US5408573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated motor controller
Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Co
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Filing: 1992-06-17
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Granted: 1995-04-18
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Expires: 2012-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A motor controller for a recreational vehicle (RV) heating system is disclosed. The motor controller regulates the amount of current supplied to an electrical motor in a blower of the heating system in response to the operating voltage and a signal from a microprocessor. The microprocessor operates a linear program in response to a cyclical signal provided at a reset terminal. The motor controller includes a locked rotor sensor which determines if the motor is turning. The motor controller utilizes a resistor as a voltage limiting means and a field effect transistor (FET) for bypassing the resistor. The microprocessor and motor controller provide a highly reliable and readily adaptable heating system which is not disadvantageously susceptible to variations in the supply voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Scott Jamieson
- 👤 Henry A. Gleason, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/22; B60H1/2203; B60H1/2206; F; F23; F23N; F23N3/00; F23N3/08; F23N3/082; H; H02; H02P; H02P7/00; H02P7/06; H02P7/18; H02P7/24; H02P7/28; H02P7/285; H02P7/288; H02P7/2885; F23N2223/00; F23N2223/08; F23N2225/00; F23N2225/08; F23N2225/12; F23N2227/00; F23N2227/02; F23N2227/04; F23N2227/06; F23N2227/32; F23N2229/00; F23N2241/00; F23N2241/14; F23N5/00; F23N5/18; F23N5/20; F23N5/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S388/00; Y10S388/923; Y10S388/934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A microprocessor based heat exchange system including system components for controlling temperature in an environment, said system components including a motor for driving a fan, said heat exchange system comprising: a processing means for processing information, said processing means having an input means for receiving an input signal and an output means for providing an output signal, said input signal conveying information about said system components; a motor controller means coupled with said motor for regulating speed of said motor, said motor controller means being coupled with said processing means for receiving said output signal; reset means for applying a reset signal to a reset terminal of said processing means, said reset signal having succeeding repetitive first and second signal levels; said processing means being responsive to said reset signal to assume an active state when said reset signal is at said first signal level and to assume an inactive state when said reset signal is at said second signal level, said processing means executing succeeding portions of a program to generate said output signal; and wherein said motor controller means regulates said speed of said motor in accordance with a power level supplied to said motor and said output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A microprocessor based heat exchange system including system components for controlling temperature in an environment, said system components including a motor for driving a fan, said heat exchange system comprising: a processing means for processing information, said processing means having an input means for receiving an input signal and an output means for providing an output signal, said input signal conveying information about said system components; a motor controller means coupled with said motor for regulating speed of said motor, said motor controller means being coupled with said processing means for receiving said output signal; reset means for applying a reset signal to a reset terminal of said processing means, said reset signal having succeeding repetitive first and second signal levels; said processing means being responsive to said reset signal to assume an active state when said reset signal is at said first signal level and to assume an inactive state when said reset signal is at said second signal level, said processing means executing succeeding portions of a program to generate said output signal; and wherein said motor controller means regulates said speed of said motor in accordance with a power level supplied to said motor and said output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the input signal is indicative of a sail switch condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the input signal is indicative of a high limit condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the input signal is indicative of a flame condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the input signal is indicative of a thermostat condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the input signal is indicative of a gas valve condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means receives a plurality of input signals indicative of at least two of the following conditions: a thermostat condition, a sail switch condition, a gas valve condition, and a high limit condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the processing means further receives a second input signal indicative of an ignition system condition and provides an ignition system output signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A microprocessor based heat exchange system including a motor for driving a fan, said microprocessor based heat exchange system comprising: input means for providing input signals including a thermostat signal and a sail switch signal; a microprocessor means for operating a linear program, the microprocessor means producing a processor signal in response to the linear program and said input signals; a power limiting means for limiting power supplied to the motor; a power regulating means coupled to the power limiting means for providing a relatively constant power level to the motor in response to a first control signal; a power sense means for generating a second control signal indicative of the power supplied to the motor; and motor control signal generating means for generating the first control signal in response to the second control signal and the processor signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A microprocessor based heat exchange system including a motor for driving a fan, said microprocessor based heat exchange system comprising: input means for providing input signals including a thermostat signal and a sail switch signal; a microprocessor means for operating a linear program, the microprocessor means producing a processor signal in response to the linear program and said input signals; a power limiting means for limiting power supplied to the motor; a power regulating means coupled to the power limiting means for providing a relatively constant power level to the motor in response to a first control signal; a power sense means for generating a second control signal indicative of the power supplied to the motor; and motor control signal generating means for generating the first control signal in response to the second control signal and the processor signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising: a back EMF detection means for generating a third control signal; wherein the motor control signal generating means receives the third control signal and generates the first control signal in response to the third control signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the heat exchange system includes an ignition system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the ignition system is is a gas ignition system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the system controls the motor in a blower in a Recreational Vehicle (RV) space heater.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for controlling a microprocessor based heat exchange system, the heat exchange system running a linear program in response to a cyclical signal provided at a reset terminal, the system including an ignition system, a motor which drives a fan, a sail switch for indicating air flow, a thermostat, and a motor controller for regulating the speed of the motor in response to a regulate signal from the heat exchange system, the method comprising the steps of: starting the motor in a soft start mode upon a first signal from the thermostat and a second signal from the sail switch; operating the motor in a regulate mode; prepurging the heat exchange system; igniting a fuel; verifying whether the fuel has been ignited; interpurging the system and re-igniting the fuel if the fuel is not ignited.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for controlling a microprocessor based heat exchange system, the heat exchange system running a linear program in response to a cyclical signal provided at a reset terminal, the system including an ignition system, a motor which drives a fan, a sail switch for indicating air flow, a thermostat, and a motor controller for regulating the speed of the motor in response to a regulate signal from the heat exchange system, the method comprising the steps of: starting the motor in a soft start mode upon a first signal from the thermostat and a second signal from the sail switch; operating the motor in a regulate mode; prepurging the heat exchange system; igniting a fuel; verifying whether the fuel has been ignited; interpurging the system and re-igniting the fuel if the fuel is not ignited.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the system includes at least one fault detector, and the method further includes the step of: entering a lockout state when a fault condition is detected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of: post purging the system when the fuel is extinguished.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-17 | 1998-10-17 | 1999-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-17 | 2002-10-17 | 2003-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-17 | 2006-10-17 | 2007-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |