Patent Description:
A swimming pool pump may be used to filter and recycle water in a swimming pool. A common swimming pool pump does not typically run or stop running in an automatically cycling manner. Thus, the pump must be manually started and stopped at certain intervals, to ensure that the water in the swimming pool is appropriately filtered and recycled. This is troublesome and laborconsuming. Most current swimming pool pumps are plug-and-play and unplug-and-stop, which is inconvenient. Additionally, as rotation directions of pumps are generally random, it is difficult to increase the flow rate and efficiency of the water pumps. Pumps cannot be timed, and the filtering effect thereof is not obvious after a certain time period. Therefore, continuous operation of a pump may waste energy.

Document <CIT> discloses a drain pump for an appliance which includes a single, selfstarting, single-phase synchronous motor and a pump chamber having an inlet and first and second outlets, wherein the first outlet is a drain outlet and the second outlet is a recirculation outlet. An impeller is disposed within the pump chamber and is selectively and bi-directionally driven by the single-phase synchronous motor. Rotation of the impeller in a first direction directs fluid from the inlet toward the drain outlet and away from the recirculation outlet, while rotation of the impeller in the second direction directs the fluid from the inlet toward the recirculation outlet and away from the drain outlet.

The present invention is defined in the independent claim <NUM>.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, whose content is to be understood as forming an integral part of the present description.

The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the example embodiments may have different forms and may not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.

Matters of these example embodiments that are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which these exemplary embodiments pertain may not be described here in detail.

As shown in <FIG>, according to an example embodiment, a directional and timing control circuit for a water pump comprises a main control chip <NUM>, a power supply module <NUM>, a driver module <NUM>, a Hall module <NUM>, and a zero-crossing detection module <NUM>.

An input terminal <NUM> of the power supply module <NUM> is connected to an alternating current power supply module <NUM>. The power supply module <NUM> supplies power to the main control chip <NUM> and to a water pump <NUM> which comprises a permanent magnet motor. A control output terminal of the main control chip <NUM> is connected to the driver module <NUM>, and an output terminal of the driver module <NUM> is connected to the water pump <NUM>. The Hall module <NUM> is provided on a rotating shaft of the water pump <NUM>, and a signal output terminal of the Hall module <NUM> is connected to an operation direction detection port of the main control chip <NUM>. An input terminal <NUM> of the zero-crossing detection module <NUM> is connected to the alternating current power supply module <NUM>, and an output terminal <NUM> of the zero-crossing detection module <NUM> is connected to a phase detection terminal of the main control chip <NUM>.

The main control chip <NUM> is be a SinOne single-chip microcomputer SC92F7320M08U, which has sufficient internal resources, a wide voltage range, and a wide working temperature range. Alternately, the main control chip <NUM> is be another chip.

The power supply module <NUM> supplies power to the main control chip <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the power supply module <NUM> comprises a resistor R6, an electrolytic capacitor C1, a capacitor C4, a diode D3, and a Zener diode D2.

A live wire input terminal L-IN is connected to a positive electrode <NUM> of the electrolytic capacitor C1 using a fuse F1; a negative electrode <NUM> of the electrolytic capacitor C1 is connected to an anode <NUM> of the diode D3; a cathode <NUM> of the diode D3 is connected to a first terminal <NUM> of the resistor R6; a second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R6 is connected to a first terminal <NUM> of the capacitor C4; a second terminal <NUM> of the capacitor C4 is connected to a neutral wire input terminal N-IN; and the negative electrode <NUM> of the electrolytic capacitor C1 is grounded. A cathode <NUM> of the Zener diode D2 is connected to the positive electrode <NUM> of the electrolytic capacitor C1, and an anode <NUM> of the Zener diode D2 is connected to the first terminal <NUM> of the resistor R6. The cathode <NUM> of the Zener diode D2 is connected to a power supply terminal of the main control chip <NUM>.

The resistor R6 is used as a current limiting resistor and limits a current at the moment of powering on the circuit, to prevent a surge current from damaging the Zener diode D2. The alternating current power supply module <NUM> is input through the live wire input terminal L-IN and the neutral wire input terminal N-IN, and charges the electrolytic capacitor C1 after the current is limited by the resistor R6 and the capacitor C4. The Zener diode D2 is used as a voltage limiter, and the electrolytic capacitor C1 gains a working voltage of <NUM>. 6V, the working voltage being supplied to the main control chip <NUM>.

According to one example aspect, the driver module <NUM> is be a thyristor driver module. The thyristor driver module comprises a bi-directional thyristor Q1 and a resistor R2. Alternately, the driver module <NUM> is be another module.

One (first) terminal <NUM> of the bi-directional thyristor Q1 is connected to the live wire input terminal L-IN; a control terminal <NUM> of the bi-directional thyristor Q1 is connected to a first terminal <NUM> of the resistor R2; and a second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R2 is connected to a control output terminal <NUM> of the main control chip <NUM>. A second terminal <NUM> of the bi-directional thyristor Q1, as a live wire output terminal L-OUT, is connected to the water pump; and the second terminal <NUM> of the capacitor C4, as a neutral wire output terminal N-OUT, is connected to the water pump.

The control terminal of the bi-directional thyristor Q1 in the thyristor driver module <NUM> is connected to the control output terminal of the main control chip <NUM>. When the main control chip <NUM> outputs a low level signal, the thyristor is triggered; and when the main control chip <NUM> outputs a high level signal, the thyristor is forbidden to be triggered. The live wire output terminal L-OUT and the neutral wire output terminal N-OUT are connected to a phase wire of the permanent magnet motor of the water pump <NUM>, such that the switching on and off of the thyristor controls the work of the permanent magnet motor of the water pump <NUM>.

The thyristor driver module <NUM> further comprises a capacitor C3, and the capacitor C3 is provided between the live wire output terminal L-OUT and the neutral wire output terminal N-OUT.

While operating at chopping frequency, the thyristor causes some interference to a power grid, and therefore, the capacitor C3 performs differential mode filtering on the input alternating current power supply module <NUM> to reduce conducted interference.

The Hall module <NUM> comprises a Hall element U2 and a resistor R1. According to an example aspect, the model of the Hall element U2 is OH49E.

A power input terminal VCC of the Hall element U2 is connected to a push-pull output port of the main control chip <NUM>; a signal output terminal VOUT of the Hall element U2 is connected to an operation direction detection port of the main control chip; a ground terminal GND of the Hall element U2 is connected to a first terminal <NUM> of the resistor R1; and a second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R1 is grounded.

The Hall module <NUM> is configured to detect a position of a permanent magnet rotor of the motor of the water pump, i.e. to detect an operation direction of the motor; the resistor R1 as a current limiting resistor performs power protection for the main control chip and the Hall element U2; and the power input terminal of the Hall element U2 is connected to the push-pull output port of the main control chip <NUM>, to control power supply to the Hall element U2.

The position of the permanent magnet rotor of the motor of the water pump (the operation direction of the motor) is detected by using the Hall module <NUM> and a corresponding operation direction signal is sent to the main control chip <NUM>. The main control chip <NUM> controls the motor to operate in a correct direction according to the position of the rotor and an energization condition in real time, to achieve directional control of the water pump <NUM>. For example, the position detected by the Hall element U2 in real time is divided into a phase A and a phase B, and an alternating voltage includes a positive half cycle P and a negative half cycle N. When the Hall element detects the phase A, the rotor of the motor rotates in the case of energization in the positive half cycle P; and when the Hall element U2 detects the phase B, the rotor of the motor rotates in the case of energization in the negative half cycle N. The directional control of the water pump <NUM> improves a filtering effect, and provides energy-saving.

As shown in <FIG>, the zero-crossing detection module <NUM> is configured to obtain a current utility frequency of the circuit. The zero-crossing detection module <NUM> comprises a resistor R7, a resistor R8, a diode D4, a diode D5, and a capacitor C5.

A first terminal <NUM> of the resistor R7, representing the input terminal <NUM> of the zero-crossing detection module <NUM>, is connected to the alternating current power supply module <NUM>, and is connected the neutral wire of the alternating current power supply module <NUM> in this example embodiment. A second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R7 is connected to a first terminal <NUM> of the resistor R8; a second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R8 is connected to a first terminal <NUM> of the capacitor C5; a second terminal <NUM> of the capacitor C5 is grounded; a cathode <NUM> of the diode D5 is connected to the second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R8; an anode <NUM> of the diode D5 is grounded; an anode <NUM> of the diode D4 is connected to the second terminal <NUM> of the resistor R8; and a cathode <NUM> of the diode D4, representing the output terminal <NUM> of the zero-crossing detection module <NUM>, is connected to the phase detection terminal of the main control chip <NUM>.

The zero-crossing detection module <NUM> is used by the main control chip <NUM> to detect a phase of an input of the current alternating current power supply module <NUM>. The resistor R7 and the resistor R8 are current limiting resistors, and the capacitor C5 is configured to filter a differential mode signal on the alternating current power supply module <NUM> and suppress occurrence of a zero-crossing interference signal. The diode D4 and the diode D5 are clamping diodes, and are two diodes with a low leakage current and a small voltage drop, and the diode D4 and the diode D5 clamp a voltage of the detection signal within an input voltage range allowable for a port of the main control chip.

In this example embodiment, the main control chip <NUM> uses the zero-crossing detection module <NUM> to detect a zero-crossing cycle a plurality of times in <NUM> before startup to identify a current working utility frequency, and uses the utility frequency as a counter. After being powered on, the circuit works for a total of N hours and then stops for <NUM>-N hours. The circuit working cyclically in this way reduces energy loss of unceasing operations, is convenient to operate, and saves manpower.

The power supply module <NUM> of the directional and timing control circuit for a water pump in this example embodiment supplies power to the main control chip <NUM>; the position of the permanent magnet rotor of the motor of the water pump is detected by using the Hall module <NUM>; the main control chip <NUM> controls the motor to operate in a correct direction according to the position of the rotor and the energization condition in real time, to achieve directional control of the water pump. Accordingly, a filtering effect is improved, and energy is saved.

The zero-crossing detection module <NUM> is used to detect the zero-crossing cycle of the alternating current power supply of the circuit a plurality of times to identify the current working utility frequency of the circuit and use the utility frequency as a counter. After being powered on, the circuit works for a total of N hours and then stops for <NUM>-N hours. The circuit working cyclically in this way reduces energy loss of unceasing operations, is convenient to operate, and saves manpower.

Claim 1:
A directional and timing control circuit comprising:
a main control chip (<NUM>);
a power supply module (<NUM>) connected to the main control chip (<NUM>) to supply power to the main control chip (<NUM>), the power supply module (<NUM>) comprising an input terminal (<NUM>) configured to connect to an alternating current power supply module (<NUM>);
a driver module (<NUM>) configured to receive a control command from the main control chip (<NUM>) and to control a motor according to the control command;
a Hall module (<NUM>) configured to detect an operation direction of the motor and transmit an operation direction signal to the main control chip (<NUM>); and
a zero-crossing detection module (<NUM>) configured to detect, before startup, a zero-crossing cycle of the alternating current power supply module (<NUM>) to thereby obtain a current utility frequency of the alternating current power supply module (<NUM>) as a timing frequency of the main control chip (<NUM>), the zero-crossing detection module (<NUM>) comprising an input terminal (<NUM>) connected to the alternating current power supply module (<NUM>) and an output terminal (<NUM>) connected to a phase detection terminal of the main control chip (<NUM>),
characterized in that the main control chip (<NUM>) is configured to use the obtained current utility frequency as a counter,
and wherein the directional and timing control circuit is configured, after power on, to work according to a <NUM> hours cycle including N power-on hours and <NUM>-N stop hours.