Abstract: Described herein is an electric motor assembly for an environmental control system. The electric motor assembly includes a fan configured to rotate to circulate air within a controlled environment chamber of the environmental control system, and an electric motor coupled to the fan and configured to rotate the fan. The electric motor includes a motor controller configured to receive a braking control signal from a sensor associated with the controlled environment chamber. The braking control signal indicates an entrance to the controlled environment chamber is about to be opened. The motor controller is also configured to initiate braking the electric motor in response to receiving the braking control signal.

Abstract: A health monitor circuit for an electric machine includes a plurality of sensors, a rectifier, a memory device, and a microprocessor. The plurality of sensors includes a current transformer configured to be electromagnetically coupled to an electrical conductor that feeds a stator winding of the electric machine. The rectifier is coupled to the current transformer and is configured to convert an AC signal generated by the current transformer to a DC signal to supply power for the health monitor circuit. The microprocessor is coupled to the memory device and the plurality of sensors. The microprocessor is configured to periodically collect a stator current measurement from the current transformer and write the stator current measurement to the memory device.

Abstract: A health monitor circuit for an electric machine includes a plurality of sensors, a rectifier, a memory device, and a microprocessor. The plurality of sensors includes a current transformer configured to be electromagnetically coupled to an electrical conductor that feeds a stator winding of the electric machine. The rectifier is coupled to the current transformer and is configured to convert an AC signal generated by the current transformer to a DC signal to supply power for the health monitor circuit. The microprocessor is coupled to the memory device and the plurality of sensors. The microprocessor is configured to periodically collect a stator current measurement from the current transformer and write the stator current measurement to the memory device.

Abstract: A motor controller for a draft inducer motor that operates an inducer blower in a furnace is provided. The motor controller includes a communication interface operable to receive a signal from a system controller. The signal represents a command to operate the draft inducer motor. The motor controller includes a processor operable to operate the draft inducer motor in accordance with a predefined motor speed profile during at least one of an ignition stage and a combustion stage of the furnace.

Abstract: An entertainment device typically described as a pinball machine, usually found in myriad places such as arcades, restaurants, private residences, etc. A conventional pinball machine allows one or more players to play a game in which points are accrued by physically striking one or more balls on an inclined play field within a cabinet having a transparent top surface. Interaction of the machine with the ball is typically limited to events when the ball strikes an object on the play field. To enable more machine-ball interaction and therefore increase entertainment value ball tracking is needed. A way to track the ball in a very fast manner to better enable open space interactivity while not having excessive cost and while not limiting the game designer.

Abstract: A motor controller for a draft inducer motor that operates an inducer blower in a furnace is provided. The motor controller includes a communication interface operable to receive a signal from a system controller. The signal represents a command to operate the draft inducer motor. The motor controller includes a processor operable to operate the draft inducer motor in accordance with a predefined motor speed profile during at least one of an ignition stage and a combustion stage of the furnace.

Abstract: A server for a control system for cooling systems is disclosed. The server includes a memory device configured to store instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory device and a plurality of cooling systems. Each of cooling systems includes a motor, a sensor, a local memory, and a microprocessor communicatively coupled to the motor, the sensor, the local memory. The microprocessor is configured to control operation of the motor according to settings defined by configuration data stored in the local memory. In response to reading the instructions, the processor is configured to receive, from the sensor of each of the cooling systems, first sensor data, generate first configuration data by executing a first algorithm on the first sensor data, and instruct the microprocessor of at least one cooling system to write the first configuration data to the local memory of the at least one cooling system.

Abstract: Described herein is an electric motor assembly for an environmental control system. The electric motor assembly includes a fan configured to rotate to circulate air within a controlled environment chamber of the environmental control system, and an electric motor coupled to the fan and configured to rotate the fan. The electric motor includes a motor controller configured to receive a braking control signal from a sensor associated with the controlled environment chamber. The braking control signal indicates an entrance to the controlled environment chamber is about to be opened. The motor controller is also configured to initiate braking the electric motor in response to receiving the braking control signal.

Abstract: An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module is operably connected to a power supply for providing power to a motor. The electronic control module includes an input device, a processor coupled to the input device, and first and second current supply lines. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device and transmit the command signal to the motor. The command signal controls an operating point of the motor. The first and second current supply lines are operably connectable to the motor and the processor. At least one of the current supply lines, the input device and the processor are adapted to utilize the current supply lines both to transmit power to the motor and to transmit the command signal to the motor over the current supply lines.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electric motor includes coupling a rotor hub to a rotor disk to form a rotor assembly and slidably coupling the rotor hub to a shaft at a first position. The method also includes coupling a stator assembly to the shaft to define a first axial gap between the stator assembly and the rotor assembly. The method further includes sliding the rotor assembly to a second position along the shaft to define a second axial gap between the stator assembly and the rotor assembly. The second position is based on a measured back EMF constant of the electric motor when the rotor assembly is in the second position.

