Protection circuit of ice crushing motor and power supply control method

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to a protection circuit of an ice crushing motor and a power supply control method, and the protection circuit comprises the ice crushing motor which forms a power supply loop with a power supply; the switch is connected in series in the power supply loop; the first time delay module is respectively connected with the power supply and the switch, the first time delay module is used for controlling the switch to be closed after a first duration under the condition that the power supply loop is disconnected, so that the power supply loop is conducted, and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor; the second time delay module is connected with the ice crushing motor and the switch, and the second time delay module is used for controlling the switch to be switched off after a second duration under the condition that the ice crushing motor performs ice crushing operation, so that the power supply loop is switched off, and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor. According to the protection circuit of the ice crushing motor and the power supply control method, the ice crushing motor can stop running after running for a period of time, so that the situation that the ice crushing motor is damaged due to too high temperature caused by long-time working is avoided, and the safety and stability of the ice crushing motor are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a protection circuit and a power supply control method for an ice crushing motor. Background Art

[0002] Current refrigerators have an ice-making function, which can make and crush ice to meet users' ice needs. However, during the operation of refrigerators, the ice-crushing motor may cause a phase short circuit due to long-term operation or ice blockage, resulting in a large current, which will cause the junction temperature of the driver IC (Integrated Circuit Chip) of the ice-crushing motor to be too high, posing a risk of burning the driver IC and the ice-crushing motor, and even causing safety hazards to users. Therefore, the protection and control of the ice-crushing motor is particularly important. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiment of the present application discloses a protection circuit and a power supply control method for an ice crushing motor, so that the ice crushing motor stops running after running for a period of time, thereby avoiding the ice crushing motor from being damaged due to overheating caused by long-term operation, and ensuring the safety and stability of the ice crushing motor.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application discloses a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor, comprising:

[0005] An ice-crushing motor, wherein the ice-crushing motor and a power supply form a power supply circuit;

[0006] A switch, connected in series in the power supply circuit;

[0007] A first delay module is connected to the power supply and the switch respectively, and the first delay module is used to control the switch to close after a first time period when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so that the power supply circuit is turned on, and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor;

[0008] The second delay module is connected to the ice crushing motor and the switch, respectively. The second delay module is used to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor; when the second delay module controls the switch to be disconnected, the first delay module controls the switch to be closed after the first time period.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present application, when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, the first delay module controls the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit to close after the first time period, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is turned on, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected for the first time period, and the ice crushing motor is powered again. When the ice crushing motor is performing ice crushing operation, the second delay module controls the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit to disconnect after the second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected, and the ice crushing motor stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor after running for the second time period, so that the ice crushing motor can stop running after running for a period of time, and the problem of excessive temperature of the driver IC caused by the long-term operation of the ice crushing motor can be avoided. Moreover, within the first time period when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the temperature of the driver IC can gradually drop, and then the ice crushing motor can be powered again to ensure the normal operation of the ice crushing motor. In addition, the protection circuit can realize power supply control only through simple electronic components, without the need for additional temperature sensors or heat sinks, which can reduce the cost of the ice crushing motor.

[0010] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, the first delay module is used to boost the supply voltage output by the power supply when the power supply circuit is disconnected, and to control the switch to close when the boosted voltage is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold; the first time length is the boost time length of the first delay module.

[0011] In this embodiment, when the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor is disconnected, the first delay module can use the power supply voltage output by the power supply to boost the voltage, so that when the boosted voltage reaches or exceeds the first voltage threshold, it triggers the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit to close, so that the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor is turned on. The first delay module can provide a stable delay mechanism to give the driver IC sufficient cooling time, thereby ensuring the safety of the ice-crushing motor, and re-powering the ice-crushing motor after the power supply circuit is disconnected for a period of time to ensure the normal operation of the ice-crushing motor.

[0012] As an optional implementation, in a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, the first delay module includes a first capacitor, which is connected to the switch; the first capacitor is used to charge according to the supply voltage output by the power supply when the power supply circuit is disconnected, and to control the switch to close when the voltage of the first capacitor is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold to turn on the power supply circuit.

[0013] In this embodiment, the first capacitor of the first delay module can be charged according to the supply voltage output by the power supply when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so that the voltage of the first capacitor increases; when the voltage of the first capacitor is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold, the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor is turned on by controlling the switch to be closed, and the delay function can be realized by simple electronic components without complex software control.

[0014] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the first capacitor is also used to discharge when the power supply circuit is turned on.

[0015] In this implementation, when the power supply circuit is turned on, the first capacitor can be discharged, so that the first capacitor can be charged when the power supply circuit is turned off, thereby accurately achieving the effect of delaying the turn-on of the power supply circuit.

[0016] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor is determined based on a first time constant; the first time constant is less than or equal to the time it takes for the ice-crushing motor to recover from the maximum allowable temperature to the initial temperature when the power supply circuit is disconnected; the initial temperature is the temperature when the ice-crushing motor is initially running.

[0017] In this embodiment, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor is determined by setting the first time constant, ensuring that the ice crushing motor has enough time to cool down after the power supply circuit is disconnected, thereby effectively protecting the ice crushing motor.

[0018] As an optional implementation, in a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, the first delay module includes a first current limiting resistor, which is connected in series with the first capacitor; the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor is affected by the capacity of the first capacitor and the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor; the capacity of the first capacitor and the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor are determined according to the first time constant.

[0019] In this embodiment, by adjusting the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor, the current input into the first capacitor can be accurately controlled, thereby accurately controlling the charging speed of the first capacitor. While ensuring that the ice-crushing motor has enough time to cool down after the power supply circuit is disconnected, the timing of turning on the power supply circuit can be accurately controlled to ensure the normal operation of the ice-crushing motor.

[0020] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the switch includes a field effect MOS tube, and the gate of the MOS tube is respectively connected to the first delay module and the second delay module; the first delay module is also used to increase the gate voltage of the MOS tube when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so as to trigger the MOS tube to turn on when the gate voltage is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold; the second delay module is also used to reduce the gate voltage of the MOS tube after a second time period when the ice crushing motor performs an ice crushing operation, so as to trigger the MOS tube to disconnect when the gate voltage is less than the first voltage threshold.

[0021] In this embodiment, a MOS tube is connected in series in the power supply circuit, and the first delay module and the second delay module are both connected to the gate of the MOS tube. When the power supply circuit is disconnected, the first delay module increases the gate voltage of the MOS tube, and when the gate voltage reaches or exceeds the first voltage threshold, the MOS tube is triggered to be turned on, thereby turning on the power supply circuit. When the ice-crushing motor performs the ice-crushing operation and after a second time period, the second delay module reduces the gate voltage of the MOS tube, and when the gate voltage is lower than the first voltage threshold, the MOS tube is triggered to be turned off, thereby disconnecting the power supply circuit, thereby achieving accurate control of the conduction and disconnection of the power supply circuit.

[0022] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the second delay module is also used to control the gate of the MOS tube to be grounded when the ice-crushing motor performs an ice-crushing operation and after a second time period, so that the gate voltage drops to 0V.

[0023] In this embodiment, when the ice-crushing motor is performing the ice-crushing operation and after the second time period, the second delay module controls the gate of the MOS tube to be grounded so that the gate voltage drops to 0V, thereby disconnecting the power supply circuit, so that the ice-crushing motor stops running after running for a period of time, thereby preventing the temperature of the driver IC of the ice-crushing motor from being too high due to the long-term operation of the ice-crushing motor, and effectively protecting the ice-crushing motor.

[0024] As an optional embodiment, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the second delay module includes a second capacitor and a transistor, the second capacitor is respectively connected to the ice-crushing motor and the transistor; the transistor is respectively connected to the gate and ground of the MOS tube; the second capacitor is used to charge according to the voltage output by the ice-crushing motor when the ice-crushing motor performs an ice-crushing operation, and to trigger the transistor to turn on when the voltage of the second capacitor is greater than or equal to a second voltage threshold, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded; the second time length is the time length for the second capacitor to charge.

[0025] In this embodiment, when the ice-crushing motor is performing the ice-crushing operation, the second capacitor can be charged according to the voltage output by the ice-crushing motor. When the voltage of the second capacitor reaches the second voltage threshold, the transistor connected to the gate of the MOS tube is turned on, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded. After the ice-crushing motor has been running for a period of time, the power supply to the ice-crushing motor can be stopped, thereby avoiding the overheating problem caused by the long-term operation of the ice-crushing motor.

[0026] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor is determined according to a second time constant; the second time constant is less than or equal to the ice crushing completion time corresponding to the ice crushing motor, and the ice crushing completion time is determined according to the operating parameters of the ice crushing motor and the volume of the ice holding device; and / or, the second time constant is less than or equal to the time for the ice crushing motor to rise from an initial temperature to a maximum allowable temperature when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation; the initial temperature is the temperature when the ice crushing motor is initially operating.

[0027] In this embodiment, the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor is determined by setting the second time constant, which can ensure that the ice crushing motor completes the ice crushing process of the ice cubes in the ice holding device, and can also automatically stop the ice crushing motor before the temperature of the driving IC of the ice crushing motor rises to the maximum allowable temperature, thereby avoiding overtemperature and effectively protecting the ice crushing motor.

[0028] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the second delay module also includes a second current limiting resistor, which is connected in series with the second capacitor; the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor is affected by the capacity of the second capacitor and the resistance of the second current limiting resistor; the capacity of the second capacitor and the resistance of the second current limiting resistor are determined according to the second time constant.

[0029] In this embodiment, by adjusting the resistance value of the second current limiting resistor, the current input into the second capacitor can be accurately controlled, thereby controlling the charging speed of the second capacitor. Before the temperature of the ice-crushing motor rises to the maximum allowable temperature during the ice-crushing operation, the disconnection timing of the power supply circuit is controlled to avoid the ice-crushing motor from being overheated, thereby protecting the ice-crushing motor.

[0030] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the protection circuit also includes an optocoupler, which is respectively connected to the ice-crushing motor and the second delay module; the optocoupler is used to convert the three-phase AC voltage output by the ice-crushing motor into a DC voltage when the ice-crushing motor is performing an ice-crushing operation, and output the DC voltage to the second delay module, so as to power the second delay module through the DC voltage.

[0031] In this embodiment, the optocoupler can convert the three-phase AC voltage output by the ice-crushing motor into a DC voltage, which not only provides a DC power supply for charging the second delay module, but also can achieve isolation between the ice-crushing motor and the second delay module, thereby ensuring the stability of the second delay module and the ice-crushing motor.

[0032] As an optional implementation, in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application, the protection circuit also includes a controller, which is connected to the ice-crushing motor; the controller is used to send a control signal to the ice-crushing motor when it receives a user action signal; the ice-crushing motor is also used to start and run to perform ice-crushing operations when the power supply circuit is turned on and the control signal is received.

[0033] In this embodiment, the ice-crushing motor will start running only when the user performs an ice-taking operation, the power supply circuit is turned on, and the control signal sent by the controller is received. On the one hand, the start-up of the ice-crushing motor is completely controlled by the user, thereby increasing the safety and flexibility of use; on the other hand, before the ice-crushing motor receives the control signal, the ice-crushing motor will not perform the ice-crushing operation even if the power supply circuit is turned on, thereby avoiding energy consumption caused by long-term idling of the ice-crushing motor.

[0034] In a second aspect, the embodiment of the present application discloses a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor, comprising:

[0035] An ice-crushing motor, wherein the ice-crushing motor and a power supply form a power supply circuit;

[0036] A switch, connected in series in the power supply circuit;

[0037] a first delay module, connected to the switch and the power supply, respectively, and used for, when the power supply circuit is disconnected, entering a first delay state to control the switch to close after a first time length, so that the power supply circuit is turned on, and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor;

[0038] The ice crushing motor is also used to start running to perform ice crushing operation when the user performs ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on;

[0039] The second delay module is connected to the switch and the ice crushing motor respectively. The second delay module is used to enter a second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

[0040] In this embodiment, when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the first delay module will enter the first delay state to close the switch again at the first time length to provide cooling time for the ice crushing motor, avoid restarting the ice crushing motor in an overheated state, and reduce damage to the ice crushing motor. The ice crushing motor will start running when the user performs an ice-taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on. The second delay module will enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor performs an ice crushing operation to disconnect the power supply circuit at the second time length to prevent the ice crushing motor from running for a long time and causing the driver IC to overheat, thereby protecting the ice crushing motor.

[0041] In a third aspect, the embodiment of the present application discloses a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor, including:

[0042] An ice-crushing motor, wherein the ice-crushing motor and a power supply form a power supply circuit;

[0043] A switch, connected in series in the power supply circuit;

[0044] The ice crushing motor is also used to start and operate to perform ice crushing operation when the user performs ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on;

[0045] The second delay module is connected to the switch and the ice crushing motor respectively. The second delay module is used to enter a second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

[0046] In this embodiment, the second delay module can enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation, so as to disconnect the switch at the second time length to disconnect the power supply circuit and stop supplying power to the ice crushing motor. The ice crushing motor can be stopped after running for a period of time, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive temperature of the driver IC due to long-term operation of the ice crushing motor, thereby protecting the ice crushing motor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0048] Figure 1 This is an application scenario diagram of an ice crushing motor in an embodiment;

[0049] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment;

[0050] Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a first delay module in one embodiment;

[0051] Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a first delay module in another embodiment;

[0052] Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment;

[0053] Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in another embodiment;

[0054] Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in another embodiment;

[0055] Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of a second delay module in another embodiment;

[0056] Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment;

[0057] Fig.10 is a circuit diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment;

[0058] Fig.11 The figure is a flow chart of a power supply control method for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0060] It should be noted that the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the embodiments of the present application and the accompanying drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device including a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0061] It is understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. used in this application can be used in this article to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish a first element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, the first delay module can be referred to as the second delay module, and similarly, the second delay module can be referred to as the first delay module. The first delay module and the second delay module are different dehumidification capacities.

[0062] At present, the industry mainly adopts two solutions to protect ice crushing motors:

[0063] 1. Arrange a temperature collection point near the driver IC of the ice crushing motor, and use the MCU (Microcontroller Unit) on the electronic control board to monitor the temperature of the driver IC in real time. When the temperature reaches the preset threshold, the MCU cuts off the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor through software control, so that the ice crushing motor stops working, thereby reducing the temperature of the driver IC and preventing the ice crushing motor from burning. However, the need to add a temperature sensor increases the cost. At the same time, complex software control is required, which increases the complexity and maintenance cost of the software architecture. In addition, cutting off the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor through software control will cause the power supply of the entire refrigerator to be cut off in actual use. The user can only manually re-connect the power supply of the refrigerator, which not only increases the difficulty of the user's operation, but also may cause the refrigerator to lose its refrigeration effect and damage the items in the refrigerator if the user fails to re-connect the power supply in time.

[0064] Second, a heat sink is added to the driving IC of the ice-crushing motor. Through the heat dissipation effect of the heat sink, the driving IC reaches a thermal equilibrium state during operation, thereby protecting the ice-crushing motor from damage by high temperature; however, the addition of the heat sink also increases the cost, and the volume of the heat sink will increase the size of the ice-crushing motor driving board, thereby increasing the cost of manufacturing the ice-crushing motor driving board.

