CN111344919A

CN111344919A - Ion generating device and air conditioner

Info

Publication number: CN111344919A
Application number: CN201880072697.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高桥雅也
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2017-11-17
Filing date: 2018-02-22
Publication date: 2020-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-22
Also published as: JP7010968B2; WO2019097737A1; JPWO2019097737A1; CN111344919B

Abstract

The invention provides an ion generating device which can fully restrain the reduction of the ion generation amount. An ion generating device (101) of the present invention includes an ion generator (11) that generates ions by applying a voltage of a voltage ON (ON) level; and a voltage control circuit (10a) that controls a voltage-OFF (OFF) period, which indicates a period in which voltage-OFF (OFF) levels continue, to be longer than a voltage-ON (ON) period, which indicates a period in which voltage-ON (ON) levels continue.

Description

Ion generating device and air conditioner

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an ion generating device and an air conditioner having the ion generating device.

Background

In recent years, an ion generating device that generates ions by electric discharge is mounted in an air conditioner such as an air conditioner. Generally, ions are moved by bringing wind from a blower into contact with an electric field generated by electric discharge so that the ions generated by an ion generating device perform their functions in a desired space (e.g., a house). Therefore, it is necessary to dispose the ion generating device in the air blowing duct of the air conditioner.

However, when the continuous energization, i.e., the voltage-on state, is maintained in the ion generating device (for example, (a) of fig. 7), the following problems arise: the electrode that generates ions is consumed in large quantities or the product life is shortened.

Therefore, in the ion generating device disclosed in patent document 1, the consumption of the electrode that generates ions is reduced by performing intermittent energization (e.g., (b) of fig. 7) provided with a voltage OFF period instead of continuous energization.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2010-55958 (published 3/11/2010) "

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional intermittent energization, as shown in (b) of fig. 7, although the voltage-ON (ON) period is shorter than the continuous energization time, it is continuous to some extent. Therefore, ions generated during the voltage-ON (ON) period are offset by ions sequentially generated, and ions remaining without being offset are not sufficiently diffused during the voltage-OFF (OFF) period but are offset by ions generated during the next voltage-ON (ON) period. Therefore, even in the intermittent energization shown in fig. 7 (b), there is a problem that the decrease in the amount of generated ions cannot be sufficiently suppressed.

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to realize an ion generating apparatus capable of sufficiently suppressing a reduction in the amount of ion generation.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, an ion generating apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an ion generator that generates ions by applying a voltage at a voltage ON (ON) level; and a voltage control circuit that controls ON and OFF (ON and OFF) of a voltage applied to the ionizer, wherein the voltage control circuit controls a voltage OFF (OFF) period indicating a period in which voltage OFF (OFF) levels continue to be longer than a voltage ON (ON) period indicating a period in which voltage ON (ON) levels continue.

Effects of the invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, a decrease in the amount of ion generation can be sufficiently suppressed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an ion generating apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2(a) is a front view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which the ion generating device shown in fig. 1 is mounted, and (b) is a right side view.

Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the indoor unit shown in fig. 2, where (a) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed upward, and (b) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed downward.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of arrow BB in fig. 2(a), in which (a) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed upward, and (b) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed downward.

Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the ion generating device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a graph showing the timing of voltage turn-ON and turn-OFF (ON and OFF) in the ion generating device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing the timing of voltage turn-ON and turn-OFF (ON and OFF) in the ion generating device as a comparative example.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between the fan rotation speed and the voltage OFF period in the ion generating device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a graph showing a voltage OFF period obtained by the fan rotation speed and the range ratio.

Fig. 10 is a graph showing one example of a setting pattern of a voltage OFF (OFF) period in the ion generating device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a graph showing one example of a setting pattern of a voltage OFF (OFF) period in the ion generating device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a graph showing one example of a setting pattern of a voltage OFF (OFF) period in the ion generating device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Detailed Description

[ embodiment 1]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as follows. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the ion generating device of the present invention is mounted in an indoor unit of an air conditioner, which is a type of air conditioner. However, the ion generating device of the present invention may be mounted not only in an air conditioner but also in other electronic devices.

(outline of air-conditioner)

Fig. 2(a) is a front view of the indoor unit, and (b) is a right side view. Fig. 3 is an external perspective view of the indoor unit, where (a) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed upward, and (b) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed downward. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of arrow BB in fig. 2(a), in which (a) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed upward, and (b) is a view showing a state in which the blowing direction is directed downward.

As shown in fig. 2(a) and (b), the indoor unit 100 includes a cabinet 1 having a curved surface from the front surface to the bottom surface. The casing 1 includes a heat exchanger 3 and an indoor fan 4, and has an intake port 5 formed in an upper surface thereof and an outlet port 6 formed in a curved surface thereof. Further, a louver (airflow direction changing portion) 2 that opens and closes the air outlet 6 is provided on the curved surface of the casing 1. As shown in fig. 3(a) and (b), the louver 2 can be opened up and down. Mechanisms for opening the slats 2 up and down are known. Further, the present invention can be realized by using a mechanism of the wind guide panel 20 or the auxiliary louver 30 described in, for example, japanese patent No. 4603805 (registered 10/8/2010).

As shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b), an air passage 7 extending from the intake port 5 to the discharge port 6 is formed in the casing 1, and the heat exchanger 3 and the indoor fan 4 are disposed in the air passage 7. Further, an ion generating device 101 is detachably disposed in the vicinity of the air outlet 6 in the air passage 7. As shown in fig. 3(b), the user detaches the ion generating apparatus 101 in a state where the louver 2 is opened downward.

Since the ion generating device 101 is disposed in the air duct 7, ions generated by the air blow in the air duct 7 are discharged from the blow-out port 6.

(outline of ion generating apparatus)

Fig. 5 is an external perspective view of the ion generating device.

The ion generating apparatus 101 is configured such that the circuit board 24 is housed in a protective case formed by the cover 21 and the protective cover 22. The circuit board 24 has an ion generating element 11a for generating positive ions, an ion generating element 11b for generating negative ions, and a high voltage transformer, a high voltage circuit, a power supply circuit, and the like, which are not shown. Further, the above-mentioned protective cover 22 is a cover that protects the discharge electrodes 23 of the

ion generating elements

11a and 11b of the circuit board 24 from direct contact by the user.

The ion generating elements 11a, 11 each have a discharge electrode 23 and an induction electrode (not shown) to generate positive ions and negative ions by, for example, corona discharge. Therefore, the discharge electrodes 23 are arranged at intervals in a direction substantially perpendicular to the gas flow direction. The discharge electrode 23 is a needle electrode.

The discharge electrode 23 included in the ion generating element 11a is a positive discharge electrode that generates positive ions, and the discharge electrode 23 included in the ion generating element 11b is a negative discharge electrode that generates negative ions.

Therefore, when a high voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 23 of the

ion generating elements

11a and 11b from a high voltage generating circuit, not shown, having a step-up transformer for generating a high voltage, on the circuit board 24, corona discharge occurs at the needle ends of the discharge electrodes 23, and ions are generated. The generated ions are discharged through the barrier 22a, and the barrier 22a is an opening of the protective cover 22 that accommodates the ion generating element 11a and the ion generating element 11 b.

In order to increase the amount of ions generated, in the ion generating device 101 configured as described above, the wind introduced through the opening formed with the barrier rib 22a flows to the watershed portion (the area surrounded by the protective cover 22 and the circuit board 24) formed when the protective cover 22 covers the discharge electrode 23.

(details of ion generating apparatus)

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an indoor unit 100 including an ion generating device 101 according to the present embodiment. In the block diagram shown in fig. 1, only the configuration necessary for the present invention is described, and other configurations are omitted, but the indoor unit 100 should have a configuration.

As shown in fig. 1, the ion generating apparatus 101 includes a control circuit 10 and an ionizer 11 (corresponding to the ion generating elements 11a and 11ab shown in fig. 5).

