IP Library Granted Patent US 7,795,827
Granted Patent B2
US 7,795,827 · App. 12/041,580 · Granted Sep 14, 2010

Control system for controlling motors for heating, ventilation and air conditioning or pump

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,795,827
App. No.
12/041,580
Granted
Sep 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention discloses a control system for controlling a motor for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) or a pump comprising: an opto-isolated speed command signal processing interface into which a signal for controlling a speed of the motor is inputted and which outputs an output signal for controlling the speed of the motor being transformed as having a specific single frequency; a communication device into which a plurality of operation control commands of the motor; an opto-isolated interface for isolating the plurality of operation control commands inputted through the communication device and the transformed output signal for controlling the speed of the motor, respectively; a microprocessor, being connected to the opto-isolated interface, for outputting an output signal for controlling an operation of the motor depending on the plurality of operation control commands and the transformed output signal for controlling the speed of the motor; a sensor, being connected to the motor, for outputting a rotor position sensing signal of the motor; a logic control circuit, being connected to the opto-isolated interface, the microprocessor, and the sensor, respectively, for adding the rotor position sensing signal and the output signal for controlling the operation of the motor; a power switch circuit being connected to feed electric power to the motor; a gate drive circuit, being connected to the logic control circuit and the power switch circuit, respectively, for driving the power switch circuit; and a power supply device being connected to the logic control circuit, the power switch circuit, and the gate drive circuit, respectively, for feeding electric power thereto.

Claims (25)

1. A control system for controlling a motor for a heating system, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, or a pump, the control system comprising:

an opto-isolated speed command signal processing interface into which a signal for controlling a speed of the motor is inputted and which outputs an output signal for controlling the speed of the motor, the output signal having a specific single frequency;

a communication device into which a plurality of operation control commands of the motor are inputted;

an opto-isolated interface for isolating the plurality of operation control commands inputted through the communication device and the output signal for controlling the speed of the motor, respectively;

a microprocessor, being connected to the opto-isolated interface, for outputting an output signal for controlling an operation of the motor depending on the plurality of operation control commands and the output signal for controlling the speed of the motor;

a sensor, being connected to the motor, for outputting a rotor position sensing signal of the motor;

a logic control circuit, being connected to the opto-isolated interface, the microprocessor, and the sensor, respectively, for using the rotor position sensing signal and the output signal for controlling the operation of the motor;

a power switch circuit being connected to feed electric power to the motor;

a gate drive circuit, being connected to the logic control circuit and the power switch circuit, respectively, for driving the power switch circuit; and

a power supply device being connected to the logic control circuit, the power switch circuit, and the gate drive circuit, respectively, for feeding electric power thereto.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the motor is anyone among a 2 phase and 3 phase combined type brushless electronically commutated motor (ECM) where a 2 phase armature and a 3 phase rotor are combined, a 2 phase brushless motor (BLM), a single phase brushless servo (BLS), or another ECM.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the control system further comprises a built-in isolation power supply device which is isolated from the power supply device and is used for a power source of an external system through the opto-isolation interface.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the sensor for outputting a rotor position sensing signal of the motor is embodied by a Hall sensor.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operation control commands includes at least one or more of a non-regulated speed control (NRS) command, a regulated speed control (RS) command, a constant torque control command, a constant air flow/constant liquid flow control command, and a clockwise (CW) rotation/counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation control command of the motor.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein the CW rotation/CCW rotation control command of the motor is inputted into the communication device by a separate on-off switch.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the signal for controlling a speed of the motor is a DC voltage signal or a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, and wherein the opto-isolated speed command signal processing interface outputs the output signal for controlling the speed of the motor that has the specific single frequency either in proportion to a voltage rate of the DC voltage signal or in proportion to a pulse width modulation rate of the PWM signal.

8. The control system of claim 5 , wherein the signal for controlling a speed of the motor is a DC voltage signal or a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, and wherein the opto-isolated speed command signal processing interface outputs the output signal for controlling the speed of the motor that has the specific single frequency either in proportion to a voltage rate of the DC voltage signal or in proportion to a pulse width modulation rate of the PWM signal.

9. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the signal for controlling a speed of the motor is a DC voltage signal or a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, and wherein the opto-isolated speed command signal processing interface outputs the output signal for controlling the speed of the motor that has the specific single frequency either in proportion to a voltage rate of the DC voltage signal or in proportion to a pulse width modulation rate of the PWM signal.

10. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the DC voltage signal is a signal having a range of 0-10 Vdc, wherein the PWM signal is a signal having a frequency range of 40-120Hz, wherein the specific single frequency is 80Hz, and wherein the output signal for controlling the operation of the motor is a PWM output signal having a frequency of 20KHz or more.

11. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system for controlling the motor further comprises:

a current detection circuit for detecting a load current of the motor and feeding the detected load current to the microprocessor;

a temperature detection sensor for detecting a temperature of the motor and feeding the detected temperature to the microprocessor; and

a voltage detection circuit for detecting a voltage being fed from the power supply device to the power switch circuit and feeding the detected voltage to the microprocessor.

12. The control system of claim 11 wherein the control system for controlling the motor further comprises a relay switch into which an output for making a notice of an abnormal operation condition is fed from the microprocessor in the case that the motor is operated in the abnormal operation condition.

13. The control system of claim 11 wherein data information relating to operation current, voltage, speed, and temperature of the motor which are processed by the microprocessor is transmitted to an external system through either the communication device connected to the microprocessor or a separate communication device.

Assignments (14)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2017
From: VERDE SMART MOTORS, INC.
To: BLUFFTON MOTOR WORKS, LLC
Reel/Frame 043039/0418 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: SAIL VENTURE PARTNERS II, L.P.; SAIL 2010 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; SAIL HOLDINGS, LLC; SAIL SUSTAINABLE LOUISIANA, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF LOUISIANA; FOREVER 7 LLC
To: SNTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 036104/0922 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: GREENER CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.; SAIL VENTURE PARTNERS II, L.P.; SAIL 2010 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; SAIL HOLDINGS, LLC; FOREVER 7 LLC; SAIL SUSTAINABLE LOUISIANA, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF LOUISIANA
To: SNTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 036105/0828 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: ROLAND, BRENT
To: SNTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 036163/0054 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2015
From: SNTECH, INC.
To: VERDE SMART MOTORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035575/0526 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2014
From: SAIL 2011 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; NAVITAS CAPITAL I, LP; ERGO STRATEGIC PARTNERS II, LLC; ROBERT MARSHALL FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CARNEGIE, DON J.; ST. GEORGE, ARDELLE C.
To: SNTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 031943/0193 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2014
From: AVIDBANK CORPORATE FINANCE, A DIVISION OF AVIDBANK
To: SNTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 031942/0907 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2014
From: SAIL 2011 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; NAVITAS CAPITAL I, LP; ERGO STRATEGIC PARTNERS II, LLC; ROBERT MARSHALL FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CARNEGIE, DON J.; ST. GEORGE, ARDELLE C.
To: SNTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 031943/0414 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 10, 2014
From: LOUISIANA SUSTAINABILITY FUND
To: SAIL SUSTAINABLE LOUISIANA, LIMITED PARTNERHIP
Reel/Frame 031969/0787 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 27, 2013
From: SNTECH INC.; SNTECH CO., LTD.
To: ROLAND, BRENT
Reel/Frame 031737/0012 →
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2012
From: SNTECH, INC.
To: GREENER CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.; SAIL VENTURE PARTNERS II, L.P.; SAIL 2011 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; SAIL 2010 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; SAIL HOLDINGS, LLC; FOREVER 7 LLC; LOUISIANA SUSTAINABILITY FUND; MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF LOUISIANA; NAVITAS CAPITAL I, LP; ERGO STRATEGIC PARTNERS II, LLC; ROBERT MARSHALL FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CARNEGIE, DON J.; ST.GEORGE, ARDELLE C.
Reel/Frame 028324/0930 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 7, 2012
From: SNTECH, INC.
To: SAIL VENTURE PARTNERS II, L.P.; SAIL 2010 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; SAIL 2011 CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; SAIL HOLDINGS, LLC; LOUISIANA SUSTAINABILITY FUND; MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF LOUISIANA; NAVITAS CAPITAL I, LP; ERGO STRATEGIC PARTNERS II, LLC; ROBERT MARSHALL FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; FOREVER 7 LLC; CARNEGIE, DON J.; ST.GEORGE, ARDELLE C.
Reel/Frame 028170/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 15, 2012
From: SNTECH, INC.
To: AVIDBANK CORPORATE FINANCE, A DIVISION OF AVIDBANK
Reel/Frame 027707/0306 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2011
From: JEUNG, YOUNG-CHUN
To: SNTECH INC.
Reel/Frame 026944/0581 →