Claims:1. A loader device for loading and/or programming of one or more settings/parameters into one or more inverters, the loader device comprising:
a non-transitory storage device having embodied therein one or more routines operable to load one or more settings/parameters; and
one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory storage device and operable to execute the one or more routines, wherein the one or more routines include:
a determining module configured to determine loading and/or programming of one or more settings/parameters, and at least a source of data for loading and/or programming, the data is associated with the one or more settings/parameters;
a retrieval module configured to retrieve, upon selecting the source, data for loading and/or programming in the non-transitory storage device;
a updating module configured to update the one or more inverters by utilizing data for loading and/or programming into the one or more inverters.

2. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 further comprise of at least one keypad and a plurality of keys thereon for programming and/or copying the one or more settings/parameters into one or more inverters.

3. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 further comprise of an inbuilt local power supply or a battery.

4. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises one or more communication chips adapted to enable a two way communication.

5. The loader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of data is a personal computer with human machine interface (HMI).

6. The loader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of data is an android based device with human machine interface (HMI).

7. The loader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more settings/parameters are loaded and/or programmed into the one or more inverters by utilizing a RS485/UART channel.

8. The loader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein while the one or more settings/parameters are being loaded and/or programmed, the one or more inverters is adapted to be automatically switched off.

9. The loader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more settings/parameters are loaded and/or programmed into a controller associated with the one or more inverters.

10. The loader device as claimed in claim 1 is adapted to get programmed as per the one or more settings/parameters and thereby the one or more settings/parameters are used to configure the one or more inverters.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of electrical machinery. In particular, it pertains to, but not by way of limitation, low voltage (LV) drive/Three phase inverter for motor control applications.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] An inverter is an electrical component that can be configured to convert a DC signal into an AC signal. The prior art is replete with different inverter designs, inverter controller designs, and electromechanical systems that incorporate inverters. LV drives/three phase inverters are used to control loads such as elevator, irrigation and other industrial applications.
[0004] Conventional multiple inverter systems utilize separate controllers for each inverter. For example, a four-inverter system typically includes four distinct controllers. A controller is a device or group of devices that serves to govern in some predetermined manner the performance of the inverter. The controller might include a manual or automatic means for starting and stopping the motor, selecting forward or reverse rotation, selecting and regulating the speed, regulating or limiting the torque, and protecting against overloads and faults. The controllers can be manually, remotely or automatically operated. They may include only the means for starting and stopping the motor or they may include other functions.
[0005] There are applications where number of inverters is installed at site and each inverter is to be programmed which calls for huge man power involved and tedious process to manually complete the setting and parameter for each and every inverter. There are many prior-art documents which clearly provide various means/mechanism for communicating with the controllers and also there are various such prior-art documents that improve the existing means/mechanism for communicating with the motor controllers. However, the inventors recognized that in such applications there are various control parameters/setting which are fed to motor for control applications. These settings are to be loaded in the inverter module which is difficult to set from the user perspective manually for each and every drive and in case where series of drives are installed it becomes tedious operation.
[0006] The aforementioned limitations of the existing loading mechanism in the inverter are recognized by the inventors hereof and some or all of these limitations have been addressed by various embodiments of the current invention.
[0007] All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
[0008] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
[0009] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0010] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0011] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

