Abstract: A method for setting-up a module of a modular industrial control system so that the module is easily integrated into the modular system is disclosed along with a method for setting-up a modular industrial control system for connecting a new module to the modular industrial control system, a module for forming part of a modular industrial control system comprising a plurality of modules and a controller for controlling the plurality of modules, a modular industrial control system, and a corresponding computer readable medium. The method for setting-up a module of a modular industrial control system so that the module is easily integrated into the modular system comprises programming a module for use in a modular industrial control system with a name corresponding to the name used by a control code of a controller of the modular industrial control system to control the module.

Abstract: A rectifier circuit comprising an AC input, at least one thyristor coupled to the AC input, a DC bus driven by the at least one thyristor, a controller arranged to: derive a first current in the DC bus, derive a maximum current demand on the DC bus, and provide a trigger signal to the at least one thyristor based on the derived maximum current and the derived first current.

Abstract: A power supply arranged to charge a smoothing capacitance via a resistive element for soft-starting in the event that one or more conditions for normal operation are not complied with is arranged to detect that a voltage across at least part of the smoothing capacitance exceeds an excess voltage threshold and, responsive to the detecting, interrupt charging of the smoothing capacitance via the resistive element for soft-starting.

Abstract: A mount for supporting a housing of electrical equipment comprises a rectangular frame and a floating strut which rests on the frame to sub-divide the aperture into smaller spaces each for a housing. The frame of the strut engages a gasket on the housing to seal each side of the frame from the other. Multiple housings can be installed in the same frame and the strut and gaskets provide sealing between in the inside and the outside of the frame.

Abstract: Conducting emission suppression in a power circuit for an electric motor comprises a negative temperature co-efficient resistor and capacitor connecting one of the power lines to ground. The NTC resistor is self-stabilising so that changes in the load current are automatically compensated for.

Abstract: A method of reducing periodic disturbances in the feedback quantity of a controlled system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a feedback signal and repeatedly deriving respective magnitudes of harmonic components of the feedback signal to produce corresponding error signals. The error signals and harmonic components are used to generate harmonic control signals. The harmonic control signals are used to create a plurality of negative feedback loops acting to reduce the error signals. The present disclosure thus provides negative feedback control in the frequency domain. In one specific disclosed embodiment, the control is tied to the periodic domain resulting from the rotation of an actuator motor shaft.

Abstract: A circuit for monitoring the operation of an electric motor comprises means for deriving a motor signal indicative of a relatively low frequency characteristic of the motor commutation current (for example the back EMF ripple) by rejecting the high frequency components which are mainly the result of the commutation events. The circuit also includes means for producing a pulse from the low frequency characteristic which has a duration related to the motor speed.

Abstract: A method arranged to control a motor for driving a load is disclosed. The motor and load form at least a part of a system and the motor comprises a stator arranged to produce a varying magnetic field responsive to an applied AC voltage and a rotor arranged to rotate responsive to the varying magnetic field produced by the stator, the rotor rotating at a speed synchronised to a frequency of the applied AC voltage. The method comprises receiving a target rotor speed, determining a voltage level for the applied AC voltage for producing a magnetic field having magnetic flux of sufficient magnitude to maintain the rotor in synchronisation with the frequency of the applied AC voltage when rotating at the target speed of rotation. The voltage level is determined in accordance with the target rotor speed and a model of the system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor at low operational speed is disclosed, wherein the motor comprises a magnetic rotor and a stator arranged to produce a magnetic field responsive to an applied electric current, wherein the method comprises ramping up an electric current applied to a stator from an initial current level to a synchronisation current level over a period of time. The initial current level is less than a minimum current required by the stator to produce a magnetic field having magnetic flux of a sufficient magnitude for synchronising a position of the magnetic rotor with respect to the magnetic field. The synchronisation current level is greater than or equal to the minimum current required to produce a magnetic field having magnetic flux of a sufficient magnitude to synchronise the position of the magnetic rotor with the magnetic field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor the condition of an apparatus (e.g a variable speed drive), the apparatus comprising: a processor, a plurality of devices and a plurality of temperature sensors, each sensor associated with a device, the processor being arranged in use to: determine, for each of a plurality of sensors, the temperature of the associated device based on the temperature sensed by the sensor and the mode of operation of the device; compare the determined temperatures for each device with stored data relating to the mode of operation of the apparatus; and based on the comparison determine whether the apparatus is operating as expected in the mode of operation.

