TWI652869B - Automatically balanced micropulse ionization blower - Google Patents

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically balancing an ionized gas stream is provided, and the ionized gas stream is generated in a bipolar corona discharge. The method includes: providing an air moving device having at least one ion emitter and reference electrode connected to a micro-pulse AC power source, and a control system having at least one ion balance monitor and a corona discharge adjustment controller; generating Variable-polarity group of short-duration ionized micropulses; wherein the micropulses are mainly asymmetric in the amplitude and duration of two polar voltages, and the intensity of at least one polarized ionization pulse exceeds the corona Threshold.

Description

Automatically balanced micro-pulse ionization hair dryer [Cross Reference of Related Applications]

This application is a partial continuation of US Application No. 13 / 367,369, filed on February 6, 2012. US Application No. 13 / 367,369 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to ionizing hair dryers.

The electrostatic charge neutralizer is designed to remove or minimize electrostatic charge accumulation. The electrostatic charge neutralizer removes the electrostatic charge by generating air ions and transferring the ions to a charged target.

A specific category of electrostatic charge neutralizers are ionized hair dryers. Ionizing hair dryers generally generate air ions with a corona electrode, and use a fan (or multiple fans) to direct the air ions towards the target of interest.

Monitoring or controlling the effectiveness of the hair dryer uses two measurements.

The first measurement is balance. The ideal equilibrium occurs when the number of positive air ions is equal to the number of negative air ions. On a charge plate monitor, the ideal reading is zero. In practice, the electrostatic neutralizer is controlled in the vicinity of zero. Within range. For example, the balance of an electrostatic neutralizer may be specified as approximately ± 0.2 volts.

The second measurement is air ion current. Higher air ion currents are useful because the electrostatic charge can be discharged in a shorter period of time. Higher air ion currents are associated with lower discharge times, which are measured with a charge plate monitor.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically balancing an ionized gas stream is provided, and the ionized gas stream is generated in a bipolar corona discharge. The method includes: providing an air moving device having at least one ion emitter and reference electrode connected to a micro-pulse AC power source, and a control system having at least one ion balance monitor and a corona discharge adjustment controller; generating Variable-polarity group of short-duration ionized micropulses: where the micropulses are mainly asymmetric in the amplitude and duration of the two polar voltages, and the intensity of the ionized pulses with at least one polarity exceeds the corona Threshold.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for automatically balancing an ionizing hair dryer is provided. The device includes: an air moving device and at least one ion emitter and a reference electrode, the ion emitter and the reference electrode are both connected to a high voltage source; and an ion balance monitor; wherein the transformer of the high voltage source, the ion emitter and The reference electrode is arranged in a closed loop of the AC current circuit, and the loop is grounded by a high-value observation resistance.

100‧‧‧ ionized hair dryer

101‧‧‧Sensor

102‧‧‧ transmitter point array

103‧‧‧fan

104‧‧‧on the reference electrode

105‧‧‧ lower reference electrode

106‧‧‧air duct

107‧‧‧Control System

108‧‧‧ electrode

109‧‧‧Dielectric material

110‧‧‧ electrode

125‧‧‧ air

125a‧‧‧ part of ionized air fluid

125b‧‧‧ ionized air fluid

127‧‧‧box

130‧‧‧ space

131‧‧‧Export

132‧‧‧Top side

133‧‧‧ bottom side

135‧‧‧Voltage / Signal

200‧‧‧ system

201‧‧‧Control System

202‧‧‧Pulse driver

203‧‧‧Transformer

204‧‧‧Sensor

205‧‧‧Sampling and holding circuit

206‧‧‧Low-pass filter

207‧‧‧amplifier

208‧‧‧ Potentiometer

209‧‧‧Power Converter

210‧‧‧Return current

214‧‧‧Current

215‧‧‧Sampling signal

216‧‧‧Switch

218‧‧‧amplifier

220‧‧‧ ion current

230‧‧‧Transformer

250‧‧‧ signal

251‧‧‧Low-voltage terminal

252‧‧‧ balanced signal

253‧‧‧ fixed-point signal

254‧‧‧Current

256‧‧‧voltage bias

257‧‧‧Wiring

258‧‧‧Voltage source value

815‧‧‧positive pulse output

816‧‧‧Negative pulse output

Various embodiments of this disclosure proposed by way of example will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which like symbols refer to like elements, and wherein: FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an overview of an ionized hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a sectional view of the hair dryer of Fig. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of a sensor included in an ionized hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2A is a block diagram of the ionized hair dryer of Figure 1A and the ionized air flow from the hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an electronic block diagram of a system in the ionizing hair dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a feedback algorithm 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a micro-pulse generator algorithm of a micro-pulse generator controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart of system operation when a negative pulse train is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a flowchart of system operation when a positive pulse train is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the system operation at the current pulse phase according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of system operation when the sensor is input for measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a waveform chart of micropulses according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of system operation during a balance alert according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following detailed description, for the purposes of explanation, several detailed details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these various embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the invention will easily suggest themselves to such a skilled person having the benefits disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the present invention can be applied to many types of air gas ionizers configured as, for example, an ionization rod, a hair dryer, or an in-line ionization device.

The ionization blower covering a large area requires a combination of high-efficiency air ionization with short discharge time and strict ion balance control. FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a general view of an ionized hair dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the hair dryer 100 along line A-A in FIG. The efficient air ionization is achieved by a bipolar corona discharge, which is generated from an array of emitter points 102 (ie, the emitter point array 102) and two reference electrodes 104, 105 ( Shown between the upper reference electrode 104 and the lower reference electrode 105). The emitter points 102 mounted on the protective grid 106 (ie, the air duct 106) also equivalently help accelerate the ionized air fluid.

The fan 103 (FIG. 1A) is an air moving device that provides a highly variable air fluid 125 in a space 130 between the emitter point array 102 (ion emitter 102) and the two reference electrodes 104, 105. The air duct 106 concentrates and distributes the air fluid 125 in the space 130 of the corona discharge. The positive and negative ions generated by the corona discharge move between the electrodes 102, 104, and 105. Air fluid 125 is capable of capturing and carrying only a relatively small portion of corona discharge Generated positive and negative ions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the air 125 is forced to leave the air duct (106) outlet 131 and the air 125 passes through the air ionization sensor 101. Details of one embodiment of the design of the sensor 101 are shown in FIG. 1C. A fan (shown as block 126 in Figure 1B) provides air fluid 125. The air ionization voltage sensor 101 has a louver-type thin dielectric plate 109 that extends over the entire width of the duct 106. The louver plate 109 guides the portion 125a (or sampling 125a) of the ionized air fluid 125b (ionized gas flow 125b) from the duct 106 and the upper electrode 104 (see also FIG. 2A), so that the sensor 101 can sense and collect The ionic charge in a portion 125a of some ionized air fluid 125b. The collected ionic charge then generates a control signal 250 (Figure 2) for use by the algorithm 300 (Figure 3) for balancing the ions in the ionizing hair dryer 100. The top side 132 of the plate 109 has a narrow metal strip, which functions as the sensitive electrode 108, and the bottom side 133 has a wide grounded ordinary electrode 110. The electrode 110 is usually shielded, so that the air ionization sensor 101 is shielded from the high electric field of the emitter point array 102. The electrode 108 collects some of the charge of the ions to create a voltage / signal 135 (Figure 2A), which is proportional to the ion balance in the ionized air fluid 125b. The voltage / signal 135 from the sensor 101 is used by the control system 107 (shown as system 200 in Figure 2) to monitor and adjust the ion balance in the ionized air fluid 125b. This signal 135 is also represented by the signal 250, which is input into the sample and hold circuit 205, as will be discussed further below. Other configurations of the ion balance sensor, for example, a conductive grid or a metal grid form immersed in the ionic fluid may also be used in other embodiments of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ion current sensor 204 is used to monitor the ionized fluid balance. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a system 200 (FIG. 2) that includes an ionized return current sensor 204 for monitoring the ionized air-fluid balance. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system 200 includes an air ionization voltage sensor 101 for monitoring the ionized air fluid balance.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the system 200 includes dual sensors including an air ionization voltage sensor 101 and an ionization current return sensor 204, of which two sensors 101 And 204 are configured for monitoring ionized air fluid balance.

The ionization return current sensor 204 includes a capacitor C2 and a capacitor C1, and a resistor R1 and a resistor R2. Capacitor C2 provides an AC current path to the ground, bypassing the current detection circuit. The resistor R2 converts the ion current into a voltage (Ii * R2), and the resistors R1 and R2 and the capacitor C2 form a low-pass filter to filter out the induced current generated by the micropulse. The return current 210 flowing from the sensor 204 is shown as I2.

The current 254 flowing to the transmitter point 102 is the total current Σ (Ii (+), Ii (-), I2, Ic1, Ic2), where the currents Ic1 and Ic2 are the currents flowing through the capacitors C1 and C2, respectively.

FIG. 2A illustrates an ion current 220 that flows between the emitter 102 and the reference electrodes 104 and 105. The air fluid 125 from the duct 106 converts a part of the two ionic currents 220 in the ionized air fluid 125b, which moves to the charge neutralization target outside the hair dryer 100. The target is roughly shown as block 127 in Figure 1B. Block 127 may be It is placed in other positions relative to the ionized hair dryer 100.

FIG. 2B is an electronic block diagram of a system 200 shown in an ionizing hair dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 200 includes an ion current sensor 204, a micropulse high voltage power source 230 (micropulse AC power source 230) (the micropulse high voltage power source is formed by a pulse driver 202 and a high voltage (HV) transformer 203), and the ionization blower器 的 控制 系统 201。 Control system 201. In one embodiment, the control system 201 is a microcontroller 201. The microcontroller 201 receives power from a voltage bias 256, which may be, for example, approximately 3.3 DC volts and is grounded at wiring 257.

The power converter 209 may be selectively used in the system 200 to provide various voltages (for example, -12VDC, 12VDC, or 3.3VDC) used by the system 200. The power converter 209 may convert a voltage source value 258 (eg, 24 VDC) into various voltages 256 for biasing the microcontroller 201.

The micro-pulse high-voltage power supply 230 has a pulse driver 202 controlled by a microcontroller 201. The pulse driver 202 is connected to a step pulse transformer 203. The transformer 203 generates a short duration pulse (in the range of microseconds), with positive and negative polarities having amplitudes sufficient to generate a corona discharge. The secondary coil of the transformer 203 floats with respect to the ground. The high-voltage terminal 250 of the transformer 203 is connected to the transmitter point array 102 and the low-voltage terminal 251 of the transformer 203 is connected to the reference electrodes 104, 105.

The short-duration high-voltage AC pulses (generated by the high-voltage power supply 230) cause significant capacitive or displacement currents Ic1 and Ic2 to flow between the electrodes 102, 104, 105. For example, the current Ic1 flows between the electrode (emitter point) 102 and the upper reference electrode 104, and the current Ic2 flows between the electrode 102 and the lower reference electrode 105. The relatively small positive and negative ion corona currents (labeled Ii (+) and Ii (-) ) leave the ion generating system 200, enter the environment outside the hair dryer 100, and move to the target.

In order to separate the capacitor current and the ion current, the ion generating system 200 is arranged in a closed loop circuit for high-frequency AC capacitor currents labeled Ic1 and Ic2 , because the secondary coil of the transformer 203 is opposite the corona electrodes 102, 104, and 105 The ground is virtually floating, and the ionic currents Ii (+) and Ii (-) have a return path (and transfer) to the ground. The AC current has a significantly lower impedance to circulate in this loop, relative to those AC currents that are passed to the ground.

