SWITCHING DEVICE, ELECTRICAL DRIVE AND METHOD FOR SETTING UP A SWITCHING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a switching device for switching an electric motor, comprising a control unit which is configured to provide a first switching signal for the electric motor, a memory which is configured to store at least one end position, and a position sensor which is configured to provide the control unit with an electrical position signal which indicates a measured position, wherein the control unit is connected communicatively to wireless communication means and is configured to store the measured position in the memory as said at least one end position on the basis of the position signal in response to a received first instruction, and wherein the control unit is configured to provide the first switching signal by comparing the stored end position and a position signal measured by the position sensor. The invention also relates to a drive with such a switching device and a method for setting up such a switching device.

Claims

1. A switching device for switching an electric motor, comprising: a control unit which is configured to provide a first switching signal for the electric motor; a memory which is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to store at least one end position; and a position sensor which can be connected to an element driven by the electric motor and is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to provide the control unit with an electrical position signal which indicates a measured position, wherein the control unit is connected communicatively to wireless communication means and is configured to: store the measured position in the memory as said at least one end position on the basis of the position signal in response to a first instruction received by the wireless communication means, and wherein the control unit is configured to provide the first switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the at least one end position stored in the memory and a position signal measured by the position sensor.

2. A switching device for switching an electric motor, comprising: a control unit which is configured to provide a first switching signal for the electric motor; a memory which is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to store at least one end position; and a position sensor connectable to an element driven by the electric motor and is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to provide the control unit with an electrical position signal which indicates a measured position, wherein the switching device is further provided with a user interface connected to the control unit for providing a second instruction in response to user input at the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to store the measured position in the memory as said at least one end position on the basis of the position signal in response to receiving the second instruction, wherein the control unit is configured to provide the first switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the at least one end position stored in the memory and a position signal measured by the position sensor, and wherein the user interface is further configured to provide in response to user input a control signal whereby an electric motor connected to the switching device can be controlled to a desired position.

3. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: receive a third instruction via the wireless communication means; and transmit a message comprising information about at least the at least one stored end position in response to receiving the third instruction.

4. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: receive a setup message via the wireless communication means, wherein the setup message comprises information about at least one desired end position; and store the desired end position in the memory as said at least one end position in response to receiving the setup message.

5. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: provide a position signal which indicates the position measured by the sensor.

6. The switching device according to claim 1, including at least claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: transmit the position signal via the wireless communication means.

7. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: receive a reference position message via the wireless communication means, wherein the reference position message comprises information about at least a reference position; and provide the first switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the reference position and the measured position.

8. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor is configured to detect the position of the element driven by the electric motor in absolute sense.

9. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store two end positions.

10. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store at least one intermediate position, and wherein the control unit is further configured to: provide a second switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the at least one intermediate position and the position signal provided by the position sensor.

11. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store at least one emergency stop position, and wherein the control unit is further configured to: provide a third switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the at least one emergency stop position and the position signal provided by the position sensor.

12. An electrical drive for driving an element, comprising an electric motor connectable to the element, and a switching device according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is connected to the control unit of the switching device and is configured to be switched on and/or off by the first switching signal of the switching device.

13. A method for setting up at least one switching device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps, to be performed in any sequence, of: a) moving the driven element to a position, for instance using the user interface, which position corresponds with an end position which must be stored; and b) transmitting the first instruction via the wireless communication means or providing the second instruction via the user interface.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least two switching devices are set up, the method comprising of: providing a first switching device comprising: a control unit which is configured to provide a first switching signal for the electric motor; a memory which is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to store at least one end position; and a position sensor which can be connected to an element driven by the electric motor and is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to provide the control unit with an electrical position signal which indicates a measured position, wherein the control unit is connected communicatively to wireless communication means and is configured to: store the measured position in the memory as said at least one end position on the basis of the position signal in response to a first instruction received by the wireless communication means, and wherein the control unit is configured to provide the first switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the at least one end position stored in the memory and a position signal measured by the position sensor, wherein the control unit is further configured to: receive a third instruction via the wireless communication means; and transmit a message comprising information about at least the at least one stored end position in response to receiving the third instruction and a first electric motor connected thereto; and providing a second switching device comprising: a control unit which is configured to provide a first switching signal for the electric motor; a memory which is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to store at least one end position; and a position sensor which can be connected to an element driven by the electric motor and is connected communicatively to the control unit and is configured to provide the control unit with an electrical position signal which indicates a measured position, wherein the control unit is connected communicatively to wireless communication means and is configured to: store the measured position in the memory as said at least one end position on the basis of the position signal in response to a first instruction received by the wireless communication means, and wherein the control unit is configured to provide the first switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the at least one end position stored in the memory and a position signal measured by the position sensor; wherein the control unit is further configured to: receive a setup message via the wireless communication means, wherein the setup message comprises information about at least one desired end position; and store the desired end position in the memory as said at least one end position in response to receiving the setup message; and a second electric motor connected thereto, wherein the first and the second electric motor are in the same position, and wherein the method further comprises: setting up the first switching device by: a) moving the driven element to a position, for instance using the user interface, which position corresponds with an end position which must be stored; and b) transmitting the first instruction via the wireless communication means or providing the second instruction via the user interface; retrieving the at least one stored end position of the first switching device by transmitting the third instruction via the wireless communication means of the first switching device; and setting up the second switching device by transmitting via the wireless communication means thereof a setup message comprising information about the at least one requested end position of the first switching device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one switching device is for an electrical drive comprising an electric motor connectable to the element, wherein the electric motor is connected to the control unit of the switching device and is configured to be switched on and/or off by the first switching signal of the switching device

Description

[0056] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1A shows schematically a drive with an electric motor and a switching device according to the invention;

[0058] FIG. 1B shows schematically a perspective view of the switching device of FIG. 1A;

[0059] FIG. 2 shows schematically a cross-section of the switching device of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

[0060] FIG. 3 shows schematically the operating range of an electric motor;

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram for setting up a switching device; and

[0062] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram for setting up two switching devices.

[0063] The same elements are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals. The same elements of different embodiments are in each case designated with reference numerals increased by 100 (one hundred) for the different embodiments.

[0064] FIG. 1A shows a drive 1 comprising an electric motor 2 and a switching device 3. Motor 2 is connected to a shaft 4, and drives this shaft. Arranged on the end of the shaft 4 furthest removed from motor 2 is a toothed wheel 5. Things other than toothed wheels can of course also be driven by motor 2 via shaft 4, optionally using a toothed wheel 5. The drive of FIG. 1A can particularly be used to open or close windows in a greenhouse and/or to unfold or fold up or unroll or roll up screens in a greenhouse. Switching device 3 is connected via a coupling element 6 to shaft 4. FIG. 1B shows a possible design of switching device 3. In this embodiment the switching device has a first housing part 7 and a second housing part 8 connected thereto, which are mutually connected and define a substantially closed space. Arranged in second housing part 8 is a continuous opening 9 through which a shaft 4 can be placed. Opening 9 corresponds with coupling element 6 in respect of dimensions, so that this element can be received at least partially in opening 9.

[0065] FIG. 2, in which the switching device 3 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown schematically in cross-section, shows more details of switching device 3. It can thus be seen that switching device 3 has a control unit 10. In this case control unit 10 is connected to two first contacts 11. By applying a voltage to the first contacts 11 the control unit can provide a first switching signal for motor 2. The switching device further has a memory 12 which is connected to control unit 10. Memory 12 can be used to store end positions, in this case two end positions, which correspond with the two first contacts 11. Both control unit 10 and memory 12 are arranged on a printed circuit board 13 which is arranged in first housing part 7. Arranged in second housing part 8, close to opening 9, is a position sensor 14 which is connected to control unit 10. Position sensor 14 measures the position of coupling element 6. Because coupling element 6 is connected to shaft 4, sensor 14 measures the position of shaft 4 indirectly. When no coupling element 6 is used, it is of course also possible to measure the position of shaft 4 directly using position sensor 14. Position sensor 14 provides an electrical signal which indicates the measured position to control unit 10. Position sensor 14 is configured to detect the position of shaft 4 in absolute sense. Control unit 10 is further also connected to wireless communication means 15, which are shown schematically as antenna 15 in FIG. 2. Different types of wireless communication means can be used, the wireless communication means therefore must not be deemed to be limited to antenna 15.

[0066] When the end positions are stored in the memory 12, control unit 10 can compare the position measured by position sensor 14 to the end positions stored in memory 12 using the signal of position sensor 14. The first switching signal can then be given on the basis of this comparison. The first switching signal can be a digital voltage, for instance on each of the first contacts 11, wherein a high signal is for instance used as ‘on’ and a low signal as ‘off’. When motor 2 has reached and/or has passed an end position, the first switching signal ‘on’ can on the basis of the above stated comparison be given on the first contact 11 associated with that end position in order to indicate that this end position has been reached. The ‘off’ signal can be given if this is not the case. In this way a first switching signal can be given at each first contact 11 on the basis of a comparison between a respective end position and the measured position. Switching device 3 can be connected to motor 2 by means of the first contacts 11. It is thus possible to provide a motor control which provides motor 2 with motor current on the basis of, among other things, the voltage received via first contacts 11, for instance via one or more relays. Such a motor control can for instance additionally be activated on the basis of a different signal. Instead of a binary voltage, it is also possible to provide first contacts 11 with motor current and thereby drive motor 2 directly. The motor current can in this case also still be referred to as switching signal.

[0067] The switching device 3 as described above can be used in for instance a greenhouse to open and close windows and/or to unfold and fold up or unroll and roll up screens. The driving of windows is used below by way of example. It is usual to provide an electric motor 2 to open or close one or more windows. It is important here that motor 2 does not attempt to drive the windows beyond a fully open or fully closed position, since this could cause damage to the motor and/or the windows and/or a possible drive line therebetween. FIG. 3 shows schematically an operating range 70 between a first end point 71 and a second end point 72. In the example above the first end point 71 can correspond with a fully closed position of the windows and the second end point 72 with a fully open position of the windows. The switching device is set up such that the stored end positions correspond with the respective first end point 71 and second end point 72. When motor 2 is activated, for instance on the basis of the other signal, to move such that the windows move from first end point 71 to second end point 72, the first switching signal at first contact 11 which corresponds with the end position at end point 72 is first for instance low, i.e. ‘off’. When the motor has driven the windows to such an extent that end point 72 has been reached, the switching device gives a high signal, i.e. ‘on’, at said first contact 11. This indicates that end point 72 has been reached, and the motor can be stopped. The same can be done mutatis mutandis for end point 71. Using the first switching signal for each of the end points 71, 72 on a separate first contact 11 enables setup of a motor control which can only be moved toward the one end point 71 once the other end point 72 has been reached, and vice versa.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows how the end positions can be set in switching device 3. Firstly, in a first step S1 the motor 2 is controlled, for instance via the other signal, to reach an end point, for instance first end point 71. In a second step S2 a first instruction is then sent to switching device 3 via the wireless communication means 15 thereof. In response, designated in FIG. 4 with the broken line, control unit 3 stores the position measured by position sensor 14 as first end position in a step S3 which is performed by the motor. Steps S1 and S2 are performed by a user, which is designated with G, and step S3 by the switching device 3, which is designated with H, more particularly by the control unit 10 thereof. The steps can then be repeated for the second end point 72 and the second end position.

[0069] Switching device 3 is further configured to send in response to a third instruction a message comprising information about the stored end positions, and to receive a setup message via the wireless communication means 15. The setup message comprises information about at least one desired end position. In response to receiving the setup message, control unit 10 stores the desired end position in the memory as said at least one end position. Two of such switching devices can then be set up as described in FIG. 5.

