Magnetic Bearing Control Node with Serial Bus Clock Synchronization

The control system is segmented into distributed control nodes, each capable of independent control functions. Instead of using multiple amplifiers in a centralized architecture, the patent divides the control functionality across multiple nodes that communicate via a serial data bus, with each node controlling specific servo axes independently.

Each control node is designed with multi-functional capabilities, integrating control, measurement, and synchronization functions within a single node. This universal design allows each node to perform multiple roles, reducing the need for specialized components and excess amplifiers.

The control functionality is segmented and distributed across multiple independent control nodes rather than concentrated in a single controller. Each node handles control for specific servo axes, allowing the system to scale to more axes by adding nodes rather than increasing the main controller's computing power.

The patent transitions from a single-dimension centralized control architecture to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture where control functions are spread across multiple nodes in space, connected via a serial data bus, enabling scalability without increasing individual controller size.

The patent replaces the mechanical/wire-based analogue synchronization signal transmission with a digital synchronization protocol transmitted over a serial data bus. This substitution eliminates the physical wire vulnerability while maintaining synchronization capability through digital communication between control nodes.

The serial data bus acts as an intermediary medium for synchronization, replacing the direct wire connection. The bus provides a more reliable communication path with error handling and protocol-based synchronization, mediating between control nodes without the vulnerability of direct analogue wire connections.

The patent implements periodic power switching synchronized to a common reference clock signal distributed through the serial data bus. Each control node switches its power converters at synchronized periodic intervals, ensuring that sampling occurs during stable periods when all power switches are in non-switching states, thereby improving data quality through regular periodic coordination.

The synchronization mechanism incorporates feedback through the serial data bus communication, where control nodes exchange synchronization status and adjust their power switching timing based on received synchronization signals, ensuring coordinated operation without excessive complexity through protocol-based feedback.