Centralized motor controller
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional centralized motor controllers for systems like air conditioning and washing machines are complex, leading to increased production costs and resource waste due to overlapping circuit configurations and poor heat dissipation, and are not adaptable to different types of motors.
Innovation Solution
A centralized motor controller design that integrates inverter units and rotor position detection units, using a microprocessor to control permanent magnet synchronous motors, with a simplified circuit structure and modular architecture allowing flexibility for various motor types, including AC motors, to reduce production costs and improve heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate motor controllers are used for each permanent magnet synchronous motor, then each motor can be controlled independently, but the circuit structure becomes complex and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate motor controllers into a single centralized controller that can control multiple permanent magnet synchronous motors independently. The controller integrates multiple inverter units, each capable of driving a separate motor, along with a unified power supply and control circuitry. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate controllers while maintaining independent control capability through shared resources and modular inverter architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized motor controller is designed with multi-functionality to control different types of motors including permanent magnet synchronous motors and AC motors. The controller incorporates universal interface circuits and inverter units that can adapt to various motor types through configuration rather than requiring dedicated hardware for each motor type, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If separate motor controllers are used for each motor, then each controller has dedicated resources, but hardware and software resources cannot be fully utilized leading to resource waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dedicated controllers into a single centralized controller that shares common resources including power supply, microprocessor, memory, and communication interfaces. Each motor receives dedicated control through separate inverter units and control algorithms, while hardware resources are shared across all motors. This approach fully utilizes available resources and eliminates the redundancy of having separate power supplies and processing units for each controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller dynamically allocates computational resources and control attention to different motors based on their operational requirements. The microprocessor can switch between controlling different motors and adjust control priorities in real-time, ensuring that dedicated control resources are provided when needed while sharing resources during normal operation, thus preventing resource waste while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple separate controllers are used, then each controller can be optimized for specific motors, but the layout space is limited and heat dissipation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple controllers into a single centralized unit with a unified power supply and control circuitry, significantly reducing the total component count and layout space required. The integrated design allows for centralized heat management where all heat-generating components are located in one area, making thermal management more efficient and easier to implement through centralized cooling solutions rather than distributed cooling across multiple separate controllers.
4Reliability
If conventional separate controllers are used, then each controller is designed for specific motor types, but the system cannot flexibly adapt to different motor configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized motor controller is designed with universal interfaces and configurable control algorithms that can accommodate different motor types including permanent magnet synchronous motors and AC motors. The controller uses software-based control strategies that can be programmed to match the specific characteristics of different motors, eliminating the need for hardware redesign when switching between motor types. This universal design provides both motor-type specific control capability and flexibility for different configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A centralized motor controller for receiving commands from an application system controller and for controlling operation of a plurality of independent motors. The centralized motor controller includes: a power supply; a microprocessor; and an interface circuit for motor control including at least two inverter units and two rotor position detection units. The power supply supplies power for each circuit part. The motors are controlled by the microprocessor via the interface circuit for motor control. The number of the motors is equal to or more than three, in which, at least two of the motors are permanent magnet synchronous motors in the absence of a motor controller. The permanent magnet synchronous motors are driven by the microprocessor via the inverter units, respectively. Rotor position data of the permanent magnet synchronous motors are transmitted to the microprocessor via the rotor position detection units, respectively.