U.S. patent application number 16/819179 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-12 for air conditioning device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Chizentek Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Chizentek Inc.. Invention is credited to Chih-Chuan Liang, Wen-Hung Lo.
Application Number | 20200355385 16/819179 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004988372 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200355385 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liang; Chih-Chuan ; et
al. |
November 12, 2020 |
AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE
Abstract
An air conditioning device is provided. The air conditioning
device includes a power supplier, a compressor driver, a fan
driver, a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, and an operation
processing controller. The power supplier has an input end
receiving an input power source and generates a first operating
power source and a second operating power source according to the
input power source. The compressor driver operates according to the
first operating power source to generate a first drive signal to
drive a compressor. The fan driver operates according to the first
operating power source to generate a second drive signal to drive a
fan. The vibration sensor detects vibration information of the air
conditioning device. The operation processing controller operates
according to the second operating power source and controls the
power supplier according to the vibration information to determine
whether to cut off supply of the first operating power source to
ensure safe operation of the air conditioning device.
Inventors: |
Liang; Chih-Chuan; (Hsinchu
City, TW) ; Lo; Wen-Hung; (New Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chizentek Inc. |
Hsinchu County |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Chizentek Inc.
Hsinchu County
TW
|
Family ID: |
1000004988372 |
Appl. No.: |
16/819179 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62818111 |
Mar 14, 2019 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/38 20180101;
F25B 2700/2116 20130101; F25B 2700/151 20130101; F24F 11/64
20180101; F25B 49/022 20130101; F24F 11/88 20180101; F25B
2700/21151 20130101; F24F 11/89 20180101; F25B 2700/21152
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/38 20060101
F24F011/38; F24F 11/89 20060101 F24F011/89; F24F 11/88 20060101
F24F011/88; F25B 49/02 20060101 F25B049/02 |
Claims
1. An air conditioning device, configured to control an air
conditioner, comprising: a power supplier, comprising an input end
receiving an input power source and generating a first operating
power source and a second operating power source according to the
input power source; a compressor driver, operating according to the
first operating power source to generate a first drive signal to
drive a compressor; a fan driver, operating according to the first
operating power source to generate a second drive signal to drive a
fan; a vibration sensor, detecting vibration information of the air
conditioner; a temperature sensor, detecting a plurality of pieces
of temperature information of the air conditioner; a current
sensor, detecting current information of the compressor and the
fan; a voltage sensor, detecting voltage information in the air
conditioning device; and an operation processing controller,
coupled to the power supplier, the compressor driver, the fan
driver, the vibration sensor, the temperature sensor, the current
sensor, and the voltage sensor, operating according to the second
operating power source, controlling the power supplier according to
the vibration information, the temperature information, the current
information, and the voltage information to determine whether to
cut off supply of the first operating power source or to stop
operation of the compressor and the fan.
2. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
operation processing controller generates a control command via a
protection circuit as hardware or by executing software.
3. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
compressor driver transmits abnormality information to the
operation processing controller, and the operation processing
controller generates a control command according to the abnormality
information.
4. The air conditioning device according to claim 3, wherein the
abnormality information comprises temperature information of the
compressor driver and current information of the compressor
driver.
5. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
fan driver transmits abnormality information to the operation
processing controller, and the operation processing controller
generates a control command according to the abnormality
information.
6. The air conditioning device according to claim 5, wherein the
abnormality information comprises temperature information of the
fan and current information of the fan.
7. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of pieces of temperature information comprise a suction
end temperature of the compressor, a discharge end temperature of
the compressor, an ambient temperature of 1the air conditioner, and
a condenser temperature of the air conditioner.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 62/818,111, filed on Mar. 14,
2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is
hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to an air conditioning device, and in
particular, to a protection mechanism of an air conditioning
device.
Description of Related Art
[0003] In today's society, air conditioning devices have become
commonly used devices. The air conditioning devices can be
configured to regulate the temperature, humidity and airflow
distribution of air. Air in the environment may thereby be
maintained in a comfortable state. Based on the characteristic that
the air conditioning devices need to work for a long time,
electrical and mechanical equipment of the air conditioning devices
may fail due to environmental factors and/or deterioration of
components. Therefore, it is a very important subject to monitor
the air conditioning devices in real time and to maintain a certain
degree of appropriateness of the air conditioning devices.
