JP7735151B2 - Motor unit and fan - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a motor unit and a fan.

A motor unit is equipped with a motor and a drive microcomputer that controls the motor's drive. Such motor units may require different processing depending on the type of data received from an external device such as a PC. For example, the invention described in Patent Document 1 switches the output destination of an input pulse train signal based on the input On/Off signal, either to a position control means that controls the motor's position, or to a parameter setting means that sets the motor's parameters, making it possible to perform different processing depending on the type of data.

Patent No. 4023198

In order to efficiently control the motor from an external device, motor units may be equipped with a communication microcomputer that communicates with external devices in addition to the motor and drive microcomputer.

In such motor units, the communications microcontroller may support general-purpose communications protocols. However, communications with the drive microcontroller regarding motor-specific control may not be possible using a general-purpose communications protocol, or may wish to avoid making the information public. In such cases, access to the drive microcontroller from an external device must go through the communications microcontroller, which creates the problem of not being able to communicate with the drive microcontroller regarding motor-specific control. Due to the structure of the motor unit, it may be difficult to pull out signal wires or insert probes to access the drive microcontroller without going through the communications microcontroller.

As such, there has traditionally been room for improvement in communication between motor units and external devices.

The object of the present invention is to provide a motor unit with improved communication with external devices.

An exemplary first invention of the present application is a motor unit having a motor, a drive microcomputer, and a communication microcomputer, wherein the drive microcomputer drives the motor and communicates with the communication microcomputer using a first communication protocol, the communication microcomputer communicates with the drive microcomputer using the first communication protocol and is capable of communicating with an external device using multiple types of communication protocols including the first communication protocol, the external device can communicate with the drive microcomputer via the communication microcomputer using the first communication protocol , the communication microcomputer can communicate with the external device using a second communication protocol, and the communication microcomputer performs protocol conversion between the second communication protocol for communication with the external device and the first communication protocol for communication with the drive microcomputer .

According to the exemplary first invention of this application, it is possible to provide a motor unit with improved communication with external devices.

1 is a block diagram showing a motor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 10 is a time chart showing an example of the flow of communication between an external device 200, a communication microcomputer 30, and a drive microcomputer 20; 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication protocol switching process performed by a communication microcomputer 30.

The motor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a motor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The motor unit 100 has a motor 10 , a drive microcomputer 20 that drives the motor 10 , and a communication microcomputer 30 that communicates with the drive microcomputer 20 and also with an external device 200 .

Motor 10 is, for example, a brushless DC motor. However, motor 10 may be any other type of motor as long as it can be driven by drive microcomputer 20. Motor 10 may also be used to rotate any object, such as a fan that blows air by rotating an impeller with motor 10.

The drive microcontroller 20 drives the motor 10 in response to commands received via the communication microcontroller 30. For example, if the motor 10 is a brushless DC motor, the motor 10 outputs the rotation speed, torque, etc. in response to the command by controlling the magnitude and timing of the current flowing through each phase of the motor 10.

The communication microcontroller 30 is capable of switching between two communication protocols, a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol, to communicate with the external device 200. The communication microcontroller 30 may also be capable of switching between three or more communication protocols to communicate with the external device 200.

The external device 200 is, for example, a communication I/F board for communicating with the motor unit 100, and a PC that communicates with the communication I/F board. The external device 200 may be any other device that communicates with the communication microcomputer 30. The external device 200 is capable of communicating with the communication microcomputer 30 by switching between two communication protocols, a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol. The external device 200 may also be capable of communicating with the communication microcomputer 30 by switching between three or more communication protocols.

The communication microcomputer 30 and the drive microcomputer 20 communicate using a first communication protocol. The drive microcomputer 20 drives the motor 10 in response to commands received from the external device 200 via the communication microcomputer 30. The drive microcomputer 20 may also detect the state of the motor 10 and transmit information about the detected state to the external device 200 via the communication microcomputer 30.

Communication between the external device 200 and the communication microcomputer 30, and communication between the communication microcomputer 30 and the drive microcomputer 20, is, for example, half-duplex serial communication. Other communication methods may be used for communication between the external device 200 and the communication microcomputer 30, and communication between the communication microcomputer 30 and the drive microcomputer 20.

The first communication protocol is, for example, a communication protocol suitable for sending and receiving information specific to the motor 10 and the drive microcomputer 20. The second communication protocol is, for example, a general-purpose communication protocol suitable for general-purpose control of the motor 10 and the drive microcomputer 20.

The second communication protocol is a general-purpose communication protocol and may not be suitable for transmitting and receiving information specific to the motor 10 and drive microcontroller 20. For example, information such as motor-specific parameters and serial numbers cannot be accessed using the second communication protocol and is communicated using the first communication protocol.

Since communication between the communication microcomputer 30 and the drive microcomputer 20 is performed using the first communication protocol, when communication between the external device 200 and the communication microcomputer 30 is performed using the second communication protocol, the communication microcomputer 30 performs protocol conversion between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.

