Soft-start control method and soft-start control device

Abstract

A soft-start control method and a soft-start control device are provided. The soft-start control device includes a microprocessor, a control unit, a drive circuit board, a switching device, and a fine-tuning program. The control unit sends a forward continuous signal to the switching device to gradually bring the switching device into a completely turned-on state, and the control unit sends a reverse continuous signal to the switching device to gradually bring the switching device into a completely turned-off state. The fine-tuning program calculates the average turned-on time and / or the average turned-off time of the switching device to obtain a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-on operation and / or a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a soft-start control device and a method of controlling the soft-start control device. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method that allow a fluid receiving device, such as one or a plurality of air pockets or air bags, to be regulated in a pneumatic manner.2. Description of Related Art

[0002] A common massage device generally uses a motor to drive one or more rollers to apply pressure of different magnitudes. Such massage devices require complicated motors and gears and a variety of rollers. It is difficult, however, for a hard roller to produce a gentle kneading effect.

[0003] Besides, existing devices that can be pneumatically adjusted, such as hospital beds, only allow their air pockets to be slowly adjusted to a fixed state, meaning the air pockets do not have a massage function.

[0004] Therefore, it has become an important issue in the related technical fields to improve the existing structural designs and overcome the aforesaid shortcomings by using a fluid to provide pulsed up-and-down movements, the objective being to enhance the pulsing effect of, for example, a massage device.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a soft-start control method that can overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by effecting an instantaneous increase and / or decrease in volume of a fluid receiving device, i.e., a variation of the space in the fluid receiving device, so as to produce the desired massaging effect.

[0006] To solve the foregoing technical problem, one of the technical solutions adopted by the present invention is to provide a soft-start control method that comprises the following steps: providing a microprocessor, which steps includes: providing a control unit for performing the steps of: sending a forward continuous signal to a switching device such that the switching device enters a completely turned-on state; and sending a reverse continuous signal to the switching device such that the switching device enters a completely turned-off state; and providing a fine-tuning program for calculating the average turned-on time and / or the average turned-off time of the switching device in order to obtain a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-on operation and / or a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.

[0007] To solve the foregoing technical problem, the other one of the technical solutions adopted by the present invention is to provide a soft-start control device that comprises a microprocessor comprising: a control unit having a drive circuit board, wherein the control unit sends a forward continuous signal through the drive circuit board to a switching device to gradually bring the switching device into a completely turned-on state, and the control unit sends a reverse continuous signal through the drive circuit board to the switching device to gradually bring the switching device into a completely turned-off state; and a fine-tuning program for calculating an average turned-on time and / or an average turned-off time of the switching device in order to obtain a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-on operation and / or a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The structures and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objectives can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 schematically shows the soft-start control device in the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 schematically shows the soft-start control device in the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the forward continuous signal-induced turned-on state in the second embodiment of the invention is reached; Fig. 4 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the reverse continuous signal-induced turned-off state in the second embodiment of the invention is reached; Fig. 5 shows test results of the soft-start control device in the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 schematically shows the soft-start control device in the third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a simulated enlarged view of the area marked by the dashed-line circle in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the intelligent control system-induced turned-on state in the third embodiment of the invention is reached; and Fig. 9 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the intelligent control system-induced turned-off state in the third embodiment of the invention is reached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION[First embodiment]

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1, the present invention provides a soft-start control device that includes a microprocessor 1, a control unit 10, a switching device 20, and a fine-turning program 30.

[0010] The microprocessor 1 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a controller, or a multiplexer.

[0011] The control unit 10 has a drive circuit board 101. The drive circuit board 101 uses a pump 40 as the power source of the switching device 20 and performs a turning-on operation and / or a turning-off operation on the switching device 20 through the pump 40.

[0012] The switching device 20 is in the form of a valve. More specifically, the switching device 20 may be a valve, a solenoid valve, a proportional valve, a multiway valve, or a piezoelectric valve. The control unit 10 sends a forward continuous signal through the drive circuit board 101 to the switching device 20 to gradually bring the switching device 20 into a completely turned-on state. The control unit 10 sends a reverse continuous signal through the drive circuit board 101 to the switching device 20 to gradually bring the switching device 20 into a completely turned-off state. The switching device 20 is used to turn on and / or off a receiving device such as an air pocket 50 or an air bag.

[0013] The fine-tuning program 30 makes a time-phased adjustment to the turned-on state of the switching device 20 and makes a time-phased adjustment to the turned-off state of the switching device 20. The fine-tuning program 30 further calculates the average turned-on time and / or the average turned-off time of the switching device 20 to obtain a value that constitutes a control interval for optimal turning-on operation and / or a value that constitutes a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.

[0014] The soft-start control device of the present invention can send the forward (i.e., from off to on) signal or the reverse (i.e., from on to off) signal to the switching device 20 through the control unit 10 in real time so as to obtain an optimized control signal and prevent the switching device 20 from making an overly loud noise during a repeated cyclic switch between the forward signal and the reverse signal.[Embodiment 2]

[0015] Referring to Fig. 2, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the switching device 20 is provided as a valve-based switching device, in which the valve is a three-way valve by way of example.

[0016] Once activated, the control unit 10 uses the drive circuit board 101 to control the pump 40 in order for the pump 40 to output a fluid. The fluid enters an air inlet 202 to turn on or off the three-way valve 201 of the switching device 20. Then, the three-way valve 201 of the switching device 20 inputs the fluid into the air pocket 50 or the air bag through an air outlet 203. Alternatively, the three-way valve 201 of the switching device 20 may discharge the fluid into the atmosphere through a pressure relief outlet 204.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the forward continuous signal-induced turned-on state in the second embodiment of the present invention is reached.

[0018] After being activated, the control unit performs a turning-on operation on the switching device. The fine-tuning program makes a time-phased adjustment to the turned-on state of the switching device and calculates the average turned-on time of the switching device. Then, the system determines whether or not the switching device has been gradually brought into the completely turned-on state.

[0019] If the system determines that the switching device has yet to reach the completely turned-on state (as indicated by "no" in the flowchart), the operation of turning on the switching device will be performed again. If, conversely, the system determines that the completely turned-on state is achieved (as indicated by "yes" in the flowchart), the system will set the current turning-on operation time as a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-on operation.

[0020] Fig. 4 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the reverse continuous signal-induced turned-off state in the second embodiment of the present invention is reached.

[0021] After being activated, the control unit performs a turning-off operation on the switching device. The fine-tuning program makes a time-phased adjustment to the turned-off state of the switching device and calculates the average turned-off time of the switching device. Then, the system determines whether or not the switching device has been gradually brought into the completely turned-off state.

[0022] If the system determines that the switching device has yet to reach the completely turned-off state (as indicated by "no" in the flowchart), the operation of turning off the switching device will be performed again. If, conversely, the system determines that the completely turned-off state is achieved (as indicated by "yes" in the flowchart), the system will set the current turning-off operation time as a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.

[0023] Fig. 5 shows test results of the soft-start control device in the second embodiment of the present invention. The test environment for this embodiment includes the following testing conditions: the switching device to be switched on / off was a switching device based on a three-way valve, the pump was an air pump, and the receiving device was a single air pocket.

[0024] When the three-way valve was turned on without using the soft-start circuit, the noise level was as high as 55.6 dB. When the three-way valve was turned on by the forward continuous signal of the soft-start circuit, the noise level was slightly reduced to 53.9 dB. When the three-way valve was turned on by an alternation of the forward continuous signal and the reverse continuous signal of the soft-start circuit, the noise level was significantly reduced to 44.6 dB.

[0025] The foregoing experimental data proves that, with the control unit sending the forward (i.e., from off to on) signal and the reverse (i.e., from on to off) signal to the switching device, the soft-start control system in this embodiment is indeed capable of not only obtaining optimized control signals, but also preventing the switching device from making an exceedingly loud noise while the forward continuous signal and the reverse continuous signal are being repeatedly switched between each other in a cyclic manner.[Third embodiment]

[0026] Referring to Fig. 6, the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the switching device 20 is provided with an intelligent control system 21 and a channel 22.

[0027] The intelligent control system 21 is set with an on mode and an off mode. The intelligent control system 21 provides an on-mode signal to gradually bring the switching device 20 from the turned-off state into an optimal turned-on state. The intelligent control system 21 provides an off-mode signal to gradually bring the switching device 20 from the turned-on state to an optimal turned-off state.

[0028] In this embodiment, the intelligent control system 21 achieves an optimal on-mode fluid amount and an optimal off-mode fluid amount of the channel 22 by pulse-width modulation (PWM).

[0029] Fig. 7 is a simulated enlarged view of the area marked by the dashed-line circle in Fig. 6. When the pump 40 outputs a fluid, the fluid enters the switching device 20 through an air inlet.

[0030] A valve assembly 23 in the switching device 20 opens or closes the channel 22 (by being pulled by a force in one of two opposite lateral directions) as is determined by the intelligent control system 21. The intelligent control system 21 allows an optimal on-mode fluid amount and an optimal off-mode fluid amount of the channel 22 to be achieved.