SUMMARY
[0004] The disclosure is directed to provide a protection mechanism
with different reaction rates for an air conditioning device so as
to effectively maintain a rate of appropriateness of the air
conditioning device.
[0005] According to the embodiments of the disclosure, an air
conditioning device is configured to control an air conditioner.
The air conditioning device includes a power supplier, a compressor
driver, a fan driver, a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor, a
current sensor, a voltage sensor, and an operation processing
controller. The power supplier has an input end receiving an input
power source and generates a first operating power source and a
second operating power source according to the input power source.
The compressor driver operates according to the first operating
power source to generate a first drive signal to drive a
compressor. The fan driver operates according to the first
operating power source to generate a second drive signal to drive a
fan. The vibration sensor detects vibration information of the air
conditioner. The temperature sensor detects a plurality of pieces
of temperature information of the air conditioner. The current
sensor detects current information of the compressor and the fan.
The voltage sensor detects voltage information in the air
conditioning device. The operation processing controller is coupled
to the power supplier, the compressor driver, the fan driver, the
temperature sensor, the current sensor, the voltage sensor, and the
vibration sensor, operates according to the second operating power
source, and controls the power supplier according to the vibration
information, the temperature information, the current information,
and the voltage information to determine whether to cut off supply
of the first operating power source or stop operation of the
compressor and the fan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The accompanying drawings
illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning device
according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning device
according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a start timing sequence diagram of multiple
protection actions of the air conditioning device according to the
embodiments of the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described in
detail, and examples of the exemplary embodiments are shown in the
accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same component
symbols are used in the drawings and descriptions to indicate the
same or similar parts.
[0011] Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an
air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the
disclosure. An air conditioning device 100 includes a power
supplier 110, a compressor driver 120, a fan driver 130, a
vibration sensor 150, and an operation processing controller 140.
The power supplier 110 has an input end receiving an input power
source VIN. The power supplier 110 generates a first operating
power source V1 and a second operating power source V2 according to
the input power source VIN. The compressor driver 120 and the fan
driver 130 are coupled to the power supplier 110 to receive the
first operating power source V1 and operates according to the first
operating power source V1. Based on the first operating power
source V1, the compressor driver 120 is configured to generate a
drive signal DRV1 to drive a compressor 121, and the fan driver 130
is configured to generate a drive signal DRV2 to drive a fan
131.
[0012] The vibration sensor 150 is disposed on the air conditioning
device 100. The vibration sensor 150 detects vibration information
IF of the air conditioning device 100. The operation processing
controller 140 is coupled to the power supplier 110 and the
vibration sensor 150. The operation processing controller 140
receives the second operating power source V2 and operates
according to the second operating power source V2. Based on the
second operating power source V2, the operation processing
controller 140 receives the vibration information IF and controls
the power supplier 110 according to the vibration information IF to
determine whether to cut off the supply of the first operating
power source V1 of the power supplier 110. In the present
embodiment, the level of the first operating power source V1 is
greater than the level of the second operating power source V2.
[0013] Specifically, the vibration sensor 150 is configured to
sense a vibration state that occurs when the air conditioning
device 100 operates. The vibration information IF generated by the
vibration sensor 150 can indicate the magnitude of position offset
of the air conditioning device 100 caused by vibration. In
addition, the operation processing controller 140 can determine
whether an absolute value of a peak value of the position offset of
the air conditioning device 100 is greater than a pre-determined
threshold value according to the vibration information IF, and the
operation processing controller 140 can inform the power supplier
110 that the supply of the first operating power source V1 needs to
be cut off at this time through a generated control command CMD
when the absolute value of the position offset of the air
conditioning device 100 is greater than the above-mentioned
threshold value. On the contrary, if the absolute value of the peak
value of the position offset of the air conditioning device 100 is
not greater than the above-mentioned threshold value, the power
supplier 110 may continue to supply the first operating power
source V1.
[0014] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the operation
processing controller 140 may perform interpretation of the
vibration information IF by executing software and generates the
corresponding control command CMD through a software execution
result. That is, in the present embodiment, when the air
conditioning device 100 vibrates excessively, the operation
processing controller 140 may start a protection action in several
mini-seconds (ms) through the software and cut off the supply of
the first operating power source V1 of the power supplier 110 via
the control command CMD. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the
operation processing controller 140 may not cut off the supply of
the first operating power source V1 of the power supplier 110 and
directly send a command to stop the operation of the fan 131 and
the compressor 121.