[0065] The embodiment of the present application discloses a protection circuit and a power supply control method for an ice crushing motor, which can stop the ice crushing motor from running for a period of time, thereby preventing the ice crushing motor from being damaged due to overheating caused by long-term operation, and ensuring the safety and stability of the ice crushing motor. In addition, since the protection circuit can realize power supply control of the ice crushing motor only through simple electronic components, no additional temperature sensor or heat sink is required, thus reducing the cost of the ice crushing motor.

[0066] Figure 1FIG. 1 is an application scenario diagram of an ice crushing motor in an embodiment. A refrigerator 110 may include an ice making device 100, wherein the ice making device 100 may include an ice crushing motor 120 and an ice storage device 130, wherein the ice crushing motor 120 is used to crush ice cubes; and the ice storage device 130 is used to store whole ice cubes and / or crushed ice.

[0067] Optionally, the ice crushing motor 120 further includes a motor, a driver IC and an ice crushing assembly, and the ice crushing assembly may include a blade, etc. The driver IC is used to provide a driving signal to the motor; the motor is used to rotate under the drive of the driving signal to drive the blade to rotate and perform an ice crushing operation on the ice cubes.

[0068] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 110 further includes a main control panel 140 for controlling the refrigerator 110 , including controlling ice crushing of the ice-making device 100 .

[0069] In some embodiments, when the user needs to crush ice, he can touch the ice crushing button of the refrigerator 110 to perform the ice taking operation. The ice crushing button is a button that triggers the ice making device 100 to crush ice. The main control board 140 receives the user action signal of the user touching the ice crushing button, and sends a control signal such as PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) to the driver IC of the ice crushing motor 120. The driver IC converts the control signal of the main control board into the control signal of the ice crushing motor 120, thereby adjusting the speed and power of the motor of the ice crushing motor 120. The motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy and generates a driving signal to drive the blade of the ice crushing motor 120 to rotate in the ice storage device 130, thereby breaking the ice cubes stored in the ice storage device 130.

[0070] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a protection circuit for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment, a protection circuit 200 for an ice crushing motor is provided, and the protection circuit 200 for the ice crushing motor includes one or more of the following components: an ice crushing motor 120, a switch 220, a first delay module 230, and a second delay module 240. The ice crushing motor 120, a power supply 250, and the switch 220 are connected to form a power supply circuit; the first delay module 230 and the second delay module 240 are respectively connected to the switch 220; the first delay module 230 is also connected to the power supply 250; and the second delay module 240 is also connected to the ice crushing motor 120.

[0071] The ice crushing motor 120 and the power source 250 form a power supply circuit.

[0072] The ice crushing motor 120 is used to crush ice cubes into smaller particles when the power supply voltage of the power supply 250 is obtained and when it is detected that the user performs an ice taking operation.

[0073] Optionally, the driving IC of the ice crushing motor 120 can control the ice crushing efficiency of the ice crushing motor 120 by controlling the rotation speed and / or power of the ice crushing motor 120. The higher the rotation speed and the greater the power, the higher the ice crushing efficiency of the ice crushing motor 120.

[0074] In some embodiments, the model of the ice crushing motor 120 can be determined according to user needs, the capacity of the ice storage device, etc. At the same time, factors such as the power, speed, torque, efficiency of the ice crushing motor and whether it is suitable for working in a low temperature environment also need to be considered. The commonly used ice crushing motor is a DC motor.

[0075] The ice-crushing motor 120 and the power supply 250 form a power supply circuit. When the power supply circuit is turned on, the power supply 250 will provide a power supply voltage to the ice-crushing motor 120 so that it can work normally. When the power supply circuit is turned off, the power supply 250 stops supplying power to the ice-crushing motor 120, and the ice-crushing motor 120 cannot operate due to power outage.

[0076] In some embodiments, the power supply 250 may be provided on the main control board 140. When the refrigerator is powered on and the power supply circuit is turned on, the power supply 250 provides a power supply voltage for the ice crushing motor 120. Specifically, since the voltage of the ice crushing motor 120 when powered on is lower than the power-on voltage of the refrigerator, a step-down module may be connected in series between the positive terminal of the power supply 250 and the ice crushing motor 120. The step-down module is used to reduce the high voltage of the power supply on the main control board 140 to a power supply voltage that allows the ice crushing motor 120 to operate normally. For example, the 220V power supply voltage on the main control board 140 is reduced to the 24V voltage required for the operation of the ice crushing motor 120.

[0077] The switch 220 is connected in series in the power supply circuit. The switch 220 can be used to turn on or off the power supply circuit.

[0078] The switch 220 is connected in series to the power supply circuit, so that the ice crushing motor 120, the switch 220 and the power supply 250 together form a power supply circuit for the ice crushing motor 120. When the switch 220 is turned on, the power supply circuit is turned on, and the power supply 250 can supply power to the ice crushing motor 120. When the switch 220 is turned off, the power supply circuit is disconnected, and the power supply 250 cannot supply power to the ice crushing motor 120, so that the ice crushing motor 120 stops the ice crushing operation.

[0079] Therefore, the power supply control of the ice crushing motor 120 can be achieved by controlling the on or off of the switch 220, thereby controlling the on or off of the power supply circuit.

[0080] The first delay module 230 is connected to the power supply 250 and the switch 220 respectively. The first delay module 230 is used to control the switch 220 to close after a first period of time when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so that the power supply circuit is turned on, and the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice crushing motor 120.

[0081] When the power supply circuit is disconnected, that is, when the switch 220 is disconnected, the first delay module 230 controls the switch 220 to close after the first time length, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120 is turned on, and the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice crushing motor 120. The first time length may be the time for the driver IC of the ice crushing motor 120 to cool down. Optionally, the first time length may be affected by one or more factors, such as the volume of ice cubes, the operating time of the ice crushing motor 120, and operating parameters. Specifically, the larger the volume of ice cubes, the more difficult it is to crush ice, the more energy the ice crushing motor 120 consumes, and the higher the temperature. Therefore, the first time length needs to be longer to provide enough cooling time for the driver IC.

[0082] In some embodiments, after the refrigerator 110 is powered on, the first delay module 230 can control the switch 220 to close after a first period of time, turn on the power supply circuit, and supply power to the ice crushing motor 120. When the user performs an ice taking operation, the ice crushing motor 120 can promptly respond to the ice taking operation performed by the user, so that the ice crushing motor 120 can promptly perform the ice crushing operation when the user has an ice crushing demand.

[0083] In some embodiments, the ice crushing motor 120 stops running after running for a period of time. The first delay module 230 can control the power supply circuit to be turned on after the first period of time. The driver IC of the ice crushing motor 120 can be cooled down within the first period of time, thereby avoiding the situation where the ice crushing motor 120 is restarted when the temperature of the driver IC is still high, causing damage to the driver IC.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first delay module 230 is further used to enter the first delay state when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so as to control the switch 220 to close after the first time length, so that the power supply circuit is turned on. The first delay state refers to the working state in which the first delay module 230 controls the power supply circuit to be turned on with delay.

[0085] In some embodiments, the first delay module 230 may include a time relay. When the power supply circuit is disconnected, the time relay may receive a trigger signal to start timing, and then output a control signal after a first time delay to control the switch 220 to close. By adjusting the setting of the time relay, the delay time can be accurately controlled.

[0086] Optionally, the first delay module 230 may also include a delay circuit. When the power supply circuit is disconnected, the delay circuit enters a first delay state and outputs a control signal after the delay condition is met to control the switch 220 to close. For example, the delay circuit may include components such as resistors and capacitors to achieve delays of different lengths by adjusting the parameters of the components. It should be noted that in the delay circuit, the first duration is not a real time value, and the effect achieved by the delay circuit meeting the delay condition can be equivalent to the first delay module 230 controlling the switch 220 to close after the first duration.