System 200 includes an ion balance monitor that provides separation from pulsed AC current by arranging a closed loop current path between a pulsed AC voltage source 230, the ion emitter 102 and a reference electrode 104 or 105 Ion convection current.

In addition, during the time between these micropulses, ion balance monitoring is exercised in the system 200. In addition, ion balance monitoring is performed by integrating differential signals of positive and negative convection currents.

The transformer 203, the ion emitter 102, and the reference electrode 104 or 105 of the high-voltage source 230 are arranged in a closed circuit for an AC current circuit, and the closed circuit is connected to the ground through a high-value observation resistor R2 .

The law of conservation of charge states that since the output of the AC voltage source 230 (through the transformer 203) is floating, the ion current is equal to the sum of the positive Ii (+) and negative Ii (-) ion currents. The currents Ii (+) and Ii (-) must be returned through the circuit of the return current sensor 204 in the system 200. The amount of current for each polarity ion is: Ii (+) = Q (+) * N (+) * U and Ii (-) = Q (-) * N (-). * U

Where Q is the charge of positive or negative ions, N is the ion concentration, and U is the air fluid. If the absolute value of the positive Ii (+) and negative Ii (-) currents are the same, the ion balance will be achieved. It is known in the art that the two polarities of air ions carry approximately the same amount of charge (equal to one electron). Therefore, another condition for ion equilibrium is the same concentration of two polar ions. The air ionization voltage sensor 101 (ion balance monitor 101) is more sensitive to changes in ion concentration than the return current sensor 204 (ion balance monitor 204), which is sensitive to changes in ion current. Therefore, the reaction speed of the air ionization voltage sensor (capacitive sensor) 101 is generally faster than that of the ionization return current sensor 204.

The large number of positive ions detected by the sensor 101 causes the sensor 101 to generate a positive output voltage, which is input to the sample and hold circuit 205 (and processed by the sample and hold circuit). The large number of negative ions detected by the sensor 101 causes the sensor 101 to generate a negative output voltage, which is input into the sample and hold circuit 205 (and processed by the sample and hold circuit). In comparison, similar to that described above, the absolute values of positive Ii (+) and negative Ii (-) are used by the sensor 204 to output a signal 250 for input to the sample and hold circuit 205 to determine and The ion balance in the ionized hair dryer 100 is achieved.

At the time between the micropulse trains, the sampling signal 215 will turn off the switch 216 so that the amplifier 218 is connected to the capacitor C3, which is then charged to a value based on the response to the input signal 250.

The characteristics of the plasma charge floating in the air stream are very low frequencies and can be monitored by passing through the high megaohm impedance circuits R1 and R2 to the ground. To minimize the effects of capacitive and parasitic high-frequency currents, the sensor 204 has two bypass capacitive paths to C1 and C2.

The difference between the currents Ii (+) and Ii (-) is continuously measured by the sensor 204. The current caused by the resistor circuits R1, R2 generates a voltage / signal that is proportional to the time integral / average ion balance of the airflow leaving the hair dryer. The resulting current is shown as current 214, which is represented by the sum Σ (Ii (+), Ii (-)).

Ion balance monitoring is achieved by measuring the voltage output of the current sensor 204, or by measuring the output of the voltage sensor 101, or by measuring the voltage from the air ionization sensors 101 and 204. For the purpose of clarity, the voltage output of the current sensor 204 and the voltage output of the voltage sensor 101 are each shown in the same manner as the signal 250 in FIG. 2. This signal 250 is applied to the input of the sample and hold circuit 205 (sampling circuit 205), which is controlled by the microcontroller 201 through a sampling signal 215, which turns on the switch 216 to trigger the sample and hold on the signal 250 Operation.

In some cases or embodiments of the corona system, diagnostic signals from both sensors 101 and 204 may be compared. The diagnostic signals are input to the sample and hold circuit 205 with a signal 250.

The signal 250 is then adjusted by a low-pass filter 206 and amplified by an amplifier 207 before being applied to the input of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) resident in the microcontroller 201. The sample and hold circuit 205 samples the signal 250 between the pulse times to minimize noise in the recovered signal 250. Capacitor C3 holds the last signal value between sampling times. The amplifier 207 amplifies the signal 250 to a more usable level of the micro-control 201, and this amplified signal from the amplifier 207 is displayed as a balanced signal 252.

The microcontroller 201 compares the balance signal 252 with a fixed-point signal 253, which is a reference signal generated by the balance adjustment potentiometer 208. The fixed-point signal 253 is a variable signal that can be adjusted by the potentiometer 208.

The pointing signal 253 can be adjusted to compensate for different environments of the ionizing hair dryer 100. For example, the reference level (earth) near the output 131 (Figure 1B) of the ionization blower 100 may be approximately zero, and the reference level near the ionization target may not be zero. For example, more negative ions may be lost at the position of the ionization target, if the position has a strong large potential energy value. Therefore, the fixed-point signal 253 can be adjusted to compensate for the non-zero value of the reference level at the ionization target position. In this situation, the fixed-point signal 253 can be reduced so that the microcontroller 201 can drive the pulse driver 202 to control the HV transformer 230 to generate an HV output 254, which generates more positive ions at the transmitter point 102 ( Because the lower fixed-point value 253 is used as a comparison to trigger the generation of more positive ions) to compensate for the loss of negative ions at the ionization target position.

Reference is now made to Figures 2 and 8. In the embodiment of the present invention, the ionized hair dryer 100 can achieve the ion balance in the ionized hair dryer 100 based on at least one or more of the following: (1) by increasing and / or decreasing the positive pulse width value and / Or a negative pulse width value, (2) by increasing and / or decreasing the time between positive pulses and / or the time between negative pulses, and / or (3) by increasing and / or decreasing positive pulses and / Or the number of negative pulses, as described below. The microcontroller 201 outputs a positive pulse output 815 and a negative pulse output 816 (FIGS. 2 and 8). These outputs are driven into the pulse driver 202 and control the pulse driver. In response to the outputs 815 and 816, the transformer 230 generates an ionized waveform 814 (HV output 814), This ionization waveform is applied to the emitter point 102 to generate an amount of positive ions and an amount of negative ions based on the ionization waveform 814.

As an example, if the sensor 101 and / or the sensor 204 detects an imbalance in the ionized hair dryer 101, and the amount of positive ions in the hair dryer 101 exceeds the amount of negative ions, it enters the balance of the microcontroller 201 Signal 252 will indicate that this ion is unbalanced. The microcontroller 201 stretches the negative pulse width (duration) 811 of the negative pulse 804. As the width 811 is extended, the amplitude of the negative micropulse 802 increases. The positive micropulse 801 and the negative micropulse 802 are high voltage outputs, which are driven to the transmitter point 102. The increased amplitude of the negative micropulses 802 will increase the negative ions generated from the emitter point 102. The ionization waveform 814 generates a variable-polarity group of short-duration ionization micropulses 801 and 802. The micropulses 801 and 802 are mainly asymmetric in the amplitude and duration of the two polar voltages, and the magnitude of the ionization pulses having at least one polarity exceeds the corona threshold.

Once the maximum pulse width for the negative pulse width 811 is reached, if the amount of positive ions in the hair dryer 100 still exceeds the amount of negative ions, the microcontroller 201 will shorten the positive pulse width (duration) 810 of the positive pulse 803. Since the width 810 is shortened, the amplitude of the positive micropulse 801 is reduced. The reduced amplitude of the positive micropulses 801 will reduce the positive ions generated from the emitter point 102.

Alternatively or additionally, if the amount of positive ions in the hair dryer 100 exceeds the amount of negative ions, the microcontroller 201 will stretch between the negative pulses 804 by stretching the negative repetition rate 813 (time interval between negative pulses 804). time. As the negative repetition rate 813 is extended, the time between the negative micropulses 802 also increases. As a result, an elongated or longer negative repetition rate 813 will increase between negative micropulses 802 This will sequentially increase the amount of time that negative ions are generated from the emitter point 102.

Once the minimum negative repetition rate for the negative repetition rate is reached, if the amount of positive ions in the hair dryer 100 still exceeds the amount of negative ions, the microcontroller 201 will shorten the positive repetition rate 812 (the time interval between positive pulses 803) ) And shorten the time between the positive pulses 803. Since the positive repetition rate 812 is shortened, the time between the positive micropulses 801 is also reduced. As a result, a shortened or shorter positive repetition rate 811 will reduce the time between the positive micropulses 803, which will sequentially reduce the amount of time that positive ions are generated from the emitter point 102.

Alternatively or additionally, if the amount of positive ions in the hair dryer 100 exceeds the amount of negative ions, the microcontroller 201 will increase the number of negative pulses 804 in the negative pulse output 816. The microcontroller 201 has a negative pulse counter that can be increased to increase the number of negative pulses 804 in the negative pulse output 816. As the number of negative pulses 804 increases, the negative pulse train increases in the negative pulse output 816, and this increases the number of negative micropulses 802 in the HV output, which is an ionized waveform 814 applied to the emitter point 102 .

Once the maximum amount of negative pulses is added to the negative pulse output 816, if the amount of positive ions in the hair dryer 100 still exceeds the amount of negative ions, the microcontroller 201 will reduce the number of positive pulses 803 in the positive pulse output 815. The microcontroller 201 has a positive pulse counter which can be reduced to reduce the number of positive pulses 803 in the positive pulse output 815. As the number of positive pulses 803 decreases, the positive pulse train decreases in the positive pulse output 815, and this reduces the number of positive micropulses 801 in the HV output, which is an ionized waveform 814 applied to the emitter point 102 .

The following is an example of achieving the ion balance in the hair dryer 100 when the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer exceeds the amount of positive ions.

The sensor 101 and / or the sensor 204 detects an ion imbalance in the ionized hair dryer 101, where the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer 101 exceeds the amount of positive ions, and the balance signal 252 entering the microcontroller 201 will indicate this Ions are not balanced. The microcontroller 201 will stretch the positive pulse width 812 of the positive pulse 803. As the width 810 is stretched, the amplitude of the positive micropulse 801 increases. The increased amplitude of the positive micropulses 801 will increase the positive ions generated from the emitter point 102.

Once the maximum pulse width for the positive pulse width 812 is reached, if the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer 100 still exceeds the amount of positive ions, the microcontroller 201 will shorten the negative pulse width 811 of the negative pulse 804. As the width 811 is shortened, the amplitude of the negative micropulse 802 is reduced. The reduced amplitude of the negative micropulses 802 will reduce the negative ions generated from the emitter point 102.

Alternatively or additionally, if the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer 100 exceeds the amount of positive ions, the microcontroller 201 will stretch the time between the positive pulses 803 by stretching the positive repetition rate 812. As the positive repetition rate 812 is extended, the time between the positive micropulses 801 also increases. As a result, an elongated or longer positive repetition rate 812 will increase the time between positive micropulses 801, which will sequentially increase the amount of time that positive ions are generated from the emitter point 102.

Once the minimum positive repetition rate for the positive repetition rate 812 is reached, if the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer 100 still exceeds the amount of positive ions, the microcontroller 201 will extend the time between the negative pulses 804 by extending the negative repetition rate 813. time. As the negative repetition rate 813 is extended, the time between the negative micropulses 802 is also increased. As a result, an elongated or longer negative repetition rate 813 will increase the negative micropulse 802 In between, this will sequentially reduce the amount of time that negative ions are generated from the emitter point 102.

