Method and apparatus for closing a pathway of a power supply circuit by configuring a door lock in locked position to pre-charge a motor drive

1. An appliance comprising:

a motor drive;

a power supply circuit electrically coupling the motor drive to a power supply;

a precharge circuit electrically coupled in series between the power supply and the motor drive;

a relay electrically coupled in parallel with the precharge circuit;

a cabinet having an opening;

a door for opening and closing the opening of the cabinet;

a door lock configured to secure the door when the door lock is in a locked position, the door lock further configured to close a pathway of the power supply circuit when the door lock is in the locked position thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through the pre-charge circuit to the motor drive; and

a controller configured to:

detect a request to begin an operation of the appliance;

initiate a door locking process to secure the door with the door lock;

detect when a pre-charge of the motor is complete; and

close the relay to bypass the precharge circuit and electrically couple the power supply to the motor supply.

2. An appliance in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the power supply circuit comprises at least one resistor configured to limit the motor drive current below a current threshold level.

3. An appliance in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the current threshold level is about 10 Amps.

4. An appliance in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the at least one resistor comprises a plurality of resistors in series.

5. An appliance in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the power supply circuit comprises a relay configured to bypass the at least one resistor after the motor drive is charged thereby enabling a non-limiting current to reach the motor drive.

6. An appliance in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the motor drive is a variable speed motor drive.

7. An appliance in accordance with claim wherein the appliance is a horizontal axis washing machine.

8. A controller configured to pre-charge a device for an appliance, the controller comprising:

a computer-readable memory for storing data indicative of current threshold levels; and

a computer processor programmed to:

receive instructions to begin an operation based on user defined settings;

initiate a pre-charging of the device by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, configured to close a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device;

detecting when the pre-charge of the device is complete; and

closing a relay to bypass the pre-charge circuit and provide electrical power directly to the device.

9. A controller in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the power supply circuit comprises at least one resistor configured to limit the current to the device below a current threshold level.

10. A controller in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the at least one resistor comprises a plurality of resistors in series.

11. A controller in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the computer processor is further programmed to:

determine when the pre-charging of the device is complete; and

once the device has been pre-charged, utilize the relay on the power supply circuit to bypass the at least one resistor thereby enabling a non-limiting current to reach the device.

12. A controller in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the device is a variable speed motor drive.

13. A controller in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the power supply circuit comprises at least one resistor configured to limit the current below about 10 Amps.

14. A method comprising:

receiving instructions to begin an operation in an appliance; and

initiating, by a computer processor, a pre-charging of a device for the appliance by sending a signal to a door lock causing the door lock to move to a locked position, the door lock, upon movement to the locked position, configured to close a pathway of a power supply circuit electrically coupling the device to a power supply thereby enabling a current to travel from the power supply through a pre-charge circuit to the device;

detect when the pre-charge of the device is complete; and

close a relay to bypass the pre-charge circuit and provide electrical power directly to the device.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising limiting the current being supplied to the device by way of a resistor configured to limit the current below a current threshold level.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising limiting the current being supplied to the device by a plurality of resistors in series, the plurality of resistors configured to limit the current below a current threshold level.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising:

determining when the pre-charging of the device is complete; and

once the device has been pre-charged, utilizing the relay on the power supply circuit to bypass the at least one resistor thereby enabling a non-limiting current to reach the device.

18. A method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising limiting the current supplied to the device using a resistor configured to limit the current below about 10 Amps.

19. A method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the device is a motor drive.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 , wherein the motor drive is a variable speed motor drive.