[0087] Specifically, the first delay module 230 is used to boost the supply voltage output by the power supply 250 when the power supply circuit is disconnected, and to control the switch 220 to close when the boosted voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold; the first time length is the boost time length of the first delay module 230.

[0088] In some embodiments, when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the power supply 250 provides the power supply voltage to the first delay module 230, so that the first delay module 230 boosts the voltage. After the first delay module 230 boosts the voltage for a first period of time, the boosted voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold, and the first delay module 230 controls the switch 220 to close. The power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is turned on, and the first delay module can provide a stable delay mechanism, giving the driver IC sufficient cooling time, ensuring the safety of the ice crushing motor, and re-powering the ice crushing motor after the power supply circuit is disconnected for a period of time to ensure the normal operation of the ice crushing motor.

[0089] Among them, the first voltage threshold is the minimum voltage value that triggers the switch 220 to close, the first time length is the time taken by the first delay module 230 to boost the voltage from the initial voltage to the first voltage threshold, and the first time length is associated with the boost speed of the first delay module 230 and the initial voltage of the first delay module 230.

[0090] In some implementations, the first delay module 230 may also include a detection element for detecting the voltage condition of the first delay module 230 in real time, so that when the voltage of the first delay module 230 is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold, the detection element will send a control signal to the first delay module 230 to trigger the closing of the switch 220, and the first delay module 230 will control the closing of the switch 220.

[0091] The second delay module 240 is connected to the ice crushing motor 120 and the switch 220 respectively. The second delay module 240 is used to control the switch 220 to disconnect after the second time period when the ice crushing motor 120 is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to disconnect the power supply circuit and stop the power supply 250 from supplying power to the ice crushing motor 120; when the second delay module controls the switch to disconnect, the first delay module controls the switch to close after the first time period.

[0092] It should be noted that the operation of the ice crushing motor 120 (performing the ice crushing operation) is not equivalent to the conduction of the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120. The operation of the ice crushing motor 120 means that the ice crushing motor 120 starts to perform the ice crushing operation; and the conduction of the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120 means that the driving IC of the ice crushing motor 120 obtains the power supply voltage of the power supply 250. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that the ice crushing motor 120 starts to operate after the first delay module 230 turns on the power supply circuit.

[0093] In some embodiments, the second time duration may be the running time of each ice crushing motor 120. In order to prevent the ice crushing motor 120 from running too long and causing the temperature to be too high, the second time duration needs to be less than the time required for the ice crushing motor 120 to rise from the initial temperature to the maximum allowable temperature, thereby preventing the temperature of the ice crushing motor 120 from rising to or exceeding the maximum allowable temperature.

[0094] Optionally, the second time duration can be dynamically adjusted according to the operating parameters of the ice crushing motor 120 (including rotation speed, frequency, etc.); for example, the faster the rotation speed of the ice crushing motor 120, the faster the temperature of the ice crushing motor 120 rises, and the shorter the second time duration; the greater the frequency of the ice crushing motor 120, the faster the temperature of the ice crushing motor 120 rises, and the shorter the second time duration.

[0095] In some embodiments, the second delay module 240 is further used to enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor 120 is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to control the switch 220 to disconnect after the second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected, and the power supply 250 stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor 120. The second delay state refers to the working state in which the second delay module 240 controls the delayed disconnection of the power supply circuit.

[0096] When the ice-crushing motor 120 starts to perform the ice-crushing operation, the second delay module 240 enters the second delay state. If the second condition is met, it means that if the ice-crushing motor 120 continues to perform the ice-crushing operation, the driving IC of the ice-crushing motor 120 will reach or even exceed the maximum allowable temperature. Therefore, when the second delay module 240 reaches the second condition, the control switch 220 is disconnected to disconnect the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor 120, and the power supply 250 stops supplying power to the ice-crushing motor 120, so that the temperature of the driving IC stops rising and starts to cool down, thereby protecting the ice-crushing motor.

[0097] When the second delay module 240 controls the switch 220 to be disconnected, the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120 is disconnected, and the first delay module 230 can re-enter the first delay state, and after the delay condition is met again, the switch 220 is controlled to be closed again, so that the power supply circuit is closed again, and the second delay module 240 re-enters the second delay state. The cycle is repeated until the total duration of the ice crushing operation of the ice crushing motor 120, that is, the total duration of the power supply circuit closure, reaches the corresponding ice crushing completion time of the ice crushing motor 120. So that the ice crushing motor 120 can complete the ice crushing operation.

[0098] In an embodiment of the present application, when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, the first delay module controls the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit to close after the first time period, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is turned on, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected for the first time period, and the ice crushing motor is powered again. When the ice crushing motor is performing ice crushing operation, the second delay module controls the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit to disconnect after the second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected, and the ice crushing motor stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor after running for the second time period, so that the ice crushing motor can stop running after running for a period of time, and the problem of excessive temperature of the driver IC caused by the long-term operation of the ice crushing motor can be avoided. Moreover, within the first time period when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the temperature of the driver IC can gradually drop, and then the ice crushing motor can be powered again to ensure the normal operation of the ice crushing motor. In addition, the protection circuit can realize power supply control only through simple electronic components, without the need for additional temperature sensors or heat sinks, which can reduce the cost of the ice crushing motor.

[0099] In some embodiments, Figure 3 As shown, the first delay module 230 may include a first capacitor C1 and a first pull-down resistor R1, the first capacitor C1 is connected to the switch 220, the first pull-down resistor R1 is connected in parallel with the first capacitor C1, and one end of the first pull-down resistor R1 is grounded. It should be noted that, Figure 3 In the circuit shown, the two ends on the left side are connected to the ice crushing motor 120, and the two ends on the right side are connected to the main control board 140.

[0100] The first capacitor C1 is used to charge according to the supply voltage output by the power supply 250 when the power supply loop is disconnected, and to control the switch 220 to close when the voltage of the first capacitor C1 is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold to turn on the power supply loop.

[0101] Since the switch 220 is disconnected, the power supply circuit connected in series with the switch 220 is disconnected, so that the current generated by the power supply 250 cannot flow through the switch 220 to reach the ice crushing motor 120. Therefore, the current generated by the power supply 250 flows to the first capacitor C1 of the first delay module 230, that is, the power supply voltage output by the power supply 250 charges the first capacitor C1; as the charging proceeds, the voltage across the first capacitor C1 gradually increases; when the voltage of the first capacitor C1 reaches or exceeds the preset first voltage threshold, the switch 220 is triggered to close, thereby turning on the power supply circuit, so that the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice crushing motor 120. By turning on the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor, the delay function can be realized by simple electronic components without complex software control.

[0102] The first capacitor C1 is also used for discharging when the power supply circuit is turned on.

[0103] The first pull-down resistor R1 is used to provide a discharge path for the first capacitor C1 when the first capacitor C1 is discharged, so that the first capacitor C1 can release its stored charge to the ground terminal more quickly through the first pull-down resistor R1, so that the first capacitor can be charged when the power supply circuit is disconnected next time, and the effect of delaying the conduction of the power supply circuit is accurately achieved.

[0104] When the power supply circuit is turned on, the current generated by the power supply 250 flows to the ice-crushing motor 120 through the switch 220. Since the circuit resistance on one side of the switch 220 is much smaller than the resistance of the first capacitor C1 in the first delay module 230, the power supply 250 stops charging the first capacitor C1. Therefore, the first capacitor C1 is discharged through the grounded first pull-down resistor R1 to prepare for the next charging and switch closing control; until the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor 120 is disconnected again, the power supply voltage output by the power supply 250 re-charges the first capacitor C1.