Alternatively or additionally, if the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer 100 exceeds the amount of positive ions, the microcontroller 201 will increase the number of positive pulses 803 in the positive pulse output 815. The microcontroller 201 has a positive pulse counter which can be increased to increase the number of positive pulses 803 in the positive pulse output 815. As the number of positive pulses 803 increases, the positive pulse train elongates in the positive pulse output 815, and the number of positive micropulses 801 in the HV output is increased, the HV output being an ionized waveform 814 applied to the emitter point 102.

Once the maximum amount of positive pulses is added to the positive pulse output 815, if the amount of negative ions in the hair dryer 100 still exceeds the amount of positive ions, the microcontroller 201 will reduce the number of negative pulses 804 in the negative pulse output 816. The microcontroller 201 has a negative pulse counter which can be reduced to reduce the number of negative pulses 804 in the negative pulse output 816. As the number of negative pulses 804 decreases, the negative pulse train decreases in the negative pulse output 816, and the number of negative micropulses 802 in the HV output is reduced, the HV output being an ionized waveform 814 applied to the emitter point 102.

If the ion imbalance (responding to the equilibrium current value 252) is not significantly different from the fixed point 253, small adjustments in the ion imbalance may be sufficient, and the microcontroller 201 may adjust the pulse width 811 and / or 810 to achieve Ion balance.

If the ion imbalance (responding to the equilibrium current value 252) is moderately different from the fixed point 253, the moderate adjustment in the ion imbalance may be sufficient, and the microcontroller 201 may adjust the repetition rates 813 and 812 to achieve the ion balance.

If the ion imbalance (responding to the equilibrium current value of 252) is obviously not As with the fixed point 253, a large adjustment in the ion imbalance may be sufficient, and the microcontroller 201 may add positive and / or negative pulses to the outputs 815 and 816, respectively.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the duration (pulse width) of at least one polarity of the micropulses in FIG. 8 is at least about 100 times shorter than the time interval between the micropulses.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the micropulses in FIG. 8 are arranged in a group / pulse sequence following one another, and one of the polar pulse trains includes about 2 to 16 positive pulses. Ionization pulses, and the negative pulse train includes approximately two to sixteen positive ionization pulses, where the time interval between the positive and negative pulse trains is equal to approximately two times the period of consecutive pulses.

The flowchart in FIG. 3 shows a feedback algorithm 300 of the display system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Functions that provide ion balance control using the feedback algorithm 300 are performed at the end of the ionization cycle. For example, this algorithm is performed by the system 200 in FIG. 2. In block 301, a balance control feedback algorithm is started.

In blocks 302, 303, 304, and 305, the calculation of the control value of the negative pulse width is performed. In block 302, the error value (error) is calculated by subtracting the required ion balance (fixed point) from the measured ion balance (balance measurement). In block 303, the error value is multiplied by the loop gain. In block 304, the control is worth calculating to be limited to a minimum or maximum value such that the control value is limited and does not exceed the range. In block 305, the control value is added to the final negative pulse width value.

In blocks 306, 307, 308, and 309, the pulse width is increased or decreased. In block 306, the negative pulse width is compared to a maximum value (MAX). If the negative pulse width is equal to MAX, then in block 307, the positive pulse width is The amount is decremented, and the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 310. If the negative pulse width is not equal to MAX, the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 308.

In block 308, the negative pulse width is compared to a minimum value (MIN). If the negative pulse width is equal to MIN, then in block 309, the positive pulse width is decremented, and the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 310. If the negative pulse width is not equal to MIN, the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 310. When the negative pulse width reaches its control limit, the change in the positive pulse width will shift the balance in a way beyond the fixed point of the balance, forcing the negative pulse to its limit.

In blocks 310, 311, 312, and 313, when the pulse width limit is satisfied, the pulse repetition rate (repetition rate) is increased or decreased. In block 310, the positive pulse width is compared with MAX, and the negative pulse width is compared with MIN. If the positive pulse width is equal to MAX and the negative pulse width is equal to MIN, in block 311, the positive pulse repetition rate (repetition rate) is alternately increased or the negative pulse repetition rate is decremented. Algorithm 300 proceeds to block 314. If the positive pulse width is not equal to MAX and the negative pulse width is not equal to MIN, the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 312.

In block 312, the positive pulse width is compared with MIN, and the negative pulse width is compared with MAX. If the positive pulse width is equal to MIN and the negative pulse width is equal to MAX, then in block 313, the positive pulse repetition rate (repetition rate) is alternately decremented or the negative pulse repetition rate is incremented. Algorithm 300 proceeds to block 314. If the positive pulse width is not equal to MIN and the negative pulse width is not equal to MAX, the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 314.

Positive and negative pulse width control is used when the balance is close to the fixed point. As the transmitter point ages or as the environment dictates, the positive and negative pulse widths The control will not have that range and will "touch" its control limits (positive at its maximum and negative at its minimum (or vice versa)). When this happens, the algorithm changes the positive or negative repetition rate, effectively increases or decreases the amount of on-time generated by positive or negative ions, and shifts the equilibrium towards the fixed point.

In blocks 314, 315, 316, and 317, when the pulse width limit is satisfied, the pulse repetition rate (repetition rate) is increased or decreased. In block 314, the positive pulse repetition rate is compared with a minimum pulse repetition rate value (minimum repetition rate), and the negative pulse repetition rate is compared with a maximum pulse repetition rate value (maximum repetition rate). If the positive pulse repetition rate is equal to the minimum repetition rate and the negative pulse repetition rate is equal to the maximum repetition rate, in block 315, a negative pulse is shifted to a positive pulse by counting off time, and the algorithm 300 then proceeds to block 318 At block 318, the balance control feedback algorithm 300 ends. The off time count is when the ionization waveform is off. The off time is the time between the negative and positive groups of pulses and the positive and negative groups (or pulse trains), and is defined herein as a count, which is equal to the duration of the pulses with a positive or negative repetition rate.

If the positive pulse repetition rate is not equal to the minimum repetition rate and the negative pulse repetition rate is not equal to the maximum repetition rate, the algorithm 300 proceeds to block 316.

In block 316, the positive pulse repetition rate is compared to the maximum repetition rate, and the negative pulse repetition rate is compared to the minimum repetition rate. If the positive pulse repetition rate is equal to the maximum repetition rate and the negative pulse repetition rate is equal to the minimum repetition rate, then in block 317, a positive pulse is shifted to a negative pulse by counting off time, and the algorithm 300 then proceeds to block 318, At block 318, the balance control feedback algorithm 300 ends. If the positive pulse repetition rate is not equal to the maximum repetition rate and the negative pulse repetition rate is not equal to the minimum repetition rate, the algorithm 300 goes to At block 318, the algorithm 300 ends at block 318.

When the repetition rate control reaches the limit, the algorithm triggers the next adjustment control level.

Shifting the micropulses from the positive pulse group to the off-time pulse group to the negative pulse group will shift the balance in the negative direction. Conversely, shifting the micropulses from the negative pulse group to the off-time pulse group to the positive pulse group will shift the balance in the positive direction. Using this off-time group will reduce the effect and therefore provide more precise control.

The flowchart in Fig. 4 shows an algorithm 400 for micropulse generator control. The waveform of the drive pulse and the high-voltage output are shown in the graph in Figure 8. For example, the algorithm 400 is performed by the system 200 in FIG. 2. In block 401, the interrupt service routine of timer 1 is started. For example, the algorithm 400 for the micro-pulse generator is executed every 0.1 milliseconds.

In block 402, the micropulse repetition rate counter is decremented. This counter is a repetition rate divider for timer 1. Timer 1 is a main lap timer and a pulse control timer executed at 0.1 ms. Timer 1 turns on the HVPS output, so the micropulse starts, where timer 0 turns off the HVPS and ends the micropulse. Therefore, Timer 1 sets the repetition rate and triggers the analog-to-digital conversion, and Timer 0 sets the micro-pulse width.

In block 403, if the micropulse repetition rate counter is equal to 2, a comparison is performed. In other words, a test is performed to determine whether the repetition rate divider count is 2 counts from the start of the next micropulse. The steps of block 403 will synchronize the ADC (in the microcontroller 201) to a time just before the next micropulse transmission. If the micropulse repetition rate counter is equal to 2, then The sample and hold circuit 205 is set to a sampling mode, as shown in block 404. In block 405, the ADC in the microcontroller 201 reads the sensor input signal from the sample and hold circuit 205.

If the micropulse repetition rate counter is not equal to 2, the algorithm 400 proceeds to block 406.

Blocks 404 and 405 start and perform an analog-to-digital conversion to allow the microcontroller 201 to measure the analog input received from the sample-and-hold circuit 205.

When the sample-and-hold circuit 205 is enabled, it is usually about 0.2 milliseconds before the next micropulse occurs at block 403 (where the micropulses 803 and 804 have pulse widths 810 and 811, respectively), and the signal 250 (Figure 2 ) Before being applied to the input of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) resident in the microcontroller 201, it is then adjusted by a low-pass filter 206 and amplified by an amplifier 207. Immediately after the sample and hold circuit 205 enables (block 404) the sample and hold operation, the ADC is subjected to a signal to begin conversion (block 405). The resulting sample rate of the balanced signal is typically about 1.0 milliseconds and is synchronized with the micropulse repetition rate (repetition rate). However, the actual sampling rate changes with the repetition rates 812, 813 (Figure 8) (as shown in blocks 310, 311, 312, 313), but will always remain the same as the micropulse repetition rates 812, 813. Synchronize.

According to this embodiment, the signal sampling method before the next micropulse allows the system 200 to ignore noise and (capacitively coupled) current surges and advantageously avoid corrupting the ion balance measurement.

In block 406, a test is exercised to determine if the repetition rate divider counter of timer 1 is ready to start the next micropulse. If the micropulse repetition rate counter is equal to zero, the comparison is exercised. If the micropulse repetition rate meter If the counter is not equal to zero, the algorithm 400 proceeds to block 412. If the micropulse repetition rate counter is equal to zero, the algorithm 400 proceeds to block 417.

In block 417, the micropulse repetition rate counter is reloaded from the data register. This will reread the time interval to the beginning of the next pulse (micropulse). Algorithm 400 then proceeds to block 408.

Blocks 408, 409, and 410 provide steps to determine whether a new pulse phase begins or continues the current pulse phase.

In block 408, if the micropulse counter is equal to zero (0), the comparison is performed.

If so, algorithm 400 proceeds to block 410, block 410 calls the next pulse phase, and algorithm 400 proceeds to block 411.

If not, the algorithm 400 proceeds to block 409, where the call to block 409 continues the current pulse phase.

In block 411, timer 0 (micropulse width counter) is started. Timer 0 controls the micropulse width, as discussed below with reference to blocks 414-417.

In block 412, all system interrupts are enabled. In block 413, the interrupt service routine of timer 1 is terminated.

When Timer 0 expires, the actual micropulse width is controlled based on blocks 414-417. In block 414, an interrupt service routine for timer 0 is started. In block 415, the positive micropulse drive is set to off (ie, the positive micropulse is turned off). In block 416, the negative micropulse drive is set to off (ie, the negative micropulse is turned off). At block 417, the interrupt service routine of timer 0 is ended.

As shown in part 450 in Figure 4, for micropulse drive The duration of signal 452, timer 0 is equal to the micro-pulse width 454 of the micro-pulse drive signal 452. The micropulse width 454 starts at a pulse rising edge 456 (the rising edge is triggered at the start of timer 0) and ends at a pulse falling edge 458 (the falling edge is triggered at the end of timer 0).

Details of the method 700 of averaging an ion balance sensor input are shown in the flowchart in FIG. Blocks 701-706 describe the operation of the sample and hold circuit 205 and the ADC conversion of data from the sample and hold circuit 205. At the end of the ADC conversion 701, after about 0.1 milliseconds, the sample and hold circuit 205 is disabled to prevent noise and current surges from corrupting the balanced measurement. The result measurement 703 and the sampling counter 705 are added to the previous original measurement sum 704 and stored, and are waiting for further processing. Blocks 707-716 are averaging routines for averaging the measurements of sensors 101 and / or 204, and obtain an ionic balance measurement average. The ionic balance measurement average is then calculated using Finite Impulse Response. Combine to average the balance measurement with the previous measurement 714 to produce the final balance measurement used in the balance control loop. The calculation in block 714 calculates a weighted average from the previous sensor input measurement sequence. In block 715, the event routine is called to adjust the ion generation based on the calculation in block 714.

The flowcharts in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 show the system operation when negative and positive pulse trains are formed. The ionization cycle 531 includes a positive pulse sequence 502, 602, then turns off the time interval 503, 603, then a negative pulse sequence 517, 604, and then turns off the time interval 518, 605. When a certain number of ionization cycles occur 708, the average ion balance measurement is calculated 709, and the original measurement sum 710 and the sampling counter value are cleared 710, 711.

Reference is now made to Figures 5A, 5B and 6. These figures are flowcharts of the system operation when the negative pulse train and the positive pulse train are formed, respectively, according to the embodiments of the present invention. In block 501, the routine for the next pulse phase of a negative pulse train is started. Blocks 502-515 describe the steps used to generate a negative sequence of pulses and the off time of the pulse duration. Blocks 517-532 describe the steps used to generate a positive sequence of pulses and the off time for the duration of the pulse. Blocks 601-613 describe steps for generating the next pulse phase or if the current pulse phase continues.

The balance measurement average is then combined with a finite impulse response calculation to combine the balance measurement average with the previous measurement 714 to produce a finite balance measurement in the balance control loop.

The balance control loop 301 compares the balance measurement with the fixed-point value 302 and produces an error value. This error signal is multiplied by the loop gain 303, and the over / under range 304 is checked and added to the current negative pulse width value.

In the pulsed HV supply system 202, 203, the pulse width of the driving micropulse changes the peak amplitude of the resulting high voltage (HV) waves 814, 801, 802. In this case the amplitude of the negative pulse is changed to affect changes in the ion balance. If the value of the error signal is greater than zero, the negative pulse width is adjusted upwards, so the negative HV pulse amplitude is increased, and as a result, the balance in the negative direction is changed. Conversely, if the balance is negative, the negative pulse width is adjusted downward, thus changing the balance in the positive direction.

During continuous adjustment of the negative pulse width and as conditions permit, the negative pulse width may hit its control limits. In this case, the positive pulse width is adjusted downward 307 for positive imbalance, or upward 309 for negative imbalance, Until the negative pulse width can resume control. This control method using negative and positive pulse widths produces an average balance control adjustment range of approximately 10V, with stability less than 3V.

According to another embodiment under large imbalance conditions, for example, at the beginning of the ionized hair dryer, significant pollution builds up or corrodes as the emitter ages, and the negative and positive pulse widths will reach their control Limits 310, 312. In this case, the positive pulse repetition rate and the negative pulse repetition rate are adjusted 311, 313 to bring the balance to a point where the positive pulse width and the negative pulse width are again in their respective control ranges. Therefore, for large positive imbalance conditions, the negative pulse repetition rate is increased by 313, causing a negative shift in balance. If this condition persists, the positive pulse repetition rate is reduced by 313, which also causes a negative offset in the balance. This alternating method of changing the positive / negative repetition rate 313 continues until the negative pulse width and the positive pulse width are again in their control range. Similarly, for large negative imbalance conditions, the positive pulse repetition rate is increased by 311, and instead, the negative pulse repetition rate is decreased by 311, resulting in a positive shift in balance. As before, this continues until the negative and positive pulse widths are again under their control.

In cases where extreme imbalance conditions exist, both negative / positive pulse width and positive / negative repetition rate adjustments may reach their respective control limits 310, 312, 314, and 316. The positive and negative pulse counts will be Change to bring the balance to a point where the positive / negative repetition rate is again in its respective control range. Therefore, for extreme positive imbalance conditions, the positive pulse count will decrease by 317 and the off-time pulse count 317 will increase by one pulse count, causing a negative change in balance.

If this condition persists, the off-time pulse count will be reduced by 317 and the negative pulse count will be increased by 317 by one pulse count, resulting in an increase in balance. One step negative change. This negative / positive packet / column shift of a pulse continues until the positive / negative repetition rate is again within its control range. Similarly, for extreme negative imbalance conditions, one pulse at a time will shift from the positive pulse 315 packet / column through the off-time pulse count to the negative pulse packet 315, causing a positive change in balance until the positive / negative repetition rate is at its level again Within control.

In parallel processing, the balance measurement is compared with this fixed point. If the balance measurement is determined to be outside its specific range, corresponding to +/- 15V read by the average CPM (Charge Panel Monitor), the control system of the ionizer will trigger a balance alert, which is read in Measure 1 ft from the ionizer.

FIG. 9 is a method for providing a feedback routine. If an ion imbalance exists, the feedback routine activates an ion balance alert. Blocks 901-909 exercise measurements, which are compared to thresholds to determine whether a balance alert is activated. Blocks 910-916 determine if the balance alert is activated.

During the time interval of every 5 seconds, the balance measurement is evaluated 903. When it exceeds this range, "1" shifts to the left of the alarm register 904, otherwise "0" shifts to the left of the alarm register Register 902. When the alert register contains a value of 255 (all "1"), the balance measurement is declared as an alert. Similarly, if the alert register includes a value of 0 (all "0"), the balance measurement is declared as non-alert. Any value other than 255 or 0 in the alert register is ignored, and the status of the alert does not change. This filtered out warning notices and prevented scattered notices. As a by-product, the notification delay allows enough time for the balance control system to recover from external stimuli.