Abstract: An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module is operably connected to a power supply for providing power to a motor. The electronic control module includes an input device, a processor coupled to the input device, and first and second current supply lines. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device and transmit the command signal to the motor. The command signal controls an operating point of the motor. The first and second current supply lines are operably connectable to the motor and the processor. At least one of the current supply lines, the input device and the processor are adapted to utilize the current supply lines both to transmit power to the motor and to transmit the command signal to the motor over the current supply lines.

Abstract: A motor controller for a blower in a gas-burning appliance. The motor controller includes a processor configured to receive a measured pressure differential measured by a sensor disposed in an airflow generated by the blower. The processor is configured to compute a motor speed based on the measured pressure differential and a pressure differential set-point for the gas-burning appliance. The processor is configured to operate the blower at the motor speed to drive the measured pressure differential toward the pressure differential set-point.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electric motor includes coupling a rotor hub to a rotor disk to form a rotor assembly and slidably coupling the rotor hub to a shaft at a first position. The method also includes coupling a stator assembly to the shaft to define a first axial gap between the stator assembly and the rotor assembly. The method further includes sliding the rotor assembly to a second position along the shaft to define a second axial gap between the stator assembly and the rotor assembly. The second position is based on a measured back EMF constant of the electric motor when the rotor assembly is in the second position.

Abstract: A health monitor circuit for an electric machine includes a plurality of sensors, a rectifier, a memory device, and a microprocessor. The plurality of sensors includes a current transformer configured to be electromagnetically coupled to an electrical conductor that feeds a stator winding of the electric machine. The rectifier is coupled to the current transformer and is configured to convert an AC signal generated by the current transformer to a DC signal to supply power for the health monitor circuit. The microprocessor is coupled to the memory device and the plurality of sensors. The microprocessor is configured to periodically collect a stator current measurement from the current transformer and write the stator current measurement to the memory device.

Abstract: A motor controller for a draft inducer motor that operates an inducer blower in a furnace is provided. The motor controller includes a communication interface operable to receive a signal from a system controller. The signal represents a command to operate the draft inducer motor. The motor controller includes a processor operable to operate the draft inducer motor in accordance with a predefined motor speed profile during at least one of an ignition stage and a combustion stage of the furnace.

Abstract: An information collection system for a pump for removing fluid collected by a buildings drainage system from subterranean locations adjacent a building is provided. The system includes a sensor for sensing operation information regarding the operation of the pump and an information collection device operably connected to the sensor and adapted to receive the operation information. The system also includes an information storage device operably connected to the information collection device and adapted to store the operation information. The system further includes a retrieval device operably connected to the storage device and adapted to retrieve the operation information.

Abstract: An electronic control module is provided. The electronic control module is operably connected to a power supply for providing power to a motor. The electronic control module includes an input device, a processor coupled to the input device, and first and second current supply lines. The processor is configured to generate a command signal in response to an input supplied by the input device and transmit the command signal to the motor. The command signal controls an operating point of the motor. The first and second current supply lines are operably connectable to the motor and the processor. At least one of the current supply lines, the input device and the processor are adapted to utilize the current supply lines both to transmit power to the motor and to transmit the command signal to the motor over the current supply lines.

Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is described. The motor controller is coupled to a power line communication connection and includes a communication device coupled to a memory device. The motor controller is configured to receive, using the communication device, a status query from a server computing device via the power line communication connection. The motor controller is additionally configured to transmit electric motor diagnostic data from the memory device to the server computing device via the power line communication connection. The motor controller is further configured to receive motor configuration data from a client computing device wirelessly coupled to the motor controller. The motor configuration data is for controlling the electric motor. The motor controller is also configured to operate the electric motor in accordance with the motor configuration data.

Abstract: A motor network mapping device is provided. The motor network mapping device includes a processor coupled to a memory device. The motor network mapping device is configured to determine physical distances between a plurality of motors in a network using properties of electronic test signals transmitted through a power line coupled to the plurality of motors. The motor network mapping device is additionally configured to generate a map of physical locations of the motors using the determined physical distances between the plurality of motors and store the map in the memory device.

Abstract: An information collection system for a pump for removing fluid collected by a buildings drainage system from subterranean locations adjacent a building is provided. The system includes a sensor for sensing operation information regarding the operation of the pump and an information collection device operably connected to the sensor and adapted to receive the operation information. The system also includes an information storage device operably connected to the information collection device and adapted to store the operation information. The system further includes a retrieval device operably connected to the storage device and adapted to retrieve the operation information.