Abstract: A drive circuit for an electric pump motor is provided. The drive circuit includes an inverter and a contactor. The inverter is configured to supply variable frequency current to the electric motor. The contactor is configured to supply the line frequency current to the electric motor.

Abstract: A method of operating a drive circuit for parallel electric motors is provided. The method includes receiving measurements of stator phase currents in the parallel electric motors. The method includes selecting a target PM motor, from among the parallel electric motors, that generates a largest torque output. The method includes executing a vector control algorithm to generate a complex command voltage vector for the target PM motor. The method includes generating and transmitting a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on the complex command voltage vector for controlling an inverter. The method includes operating the inverter according to the PWM signal to supply three-phase alternating current (AC) power to the parallel electric motors.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine is described. The machine includes a rotor rotatable about a central machine axis. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnet openings and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed therein. The permanent magnet openings are separated by rotor webs configured to facilitate reducing leakage flux through the rotor webs. The machine also includes a stator disposed coaxially with the rotor and separated from the rotor by a circumferential air gap. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth that define a plurality of stator slots therebetween. The stator teeth include a stator tooth tip configured to facilitate reducing cogging torque and torque ripple.

Abstract: A drive circuit for an electric motor includes a variable frequency drive (VFD), a drive contactor, and a controller. The VFD is configured to receive line frequency current from a power source and apply a fixed frequency voltage to convert the line frequency current to a fixed frequency current. The drive contactor is configured to selectively couple the drive circuit to windings of the motor. The controller is configured to monitor for presence of a control signal applied to the drive contactor, wherein presence of the control signal closes the drive contactor to couple the drive circuit to the windings of the electric motor. The controller applies the fixed frequency voltage from the VFD to the windings upon determining presence of the control signal, determines whether the motor is motoring or regenerating after applying the fixed frequency voltage, and gradually increases the fixed frequency voltage applied to the windings when the motor is motoring.

Abstract: A drive circuit for an electric motor includes a variable frequency drive (VFD), a drive contactor, and a controller. The VFD is configured to receive line frequency current from a power source and apply a fixed frequency voltage to convert the line frequency current to a fixed frequency current. The drive contactor is configured to selectively couple the drive circuit to windings of the motor. The controller is configured to monitor for presence of a control signal applied to the drive contactor, wherein presence of the control signal closes the drive contactor to couple the drive circuit to the windings of the electric motor. The controller applies the fixed frequency voltage from the VFD to the windings upon determining presence of the control signal, determines whether the motor is motoring or regenerating after applying the fixed frequency voltage, and gradually increases the fixed frequency voltage applied to the windings when the motor is motoring.

Abstract: A drive circuit for an electric motor includes a first filter, a rectifier, an inverter, and a line contactor. The first filter is configured to be coupled to an AC source and produces a filtered line frequency AC signal. The rectifier is coupled to the filter and produces a DC signal from the filtered line frequency AC signal. The inverter is coupled to the rectifier and produces an AC signal on an output node of the inverter. The AC signal is supplied to the electric motor to energize its stator windings. The line contactor is coupled between an output node of the first filter and the output node of the inverter. The line contactor supplies the output node of the inverter directly with the filtered line frequency AC signal to energize the stator windings when the inverter is disabled.

Abstract: An electric motor controller, an electric motor drive circuit, and methods for combined electric motor control are provided. The drive circuit is configured to drive a first electric motor and a second electric motor. The drive circuit includes a rectifier configured to convert an AC input voltage to a pulsed DC voltage, and a first DC link electrically coupled to the rectifier. The first DC-link includes a low-capacitance capacitor having a capacitance less than 10 ?F. The drive circuit also includes a first inverter coupled to the first DC-link, the first inverter configured to generate a conditioned output voltage to drive the first electric motor, a second DC-link electrically coupled to the first DC-link, and a second inverter coupled to the second DC-link. The second inverter is configured to generate a conditioned output voltage to drive the second electric motor.

Abstract: A centrifugal blower system includes a centrifugal blower assembly for generating airflow. The centrifugal blower assembly includes a housing, a motor coupled to the housing, and at least one impeller coupled to the motor. A motor controller is coupled to the motor. The motor controller is configured to receive at least one feedback parameter and to transmit instructions to the motor to control an operation of the motor based on the at least one feedback parameter. The operation of the motor is configured to reduce noise in the centrifugal blower system.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine is described. The machine includes a rotor rotatable about a central machine axis. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnet openings and a plurality of permanent magnets disposed therein. The permanent magnet openings are separated by rotor webs configured to facilitate reducing leakage flux through the rotor webs. The machine also includes a stator disposed coaxially with the rotor and separated from the rotor by a circumferential air gap. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth that define a plurality of stator slots therebetween. The stator teeth include a stator tooth tip configured to facilitate reducing cogging torque and torque ripple.

Abstract: A motor controller for controlling an electric motor includes a motion control microcontroller unit (MCU) for storing initial control parameters for the electric motor, and a wireless receiver communicatively coupled to the motion control MCU. The wireless receiver is configured to activate in response to initiation of a wireless connection with a remote device, receive a wireless control signal from the remote device, the wireless control signal including updated control parameters, and transmit the updated control parameters to the motion control MCU. The motor controller also includes an energy management system configured to power the wireless receiver and the motion control MCU.