SUMMARY
[0012] The aforementioned limitations of the existing inverters are recognized by the inventors hereof and some or all of these limitations have been addressed by the current invention by providing a device which copies all parameters/data to be dropped in the inverter for its functioning from an external PC/HMI or an android device and store in its internal memory. This will further communicate the data to all the inverters by pressing the copy keypad on the smart flash burner device.
[0013] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device (parameter loader) wherein a required setting as per the application is loaded in the device which will copy its settings to inverter, through the parameter copy feature in the device. The device includes an inbuilt-battery which provides power to it for dumping parameter/copying parameter from PC/HMI. The device will be programmed first as per the required setting and the same setting will be dumped to number of inverters on site.
[0014] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a loader device for loading and/or programming of one or more settings/parameters into one or more inverters. The loader device includes a non-transitory storage device having embodied therein one or more routines operable to load one or more settings/parameters, and one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory storage device and operable to execute the one or more routines. The one or more routines include a determining module, a retrieval module and an updating module.
[0015] The determining module configured to determine loading and/or programming of one or more settings/parameters, and at least a source of data for loading and/or programming. The data is associated with the one or more settings/parameters. The retrieval module configured to retrieve, upon selecting the source, data for loading and/or programming in the non-transitory storage device. The updating module configured to update the one or more inverters by utilizing data for loading and/or programming into the one or more inverters.
[0016] In an aspect, the loader device can further include at least one keypad and a plurality of keys thereon for programming and/or copying the one or more settings/parameters into one or more inverters.
[0017] In an aspect, the loader device can further include an inbuilt local power supply or a battery.
[0018] In an aspect, the loader device can further include one or more communication chips adapted to enable a two way communication.
[0019] In an aspect, the source of data is a personal computer with human machine interface (HMI) or an android based device with human machine interface (HMI).
[0020] In an aspect, the one or more settings/parameters are loaded and/or programmed into the one or more inverters by utilizing a RS485/UART channel.
[0021] In an aspect, while the one or more settings/parameters are being loaded and/or programmed, the one or more inverters is adapted to be automatically switched off.
[0022] In an aspect, the one or more settings/parameters are loaded and/or programmed into a controller associated with the one or more inverters.
[0023] In an aspect, the device gets programmed as per the one or more settings/parameters and thereby the one or more settings/parameters are used to configure the one or more inverters.
[0024] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication interfaces for loading and/or programming the inventors, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary internal layout of the proposed invention, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow-chart for a working of the proposed device for communicating and data transfer to inverter module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0030] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[0031] Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described below. The steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and firmware and/or by human operators.
[0032] Embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a computer program product, which may include a machine-readable storage medium tangibly embodying thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, fixed (hard) drives, magnetic tape, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories, such as ROMs, PROMs, random access memories (RAMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable PROMs (EPROMs), electrically erasable PROMs (EEPROMs), flash memory, magnetic or optical cards, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions (e.g., computer programming code, such as software or firmware).
[0033] Various methods described herein may be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage media containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate standard computer hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing various embodiments of the present invention may involve one or more computers (or one or more processors within a single computer) and storage systems containing or having network access to computer program(s) coded in accordance with various methods described herein, and the method steps of the invention could be accomplished by modules, routines, subroutines, or subparts of a computer program product.
[0034] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0035] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0036] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. These exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. The invention disclosed may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure). Also, the terminology and phraseology used is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed. For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0037] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named element.
[0038] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.
[0039] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0040] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[0041] The aforementioned limitations of the existing inverters are recognized by the inventors hereof and some or all of these limitations have been addressed by the current invention by providing a device which copies all parameters/data to be dropped in the inverter for its functioning from an external PC/HMI or an android device and store in its internal memory. This will further communicate the data to all the inverters by pressing the copy keypad on the smart flash burner device.
