TWI692599B - Control device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A control device, comprising an environmental sensor, an electrical quantity sensor, a control operating unit, and a resistance output unit. The control operating unit connects to the environmental sensor, the electrical quantity sensor, and the resistance output unit. The resistance output unit additionally connects to a temperature controller to replace original resistive temperature sensor. The resistance output unit outputs a first resistance to the temperature controller so that a controlled device operates at a first power state. The resistance output unit also can output a second resistance to the temperature controller so that a controlled device operates at a second power state. When the control operating unit reads environmental information or time information, the resistance output unit outputs the first resistance or the second resistance after calculating by the control operating unit so that the controlled device operates at the first power state or the second power state.

Description

Control device and control method

The invention relates to a control device and a control method thereof, in particular, a control device and a control method which can change a temperature controller to control a controlled device.

Conventional HVAC equipment, such as air-conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, and other cooling or heating equipment, are manually set by the temperature controller on the equipment. The temperature controller controls the operation of the device based on the resistance change of the temperature sensor connected to the resistance change input to the temperature controller due to the temperature change. In short, the conventional air-conditioning equipment can only read the resistance value of the temperature sensor at that temperature through the temperature controller and compare it with the corresponding resistance value set by the temperature controller to determine the start and stop operation of the controlled device. As shown in Figure 1A and Figure 1B.

However, the conventional temperature controller only uses temperature as the basis for regulation and control, regardless of other environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction or time, so that the temperature controller cannot adjust its settings according to the season or the external air environment conditions. It makes the controlled equipment such as HVAC or heat pump unable to operate in the most economical efficiency or the most comfortable state, causing unnecessary energy waste or uncomfortable users.

In addition, the conventional equipment that uses a resistance temperature sensor as the input control basis of the temperature controller. If you want to change the control operation settings or methods of the controller, for example, you want to control the power demand, you cannot know the controller. Under the condition of the control and protection device, the temperature controller is to be replaced or integrated so that the controlled device can be used as the basis for the control parameter according to the set power demand, and the risk and cost to modify or replace are very high.

In addition, the temperature setting function on the temperature controller makes the operation of the controlled device and the set resistance value corresponding to the temperature sensor change, and it is more difficult to accurately control the operation of the controlled device.

Moreover, the temperature controller can only perform logic operations and control based on the temperature sensor on the device. If you want to integrate other environmental information for control or add additional control functions, you must change or do not affect the existing protection function. Adding functionality is even more expensive.

In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control device by inputting a resistance signal to a temperature controller, so that the controlled device operates at a specific output power or power usage, so that the control device can retain the existing protection device Change the operation mode and settings of the controlled equipment under the conditions of

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device that enables an original temperature controller to indirectly control a controlled device by outputting a specific resistance value to the original temperature controller according to environmental information, so that the original controlled device can be extended or Change the use of other control purposes, such as power demand control, humidity control, change temperature control settings, etc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device that enables the original temperature controller to calculate information according to time, so that the original controlled equipment can be extended or changed to use for time control purposes, such as scheduling control. Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device that enables the original temperature controller to perform logical calculations or predictions based on the environment or time information, so that the controlled device can be used for a specific output power or power usage at a specific time , Such as power saving control, billing control, etc.

The control device includes an environment sensing unit or a time calculation unit, a power measurement unit, a control operation unit, and a resistance output unit. The control operation unit is connected to the environment sensing unit or the time calculation unit and the electricity measurement unit; the resistance output unit is connected to the control operation unit. The resistance output unit is additionally connected to the temperature controller. The resistance output unit generates a first resistance value and inputs it to the temperature controller, and causes the controlled device to operate in the first power usage state; the resistance output unit generates a second resistance value and inputs the temperature controller, and causes the controlled device to use the second Power usage status operation. The control arithmetic unit operates according to the information of the environment sensing unit or the time calculation unit, and then controls the resistance output unit to output the first or second resistance value to the temperature controller, so that the controlled device operates in the first or second power usage state.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method suitable for the above control device. By outputting a specific resistance signal to the temperature controller, the state of the controlled device operating at a specific power consumption is changed, and after the control arithmetic unit performs calculation according to environmental sensing information or time calculation information, the control resistance output unit generates a specified resistance The signal is given to the temperature controller to enable the controlled device to operate in the specified output power or power usage state, so as to achieve environmental protection and energy saving or specific purposes and effects.

