Fan motor control for a ventilation system

• US 20040080288A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Calsonickansei North America Incorporated (Marelli Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Calsonickansei North America Incorporated (Marelli Corporation)
• Inventors: Ina, Kiyoshi
• Application Number:
  US10/283,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/163
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/10 of motor field only

Abstract

A ventilation system (20) made up of a wiring harness (22), a power source (21), a fan motor (23), a resistance circuit (70), and a selector switch (30-or 40) is taught. The selector switch (30 or 40) has five or six positions, and determines a different current through the fan motor (23) for each position. The resistance circuit (70) limits the current in three or four of the positions. A control apparatus (25) is mechanically coupled to the selector switch (23) and configured to allow a user to select one of the positions. One of the positions is an “off” position passing zero current through the fan motor (23), and one of the positions is a “maximum” position passing a maximum current through the fan motor (23). Each of the other positions is intermediate and passes a current through the fan motor (23) and a resistance in the resistance circuit (70) to limit the current.

Claims

1. A control assembly for a fan motor in a ventilation system, said assembly comprising:

a resistor network comprising a plurality of resistors; and

a selector switch electrically coupled to said fan motor and said resistor network, wherein;

said selector switch has N positions, where N=5 or N=6;

said selector switch determines a current through said fan motor;

said current is different for each of said N positions; and

said resistor network limits said current in N−

2 of said N positions.

2. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising a control apparatus mechanically coupled to said selector switch and configured to allow a user to select one of said N positions of said selector switch.

3. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of resistors in said resistor network comprise a first resistance circuit when N=5;

said plurality of resistors in said resistor network comprise a second resistance circuit when N=6; and

said second resistance circuit is substantially identical to said first resistance circuit.

4. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said resistor network comprises a resistance circuit;

when said selector switch is in a position P_(N);

said fan motor is electrically coupled directly to a power source of said ventilation system; and

said current through said fan motor is a current I_(N), where said current I_(N) is a maximum current;

when said selector switch is in a position P<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source in series with a resistance R<sub>(N−

1)</sub> of said resistance circuit; and

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>, where said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub> is less than said current I_(N);

when said selector switch is in a position P<sub>(N−

2)</sub>;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source in series with a resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub> of said resistance circuit; and

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>, wherein said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> is less than said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

when said selector switch is in a position P₍₂₎;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source in series with a resistance R₍₂₎ of said resistance circuit; and

said current through said fan motor is a current I₍₂₎, wherein said current I₍₂₎ is less than said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

when said selector switch is in a position P₍₁₎;

said fan motor is electrically disconnected from said power source; and

said current through said fan motor is a current I₍₁₎, wherein said current I₍₁₎ is zero.

5. A control assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein, when N=6 and said selector switch is in a position P_(N−

3);

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source in series with a resistance R<sub>(N−

3)</sub> of said resistance circuit; and

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>, wherein said current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub> is less than said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> and greater than said current I₍₂₎.

6. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said resistor network comprises;

a resistor R₁;

a resistor R₂ in series with said resistor R₁;

a resistor R₃ in series with said resistors R₁ and R₂;

a resistor R₄ in series with said resistor R₁ and in parallel with said resistors R₂ and R₃ in series;

a resistor R₅ in series with said resistors R₁ and R₂; and

a resistance circuit formed of said resistors R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, and R₅;

said resistance circuit comprises;

a resistance R<sub>(N−

1)</sub> configured for use when said selector switch is in a position P<sub>(N−

1)</sub> and comprising said resistors R₁, R₂, and R₅;

a resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub> configured for use when said selector switch is in a position P<sub>(N−

2)</sub> and comprising said resistors R₁, R₂, and R₃;

a resistance R<sub>(N−

3)</sub> configured for use when N=6 and said selector switch is in a position P<sub>(N−

3)</sub> and comprising said resistors R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄; and

a resistance R₍₂₎ configured for use when said selector switch is in a position P₍₂₎ and comprising said resistors R₁ and R₄.

7. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said selector switch has 6 positions; and

said current through said fan motor is one of;

a first current when said selector switch is in a first one of said 6 positions, wherein said first current is a current I₍₁₎, and I₍₀₎=0;

a second current when said selector switch is in a second one of said 6 positions, wherein said second current is a current I₍₂₎, and I₍₂₎>

I₍₁₎;

a third current when said selector switch is in a third one of said 6 positions, wherein said third current is a current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>, and I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>>

I₍₂₎;

a fourth current when said selector switch is in a fourth one of said 6 positions, wherein said fourth current is a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>, and I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>>

I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>;

a fifth current when said selector switch is in a fifth one of said 6 positions, wherein said fifth current is a current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>, and I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>>

I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

a sixth current when said selector switch is in a sixth one of said 6 positions wherein said sixth current is a current I_(N), and I_(N)>

I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>.

