Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum motor and a power supply. The power supply comprises input terminals for connection to an AC source, output terminals connected to the vacuum motor, an AC-to-DC stage, and a battery. The AC-to-DC stage converts alternating current drawn from the AC source into direct current that is supplied to the battery and the vacuum motor. The power supply operates in a first mode when disconnected from the AC source and a second mode when connected to the AC source. In the second mode, the vacuum motor operates in either a low-power state or a high-power state. In the low-power state, the vacuum motor and the battery each draw power from the AC source such that the battery charges. When the vacuum motor operates in the high-power state, the vacuum motor draws power from both the AC source and the battery such that battery discharges.
Abstract:
A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes sensing a temperature and using the sensed temperature to define a current limit. A lower current limit is then defined for a lower sensed temperature. A winding of the motor is sequentially energised and de-energised, with the winding being de-energised when current in the winding exceeds the defined current limit.
Abstract:
A drive circuit for a brushless motor is described. The drive circuit includes a converter for connection to a phase winding of the motor, and a controller. The converter includes a plurality of switches and the controller controls the states of the switches to configure the converter in one of a plurality of configurations. In a first configuration, current is permitted to flow through the phase winding in a first direction and in a second opposite direction. In a second configuration, current is permitted to flow through the phase winding in the first direction and is prevented from flowing through the phase winding in the second direction. The controller includes an input for receiving a signal indicative of current in the converter, and the controller configures the converter from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a characteristic of the current.
Abstract:
A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of switches for connecting the pairs of electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration. When switching between a first electrode configuration and a second electrode configuration having a second lower total electrical resistance, the control unit controls the switches such that switching between the electrode configurations occurs in response to zero-crossings in a voltage of the power supply or the electrodes of the second electrode configuration are energised with a voltage having a higher duty than the electrodes of the first electrode configuration.
Abstract:
A drive circuit for a brushless motor comprising power lines for carrying an AC voltage, an inverter, and a controller. Each leg of the inverter is connected to a winding of the motor and comprises one or more bi-directional switches. The controller can output control signals that cause a pair of switches to conduct in one direction during the positive half-cycle of the AC voltage, and to conduct in the opposite direction during the negative half-cycle of the AC voltage. Alternatively, The controller can output control signals that cause a first pair of switches to conduct during the positive half-cycle of the AC voltage and a second pair of switches to conduct during the negative half-cycle of the AC voltage such that the winding is excited in the same direction irrespective of the polarity of the AC voltage.
Abstract:
A gate driver is described for driving switches. The gate driver includes an input for receiving a signal indicative of a polarity of a voltage or current, and outputs for outputting gate signals for driving the switches. In response to a fault condition, the gate driver generates gate signals at the outputs that depend on the polarity of the voltage or current.
Abstract:
An AC/AC boost converter comprising input terminals, output terminals, an inductor, a bridge arm comprising a pair of bi-directional switches, a capacitor and a control circuit for controlling the switches. The bridge arm and the capacitor are connected in parallel across the output terminals. The inductor has a first end connected to one of the input terminals and a second end connected to one of an end and a junction of the bridge arm, the junction being located between the two switches. Another of the input terminals is then connected to the other of the end and the junction of the bridge arm. An AC power supply supplies an AC input voltage at the input terminals, and the control circuit controls the switches of the bridge arm such that an AC output voltage is supplied at the output terminals, the AC output voltage being greater than the AC input voltage.
Abstract:
A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, a pair of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of bi-directional switches for connecting the electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The power supply supplies an alternating voltage having a frequency no greater than 60 Hz, and the control unit controls the switches such that the electrodes are energised with an alternating voltage having a frequency no less than 150 kHz.
Abstract:
A power supply that operates in two modes comprising input terminals for connection to an AC source, output terminals for connection to a load, an AC-to-DC stage, and a battery. When operating in the first mode, the load draws current from the battery only. When operating in the second mode, the load draws current from both the battery and the AC-to-DC stage. The current drawn by the load is then greater than the current output by the AC-to-DC stage during first periods, and is less than the current output by the AC-to-DC stage during second periods. The load draws current from the battery and the AC-to-DC stage during the first periods such that the battery discharges, and the load and the battery each draw current from the AC-to-DC stage during the second periods such that the battery charges.
Abstract:
A battery charger comprising input terminals for connection to an AC source supplying an alternating input voltage, output terminals for connection to a battery to be charged, and a PFC circuit connected between the input terminals and the output terminals. The power factor correction (PFC) circuit regulates an input current drawn from the AC source such that the input current has a waveform selected from a sine wave with third harmonic injection, a clipped sine wave and a trapezoidal wave. The battery charger then generates an output current at the output terminals, the output current having a waveform defined by the multiplication of the input current and the input voltage.