A motor drive control device capable of determining a drive state of a motor is provided. The motor drive control device includes a plurality of motor drive circuits performing, based on drive control signals (Sca1 and Sca2) for controlling the number of rotations of a motor, control of energization of the motor and outputting FG signals (fg1 and fg2) having a cycle corresponding to the actual number of rotations of the motor, a composite signal generation circuit receiving an input of each of the FG signals output from the motor drive circuits and generating a composite signal by combining input signals, and a drive control circuit generating, based on a speed command signal indicating a target number of rotations of the motor, the drive control signals and outputting the drive control signals to each of the motor drive circuits. The FG signals output from the motor drive circuits have a phase difference from each other.

A motor drive control device capable of determining a drive state of a motor is provided. The motor drive control device includes a plurality of motor drive circuits performing, based on drive control signals (Sca1 and Sca2) for controlling the number of rotations of a motor, control of energization of the motor and outputting FG signals (fg1 and fg2) having a cycle corresponding to the actual number of rotations of the motor, a composite signal generation circuit receiving an input of each of the FG signals output from the motor drive circuits and generating a composite signal by combining input signals, and a drive control circuit generating, based on a speed command signal indicating a target number of rotations of the motor, the drive control signals and outputting the drive control signals to each of the motor drive circuits. The FG signals output from the motor drive circuits have a phase difference from each other.

A load control device may control power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating-current (AC) power source, to at least two electrical loads, such as a lighting load and a motor load. The load control device may include multiple load control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit and a motor drive circuit, for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and the motor load, respectively. The load control device may adjust the rotational speed of the motor load in a manner so as to minimize acoustic noise generated by the load control device and reduce the amount of time required to adjust the rotational speed of the motor load. The load control device may remain powered when one of the electrical loads (e.g., the lighting load) has been removed (e.g., electrically disconnected or uninstalled) and/or has failed in an open state (has “burnt out” or “blown out”).

A load control device may control power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating-current (AC) power source, to at least two electrical loads, such as a lighting load and a motor load. The load control device may include multiple load control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit and a motor drive circuit, for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and the motor load, respectively. The load control device may adjust the rotational speed of the motor load in a manner so as to minimize acoustic noise generated by the load control device and reduce the amount of time required to adjust the rotational speed of the motor load. The load control device may remain powered when one of the electrical loads (e.g., the lighting load) has been removed (e.g., electrically disconnected or uninstalled) and/or has failed in an open state (has “burnt out” or “blown out”).

The present disclosure relates to mechanical braking mechanisms used in electric motor applications. The present braking mechanisms may be configured as non-back-drivable mechanical brakes and provide immediate braking of the motors. According to one embodiment, a mechanical brake assembly for an electric motor may include a female disk including a groove and an abutment and a male disk including a projection, the male disk being in mechanical communication with a rotor of the electric motor. When the electric motor is energized, the projection of the male disk is configured to rotate with the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, but when the electric motor is de-energized, the projection of the male disk is configured to travel within the groove of the female disk and abut the abutment of the female disk, thereby reducing the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

The present disclosure relates to mechanical braking mechanisms used in electric motor applications. The present braking mechanisms may be configured as non-back-drivable mechanical brakes and provide immediate braking of the motors. According to one embodiment, a mechanical brake assembly for an electric motor may include a female disk including a groove and an abutment and a male disk including a projection, the male disk being in mechanical communication with a rotor of the electric motor. When the electric motor is energized, the projection of the male disk is configured to rotate with the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor, but when the electric motor is de-energized, the projection of the male disk is configured to travel within the groove of the female disk and abut the abutment of the female disk, thereby reducing the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

Controllers for controlling hybrid motor drive circuits configured to drive a motor are provided herein. A controller is configured to drive the motor using an inverter when a motor commanded frequency is not within a predetermined range of line input power frequencies, and couple line input power to an output of the inverter using a first switch device when the motor commanded frequency is within the predetermined range of line input power frequencies.

Controllers for controlling hybrid motor drive circuits configured to drive a motor are provided herein. A controller is configured to drive the motor using an inverter when a motor commanded frequency is not within a predetermined range of line input power frequencies, and couple line input power to an output of the inverter using a first switch device when the motor commanded frequency is within the predetermined range of line input power frequencies.

A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes a voltage limiting circuit configured to be coupled to an alternating current (AC) source and is configured to limit a voltage at an output node of the AC source, a filter configured to be coupled to the AC source and is configured to produce a filtered line frequency AC signal, a rectifier coupled to the filter and configured to produce a direct current (DC) signal from the filtered line frequency AC signal, an inverter coupled to the rectifier and configured to produce an AC signal on an input node of the electric motor, and a line contactor coupled between the AC source and the input node of the electric motor and configured to supply the input node of the electric motor directly from the AC source to energize stator windings therewith when the inverter is disabled.

A method of controlling a brushless permanent magnet motor includes measuring a mains power supply voltage of the motor. The method includes determining whether the mains power supply voltage lies within a first range representative of a first country's mains power supply or a second range representative of a second country's mains power supply. The method includes advancing commutation of a winding of the motor relative to a zero-crossing of back EMF in the winding where the mains power supply voltage lies within the first range, and retarding commutation of the winding relative to a zero-crossing of back EMF in the winding where the mains power supply voltage lies within the second range.