Master-Slave Inverter Port Sharing via Interface Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

In motor inverter systems, the need for additional input ports often requires the use of extension modules, leading to increased costs and inefficient utilization of available ports, as surplus ports on other inverters go unused.

Innovation Solution

A method for sharing input and output ports between a master inverter and a slave inverter via their respective interface units, allowing data transmission and storage, enabling the master inverter to utilize surplus ports on the slave inverter without additional modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If an extension input module is added to increase the number of input ports, then the number of available input ports is improved, but the system cost increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of input portsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the input port resources of multiple inverters by establishing a master-slave relationship through interface unit connections. The slave inverter's input ports are shared with the master inverter, effectively combining the total available input ports without adding physical extension modules to each inverter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface units are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as communication interfaces for inverter coordination and as resource sharing interfaces for input/output ports. This universal design allows the same hardware interface to enable both control functions and resource sharing functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If an extension input module is added to increase the number of input ports, then the number of available input ports is improved, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of input portsVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the input port resources of multiple inverters by establishing a master-slave relationship through interface unit connections. The slave inverter's input ports are shared with the master inverter, effectively combining the total available input ports without adding physical extension modules to each inverter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If surplus input ports on slave inverter are left unused, then the system is simple, but the resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service resource allocation where the slave inverter automatically shares its surplus input ports with the master inverter through the interface units. This automatic resource sharing mechanism eliminates the need for manual configuration or additional control systems, allowing surplus resources to be utilized without increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If interface units are connected to share input/output ports, then the resource utilization efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface units act as intermediaries that facilitate resource sharing between inverters. By using the existing interface units as mediators for communication and resource allocation, the system avoids the need for separate dedicated sharing hardware, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while enabling resource sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2477322B1Method for sharing input and output ports
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 LSIS CO LTD
  • EP2477322B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2477322B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2477322B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for sharing input/output ports among inverters. A sharing method by a master inverter according to the present disclosure is such that data to be outputted to an output port of a slave inverter is transmitted to the slave inverter where data inputted to input port of the slave inverter is received. Furthermore, a sharing method by the slave inverter is such that data transmitted along with a request frame is outputted to an output port in case of receiving the request frame requesting use of the output port from the master inverter, where data used by the master inverter among data received from input port is transmitted to the master inverter.