Nidec Motor Corporation

Donald R Mertens

Prakash B Shahi

Bret S Clark

Douglas D Glenn

Hector M Hernandez

Daniel Bugger

A system and computer-implemented method for controlling wireless access to the operations of communicative electric motors. An electronic processing element receives an authentication request from a remote access device via a wireless transceiver, approves the authentication request, including determining an associated access level from among a hierarchy of access levels, and grants access to a motor controller to perform actions allowed by the associated access level. Approving the request may be based on receiving a valid password, which may be calculated on the remote access device by a computer program using an electronic key, or by receiving information from an authentication hardware component associated with the device. The various access levels may allow for shutting off, read-only monitoring (of, e.g., temperature, vibration), controlling (e.g., speed), and programming (e.g., tap settings) operation of the motor, and controlling the authentication process (e.g., adding and removing users and assigning and changing access levels).

System and computer-implemented method for controlling access to communicative motor

A system for protecting an inrush resistor by determining whether an inrush relay connected in parallel with the resistor properly closes. A differential amplifier connected across the resistor produces an output signal that is proportional to the differential voltage. A control circuit determines whether the relay is open based on the output signal, and if the relay is open and the motor is running, takes remedial action to protect the inrush resistor. Alternatively, the amplifier is replaced with a slow response filter that produces an output signal that is a delayed version of a bus voltage. The control circuit determines the difference between the bus voltage and the output signal, and if it exceeds a predetermined value and the motor is running, takes remedial action to protect the inrush resistor. Remedial action may include shutting off the motor or restarting the motor to confirm improper behavior of the relay.

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Columbia, IL, United States of America

Donald R Mertens