Multiplexed Motor Controller for Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In environments where cost, volume, and weight are critical, part-time sub-systems disproportionately contribute to these considerations due to their operational requirements, necessitating a system that enables full functionality while minimizing these contributions.

Innovation Solution

A multiplexed control system that reduces the number of motor controllers by employing a single multiplexed controller facility to manage multiple motors, utilizing computer-readable program instructions and various operating systems to prioritize and coordinate control operations across initiators and motors, thereby minimizing the overall cost, volume, and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate motor controllers are provided for each part-time sub-system, then each sub-system can operate independently and reliably, but the total cost, volume, and weight of the system increases disproportionally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesub-system operational reliabilityVSAvoidtotal system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate motor controllers are merged into a single shared motor controller that can serve multiple part-time sub-systems. The controller receives control signals from various initiators (cargo interface, flight control interface, etc.) and dynamically allocates its output to different motors based on operational needs, thereby reducing total controller count while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor controller is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse sub-systems including cargo handling, flight control, and environmental control. It can be configured through computer-readable program instructions to perform different control tasks for different initiators and motors, making a single controller sufficient for multiple specialized functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate motor controllers are used for different part-time sub-systems, then each sub-system has dedicated control capability, but the device complexity and number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesub-system control capabilityVSAvoidnumber of motor controllers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor controller implements dynamic configuration through computer-readable program instructions that allow it to adapt its control parameters and behavior based on which sub-system is currently active. The controller can be reprogrammed or reconfigured to work with different initiators and motors as operational requirements change, providing versatility without requiring separate dedicated controllers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If dedicated motor controllers are allocated to each sub-system, then control operations can be executed immediately without coordination, but the overall system cost and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol operation execution speedVSAvoidtotal controller volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses computer-readable program instructions to pre-configure the motor controller for different operational modes and sub-systems. Before a sub-system becomes active, the controller is already programmed with the appropriate control parameters and initialization routines, allowing immediate execution of control operations without delay for configuration or setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The motor controller acts as an intermediary between multiple initiators and motors, managing the coordination and allocation of control signals. It receives requests from various initiators (cargo interface, flight control interface), processes them according to programmed priorities and operational states, and executes the appropriate control operations, thereby enabling efficient resource sharing without sacrificing operational responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2952985B1Multiplexing control operations of motors

Publication Date: 2020.09.09 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

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AI summary

A system and method includes a multiplexed motor controller for controlling multiple motors with a weight and volume penalty comparable to that of a single controller system and method by receiving a plurality of inputs indicating a status, prioritizing a plurality of subsystems based on the status, multiplexing a plurality of operation commands in accordance with the prioritization, and generating a plurality of waveforms in accordance with the operation commands.