Digital communication link

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving the first signal, wherein said step of receiving the first signal comprises the step of the controller circuit receiving electrical signals from the controller.

Claim 4

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of adjusting a level of the first signal comprises the step of adjusting the level to communicate with the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of outputting the second signal comprises the step of isolating a transmit signal to the electric motor.

Claim 6

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of outputting the second signal further comprises the step of interrogating the electric motor to acquire status and diagnostic information.

Claim 7

A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said step of interrogating the electric motor further comprises the step of acquiring at least one of an operating status, an operating speed, an operating torque, an input power consumption, an under-speed condition, and a time of operation above a desired power level from the electric motor.

Claim 8

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of outputting the second signal further comprises the step of commanding the electric motor to operate as at least one of a constant torque motor, a constant airflow motor, and a constant speed motor.

Claim 9

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of outputting the second signal comprises the step of controlling at least one of an operating profile, a delay profile, a slew rate, a speed limit, dynamic braking, and an inrush current of the electric motor.

Claim 10

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of receiving a third signal comprises the step of isolating a receive signal from the electric motor.

Claim 11

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting the third signal comprises the step of converting an electrical signal from the electric motor to at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal.

Claim 12

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the interface circuit is directly coupled to the controller.

Claim 13

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the controller is located outside the electronically commutated motor.

Claim 14

An electrical interface circuit comprising: a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit further configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electric motor comprising an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to output the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electric motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit comprising a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals generated by said electric motor.

Claim 15

An electrical interface circuit comprising: a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit further configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electric motor comprising an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to output the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electric motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit comprising a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals generated by said electric motor.

Claim 16

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to adjust a voltage signal received from said controller to a desired level to communicate with said electric motor.

Claim 17

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 14 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to adjust the voltage level to communicate with said electric motor, said electronically commutated motor configured as an electronically commutated variable speed motor.

Claim 18

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to adjust a voltage signal received from said electric motor to a desired level to communicate with said controller.

Claim 19

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to isolate a transmit signal to said electric motor and isolate a receive signal from said electric motor.

Claim 20

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said second transmitter circuit comprises a first optocoupler.

Claim 21

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 18 wherein said first optocoupler configured to provide noise immunity by isolating said second transmitter circuit from said electric motor.

Claim 22

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said second receiver circuit further comprises a second optocoupler.

Claim 23

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 20 wherein said second optocoupler configured to provide noise immunity by isolating said second receiver circuit from said electric motor.

Claim 24

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 13 wherein said motor control interface circuit electrically connected to said controller interface circuit using at least one of a serial four-wire communications cable, a wireless interface, and a digital wireless interface.

Claim 25

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electric motor to acquire status and diagnostic information.

Claim 26

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to command said electric motor to operate as at least one of a constant torque motor, a constant airflow motor, and a constant speed motor.

Claim 27

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electric motor to acquire at least one of an operating status, an operating speed, an operating torque, an input power consumption, an under-speed condition, and a time of operation above a desired power level.

Claim 28

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 13 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to control at least an operating profile, a delay profile, a slew rate, a speed limit, dynamic braking, and an inrush current of said electric motor.

Claim 29

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 13 wherein said motor control interface circuit configured for bi-directional communication with said controller interface circuit using at least one of a voltage signal, an infrared signal, and a RF signal.

Claim 30

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 13 wherein said controller interface circuit configured for bi-directional communication with said motor control interface circuit using at least one of a voltage signal, an infrared signal, and a RF signal.

Claim 31

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 13 wherein said controller interface circuit configured to convert at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal to a voltage signal.

Claim 32

An electrical interface circuit for a HVAC system comprising an electronically commutated motor, said electrical interface comprising: a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to communicate the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electronically commutated motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit coupled to said controller interface circuit by using a serial four-wire communications cable, said motor control interface circuit including a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals from said electronically commutated motor, said second transmitter circuit including a first optocoupler, and said second receiver circuit including a second optocoupler, said first and second optocouplers configured to isolate signals between said motor control interface circuit and said electronically commutated motor, and said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire status and diagnostic information.

Claim 33

An electrical interface circuit for a HVAC system comprising an electronically commutated motor, said electrical interface comprising: a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to communicate the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electronically commutated motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit coupled to said controller interface circuit by using a serial four-wire communications cable, said motor control interface circuit including a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals from said electronically commutated motor, said second transmitter circuit including a first optocoupler, and said second receiver circuit including a second optocoupler, said first and second optocouplers configured to isolate signals between said motor control interface circuit and said electronically commutated motor, and said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire status and diagnostic information.

Claim 34

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 30 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to command said electronically commutated motor to operate as at least one of a constant torque motor, a constant airflow motor, and a constant speed motor.

Claim 35

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 30 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire at least one of an operating status, an operating speed, an operating torque, an input power consumption, an under-speed condition, and a time of operation above a desired power level.

Claim 36

An electrical interface circuit accordance with claim 30 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to control at least an operating profile, a delay profile, a slew rate, a speed limit, dynamic braking, and an inrush current of said electronically commutated motor.

Claim 37

An electrical interface circuit for a HVAC system comprising an electronically commutated motor, said electrical interface comprising: a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to communicate the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electronically commutated motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit coupled to said controller interface circuit by using a digital wireless interface, said motor control interface circuit including a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals from said electronically commutated motor, said second transmitter circuit including a first optocoupler, said second receiver circuit including a second optocoupler, said first and second optocouplers configured to isolate signals between said motor control interface circuit and said electronically commutated motor, and said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire status and diagnostic information.

Claim 38

An electrical interface circuit for a HVAC system comprising an electronically commutated motor, said electrical interface comprising: a controller interface circuit configured to communicate signals with a controller, said controller interface circuit including a first transmitter circuit and a first receiver circuit, said electrical interface circuit configured to convert a voltage signal to a digitally encoded signal and at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal, said controller coupled via said electrical interface circuit to a microcontroller located within an electronically commutated motor, wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to communicate the digitally encoded signal to the microcontroller within the electronically commutated motor; and a motor control interface circuit directly coupled to said electronically commutated motor and coupled to said controller interface circuit, said motor control interface circuit coupled to said controller interface circuit by using a digital wireless interface, said motor control interface circuit including a second transmitter circuit and a second receiver circuit, is separate from said controller, and configured to receive signals from said electronically commutated motor, said second transmitter circuit including a first optocoupler, said second receiver circuit including a second optocoupler, said first and second optocouplers configured to isolate signals between said motor control interface circuit and said electronically commutated motor, and said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire status and diagnostic information.

Claim 39

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 34 wherein said motor control interface circuit configured for bi-directional communication with said controller interface circuit using at least one of a voltage signal, an infrared signal, and a RF signal.

Claim 40

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 34 wherein said controller interface circuit configured for bi-directional communication with said motor control interface circuit using at least one of a voltage signal, an infrared signal, and a RF signal.

Claim 41

An electrical interface circuit according to claim 34 wherein said controller interface circuit configured to convert at least one of an infrared signal and an RF signal to a voltage signal.

Claim 42

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 34 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to command said electronically commutated motor to operate as at least one of a constant torque motor, a constant airflow motor, and a constant speed motor.

Claim 43

An electrical interface circuit in accordance with claim 34 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to interrogate said electronically commutated motor to acquire at least one of an operating status, an operating speed, an operating torque, an input power consumption, an under-speed condition, and a time of operation above a desired power level.

Claim 44

An electrical interface circuit accordance with claim 34 wherein said electrical interface circuit configured to control at least an operating profile, a delay profile, a slew rate, a speed limit, dynamic braking, and an inrush current of said electronically commutated motor.