Processing unit

• US 20090160387A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower Nv (Atlas Copco AB)
• Original Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower Nv (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Terörde, Gerd
• Granted Patent: US 8,143,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/474
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 23/00 Arrangements or methods for the control of AC motors characterised by a control method other than vector control

Abstract

The invention relates to a processing unit of a measuring signal related to conditions of an object controlled by power electronics. The processing unit comprises an interface with digital terminals, wherein the interface is provided with at least one terminal for a sensor which generates the measuring signal. Further, the processing unit comprises a calculating unit to which the interface is connected. The calculating unit is equipped with a real-time control system. In addition, the calculating unit comprises a general-purpose processor.

Claims

1. A processing unit for processing a measuring signal related to conditions of an object controlled by power electronics, comprising:

an interface with digital terminals, wherein the interface is provided with at least one terminal for a sensor which generates the measuring signal; and

a calculating unit to which the interface is connected, wherein the calculating unit is equipped with a real-time control system and wherein the calculating unit comprises a general-purpose processor.

2. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is arranged for generating, depending on the measuring signal, a control signal for regulating the object controlled by the power electronics.

3. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the object controlled by the power electronics comprises an electric machine.

4. The processing unit according to claim 3, wherein the electric machine has a high nominal power.

5. The processing unit according to claim 4, wherein the electric machine comprises an AC motor which operatively drives a compressor.

6. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface is provided with a terminal for transmitting the control signal to switching means of the power electronics.

7. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the measuring signal represents an electric current through a winding of an electric machine.

8. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface is arranged for receiving a multiple number of measuring signals which are related to conditions of the object controlled by the power electronics.

9. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is arranged for generating, depending on measuring signals, a control signal which represents only electric currents through one or a multiple number of windings of an electric machine.

10. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the general-purpose processor is synchronized with a sampling processing of the measuring signal.

11. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises at least one digital input/output unit and at least one analogous/digital converter.

12. The processing unit according to claim 11, wherein the digital input/output unit comprises an FPGA.

13. The processing unit according to claim 11, wherein the digital input/output unit is integrated with the calculating unit on one printed circuit board.