Brushless DC motor control device for ceiling fan

A brushless DC motor control device for a ceiling fan is electrically connected to a brushless DC motor and includes at least one switch, a processor, and a driving module. The processor includes at least one detection module and a processing module. The switch transmits a switch signal to the detection module for detection. After the detection module detects an operating electric potential and a normal electric potential of the switch signal, the detection module outputs a detection signal to the processing module. The processing module outputs a control signal to the driving module, so that the driving module transmits a driving signal to the brushless DC motor to control the rotational speed, stop and rotational direction of the brushless DC motor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a control device, and more particularly, to a brushless DC motor control device for a ceiling fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG. 1, a conventional ceiling fan control system comprises a switch module1. The switch module1includes a switch body2. The switch body2is connected to a power supply3. The switch body2is selectively set as a power-off mode L or selectively connected to one of a first wire connecting member4, a second wire connecting member5and a third wire connecting member6. The second wire connecting member5is provided with a forward diode7. The third wire connecting member6is provided with a reverse diode8. The first wire connecting member4, the second wire connecting member5and the third wire connecting member6are connected to a control panel9. The control panel9is further connected to a ceiling fan brushless motor10. The control panel9comprises a first detector11, a second detector12, a microcontroller unit13, and a motor driving unit14. The current inputted directly into the first wire connecting member4from the power supply by the switch body2and then outputted is a sine wave. The current inputted into the second wire connecting member5through the forward diode and then outputted is a positive half cycle. The current passing through the third wire connecting member6and outputted from the reverse diode8is a negative half cycle. When the switch body2is switched to selectively connect the first wire connecting member4, the second wire connecting member5or the third wire connecting member6, the outputted current flowing through the electronic components (hardware) of the above wire connecting members is detected and determined by the first detector11and second detector12, and a detected signal is transmitted to the microcontroller unit13, and the microcontroller unit13will transmit a high, mid, or low control signal to the motor driving unit14, and the motor driving unit14controls the rotational speed of the ceiling fan brushless motor10.

However, due to the limitation of the number and types of hardware of the electronic components of the above-mentioned wire connecting members, the switch body2in cooperation with the above-mentioned wire connecting members can only generate three current waveforms, so that the microcontroller unit13can only select a high, mid, or low control signal for the rotational speed of the ceiling fan, unable to select more control signals for the rotational speed of the ceiling fan. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a brushless DC motor control device for a ceiling fan, which can increase the phases to control the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor of the ceiling fan, so as to increase the convenience of use.

In order to achieve the aforesaid object, a brushless DC motor control device for a ceiling fan is provided. The brushless DC motor control device is electrically connected to a brushless DC motor. The brushless DC motor control device comprises at least one switch, a processor, and a driving module. The switch has a switch signal. When the switch is not actuated, the electric potential of the switch signal is a normal electric potential. When the switch is actuated, the electric potential of the switch signal is an operating electric potential. The processor includes at least one detection module and a processing module. The detection module is electrically connected to the switch and the processing module. The switch transmits the switch signal to the detection module. The detection module has a detection signal. The detection module transmits the detection signal to the processing module. The processing module has a control signal. The processing module outputs the control signal according to the detection signal of the detection module. The driving module is electrically connected to the processing module and the brushless DC motor. The processing module transmits the control signal to the driving module. The driving module has a driving signal. The driving module outputs the driving signal according to the control signal. The driving module transmits the driving signal to the brushless DC motor. The driving signal is used to control a rotational speed, stop and rotational direction of the brushless DC motor.

In the brushless DC motor control device provided by the present invention, the switch sends the switch signal to the detection module for detection. After the detection module detects the operating electric potential and the normal electric potential of the switch signal, the detection module outputs the detection signal to the processing module. The processing module outputs the control signal to the driving module according to the detection signal of the detection module, so that the driving module transmits the driving signal to the brushless DC motor to control the rotational speed, stop and rotational direction of the brushless DC motor. There is no upper limit on the phases to control the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor, so as to increase the convenience of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2is a block diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The present invention discloses a brushless DC motor control device for a ceiling fan. The brushless DC motor control device is electrically connected to a brushless DC motor20, and comprises at least one switch30, a processor40, and a driving module70.

The switch30has a switch signal.FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of the waveform of the switch signal of the present invention, taking a normally open pull switch as an example.FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of the waveform of the switch signal of the present invention, taking a normally closed pull switch as an example. When the switch30is not actuated, the electric potential of the switch signal is a normal electric potential V1. When the switch30is actuated, the electric potential of the switch signal is an operating electric potential V2. The switch30may be connected to a DC power supply or an AC power supply. When the switch30is connected to an AC power supply, the switch30outputs the switch signal by connecting an analog-to-digital converter80(not shown inFIG. 2).

The processor40includes at least one detection module50and a processing module60. The detection module50is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The switch30transmits the switch signal to the detection module50. The detection module50has a detection signal. The detection module50is configured to detect the switch signal to output the detection signal. The detection module50transmits the detection signal to the processing module60. The processing module60has a control signal. The processing module60outputs the control signal according to the detection signal of the detection module50.

The driving module70is electrically connected to the processing module60and the brushless DC motor20. The processing module60transmits the control signal to the driving module70. The driving module70has a driving signal. The driving module70transmits the driving signal to the brushless DC motor20. The driving signal is used to control the rotational speed, stop and rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

The switch30sends the switch signal to the detection module50for detection when it is not actuated and when it is actuated. After the detection module50detects the operating electric potential V2and the normal electric potential V1of the switch signal, the detection module50outputs the detection signal to the processing module60. The processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to the detection signal of the detection module50, so that the driving module70transmits the driving signal to the brushless DC motor20to control the rotational speed, stop and rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20. All the embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that there is no upper limit on the phases to control the rotational speed of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 5is a block diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that the detection module50includes an operating electric potential counter51. The operating electric potential counter51is configured to detect and count the number of times the operating electric potential V2of the switch signal appears. The operating electric potential counter51is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of the operating electric potential counter51. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to the number of times the operating electric potential V2appears in the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 6is a block diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment of the present invention differs from the second embodiment in that the detection module50further includes a normal electric potential duration detection unit52. The normal electric potential duration detection unit52is configured to detect and time the duration of each normal electric potential V1of the switch signal. The normal electric potential duration detection unit52is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of one or a combination of the operating electric potential counter51and the normal electric potential duration detection unit52. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to one or a combination of the number of times the operating electric potential V2appears and the duration of each normal electric potential V1in the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 7is a block diagram according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment of the present invention differs from the third embodiment in that the detection module50further includes an operating electric potential duration detection unit53. The operating electric potential duration detection unit53is configured to detect and time the duration of each operating electric potential V2of the switch signal. The operating electric potential duration detection unit53is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of one or a combination of the operating electric potential counter51, the normal electric potential duration detection unit52and the operating electric potential duration detection unit53. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to one or a combination of the number of times the operating electric potential V2appears, the duration of each normal electric potential V1and the duration of each operating electric potential V2in the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 8is a block diagram according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment of the present invention differs from the fourth embodiment in that the detection module50further includes a normal electric potential counter54. The normal electric potential counter54is configured to detect and count the number of times the normal electric potential V1of the switch signal appears. The normal electric potential counter54is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of one or a combination of the operating electric potential counter51, the normal electric potential duration detection unit52, the operating electric potential duration detection unit53, and the normal electric potential counter54. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to one or a combination of the number of times the operating electric potential V2appears, the duration of each normal electric potential V1, the duration of each operating electric potential V2and the number of times the normal electric potential V1appears in the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 9is a block diagram according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that the detection module50further includes a normal electric potential duration detection unit52. The normal electric potential duration detection unit52is configured to detect and time the duration of each normal electric potential V1of the switch signal. The normal electric potential duration detection unit52is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of the normal electric potential duration detection unit52. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to the duration of each normal electric potential V1of the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 10is a block diagram according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment of the present invention differs from the sixth embodiment in that the detection module50further includes an operating electric potential duration detection unit53. The operating electric potential duration detection unit53is configured to detect and time the duration of each operating electric potential V2of the switch signal. The operating electric potential duration detection unit53is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of one or a combination of the normal electric potential duration detection unit52and the operating electric potential duration detection unit53. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to one or a combination of the duration of each normal electric potential V1and the duration of each operating electric potential V2of the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 11is a block diagram according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment of the present invention differs from the seventh embodiment in that the detection module50further includes a normal electric potential counter54. The normal electric potential counter54is configured to detect and count the number of times the normal electric potential V1of the switch signal appears. The normal electric potential counter54is electrically connected to the switch30and the processing module60. The detection signal includes the detection result of one or a combination of the normal electric potential duration detection unit52, the operating electric potential duration detection unit53, and the normal electric potential counter54. Thereby, the processing module60outputs the control signal to the driving module70according to one or a combination of the duration of each normal electric potential V1, the duration of each operating electric potential V2and the number of times the normal electric potential V1appears in the detection result of the detection signal, so as to control the rotational speed, stop or rotational direction of the brushless DC motor20.

FIG. 12is a block diagram according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The ninth embodiment of the present invention differs from the first to eighth embodiments in that the at least one switch30includes two switches defined as a pull switch31and a wall-controlled switch32. The pull switch31is connected to a DC power supply. The wall-controlled switch32is connected to an AC power supply (not shown). The at least one detection module50includes two detection modules. First ends of the detection modules50are electrically connected to the pull switch31and an analog-to-digital converter80, respectively. Second ends of the detection modules50are electrically connected to the processing module60, respectively. The analog-to-digital converter80is electrically connected to the wall-controlled switch32. The at least one detection module50has been disclosed in the foregoing embodiments. Therefore, this paragraph omits the description and illustration of the operating electric potential counter51, the normal electric potential duration detection unit52, the operating electric potential duration detection unit53, and the normal electric potential counter54.