Methods and apparatus for electric motor controller protection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of protecting a motor controller of an electric motor, said method comprising:
- determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor by integrating the voltage dropped across the shunt resistor with respect to time using an integrator and apply the integrated voltage to an analog-to-digital converter; and
measuring at least one voltage;
determining, with the processing device, an average input voltage applied to the motor based on the at least one measured voltage;
multiplying the average input current by the average input voltage to determine an average input power; and
setting a maximum power limit for the motor controller based on the average input power.
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Abstract
A method for monitoring input power to an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The method includes determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor, the average input current based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor, measuring an average input voltage applied to the motor utilizing the processing device, multiplying the average input current by the average voltage to determine an approximate input power, and communicating the average input power to an external interface.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of protecting a motor controller of an electric motor, said method comprising:
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determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor based on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor by integrating the voltage dropped across the shunt resistor with respect to time using an integrator and apply the integrated voltage to an analog-to-digital converter; and measuring at least one voltage; determining, with the processing device, an average input voltage applied to the motor based on the at least one measured voltage; multiplying the average input current by the average input voltage to determine an average input power; and setting a maximum power limit for the motor controller based on the average input power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electric motor comprising:
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a rotor; a plurality of windings for causing a rotation of said rotor; and a motor control circuit comprising; a switching circuit operable to selectively couple said windings to a power source; a shunt resistor in series with said switching circuit; and a processing device programmed to; determine an average input current to said motor based on a voltage drop across said shunt resistor by integrating the voltage dropped across said shunt resistor with respect to time using an integrator and apply the integrated voltage to an analog-to-digital converter; determine an average input voltage applied to said motor based on at least one voltage measurement; multiply the average input current by the average input voltage to determine an average input power; and set a maximum power limit for said motor control circuit based on the average input power. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification