comprising:
- control circuitry integrally arranged with at least one current path;
a processor included in the control circuitry;
a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the at least one current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate control of an electrical current passing through the at least one current path; and
a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the MEMS switch with an occurrence of a zero crossing of at least one of an alternating electrical current passing through the at least one current path and an alternating voltage of the at least one current path relative to an absolute zero reference.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motor starter is disclosed. The motor starter includes control circuitry integrally arranged with at least one current path and a processor included in the control circuitry. The motor starter further includes at least one processor algorithm residing on the processor, the at least one processor algorithm containing instructions to monitor characteristics of current on the at least one current path and to provide data pertaining to a condition of the at least one current path. The motor starter further includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the at least one current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the control of an electrical current, passing through the at least one current path.
62 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A motor starter comprising:
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control circuitry integrally arranged with at least one current path; a processor included in the control circuitry; a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed in the at least one current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate control of an electrical current passing through the at least one current path; and a soft-switching circuit to synchronize a change in state of the MEMS switch with an occurrence of a zero crossing of at least one of an alternating electrical current passing through the at least one current path and an alternating voltage of the at least one current path relative to an absolute zero reference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An early warning motor protection method, comprising:
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receiving information at a processor pertaining to an electrical current in a current path integrally arranged with control circuitry, the control circuitry including the processor and configured to control the electrical current with a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch responsive to the control circuitry; storing historical performance data based on the received information at a memory operatively connected to the processor; calculating an operational condition of the current path at the processor based on the stored historical performance data; and indicating the operational condition of the current path to provide early warning motor protection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification