SYSTEM COMPREHENSIVE OF A COMPONENT CODING

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system consisting of a central electronics unit designed for the intended connection and operation of differently coded electric motors selectable from a number of intended connectable electric motors of different characteristics or different power classes.

[0002] In practice, there is a need to connect different motors or fans of different power classes to a central or decentralized electronic system, which handles the commutation and monitoring of multiple motors of different types in various system configurations. The problem is that, depending on the application, a fan or motor with a different power class or different motor characteristics must be connected to the interface of the central electronic system, and the electronic system cannot easily detect the different motor types. In the final configuration, the electric motors can be implemented as fans, pumps, stepper motors, and compressors.

[0003] The current state of the art solves this problem in various, sometimes very complex ways. There are already solutions that use mechanical coding or electrical circuits to bring about a specific circuit state according to a counter-coding.

[0004] In the state of the art, the connected devices are also detected by identifying the add-on components, whereby this is done by determining electrical parameters such as the resistance and inductance values ​​or by a specific identifying signal sequence of an active element.

[0005] If such central electronics are also required for the overload protection and commutation of several motors that differ in their electrical parameters and thus also in their power limits, the monitoring circuit area on the electronics must be adapted in the switch-off threshold of the current amplitude, which is not easily possible with the solutions known in the state of the art.

[0006] The existing solutions cause high administrative costs due to the resulting variety of variants in the end device design resulting from the required assembly options on the electronics side and circuit board depending on the performance class and characteristics. Implementing overload protection requires complex device-specific adaptations to the electronics through assembly variations in an evaluation circuit. Furthermore, there are high requirements for the evaluation of a detection device via software (Class B), and assignment tables are typically required for the execution of follow-up actions or functions depending on resistance values ​​in the evaluation system.

[0007] Printed prior art in the present technical field, which reflects the preamble of claim 1, is disclosed in the documents EP 0 304 574 A1, DE 296 20 516 U1 and US 6 555 984 B1.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and proposing a solution which, in addition to the possibility of a variable connection option for different motors of different power classes, also enables a motor-specific adaptation of an overcurrent protection.

[0009] This problem is solved by the combination of features according to patent claim 1.

[0010] A basic idea of ​​the present invention is the division of the overall protection circuit into a secondary and main protection circuit, with the main protection circuit being implemented in the central electronics and thus representing the integral component of the protection concept of the protection circuit. Each individual secondary protection circuit, preferably implemented by a passive component in the form of a coding element, such as an electrical resistor, is incorporated into the unit to be commutated for its function of determining the shutdown value. Such a secondary protection circuit is particularly characterized by being integrated into the connector or motor connection cable of the electric motor, such as the fan or pump.

[0011] According to the invention, a system is proposed for this purpose, consisting of a control unit with central electronics, designed for the intended connection and operation of differently coded electric motors with different motor characteristics and / or power classes at a device connection of the control unit and at least one electric motor selectable from a number n of intended-connectable electric motors, wherein each intended-connectable electric motor has a coding element and wherein the central electronics has a preferably electronic coding detection device for detecting the motor characteristics and / or its power class of the currently connected electric motor by means of its coding element.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that each electric motor has a motor connection cable with a connection plug for plugging into the device connection of the control unit and the respective coding element is integrated in the motor connection cable or the connection plug.

[0013] It is further advantageous if the respective coding element comprises or is at least one electrical component which is specific to the respective motor type, such as an electrical resistor.

[0014] To ensure that the required current limit thresholds for a self-configurable overload protection system are correctly set for each electric motor, the coding element is integrated into the motor connection. After the connector is inserted into the device socket of the central electronics, the coding element used for the electric motor is connected to the evaluation circuit of the central electronics, ensuring a closed signal flow. The coding element, which differs in its characteristics depending on the power class or motor characteristics, can be attached to the connecting cable, for example, via a clamp or solder connection. The coding element is preferably sealed with a touch-safe insulation and connected to the contact between the connector and the connecting cable.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, it is provided that the coding detection device on the central electronics comprises an electrical evaluation circuit which is designed to use a motor-specific current limitation depending on the connected electric motor or the coding element detected for this motor.

[0016] According to the invention, the coding detection device comprises a current limiting circuit that, depending on the detected coding element, uses a current limit that prevents an overcurrent above the current limit and allows a maximum current up to this value. This makes it easy to ensure that, depending on the connected electric motor or fan, the correct motor-specific current limit is automatically activated for that motor.

[0017] According to the invention, the current limitation in a connected electric motor is realized in that signal contacts of the coding detection device are brought into a signal flow loop via at least one line connection comprising the coding element and a corresponding switch-off threshold is set by means of a comparator of the protective circuit of the main protective circuit.

[0018] In this way, an overcurrent protection device is realized, consisting of at least the central electronics and an electric motor with a main protection circuit and a secondary protection circuit, wherein the main protection circuit has at least one evaluation circuit for evaluating a coding element and is realized in the central electronics, while the secondary protection circuit is realized separately therefrom in the motor connection cable or a connection plug connected to this cable, having a coding element.

[0019] In other words, by plugging the motor connector into the central electronics, the secondary protection circuit is connected to the main protection circuit in a closed protective circuit. The concept of the invention can be used particularly efficiently with EC motors that can be commutated using the central electronics' commutation system. The concept of the invention is also preferred for properly connectable electric motors that each represent an integral drive of a device, in particular a fan, a pump, a compressor, or an air conditioning system.