The control circuit 10 includes: a voltage control circuit 10a that controls turning ON and off (ON and off) of a voltage applied to the ionizer 11; and a drive control circuit 10b that controls driving of a fan drive motor 12 that drives the indoor fan 4 (fan). An ion detection circuit 13 for detecting the ion concentration is connected to the drive control circuit 10 b.

(control of Voltage ON and off (ON and OFFF))

Fig. 6 is a graph showing the timing of voltage turn-ON (ON) in the ion generating device 101.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing a comparative example with respect to the timing of voltage turn-ON (ON) shown in fig. 6.

As shown in (a) of fig. 7, in the case of continuous energization in which the voltage-ON (ON) level continues, since ions are continuously generated in the ionizer 11, the ions that have been generated are offset by the newly generated ions, and as a result, the generation amount of ions is reduced.

As shown in (b) of fig. 7, in the case of intermittent energization in which a voltage-ON (ON) period representing a period in which a voltage-ON (ON) level continues and a voltage-OFF (OFF) period representing a period in which a voltage-OFF (OFF) level continues are alternated, since a period in which ions are continuously generated and a period in which ions are not generated are alternated in the ionizer 11, the amount by which ions are canceled is reduced as compared with the case of continuous energization shown in (a) of fig. 7. However, ions that are not cancelled but remain in the ions generated during the voltage-ON (ON) period are not sufficiently diffused during the voltage-OFF (OFF) period and are directly cancelled by ions generated during the next voltage-ON (ON) period, so that a reduction in the amount of ion generation can be sufficiently suppressed.

Therefore, in the ion generating device 101, the voltage control circuit 10a controls the voltage ON and OFF (ON and OFF) so that the voltage OFF period is longer than the voltage ON period ON the premise that the intermittent energization is performed. Therefore, by controlling the voltage ON and OFF (ON and OFFF), ions remaining without being cancelled out among the ions generated in the voltage ON (ON) period are diffused in the voltage OFF (OFF) period and then enter the next voltage ON (ON) period, and therefore, a reduction in the amount of ion generation can be suppressed.

As described above, if the voltage-OFF (OFF) period is made longer than the voltage-ON (ON) period, the decrease in the ion generation amount can be suppressed, and furthermore, by shortening the voltage-ON (ON) period, for example, as shown in fig. 6, making it instantaneous, the ion cancellation amount in the voltage-ON (ON) period can be reduced, and as a result, the effect of suppressing the decrease in the ion generation amount is further exerted. The voltage OFF (OFF) period can achieve the above-described effect as long as it is longer than a preset period. The preset period may be a voltage-OFF (OFF) period of a length in which ions generated in the voltage-ON (ON) period are not cancelled and ions remaining are able to sufficiently diffuse before the next voltage-ON (ON) period. Further, in the present embodiment, the voltage-OFF (OFF) period is set to 4ms, and the voltage-ON (ON) period is set to 0.5 ms. However, the values of the voltage-OFF (OFF) period and the voltage-ON (ON) period are not limited to the above values.

Further, an appropriate value of the voltage OFF (OFF) period is set in consideration of the wind speed of wind (the rotational speed of the fan, etc.) in contact with the ions generated by the ionizer 11. In embodiment 2 described later, the setting of an appropriate value of the voltage OFF (OFF) period in consideration of the wind speed is described.

(Effect)

According to the above configuration, the voltage control circuit 10a is used to control the voltage-OFF (OFF) period to be longer than the voltage-ON (ON) period, so that when ions generated in the voltage-ON (ON) period remain without being cancelled, the ions remaining without being cancelled are sufficiently diffused in the voltage-OFF (OFF) period, reducing the proportion of cancellation by ions generated in the next voltage-ON (ON) period.

This reduces the rate at which generated ions are cancelled out, and therefore, a reduction in the amount of generated ions can be sufficiently suppressed.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the problem that ions are not sufficiently diffused due to the short OFF (OFF) of the voltage applied to the ionizer 11.