[0015] The air conditioning device 100 of the embodiment of the
disclosure further includes a voltage sensor 170, a temperature
sensor 180, and a current sensor 160. The voltage sensor 170, the
temperature sensor 180, and the current sensor 160 are coupled to
the operation processing controller 140. The voltage sensor 170,
the temperature sensor 180, and the current sensor 160 provide
detected voltage information, temperature information, and current
information to the operation processing controller 140 respectively
as a basis for how the operation processing controller 140 starts a
protection mechanism. Herein, the voltage sensor 170 and the
current sensor 160 can detect voltage and current states of one or
more electronic components in an air conditioner and generate
voltage information and current information by detecting whether
the voltage and current states are abnormal or not. The temperature
sensor 180 may be disposed at one or more locations inside the air
conditioner and generates temperature information by detecting a
temperature state of each part when the air conditioner works.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 2 next, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of
an air conditioning device according to another embodiment of the
disclosure. An air conditioning device 200 includes a power
supplier 210, a compressor driver 220, a fan driver 230, a
vibration sensor 250, an operation processing controller 240, a
voltage sensor 260, and a fuse F2. In the present embodiment, the
power supplier 210 includes an input end 211, a fuse F1, a surge
current protector 212, voltage converters 213 and 214, a switch
SW1, a start inrush current protector 215, and a power factor
corrector 216. The input end 211 is configured to receive an input
power source VIN. The fuse Fl is coupled in series between the
input end 211 and the surge current protector 212. The surge
current protector 212 is configured to reduce a surge current
generated on the input power source VIN. The voltage converter 214
receives the input power source VIN via the surge current protector
212 and performs a voltage conversion action for the input power
source VIN to generate a second operating power source V2. In the
present embodiment, the voltage converter 214 may be an AC to DC
voltage converter.
[0017] The switch SW1 is coupled onto a path in which the power
supplier 210 outputs a first operating power source V1. The switch
SW1 may be turned on or off in accordance with a control command
CMD transmitted by the operation processing controller 240. The
start inrush current protector 215 is connected to two ends of the
switch SW1 in a cross-over mode and configured to reduce an inrush
current generated by the air conditioning device 200 in the
starting process. The voltage converter 213 is coupled to an output
end of the start inrush current protector 215 and performs a
voltage conversion action for the input power source VIN to
generate the first operating power source V1 when the switch SW1 is
turned on. Herein, the level of the first operating power source V1
is greater than the level of the second operating power source
V2.
[0018] In addition, the power factor corrector 216 is coupled to an
output end providing the first operating power source V1 so as to
perform a power factor correction action of the first operating
power source V1.
[0019] In another aspect, the power supplier 210 provides the first
operating power source V1 to the compressor driver 220 and the fan
driver 230. The compressor driver 220 and the fan driver 230
generate drive signals DRV1 and DRV2 respectively based on the
first operating power source V1 and make the drive signals DRV1 and
DRV2 drive a compressor 221 and a fan 231 respectively. In the
present embodiment, the fuse F2 is disposed in the power supplier
210 and the fan driver 230.
[0020] It is worth mentioning that in the present embodiment, when
a peak current provided by the drive signal DRV1 is excessively
high, the compressor 221 may feed back a peak current protection
signal PC1 to the compressor driver 220 and make the compressor
driver 220 cut off the supply of the drive signal DRV1. Similarly,
when a peak current provided by the drive signal DRV2 is
excessively high, the fan 231 may feed back a peak current
protection signal PC2 to the fan driver 230 and make the fan driver
230 cut off the supply of the drive signal DRV2.
[0021] Here, the protection actions performed by the compressor
driver 220 and the fan driver 230 are performed by means of
hardware circuits. Accordingly, the protection actions performed by
the compressor driver 220 and the fan driver 230 may be
accomplished in several micro-seconds (us).
[0022] In another aspect, the fuse F1 and the fuse F2 may be fused
respectively when an overcurrent phenomenon occurs in the input
power source VIN and the first operating power source V1. When the
overcurrent phenomenon occurs in the input power source VIN, the
fuse F1 may be fused to stop the receiving of the input power
source VIN. When the overcurrent phenomenon occurs in the first
operating voltage V1, the fuse F2 may be fused to prevent the fan
driver 230 from receiving the first operating power source V1, and
the purpose of circuit protection is achieved. Here, the fusing
action of the fuse F1 and the fuse F2 may be completed in several
seconds, which is another form of hardware protection action.
