Solid-State Motor Control Circuit With Integrated Fault Interruption

Solution Overview

Problem

Electric motor systems require additional circuit breakers or fuses for protection, increasing cost and complexity, and existing motor starters and controllers lack integrated fault detection and protection capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A combination motor control device with a semiconductor switching and interruption circuit, a control circuit for fault detection, and a power circuit to sense voltage and current, providing motor starter and controller functionality while integrating circuit breaker functionality, eliminating the need for external circuit breakers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If circuit breakers or fuses are added to electric motor systems for circuit protection, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the motor controller and circuit breaker into a single integrated device. The motor controller includes a controller housing, power circuit board, control circuit board, and semiconductor switching circuit that work together to provide both motor control and circuit protection functions. This eliminates the need for separate external circuit breakers and fuses, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the electric motor operation and simultaneously provides circuit protection through integrated overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, and ground-fault protection. The semiconductor switching circuit and control logic enable the device to function as both a motor starter and a circuit breaker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If circuit breakers or fuses are added to electric motor systems for circuit protection, then system reliability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit protectionVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the motor controller and circuit breaker into a single integrated device. The motor controller includes a controller housing, power circuit board, control circuit board, and semiconductor switching circuit that work together to provide both motor control and circuit protection functions. This eliminates the need for separate external circuit breakers and fuses, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the electric motor operation and simultaneously provides circuit protection through integrated overcurrent protection, short-circuit protection, and ground-fault protection. The semiconductor switching circuit and control logic enable the device to function as both a motor starter and a circuit breaker.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If external circuit breakers are used for motor protection, then circuit protection is provided, but wiring complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit protectionVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the motor controller and circuit breaker into a single integrated device. The motor controller includes a controller housing, power circuit board, control circuit board, and semiconductor switching circuit that work together to provide both motor control and circuit protection functions. This eliminates the need for separate external circuit breakers and fuses, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11791619B2Motor control device with solid state circuit breaker

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

A combination motor control device includes a power circuit (180) structured to sense voltage and/or current flowing through the combination motor control device, a semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) including a number of solid state transistors and being operable to turn on to allow power to flow through the combination motor control device and to turn off to stop allowing power to flow through the combination motor control device, and a control circuit (190) structured detect faults in power flowing through the combination motor control device based on the sensed voltage and/or current, to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) to provide a motor starter and/or motor controller functionality, and to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit (170) to turn off in response to detecting a fault in power flowing through the combination motor control device.