Also, since the voltage ON (ON) period is 0.5ms and instantaneous, it is possible to delay the deterioration of the electrode generating ions in the ionizer 11. That is, the lifetime of the ionizer 11 can be extended.

Further, by making the voltage ON (ON) period instantaneous, the amount of cancellation of ions in the continuous period can be reduced, and the amount of generation of ions can also be reduced, reducing losses.

Further, the guarantee regarding the effectiveness of the effect assuming the aged deterioration in the same elapsed period is also improved as the long-term effectiveness of the effect of alleviating the deterioration of the ionizer 11.

Further, since the voltage ON (ON) period is instantaneous, the operation period of the ionizer 11 can be shortened, so that the noise of the ionizer 11 can be reduced.

[ embodiment 2]

Another embodiment of the present invention is described below. Further, for convenience of description, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.

The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment has the same structure as that of embodiment 1, except for a setting method of an OFF period of voltage applied to the electrodes of the ionizer 11. Here, the voltage control circuit 10a shown in fig. 1 sets a voltage OFF (OFF) period according to the speed of wind contacting ions generated by the ionizer 11. That is, the proportion of the voltage ON (ON) period (the ratio of voltage ON (ON)) in a fixed period is changed according to the wind speed.

The wind speed of the wind contacting the ions can be increased or decreased by adjusting the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4. The indoor fan 4 is driven by a fan drive electrode 12, and the fan drive electrode 12 is drive-controlled by a drive control circuit 10 b. The drive control circuit 10b may control the drive of the fan drive electrode 12 in accordance with the ion concentration detected by the ion detection circuit 13. For example, when the ion concentration is lower than a preset value, the fan drive electrode 12 is controlled to increase the amount of ions discharged into the room to increase the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4, and when the ion concentration is higher than the preset value, the fan drive electrode 12 is controlled to decrease the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 to suppress the amount of ions discharged into the room.

For example, when the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 increases, the wind speed increases, and the discharge amount of ions into the room increases, thereby reducing the low-pin amount of ions. Therefore, in this case, the ratio of voltage turn-ON (ON) is increased. On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is decreased, the wind speed is decreased, and the discharge amount of ions into the room is decreased, thereby increasing the offset amount of ions. Therefore, in this case, the ratio of voltage turn-ON (ON) is reduced. Thus, by setting an appropriate voltage ON (ON) ratio according to the wind speed, it is possible to appropriately suppress a decrease in the amount of ion generation.

As described above, the voltage control circuit 10a controls the ratio of the voltage ON for each wind speed in accordance with the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 obtained from the drive control circuit 10b to suppress a decrease in the ion generation amount. Specifically, the voltage control circuit 10a adjusts the ratio of voltage turn-ON (ON) to the ionizer 11 based ON the information of the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 obtained from the drive control circuit 10 b.

In the present embodiment, the voltage control circuit 10a links the rate of change of the rotation speed (600 to 1500rpm) of the indoor fan 4 obtained from the drive control circuit 10b and the rate of change of the voltage OFF (OFF) period (minimum to maximum) with respect to the ionizer 11.

(linkage of the rate of change of the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 with the rate of change of the voltage-OFF period)

Fig. 8 (a) is a table showing the relationship between the wind speed and the ion amount, and (b) is a table showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the fan actually operated and the range difference and the range ratio. Fig. 9 is a table showing the relationship between the fan rotation speed and the range ratio and the voltage OFF (OFF) period.

As shown in fig. 8 (a), when the fan rotation speed (the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4) is 600 to 1500rpm and the voltage OFF (OFF) period is 7ms to 3ms, the difference of the fan rotation speeds is 900rpm and the difference of the OFF period is 4 ms.

Therefore, when the indoor fan 4 is blown at a rotation speed of 1000rpm, as shown in (b) of fig. 8, a difference from a minimum value (m | n)600rpm is +400rpm, and within a difference of 900rpm of the fan rotation speed, about 44% (400/900 ═ 0.44) will become a range ratio.

If the range ratio is also reflected in the OFF period shown in fig. 9, since the difference 4ms with respect to the OFF period is 44%, the difference is 1.78 ms. Accordingly, an OFF period in which the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is 1000rpm is 7ms-1.78ms — 5.22 ms.

