U.S. patent application number 09/732845 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for structure of plural motor assembly and method for controlling the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to DELTA ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Huang, Wen-Shi, Lin, Kuo-Chen, Tsai, Ming-Shi.
Application Number | 20010015629 09/732845 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21658852 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010015629 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang, Wen-Shi ; et
al. |
August 23, 2001 |
Structure of plural motor assembly and method for controlling the
same
Abstract
A plural motor assembly includes a first motor generating a
parameter, a control circuit electrically connected to the first
motor for detecting the parameter and outputting a switch signal
while the parameter is abnormal, and a second motor electrically
connected to the control circuit and operating in response to the
switch signal. Thus, when one motor is damaged, another motor is
started for maintaining a normal operation.
Inventors: |
Huang, Wen-Shi; (Taoyuan
Shien, TW) ; Lin, Kuo-Chen; (Taoyuan City, TW)
; Tsai, Ming-Shi; (Banchiau City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Webb Ziesenheim Logsdon
Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
700 Koppers Building
436 Seventh Ave.
Pittsburgh
PA
15219-1818
US
|
Assignee: |
DELTA ELECTRONICS INC.
|
Family ID: |
21658852 |
Appl. No.: |
09/732845 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
318/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 25/0606 20130101;
H02P 1/54 20130101; F05D 2260/84 20130101; F04D 27/008 20130101;
H02P 5/68 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
318/34 |
International
Class: |
H02P 001/54; H02P
007/68 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2000 |
TW |
089103088 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A structure of a plural motor assembly, comprising: a first
motor generating a parameter; a control circuit electrically
connected to said first motor for detecting said parameter, and
outputting a switch signal while said parameter is abnormal; and a
second motor electrically connected to said control circuit and
operating in response to said switch signal.
2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said parameter is a
rotation speed signal.
3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein said rotation speed
signal is a square wave signal.
4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first motor and
said second motor are adapted to be employed in a first fan and a
second fan, respectively.
5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first motor and
said second motor are formed a coaxial structure.
6. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit
comprises: a frequency-voltage converter for detecting said
rotation speed signal, and converting said rotation speed signal
into a rotation speed voltage value; a comparing circuit
electrically connected to said frequency-voltage converter for
comparing said rotation speed voltage value with a reference
voltage value, and generating a driving signal while said rotation
speed voltage value is smaller than said reference voltage value;
and a controlling switcher electrically connected to said comparing
circuit for outputting said switch signal in response to said
driving signal.
7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said plural motor
assembly comprises at least two motors electrically connected to
said control circuit.
8. A method for controlling a plural motor assembly, comprising
steps of: using a control circuit to drive a first motor generating
a parameter; detecting said parameter, and outputting a switch
signal while said parameter is abnormal; and operating a second
motor in response to said switch signal.
9. The method according to claim 9, wherein said parameter is a
rotation speed signal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a plural
motor assembly, and more particularly to a method for controlling
the plural motor assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A typical structure of a direct current brushless motor for
a fan usually includes a motor, a fan, and a printing circuit
broad. A control circuit is established on the printing circuit
broad for controlling the rotation of the motor.
[0003] However, while a motor is damaged, it is replaced with a new
one, which is not only inconvenient but also time-consuming. Thus,
an innovative structure of a plural motor assembly is provided to
overcome the above problem. Furthermore, a method for controlling
the plural motor assembly is also proposed for facilitating
rotation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
propose a structure of a plural motor assembly for maintaining a
normal operation.
[0005] It is therefore another object of the present invention to
propose a method for controlling the plural motor assembly for
driving another motor when one motor is damaged.
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
structure of the plural motor assembly comprises a first motor
generating a parameter, a control circuit electrically connected to
the first motor for detecting the parameter and outputting a switch
signal while the parameter is abnormal, and a second motor
electrically connected to the control circuit and operating in
response to the switch signal.
[0007] Certainly, the parameter can be a rotation speed signal. The
rotation speed signal can be a square wave signal.
[0008] Certainly, the first motor and the second motor can be
adapted to be employed in a first fan and a second fan,
respectively.