[0105] It should be noted that the first time length of the first delay module 230 controlling the switch 220 is determined by the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1. The faster the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1, the shorter the first time length; the slower the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1, the longer the first time length.

[0106] Optionally, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1 is determined according to a first time constant; the first time constant is less than or equal to the time it takes for the ice crushing motor 120 to recover from the maximum allowable temperature to the initial temperature when the power supply circuit is disconnected; the initial temperature is the temperature when the ice crushing motor 120 is initially operated. This ensures that the ice crushing motor has enough time to cool down after the power supply circuit is disconnected, thereby effectively protecting the ice crushing motor.

[0107] In some embodiments, Figure 4As shown, the first delay module 230 also includes a first current limiting resistor R2, which is connected in series with the first capacitor C1; the first current limiting resistor R2 is used to affect the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1. That is, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1 is affected by the capacity of the first capacitor C1 and the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor R2; the capacity of the first capacitor C1 and the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor R2 are determined according to the first time constant.

[0108] Since the time constant of an RC circuit (a circuit composed of a resistor and a capacitor) is the product of the resistance value of the resistor and the capacitance value of the capacitor, if the first time constant needs to be adjusted, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor C1 can be adjusted by adjusting the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor R2 and / or adjusting the capacity of the first capacitor C1.

[0109] In the embodiment of the present application, when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the voltage of the first capacitor C1 is increased by charging the first capacitor C1; when the voltage of the first capacitor C1 is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold, the switch 220 is closed, the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120 is turned on, and the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice crushing motor 120. In addition, by adjusting the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor, the current input to the first capacitor can be accurately controlled, so that the charging speed of the first capacitor can be accurately controlled, and the timing of turning on the power supply circuit can be accurately controlled to ensure that the ice crushing motor has enough time to cool down after the power supply circuit is disconnected, so as to ensure the normal operation of the ice crushing motor.

[0110] In some embodiments, Figure 5 As shown, the switch 220 may include a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and the gate of the MOS tube is connected to the first delay module and the second delay module respectively.

[0111] Since the MOS tube has the characteristic of high input impedance, its gate has little effect on the input signal. The on and off states of the MOS tube can be accurately controlled by changing the gate voltage, thereby realizing the control of the switch state. In addition, the power consumption of the MOS tube in the on and off states is relatively low, which helps to reduce the energy consumption of the entire protection circuit.

[0112] Optionally, the MOS tube that can be used includes a PMOS tube (P channel type) or an NMOS tube (N channel type) ( Figure 5 The MOS tube in the figure is an NMOS tube).

[0113] According to the characteristics of the MOS tube, when the MOS tube is used as a switch, the threshold of its gate voltage (i.e., the threshold voltage) is the key parameter that determines whether the MOS tube changes from an off state to an on state. The gate voltage threshold refers to the voltage difference between the gate and the source when the MOS tube starts to turn on. When the gate voltage exceeds the threshold voltage, the MOS tube changes from a cutoff state to an on state and begins to allow current to pass. Therefore, the first delay module and the second delay module are respectively connected to the gate of the MOS tube, and the gate voltage of the MOS tube is controlled to control the on or off of the MOS tube, thereby controlling the on and off of the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120.

[0114] The first delay module 230 is further used to increase the gate voltage of the MOS tube when the power supply loop is disconnected, so as to trigger the MOS tube to turn on when the gate voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold.

[0115] For example, Figure 5 As shown, the switch 220 uses an NMOS tube. When the power supply circuit is disconnected, the first delay module 230 can increase the gate voltage of the NMOS tube to trigger the NMOS tube to turn on when the gate voltage of the NMOS tube is greater than the gate voltage threshold (first voltage threshold), so that the NMOS tube allows current to flow from the power supply 250 to the ice-crushing motor 120, so that the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice-crushing motor 120.

[0116] The second delay module 240 is also used to reduce the gate voltage of the MOS tube after a second period of time when the ice crushing motor 120 performs an ice crushing operation, so as to trigger the MOS tube to be disconnected when the gate voltage is less than the first voltage threshold.

[0117] For example, Figure 5 As shown, when the ice-crushing motor 120 is running, the second delay module 240 reduces the gate voltage of the NMOS tube after the second time period, so as to trigger the NMOS tube to disconnect when the gate voltage of the NMOS tube is less than the gate voltage threshold (the first voltage threshold), so that the NMOS tube is in a cut-off state, and current is not allowed to flow, which is equivalent to a power supply circuit break, so that the power supply 250 cannot supply power to the ice-crushing motor 120.

[0118] In some embodiments, the second delay module 240 is further used to control the gate of the MOS tube to be grounded when the ice-crushing motor 120 performs an ice-crushing operation and after the second time period, so that the gate voltage drops to 0V.

[0119] Specifically, Figure 6As shown, the second delay module includes a second capacitor C2 and a transistor N1, the second capacitor C2 is connected to the ice crushing motor 120 and the transistor N1 respectively; the transistor N1 is connected to the gate of the MOS tube and the ground terminal respectively. Specifically, the base of the transistor N1 is connected to the second capacitor C2, the collector is connected to the gate of the MOS tube, and the emitter is grounded.

[0120] Since the change of the base current of the transistor can control the change of its collector current, the second capacitor C2 can be used to control whether the base voltage of the transistor N1 reaches the base turn-on voltage, thereby controlling the on and off of the transistor N1 to control whether the gate of the MOS tube is grounded.

[0121] The second capacitor C2 is used to charge according to the voltage output by the ice crushing motor 120 when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation, and trigger the transistor N1 to turn on when the voltage of the second capacitor C2 is greater than or equal to the second voltage threshold, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded; the second time length is the time length for charging the second capacitor.

[0122] The second voltage threshold is the threshold voltage of the base (also called the base turn-on voltage, usually 0.7V) when the transistor N1 operates in a saturation state.

[0123] When the ice-crushing motor is performing the ice-crushing operation, the ice-crushing motor 120 outputs a voltage to charge the second capacitor C2, so that the voltage across the second capacitor C2 gradually increases until the voltage of the second capacitor C2 reaches the base turn-on voltage, triggering the transistor N1 to turn on, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded through the collector and emitter of the transistor N1.

[0124] For example, Figure 6 As shown, the transistor N1 is an NPN transistor, and the ice-crushing motor continues to run to output voltage, so that the voltage of the second capacitor C2 increases to reach the second voltage threshold. The transistor N1 works in a saturated state, and the collector and the emitter are fully turned on. Since the emitter is grounded, the collector voltage is also 0V, and the gate voltage of the MOS tube drops to 0V, triggering the MOS tube to disconnect, and the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor 120 is disconnected, and the ice-crushing motor 120 stops the ice-crushing operation.

[0125] The second capacitor C2 is also used for discharging when the ice crushing motor 120 stops the ice crushing operation.

[0126] Since the ice-crushing motor 120 stops running, the ice-crushing motor 120 cannot output voltage, that is, the second capacitor C2 cannot be charged. Therefore, when the ice-crushing motor 120 stops the ice-crushing operation, the second capacitor C2 is discharged.

[0127] In some embodiments, the second delay module may further include a second pull-down resistor R3 connected in parallel with the second capacitor C2, and one end of the second pull-down resistor R3 is grounded. The second pull-down resistor R3 is used to provide a discharge path for the second capacitor C2 when the second capacitor C2 is discharged, so that the second capacitor C2 can release its stored charge to the ground terminal more quickly through the second pull-down resistor R3.

[0128] It should be noted that when the second capacitor C2 is discharged, the voltage across the second capacitor C2 decreases, so that the base voltage of the transistor N1 decreases, and the transistor N1 is disconnected, so that the gate of the MOS tube is not grounded.

