Pump Control

Abstract

A pump control system for controlling a fluid pump powered by an AC signal. The pump control system includes a signal phase detector coupled to the fluid pump to detect the AC signal supplied to the fluid pump and to generate phase signals indicating a phase parameter of the AC signal. The pump control system also includes a micro-controller to receive the phase signals and to generate a rectified output signal based on the phase signals, and a relay to control the power supplied to the fluid pump based on the output signal of the micro-controller.

1 . A pump control system for controlling a fluid pump configured to be powered by an AC signal, the pump control system comprising:
 a signal phase detector coupled to the fluid pump, and configured to detect the AC signal supplied to the fluid pump, and to generate phase signals indicating a phase parameter of the AC signal;   a micro-controller coupled to the phase detector, and configured to receive the phase signal and to generate a rectified output signal based on the phase signal; and   a relay configured to control the power supplied to the fluid pump based on the rectified output signal of the micro-controller.   
   
   
       2 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable pressure range input coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a pressure range detected by the micro-controller. 
   
   
       3 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable pressure range input comprises an adjustable pressure range switch. 
   
   
       4 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a calibratable gain input coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a gain for the signal phase detector. 
   
   
       5 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a waterproof seal configured to waterproof the control system. 
   
   
       6 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable inputs coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a plurality of operating ranges of the system. 
   
   
       7 . The pump control system of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable inputs comprise a power supply nominal voltage input configured to adjust a power supply voltage, and a zero-adjust input configured to calibrate a zero pressure reading when no pressure is detected. 
   
   
       8 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a phase angle adjust input coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a phase angle based on a type of the fluid pump. 
   
   
       9 . The pump control system of  claim 8 , wherein the phase angle is adjusted at an increment of at least one of 1 degree, and 2 Hz. 
   
   
       10 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , wherein the AC signal comprises at least one of a current signal and voltage signal, and wherein the signal phase detector comprises a current phase detector configured to detect a current phase of the current signal, and a voltage phase detector configured to detect a voltage phase of the voltage signal. 
   
   
       11 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase signals comprise at least one of a current phase signal and a voltage phase signal. 
   
   
       12 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase parameter comprises a phase shift between the phase signals. 
   
   
       13 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , wherein the rectified output signal has a rectified frequency, and wherein the rectified output signal comprises a square wave having the rectified frequency. 
   
   
       14 . The pump control system of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-controller comprises a microprocessor configured to detect the AC signal supplied to the fluid pump, and to generate phase signals indicating a phase parameter of the AC signal. 
   
   
       15 . A pump control system for controlling a fluid pump configured to be powered by an AC signal, the pump control system comprising:
 a signal phase detector coupled to the fluid pump, and configured to detect the AC signal supplied to the fluid pump, the AC signal having an AC current component and a AC voltage component, the signal phase detector also configured to generate a phase signal indicating a phase shift between the AC current component and AC voltage component;   a micro-controller coupled to the phase detector, and configured to receive the phase signal and to generate a rectified square wave signal based on the phase shifts, the AC current component and AC voltage component; and   a relay configured to disconnect and to connect the power supplied to the fluid pump based on the rectified square wave signal of the micro-controller.   
   
   
       16 . The pump control system of  claim 15 , further comprising an adjustable pressure range input coupled to the micro-controller and configured to adjust a pressure range detected by the micro-controller. 
   
   
       17 . The pump control system of  claim 15 , further comprising a calibratable gain input coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a gain for the signal phase detector. 
   
   
       18 . The pump control system of  claim 15 , further comprising a waterproof seal configured to waterproof the control system. 
   
   
       19 . The pump control system of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable inputs coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a plurality of operating ranges of the system. 
   
   
       20 . The pump control system of  claim 19 , wherein the adjustable inputs comprise a power supply nominal voltage button configured to adjust a power supply voltage, and a zero-adjust input configured to calibrate a zero pressure reading when no pressure is detected. 
   
   
       21 . The pump control system of  claim 15 , further comprising a phase angle adjust input coupled to the micro-controller, and configured to adjust a phase angle based on a type of the fluid pump. 
   
   
       22 . The pump control system of  claim 21 , wherein the phase angle is adjusted at an increment of at least one of 1 degree, and 2 Hz. 
   
   
       23 . The pump control system of  claim 15 , wherein the micro-controller comprises a microprocessor configured to receive the phase signal and to generate the rectified square wave signal based on the phase shifts, the AC current component and AC voltage component. 
   
   
       24 . A method for controlling a fluid pump configured to be powered by an AC signal, the fluid pump is coupled to a micro-controller, a phase detector and a relay, the method comprising:
 determining an AC current component from the AC signal at the phase detector;   determining an AC voltage component from the AC signal at the phase detector;   determining a phase shift between the AC current component and the AC voltage component at the micro-controller;   generating a control signal based on the phase shift at the micro-controller; and   disconnecting and connecting the power supplied to the fluid pump based on the control signal from the micro-controller at the relay.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 adjusting an adjustable pressure range input; and   adjusting a pressure range corresponding to the adjustable pressure range input.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 calibrating a calibratable gain input; and   adjusting a gain for the signal phase detector.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising adjusting a button to reduce a power supply nominal voltage. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising adjusting a zero-adjust input to calibrate a zero pressure reading when no pressure is detected. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising adjusting a phase angle adjust input to adjust a phase angle based on a type of the fluid pump. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the phase angle is adjusted at an increment of at least one of 1 degree, and 2 Hz.