[0023] In the present embodiment, the compressor driver 220 and the
fan driver 230 are coupled to the operation processing controller
240. The compressor driver 220 and the fan driver 230 transmit
abnormality information ABI1 and ABI2 to the operation processing
controller 240 respectively. The abnormality information ABI1
includes abnormality information of temperature information of the
compressor driver 220 and current information of the compressor
driver 220. The abnormality information ABI2 includes abnormality
information of temperature information of the fan driver 230 and
current information of the fan driver 230.
[0024] The operation processing controller 240 may generate a
control command CMD based on the abnormality information ABI1 and
ABI2 by executing software. When an abnormality occurs in at least
one of the compressor driver 220, the fan driver 230, the
compressor 221, and the fan 231, the switch SW1 is turned off by
the control command CMD. By turning off the switch SW1, the supply
of the first operating power source V1 may be stopped, and the
appropriateness state of hardware components is maintained.
[0025] In another aspect, the operation processing controller 240
may additionally receive temperature information IFO such as a
condenser temperature IF21, an ambient temperature IF22, a
compressor input end temperature IF23, and a compressor output end
temperature IF24. The operation processing controller 240 also
receives vibration information IF1 of the air conditioning device
200 through the vibration sensor 250. The operation processing
controller 240 may perform operation on the abnormality information
ABI1 and ABI2, the temperature information IFO, and the vibration
information IF1 by executing software, thereby generating the
control command CMD.
[0026] In the present embodiment, the voltage sensor 260 may be
coupled to an end point where the power supplier 210 generates the
first operating power source V1 and senses the level of the first
operating power source V1 to transmit a sensed result to the
operation processing controller 240. The operation processing
controller 240 may also generate a control command according to
whether an overvoltage phenomenon occurs in the level of the first
operating power source V1.
[0027] The above-mentioned operation processing controller 240 may
be a processor with operational capability.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 hereinafter, FIG. 3 is a
start timing sequence diagram of multiple protection actions of the
air conditioning device according to the embodiments of the
disclosure. In time intervals T1 and T3, protection actions are
performed by hardware in the air conditioning device. In a time
interval T2, a protection action is started by software executed by
the operation processing controller. Herein, the protection actions
performed by the compressor driver 220 and the fan driver 230
according to peak current protection signals PCI and PC2 fed back
by the compressor 221 and the fan 231 respectively may occur at
time T11 in the time interval T1. The protection action performed
by the surge current protector 212 may then occur at time T12
relatively later than time T11 in the time interval T1. In
addition, at time T21 in the time interval T2, the operation
processing controller 240 may make determination based on the
current information transmitted by the compressor driver 220 and
the fan driver 230 and start a protection mechanism when an average
current of at least one of the drive signals DRV1 and DRV2 is
greater than a pre-determined threshold value. Next, at time T22 in
the time interval T2, the operation processing controller 240 may
make determination and determine whether to start the protection
mechanism according to the temperature information transmitted by
the compressor driver 220 and the fan driver 230 and the
temperature information IFO received by the operation processing
controller 240. At time T23 in the time interval T2, the operation
processing controller 240 may start the protection mechanism
according to the vibration information IF1 generated by the
vibration sensor 250. In the present embodiment, the time T21, T22,
and T23 may occur sequentially.
[0029] The fuses disposed in the compressor 221, the fan 231 and,
the power supplier 210 may be fused at time T31 to T33 respectively
in the time interval T3 when an abnormality phenomenon
(overcurrent) occurs, and the protection mechanism is started.
[0030] It can be seen from the above descriptions that in the air
conditioning device according to the embodiments of the disclosure,
the protection mechanism with multiple different rates is provided.
The air conditioning device may be effectively prevented from being
damaged due to at least one of a plurality of different reasons
such as over-temperature, overcurrent, and vibration, and the
working appropriateness of the air conditioning device is
effectively maintained.
[0031] Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments
are merely used for describing the technical solutions of the
disclosure, but are not intended to limit the disclosure.
[0032] Although the disclosure is described in detail with
reference to the foregoing embodiments, a person of ordinary skill
in the art should understand that, modifications may still be made
to the technical solutions in the foregoing embodiments, or
equivalent replacements may be made to some or all of the technical
features; and such modifications or replacements will not cause the
essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the
scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the
disclosure.
* * * * *