8. A control assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said selector switch has 5 positions; and

said current through said fan motor is one of;

a first current when said selector switch is in a first one of said 5 positions, wherein said first current is a current I₍₁₎, and I₍₁₎=0;

a second current when said selector switch is in a second one of said 5 positions, wherein said second current is a current I₍₂₎, and I₍₂₎>

I₍₁₎;

a third current when said selector switch is in a third one of said 5 positions, wherein said third current is one of a current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub> and a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>, and I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>>

I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>>

I₍₂₎;

a fourth current when said selector switch is in a fourth one of said 5 positions, wherein said fourth current is one of a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> and a current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>, and I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>>

I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>>

I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>; and

a fifth current when said selector switch is in a fifth one of said 5 positions, wherein said fifth current is a current I_(N), and I_(N)>

I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>.

9. A control assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said third current is said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

said fourth current is said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>.

10. A method of controlling a fan motor in an automotive ventilation system, said method comprising:

setting a selector switch to one of N positions, where N is 5 or 6;

establishing a current through said fan motor in response to said setting activity; and

operating said fan motor as a function of said current established in said establishing activity.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein:

said establishing activity establishes said current as a current I₍₁₎ substantially equal to zero when said setting activity sets said selector switch to a position P₍₁₎;

said establishing activity establishes said current as a current I₍₂₎ greater than said current I₍₁₎ when said setting activity sets said selector switch to a position P₍₂₎;

said establishing activity establishes said current as a current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub> greater than said current I₍₂₎ when N=6 and said setting activity sets said selector switch to a position P<sub>(N−

3)</sub>;

said establishing activity establishes said current as a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> greater than said current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub> when said setting activity sets said selector switch to a position P<sub>(N−

2)</sub>;

said establishing activity establishes said current as a current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub> greater than said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> when said setting activity sets said selector switch to a position P<sub>(N−

1)</sub>; and

said establishing activity establishes said current as a current I_(N) greater than said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub> when said setting activity sets said selector switch to a position P_(N).

12. An automotive ventilation system comprising:

a wiring harness;

a power source electrically coupled to said wiring harness;

a fan motor electrically coupled to said wiring harness;

a resistance circuit; and

a selector switch electrically coupled to said wiring harness and said resistance circuit, wherein;

said selector switch has N positions, where N is 5 or 6;

said selector switch determines a current through said fan motor;

said current is different for each of said N positions; and

said resistance circuit limits said current in N−

2 of said N positions.

13. An automotive ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 additionally comprising a control apparatus mechanically coupled to said selector switch and configured to allow a user to select one of said N positions of said selector switch.

14. An automotive ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

one of said N positions of said selector switch is an “

off”

position; and

said current through said fan motor is zero when said selector switch is in said “

off”

position.

15. An automotive ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

one of said N positions of said selector switch is a “

maximum”

position; and

said resistance circuit has no effect upon said current through said fan motor when said selector switch is in said “

maximum”

position.

16. An automotive ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 wherein N=5, and wherein each of said positions of said selector switch is one of:

a position P_(N) wherein;

said fan motor is electrically coupled directly to said power source;

said current through said fan motor is a current I_(N); and

said current I_(N) is a maximum current;

a position P<sub>(N−

1)</sub> wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R<sub>(N−

1)</sub> of said resistance circuit;

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>; and

said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub> is less than said current I_(N);

a position P<sub>(N−

2)</sub> wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub> of said resistance circuit;

said resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub> is greater than said resistance R<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> is less than said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

a position P₍₂₎ wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R₍₂₎ of said resistance circuit;

said resistance R₍₂₎ is greater than said resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub>;

said current through said fan motor is a current I₍₂₎; and

said current I₍₂₎ is less than said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

a position P₍₁₎ wherein;

said fan motor is electrically disconnected from said power source;

said current through said fan motor is a current I₍₁₎; and

said current I₍₁₎ is zero.

17. An automotive ventilation system as claimed in claim 12 wherein N=6, and wherein each of said positions of said selector switch is one of:

a position P_(N) wherein;

said fan motor is electrically coupled directly to said power source;

said current through said fan motor is a current I_(N); and

said current I_(N) is a maximum current;

a position P<sub>(N−

1)</sub> wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R<sub>(N−

1)</sub> of said resistance circuit;

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>; and

said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub> is less than said current I_(N);

a position P<sub>(N−

2)</sub> wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub> of said resistance circuit;

said resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub> is greater than said resistance R<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub> is less than said current I<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

a position P<sub>(N−

3)</sub> wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R<sub>(N−

3)</sub> of said resistance circuit;

said resistance R<sub>(N−

3)</sub> is greater than said resistance R<sub>(N−

2)</sub>;

said current through said fan motor is a current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>; and

said current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub> is less than said current I<sub>(N−

2)</sub>; and

a position P₍₂₎ wherein;

said fan motor is electrically connected to said power source through a resistance R₍₂₎ of said resistance circuit;

said resistance R₍₂₎ is greater than said resistance R<sub>(N−

3)</sub>;

said current through said fan motor is a current I₍₂₎; and

said current I₍₂₎ is less than said current I<sub>(N−

3)</sub>; and

a position P₍₁₎ wherein;

said fan motor is electrically disconnected from said power source;

said current through said fan motor is a current I₍₁₎; and

said current I₍₁₎ is zero.