[0031] Fig. 8 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the intelligent control system-induced turned-on state in the third embodiment of the present invention is reached. After being activated by the intelligent control system, the valve assembly is turned on and thereby performs a turning-on operation on the switching device while the intelligent control system carries out PWM. It is subsequently determined whether or not an optimal on-mode fluid amount has been reached.

[0032] If the system determines that the optimal on-mode fluid amount has yet to be reached (as indicated by "no" in the flowchart), the operation of turning on the valve assembly will be performed again. If, conversely, the system determines that the optimal on-mode fluid amount is reached (as indicated by "yes" in the flowchart), the system will set the current turning-on operation time as usable to turn on the valve assembly to achieve an optimal on-mode fluid amount.

[0033] Fig. 9 shows the process flow of determining whether or not the intelligent control system-induced turned-off state in the third embodiment of the present invention is reached. After being activated by the intelligent control system, the valve assembly is turned off and thereby performs a turning-off operation on the switching device while the intelligent control system carries out PWM. It is subsequently determined whether or not an optimal off-mode fluid amount has been reached.

[0034] If the system determines that the optimal off-mode fluid amount has yet to be reached (as indicated by "no" in the flowchart), the operation of turning off the valve assembly will be performed again. If, conversely, the system determines that the optimal off-mode fluid amount is reached (as indicated by "yes" in the flowchart), the system will set the current turning-off operation time as usable to turn off the valve assembly to achieve an optimal off-mode fluid amount.

[0035] The above description is based on only some preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention in any way. Although the invention has been disclosed above by way of the preferred embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that equivalent embodiments can be achieved by modifying, varying, or making equivalent changes to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the invention. Any simple modification or equivalent change that is made to the above embodiments according to the material contents of the invention shall fall within the scope of the technical solution of the invention.

Claims

1. A soft-start control method, comprising the steps of: providing a microprocessor, which step comprises: providing a control unit for performing the steps of: sending a forward continuous signal to a switching device in order to bring the switching device into a completely turned-on state; and sending a reverse continuous signal to the switching device in order to bring the switching device into a completely turned-off state; and providing a fine-tuning program for calculating an average turned-on time and / or an average turned-off time of the switching device in order to obtain a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-on operation and / or a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.

2. The soft-start control method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by further comprising the steps of: providing a pump as a power source of the switching device, and performing a turning-on operation and / or a turning-off operation on the switching device through the pump.

3. The soft-start control method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit sends the forward (i.e., from off to on) continuous signal and the reverse (i.e., from on to off) continuous signal to the switching device to obtain optimized control signals and to reduce a switching sound of the switching device.

4. The soft-start control method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the switching device has a channel and an intelligent control system.

5. The soft-start control method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: the intelligent control system has a turned-on mode and a turned-off mode, the intelligent control system provides an on-mode signal to bring the switching device from a turned-off state gradually into an optimal turned-on state, and the intelligent control system provides an off-mode signal to bring the switching device from a turned-on state gradually into an optimal turned-off state.

6. The soft-start control method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: by pulse-width modulation (PWM), the intelligent control system allows the channel to have an optimal on-mode fluid amount and an optimal off-mode fluid amount.

7. The soft-start control method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by further comprising the steps of: making a time-phased adjustment to a turned-on state of the switching device by the fine-tuning program, and making a time-phased adjustment to a turned-off state of the switching device by the fine-tuning program.

8. A soft-start control device, comprising: a microprocessor comprising: a control unit having a drive circuit board, wherein the control unit sends a forward continuous signal through the drive circuit board to a switching device to gradually bring the switching device into a completely turned-on state, and the control unit sends a reverse continuous signal through the drive circuit board to the switching device to gradually bring the switching device into a completely turned-off state; and a fine-tuning program for calculating an average turned-on time and / or an average turned-off time of the switching device in order to obtain a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-on operation and / or a value constituting a control interval for optimal turning-off operation.

9. The soft-start control device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the microprocessor is a central processing unit (CPU), a controller, or a multiplexer.

10. The soft-start control device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the drive circuit board performs a turning-on operation and / or a turning-off operation on the switching device through a pump.

11. The soft-start control device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the switching device is a valve, a solenoid valve, a proportional valve, a multiway valve, or a piezoelectric valve.

12. The soft-start control device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: the switching device is used to turn on and / or off a receiving device, and the receiving device is an air pocket or an air bag.

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