FR2816724A1 - Interface between electronic programmer and motor control unit has speed, sense of rotation and returned speed units which adapt universal programmer signals to requirements of particular motor - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor (10) is controlled by an electronic programmer card (2) connected to a control card (15). The programmer card has a microcontroller (4) which produces output signals (S1,S2) indicating speed and sense of rotation for a universal motor. These signals are supplied to modules (16,17) on the control card which adapt them to the requirements of a particular motor. A module (18) presents speed data (S3) in universal form to the microcontroller

Description

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 The present invention relates to a device allowing quick and easy interfacing between an electronic programmer and an electric motor control. This device facilitates the connection and communication of a particular electric motor control with an existing electronic programmer, usually designed for the control of a universal motor by phase angle. The main field of use of the invention is that of washing machines, but, more generally, the invention can be applied in all fields where the same type of programming and regulation is implemented.

 Current electronic programmers have been developed, among others, for the phase angle control of a universal electric motor or a single-phase asynchronous motor of household appliances.

 To ensure their function, these programmers can have: - all or part of the power components; triac for regulation, one or two relays for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor, a safety relay; a field change relay to reach higher speeds; - tachometric feedback for motor speed regulation; - on-board software for controlling the triac and the various aforementioned relays, as well as the regulation necessary for the proper functioning of the machine concerned (speed accuracy, minimization of speed variations, etc.) and for safety.

 In addition, for some time, new types of electric motorizations have appeared, such as: three-phase asynchronous motors, synchronous permanent magnet motors, variable reluctance motors, mixed technology motors ... These new motorizations require more control complex, therefore larger control means, which requires having an electronic card separate from that of the programmer, and dedicated to this new requirement of motor control. Communication between the programmer and the electronic motor control card can, in this case, be done currently by different types of communication bus: 12C bus, CAN bus, asynchronous bus, or any other bus specific to the equipment manufacturer. machine manufacturer receiving this equipment.

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In the case of this existing technique, the interfacing of the two electronic cards is very complex and very long, this under different aspects:
Firstly, it is necessary to modify the electronic card of the programmer in a significant way, to incorporate electronic elements useful for communication. This already assumes that the programmer's electronic card can be modified. For example, outputs / inputs must be available for a communication bus, since many electronic programmer cards were not originally provided with a communication bus.

 Secondly, the electronic motor control card must be adapted to each electronic programmer, depending on the available communication bus or according to the possibilities of the microcontrollers used.

 Thirdly, the adaptation also requires a modification in the software of the two electronic cards, to introduce a communication protocol there, the good parameters of speed regulation of the engine, the correct speeds which depend on the transmission ratio in the drive of the drum. of the washing machine. This requires the development of new software, and a new phase of testing. More particularly, the modifications of the electronic card of the programmer result in the fact of removing from this card the modules which relate to the regulation of the speed of rotation of the motor, to add them in the additional card of motor control.

 The present invention aims to avoid these drawbacks by providing a solution which makes it possible to completely or largely overcome interfacing problems, the proposed solution thus being simple, economical, flexible and much faster to develop.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is essentially an interface device between an electronic programmer and an electric motor control, the electronic programmer comprising a microcontroller delivering and / or receiving motor control and regulation signals adapted to a predetermined type of electric motor, such as a universal motor, while the control of the electric motor, of another type, is constituted by an electronic unit including means for shaping the signals coming from the microcontroller of the electronic programmer , and / or shaping of the signals to be directed

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 to this microcontroller, so as to adapt the electronic programmer to said electric motor of another type.

 Thus, the inventive idea consists in using the signals, usually available on the electronic card of a programmer for universal electric motor or other electric motor of conventional type, to control here an electronic card for controlling an electric motor of a other technology. In particular, the proposed device can use one or more of the following signals, usually available: triac control signal, used to regulate the engine; reversing relay control signal, used for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor; feedback signal from either an engine speed sensor or an observer of this speed incorporated in the electronic unit and giving an estimate without a physical sensor, this signal being here shaped by the means incorporated in the electronic engine control unit.