The control method includes the following steps: (S1) outputting the first resistance value to the temperature controller to cause the controlled device to operate in the first power usage state; (S2) outputting the second resistance value to the temperature controller to cause the controlled device to Second power usage state operation; (S3) Obtain current environmental information or time information; (S4) Calculate the environmental resistance or time information to output the first resistance value or the second resistance value to the temperature controller; (S5) Detect The power usage of the controlled equipment.

The control method further includes the following steps: (S5-1) After the output of the first resistance value, the detected power usage is close to or deviates from the first power usage, and if it is close, it returns to step (S3), If it deviates, return to step (S1); or the detected power usage after outputting the second resistance value is close to the second power usage or deviates from the second power usage, if it is close, it returns to step (S3), if If it deviates, it returns to step (S1).

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the following description to make it more obvious, or may be known through the practice of the present invention. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be realized and achieved from the description of the present case and the scope of patent applications and the structures described in the attached drawings.

11‧‧‧Environmental sensing unit

12‧‧‧Electricity measurement unit

13‧‧‧Control arithmetic unit

14‧‧‧Resistance output unit

15‧‧‧parameter input unit

16‧‧‧Temperature controller

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the relationship between the set temperature of the conventional temperature controller and the resistance change of the temperature sensor and the power usage of the controlled equipment.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an embodiment of the control device of the present invention input by an environmental information unit.

2B is a block diagram of an embodiment of the control device of the present invention input by a time calculation unit.

FIG. 2C is a graph showing the relationship between the resistance output and the power usage of the controlled device of the temperature controller.

3A to 3D are schematic diagrams of a series embodiment of the resistance output unit of the present invention.

4A to 4D are schematic diagrams of parallel embodiments of the resistance output unit of the present invention.

5A-5C are schematic diagrams of another embodiment of the control device of the present invention.

6A and 6B are schematic diagrams of another embodiment of the control device of the present invention.

7A-7C are schematic diagrams of another embodiment of the control device of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a control method of the control device of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the control device of the present invention includes an environment sensing unit 11, a power measurement unit 12, a control arithmetic unit 13, and a resistance output unit 14. The environment sensing unit 11, the power measuring unit 12, the resistance output unit 14 are electrically connected to the control computing unit 13. The resistance output unit 14 is also electrically connected to the temperature controller 16. In detail, it is connected to the connection point of the temperature controller 16 which has an internal temperature sensor (not shown). The temperature controller 16 may be a commonly used temperature controller. The original temperature sensor inside is replaced by the environment sensing unit 11 for temperature or other control purposes.

2B, the control device of the present invention includes a time calculation unit 15, a power measurement unit 12, a control calculation unit 13, and a resistance output unit 14. The time calculation unit 15, the power measurement unit 12, the resistance output unit 14 and the control calculation unit 13 are electrically connected. The resistance output unit 14 is also electrically connected to the temperature controller 16. In detail, it is connected to the connection point of the temperature controller 16 which has an internal temperature sensor (not shown). The temperature controller 16 may be a commonly used temperature controller. The original internal temperature control function is changed to use as a timer or other control purposes, and the above environmental information input may be added for the purpose of compound control.

