Texas Instruments Corporation

Sensata Technologies Massachusetts, Inc.

Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Kevin J Dropps

Herbert A Thompson

Jun Yang

Christian V Pellon

Keith Richard Washburn

Robert H Fugere

Russell P Brodeur

Paul Ray Tomlinson

James Alvernaz

Mark C Carlos

Changyin Wang

Leo Zhong

Daniel Quinn

Robert J Andrews, Jr

Ronald A Mancini

Robert J Andrews Jr

Certain configurations of the present disclosure present a PTC starter. The PTC starter includes a housing, a first conductive terminal (), a second conductive terminal (), a control PTC thermistor (), a start PTC thermistor () and a TRIAC (), wherein the control PTC thermistor (), the start PTC thermistor () and the TRIAC () being accommodated in the housing, the start PTC thermistor () being connected in series with the TRIAC (), wherein one electrode of the control PTC thermistor () is connected with the gate (G) of the TRIAC (), the control PTC thermistor () is connected in series with the start PTC thermistor (), the volume of the control PTC thermistor () is less than 30 mm3, and the distance between the control PTC thermistor () and the start PTC thermistor () is less than 5 mm.

Electronic control circuitry with start up capability

Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for assembly of electric motor starter connecting packages that enable increased automation and reduced assembly via top-down assembly of circuit components, thereby allowing robotic placement, connection, and securing of circuit components. The connecting package can include an electric motor starter, with optional overload protector, packaged as one unit. The motor starter can include an electrical circuit containing a triac, current transformer, Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) element, resistor, and a capacitor. A cover and base of the connecting package enclose and firmly secure connected circuit elements without needing a circuit board or filler material. The device design enables quick testing of the motor starter circuit and circuit elements after being enclosed by the housing.

Assembly of electric motor starter components

A low cost motor starter is shown having a PTC resistorserially connected to a triacand a bias resistor in turn adapted to be connected to the start winding of a single phase motor. A reed relayhaving a sense coilserially connected to the main winding in one preferred embodiment and in parallel with the main and start windings in a second preferred embodiment, is magnetically coupled to reed contacts. Reed contactis connected to a location intermediate the PTC resistorand the triacwhile reed contactis connected to the gate of the triac. A gate signal phase shifting network comprising capacitor C-Ris also connected to reed contactand the gate.

Low current electric motor starter

A solid state starting system for electric motors having main and auxiliary windings of the capacitor start induction run and capacitor start-capacitor run types uses a triac serially connected to the auxiliary winding. The system differentially measures the auxiliary winding voltage and provides a triac gate signal when in the START mode. When the auxiliary voltage reaches a calibratable cut-out voltage the triac is disabled until the auxiliary winding voltage decreases to a level below a calibratable cut-in voltage. The slope of the percent motor speed cut-out versus percent line voltage is calibratable to permit compensation for variations in line voltage. The triac can be directly driven or driven through an optically coupled interface having a triac output (OCI).

Method and apparatus for starting capacitive start, induction run and

A single phase, capacitor start electric motor is shown in which energization of the auxiliary winding is controlled by a triac. The triac is protected from excessive voltages caused by the vector sum of capacitor, line and induced voltages which can occur at turn-off of the triac. The triac is protected in several embodiments by a gated semiconductor switch serially connected to a current limiting or discharge resistor, both being coupled across the triac. The semiconductor switch has a voltage breakdown device connected in its gate circuit. When voltage across the triac exceeds a selected level the gated semiconductor is turned on thereby drawing sufficient current momentarily to limit the voltage across the triac to a safe level and allowing the capacitor to discharge its voltage through the auxiliary winding circuit. In another embodiment a stack of high voltage bilateral triggering devices is placed across the triac.

Start winding switch protection circuit

A solid state starting system for electric motors having main and start windings of the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run and split phase types uses a triac serially connected to the start winding. The system turns on the triac upon energization of the motor from an at rest condition and measures the locked rotor value of either the main winding current for any of the above motor types or start winding voltage for the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run motor types. The system stores that valve as a calibration value and then measures subsequent values and turns off the triac when the subsequent values reach a selected proportion of the calibration value. The system re-energizes the triac upon further subsequent measured values reaching a selected cut in value relative to the calibration value which is indicative of an overload or stall condition. The calibration value is retained for a given period of time following a loss of power to provide desired starting characteristics.

Method and apparatus for starting single phase motors

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Berkley, MA, United States of America

Kevin J Dropps