[0020] Other advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of an embodiment of a system according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an interface of a central electronics unit, Fig. 3 shows an exemplary coding element in a motor connection cable, and Fig. 4 shows an evaluation circuit for determining the connected motor type.

[0022] In the following, the invention is described with reference to the Figures 1 to 4 explained in more detail, whereby the same reference numerals indicate the same structural and / or functional features.

[0023] The Figure 1shows a schematic overview of an embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention. The system 1 shown consists of at least one pairing of the control unit 10 with the central electronics 11 and one of the electric motors En, selectable from the number of n differently coded electric motors E1,..., En shown with different motor characteristics M1,... Mn and / or power classes L1,...,Ln. The electric motors En each have a connector plug 21 for connection to a device connection 12 of the control unit 10 of the central electronics 11.

[0024] With the concept of the present invention, each of the electric motors En shown can therefore be connected to the device terminals 12 of the control unit 10 of a central electronics unit 11, as shown in the Figure 2 shown, can be connected.

[0025] In the Figure 2There is a schematic view of an interface S of a central electronics unit 11 with the two device connections 12 for connecting an electric motor En each. In addition, further interfaces for establishing further connections with other devices are shown.

[0026] The device connections 12 have at least two signal connections for connection to the signal contacts 14 of the coding detection device 2 comprising the evaluation circuit, which is in the Figure 4 is shown.

[0027] Via these signal contact connections 14, a line connection having the coding element Kn of the connected electric motor En is brought into a signal flow loop and by means of the comparator 15 a corresponding switch-off threshold is set for the electric motor En connected to the respective device connections 12 for its power class.

[0028] After connecting the connector 21 to the interface of the central electronics 11 of the Figure 2 The signal contact terminals 14, which were previously open in terms of circuitry, are closed via the coding element Kn and the required switch-off threshold is set for the comparator 15 using the additional resistor 16, depending on the fan type used. The output signal A of the evaluation circuit according to Fig. 4 is used as an alternating signal for safe shutdown of the commutation output stage.

[0029] In the Figure 3 An exemplary implementation of a coding element Kn is shown. Each of the shown electric motors E1,..., En from the Figure 1has an individual coding element Kn (specific to this motor type), which is integrated into the motor connection cable 20. The two ends of the cable 20 are connected to the connection plug 21. An insulation 23 is applied around the coding element Kn, as shown schematically in the left view of Figure 3. The connection of the coding element Kn can be established using one of the conventional connection techniques, e.g., a soldered or insulation displacement connection 24, which is also surrounded by an insulation 23 to ensure contact safety. The design of the insulation takes into account the relevant regulations of low-voltage coordination.

[0030] With the Figure 4In the evaluation circuit shown, a motor-specific current limitation was implemented depending on the connected electric motor En, which uses a specific current limitation depending on the detected coding element Kn, which prevents an overcurrent above the current limitation.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which utilize the presented solution even in fundamentally different configurations. As a further advantageous effect, in the event of a cable break in the connecting cable, the limit threshold can be set to "zero," thus deactivating the commutation stage. Furthermore, aging effects of the contact transitions have no significant impact on the functional safety of the device. Furthermore, no separate commutation electronics are required for the various components to be commutated, which comprise the secondary protection circuit.

Claims

1. A system (1) comprising a. a control device (10) with central electronics (11) designed for the intended connection and operation of differently coded electric motors (En) with different motor characteristics (Mn) and / or power classes (Ln) to a device connection (12) of the control device (10) and b. at least one electric motor (En) selectable from a number n of electric motors (En) which can be connected as intended, wherein each electric motor (En) which can be connected as intended has a coding element (Kn), c. wherein the central electronics (11) have a coding capture device (2) for recognizing the motor characteristics (Mn) and / or the power class (Ln) of the respectively currently connected electric motor (En) by means of the coding element (Kn) thereof. characterized in that the coding capture device (2) has a current limitation circuit which uses a current limitation depending on the detected coding element (Kn), which prevents an over-current above the current limitation, wherein the current limit for a connected electric motor (En) is implemented in that signal contacts (14) of the coding capture device (2) are incorporated into a signal flow loop via at least one line connection having the coding element (Kn), and a corresponding switch-off threshold is set by means of a comparator (15).

2. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each electric motor (En) has a motor connection line (20) with a connection plug (21) for plugging into the device connection (12) of the control device (10), and the respective coding element (Kn) is integrated into the motor connection line (20) or the connection plug (21).

3. The system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coding element (Kn) comprises or is at least one electric structural element.

4. The system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the coding element (Kn) comprises at least one electrical resistor or is an electrical resistor.

5. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coding capture device (2) comprises an electrical evaluation circuit which is designed to use a motor-specific current limitation as a function of the electric motor (En) connected.

6. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each electric motor (En) represents an EC motor which can be commutated through commutation of the central electronics (11).

7. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each electric motor (En) which can be connected as intended is an integral drive of a device, particularly of a fan, a pump, a compressor, or an HVAC device.

8. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an over-current protection device of the system comprising at least the central electronics (11) and an electric motor (En) is formed from a primary protection circuit and an auxiliary protection circuit, wherein the primary protection circuit has at least one evaluation circuit for evaluating a coding element (Kn) and is implemented in the central electronics (11), while the auxiliary protection circuit is implemented separately therefrom in the motor connection line or a connection plug connected to said line, the connection plug having a coding element (Kn).