Apparatus and method for detecting phase state

• US 20040075471A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Byeong-Hoon, So, Min-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/2
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/253 for multiphase applications, e.g. phase interruption
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/09 against over-voltage; against reduction of voltage; against phase interruption

Abstract

In an apparatus and a method for detecting a phase state capable of improving reliability of an air conditioner by preventing an abnormal operation of the air conditioner by detecting a phase state (antiphase and open-phase) of three phase AC power supplied to the air conditioner and displaying the detected phase state, the apparatus includes a phase detector for detecting first, second and third phases of a three phase current; an interrupt detector for detecting a falling edge of a pulse signal corresponded to the third phase of the detected first, second and third phases, recognizing an interrupt occurrence by the third phase when the falling edge is detected and generating a counting signal; a counter for counting a pulse signal corresponded to the first and second phases on the basis of the interrupt occurred-third phase according to the counting signal; an antiphase/open-phase detector for detecting a state as a normal connection state, an antiphase state on the basis of a pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter and detecting an open-phase state on the basis of the interrupt counting times; and a display unit for displaying a message indicating the antiphase state or the open-phase state or the normal connection state on a screen according to a control signal of the antiphase/open-phase detector.

Claims

1. A phase state detecting apparatus, comprising:

a phase detector for detecting first, second and third phases of a three phase current;

an interrupt detector for detecting a falling edge of a pulse signal corresponded to the third phase of the detected first, second and third phases, recognizing an interrupt occurrence by the third phase when the failing edge is detected and generating a counting signal;

a counter for counting a pulse signal corresponded to the first and second phases on the basis of the interrupt occurred-third phase according to the counting signal;

an antiphase/open-phase detector for detecting a state as a normal connection state, an antiphase state on the basis of a pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter and detecting an open-phase state on the basis of the interrupt counting times; and

a display unit for displaying a message indicating the antiphase state or the open-phase state or the normal connection state on a screen according to a control signal of the antiphase/open-phase detector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antiphase/open-phase detector judges a state as the normal connection when a pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter is inputted not less than a predetermined number of times in the order of high and low;

judges a state as the antiphase when the first or second phase is inputted not less than a predetermined number of times in the order of low and high or in the order of high and high; and

judges a state as the open-phase when the interrupt counting times is less than a predetermined number of times.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the phase detector cuts off the three phase current supplied to the air conditioner in order to stop the operation of the all units of the air conditioner in the antiphase or open-phase state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the normal connection means a state in which a terminal of the three phase current is connected to a power input terminal of the multi air conditioner normally;

the antiphase state means a state in which a R phase terminal, a S phase terminal and a T phase terminal of the three phase current are changed-connected with the power terminal of the multi air conditioner; and

the open-phase state means a state in which at least one of the three phase current terminals is not connected to the power terminal of the multi air conditioner and the three phase current is not supplied to the multi air conditioner.

5. A phase state detecting apparatus, comprising:

a phase detector for detecting first, second and third phases of a three phase AC current outputted or cutting off the inputted three phase AC current in order to stop operation of all units of a multi air conditioner according to a cut-off signal;

an interrupt detector for detecting a falling edge of a pulse signal corresponded to the third phase of the detected first, second and third phases, recognizing an interrupt occurrence by the third phase when the failing edge is detected and generating a counting signal;

a counter for counting a pulse signal corresponded to the first and second phases on the basis of the interrupt occurred-third phase according to the counting signal;

an antiphase/open-phase detector for judging a state as a normal connection state when the pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter is inputted greater than a predetermined number of times in the order of high and low, judging a state as an antiphase state when the pulse signal of the first or second phase is inputted greater than the predetermined number of times in the order of low and high or in the order of high and high, judging a state as an open-phase state when the number of interrupt counting times is less than the predetermined number of times and generating the cut-off signal in the antiphase or open-phase state; and

a normal state display unit for displaying an antiphase/open-phase error message for indicating the antiphase or open-phase state on a screen or displaying a normal message for indicating the normal connection state on the screen according to a control signal of the antiphase/open-phase detector.

6. A phase state detecting method, comprising:

detecting first, second and third phases of a third phase AC current;

detecting a falling edge of a pulse signal corresponded to the third phase of the first, second and third phases and recognizing an interrupt occurrence when the falling edge is detected;

reading a pulse corresponded to the first and second phases when the interrupt occurs by the third phase;

judging a state as a normal connection state, an antiphase state on the basis of a pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter on the basis of the interrupt-occurred third phase and judging an open-phase state on the basis of the interrupt counting times; and

displaying a message indicating the antiphase or open-phase or normal connection state on a screen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the judging step includes the sub-steps of:

judging a state as the normal connection when a pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter is inputted not less than a predetermined number of times in the order of high and low and judging a state as the antiphase when the first or second phase is inputted not less than a predetermined number of times in the order of low and high or in the order of high and high; and

judging a state as the open-phase when the interrupt counting times is less than a predetermined number of times.

8. A phase state detecting method, comprising:

detecting first, second and third phases of a third phase AC current;

detecting a falling edge of a pulse signal corresponded to the third phase of the first, second and third phases and recognizing an interrupt occurrence when the falling edge is detected;

reading a pulse corresponded to the first and second phases when the interrupt occurs by the third phase;

judging a state as the normal connection when a pulse signal corresponded to the first or second phase counted by the counter is inputted not less than a predetermined number of times in the order of high and low and judging a state as the antiphase when the first or second phase is inputted not less than a predetermined number of times in the order of low and high or in the order of high and high;

judging a state as the open-phase when the interrupt counting times is less than a predetermined number of times; and

displaying an error message indicating the antiphase/open-phase state on a screen after stopping the operation of all units of the multi air conditioner when the antiphase or open-phase is judged or displaying the normal connection state on the screen.