Patent ID: 8494664

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of configuring a motor drive associated with a controller during programming of the controller, the method comprising: executing a logic development tool on a computer for creating a control program providing logical instructions executable on the controller for controlling the motor drives; selecting a motor drive object from a motor drive object database holding motor drive objects for multiple motor drives, the motor drive objects, when instantiated, receiving and holding configuration data that will configure operation of a motor drive associated with the instantiated motor drive object; using the controller to instantiate, by the logic development tool, the selected motor drive object for the motor drive communicating with the controller; creating a data structure holding configuration data for the motor drive through the instantiated motor drive object; guiding user entry of configuration data into the data structure using data names specific to the motor drive using the logic development tool through the instantiated motor drive object; and managing transfer of the configuration data from the controller to the motor drive through the instantiated motor drive object, whereby the logic development tool configures the motor drive using instantiated motor drive objects.