The control arithmetic unit 13 controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the first resistance R0 to the temperature controller 16, and uses the electric quantity measuring unit 12 to measure the electric power usage of the controlled device (not shown), here represented by current 0, but not Limited to the current information; the control arithmetic unit 13 also controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the second resistor R1 to the temperature controller 16, and the electricity measuring unit 12 measures the power usage of the controlled equipment (not shown), here Current 1 indicates that the control arithmetic unit 13 will obtain the relationship between the output of the first resistance corresponding to the current 1 and the second resistance corresponding to the current 1, as shown in FIG. 2C. The resistance output unit 14 of the present invention can further output through the adjustment and combination of the resistors, and the control operation unit 13 reads the power usage of the controlled device of the power measurement unit 12 to calculate/analyze/record the resistance input Out the relationship with the power usage of the controlled equipment. Therefore, the control arithmetic unit 13 can automatically recognize and record the correspondence between the power usage of the controlled device and the output resistance. In short, the control device of this embodiment has a self-learning function.

The environment sensing unit 11 of this embodiment uses a resistive temperature sensor as an example, but not limited thereto, and is mainly used to detect the current environment temperature. In other embodiments, temperature, humidity, pressure, flow rate, flow rate, wind speed, illuminance, volume, voltage, current, resistance, frequency, speed, or a combination of one or more signals can also be detected. The electricity measuring unit 12 takes the detection of current as an example, but it is not limited to this, as long as the signals related to calculating the electricity usage are applicable. The signal input method can be analog (resistance, current, voltage), digital and pulse, etc. or an electronic signal encoding, without specific restrictions.

The control operation unit 13 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MCU) or other similar devices, preferably a processor with logic operation capability. The resistance output unit 14 is preferably composed of a resistor and a relay. The relay can be used as a switch to adjust the resistance value output by the resistance output unit 14. The resistor may be a conventionally known fixed resistance or variable resistance, which is mainly turned on or off through a relay to combine different resistance values. There may be one or more resistance output units 14 in this embodiment, and there is no specific limitation.

Since this embodiment uses power (such as current) measurement and resistance value changes to determine the operating state of the device, there is no need to measure and compare the resistance value of the temperature sensor on the original temperature controller 16, and the output through the resistance output unit can be accurate Control the running current and power output of the controlled equipment at various temperature values. Therefore, in other embodiments, when the controlled device is a multi-segment temperature setting, multiple starting devices (such as a compressor), or a frequency conversion device, the control device of this embodiment may also be used. In practical applications, it can also be changed to units such as time and power demand. For setting goals.

For another embodiment of the control device of the present invention, please refer to FIGS. 3A-3D. The main hardware architecture is substantially the same as the previous embodiment, but the resistance output unit 14 of this embodiment uses multiple sets connected in series as an example, for example, the first resistor VR0, the second resistor VR1, and the third resistor VR2 are connected in series. When the control arithmetic unit 13 controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the resistance signals VR0, VR1, VR2, VR0+VR1, VR0+VR2 to the temperature controller 16, the power consumption of the controlled device is measured by the electric quantity measuring unit 12 respectively It runs for current 0, current 1, current 2, current 3, and current 4, that is, the relationship between the resistance and current set by the original temperature controller 16, as shown by curve 17 in FIGS. 3B and 3D. When the control computing unit 13 reads the environment sensing unit 11 as the input signal (taking temperature as an example), as shown in the first state 19 (which can be regarded as being located in the first resistance value interval shown in the figure as the first interval), The input resistance of the original temperature sensor (not shown) of the original temperature controller 16 is VR0+VR1, and causes the controlled device to generate the power usage and output of the current 3. At this time, the control arithmetic unit 13 reads the temperature environment information unit 11 and then controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the resistance of VR1 to the temperature controller 16. At this time, the controlled device (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 will be changed to the current 1 The operation of the power usage is shown in curve 18 of FIG. 3D.

In addition, in the second state 20 (which can be regarded as being in the second resistance value interval, represented by the second interval in the figure), the input resistance of the original temperature sensor (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 is VR0+VR2, and The controlled device generates electricity with a current usage of 4 to operate. At this time, the control arithmetic unit 13 reads the temperature environment information unit 11 and then controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the resistance of VR2 to the temperature controller 16. At this time, the controlled device (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 will be changed to the current 2 The operation of the power usage is shown in curve 18 of FIG. 3D. In this embodiment, the operation curve of the controlled device that changes more control parameters of the temperature controller is compared with the curve of the original temperature controller and the resistance signal, as shown in FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D.