[0129] In some embodiments, the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor C2 is determined based on a second time constant; the second time constant is less than or equal to the ice crushing completion time corresponding to the ice crushing motor 120, and the ice crushing completion time is determined based on the operating parameters of the ice crushing motor 120 and the volume of the ice storage device 130; and / or, the second time constant is less than or equal to the time it takes for the ice crushing motor 120 to rise from an initial temperature to a maximum allowable temperature when the ice crushing motor 120 is performing an ice crushing operation; the initial temperature is the temperature when the ice crushing motor 120 is initially operating.

[0130] In the embodiment of the present application, the second time constant is made less than or equal to the ice crushing completion time corresponding to the ice crushing motor 120, so as to ensure that the ice crushing motor 120 completes the ice crushing process of the ice cubes in the ice storage device 130 as much as possible. The second time constant is made less than or equal to the time when the ice crushing motor 120 rises from the initial temperature to the maximum allowable temperature when the ice crushing motor 120 is performing the ice crushing operation, so as to ensure that the ice crushing motor 120 stops the ice crushing operation before reaching the maximum allowable temperature, thereby preventing the occurrence of overheating due to long-term operation, so as to effectively protect the ice crushing motor 120.

[0131] In some embodiments, Figure 7 As shown, the second delay module 240 also includes a second current limiting resistor R4, which is connected in series with the second capacitor C2; the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor C2 is affected by the capacity of the second capacitor C2 and the resistance of the second current limiting resistor R4; the capacity of the second capacitor C2 and the resistance of the second current limiting resistor R4 are determined according to the second time constant.

[0132] In the embodiment of the present application, when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation, the second capacitor can be charged according to the voltage output by the ice crushing motor. When the voltage of the second capacitor reaches the second voltage threshold, the transistor connected to the gate of the MOS tube is turned on, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded, and the ice crushing motor can be stopped from being powered after the ice crushing motor has been running for a period of time, thereby avoiding the overheating problem caused by the long-term operation of the ice crushing motor. In addition, the capacitor and the transistor are both common components in the circuit, so that the protection circuit 200 can realize power supply control only through simple electronic components, without the need for additional temperature sensors or heat sinks, etc., which can reduce the cost of the ice making device. In addition, by adjusting the charging speed of the first capacitor C1, the switch 220 is controlled to be disconnected after the second time length, so as to realize accurate control of the running time of the ice crushing motor 120.

[0133] In some embodiments, the protection circuit 200 may further include a conversion module, which is respectively connected to the ice crushing motor 120 and the second delay module 240 , and is used to convert the three-phase AC voltage output by the ice crushing motor 120 into a DC voltage input to the second delay module 240 .

[0134] Specifically, Figure 8 As shown, the protection circuit 200 also includes an optocoupler OC, which is respectively connected to the ice crushing motor 120 and the second delay module 240; the optocoupler OC is used to convert the three-phase AC voltage output by the ice crushing motor 120 into a DC voltage when the ice crushing motor 120 is performing an ice crushing operation, and output the DC voltage to the second delay module 240, so as to power the second delay module 240 through the DC voltage.

[0135] In a specific embodiment, Figure 8 As shown, the ice crushing motor 120 includes a driver IC 150 and a motor 160, and the protection circuit 200 also includes a sampling resistor R5. When the ice crushing motor 120 is in the ice crushing operation, the power supply circuit supplies power to the driver IC 150 in the ice crushing motor 120, and the driver IC 150 outputs three-phase AC power (U phase, V phase and W phase respectively); wherein the W phase is connected to the motor 160, and is used to drive the motor 160 to rotate and perform ice crushing operation on ice cubes; a sampling resistor R5 is connected in parallel to the U phase and the V phase, and is used to collect the voltage on the U phase and the V phase, so as to monitor the working state of the circuit. The U phase and the V phase are also connected to the pin 1 and the pin 2 of the optical coupler OC respectively, and output voltage to the optical coupler OC, so that the optical coupler OC converts the output voltage into a DC voltage, thereby charging the second capacitor C2.

[0136] The optocoupler OC may include optical devices such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) and phototransistor. When the ice crushing motor 120 is in ice crushing operation, a three-phase AC voltage is output, and the three-phase AC voltage applies voltage to the light emitting diode (pin 1 and pin 2), so that the light emitting diode injects electrons into its PN junction, thereby sending a light signal to the phototransistor. In the photosensitive area of ​​the phototransistor, electron-hole pairs are generated upon receiving the light signal, and current is generated to form a DC voltage at the output end (pin 3). The optocoupler OC can not only convert the three-phase AC voltage into a DC voltage, but also realize the isolation between the ice crushing motor 120 and the second delay module 240, thereby ensuring the stability of the second delay module 240 and the ice crushing motor 120.

[0137] In some embodiments, Fig. 9 As shown, the protection circuit 200 further includes a controller 260, which is connected to the ice crushing motor 120; the controller 260 is used to send a control signal to the ice crushing motor 120 when receiving a user action signal.

[0138] The user action signal is a signal instructing the ice-making device 100 to start the ice crushing operation by the user, and the user action signal may include the ice taking operation performed by the user; the control signal is a signal instructing the ice crushing motor 120 to start the ice crushing operation by the controller 260.

[0139] The ice crushing motor 120 is also used to start running to perform ice crushing operation when the power supply circuit is turned on and a control signal is received.

[0140] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 110 may also have an interactive panel for interacting with the user and determining the user's action, so that the main control board 140 generates corresponding user action information according to the user's action on the interactive panel, and the main control board 140 sends the user action information to the corresponding module. For example, assuming that the user clicks on the relevant operation indicating the start of ice crushing in the interactive panel, the main control board 140 generates a user action signal for indicating the start of ice crushing and sends it to the controller 260; after receiving the user action signal, the controller 260 generates a control signal and sends the control signal to the ice crushing motor 120, so that the ice crushing motor 120 starts running when the power supply circuit is turned on and receives the control signal to start the ice crushing operation.

[0141] Specifically, the control signal may include a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control signal, a FB (Feedback) control signal, and a FR (Fault Indicator) signal. The PWM control signal is used to control the operating parameters of the ice crushing motor 120 (for example, by adjusting the duty cycle to adjust the speed of the ice crushing motor 120). The FB control signal is used to receive operating status feedback from the ice crushing motor 120. The FR signal is used to indicate a fault in the ice crushing motor 120 or a related circuit.

[0142] In the embodiment of the present application, even if the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120 is turned on, the ice crushing motor 120 will not start running immediately. Only when the user performs the ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on, the ice crushing motor 120 will start to crush the ice. On the one hand, the start-up of the ice crushing motor is completely controlled by the user, which increases the safety and flexibility of use; on the other hand, before the ice crushing motor receives the control signal, the ice crushing motor will not run even if the power supply circuit is turned on, thereby avoiding energy consumption caused by long-term idling of the ice crushing motor.

[0143] In some specific embodiments, Fig.10 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a protective circuit for an ice crushing motor in one embodiment. Fig.10 As shown, in the protection circuit 200 of the ice crushing motor 120, the NOMS tube is used as the switch 220, the first delay module 230 includes a first capacitor C1, and the second delay module 240 includes a second capacitor C2, a transistor N1 and an optical coupler OC.

[0144] Optionally, Fig.10 The controller 260 and the power supply 250 may be placed on the main control board 140 of the refrigerator 110 , and the protection circuit 200 may be installed on the driving board of the ice-making device 100 .

[0145] In some specific embodiments, the refrigerator 110 is powered on, and since the gate voltage of the NMOS tube in the protection circuit 200 is initially 0V, the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor 120 (composed of the power supply 250, the NMOS tube and the ice-crushing motor 120) is initially in a disconnected state, and therefore, the power supply 250 only supplies power to the first delay module 230.

[0146] The power supply voltage provided by the power supply 250 charges the first capacitor C1 through the first current limiting resistor R2 of the first delay module 230, so that the voltage across the first capacitor C1 increases until the voltage of the first capacitor C1 is greater than or equal to the gate threshold voltage (first voltage threshold) of the NMOS tube, triggering the NMOS tube to turn on, so that the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor 120 is turned on, and the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice-crushing motor 120, and the first capacitor C1 is discharged through the first pull-down resistor R1.

[0147] When the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor 120 is turned on, assuming that the user instructs the refrigerator 110 to start the ice crushing action through some means (such as buttons, touch screens, remote controls, etc.), the controller 260 generates a PWM control signal and sends it to the ice crushing motor 120 after receiving the user action information corresponding to the action. After receiving the control signal, the ice crushing motor 120 starts to run and performs the ice crushing operation. In addition, after the ice crushing motor 120 starts to run, it outputs a three-phase AC voltage, which is converted into a DC voltage through the optical coupler OC of the second delay module 240 to power the second delay module 240.

[0148] According to the DC voltage converted by the optocoupler OC, the second capacitor C2 is charged through the second current limiting resistor R4 of the second delay module 240, so that the voltage across the second capacitor C2 increases until the voltage of the second capacitor C2 reaches the base turn-on voltage (second voltage threshold) of the transistor N1, so that the transistor N1 is turned on, and the gate of the NMOS tube is grounded, and the gate voltage drops to 0V, causing the NMOS tube to be disconnected, the power supply circuit of the ice-crushing motor 120 to be disconnected, and the power supply 250 stops supplying power to the ice-crushing motor 120, then the ice-crushing motor 120 stops running, and the second capacitor C2 is discharged through the second pull-down resistor R3.

[0149] The power supply 250 recharges the first capacitor C1 of the first delay module 230, and the voltage across the first capacitor C1 increases again, so that the gate voltage of the MOS tube increases again. The above description is repeated.

[0150] In the embodiment of the present application, the protection circuit 200 controls the conduction and disconnection of the NMOS tube by charging and discharging the first capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2, thereby controlling whether the power supply 250 supplies power to the ice crushing motor 120 by controlling the conduction of the power supply circuit, so that the ice crushing motor 120 can be powered after the first time period when the power supply circuit is disconnected; it can also make the ice crushing motor 120 stop running after the second time period when the ice crushing operation is in progress, so as to avoid the problem of overheating of the driver IC due to the long operation time of the ice crushing motor 120. Moreover, within the first time period when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the temperature of the driver IC can gradually drop, and then the ice crushing motor 120 can be powered again to ensure the normal operation of the ice crushing motor 120. In addition, the protection circuit 200 only uses common components in the circuit to achieve the above protection effect, without the need for additional temperature sensors or heat sinks, which can reduce the cost of the ice crushing motor 120.

[0151] In some embodiments, a protection circuit for an ice-crushing motor is provided. The protection circuit for the ice-crushing motor includes one or more of the following components: an ice-crushing motor, a switch, a first delay module, a controller, and a second delay module.

[0152] The ice crushing motor and the power supply form a power supply circuit.

[0153] The switch is connected in series in the power supply circuit.

[0154] The first delay module is connected to the switch and the power supply respectively. When the power supply circuit is disconnected, the first delay module is used to enter the first delay state to control the switch to close after the first time length so that the power supply circuit is turned on and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor.

[0155] The ice crushing motor is also used to start and run to perform ice crushing operation when the user performs ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on.

[0156] The second delay module is connected to the switch and the ice crushing motor respectively. The second delay module is used to enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation to control the switch to disconnect after the second time length, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

[0157] In this embodiment, when the power supply circuit is disconnected, the first delay module will enter the first delay state to close the switch after the first time period to provide cooling time for the ice crushing motor, avoid restarting the ice crushing motor in an overheated state, and reduce damage to the ice crushing motor. The ice crushing motor will start running when the user performs an ice-taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on. The second delay module will enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor performs an ice crushing operation to disconnect the power supply circuit after the second time period to prevent the ice crushing motor from running for a long time and causing the driver IC to overheat, thereby protecting the ice crushing motor.

[0158] In some embodiments, a protection circuit for an ice-crushing motor is provided. The protection circuit for the ice-crushing motor includes one or more of the following components: an ice-crushing motor, a switch, a controller, and a second delay module.

[0159] The ice crushing motor and the power supply form a power supply circuit.

[0160] The switch is connected in series in the power supply circuit.

[0161] The ice crushing motor is also used to start and run to perform ice crushing operation when the user performs ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on.

[0162] The second delay module is connected to the switch and the ice crushing motor respectively. The second delay module is used to enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation to control the switch to disconnect after the second time length, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

[0163] In this embodiment, the second delay module can enter the second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation, so as to disconnect the switch at the second time length to disconnect the power supply circuit and stop supplying power to the ice crushing motor. The ice crushing motor can be stopped after running for a period of time, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive temperature of the driver IC due to long-term operation of the ice crushing motor, thereby protecting the ice crushing motor.

[0164] In some embodiments, an ice-making device 100 is provided, comprising a protection circuit 200 for the ice-crushing motor 120 as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0165] In some embodiments, a refrigerator 110 is provided, comprising the ice-making device 100 as described in the above embodiments.

[0166] like Fig.11 As shown, in one embodiment, a power supply control method for an ice crushing motor is provided, which can be applied to the ice making device 100 or the refrigerator 110, and is used to control the power supply of the ice crushing motor 120, and the ice crushing motor 120 includes an ice crushing motor protection circuit 200. The method may include the following steps 1102 to 1104.

[0167] Step 1102: when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, the switch in the power supply circuit is controlled to close after a first time period by the first delay module, so that the power supply circuit is turned on and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor.

[0168] Step 1104: when the ice crushing motor is performing the ice crushing operation, the switch is controlled by the second delay module to be disconnected after the second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

[0169] In some embodiments, the step is to control the switch in the power supply circuit to close after a first time period by using the first delay module when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, including: when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, boosting the supply voltage output by the power supply by using the first delay module, and controlling the switch to close when the boosted voltage is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold; the first time period is the time period for the first delay module to boost the voltage.

[0170] Optionally, the step includes: when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, boosting the supply voltage output by the power supply through the first delay module, and controlling the switch to close when the boosted voltage is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold, including: when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, charging the first capacitor according to the supply voltage output by the power supply, and when the voltage of the first capacitor is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold, controlling the switch to close through the first delay module to turn on the power supply circuit.

[0171] Optionally, the above method further includes: when the power supply circuit is turned on, the first capacitor is discharged.

[0172] In some embodiments, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor is determined based on a first time constant, which is less than or equal to the time it takes for the ice crushing motor to recover from the maximum allowable temperature to the initial temperature when the power supply circuit is disconnected; the initial temperature is the temperature when the ice crushing motor is initially running.

[0173] Optionally, the charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor is affected by the capacity of the first capacitor and the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor; the capacity of the first capacitor and the resistance value of the first current limiting resistor are determined according to the first time constant.

[0174] Optionally, the switch includes a field effect MOS tube.

[0175] In some embodiments, when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, the step of controlling the switch in the power supply circuit to close after a first time period through the first delay module to turn on the power supply circuit includes: when the power supply circuit is disconnected, increasing the gate voltage of the MOS tube through the first delay module to trigger the MOS tube to turn on when the gate voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold.

[0176] The step is to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period by a second delay module when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to disconnect the power supply circuit, including: when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, and after the second time period, to reduce the gate voltage of the MOS tube by the second delay module, so as to trigger the MOS tube to be disconnected when the gate voltage is less than a first voltage threshold.