Another parallel process is performed at the end of each ADC conversion cycle. Approximately every millisecond (Figure 9B), the balance control system is monitored. this The routine 910 checks the positive and negative pulse counts for the restriction conditions 911 and 912. As described above, when an imbalance condition exists and the positive / negative pulse width and the positive / negative repetition rate are respectively limited, the positive and negative pulse counts are adjusted. However, in the event that the balance cannot be brought back into the specifications and the positive / negative pulse count reaches its adjustment limits 911, 912, the alert status is enforced. This is done by setting the alert register to all The value of "1" is 913, the alert flag 914 is set, and two alert status bits 915 are set.

The method and technology of the automatic balance control system discussed above are not limited to an ionized hair dryer. These methods and techniques can be used for different ionized hair dryer models with various emitter electrodes. Other applications for automation systems include models of ionizing rods with micropulsed high-voltage sources.

The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including the summary of the invention, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Although specific embodiments and examples of the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications within the scope of the invention are possible, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

In view of the above detailed description, such modifications can be made to the present invention. The terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the description and the claims. Instead, the scope of the present invention should depend entirely on the following claims, which are constructed in accordance with the established doctrine of the interpretation of the claims.

Claims (21)

A method for automatically balancing an ionized gas flow generated in a bipolar corona discharge, the method comprising the steps of: providing an air moving device having at least one ion emitter connected to a micro-pulse alternating current (AC) power source And at least one reference electrode, and a control system, the control system has at least one ion balance monitor and a corona discharge adjustment controller; a variable polarity group generating short duration ionized micropulses; wherein the micropulses The amplitude and duration of the two polar voltages are mainly asymmetric, and the magnitude of at least one of the polarized ionization pulses that the micropulses have exceeds a corona threshold. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration of at least one polarity of the micropulses is at least about 100 times shorter than a time interval between the micropulses. The method of claim 1, wherein the micropulses are arranged to follow each other in a group / pulse train, and one of the polar pulse trains includes between about 2 and 16 positive ionization pulses, and a negative pulse train It includes between about 2 and 16 positive ionization pulses, where a time interval between the positive and negative pulse trains is equal to about 2 times the period of consecutive pulses. The method of claim 1, wherein in order to balance an ionized gas flow, the corona discharge adjustment controller changes the number of pulses in the positive and / or negative pulse train generated by the voltage source. The method of claim 1, wherein in order to balance an ionized gas flow, the corona discharge adjustment controller changes a duration of one of the ionization pulses in the positive and / or negative pulse train generated by the voltage source. The method of claim 1, wherein in order to balance an ionized gas flow, the corona discharge adjustment controller changes a repetition rate of one of the ionization pulses in the positive and / or negative pulse train generated by the voltage source. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one ion balance monitor provides a closed loop current path between the pulsed AC voltage source, the at least one ion emitter, and the at least one reference electrode. Separated ion convection current from a pulsed AC current. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of performing an ion balance monitor at the time interval between the micropulses. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of performing an ion balance monitor by integrating the differential signals of the positive and negative convection currents. An apparatus for an automatic balance ionization hair dryer, the apparatus includes: an air moving device and at least one ion emitter and at least one reference electrode, the at least one ion emitter and the at least one reference electrode are both connected to a A high voltage source; and at least one ion balance monitor; wherein a transformer, the at least one ion emitter, and the at least one reference electrode of the high voltage source are arranged in a closed loop current path of an alternating current (AC) current circuit And the closed loop current path is grounded by a high-value observation resistor; wherein the high-voltage source is configured to apply a high-voltage output to the at least one ion emitter, and wherein the high-voltage output includes positive ionization Both micropulses and negatively ionized micropulses. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one ion balance monitor includes a high impedance voltage sensor connected to an ion balance control system and at an outlet of the air moving device Installed downstream of the at least one ion emitter. The device according to claim 10, wherein the high voltage source generates the high voltage output, the high voltage output includes: a variable polarity group of short duration ionized micropulses; wherein the micropulses are at two polar voltages The amplitude and duration are mainly asymmetric, and the magnitude of at least one of the polarized ionization pulses of the micropulses exceeds a corona threshold. The device of claim 12, wherein the high voltage source generates the high voltage output, and a duration of at least one polarity of the micropulses included in the high voltage output is at least about 100 times shorter than between the micropulses Hourly. The device according to claim 12, wherein the micropulses are arranged to follow each other in a group / pulse train, and one of the polar pulse trains includes between about 2 and 16 positive ionization pulses, and a negative pulse train It includes between about 2 and 16 positive ionization pulses, where a time interval between the positive and negative pulse trains is equal to about 2 times the period of consecutive pulses. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a control system, wherein in order to balance an ionized gas flow, the control system changes a number of pulses in the positive and / or negative pulse train generated by the voltage source. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a control system, wherein in order to balance an ionized gas stream, the control system changes one of the ionization pulses in the positive and / or negative pulse train generated by the voltage source. duration. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a control system, wherein in order to balance an ionized gas stream, the control system changes one of the ionization pulses in the positive and / or negative pulse train generated by the voltage source. Repeat rate. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one ion balance monitor provides a pulse from the pulse by arranging the closed loop current path between the voltage source, the at least one ion emitter and the at least one reference electrode. AC current separates ion convection current. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one ion balance monitor performs an ion balance monitor during the time between the micropulses. The device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one ion balance monitor further comprises an air ionization voltage sensor, and the air ionization voltage sensor comprises a hundred leaf type plate. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the louvered plate includes an electrode on a top side of the plate and a ground electrode on a bottom side of the plate.