It should be noted that this embodiment uses two states to describe the operation and control method, but it is not limited to the two states and a combination of resistance signals can be added to increase the number of control states.

For another embodiment of the control device of the present invention, please refer to FIGS. 4A-4D. The main hardware architecture is roughly the same as the previous embodiment, but the resistance output unit 14 of this embodiment takes multiple sets of parallel connection as an example, as shown in FIG. 4A, such as the first resistor VR0, the second resistor VR1, and the third resistor VR2 in parallel. When the resistance output unit 14 outputs the resistance signals R0, R1, R2, R3, and R4 to the temperature controller 16, the power usage of the controlled device is measured by the electricity measuring unit 12 as current 0, current 1, and current 2, respectively , Current 3, current 4, as shown in curve 17 of FIG. 4B and FIG. 4D.

When the input signal of the environment sensing unit 11 is temperature, as shown in the first state shown in the figure, the input resistance of the original temperature sensor (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 is R3, and the controlled device generates Electricity usage and output of current 3. The control arithmetic unit 13 reads the temperature environment information unit 11 and then controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the R1 resistance to the temperature controller 16. At this time, the controlled device (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 will be changed to the power consumption of current 1 The operation is shown in curve 18 of Fig. 4D.

In addition, in the second state, the input resistance of the original temperature sensor (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 is R4, and the controlled device generates the current 4 for power usage. The control arithmetic unit 13 reads the temperature environment information unit 11 and then controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the R2 resistance to the temperature controller 16. At this time, the controlled device (not shown) of the temperature controller 16 will be changed to the power consumption of the current 2 The operation is shown in curve 18 of Fig. 4D. The detailed comparison of the curve and the resistance signal is shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D. This embodiment illustrates the operation and control method in two states, but is not limited to two states and can increase the number of resistance signals or a combination of series and parallel resistance. Increase the state of control.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a device in which the temperature controller 16 controls the operation of the heater 24, and the temperature sensor 22 and the water flow sensor 23 are used to input a plurality of environmental information units 11 as shown in FIG. 5A System architecture diagram. When the resistance output unit 14 outputs the resistances R0, R1, R2, R3, and R4 to the temperature controller 16, the electricity measuring unit 12 will read that the current sensor 21 detects the current amount of the heater 24 as current 0, For current 1, current 2, current 3, and current 4, the control arithmetic unit 13 will analyze/record this relationship as shown in FIG. 5B. After the control computing unit 13 reads the input information from the environmental information unit 11, it controls the resistance output unit 14 according to the logic of FIG. 5C to output the corresponding resistance value to the temperature controller 16, so that the heater operates according to the set power usage and power output .

Another embodiment of the present invention is the same original device as the previous embodiment, that is, a device in which the temperature controller 16 controls the operation of the heater 24. In this embodiment, the time calculation information 15 is used as an input, as shown in FIG. 6A. As shown in the architecture diagram. When the resistance output unit 14 outputs R0, R1, R2, R3, R4 resistance to the temperature controller 16, the electric quantity measuring unit 12 will read that the current sensor 21 detects that the current amount of the heater 24 is current 0, Current 1, current 2, current 3, current 4, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the control computing unit 13 reads the time computing unit 15, the resistance output unit 14 is controlled according to the logic of FIG. 6B to output the corresponding resistance value, so that the heating The device operates according to time setting and power usage.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a device that controls the operation of the air conditioner 26 by the temperature controller 16, and uses the power demand of the power demand sensor 25 as the environmental information unit 11 and the time calculation unit as inputs, as shown in FIG. 7A system architecture diagram. Specifically, when the resistance output unit 14 outputs the resistances R0, R1, R2, R3, and R4 to the temperature controller 16, the electricity measuring unit 12 will read that the current sensor 21 detects the operating current of the air conditioner 26 The values are current 0, current 1, current 2, current 3, and current 4. The control arithmetic unit 13 will analyze/record, as shown in FIG. 7B. When the control operation unit 13 controls the resistance output unit 14 to output the corresponding resistance value according to the time and power demand logic of FIG. 7B, the air conditioner 26 operates according to the time setting and power usage logic rules, as shown in FIG. 7C.

