IP Library Granted Patent US 8,138,710
Granted Patent B2
US 8,138,710 · App. 12/192,011 · Granted Mar 20, 2012

Power drive of electric motor

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,138,710
App. No.
12/192,011
Granted
Mar 20, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiment of the present disclosure provide an electric motor comprising a power drive configured to supply electric power to different components of the motor that operate with different power inputs. The motor is configured to transform the electric power into mechanical work to perform on a load. The electric motor is configured to be used as a pump or a blower in a HVAC system. The electric motor includes a first power source connected to and supplying an electric power to the windings of the motor, a second power source connected to and supplying an electric power to a logic circuit configured to control operation of the motor, a third power source connected to and supplying an electric power to an external device that is configured to be connected to the motor and not enclosed in a housing, and a housing enclosing the first, second, and third power source. Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a method of supplying power in an electric motor, wherein the method includes providing a motor comprising windings, a logic circuit, an external power outlet accessible from outside a housing of the motor. The method further includes supplying a first electric power to the windings, supplying an electric power to the logic circuit, and supplying a third electric power to the external power outlet.

Claims (33)

1. An electric motor comprising:

a first power source supplying first electric power to windings of the motor;

a second power source supplying second electric power to a logic circuit of the motor;

a third power source supplying third electric power to an external device when the external device is connected to the motor; and

a motor housing enclosing the windings, the logic circuit, the first, second, and third power sources.

2. The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the external device comprises a control interface configured to input control signals to the motor, and a communication device configured to load programs and settings to the motor.

3. The electric motor of claim 1 , further comprising a power outlet accessible from outside the housing, wherein the power outlet is connected to the third power source.

4. The electric motor of claim 3 , wherein the external device is configured to get connected to the power outlet and the power outlet is configured to supply the third electric power to the external device.

5. The electric motor of claim 3 , wherein the power outlet is configured to supply voltage of about 12 volts.

6. The electric motor of claim 1 , further comprising a converter enclosed in the housing and configured to convert an AC power supplied from the outside of the housing to a DC power.

7. The electric motor of claim 6 , further comprising a transformer enclosed in the housing and configured to transform an input voltage from the converter into at least one output voltage.

8. The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the first power source comprises a power switching circuit electrically connected to the windings, wherein the power switching circuit is configured to supply current to the windings of the motor and rotate the rotor of the motor to perform mechanical work by the motor.

9. The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the logic circuit comprises a microprocessor, a control chip, and gate drives that process control commands for controlling motor operation.

10. The electric motor of claim 9 , wherein the second power source is configured to supply the second electric power at logic level voltage from about 5 volts to about 15 volts.

11. The electric motor of claim 9 , wherein the microprocessor generates PWM signals to control the speed of rotation of a rotor of the motor.

12. The electric motor of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is configured to be used as a pump or a blower in a HVAC system.

13. A method of supplying power in a motor comprising:

providing the electric motor of claim 1 ;

supplying the first electric power from the first power source to the windings;

supplying the second electric power from the second power source to the logic circuit; and

supplying the third electric power from the third power source to an external power outlet.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises supplying an AC power to the motor and thereby supplying the first, the second, and the third electric power.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises converting the AC power into a DC power.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises transforming the DC power into at least one output voltage.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises providing a power switching circuit.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein supplying the first electric power comprises providing the first electric power to the windings by the power switching circuit, wherein the power switching circuit is configured to provide the first electric power based on a PWM signal from the logic circuit.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second electric power is supplied to the logic circuit at logic level voltage from about 5 volts to about 15 volts.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the third electric power is supplied to the external power outlet at about 12 volts.

21. An electric motor comprising:

a first power source supplying first electric power to windings of the motor;

a second power source supplying second electric power to a logic circuit of the motor;

a third power source supplying third electric power to a circuit that is configured to connect with an external device and communicate with the external device; and

a motor housing enclosing the windings, the logic circuit, the first, second, and third power sources.

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 Dec 28, 2011
From: JEUNG, YOUNG-CHUN
To: SNTECH INC.
Reel/Frame 027455/0077 →