Furthermore, when the external device 200 and the communication microcomputer 30 communicate using the first communication protocol, the communication microcomputer 30 relays the signal. This allows the external device 200 and the drive microcomputer 20 to communicate directly.

In this embodiment, the communication microcomputer 30 can communicate with the external device 200 using the second communication protocol, making it possible to support general-purpose control. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the communication microcomputer 30 can communicate with the external device 200 using the first communication protocol, making it possible to support the transmission and reception of information specific to the motor 10 and drive microcomputer 20.

In this embodiment, the communication microcomputer 30 communicates with the external device 200 using the first communication protocol, allowing it to read, write, and erase motor-specific parameters, programs and their version information, serial numbers, lot numbers, etc.

In this embodiment, the communication microcomputer 30 communicates with the external device 200 using the first communication protocol, linking the motor's unique parameters with the serial number, and storing this information in the external device 200 for use in traceability management.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the communication microcomputer 30 communicates with the external device 200 using the first communication protocol, making it possible to automate parameter adjustment and shipping inspection tasks during mass production of the motor unit 100. Furthermore, shipping inspection records for the motor unit 100 can be stored in the external device 200, thereby improving product reliability.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the communication microcontroller 30 communicates with the external device 200 using the first communication protocol, thereby providing a firmware update function for the drive microcontroller 20, making it easier to repair the software when a malfunction occurs.

Note that communication using the second communication protocol allows for motor operations, parameter reading, and other operations that are not specific to the motor. Motor operations, parameter reading, and other operations that can be performed using communication using the second communication protocol can also be performed using communication using the first communication protocol.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an example of the flow of communication between the external device 200, the communication microcomputer 30, and the drive microcomputer 20. As shown in FIG.
Communication using the first communication protocol is always initiated by the external device 200. Because communication between the external device 200 and the communication microcomputer 30 is half-duplex, the external device 200 does not perform the next transmission until it receives a response (ACK (acknowledgement)/NAK (negative acknowledgement)) from the communication microcomputer 30 or until a timeout occurs.

In the example of Figure 2, the external device 200 first transmits command 1, which is a command to the drive microcontroller 20, to the communication microcontroller 30 using the first communication protocol. Upon receiving command 1, the communication microcontroller 30 transmits the received command 1 to the drive microcontroller 20 using the first communication protocol.

Upon receiving Command 1, the drive microcontroller 20 drives the motor 10 according to the contents of Command 1 and sends Response 1 to the communication microcontroller 30 using the first communication protocol.

Upon receiving Response 1, the communications microcontroller 30 transmits the received Response 1 to the external device 200 using the first communications protocol. Upon receiving Response 1, the external device 200 transmits the next command, Command 2, to the communications microcontroller 30 using the first communications protocol. The process continues in the same manner.

The communication microcomputer 30 can switch between a first communication mode in which it communicates with the external device 200 using a first communication protocol, and a second communication mode in which it communicates with the external device 200 using a second communication protocol. Below, this switching of communication modes is explained with reference to Figure 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication protocol switching process performed by the communication microcomputer 30.
In this example, when the motor unit 100 is powered on (step S301), the communication microcomputer 30 starts up to communicate with the external device 200 in the second communication mode (step S302). When the external device 200 wants to operate the communication microcomputer 30 of the motor unit 100 in the first communication mode, it sends a switching signal to the communication microcomputer 30 and then sends a switching request signal to the communication microcomputer 30.

The communication microcomputer 30 continues operating in the second communication mode and waits to receive a switching signal (step S303: No). If the communication microcomputer 30 receives a switching signal (step S303: Yes), it transitions to the switching preparation mode. The switching signal is, for example, a signal with a predetermined pulse waveform, such as a pulse waveform signal that repeats 0 V and 24 V at a frequency of 100 Hz for one second or more. In step S303, if the communication microcomputer 30 does not receive a switching signal continuously for one second or more, it may determine that a switching signal has not been received. This prevents noise from being mistaken for a switching signal. In the switching preparation mode, communication can be performed in the first communication mode.

In the switching preparation mode, the communication microcontroller 30 waits to receive a switching request signal (step S304). If the communication microcontroller 30 does not receive a switching request signal (step S304: No), it determines whether a timeout has occurred. If a timeout has occurred (step S305: Yes), the process returns to step S303; if a timeout has not occurred (step S305: No), the process returns to step S304. The switching request signal may be a signal used in the first communication mode.

When the communication microcontroller 30 receives the switching request signal (step S304: Yes), it switches from the second communication mode to the first communication mode (step S306). At this time, the communication microcontroller 30 also transmits a switching request signal to the drive microcontroller 20 and waits for a response from the drive microcontroller 20 to the switching request signal. When the communication microcontroller 30 receives a response from the drive microcontroller 20, it transmits a response to the switching request signal to the external device 200. Upon receiving this response, the external device 200 may establish a mode for communicating using the first communication protocol. In this case, if the external device 200 does not receive a response to the switching request signal within a predetermined time, it may switch to a mode for communicating using the second communication protocol. The communication microcontroller 30 may establish the first communication mode by transmitting a switching request signal to the drive microcontroller 20 and transmitting a response from the drive microcontroller 20 to the external device 200.