[0042] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device (parameter loader) wherein a required setting as per the application is loaded in the device which will copy its settings to inverter, through the parameter copy feature in the device. The device includes an inbuilt-battery which provides power to it for dumping parameter/copying parameter from PC/HMI. The device will be programmed first as per the required setting and the same setting will be dumped to number of inverters on site.
[0043] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a loader device for loading and/or programming of one or more settings/parameters into one or more inverters. The loader device includes a non-transitory storage device having embodied therein one or more routines operable to load one or more settings/parameters, and one or more processors coupled to the non-transitory storage device and operable to execute the one or more routines. The one or more routines include a determining module, a retrieval module and an updating module.
[0044] The determining module configured to determine loading and/or programming of one or more settings/parameters, and at least a source of data for loading and/or programming. The data is associated with the one or more settings/parameters. The retrieval module configured to retrieve, upon selecting the source, data for loading and/or programming in the non-transitory storage device. The updating module configured to update the one or more inverters by utilizing data for loading and/or programming into the one or more inverters.
[0045] In an aspect, the loader device can further include at least one keypad and a plurality of keys thereon for programming and/or copying the one or more settings/parameters into one or more inverters.
[0046] In an aspect, the loader device can further include an inbuilt local power supply or a battery.
[0047] In an aspect, the loader device can further include one or more communication chips adapted to enable a two way communication.
[0048] In an aspect, the source of data is a personal computer with human machine interface (HMI) or an android based device with human machine interface (HMI).
[0049] In an aspect, the one or more settings/parameters are loaded and/or programmed into the one or more inverters by utilizing a RS485/UART channel.
[0050] In an aspect, while the one or more settings/parameters are being loaded and/or programmed, the one or more inverters is adapted to be automatically switched off.
[0051] In an aspect, the one or more settings/parameters are loaded and/or programmed into a controller associated with the one or more inverters.
[0052] In an aspect, the device gets programmed as per the one or more settings/parameters and thereby the one or more settings/parameters are used to configure the one or more inverters.
[0053] In an embodiment, the present invention relates to multi/various communication systems for controlling induction motor within the same hardware or same controller i.e. various modules are able to communicate to central controller for motor control application wherein user can choose the mode of communication for motor control as per his requirement and availability.
[0054] In an embodiment, the present invention relates the control of the drive/controller for motor control through various communication modules accessible to the user within a single controller. In an exemplary implementation, the controller is characterized by control of the motor through human machine interface (HMI) with keypad, another control is through remotely control of motor through digital input/output connected to the controller, another control of motor is through a serial communication interface provided on main controller, another control of motor can be provided through GSM module interface provided on the main controller.
[0055] In an implementation, the basic module of the motor controller arrangement consists of various communication modes through which user can control the motor as per availability of any of the communication modules and as per need at the site. The communication modules can be isolated from the external world to the controller electrically which provides safety concern for communication modules and damage in case where isolation is not provided.
[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication interfaces for loading and/or programming the inventors, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a main controller 101 card wherein the communication interfaces are made, main power card 100 wherein the AC power is provided wherein the inverter modules powers the motor based on the switching command from the controller card / main controller 101.
[0057] The plurality of communication interfaces, such as but not limited to, a Human Machine Interface (HMI) of a personal computer (PC), an user interface or a display of the motor controller, a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), a digital input, an analog input and a Global Positioning System (GPS) are shown in FIG. 1.
[0058] In an example, the display/HMI card 103 which includes a keypad for motor control and data monitoring on LCD display, the digital input 104 for providing commands from external PLC (programmable logic controller) or switches, the analog input 108 for providing commands from external PLC (programmable logic controller) or switches, an RS485 communication port 105 wherein PC interface/ or external communication modules can be used for motor control, are shown.
[0059] In an example, the digital output module 106 and analog output module 107 for parameter/data monitoring are shown in FIG. 1 wherein the analog parameters such as motor frequency, voltage and current can be observed and through the digital output 107 such as relays or transistors can be driven for alarms or indication or to control other external circuit can be used.