It should be noted that in the above embodiment, if the environmental sensing unit 11 takes a hygrometer as an example, the control device of the present invention will increase the function of the humidity controller used by the original controlled device. Its setting principle and self-learning function are the same as those described above. The embodiments are the same and will not be repeated here. In other embodiments, signals of pressure, flow, flow velocity, wind speed, illuminance, volume, voltage, current, frequency, or a combination thereof can also be introduced into the control device of the present invention as environmental sensing parameters to control output power changes.

It should be noted that in the above embodiment, if the time calculation unit 15 takes the timing function as an example, the control device of the present invention will increase the original controlled device's timing operation control function. Its setting principle and self-learning function are the same as those in the previous embodiment. The same, not repeated here. In other embodiments, it can be combined with the environmental information unit 11 as input calculation and judgment control of the control operation unit 13.

For another embodiment of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a control method to which the control device of the present invention is applied, including the following steps: (S1) outputting a first resistance value to a temperature controller so that the controlled device operates in a first power usage state; (S2) outputting a second resistance The value is given to the temperature controller to make the controlled device operate in the second power usage state; (S3) obtain current environmental information or time information; (S4) calculate the first resistance value or second resistance after calculation based on the environmental information or time information Value to the temperature controller; (S5) Detect the power usage of the controlled equipment.

The control method of this embodiment is implemented by the hardware structure of the foregoing embodiment, and the detailed structure and principle thereof have been described in detail before, and will not be repeated here. However, it should be noted that in actual situations, when the user inputs a parameter and outputs the corresponding resistance value, and the controlled device has not detected a matching current value, for example, after outputting the first resistance value The detected power usage is close to the first power usage or deviates from the first power usage, if it is close, it returns to step (S3), if it deviates, it returns to step (S1); or after outputting the second resistance value It is detected that the power usage is close to the second power usage or deviates from the second power usage, and if it is close, it returns to step (S3), and if it deviates, it returns to step (S1).

It should be noted that the aforementioned proximity and distance from the first/second power usage are defined as relative proximity or relative distance. For example, in step (S5-1), approaching the first power usage amount means that when the difference between the power usage amount detected by the power measurement unit and the first power usage amount in step (S1) is less than the power quantity The absolute value of the difference between the power usage detected by the measurement unit and the second power usage in step (S2).

On the other hand, deviation from the first power usage amount means that the absolute value of the difference between the detected power usage amount and the first power usage amount in step (S1) is greater than the detected power usage amount and step (S2) ) In the absolute value of the difference in the second power usage.

Similarly, approaching the second power usage amount means that the absolute value of the difference between the detected power usage amount and the second power usage amount in step (S2) is less than the detected power usage amount and the step (S1) The absolute value of the difference in the first power usage.

Deviation from the second power usage means that the absolute value of the difference between the detected power usage and the second power usage in step (S2) is greater than the detected power usage and the first power in step (S1) The absolute value of the difference in usage.

Compared with the prior art, the control device and the control method of the present invention control the output of the temperature controller by a specific resistance signal, and by electric quantity measurement and logic operation, the control device can be accurately controlled by self-learning The equipment is running, and the equipment is precisely controlled according to the required environmental sensing parameters or time calculation information to achieve the effect of power saving or specific purposes.