Abstract: A capacitor bank comprising at least two series chains each comprising a plurality of capacitors, wherein the series chains are coupled in parallel at corresponding points; and a fusible link arranged to form at least part of each coupling; wherein the corresponding points of each chain that are coupled to one another are at the same voltage when the capacitor bank is operational.

Abstract: A semiconductor device driving unit to supply a drive signal to a gate of a semiconductor switching device, the semiconductor device driving unit comprising: a plurality of gate impedance circuits selectably connectable to the gate of the semiconductor switching device; and a selector to select one or more of the gate impedance circuits to connect to the semiconductor switching device. Also provided is a method of supplying a drive signal to a gate of a semiconductor switching device, the method comprising: selecting one or more of a plurality of gate impedance circuits to be connected to the gate of the semiconductor switching device based on one or more operating conditions and stored data relating to the one or more operating conditions; and connecting the selected one or more of the gate impedance circuits to the semiconductor switching device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for allocating node addresses in a computer network architecture and a computer network architecture for performing such a method. The computer network architecture comprises at least one master node and at least one slave node serially connected downstream of the master node. Each slave node includes a switch for connecting an upstream transmit line with a downstream transmit line at the slave node. When the switch is open, the master node and any upstream slave nodes are not connected via the transmit line to any downstream slave nodes. When the switch is closed, the master node and any upstream slave nodes are connected via the transmit line to any downstream slave nodes.

Abstract: There is provided a method and control system for reducing noise in a power converter by controlling a switching device in the power converter according to a modulation scheme. The switching device couples a direct current (DC) source to provide an alternating current (AC) output at a particular switching frequency. The method comprises the step of, in each switching period, switching the switching device between active configurations providing a finite voltage at the output and inactive configurations providing a zero voltage at the output. The ratio between the total period of time in which the switching device is in an active configuration and the total period of time in which the switching device is in an inactive configuration is the same for each switching period and is determined according to the desired voltage at the AC output.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an a method, apparatus and computer program product for controlling the operation of a drive unit comprising a plurality of switching modules arranged to receive a DC electricity supply and generate an AC electricity supply for driving a load from the received DC electricity supply, the AC electricity supply being generated by the switching of the plurality of switching modules between a conducting state and a non-conducting state. The method comprises receiving one or more characteristics associated with each of the switching modules, comparing, for each switching module of the plurality of switching modules, a characteristic of the switching module with an equivalent characteristic associated with one or more other switching modules of the plurality of switching modules, and controlling a time period during which one or more of the plurality of switching modules are in the conducting state in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A network communication method is provided, said network comprising first and second nodes. The method comprises: transmitting a message from the first node to the second node, wherein the message comprises a data content portion and an identifying portion, wherein said identifying portion includes a first unique identifier corresponding to a time source which controls a time value at the first node; receiving the transmitted message at the second node; comparing the first unique identifier to a second unique identifier, wherein said second unique identifier corresponds to a time source which controls a time value at the second node; and if the result of said comparison is positive, accepting the message for processing at the second node.

Abstract: An electronic component including one or more legs for attachment to a circuit board, wherein at least one of said legs includes a spring-acting kink, arranged so as to offers resilience to relative displacement between the end of said leg and the body of said component. The kink may be substantially S-shaped, Z-shaped, U-shaped, wave-shaped or coil-shaped.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a component is disclosed. The component is part of a drive configured to drive an electrical machine via an electrically conductive member. The method comprises determining a value of an attribute of the electrically conductive member; configuring a model to calculate the temperature of the component, the model being configured based on the determined value of the attribute of the electrically conductive member; using the model to calculate the temperature of the component; and if the calculated temperature of the component does not meet a predetermined temperature condition, issuing a command to control the operation of the drive such that the temperature of the component is changed to meet the predetermined temperature condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power conversion system comprising a transformer comprising first, second, and third inductive coupling elements, a first power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the first coupling element, a second power supply arranged to provide a voltage across the second coupling element, an output arranged to receive a voltage from the third coupling element. In use, the voltage across the first coupling element and the voltage across the second coupling element are arranged to induce a voltage in the third coupling element. The system also comprises a control arrangement arranged to independently control the operation of the first and second power supplies.

Abstract: A method of controlling a current flowing through a component of a drive comprising the steps of: estimating the current flowing through a component; estimating the temperature of the component; comparing the estimated temperature with a desired maximum temperature for the component; and adjusting the current flowing through the component based on the result of the comparing step.