Motor Apparatus Hierarchical Control Single Encoder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor devices with distributed winding systems require multiple encoders and complex wiring for each motor module, leading to increased costs, installation workload, and susceptibility to errors in applications needing high forces and moments.

Innovation Solution

A motor device with a hierarchical control system where only one motor module receives position information from an encoder, and this information is shared via a computing unit to other modules, eliminating the need for separate transmitters and signal splitters, and allowing for simplified control of multiple winding systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If each motor module uses its own encoder and sensor module for position information, then control precision is maintained, but device complexity and installation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition information accuracyVSAvoidencoder and sensor module quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the position sensing function from multiple motor modules into a single encoder. The first motor module shares its encoder with second motor modules, eliminating the need for separate encoders and sensor modules for each module. This consolidation maintains position information accuracy while significantly reducing device complexity and component quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The encoder of the first motor module is designed to serve multiple functions - it provides position information not only for the first motor module but also for second motor modules. This multi-functionality allows a single encoder to replace what would traditionally require multiple encoders, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

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

2Measurement precision

If separate encoders are used for each motor module, then position control is independent and precise, but installation workload and wiring complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition control accuracyVSAvoidinstallation workload
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the position sensing resources of multiple motor modules into a shared encoder system. Instead of installing separate encoders and sensor modules for each motor module, only one encoder needs to be installed and configured. This merging approach maintains position control accuracy while dramatically reducing installation workload and wiring complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If multiple encoder heads are attached to a common scale, then position information is available for all modules, but device complexity and error susceptibility increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition information availabilityVSAvoidencoder signal duplication system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the position sensing function from multiple motor modules and consolidates it into a single encoder. Instead of having multiple encoder heads that each need to be connected and configured, the system uses one encoder whose output is shared across all motor modules. This extraction approach ensures position information availability while eliminating the complexity of signal duplication and multiple connection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2955841B1Motor apparatus with separate winding systems and master module
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2955841B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A motor device with a distributed winding system is to be designed more simply. For this purpose, a motor device is provided whose motor (1) has several separately controllable windings, each winding being controlled by a motor module (M1 to M6). An encoder (3) is also provided for detecting the position of the active components relative to each other. One of the motor modules is a master module, which is the only motor module to directly receive the position signal from the encoder (3) and transmit the corresponding position information to a processing unit (14). Another of the motor modules (M1 to M6) is a slave module, which receives information regarding the relative position between the active components directly from the processing unit (14), based solely on the position information.