Granted Patent B2

US 9,375,605 · App. 15/013,765 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A method to provide high efficiency direct current motor control, comprising:

obtaining, by a direct current motor controller, a high voltage direct current signal from a power supply having power factor correction circuitry;

obtaining, by a processor, a control command from an exercise machine having a direct current motor;

generating, by the processor, a pulse-width modulation signal from the direct current signal based on the control command; and

providing, by the direct current motor controller, the pulse-width modulation signal to the direct current motor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exercise machine comprises a treadmill.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises a boost converter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high voltage direct current has a magnitude of at least 180 volts.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power supply converts the alternating current to the high voltage direct current with at least 87% efficiency.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the direct current motor drives a treadmill belt.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the direct current motor drives the treadmill belt at a speed that is at least 13 miles per hour.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the power supply draws less than 1800 watts from a circuit that provides less than 132 volts alternating current.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

obtain a high voltage direct current signal from a power supply having power factor correction circuitry;

obtain a control command from an exercise machine having a direct current motor;

generate a pulse-width modulation signal from the direct current signal based on the control command; and

provide the pulse-width modulation signal to the direct current motor.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the exercise machine comprises a treadmill.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises a boost converter.

12. A method to provide high efficiency direct current motor control, comprising:

receiving a control command to increase a speed of a tread belt;

receiving a direct current signal from a power supply having power factor correction circuitry; and

increasing the speed of tread belt in response to the control command and the direct current signal by generating a pulse-width modulated signal from the direct current signal and directing the pulse-width modulated signal to a motor that drives the tread belt.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein increasing the speed causes the tread belt to move at a rate greater than 13 miles per hour.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the power supply draws less than 1800 watts.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein increasing the speed causes the tread belt to move at a rate greater than 18 miles per hour.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the power supply is a residential power circuit.

17. The method of claim 12 , further including converting an alternating current from the power supply to the direct current signal.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein converting an alternating current from the power supply to the direct current signal includes converting 108-132 volts alternating current to 220 volts direct current with 95% to 97% efficiency.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the power supply converts the alternating current to the high voltage direct current with at least 87% efficiency.

20. The exercise machine of claim 12 , wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises a boost converter.

Assignments (18)