A controller for a drive motor (60) of a product conveyor belt at a checkout has a phase-start cutting and/or phase-end cutting controller (50) that controls the drive motor (60) in such a manner that the product conveyor belt is accelerated with reduced torque from a non-driven state. A start controller controls the drive motor (60) in such a manner that the drive motor (60) initially drives with a non-reduced torque when accelerating the product conveyor belt from the non-driven state before the phase-start cutting and/or phase-end cutting controller (50) further accelerates the product conveyor belt with reduced torque.

A control method for a centrifuge is performed by a motor drive unit to drive a motor of the centrifuge using pulses from an angle sensor. The method has a start phase, a regulated acceleration phase, a holding phase, a regulated deceleration phase, a regulated gentle deceleration phase, and a position adjustment phase.

A system for controlling an AC motor is provided. The system comprises an electrical connection path for connecting an electrical input of the AC motor to a first phase of alternating current from an electric power supply. The system also comprises two or more motor controllers, each motor controller is located on the electrical connection path between the electric power supply and the AC motor and is operable to regulate current of the first phase passing through it. Each motor controller is connected in parallel, relative to the other motor controllers, to the electrical connection path. At least one processor is configured to control the motor controllers to repeatedly change which of the motor controllers current of the first phase passes through, such that at any given time current of the first phase only passes through one of the motor controllers. A corresponding method is also provided.

A system for controlling an AC motor is provided. The system comprises an electrical connection path for connecting an electrical input of the AC motor to a first phase of alternating current from an electric power supply. The system also comprises two or more motor controllers, each motor controller is located on the electrical connection path between the electric power supply and the AC motor and is operable to regulate current of the first phase passing through it. Each motor controller is connected in parallel, relative to the other motor controllers, to the electrical connection path. At least one processor is configured to control the motor controllers to repeatedly change which of the motor controllers current of the first phase passes through, such that at any given time current of the first phase only passes through one of the motor controllers. A corresponding method is also provided.

A component interface module with enhanced user convenience, according to the present invention, is a component interface module for managing the interface between a control system, which generates component command signals, and components, which generates component feedback signals, wherein the components are classified into first to third component groups, the component interface module is formed from first to third component interface modules, each of the first to third component interface modules includes: an input port; a processor including a priority logic, a component logic and a diagnostic logic; and an output device, the priority logic is set using a four-contact rotary switch for selecting any one of four settings in order to set the priority for the component command signals, and the component logic is set using a control rotary switch of each of the first to third component interface modules.

A component interface module with enhanced user convenience, according to the present invention, is a component interface module for managing the interface between a control system, which generates component command signals, and components, which generates component feedback signals, wherein the components are classified into first to third component groups, the component interface module is formed from first to third component interface modules, each of the first to third component interface modules includes: an input port; a processor including a priority logic, a component logic and a diagnostic logic; and an output device, the priority logic is set using a four-contact rotary switch for selecting any one of four settings in order to set the priority for the component command signals, and the component logic is set using a control rotary switch of each of the first to third component interface modules.

In the field of motor protection for industrial automation systems, HVAC systems, pumping systems, and/or similar implementations, improved motor starters and overload electronics can be configured to offer substantially automatic levels of protection for motors, independent of such starters and/or overload electronics first being calibrated for, or properly calibrated for, the motor.

In the field of motor protection for industrial automation systems, HVAC systems, pumping systems, and/or similar implementations, improved motor starters and overload electronics can be configured to offer substantially automatic levels of protection for motors, independent of such starters and/or overload electronics first being calibrated for, or properly calibrated for, the motor.

A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes sensing a temperature and using the sensed temperature to define a current limit. A lower current limit is then defined for a lower sensed temperature. A winding of the motor is sequentially energized and de-energized, with the winding being de-energized when current in the winding exceeds the defined current limit.

A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes sensing a temperature and using the sensed temperature to define a current limit. A lower current limit is then defined for a lower sensed temperature. A winding of the motor is sequentially energized and de-energized, with the winding being de-energized when current in the winding exceeds the defined current limit.