Abstract: A safety rated robotic motor control system may be configured to receive sensor data from sensors positioned on a motor. The data can be received by a programmable logic device and processed to generate a fault message based on a first set of characteristics. The fault message and the data can be transmitted to a safety controller that determines a second set of characteristics and generates operating instructions based on the fault message and the second set of characteristics.

Abstract: A motor controller configured to control different types of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) includes a range of different rotor orientation signal inputs to accommodate differences between ECM motor types. The motor controller includes a control unit that receives motor operation commands and controls operation of the ECM in accordance with the motor operation commands. The control unit receives and stores data designating ECM type and estimates rotor position based on the designated ECM type.

Abstract: A system for indicating and determining a master unit from a plurality of logic units is described. The system includes a first logic unit configured to output a first obey signal and receive a first input signal, and a second logic unit configured to output a second obey signal and receive a second input signal. At least one of the first obey signal and the second obey signal is clocked, and a phase relationship of the second obey signal relative to the first obey signal is controllable by the first and second input signals. The system also includes a mastership determination logic unit configured to monitor the first and second obey signals. The mastership determination logic unit is configured to indicate that the first logic unit is the master unit when only the first obey signal is being clocked and to indicate that the second logic unit is the master unit when only the second obey signal is being clocked.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and maintaining a plurality of modules are described. Each module of the plurality of modules includes at least one link slave device, and a link controller is connected to link slave devices via a plurality of individual serial, bidirectional connections. The link slave devices and the link controller include protocol logic for communication according to a bidirectional protocol. At predefined time segments and predefined periodicity, the link slave devices drive the corresponding bidirectional link to the controller to provider maintenance information to the controller. At other predefined time segments, the controller drives the bidirectional link to issue commands to the link slave devices.