[0009] Preferably, the first motor and the second motor are formed
a coaxial structure.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a control circuit which comprises a
frequency-voltage converter for detecting the rotation speed signal
and converting the rotation speed signal into a rotation speed
voltage value, a comparing circuit electrically connected to the
frequency-voltage converter for comparing the rotation speed
voltage value with a reference voltage value and generating a
driving signal while the rotation speed voltage value is smaller
than the reference voltage value, and a controlling switcher
electrically connected to the comparing circuit for outputting a
switch signal in response to the driving signal.
[0011] Certainly, the structure of the plural motor assembly can
include at least two motors electrically connected to the control
circuit.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method for controlling the plural motor assembly
which comprises steps of using a control circuit to drive a first
motor generating a parameter, detecting the parameter and
outputting a switch signal while the parameter is abnormal, and
operating a second motor in response to the switch signal.
[0013] Certainly, the parameter can be a rotation speed signal.
[0014] The present invention may best be understood through the
following description with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of
the plural motor assembly according to the first preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of
the plural motor assembly according to the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the control circuit of the
plural motor assembly according to the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the control method of
the plural motor assembly according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the plural motor assembly according to
the present invention is applied to the fan. Such assembly includes
a stator 11 of a first motor, a stator 12 of a second motor, a
control circuit established on a printing circuit board 16, and a
shared shaft 14 connected to the stators 11 and 12. The shared
shaft 14 is also connected to the blade 13 of the fan. Furthermore,
the internal cylinder wall 15 of the fan has a magnet for
generating a magnetic field interacted with the magnetic field
created from the stators 11 and 12 to drive the rotation of the
fan.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows another plural motor assembly according to the
second embodiment of the present invention. The assembly includes
two sets of motors, shafts, and fans, wherein a shaft 25 is
connected to a fan blade 24 and a stator 21 of a first motor, and a
shaft 26 is connected to a fan blade 23 and a stator 22 of a second
motor. The plural motor assembly is controlled by a control circuit
established on a printing circuit broad 27. Thus, when one of the
two motors breaks down, the control circuit drives another motor to
start.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the diagram of the control circuit of the
plural motor assembly according to the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 3, a first motor 31 is used for generating a rotation speed
signal FG into a control circuit 30. The control circuit 30 will
detect the rotation speed signal FG and can output a switch signal
S1 while the rotation speed signal FG is abnormal. Thus, a second
motor 35 will be started in response to the switch signal S1.
[0022] In addition, a frequency-voltage converter 32 of the control
circuit is used to detect the rotation speed signal FG and convert
the rotation speed signal FG into a rotation speed voltage value
Vs. The rotation speed voltage value Vs is compared with a
reference voltage value Vref. While the rotation speed voltage
value Vs is smaller than the reference voltage value Vref, a
comparing circuit 33 will deliver a driving signal S2 into a
switcher 34 and output a switch signal SI in response to the
driving signal S2. Generally, the rotation speed signal FG is a
square wave.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the control method of
the plural motor assembly according to the present invention. The
procedure includes the following steps: (41) the control circuit
drives the first motor operating; (42) the control circuit detects
frequently the rotation speed signal FG generated from the first
motor; (43) if the rotation speed signal is abnormal, then a switch
signal SI is outputted, otherwise, the steps 41 to 43 are repeated;
and (44) the second motor is started in response to the switch
signal SI.
[0024] The connected portion of two motors is the circuit part,
which does not affect whether the motor action or not. Therefore,
there is a fan having two motors which rotate at the same speed.
While the rotation speed of one of motors becomes slower for some
reasons, the control circuit will output a signal to drive another
motor increasing the rotation speed in order to maintain the total
quantity of wind.
[0025] In sum, the advantages of the present invention are:
[0026] 1. The control circuit of the present invention can drive
another motor to start for maintaining the rotation of the fan
continuously while one of the motors is abnormal.
[0027] 2. The present invention can increase the reliability of the
system.
[0028] 3. The method for controlling the plural motor assembly can
be applied to the switching control for the plural motor assembly
having more than two motors.
[0029] While the invention has been described in terms of what are
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not to
be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which
are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *