Multi-Power Garment Steamer and Control Circuit Thereof

This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119 to China application number CN202421304057.6, filing date Jun. 7, 2024, China application number CN202421304059.5, filing date Jun. 7, 2024, China application number CN202421304067.X, filing date Jun. 7, 2024, and China application number CN202421304061.2, filing date Jun. 7, 2024, wherein the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to the technical filed of garment steamer, and more particularly to a multi-power garment steamer and control circuit thereof.

A garment steamer is a household appliance used for ironing clothes. To help remove wrinkles from clothes and make them look neater.

The global voltage distribution for AC power supply falls into two main ranges: 100V-120V and 220V-240V. For example, regions such as Asia and Europe use 220V AC with a frequency of 50 Hz, while North America, Japan, and others use 110V AC with a frequency of 60 Hz.

In today's globalized world, manufacturers need to design products that can adapt to these two different voltages. The garment steamer can improve the applicability of the garment steamer in different power supply voltage environments. It is obviously inappropriate to select components with different rated working voltages to design a garment steamer. This will not only increase the design cost, but also the product is only compatible with one of the power supply voltage environments. The same garment steamer cannot adapt to two different power supply voltage environments at the same time.

One of the purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a multi-power garment steamer control circuit and a multi-power garment steamer, so as to adapt to different power supply voltages, improve the applicability of the garment steamer in different power supply voltage environments.

According to an aspect, the present application provides a voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit comprising a power switch, a heating unit, a water supply unit and a voltage regulating circuit, wherein the power switch is connected to the heating unit and the water supply unit, and the heating unit and the water supply unit are connected to the voltage regulating circuit to form the voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit which is connected to two terminals of a power source, wherein the voltage regulator circuit is used to adjust the input voltage of different voltage environments to enable the multi-power garment steamer works normally.

According to an embodiment, the voltage regulating circuit comprises a working voltage selection switch and a voltage dividing resistor which is parallel to the working voltage selection switch. When the working voltage selection switch is disconnected, the voltage dividing resistor is connected to the voltage regulating circuit to divide the voltage; when the working voltage selection switch is closed, the voltage dividing resistor is short-circuited, and thus is not connected to the voltage regulating circuit, and no voltage division is performed.

According to an embodiment, the impedance of the voltage-dividing resistor satisfies the following relationship:

Wherein Zdenotes the impedance of the voltage dividing resistor, Zdenotes the impedance of the heating unit, and Zdenotes the impedance of the water supply unit. The value range of a is [0.9, 1.1].

According to an embodiment, the impedance of the voltage dividing resistor is equal to the overall impedance of the heating unit and the water supply unit.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit comprises a heating element.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit further comprises a thermal fuse which is connected to the heating element by a series connection.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit further comprises a temperature controller which is connected to the heating element and the thermal fuse by a series connection.

According to an embodiment, the water supply unit comprises a water pump.

According to an embodiment, the water supply unit further comprises a diode, and the diode is connected in series with the water pump.

According to another aspect, the present application provides a multi-power garment steamer which comprises a voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit built into the multi-power garment steamer, and the voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit is used to realize the normal work of the multi-power garment steamer under input voltages of different voltage environments.

In the voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit, the power switch is connected to the heating unit and the power supply unit, and the heating unit, water supply unit and voltage regulating circuit are connected to form the voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit, the voltage-dividing multi-power garment steamer control circuit is connected to two ends of the power source, wherein the voltage regulating circuit can be used to adjust the input voltage of different voltage environments to a voltage that can make the multi-power garment steamer work normally. This circuit design can be used to adjust the voltage under different voltage environments. The multi-power steamer can adapt to different power supply voltages and improve the applicability in voltage environments of different power supply conditions.

According to another aspect, the present application provides a multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division. The circuit comprises a power switch, a load circuit and an automatic voltage division control circuit, wherein the power switch is connected to the load circuit which is connected to the automatic voltage division control circuit, so as to form the multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division. The multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division is connected to two ends of the power source, the automatic voltage division control circuit is used to connect the control circuit that enables the multi-power garment steamer to work normally based on whether a voltage peak value of the input voltage is exceeding a set threshold value.

According to an embodiment, the automatic voltage division control circuit comprises a voltage dividing resistor, a power supply circuit, an AC voltage detection circuit, a relay control circuit, road, and an automatic voltage-dividing switch circuit, wherein the voltage-dividing resistor is connected in parallel with the automatic voltage-dividing switch circuit, the power switch is connected to the power supply circuit, and the power supply circuit is connected to the relay control circuit. The power switch is connected to the AC voltage detection circuit, and the AC voltage detection circuit is connected to the relay control circuit, the relay control circuit is in cooperation with the automatic voltage dividing switch circuit in a manner that a relay control switch of the automatic voltage dividing switch circuit is controlled by a relay in the relay control circuit.

According to an embodiment, the automatic voltage-dividing switch circuit comprises a relay control switch and an arc-extinguishing circuit. The relay control switch is connected in parallel with the voltage dividing resistor; the arc extinguishing circuit is connected in parallel with the relay control switch.

According to an embodiment, the arc extinguishing circuit comprises a resistor Rand a capacitor C, the resistance Ris connected in series with the capacitor C.

According to an embodiment, the AC voltage detection circuit comprises a diode D, a resistance R, a resistance R, a resistance Rand a capacitor C, the power switch is connected in series with the diode D, the resistance Rand the resistor R, the resistance Ris connected to the relay control circuit; the power switch is connected in series with the diode D, the resistance R, the resistance Rand the resistor R, the resistor Ris connected to the relay control circuit; the capacitor Cis connected in parallel with the resistor Rat two ends thereof.

According to an embodiment, the relay control circuit comprises an N-MOS tube Q, a P-MOS Tube Q, a Relay K, a diode D, a resistance Rand a resistor R, the resistance Ris connected to the gate of the P-MOS Tube Q; the resistance Ris connected to the drain of the P-MOS tube Q; the source of the P-MOS tube Qis connected to the gate of the N-MOS Tube Q, the drain of the P-MOS Tube Qis connected to the source of the N-MOS Tube Q. The voltage output terminal of the power supply circuit is connected to the resistor R, the resistor Ris connected to the gate of the N-MOS Tube Q. The voltage output terminal of the power supply circuit is connected to the relay K, the relay Kis connected to the drain of the N-MOS Tube Q, the diode Dis reverse connected between the voltage output of the power supply circuit and the drain of the N-MOS Tube Q, and the relay Kis in cooperation with the automatic voltage dividing switch circuit in a manner that the relay Kcontrols the relay control switch in the automatic voltage dividing switch circuit.

According to an embodiment, the load current comprises a heating unit and a water supply unit which are connected in parallel.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit comprises a heating element, a thermal fuse and a temperature controller which are connected in series.

According to an embodiment, the water supply unit comprises a diode and a water pump connected in series.

According to another aspect, the present application provides a multi-power garment steamer comprising the above-mentioned multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division The multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division is built in the multi-power garment steamer, the multi-power supply ironing machine control circuit based on automatic voltage division is used to realize the normal operation of the multi-power garment steamer under different power supply voltages.

Connecting the load circuit through the power switch of the multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division (including the heating unit and water supply unit connected in parallel), the load circuit is connected with the automatic voltage division control circuit to form the multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division, the multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on automatic voltage division is connected to two ends of the power source. The automatic voltage division control circuit is used to connect the control circuit that enables the multi-power garment steamer to work normally based on whether a voltage peak value of the input voltage is exceeding a set threshold value, the control circuit that enables the multi-power garment steamer to work normally under different power supply voltages.

According to another aspect, the present application provides a MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit comprising a power switch, a load circuit, a bridge rectifier module, and a MOS control circuit. The power switch is connected to the load circuit, which comprises two parallel branches: a first branch connects to the water supply unit, and a second branch connects to the bridge rectifier module. The bridge rectifier module is further connected in series with the heating unit. The load circuit is connected to the MOS control circuit, and the MOS control circuit is connected to the bridge rectifier module, forming the MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit. The MOS control circuit determines whether to disconnect the load circuit based on whether the peak operating voltage exceeds a preset threshold, ensuring normal operation of the garment steamer under different power supply voltages.

According to an embodiment, the MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit further comprises a power connector which comprises a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal. The first contact terminal is connected to the power switch, and the second contact terminal is connected to the bridge rectifier module.

According to an embodiment, the bridge rectifier module comprises four diodes, two power connection terminals, and two load connection terminals. The power switch is connected between the first contact terminal and the first power connection terminal, while the second contact terminal is connected to the second power connection terminal. The MOS control circuit is connected between the first load connection terminal and the second load connection terminal, and the heating unit is connected between the first load connection terminal and the MOS control circuit.

According to an embodiment, the MOS control circuit comprises a voltage regulation circuit, a buck converter circuit, and an N-type MOS transistor. The voltage regulation circuit contains a voltage regulator, with the reference terminal of the voltage regulator connected via a series resistor to the first load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module. The cathode of the voltage regulator is connected to the gate of the N-type MOS transistor, and the anode of the voltage regulator is connected to the drain of the N-type MOS transistor. The first terminal of the buck converter circuit is connected to the first load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module, while the second terminal of the buck converter circuit is connected to the gate of the N-type MOS transistor. Additionally, the second terminal of the buck converter circuit is connected to the drain of the N-type MOS transistor through an RC filter circuit. The source of the N-type MOS transistor is connected to the load circuit, while the drain is connected to the second load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module

According to an embodiment, the voltage regulation circuit further comprises resistors R, R, R, and capacitor C. The first load connection end of the bridge rectifier module is connected in series with resistors Rand R, with resistor Rconnected to the reference terminal of the voltage regulator. The first load connection end of the bridge rectifier module is also connected in series with resistors R, R, and R, where resistor Ris connected to the anode of the voltage regulator. Additionally, capacitor Cis connected in parallel with resistor R, forming an RC filter circuit. The cathode of the voltage regulator is connected to the gate of the N-channel MOSFET, while the anode of the voltage regulator is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor.

According to an embodiment, the step-down circuit comprises resistors R, R, R, and capacitor C. The first load connection end of the bridge rectifier module is connected in series with resistors Rand R, with resistor Rconnected to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor. The first load connection end of the bridge rectifier module is also connected in series with resistors R, R, and R, where resistor Ris connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor. Additionally, capacitor Cis connected in parallel with resistor R, forming an RC filter circuit.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit comprises a series-connected heating element and a thermal fuse.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit further comprises a temperature controller which is connected in series with the heating element and the thermal fuse.

According to an embodiment, the water supply unit comprises a series-connected diode and a water pump.

According to another aspect, the present application provides a multi-power garment steamer, which comprises the above MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit which is built into the multi-power garment steamer, allowing the steamer to operate normally under different power supply voltages through the MOS-based control circuit.

The MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit connects the power switch to the load circuit (which includes a first branch and a second branch connected in parallel). The first branch is connected in series to the water supply unit, while the second branch is connected to the bridge rectifier module. The bridge rectifier module is connected in series to the heating unit. The load circuit connects to the MOS control circuit, which in turn connects to the bridge rectifier module, forming the MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit. The MOS control circuit is used to determine whether to disconnect the load circuit based on whether the peak working voltage exceeds a set threshold, allowing the garment steamer to function normally under different power supply voltages. For example, by using the MOS control circuit, the connection between the load circuit and the second contact terminal can be disconnected when the peak working voltage exceeds the set threshold. When the peak working voltage does not exceed the set threshold, the connection between the load circuit and the second contact terminal is maintained. Under high voltage conditions, taking advantage of the sinusoidal wave characteristics of alternating current (periodic gradual increase and decrease), if the peak voltage at the current moment does not exceed the set threshold, the load circuit remains operational. When the peak voltage at the current moment exceeds the set threshold, the load circuit is made non-operational. Under low voltage conditions, the peak voltage at any time will not exceed the set threshold, allowing normal operation. Thus, by using the MOS-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit, components that can operate normally under the set power voltage can be selected, enabling the multi-power garment steamer to function properly under different power supply voltages.

According to another aspect, the present application provides a MCU-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit comprising a power switch, a load circuit, a bridge rectifier module, and an MCU control circuit. The power switch is connected to the load circuit which comprises two parallel branches: a first branch is in series with the water supply unit, and a second branch is connected to the bridge rectifier module and the heating unit. The load circuit is connected to the MCU control circuit, which in turn is connected to the bridge rectifier module, forming the MCU-based multi-power garment steamer control circuit. The MCU control circuit is used to determine whether to disconnect the load circuit based on whether the detected high-voltage signal exceeds a set threshold, ensuring the garment steamer operates normally under different power voltages.

According to an embodiment, the multi-power garment steamer control circuit based on the MCU also comprises a power connector which comprises a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal. The first contact terminal is in series with the power switch, and the second contact terminal is connected to the bridge rectifier module.

According to an embodiment, the bridge rectifier module comprises four diodes and has two power connection terminals and two load connection terminals. The power switch is connected between the first contact terminal and the first power connection terminal, while the second contact terminal is connected to the second power connection terminal. The MCU control circuit is connected between the first load connection terminal and the second load connection terminal. The heating unit is connected between the first load connection terminal and the MCU control circuit.

According to an embodiment, the MCU control circuit comprises an MCU controller, a DC high-voltage detection circuit, a power supply circuit, a switch control circuit, and a diode. The first load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module is in series with the diode, which is connected to the DC high-voltage detection circuit, which in turn is connected to the MCU controller to detect the rectified high-voltage signal. The power supply circuit is connected to the MCU controller to supply power. The MCU controller compares the detected high-voltage signal with the set threshold, generating a corresponding control signal. If the high-voltage signal exceeds the threshold, the control signal disconnects the circuit; otherwise, the circuit remains connected. The switch control circuit is connected to the MCU controller and is used to control the connection or disconnection between the load circuit and the second load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module based on the control signal from the MCU controller.

According to an embodiment, the power supply circuit uses an external DC power supply or an internal power supply. In the case of internal power supply, the first load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module is in series with a diode, which is connected to the power supply circuit, and the reduced voltage from the power supply circuit is connected to the VCC terminal of the MCU controller to provide power for the MCU controller.

According to an embodiment, the MCU control circuit also comprises a zero-crossing detection circuit which is connected between the first load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module and the MCU controller to achieve zero-crossing detection.

According to an embodiment, one end of the switch control circuit, which is connected to the first load connection terminal of the bridge rectifier module, is grounded.

According to an embodiment, the switch control circuit can be a relay circuit, a thyristor control circuit, a MOS transistor control circuit, an IGBT control circuit, or other low-voltage to high-voltage switch control circuits.

According to an embodiment, the heating unit comprises a series connection of a heating element, a temperature fuse, and a temperature controller.