I-Corps: Control and Diagnostics of Electronically Commutated Motor Systems

电子换向电机（ecm）广泛用于多种应用，包括加热，通风和空调（HVAC）系统，冷却和制冷装置。现有系统中ecm的常规控制和诊断方法是手动完成的，并且需要中断这些单元的正常运行。这增加了维护、控制和诊断ecm的相关成本和时间。该提案要求支持将无线数据采集系统商业化，该系统已开发用于电子换向电机（ecm）的控制和诊断，可以通过改进电机参数来节省能源和成本。该技术具有多种优势，包括节省成本和能源，并且无需手动控制和定期维护ecm。拟议的技术将通过提供对ECM参数的无线访问来收集所需的机器性能参数，从而极大地促进数百万HVAC系统、制冷和冷却设备中这些设备的维护。该技术的创新之处在于将具有新颖天线实现的蓝牙通信引入ecm，并使无线通信能够克服这一挑战。这是通过设计和实现新颖的模块化射频（RF）接口电路来完成的，该电路由电机外壳中ECM的现有电力电子控制电路供电，而不会妨碍其性能。这种新型射频电路可以与现有的ECM系统接口，也可以在制造过程中集成。采用倒频计数器的方法提高了通信的精度。这项技术使传统的ECM成为“智能”ECM，并使它们具有与具有android或IOS软件平台的智能手机的无线通信能力。该技术的潜在客户群体包括oem（原始设备制造商）、服务提供商、分销商以及HVAC系统、制冷和冷却装置的工业、商业自动化和控制提供商。这笔资金将帮助I-Corps项目团队进一步探索扩大客户群的领域，并准确识别集团中的潜在客户，以制定正确的商业模式和执行计划。

Electronically commutated motors (ECMs) are used widespread in several applications including heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, cooling and refrigeration units. The conventional way of control and diagnostics of ECMs in existing systems have been done manually and require interruption of regular operation of these units. This increases the associated cost and time for maintenance, control and diagnostics of ECMs. This proposal requests support to commercialize a wireless data acquisition system that has been developed for control and diagnostics of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) that can lead to energy and cost savings with improved electric machine parameters. The proposed technology provides several benefits including cost and energy savings, and eliminates the need for the manual control and periodic maintenance of ECMs. The proposed technology will facilitate significantly the maintenance of these units in millions of HVAC systems, refrigeration and cooling units by providing wireless access to ECM parameters for collection of the required machine performance parameters. The innovation in the proposed technology introduces Bluetooth communication with novel antenna implementation into ECMs while they are in an enclosure and enables wireless communication to overcome this challenge. This is done with the design and implementation of novel and modular radio frequency (RF) interface circuit which is powered from the existing power electronics control circuitry of ECM in motor housing without impeding upon its performance. The novel RF circuit can be interfaced with the existing ECM systems or integrated during the manufacturing process. The accuracy of the communication is enhanced by using the reciprocal frequency counter method. This technology makes conventional ECM a "smart" ECM and gives them wireless communication capability with smart phones which have android or IOS software platforms. The proposed technology has potential customer groups including OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), service providers, distributors, and industrial, commercial automation and control providers for HVAC systems, refrigeration and cooling units. The funding will help the I-Corps project team to explore the areas further to expand the customer base and identify accurately the potential customers in the groups to have the right business model and plan execution.