Systems and methods for controlling operations of a motor

• US 8,378,618 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verde Smart Motors Inc.
• Original Assignee: SNTech Incorporated
• Inventors: Zavodny, Stephen A., Zumstein, Jared D., Morales, Luis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGARED, GABRIEL T
• Application Number:
  US12/708,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20110204832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 318/772, 318/778, 318/779
• US Class Current: 318/779
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/0004 Control strategies in general, e.g. linear type, e.g. P, PI, PID, using robust control

Abstract

A method for controlling a motor is described. The method includes configuring a current sensor to sense a current supplied to the motor from at least one of a plurality of power lines and to generate at least one current signal indicative of the sensed current. The method also includes coupling a processing device to the current sensor such that the processing device receives the current signal. The method also includes configuring the processing device to determine which of the plurality of power lines is active based at least partially on the current signal and generate a motor speed control signal that directs the motor to operate at the motor speed that corresponds to the active power line.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a motor comprising:

configuring a current sensor to sense a current supplied to the motor from at least one of a plurality of power lines and to generate at least one current signal indicative of the sensed current;

coupling a processing device to the current sensor such that the processing device receives the at least one current signal; and

configuring the processing device to;

determine which of the plurality of power lines is active based at least partially on the at least one current signal, and

generate a motor speed control signal that directs the motor to operate at the motor speed that corresponds to the active power line, wherein a first active power line of the plurality of power lines corresponds to a first motor speed and a second active power line of the plurality of power lines corresponds to a second motor speed.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising providing an operating power to the motor from one of the plurality of power lines.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein configuring a current sensor comprises configuring a Hall effect current sensor to sense the current supplied to the motor.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein configuring the processing device to determine which of a plurality of power lines is active comprises configuring the processing device to determine which of a high speed input power line and a low speed input power line is active, the high speed input power line corresponding to high speed operation of the motor and the low speed input power line corresponding to low speed operation of the motor.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein configuring a current sensor comprises configuring at least one of a current transformer and a resistive shunt current sensor to sense the current supplied to the motor.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising configuring at least one input device to receive a motor speed selection input from at least one of a remote interface and a user selection input device and provide the motor speed selection input to the processing device.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising configuring the processing device to output a motor speed control signal based on at least one of the active power line determination, a selection from the user selection input device, and a signal from the remote interface.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising configuring the processing device to determine on which of the received signals to base the motor speed control signal based at least partially on a stored hierarchy of received signals.

9. A motor control system comprising:

a current sensing device coupled to at least a high speed power line and a low speed power line, said current sensing device also coupled to at least one of a motor and a motor control unit, said current sensing device configured to sense at least one of a current supplied to the motor by the high speed power line and a current supplied to the motor by the low speed power line; and

a processing device coupled to said current sensing device and configured to receive at least one current signal from said current sensing device, the at least one current signal corresponding to the current sensed by said current sensing device, said processing device configured to determine which of the high speed power line and the low speed power line is active based at least partially on the at least one current signal.

10. A motor control system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said current sensing device comprises at least one of a Hall effect current sensor, a current transformer, and a resistive shunt current sensor.

11. A motor control system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processing device is further configured to:

generate a motor speed control signal based at least partially on which of the high speed power line and the low speed power line is active; and

provide the motor speed control signal to the at least one of a motor and a motor control unit.

12. A motor control system in accordance with claim 9 further comprising an input device coupled to said processing device, said input device configured to generate a motor speed control signal for delivery to said processing device.

13. A motor control system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said input device is configured to receive an input from at least one of a remote interface and a user selection input device.

14. A motor control system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said user selection input device comprises a plurality of buttons configured to receive a motor speed selection from a user.

15. A motor control system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said remote interface is a timer configured to generate a motor speed control signal dependent upon predefined time periods.

16. A motor control system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said processing device is further configured to determine, based on a stored decision hierarchy, whether to base a motor speed control signal on the active power line determination, the user selection input device, or the remote interface.

17. A motor control system in accordance with claim 9 configured to use electrical power received from the high speed power line and the low speed power line to power and control operation of an electronically commutated motor.

18. A motor system comprising:

an electric motor;

a motor controller coupled to said electric motor and configured to control operation of said electric motor based on a received motor speed control signal; and

a user interface coupled to said motor controller, said user interface comprising;

a current sensing device coupled to said motor controller and a plurality of power supply lines, said current sensing device configured to sense a current supplied to the electric motor, and

a processing device coupled to said current sensing device and configured to determine which of the plurality of power supply lines is currently active, to generate the motor speed control signal that corresponds to the active power supply line, and to provide the motor speed control signal to said motor controller.

19. A motor system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said electric motor is an electronically commutated motor.

20. A motor system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said user interface is configured to facilitate using the electric power supplied by the plurality of power supply lines to power and control operation of the electronically commutated motor.