Track connection module for linear motor tracks

{
  "publication_number": "US12062952B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Track connection module for linear motor tracks",
  "abstract": "A linear motor system may include a plurality of track sections that may enable a mover to traverse a track formed by the plurality of track sections. The system may also include a plurality of connection modules, such that each connection module of the plurality of connection modules may physically couple two respective adjacent track sections of the plurality of track sections and communicatively couple the two respective adjacent track sections of the plurality of track section. Each connection module may also electrically couple the two respective adjacent track sections of the plurality of track section.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A track module, comprising: a plurality of communication connectors, each communication connector configured to communicatively couple to a corresponding track section and configured to transfer data between the track module and the corresponding track section, wherein the corresponding track section is configured to enable a mover to traverse the corresponding track section via one or more electromagnetic forces; a plurality of power connectors, each power connector configured to electrically couple to the corresponding track section and configured to transfer power between the track module and the corresponding track section; and circuitry configured to establish an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the corresponding track section.",
    "2. The track module of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to establish a network identification address associated with the track connection module.",
    "3. The track module of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises a shift register, a node address switch, a backplane pass-through switch, or any combination thereof.",
    "4. The track module of claim 1, comprising: a communication interface configured to transfer data between the track module and an external device; and a power interface configured to receive power from an external power source.",
    "5. The track module of claim 4, comprising: a second plurality of communication connectors configured to communicatively couple the communication interface and the external device; and a power connection component configured to electrically couple the power interface to the external power source.",
    "6. The track module of claim 5, wherein the plurality of communication connectors and the plurality of power connectors are disposed on a first side of the track connection module and the second plurality of communication connectors and the power connection component are disposed on a second side of the track connection module.",
    "7. The track module of claim 4, comprising a plurality of communication components, wherein each communication component is communicatively coupled to a corresponding communication connector of the plurality of communication connectors and wherein each communication component is communicatively coupled to an additional communication component of the plurality of communication components via a backplane link.",
    "8. The track module of claim 7, wherein the backplane link is isolated from the communication interface.",
    "9. The track module of claim 7, wherein the backplane link is communicatively coupled to the circuitry.",
    "10. The track module of claim 1, wherein each communication connector of the plurality of communication connectors comprises a male connector configured to engage at least a portion of a corresponding female connector of the corresponding track section.",
    "11. The track module of claim 4, comprising an indicator configured to provide an indication associated with a connection status of the communication interface.",
    "12. A track section, comprising: a plurality of coils configured to create a controlled magnetic field to enable a mover to traverse the track section; a plurality of communication connectors disposed in corresponding apertures of the track section, wherein each communication connector is configured to transfer data between the track section and a corresponding track module; a plurality of switches, wherein each switch is configured to receive data from a corresponding track module via a corresponding communication connector; drive circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of switches, wherein the drive circuitry is configured to: receive the data via the plurality of switches; generate one or more power signals based on the data; and transmit the one or more power signals to a plurality of coils within the track section, wherein the plurality of coils is configured to [tie to mover on track].",
    "13. The track section of claim 12, wherein each communication connector of the plurality of communication connectors comprises a female connector configured to receive at least a portion of a corresponding male connector of a corresponding track module.",
    "14. The track section of claim 12, comprising a power connector disposed in a corresponding aperture of the track section, wherein the power connector is configured to receive power from a corresponding track connection module.",
    "15. The track section of claim 14, wherein the power connector comprises a female connector configured to receive at least a portion of a corresponding male connector of a corresponding track module.",
    "16. A track module, comprising: a first communication connector disposed on a first side of the track module, the first communication connector configured to communicatively couple to a first track section and configured to transfer data between the first track section and the track module; a second communication connector disposed on the first side of the track module, the second communication connector configured to communicatively couple to a second track section and configured to transfer data between the second track section and the track module, wherein the first track section and the second track section are configured to enable a mover to traverse a track formed by the first track section and the second track section via one or more electromagnetic forces; a first power connector disposed on the first side of the track module, the first power connector configured to electrically couple to the first track section and configured to transfer power between the first track section and the track module; and a second power connector disposed on the first side of the track module, the second power connector configured to electrically couple to the second track section and configured to transfer power between the second track section and the track module.",
    "17. The track module of claim 16, comprising a power interface configured to receive power from a power source, wherein the first power connector is configured to transfer power between the power interface and the first track section.",
    "18. The track module of claim 16, wherein the first communication connector and the first power connector and configured to physically couple the track module and the first track section.",
    "19. The track module of claim 16, wherein the second communication connector and the second power connector are configured to physically couple the track module and the second track section.",
    "20. The track module of claim 16, wherein the first communication connector and the second communication connector are positioned between the first power connector and the second power connector."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to linear motor systems having connection modules, and more particularly, to connection modules that facilitate the operation of the linear motor system. A range of linear motors are known and in use throughout industry, particularly in manufacturing, filling, and material handling applications. Such motors typically include an elongated track in which motor coils are associated with a stator core, such as a laminated core. The coils may have various orientations, depending upon the motor design. A permanent magnet mover may be placed on the track, and fields resulting from selective energization of the track coils interact with permanent magnets of the mover to cause the mover to move along the track in desired directions, speeds, and accelerations, and to stop and start at desired locations. Highly flexible and precise control of movement of one or many movers may be achieved by control and driver circuitry associated with the coils of the track sections.\n\nBecause available track sections may need to be designed for a wide range of applications, orientations, and path layouts, they are typically made modular. Currently available tracks include either straight sections or curved sections, and these are typically joined end-to-end to provide the desired transport path for the movers. At turns or curves, modular curved sections may be joined to form various angles, such as 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees. Following a desired change in direction, then, the ends of the curved sections are joined with modular straight sections to continue the desired layout.",
  "cpc": [
    "H02K 11/33",
    "B61B 13/04",
    "B65G 2203/0283",
    "B65G 2203/043",
    "B65G 54/02",
    "H02K 2213/12",
    "H02K 41/031",
    "H02K 41/033"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B61B 13/04",
    "B65G 54/02",
    "H02K 11/33",
    "H02K 41/03"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "GROSSKREUZ PAUL J",
    "RAMANARAYANAN SHANKERNARAYAN",
    "ZHOU RUI",
    "FERNANDEZ JUAN A",
    "HAYA OLIVER C"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-11-24",
  "publication_date": "2024-08-13",
  "grant_date": "2024-08-13",
  "priority_date": "2018-11-13",
  "application_number": "US-202117534855-A",
  "family_id": "68581380",
  "citations": [
    "JP2004023954A",
    "US10164555B1",
    "US2008011184A1",
    "US2014331888A1",
    "US2015344233A1",
    "US2017346379A1",
    "US2018073912A1",
    "US2018090254A1",
    "US2019202639A1",
    "US3287616A",
    "US4140063A",
    "US5134324A",
    "US5180048A",
    "WO2018055720A1",
    "WO2018192721A1"
  ]
}