[0177] Optionally, the step includes: when the ice-crushing motor is performing an ice-crushing operation and after a second time period, reducing the gate voltage of the MOS tube through a second delay module to trigger the MOS tube to disconnect when the gate voltage is less than a first voltage threshold, including: when the ice-crushing motor is performing an ice-crushing operation and after a second time period, controlling the gate of the MOS tube to be grounded through the second delay module to reduce the gate voltage to 0V.

[0178] In some embodiments, the steps include: when the ice-crushing motor is performing an ice-crushing operation and after a second time period, controlling the gate of the MOS tube to be grounded through a second delay module, including: when the ice-crushing motor is performing an ice-crushing operation, charging the second capacitor according to the voltage output by the ice-crushing motor, and triggering the transistor to turn on when the voltage of the second capacitor is greater than or equal to a second voltage threshold, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded, and the second time period is the time period for charging the second capacitor.

[0179] Optionally, the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor is determined according to a second time constant; the second time constant is less than or equal to the ice crushing completion time corresponding to the ice crushing motor, and the ice crushing completion time is determined according to the operating parameters of the ice crushing motor and the volume of the ice holding device; and / or, the second time constant is less than or equal to the time it takes for the ice crushing motor to rise from an initial temperature to a maximum allowable temperature when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation; the initial temperature is the temperature when the ice crushing motor is initially operating.

[0180] Optionally, the charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor is affected by the capacity of the second capacitor and the resistance value of the second current limiting resistor; the capacity of the second capacitor and the resistance value of the second current limiting resistor are determined according to the second time constant.

[0181] In some embodiments, the above method also includes: when the ice crushing motor performs an ice crushing operation, the three-phase AC voltage output by the ice crushing motor is converted into a DC voltage through an optocoupler, and the DC voltage is output to the second delay module to power the second delay module through the DC voltage.

[0182] In some embodiments, the above method also includes: when a user action signal is received, sending a control signal to the ice crushing motor through the controller; and when the user performs an ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on, starting the ice crushing motor to perform an ice crushing operation.

[0183] In an embodiment of the present application, when the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected, the ice making device or refrigerator controls the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit to close after the first time length through the first delay module, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is turned on, so that the power supply circuit of the ice crushing motor is disconnected for the first time length, and the ice crushing motor is powered again. When the ice crushing motor is performing ice crushing operation, the switch connected in series in the power supply circuit is controlled to be disconnected after the second time length through the second delay module, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected, and then the ice crushing motor stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor after running for the second time length, so that the ice crushing motor can stop the ice crushing operation after running for a period of time, avoiding the problem of excessive temperature of the driver IC caused by the long-term operation of the ice crushing motor. Moreover, within the first time length of the power supply circuit being disconnected, the temperature of the driver IC can gradually drop, and then the ice crushing motor can be powered again to ensure the normal operation of the ice crushing motor. In addition, the power supply control of the ice crushing motor can be realized only by simple electronic components, without the need for additional temperature sensors or heat sinks, which can reduce the cost of the ice crushing motor.

[0184] It should be understood that the "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mentioned throughout the specification means that the specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Therefore, "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. Those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in the specification are all optional embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required for the present application.

[0185] In the various embodiments of the present application, it should be understood that the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0186] The technical features of the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0187] The above is a detailed introduction to a protection circuit and a power supply control method for an ice crushing motor disclosed in an embodiment of the present application. This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and core idea of ​​the present application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of ​​the present application, there will be changes in the specific implementation method and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present application.

Claims

1. A protection circuit for an ice crushing motor, characterized in that: include: An ice-crushing motor, wherein the ice-crushing motor and a power supply form a power supply circuit; A switch, connected in series in the power supply circuit; A first delay module is connected to the power supply and the switch respectively, and the first delay module is used to control the switch to close after a first time period when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so that the power supply circuit is turned on, and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor; The second delay module is connected to the ice crushing motor and the switch, respectively. The second delay module is used to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor; when the second delay module controls the switch to be disconnected, the first delay module controls the switch to be closed after the first time period.

2. The protection circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first delay module is used to boost the supply voltage output by the power supply when the power supply circuit is disconnected, and control the switch to close when the boosted voltage is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold; The first duration is the duration of voltage boosting of the first delay module.

3. The protection circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first delay module includes a first capacitor, and the first capacitor is connected to the switch; The first capacitor is used to charge according to the supply voltage output by the power supply when the power supply circuit is disconnected, and to control the switch to close when the voltage of the first capacitor is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold so as to turn on the power supply circuit; The first capacitor is also used for discharging when the power supply circuit is turned on.

4. The protection circuit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The charging speed corresponding to the first capacitor is determined according to the first time constant; The first time constant is less than or equal to the time taken by the ice crushing motor to recover from the maximum allowable temperature to the initial temperature when the power supply circuit is disconnected; The initial temperature is the temperature at which the ice crushing motor initially operates.

5. The protection circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The switch comprises a field effect MOS tube, and the gate of the MOS tube is respectively connected to the first delay module and the second delay module; The first delay module is further used to increase the gate voltage of the MOS tube when the power supply circuit is disconnected, so as to trigger the MOS tube to be turned on when the gate voltage is greater than or equal to a first voltage threshold; The second delay module is further used to reduce the gate voltage of the MOS tube after a second period of time when the ice-crushing motor performs an ice-crushing operation, so as to trigger the MOS tube to disconnect when the gate voltage is less than the first voltage threshold.

6. The protection circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second delay module is further used for controlling the gate of the MOS tube to be grounded when the ice-crushing motor performs an ice-crushing operation and after a second time period, so that the gate voltage drops to 0V.

7. The protection circuit according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second delay module includes a second capacitor and a transistor, the second capacitor is connected to the ice crushing motor and the transistor respectively; the transistor is connected to the gate and the ground end of the MOS tube respectively; The second capacitor is used to charge according to the voltage output by the ice crushing motor when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, and to trigger the transistor to turn on when the voltage of the second capacitor is greater than or equal to a second voltage threshold, so that the gate of the MOS tube is grounded; the second time length is the time length for charging the second capacitor.

8. The protection circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that: The charging speed corresponding to the second capacitor is determined according to the second time constant; The second time constant is less than or equal to the ice crushing completion time corresponding to the ice crushing motor, and the ice crushing completion time is determined according to the operating parameters of the ice crushing motor and the volume of the ice storage device; and / or, the second time constant is less than or equal to the time taken for the ice crushing motor to rise from an initial temperature to a maximum allowable temperature when the ice crushing motor performs an ice crushing operation; The initial temperature is the temperature at which the ice crushing motor initially operates.

9. A protective circuit for an ice crushing motor, characterized in that: include: An ice-crushing motor, wherein the ice-crushing motor and a power supply form a power supply circuit; A switch, connected in series in the power supply circuit; a first delay module, connected to the switch and the power supply, respectively, and used for, when the power supply circuit is disconnected, entering a first delay state to control the switch to close after a first time length, so that the power supply circuit is turned on, and the power supply supplies power to the ice crushing motor; The ice crushing motor is also used to start running to perform ice crushing operation when the user performs ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on; The second delay module is connected to the switch and the ice crushing motor respectively. The second delay module is used to enter a second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

10. A protection circuit for an ice crushing motor, characterized in that: include: An ice-crushing motor, wherein the ice-crushing motor and a power supply form a power supply circuit; A switch, connected in series in the power supply circuit; The ice crushing motor is also used to start running to perform ice crushing operation when the user performs ice taking operation and the power supply circuit is turned on; The second delay module is connected to the switch and the ice crushing motor respectively. The second delay module is used to enter a second delay state when the ice crushing motor is performing an ice crushing operation, so as to control the switch to be disconnected after a second time period, so that the power supply circuit is disconnected and the power supply stops supplying power to the ice crushing motor.

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