Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Fuhua Ding

Dayin Xu

Robert H Schmidt

Scott D Braun

Zhenhuan Yuan

Guolin Zhang

Arun K Guru

John Robert Figie

Chetan Chandrasekara

A communication module mounted to a motor provides for communication between a motor controller and a motor or between the motor controller and devices mounted on or proximate to the motor. The communication module may be configured to accept signals from various different encoders and/or load devices mounted on or proximate to the motor. The communication module receives a position feedback signal from a primary encoder interface and is configured to transmit the data to the motor controller at a periodic update rate. The communication module also receives feedback signals from at least one additional device and transmits the data to the motor controller. The communication module synchronizes its periodic update rate with the motor controller such that the position feedback signal may be utilized to control operation of the motor. The additional feedback signals may be communicated at the same or differing update rates.

Method and apparatus for communication with a motor or load mounted device in motion applications

The subject matter disclosed herein describes a switch embedded in a motor controller and a network protocol executing on the switch to provide communication between devices connected to the motor controller in a motor drive application. The embedded switch is configured to communicate via separate ports with an external controller, a network interface for the motor controller, additional motor controllers, and with the motor or other devices mounted on the motor. The network protocol includes a first tier for data that requires deterministic delivery at a high data rate, a second tier for data that requires a high delivery rate but is also tolerant of some variation in delivery time, and a third tier for data that may be delivered at a slower data rate. The embedded switch receives data at any port, identifies the communication tier to which the data belongs, and delivers it to another port accordingly.

Method and apparatus for communication in a motor drive application

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Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Fuhua Ding