[0060] In an embodiment, the main controller card 101 can be interfaces to GSM/GPS card for controlling the motor through mobile networks. Thus, the entire communication interfaces are provided within the same architecture providing facility for user to controller the motor and observe the parameters with the communication modules available at ones end.
[0061] In an embodiment, apart from controlling the motor and parameter observations through the above said communication modules, the digital input 104 and the analog input 108 can be used for programming of controller for powering motor i.e. sequential event trigger or using the multiple digital inputs for start/stop/reset or even speed control of motor driving load.
[0062] In an embodiment, a device/ smart flash burner 110 (parameter loader) is introduced wherein the required settings as per application is loaded in the parameter loader (smart flash burner) which copies its settings to the main controller card 101 inverter through (UART/RS485 communication), through parameter copy feature in the parameter loader (smart flash burner) 110.
[0063] In an embodiment, the device/ smart flash burner 110 (parameter loader) will have inbuilt-battery within which will provide power to it for dumping parameter/copying parameter from PC/HMI. The device/ smart flash burner 110 (parameter loader) will be programmed first as per the required setting and the same setting will be dumped to number of inverters on site.
[0064] In an embodiment, the device/ smart flash burner 110 is attached to the drive and communicating to the drive through a communication port 105 i.e. RS485 communication medium. The device/ smart flash burner 110 will comprise of keypads and keys for programming and copying parameters to the inverter. Once a start communication / load parameter command is given to the device/ smart flash burner 110 it will start loading the data through communication port 105 to the main controller 101, which will acknowledge the data and provide back information to the device/ smart flash burner 110 for completion of data exchange. Whenever the process of parameter setting or copying has to be performed the inverter device is switched off.
[0065] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary internal layout of the proposed invention, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The detail architecture of the parameter/setting loader is as shown in FIG. 2.
[0066] In an embodiment, the device/ smart flash burner 110 can have an inbuilt local power supply/battery, which will power the device and can program the setting in an unpowered LV drive/inverter system. The device/ smart flash burner 110 consists of following stacks, which is as shown in FIG. 2:
Localized power supply 203: for powering the memory/communication modules.
Communication IC’s 202: for two way communication with PC/HMI and Inverter.
EEPROM/Data storage 201: for storing the data to be dumped to group of inverters and getting setting data from PC/HMI.
[0067] In an embodiment, firstly the parameter to be loaded to number of inverters has to be copied / transferred from PC/HMI to the device/ smart flash burner 110 and this will be further dumped to inverters through RS485/UART channel.
[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow-chart for a working of the proposed device for communicating and data transfer to inverter module, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0069] In an embodiment, as described above and shown in FIG. 2 and explained in flowchart of FIG. 3, first the user will check if a new inverter is to be programmed or settings are to be changed and if available external device data transfer is android device or PC HMI. And accordingly data are transferred to the memory 201of the device/ smart flash burner 110. The keypad 200 of the device/ smart flash burner 110 provides a navigation of the data fetched from a personal computer with human machine interface (HMI) 204 or an android based device with human machine interface (HMI) 206 and will copy on users command to the inverter 205 or the controller 101 of the inverter system.
[0070] It would be appreciated that, in the above discussion FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the reference numeral 205 is used for inverter module whereas the reference numeral 101 as in FIG. 2 represents a controller of the inverter.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 3, if data is to be dumped to the inverter module at step 302, the device/ smart flash burner 110 needs to first identify whether the data is to be received from the android device with HMI or the PC with HMI at step 304.
[0072] In an embodiment, the data can be taken from the PC 204 HMI to the device/ smart flash burner 110 at step 306. In another embodiment, the data can be taken from the android device 206 HMI to the device/ smart flash burner 110 at step 308, accordingly at step 310, and/or 312 an acknowledgement /notification is provided by the device/ smart flash burner 110 upon successful completion of the data transfer depending on the selection of the android device 206 or the PC 204.
[0073] At step 314, once the data is received from the android device with HMI or the PC with HMI at step 304, at step 316 a key command is received from thee keypad of the device to copy parameters and/or setting in the memory of the inverter.
[0074] At step 318, a data communication to the memory of the inverter is confirmed and once confirmed the data is stored in the memory of the inverter at step 320. Once the task of configuring the inverter is completed, the same can be utilized for other inventers too.
[0075] Although the preferred embodiments have been described, it should be pointed out that changes are possible and attainable without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0076] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
[0077] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0078] The present disclosure enables an easy programming of parameters and setting modification where multiple inverters are installed in site.
[0079] The present disclosure enables configuring of or copying of data or communicated to smart flash burner 110 through an android or a PC HMI.
[0080] The present disclosure reduces cost and efficiency as man power involved in the process is less as compared to the conventional techniques.