 In a particular embodiment of the interfacing device which is the subject of the invention, it uses the three aforementioned signals simultaneously. This solution has the advantage of using, with a minimum of modifications, the possibilities offered by current electronic programmers.

 In another embodiment, the interfacing device which is the subject of the invention uses only the triac control signal and the speed feedback signal, the reversing relay control signal not being not exploited. This alternative solution, suitable for certain applications, has the economic advantage of eliminating an electrical connection by wire or other, but it requires modifications at the level of the software in the programmer, these modifications however remaining very simple.

 In all cases, with the interfacing device proposed by the present invention, it is no longer necessary to add a specific communication bus to the programmer's electronic card, since the latter already has all the necessary control elements . In addition, there is no longer any limitation due to the micro-controller of the

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 programmer. The hardware modifications to be made consist of the removal of certain components, such as triac and relays, and the addition of a connector. As for the software of the programmer's electronic card, this can remain unchanged, or practically unchanged depending on the particular solution chosen (see above), the functions of this software being always the same. This represents a very significant advantage, in comparison with the current situation in which the task of adapting software is tedious and costly.

 On the side of the electronic engine control unit, too, use can be made of a protocol available on current electronic controls, and there is practically no modification to be made. Only a modification or adaptation of certain data, such as transmission ratio, speeds, speedometer information, etc., must be provided. This data can be stored in a re-programmable memory, for more flexibility. Changes or adaptations will, in fact, be limited to quick adjustments.

 Overall, the solution provided by the present invention makes it possible to use existing electronic programmers, with very few hardware modifications, and practically no modification at the software level, for the control and monitoring of electric motors of various technologies, which represents a considerable advantage in an industrial and commercial context where it is necessary to adapt quickly to new needs. In addition, the solution which is the subject of the invention makes it possible to use an electronic control unit for an electric motor, easily adaptable to all existing electronic programmers, in particular those providing control by phase angle for a universal motor.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of this interface device between an electronic programmer and an electric motor control:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of the current solution, suitable for a universal electric motor;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the solution object of the present invention.

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FIG. 1 illustrates the state of the art exposed above. The electronic programmer, generally designated by the reference 2, has an electronic card 3 which comprises a microcontroller 4, a triac 5 and a relay 6 for reversing the direction of rotation, the microcontroller 4 having two outputs 7 and 8 directed respectively to the triac 5 and to the relay 6. As symbolized by the arrow 9, the latter control a universal electric motor 10, or collector motor or series. A speed sensor 11, associated with the motor 10 or with an element driven in rotation by this motor, supplies at 12 a tachometric feedback signal. The electronic card 3 of the programmer 2 also includes an element 13 for shaping the tachometric feedback signal, this element 13 being connected to an input 14 of the microcontroller 4.

 Figure 2, in which the elements corresponding to those previously described are designated by the same reference numerals, indicates in principle the solution proposed by the present invention.

 Here again, the electronic programmer 2 has an electronic card 3 which includes a microcontroller 4. On the other hand, the triac, the reversing relay and the signal shaping element are here deleted on the card 3. tachometric feedback. However, the outputs 7 and 8 of the microcontroller 4, corresponding to the triac and the reversing relay respectively, are kept here, as well as the input 14 of this microcontroller 4, for the tachometric feedback signal.

 Here the electronic card 3 of the programmer is associated with an electronic card 15 for controlling / controlling the electric motor 10, which is a motor of a particular technology, such as a three-phase asynchronous motor, synchronous motor with permanent magnets or variable reluctance motor. The outputs 7 and 8 of the microcontroller 4 connect the latter directly to the inputs of the electronic card 15, and an output of this electronic card 15 is directly connected to the input 14 of the microcontroller 4. In general, the electronic card 15 makes it possible to adapt the signals coming from the micro-controller 4, or to be transmitted to this micro-controller 4, to the specificities of the electric motor 10, by performing a shaping of the signals so as to simulate the operation of the triacs, reversing relay, etc ...