<Actions and Effects of Motor Unit 100 and Fan>
Next, the operation and effects of the motor unit 100 and the fan will be described.

In the invention of the above-mentioned embodiment, a motor unit includes a motor, a drive microcomputer that drives the motor, and a communication microcomputer that communicates with the drive microcomputer and also communicates with an external device, wherein the drive microcomputer communicates with the communication microcomputer using a first communication protocol, the communication microcomputer communicates with the drive microcomputer using the first communication protocol and is capable of communicating with the external device using multiple types of communication protocols including the first communication protocol, and the external device is capable of communicating with the drive microcomputer using the first communication protocol via the communication microcomputer.
Since the external device and the drive microcomputer can communicate using the first communication protocol, communication regarding information specific to the motor can be carried out using the first communication protocol.
It is also possible to provide a motor unit with improved communication with external devices.

In addition, the communication microcontroller is capable of communicating with the external device using a second communication protocol, and the communication microcontroller performs protocol conversion between the second communication protocol for communication with the external device and the first communication protocol for communication with the drive microcontroller.
By performing protocol conversion, it becomes possible to communicate with an external device using a second communication protocol, thereby improving versatility.

The communication microcomputer is also capable of switching between a first communication mode in which communication with the external device is performed using the first communication protocol and a second communication mode in which communication with the external device is performed using the second communication protocol.
Being able to switch between communication protocols makes it possible to communicate with an external device using the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, thereby improving versatility.

Furthermore, the communication microcomputer starts up in the second communication mode when power is turned on.
This allows communication using a highly versatile communication protocol when the power is turned on.

Furthermore, the communication microcomputer switches from the second communication mode to the first communication mode in response to receiving a switching signal from the external device.
This allows the communication protocol to be switched in an easy manner.

The switching signal has a predetermined pulse waveform.
This allows the communication protocol to be switched in an easy manner.

In addition, the communication microcontroller transitions to a switching preparation mode upon receiving the switching signal, and when in the switching preparation mode, the communication microcontroller switches from the second communication mode to the first communication mode upon receiving a switching request signal.
This makes it possible to prevent communication protocol switching due to noise or the like being mistaken for a switching signal.

In addition, the switching request signal is a signal used in the first communication mode, and the communication microcontroller establishes the first communication mode by transmitting the switching signal to the drive microcontroller and transmitting a response from the drive microcontroller to the external device.
Therefore, after confirming that communication is possible using the first communication protocol, the protocol can be switched.

The motor is a brushless DC motor.
Therefore, in the brushless DC motor, communication relating to control specific to the motor can be performed using the first communication protocol.

The fan also includes the motor unit and an impeller rotated by the motor.
Therefore, in the fan, communication relating to motor-specific control can be performed using the first communication protocol.

The above describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention. These embodiments and variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

10 Motor 20 Drive microcomputer 30 Communication microcomputer 100 Motor unit 200 External device

Claims (9)

A motor, a drive microcomputer, a communication microcomputer,
A motor unit having
the drive microcomputer drives the motor and communicates with the communication microcomputer using a first communication protocol;
the communication microcomputer communicates with the drive microcomputer using a first communication protocol, and is capable of communicating with external devices using a plurality of types of communication protocols including the first communication protocol;
the external device is capable of communicating with the drive microcomputer via the communication microcomputer using the first communication protocol;
the communication microcomputer is capable of communicating with the external device using a second communication protocol;
the communication microcomputer performs protocol conversion between the second communication protocol for communication with the external device and the first communication protocol for communication with the drive microcomputer;
Motor unit. the communication microcomputer is capable of switching between a first communication mode in which communication with the external device is performed using the first communication protocol and a second communication mode in which communication with the external device is performed using the second communication protocol;
The motor unit according to claim 1 . the communication microcomputer starts up in the second communication mode when powered on;
The motor unit according to claim 2 . the communication microcomputer switches from the second communication mode to the first communication mode in response to receiving a switching signal from the external device;
The motor unit according to claim 3 . The switching signal has a predetermined pulse waveform.
The motor unit according to claim 4 . The communication microcomputer transitions to a switching preparation mode upon receiving the switching signal,
the communication microcomputer switches from the second communication mode to the first communication mode in response to receiving a switching request signal while in the switching preparation mode;
6. The motor unit according to claim 4 or 5 . the switching request signal is a signal used in the first communication mode,
the communication microcomputer transmits the switching request signal to the drive microcomputer and transmits a response from the drive microcomputer to the external device, thereby establishing the first communication mode;
The motor unit according to claim 6 . The motor is a brushless DC motor.
The motor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . The motor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ;
an impeller rotated by the motor;
A fan having: