Methods and apparatus for monitoring average current and input power in an electronically commutated motor

1. A method for monitoring input power to an electric motor, said method comprising:

determining, with a processing device, an average input current to the motor by performing integration on a voltage drop across a shunt resistor in series with the motor with respect to time;

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

communicating the average input power to an external interface.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining an average input voltage applied to the motor based on the at least one measured voltage comprises:

rectifying and filtering an alternating current (AC) input voltage applied to the motor;

proportionally voltage dividing the rectified and filtered AC input voltage to a level compatible with an analog-to-digital converter; and

averaging multiple readings of the divided voltage over a fixed time interval to determine the average input voltage.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining an average input voltage applied to the motor based on the at least one measured voltage comprises:

proportionally voltage dividing a direct current (DC) input voltage to a level compatible with an analog-to-digital converter; and

averaging multiple readings of the divided voltage over a fixed time interval to determine the average input voltage.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining an average input current to the motor comprises applying the voltage dropped across the shunt resistor to an analog-to-digital converter.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining an average input current to the motor further comprises:

applying the integrated voltage to an analog-to-digital converter.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein:

integrating the voltage dropped across the shunt resistor comprises averaging the voltage drop across the shunt resistor according to:

-

1

R

⁢

⁢

C

⁢

∫

v

⁢

ⅆ

t

,

 where “v” is the voltage across the shunt resistor and “RC” is the time constant of the integrator; and

applying the integrated voltage to an analog-to-digital converter comprises amplifying the output of the integrator to provide a proper voltage level for an input of the analog to digital converter.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein communicating the average input power to an external interface comprises transmitting the average input power to at least one external device via a digital serial interface.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the average input power is transmitted upon request from an end user I/O device.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising using the communicated average input power as an indication in an airflow delivery system to control the amount of power used by the system.

10. An electric motor comprising:

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 configured to control said switching circuit and to determine an average input power by determining

an average input current to the motor by performing integration on a voltage drop across said shunt resistor with respect to time; and

an average input voltage applied to the motor based on at least one voltage measurement.

11. An electric motor according to claim 10 wherein said motor control circuit further comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter coupled to said processing device.

12. An electric motor according to claim 11 wherein to determine an average input voltage applied to the motor, said motor control circuit comprises:

a rectifier;

a filter, said rectifier and said filter operable to rectify and filter an alternating current (AC) input voltage to said motor; and

a voltage divider operable to voltage divide the rectified and filtered AC input voltage to a level compatible with said at least one analog-to-digital converter, said processing device programmed to average multiple readings of the divided voltage over a fixed time interval to determine the average input voltage.

13. An electric motor according to claim 11 wherein to determine an average input voltage applied to the motor, said motor control circuit comprises a voltage divider operable to voltage divide a direct current (DC) input voltage to a level compatible with said at least one analog-to-digital converter, said processing device programmed to average multiple readings of the divided voltage over a fixed time interval to determine the average input voltage.

14. An electric motor according to claim 11 wherein to determine an average input current to the motor, said motor control circuit is further configured to apply the integrated voltage to said analog-to-digital converter.

15. An electric motor according to claim 14 wherein to integrate the voltage drop across said shunt resistor, said motor control circuit is programmed to:

integrate the voltage drop across said shunt resistor according to:

-

1

R

⁢

⁢

C

⁢

∫

v

⁢

ⅆ

t

,

 where “v” is the voltage across the shunt resistor and “RC” is the time constant of the integrator; and

apply the integrated voltage to said analog-to-digital converter by amplifying an output of the integrator to provide a proper voltage level for an input of said analog-to-digital converter.

16. An electric motor according to claim 10 further comprising a digital serial interface communicatively coupled to said processing device, wherein said processing device is further configured to communicate the average input power to an external interface, using said digital serial interface.

17. An electric motor according to claim 16 wherein the average input power is transmitted by said processing device upon request from an end user I/O device.