 In more detail, in the illustrated embodiment, the output 7 of microcontroller 4 connects the latter to a module 16 of the card

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 electronics 15, to which it sends the signal 51 usually intended for controlling the triac (for controlling a universal motor by phase angle). This signal S1 is used here to assign a speed to the motor 10. The module 16 of the electronic card 15 interprets the signal S1, by adapting it to the motor 10. As an example, the card 15 can be constituted by a micro- controller, digital signal processor, integrated circuit specific to this application, etc ...

 The output 8 of the microcontroller 4 of the electronic programmer 2, which emits the signal S2 usually intended for the control of reversing relays, leads to another module 17 of the electronic card 15, the assembly constituting a link which gives the order corresponding to the direction of rotation of the motor 10, and which interprets this order so as to issue a command adapted to this motor 10.

 The electronic card 15 also includes a module 18 connected to the input 14 of the microcontroller 4, and serving to transmit to this microcontroller 4 a signal S3 representing the actual speed information of the motor 10, or a speed "estimated" at by means of an observer made up of software algorithms. The module 18 performs a shaping of the speed signal such that the microcontroller 4 of the programmer 2 believes to receive the speed information from a universal motor, for which it was designed.

 In a variant not illustrated, the link formed by the output 8 of the microcontroller 4 and by the module 17 can be deleted, which means that the signal, giving the order of reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 10, n is not exploited. The deletion of this link requires a modification of the software integrated in the electronic card 3 of the programmer 2.

 In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the electronic card 3 of the programmer 2 and the electronic card 15 for controlling / controlling the electric motor 10 are two separate electronic cards, suitably connected to each other. In a functionally equivalent variant, the functions of the two cards 3 and 15 are grouped together on a single electronic card, which implies constructive modifications but makes it possible to keep the same software.

 The device, previously described, is particularly applicable to a washing machine, with electronic programmer, for the control of the electric motor for driving the drum of this washing machine in rotation.

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 As is obvious, and as is clear from the above, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this interface device between an electronic programmer and an electric motor control which has been described below. above, by way of example; on the contrary, it embraces all of the variant embodiments and applications respecting the same principle. Thus, in particular, that you would not depart from the scope of the invention: by using all types of electronic components for carrying out the functions of the device; - by using more or less numerous signals, transmitted between the electronic programmer and the electric motor control; by applying the device to the programmed control of electric motors of all types; by using the device for all kinds of devices and machines with electronic or hybrid programmer (that is to say combining electronic and mechanical elements).

Claims (5)

 CLAIMS 1. Interfacing device between an electronic programmer and an electric motor control, characterized in that the electronic programmer (2) comprises a microcontroller (4) delivering and / or receiving signals (S1, S2, S3) for controlling and regulating the motor (10), adapted to a predetermined type of electric motor, such as a universal motor, while the control of the electric motor (10), of another type, is constituted by an electronic unit (15) including means (16, 17, 18) for shaping the signals (S1, S2) from the microcontroller (4) of the electronic programmer (2), and / or for shaping the signals (S3) to direct towards this microcontroller (4), so as to adapt the electronic programmer (2) to said electric motor (10) of another type.  2. Interfacing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses one or more of the following signals: -signal (S1) for triac control, making it possible to regulate the engine (10); -signal (S2) for reversing relay control, used for reversing the direction of rotation of the motor (10); -signal (S3) of feedback from either an engine speed sensor (10) or from an observer of this speed incorporated in the electronic unit (15) and giving an estimate without a physical sensor , this signal being shaped by the means (18) incorporated in the electronic motor control unit (15) (10).  3. Interfacing device according to claim 2, characterized in that it simultaneously uses the three signals (S1, S2, S3) mentioned above.  4. Interfacing device according to claim 2, characterized in that it uses, only, the signal (S1) for triac control, and the signal (S3) for feedback of engine speed information (10), the reversing relay control signal not being used.  5. Interfacing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is applied to a washing machine, with electronic programmer (2) for controlling the <Desc / Clms Page number 9>  electric motor (10) for rotating the drum of this washing machine.