[0070] Firstly, two such switching devices 3 are provided and each connected to an electric motor 2. The two motors 2 are moved to the same position. In step S4 a user G starts setting the end positions of first switching device 3. This can for instance be done as described above, and is therefore condensed into one step S4 in FIG. 5. It goes without saying that the first switching device 3 then also runs through the step S3 of FIG. 4, although this is not shown in FIG. 5 for the sake of simplicity. The setting of the end positions of first switching device 3 is followed by a step S5 in which the user sends a third instruction to first switching device 3. This is shown in FIG. 5 with a broken line 91. It is indicated in H1 that first switching device 3 receives the third instruction in a step S6 and then sends a message comprising information about the stored end positions in a subsequent step S7. As designated with broken line 92, the message is in turn received by the user. The user G thus requests the set end positions of first switching device 3 in this way. In a subsequent step S9, see broken line 93, the user then sends a setup message with the information about the end positions of first switching device 3 to second switching device 3. H2 shows which steps are then carried out by second switching device 3. Firstly, the setup message is received in a step S10. In a subsequent step S11 the end positions, information about which is comprised in the received setup message, are then stored on the basis of this information. In this way second switching device 3 can be set up without having to be moved to the end positions, as was the case for first switching device 3. It is of course possible to set up a plurality of switching devices 3 in this way after at least one switching device 3 has been set up, for instance according to the method of FIG. 4.

[0071] Control unit 10 of the shown switching device 3 is configured to provide a position signal which indicates the position measured by position sensor 14. In the shown case said position signal is transmitted via the wireless communication means 15. The position signal can for instance be used as feedback in an air conditioning system. In addition, switching device 3 is configured to provide the switching signal on the basis of a reference position message which is received via the wireless communication means 15. By using the position signal of one switching device 3 as reference signal for another switching device 3 the switching devices 3 can be connected in a so-called synchronous mode, in which the relative position of motors 2 connected to the two switching devices 3 is the same or not much different.

[0072] FIG. 3 further also shows two intermediate points 73, 74. The intermediate points 73, 74 lie between the end points 71 and 72. Intermediate positions, in this case two, corresponding with intermediate points 73, 74 can be stored in the memory 12 of switching device 3. The intermediate positions can for instance be set in similar manner as the end points 71, 72 by moving the motor to the intermediate point 73, 74 and storing the position measured at that intermediate point 73, 74 as intermediate position by means of an instruction to the switching device 3. Control unit 10 is further configured to provide a second switching signal on the basis of a comparison to each of the stored intermediate positions and the signal provided by position sensor 14. The second switching signal is provided, separately for each of the intermediate positions, as voltage at a second contact 16. The second switching signal can be used to control peripheral equipment on the basis of the position of the element driven by motor 2. It is possible by way of example to opt to give a high signal when the measured position lies between first end point 71 and first intermediate point 73.

[0073] As described above, using the first switching signal a motor 2 can be switched off when it reaches the position of an end point 71, 72. It is however possible for the motor to have a limited amount of overshoot, to a position beyond end point 71, 72, after being switched off, for instance due to the mass inertia of an element driven by the motor. The memory 12 of switching device 3 is therefore configured to store two emergency stop positions. The emergency stop positions correspond with emergency points 75, 76, each lying beyond their respective end points 71, 72. The emergency stop positions can for instance be set automatically, depending on the end positions. Control unit 10 is configured to provide a third switching signal on the basis of a comparison between the emergency stop positions and the measured position. The third switching signal can for instance be given as voltage at a third contact 17 of the switching device. On the basis of the comparison the third switching signal can for instance be given as ‘on’ when at least one of the emergency stop points 75, 76 is gone beyond. In that case the third switching signal is ‘off’ when the measured position lies between the two emergency stop points 75, 76. The third switching signal can be given on one third contact for both emergency stop points 75, 76, so for both emergency stop positions. Using the third switching signal use of the motor can be prevented when it is situated at or beyond an emergency stop point, for instance until a user releases the motor again after inspection, for instance by moving it to a position inside emergency stop points 75, 76. The third switching signal can particularly be used to switch off power supply to an electric motor 2, for instance by means of a relay. The supply voltage for motor 2 can alternatively be applied to the third contact by way of third switching signal. The signals on contacts 11, 16, 17 can in all cases be measured relative to a zero signal or ground signal which is applied to a ground 18 by control unit 10. A separate ground 18 can of course also be used for each contact.

[0074] Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of a number of specific examples and embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto. The invention instead also covers the subject matter defined by the following claims.

[0075] It is thus for instance possible to use the switching device in for instance an animal accommodation or in crop storage, such as to open and close windows or air vents, or in public utility construction, such as to open and close sunblinds.