Abstract: Drive circuits for parallel electric motors are provided. A drive circuit includes an inverter, at least one current sensor, and a DSP. The inverter is coupled to and configured to provide three phase power to a plurality of parallel electric motors. The at least one current sensor is coupled to the inverter and is configured to measure stator phase currents output by the inverter for driving the plurality of parallel electric motors. The DSP is coupled to the inverter and the at least one current sensor and is configured to receive the stator phase currents from the at least one current sensor, and generate at least one PWM signal for controlling the inverter based on the stator phase currents.

Abstract: An HVAC system including a multi-capacity compressor, and a control system for the multi-capacity compressor are described herein. The control system includes an AC line voltage source, a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and a processor. The AC line voltage source is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The variable-voltage variable-frequency drive is coupled to the AC line voltage source and is configured to operate the multi-capacity compressor at a variable speed. The processor is coupled to the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and is configured to selectively couple the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to the multi-capacity compressor to operate the multi-capacity compressor. The processor is further configured to transmit a capacity control signal to the multi-capacity compressor.

Abstract: A method of operating a drive circuit for parallel electric motors is provided. The method includes receiving measurements of stator phase currents in the parallel electric motors. The method includes selecting a target PM motor, from among the parallel electric motors, that generates a largest torque output. The method includes executing a vector control algorithm to generate a complex command voltage vector for the target PM motor. The method includes generating and transmitting a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal based on the complex command voltage vector for controlling an inverter. The method includes operating the inverter according to the PWM signal to supply three-phase alternating current (AC) power to the parallel electric motors.

Abstract: Drive circuits for parallel electric motors are provided. A drive circuit includes an inverter, at least one current sensor, and a DSP. The inverter is coupled to and configured to provide three phase power to a plurality of parallel electric motors. The at least one current sensor is coupled to the inverter and is configured to measure stator phase currents output by the inverter for driving the plurality of parallel electric motors. The DSP is coupled to the inverter and the at least one current sensor and is configured to receive the stator phase currents from the at least one current sensor, and generate at least one PWM signal for controlling the inverter based on the stator phase currents.

Abstract: A motor controller for controlling an electric motor includes a motion control microcontroller unit (MCU) for storing initial control parameters for the electric motor, and a wireless receiver communicatively coupled to the motion control MCU. The wireless receiver is configured to activate in response to initiation of a wireless connection with a remote device, receive a wireless control signal from the remote device, the wireless control signal including updated control parameters, and transmit the updated control parameters to the motion control MCU. The motor controller also includes an energy management system configured to power the wireless receiver and the motion control MCU.

Abstract: An alternating current (AC) motor system and control methods are provided herein. The AC motor system includes a motor having a first rated horsepower and configured to be coupled to a power source, and a drive circuit configured to be electrically coupled between the power source and the motor. The drive circuit has a second rated horsepower that is lower than the first rated horsepower.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor are provided. An electric motor controller is configured to be coupled to an electric motor. The controller includes a rectifier, an inverter coupled to the rectifier, and a control unit coupled to the inverter. The rectifier is configured to rectify an alternating current (AC) input voltage to produce a pulsed direct current (DC) voltage that drops to approximately zero during each cycle when the AC input voltage transits zero. Energy is stored on a load coupled to the motor when AC input voltage is available. The inverter is configured to receive the DC voltage and to provide a conditioned output voltage to the motor. The control unit is configured to manage energy transfer between the motor and the load such that the motor generates positive torque when the DC voltage supplied to the inverter has approximately 100% voltage ripple.

Abstract: A control system for a multi-stage compressor. The control system includes an AC line voltage source, a variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and a processor. The AC line voltage source is configured to operate the multi-stage compressor. The variable-voltage variable-frequency drive is coupled to the AC line voltage source and is configured to operate the multi-stage compressor at a variable speed. The processor is coupled to the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive, and is configured to alternatively coupled the AC line voltage source and the variable-voltage variable-frequency drive to the multi-stage compressor to operate the multi-stage compressor. The processor is further configured to transmit a capacity control signal to the multi-stage compressor. The capacity control signal is instructive to operate the multi-stage compressor in one of a high-capacity setting and a low-capacity setting.

Abstract: A motor controller for controlling an electric motor includes at least one integrated sensor disposed on the electric motor. The least one integrated sensor is configured to collect sensor data associated with a status of the electric motor for a period of time, the period of time beginning at an activation time and extending at least until an installation time. The motor controller may include an energy management system configured to power the at least one integrated sensor for at least a portion of the period of time, and a memory device configured to store the sensor data. The motor controller may include a data management system configured to communicate the sensor data from the at least one integrated sensor to at least one of the memory device and a remote device.

Abstract: A motor controller for controlling an electric motor includes at least one integrated sensor disposed on the electric motor. The least one integrated sensor is configured to collect sensor data associated with a status of the electric motor for a period of time, the period of time beginning at an activation time and extending at least until an installation time. The motor controller may include an energy management system configured to power the at least one integrated sensor for at least a portion of the period of time, and a memory device configured to store the sensor data. The motor controller may include a data management system configured to communicate the sensor data from the at least one integrated sensor to at least one of the memory device and a remote device.