AIR CONDITIONER CONTROLLER, AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL CIRCUIT AND AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL METHOD

• US 20150285529A1
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hangzhou Leaderway Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hangzhou Leaderway Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LI, Shangen, RUN, Wenming, CHENG, Shanzeng
• Granted Patent: US 9,766,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/36 to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/151 of the compressor motor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/1931 Discharge pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21152 at the discharge side of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence

Abstract

An air conditioner controller and a safety protection circuit for the same are provided. The air conditioner controller includes a central processing unit, a drive unit, a safety locking unit and a protection detection unit, where the central processing unit is configured to output an air conditioner control signal; the air conditioner motor drive unit is configured to receive a drive control signal output from the safety locking unit and the detection protection signal, and output a drive signal to control an operation of an air conditioner motor; the safety locking unit is configured to receive the detection protection signal and the air conditioner control signal, output the drive control signal, and control the air conditioner control signal to be transmitted or cut off based on the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit.

Claims

1. An air conditioner control circuit, comprising:

a central processing unit, an air conditioner motor drive unit, a protection detection unit and a safety locking unit, wherein

the protection detection unit detects an operation condition of an air conditioner and outputs a detection protection signal;

the central processing unit outputs an air conditioner control signal;

the air conditioner motor drive unit receives a drive control signal output from the safety locking unit and the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit, and outputs a drive signal to control an operation of an air conditioner motor, wherein the drive signal is capable of being output by the air conditioner motor drive unit based on the drive control signal and the detection protection signal; and

the safety locking unit receives the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit and the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit, outputs the drive control signal, and controls the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit to the air conditioner motor drive unit to be transmitted or cut off based on the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit.

2. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 1, wherein an output terminal of the protection detection unit is connected to an input terminal of the central processing unit, the central processing unit receives the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit and outputs the air conditioner control signal, wherein the detection protection signal is an input source of the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit, and the central processing unit is a microprocessor or a device for sending a switch on/off instruction.

3. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 1, wherein an output terminal of the protection detection unit is connected to an input terminal of the safety locking unit and an input terminal of the air conditioner motor drive unit, an output terminal of the central processing unit is connected to another input terminal of the safety locking unit, an output terminal of the safety locking unit is connected to another input terminal of the air conditioner motor drive unit, and a drive signal is output from an output terminal of the air conditioner motor drive unit to control an operation of the air conditioner motor.

4. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 3, wherein the protection detection unit comprises at least one of an over-current detection protection unit, a compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit, and a compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit;

at least one of the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit comprises at least two optical couplers, and at least one of a detection protection signal output from the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and a detection protection signal output from the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit is isolated by at least two series-connected optical couplers and then is output.

5. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 4, wherein each of the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit comprises the optical coupler, and an output terminal of the optical coupler of the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit is connected to an output terminal of the optical coupler of the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit in series.

6. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 4, wherein the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit comprises a high pressure detection protection switch;

in the case that an exhaust pressure of the air conditioner compressor is a normal air pressure, the high pressure detection protection switch is in an on-state;

in the case that the exhaust pressure of the air conditioner compressor is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the high pressure detection protection switch is turned off to cut off a loop of a light emitting diode of the optical coupler, to make the optical coupler is power off and turned off, and an exhaust pressure protection signal is output.

7. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 4, wherein the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit comprises a thermistor sensor with a negative temperature coefficient;

the thermistor sensor with the negative temperature coefficient is connected to one input terminal of a voltage comparator, and a reference voltage is input to another input terminal of the voltage comparator;

in the case that an exhaust temperature of the air conditioner compressor exceeds a predetermined value, a resistance of the thermistor sensor with the negative temperature coefficient reduces, a voltage of the input terminal of the connected voltage comparator is higher than the reference voltage, and an output terminal of the voltage comparator cuts off a loop of a light emitting diode of the optical coupler, to make the optical coupler is power off and turned off, and an exhaust temperature protection signal is output.

8. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 4, wherein the overcurrent detection protection unit comprises a current sampling resistor and a voltage comparator, a current sampling signal obtained from the current sampling resistor is transmitted to one input terminal of the voltage comparator;

and an overcurrent detection protection signal is output from the voltage comparator to the safety locking unit and the safety locking unit cuts off the control signal output from the central processing unit to the air conditioner motor drive unit, in the case that a voltage received by the input terminal of the voltage comparator for receiving the current sampling signal exceeds a reference voltage input to another input terminal of the voltage comparator.

9. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the protection detection unit comprises at least one of an over-current detection protection unit, a compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and a compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit;

at least one of the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit comprises at least two optical couplers, and at least one of a detection protection signal output from the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and a detection protection signal output from the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit is isolated by at least two series-connected optical couplers.

10. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the safety locking unit comprises an AND gate, the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit is input to one input terminal of the AND gate, the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit is input to another input terminal of the AND gate, and the drive control signal for controlling the drive unit is output from an output terminal of the AND gate.

11. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the safety locking unit further comprises a time delay circuit, the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit is delayed by the time delay circuit and is input to one input terminal of the AND gate, the signal output from the central processing unit is input to the other input terminal of the AND gate, and the drive control signal for controlling the drive unit is output from the output terminal of the AND gate.

12. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the drive unit is an intelligent power module IPM comprising an intelligent control circuit and a three-phase inverter bridge, the over-current detection signal is transmitted to an over-current signal input terminal of the IPM, the IPM comprises a voltage comparator and a locking circuit, and the locking circuit determines whether to lock the output of the drive signal for driving the motor based on a comparison between a current signal input to the over-current signal input terminal and a protection reference voltage of the voltage comparator.

13. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the drive unit is an intelligent power module IPM comprising an intelligent control circuit and a three-phase inverter bridge;

the detection protection signal is input to a power supply input terminal of the IPM via a switching transistor, and the IPM comprises an under-voltage protection comparator and a locking circuit for locking the output of the drive signal for driving the motor;

an output terminal of the protection detection unit is connected to a control terminal of the switching transistor, a first voltage is applied to a first terminal of the switching transistor, and a second voltage is applied to a second terminal of the switching transistor;

the detection protection signal controls whether the switching transistor is turned on, the second voltage is input to a voltage input terminal of the IPM in the case that the switching transistor is turned on, or the first voltage is input to the voltage input terminal of the IPM in the case that the switching transistor is turned off, wherein the first voltage is lower than the under-voltage protection reference voltage and the second voltage is higher than the under-voltage protection reference voltage.

14. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 10, wherein the drive unit is a relay switch;

the relay switch is turned on and outputs a drive signal in the case that a relay coil of the relay switch is power on, the switch relay is turned off and does not output a drive signal in the case that the relay coil of the relay switch is power off.

15. The air conditioner control circuit according to claim 14, wherein the relay coil is connected to a diode in parallel, the output terminal of the protection detection unit is connected to a negative electrode of the diode via a switching transistor, the output terminal of the protection detection unit is connected to a control terminal of the switching transistor, a first terminal of the switching transistor is connected to the negative electrode of the diode, a second terminal of the switching transistor is connected to a power supply, wherein the detection protection signal controls whether the switching transistor is turned on, and the relay coil is power on in the case that the switching transistor is turned on.

16. An air conditioner controller, comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the input terminal receives a signal from a sensor and an air conditioner control instruction signal, and the output terminal outputs an air conditioner element control signal;

and the air conditioner controller further comprises an air conditioner control circuit;

wherein the air conditioner control circuit comprises;

a central processing unit, an air conditioner motor drive unit, a protection detection unit and a safety locking unit;

wherein

the protection detection unit detects an operation condition of an air conditioner and outputs a detection protection signal;

the central processing unit outputs an air conditioner control signal;

the air conditioner motor drive unit receives a drive control signal output from the safety locking unit and the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit, and outputs a drive signal to control an operation of an air conditioner motor, wherein the drive signal is capable of being output by the air conditioner motor drive unit based on the drive control signal and the detection protection signal; and

the safety locking unit receives the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit and the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit, outputs the drive control signal, and controls the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit to the air conditioner motor drive unit to be transmitted or cut off based on the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit.

