CN-121986425-A - Improvements relating to the power supply of home appliances with ALCI functionality

Abstract

An equipment leakage circuit breaker (ALCI) apparatus with self-test or "auto-monitor" functionality includes a leakage current detection circuit module configured to receive a phase current signal from a current sensor, determine the presence of a leakage current based on the phase current signal, output a solenoid trigger signal if a leakage current is detected, and output a leakage test signal indicating an active auto-monitor test state or an inactive auto-monitor test state of the leakage current detection circuit module. The device leakage breaker apparatus further includes a trigger signal modifier circuit module configured to receive the solenoid trigger signal, receive the leakage test signal, and output a corresponding solenoid trigger signal to the solenoid switching device if the leakage test signal indicates that the leakage current detection circuit module is in an active automatic monitoring test state. The trigger signal modifier circuit module is functionally integrated with the leakage current detection circuit module, enhancing functionality by issuing an extended unchanged trigger signal in the event of automatic monitoring being active, thereby enabling more reliable solenoid triggering.

Inventors

• Y.Liao
• S.K.Zhou
• S.CHEN
• WANG YING
• Y.HUANG
• N .en
• J.LIN

Assignees

• 戴森运营私人有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240926

Priority Date

20231002

Claims (20)

1. 1. An equipment leakage circuit breaker (ALCI) apparatus having a self-test function, the ALCI apparatus comprising: a leakage current detection circuit module configured to: receiving a phase current signal from a current sensor; Determining the presence of a leakage current based on the phase current signal; Outputting a solenoid trigger signal in the event of detection of leakage current, and Outputting a leak test signal indicating an active automatic monitor test state or an inactive automatic monitor test state of the leak current detection circuit module, A trigger signal modifier circuit module configured to: Receiving a solenoid trigger signal; receiving a leak test signal, and If the leakage test signal indicates that the leakage current detection circuit module is in an active automatic monitoring test state, a corresponding solenoid trigger signal is output to the solenoid switching device.
2. 2. The apparatus leakage breaker device of claim 1, wherein the solenoid trigger signal is output during a positive AC wave half cycle, and wherein the corresponding solenoid trigger signal is output in a subsequent negative AC wave half cycle.
3. 3. The equipment leakage breaker apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger signal modifier circuit module is further configured to: If the leak test signal indicates that the leak current detection circuit module is in an inactive automatic monitoring test state, a modified solenoid trigger signal is output to the solenoid switching device, wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal has a duration that is equal to a duration of the solenoid trigger signal extended in time by a predetermined period of time.
4. 4. A device residual current circuit breaker arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent positive AC wave half cycle.
5. 5. The equipment leakage breaker apparatus of claim 2, wherein the solenoid trigger signal is output during a negative AC wave half cycle, and wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal is output in a subsequent positive AC wave half cycle.
6. 6. The apparatus residual current circuit breaker device of claim 5 wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent negative AC wave cycle.
7. 7. The equipment leakage breaker apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than 5 milliseconds.
8. 8. The apparatus residual current circuit breaker device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than 10 milliseconds.
9. 9. The apparatus residual current circuit breaker device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 20 milliseconds.
10. 10. The apparatus residual current circuit breaker device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined period of time is 15 milliseconds.
11. 11. The device leakage breaker device of any preceding claim, wherein the trigger signal modifier circuit module is a mixed signal integrated circuit.
12. 12. The equipment leakage circuit breaker apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the trigger signal modifier circuit module is configured to determine that the leakage test signal indicates that the leakage current detection circuit module is in an active automatic monitoring test state if the leakage test signal occurs within 180 degrees of the AC phase before the solenoid trigger signal occurs.
13. 13. The device leakage breaker device of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the trigger signal modifier circuit module is configured to determine that the leakage current detection circuit module is in an active automatic monitoring test state based on a predetermined time interval from a previous active automatic monitoring state.
14. 14. The apparatus leakage breaker apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the trigger signal modifier circuit module receives a clock signal synchronized with the phase current signal, and wherein the trigger signal modifier circuit module outputs the clock signal to the leakage current detection circuit module.
15. 15. An equipment leakage circuit breaker (ALCI) apparatus having a self-test function, the ALCI apparatus comprising: a leakage current detection circuit module configured to: receiving a phase current signal from a current sensor; Determining the presence of a leakage current based on the phase current signal; Outputting a solenoid trigger signal in the event of detection of leakage current, and Outputting a leak test signal indicating an active automatic monitor test state or an inactive automatic monitor test state of the leak current detection circuit module, A trigger signal modifier circuit module configured to: Receiving a solenoid trigger signal; receiving a leak test signal, and Outputting a modified solenoid trigger signal to the solenoid switching device if the leak test signal indicates that the leak current detection circuit module is in an inactive automatic monitoring test state, wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal has a duration that is equal to a duration of the solenoid trigger signal extended in time by a predetermined period of time.
16. 16. The equipment leakage breaker apparatus of claim 15, wherein the solenoid trigger signal is output during a positive AC wave half cycle, and wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal is output in a subsequent negative AC wave half cycle.
17. 17. The equipment leakage breaker device of claim 16, wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent positive AC wave half cycle.
18. 18. The equipment leakage breaker apparatus of claim 15, wherein the solenoid trigger signal is output during a negative AC wave half cycle, and wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal is output in a subsequent positive AC wave half cycle.
19. 19. The equipment leakage breaker device of claim 18, wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent negative AC wave cycle.
20. 20. The equipment leakage breaker apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than 5 milliseconds.

Description

Improvements relating to the power supply of home appliances with ALCI functionality Background Home appliances, particularly hair care appliances, are commonly used to care or style hair, and some hair care appliances may use air flow and heat to care or style hair. Such hair care appliances are typically held by a user and moved relative to the hair to achieve a desired care or styling. Other appliances, such as space heaters and hand dryers, may also output a heated air stream. For safety purposes, such appliances may be equipped with a power shut-off system configured to shut off power to the appliance in response to detecting a potentially unsafe operating condition. Such a breaking system may be referred to as a circuit breaker or residual current device. Other technical terms may also be suitable. Disclosure of Invention A first aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus earth leakage circuit breaker (ALCI) device having a self-test function, also referred to as an automatic monitoring function. The ALCI apparatus includes a leakage current detection circuit module configured to receive a phase current signal from a current sensor, determine the presence of a leakage current based on the phase current signal, output a solenoid trigger signal if a leakage current is detected, and output a leakage test signal that indicates an active or inactive auto-monitor test state of the leakage current detection circuit module. The device leakage breaker apparatus further includes a trigger signal modifier circuit module configured to receive the solenoid trigger signal, receive the leakage test signal, and output a corresponding solenoid trigger signal to the solenoid switching device if the leakage test signal indicates that the leakage current detection circuit module is in an active automatic monitoring test state. An advantage of this arrangement is that the trigger signal modifier circuit module is functionally integrated with the leakage current detection circuit module, enhancing functionality by issuing an extended unchanged trigger signal in case of automatic monitoring being active, whereby a more reliable solenoid triggering can be achieved. For example, assuming that the solenoid trigger signal can only be output during a negative AC wave half cycle when automatically monitoring is in an active state, if the trigger signal occurs during a positive AC wave half cycle, the leakage current detection circuit module will delay the solenoid trigger signal at least until the negative AC wave half cycle. In another example, assuming that the solenoid trigger signal can only be output during a positive AC wave half cycle when automatically monitoring is active, if the trigger signal occurs during a negative AC wave half cycle, the leakage current detection circuit module will delay the solenoid trigger signal at least until the positive AC wave half cycle. However, in an example where automatic monitoring is active, the leakage current detection circuit module may output a modified solenoid trigger signal. The modified solenoid trigger signal may have a duration equal to the duration of the solenoid trigger signal extended by a predetermined period of time. This is particularly beneficial when leakage is detected late during the AC wave cycle such that the energy to trigger the solenoid may be insufficient. The solenoid trigger signal may be output under different conditions. For example, the solenoid trigger signal may be output during a positive AC wave half cycle, and wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal is output in a subsequent negative AC wave half cycle. In these cases, the predetermined period of time may be selected to be sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent positive AC wave half cycle. Alternatively, the solenoid trigger signal may be output during a negative AC wave half cycle, and wherein the modified solenoid trigger signal is output in a subsequent positive AC wave half cycle. In this case, the predetermined period of time is sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent negative AC wave cycle. For example, the extension of the modified solenoid trigger signal may be between 20 degrees and 360 degrees of the AC wave cycle. The exact extended duration may be selected to fit all trigger timings. Alternatively, where the solenoid trigger signal is output during a negative AC wave half cycle, the predetermined period of time may be sufficient to extend the modified solenoid trigger signal into a subsequent negative AC wave cycle. As for the absolute time value triggering the extended duration, it is contemplated that the extended suitable period of time may be between 5 milliseconds and 20 milliseconds. For example, the time period may be greater than 10 milliseconds, such as 15 milliseconds. In one example, the trigger signal modifier circuit module is implemented as a mixed signal integrated circuit that provid