US6369536B2 — Methods and apparatus for selecting an electronic…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 123 words

A method for programming an operating speed for an electronically commutated motor using an input/output unit electrically connected to a microprocessor, the input/output unit including a connector and a board including an EEPROM, and a plurality of low voltage signal connections, the plurality of low voltage signal connections for programming the microprocessor, the electrically erasable programmable read-only memory connected to the microprocessor and including a speed table configured to control an operating speed of the electronically commutated motor, said method comprising the steps of: selecting an operating speed for the electronically commutated motor; and supplying a power supply to the board including the EEPROM to select one of the speed table entries corresponding to the desired operating speed for the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 123 words

A method for programming an operating speed for an electronically commutated motor using an input/output unit electrically connected to a microprocessor, the input/output unit including a connector and a board including an EEPROM, and a plurality of low voltage signal connections, the plurality of low voltage signal connections for programming the microprocessor, the electrically erasable programmable read-only memory connected to the microprocessor and including a speed table configured to control an operating speed of the electronically commutated motor, said method comprising the steps of: selecting an operating speed for the electronically commutated motor; and supplying a power supply to the board including the EEPROM to select one of the speed table entries corresponding to the desired operating speed for the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the connector and the board includes at least three speed signal connections to control the speed of the electronically commutated motor, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of applying supply power to at least one of the at least three speed signal connections.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein one of the plurality of low voltage connections enables a program/pulse width modulation, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of enabling the program/pulse width modulation connection.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the connector terminal board accepts at least one of a low voltage power supply and a high voltage power supply, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of supplying a low voltage to the connector and the board.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the connector and the board accepts at least one of a low voltage power supply and a high voltage power supply, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of supplying a high voltage to the connector and the board.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 77 words

An input/output unit electrically connected to a microprocessor controlling an electronically commutated motor, said input/output unit comprising a connector and a board comprising an EEPROM, at least three power connections, and a plurality of low voltage signal connections, said at least three power connections control supply power to said connector and said board, said microprocessor, and the motor, said plurality of low voltage signal connections receive input for programming said microprocessor, said EEPROM connected to said microprocessor.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 77 words

An input/output unit electrically connected to a microprocessor controlling an electronically commutated motor, said input/output unit comprising a connector and a board comprising an EEPROM, at least three power connections, and a plurality of low voltage signal connections, said at least three power connections control supply power to said connector and said board, said microprocessor, and the motor, said plurality of low voltage signal connections receive input for programming said microprocessor, said EEPROM connected to said microprocessor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

An input/output unit in accordance with claim 6 wherein one of said plurality of low voltage connections comprises a program/pulse width modulation connection, said EEPROM comprises a speed table configured to control an operating speed of the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

An input/output unit in accordance with claim 7 wherein said speed table comprises a schedule of speeds selectively imputable to said microprocessor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

An input/output unit in accordance with claim 8 wherein one of said plurality of low voltage connections comprises a data out line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

An input/output in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a plurality of speed signal connections configured to control the speed of the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

An input/output in accordance with claim 10 wherein said plurality of speed signal connections accept at least one of a low voltage power supply and a high voltage power supply.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

An input/output in accordance with claim 11 further comprising at least two optically coupled isolators, one of said optically coupled isolators connected to at least one of said low voltage signal connections.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

An input/output in accordance with claim 12 wherein one of said at least two optically coupled isolators connects to said program/pulse width modulation connection.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 115 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly comprising: an electronically commutated motor; an input/output unit electrically connected to said electronically commutated motor for controlling an operating speed of said electronically commutated motor, said input/output unit electrically connected to a microprocessor; and a connector and board comprising an EEPROM, at least three power connections, and a plurality of low voltage signal connections, said power connections control supply power to said connector and board, said input/output unit, and said electronically commutated motor, said low voltage signal connections receive input for programming said microprocessor, said EEPROM comprises a speed table comprising a schedule of speeds which can be selectively input to control an operating speed of said electronically commutated motor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 115 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly comprising: an electronically commutated motor; an input/output unit electrically connected to said electronically commutated motor for controlling an operating speed of said electronically commutated motor, said input/output unit electrically connected to a microprocessor; and a connector and board comprising an EEPROM, at least three power connections, and a plurality of low voltage signal connections, said power connections control supply power to said connector and board, said input/output unit, and said electronically commutated motor, said low voltage signal connections receive input for programming said microprocessor, said EEPROM comprises a speed table comprising a schedule of speeds which can be selectively input to control an operating speed of said electronically commutated motor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 41 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein said connector and board further comprises a plurality of speed connections electrically connected to said input/output unit and configured to selectively control the operational speed of the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein one of said plurality of low voltage connections comprises a program/pulse width modulation connection.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 31 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly in accordance with claim 16 wherein said connector terminal board accepts at least one of a low voltage supply power and a high voltage supply power.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly in accordance with claim 17 wherein one of said plurality of low voltage connections comprises a data out line.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

An electronically commutated motor assembly in accordance with claim 18 wherein said input/output unit further comprises at least two optically coupled isolators, one of said optically coupled isolators connected to at least one of said low voltage signal connections.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for selecting an operating speed for an electronically commutated motor assembly using an EEPROM connected to a microprocessor, the motor assembly including an electronically commutated motor, an input/output unit electrically connected to the electronically commutated motor for selecting an operating speed of the electronically commutated motor, a connector and a board electrically connected to the input/output unit and including a plurality of low voltage signal connections and a plurality of speed signal input connections, the plurality of low voltage signal connections for programming the EEPROM, the plurality of speed signal input connections to control the speed of the electronically commutated motor, said method comprising the steps of: programming the EEPROM; supplying a power supply to the connector and the board to access the EEPROM; and selecting an operating speed for the electronically commutated motor from the EEPROM.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for selecting an operating speed for an electronically commutated motor assembly using an EEPROM connected to a microprocessor, the motor assembly including an electronically commutated motor, an input/output unit electrically connected to the electronically commutated motor for selecting an operating speed of the electronically commutated motor, a connector and a board electrically connected to the input/output unit and including a plurality of low voltage signal connections and a plurality of speed signal input connections, the plurality of low voltage signal connections for programming the EEPROM, the plurality of speed signal input connections to control the speed of the electronically commutated motor, said method comprising the steps of: programming the EEPROM; supplying a power supply to the connector and the board to access the EEPROM; and selecting an operating speed for the electronically commutated motor from the EEPROM.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein one of the plurality of low voltage connections enables a program/pulse width modulation, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of enabling the program/pulse width modulation connection.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein the EEPROM is configured to be programmed by an original equipment manufacturer and includes a speed table, said step of programming the EEPROM further comprising the step of programming the EEPROM to include a speed table.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the plurality of speed signal input connections are configured to be selected by a user, the speed table including a schedule of speeds selectively imputable to the microprocessor, said step of selecting an operating speed further comprising the step of selecting an operating speed for the electronically commutated motor from the schedule of speeds.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein the connector and board accepts at least one of a low voltage power supply and a high voltage power supply, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of supplying a low voltage power supply to the connector terminal board.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein the connector and board accepts at least one of a low voltage power supply and a high voltage power supply, said step of supplying a power supply further comprising the step of supplying a high voltage power supply to the connector and board.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-04-08	2005-10-08	2006-04-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-04-08	2009-10-08	2010-04-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-04-08	2013-10-08	2014-04-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and apparatus for selecting an electronically commutated motor speed

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