Motor Controller Speed Reporting via Pulsed Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motor controllers require physical connection to an external computing device and a power source to configure settings and transmit report data, making it difficult to access and configure motor controllers in hard-to-reach locations, and they rely on expensive computing devices for processor-intensive operations.
Innovation Solution
A motor controller system utilizing a proportional-integral (PI) regulator coupled with a timer controller to generate and adjust pulsed signals representing motor speed, allowing wireless configuration of settings via near field communication (NFC) and enabling configuration and data transmission without physical power connection, using a less expensive PI regulator for speed reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motor controller uses a computing device to generate pulsed signals for speed reporting, then the speed reporting function is achieved, but the device cost increases due to expensive computing hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the speed reporting function from the expensive computing device and implements it separately using a dedicated timer controller that generates pulsed signals. This separates the complex computing functions from the simple speed reporting function, allowing the use of cheaper hardware for speed reporting while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive computing devices with simpler, cheaper timer controllers for the specific task of generating speed report pulsed signals. The timer controller is a less expensive component designed specifically for timing and pulse generation, eliminating the need for costly general-purpose computing hardware for this function.
2Reliability
If a motor controller requires physical connection to external computing device and power source for configuration, then settings can be stored in memory, but the ease of operation decreases in hard-to-reach locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical connection system with a wireless communication system. Instead of requiring physical cables connecting the motor controller to external computing devices and power sources, the system uses wireless signals (such as NFC or other wireless communication protocols) to transmit configuration settings and provide power, enabling easy configuration in hard-to-reach locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor controller configured to be coupled to a motor and to a system controller is described. The motor controller includes a proportional-integral (PI) regulator coupled to a timer controller. The motor controller is configured to generate, by the PI regulator, a pulsed signal representing a reported speed of the motor. Additionally, the motor controller is configured to transmit the pulsed signal to the system controller, measure a time period that elapses for the motor to make a predefined number of revolutions, measure a number of pulses transmitted in the pulsed signal, and determine a measured speed of the motor from the time period. Further, the motor controller is configured to determine, by the PI regulator, a difference between the reported speed and the measured speed, and adjust, by the PI regulator, the pulsed signal based on the difference between the reported speed and the measured speed.