17. The air conditioner controller according to claim 16, wherein an output terminal of the protection detection unit is connected to an input terminal of the central processing unit;

the central processing unit receives a detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit and outputs an air conditioner control signal, wherein the detection protection signal is one input source of the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit, and the central processing unit is a microprocessor or a device for sending a switch on/off instruction.

18. The air conditioner controller according to claim 16, wherein the protection detection unit comprises at least one of an over-current detection protection unit, a compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and a compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit;

at least one of the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit comprises at least two optical couplers, and at least one of a detection protection signal output from the compressor exhaust pressure detection protection unit and a detection protection signal output from the compressor exhaust temperature detection protection unit is isolated by at least two series-connected optical couplers and then is output.

19. An air conditioner controller method, wherein the air conditioner comprises an air conditioner motor and an air conditioner controller for controlling an operation of the air conditioner motor, the air conditioner controller comprises an air conditioner control circuit, the air conditioner control circuit comprises a central processing unit, an air conditioner motor drive unit, a protection detection unit and a safety locking unit;

and the method comprises;

outputting, by the central processing unit, an air conditioner control signal;

detecting, by the protection detection unit, an operation condition of the air conditioner and outputting a detection protection signal based on the detected operation condition;

receiving, by the safety locking unit, the air conditioner control signal and the detection protection signal, outputting a drive control signal to the air conditioner motor drive unit, and controlling the air conditioner control signal output from the central processing unit to the air conditioner motor drive unit to be transmitted or cut off based on the detection protection signal output from the protection detection unit; and

receiving, by the air conditioner motor drive unit, the drive control signal and the detection protection signal, and outputting a drive signal to control an operation of the air conditioner motor, wherein the drive signal is capable of being output by the air conditioner motor drive unit based on the drive control signal and the detection protection signal.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the central processing unit, the detection protection signal, and determining whether to output the air conditioner control signal based on the detection protection signal.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the detection protection signal comprises at least one of an exhaust pressure protection signal, an exhaust temperature protection signal and an overcurrent protection signal;

and the step of detecting an operation condition of the air conditioner and outputting a detection protection signal based on the detected operation condition using the protection detection unit comprises at least one of the following sub-steps;

detecting, by the protection diction unit, an exhaust pressure of a compressor of the air conditioner, and outputting the exhaust pressure protection signal in the case that the detected exhaust pressure reaches a predetermined air pressure threshold;

detecting, by the protection detection unit, an exhaust temperature of the compressor of the air conditioner, and outputting the exhaust temperature protection signal in the case that the detected exhaust temperature reaches a predetermined temperature threshold; and

controlling a current of the compressor of the air conditioner to pass through a current sampling resistor, detecting, by the protection detection unit, a voltage across the current sampling resistor, and outputting the overcurrent protection signal in the case that the detected voltage across the current sampling resistor reaches a predetermined voltage threshold.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

controlling the central processing unit to stop outputting the air conditioner control signal, in the case that at least one of the exhaust pressure protection signal, the exhaust temperature protection signal and the overcurrent protection signal is received by the central processing unit;

controlling the air conditioner motor drive unit to stop driving the air conditioner motor, in the case that at least one of the exhaust pressure protection signal, the exhaust temperature protection signal and the overcurrent protection signal is received by the air conditioner motor drive unit; and

cutting off, by the safety locking unit, the air conditioner control signal transmitted from the central processing unit, in the case that at least one of the exhaust pressure protection signal, the exhaust temperature protection signal and the overcurrent protection signal is received by the safety locking unit.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the protection detection unit further comprises an isolation circuit, and the isolation circuit comprises two or more series-connected optical couplers;

and the method further comprises;

isolating, by the isolation circuit, the exhaust pressure protection signal and/or the exhaust temperature protection signal from the central processing unit.