11‧‧‧Environmental sensing unit

12‧‧‧Electricity measurement unit

13‧‧‧Control arithmetic unit

14‧‧‧Resistance output unit

15‧‧‧parameter input unit

16‧‧‧Temperature controller

Claims (16)

A control device is suitable for being connected to a temperature controller, and the temperature controller is suitable for controlling a controlled device. The control device comprises: an environment sensing unit; an electric quantity measuring unit; a control arithmetic unit, connected to the An environmental sensing unit and the electricity measuring unit; and at least one resistance output unit connected to the control computing unit for outputting at least two resistance values to the temperature controller to cause the controlled device to generate at least two corresponding power usage amounts, The electricity measuring unit measures the power usage, the control computing unit establishes a correspondence relationship based on the resistance values and the corresponding power usage, and controls the resistance output unit to output based on the value obtained by the environment sensing unit An output resistance value to the temperature controller, so that the temperature controller controls the controlled device to operate with a preset power usage; wherein the output resistance value is one of the resistance values and the preset power usage The amount is one of the power usage. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resistance output unit includes a resistor and a relay. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one resistance output unit is configured in series, parallel or a combination thereof. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal of the environmental sensing unit includes at least time, temperature, humidity, concentration, pressure, flow rate, flow rate, wind speed, illuminance, volume, voltage, current, resistance, frequency, speed, count , Pulse wave or a combination of one or more signals or the coding of an electronic signal. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the electric quantity measuring unit is a The measuring device or communication input method includes at least one of analog signal, digital signal and pulse signal or the encoding of an electronic signal. A control device is suitable for being connected to a temperature controller, and the temperature controller is suitable for controlling a controlled device. The control device comprises: an environment sensing unit; a control arithmetic unit connected to the environment sensing unit; and At least one resistance output unit connected to the control operation unit for outputting at least two resistance values to the temperature controller to cause the controlled device to generate corresponding at least two power usage amounts, the control operation unit according to the resistance values and corresponding The power usage establishes a corresponding relationship, and controls the resistance output unit to output an output resistance value to the temperature controller according to the value obtained by the environmental sensing unit and the corresponding relationship, so that the temperature controller controls the controlled The device operates with a preset power usage; wherein the output resistance value is one of the resistance values and the preset power usage is one of the power usage. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one resistance output unit includes a resistor and a relay. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one resistance output unit is set in series, in parallel, or a combination thereof. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the signal of the environmental sensing unit includes at least time, temperature, humidity, concentration, pressure, flow, flow rate, wind speed, illuminance, volume, voltage, current, resistance, frequency, speed, count , Pulse wave or a combination of one or more signals or the coding of an electronic signal. The control device according to claim 6, further comprising a power measurement unit, wherein the power measurement The unit is a measurement device or communication input method for calculating the power usage, and at least includes one of analog signals, digital signals and pulse signals or an electronic signal encoding. A control method of a control device includes the following steps: (S1) sequentially output at least two resistance values to a controlled device, so that the controlled device operates with at least two power usage amounts corresponding to the resistance values; (S2 ) Measure the power usage and establish a correspondence between the resistance values and the corresponding power usage; (S3) obtain a current environmental information; and (S4) based on the current environmental information and the corresponding relationship An output resistance value is output from the resistance values to the controlled device, so that the controlled device operates with a preset power usage amount corresponding to one of the output resistance values. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising the following steps: (S5-1) The detected power usage after outputting the output resistance value is close to or deviates from the preset power usage, If it is close, it returns to step (S3), and if it deviates, it returns to step (S1). The control method according to claim 12, wherein in step (S5-1), approaching the preset power usage means that the absolute value of the difference between the detected power usage and the preset power usage is less than the detected power The absolute value of the difference between the usage and the power usage adjacent to the preset power usage in the correspondence; and deviation from the preset power usage means that the difference between the detected power usage and the preset power usage is absolute The value is greater than the absolute value of the difference between the detected power usage and the power usage adjacent to the preset power usage in the correspondence. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a time control unit connected to the control operation unit for providing time information; wherein, the control operation unit is based on the value obtained by the environment sensing unit and the corresponding relationship And the time information controls the resistance output unit. The control device according to claim 6, further comprising: a time control unit connected to the control operation unit for providing time information; wherein, the control operation unit is based on the value obtained by the environment sensing unit and the corresponding relationship And the time information controls the resistance output unit. The control method according to claim 11, further comprising: obtaining a time information; wherein, in step (S4), the output resistance value is output to the controlled device after calculation based on the time information.

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