As described above, the OFF period corresponding to the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is obtained.

(Effect)

According to the above configuration, the ion generation amount is increased by increasing the voltage on ratio when the wind speed at which the ions generated by the ionizer 11 are hard to be canceled is fast, and the ion generation amount is decreased by decreasing the voltage on ratio when the ions generated by the ionizer 11 are easy to be canceled, so that the decrease in the generation amount due to the ion cancellation can be effectively suppressed.

In general, if the voltage turn-on ratio is increased, noise generated when ions are generated is large and is noticed. However, as described above, when the wind speed is high, that is, when the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is high, the rate of voltage turn-on is increased, and therefore, it is not noticeable that the noise caused by the rotation of the indoor fan 4 is mixed with the sound caused by ion generation. Also, when the wind speed is slow, that is, the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is small, the rate of voltage turn-on is reduced, and the sound caused by ion generation also becomes small, so that the sound is not noticed.

(modification example)

As a method of not noticing the sound caused by the generation of ions by the ionizer 11, there is a method of setting an OFF (OFF) period having a range of + -from a certain OFF (OFF) period on the basis of the base, thereby dispersing the sound generated by the ions. Therefore, since the sound caused by ion generation is not fixed intervals but dispersed, the sound is hardly noticed.

[ embodiment 3]

Another embodiment of the present invention is described below. Further, for convenience of description, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the embodiment 2, the example of setting the voltage OFF (OFF) period according to the speed of the wind in contact with the ions generated by the ion generator 11 is described, but in the present embodiment, the example of the setting mode of dividing the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 into a plurality of ranges and using the voltage OFF (OFF) period prepared in advance in correspondence with each range is described.

(setting of Voltage OFF period)

Fig. 10 is a graph showing one example of a pattern of a voltage OFF period when the fan rotation speed is 600rpm to 899 rpm.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing one example of a pattern of a voltage OFF (OFF) period when the fan rotation speed is 900rpm to 1199 rpm.

Fig. 12 is a graph showing one example of a pattern of a voltage OFF period when the fan rotation speed is 1200rpm to 1500 rpm.

In the present embodiment, when the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is 600 to 1500rpm, the three modes are divided as described above. The modes in fig. 10 to 12 are stored in a memory, not shown, in the ion generating device 101, and read out by the voltage control circuit 10a as necessary.

That is, the voltage control circuit 10a, when acquiring the information indicating the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 from the drive control circuit 10b, specifies the current rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 specifically based on the acquired information, and selects the setting mode of the voltage OFF (OFF) period corresponding to the rotation speed from the modes shown in fig. 10 to 12.

For example, the voltage control circuit 10a is set to the voltage-OFF (OFF) period of the mode shown in fig. 10 if the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4 is within 600rpm to 899rpm, set to the voltage-OFF (OFF) period of the mode shown in fig. 11 if within 900rpm to 1199rpm, and set to the voltage-OFF (OFF) period of the mode shown in fig. 12 if between 1200rpm to 1500 rpm.

As described above, by roughly classifying and preparing the setting patterns of the voltage OFF (OFF) period in advance, the setting of the voltage OFF (OFF) period can be performed simply as compared with the case where the setting of the voltage OFF (OFF) period is acquired sequentially according to the rotation speed of the indoor fan 4.

[ embodiment 4]

In the

embodiments

2, 3, the description is made on the example of setting the OFF (OFF) period of the voltage applied to the ionizer 11 according to the wind speed, but in the present embodiment, the description is made on the example of setting the OFF (OFF) period of the voltage according to the wind direction.

In the present embodiment, the setting of the OFF (OFF) period of the voltage applied to the ionizer 11 is changed every time the wind direction of the indoor fan 4 is changed. Specifically, the direction of the wind (wind direction) that contacts the ion generating device 101 is changed by changing the positions of the louvers 2 shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b). The voltage control circuit 10a sets the ratio of the voltage ON (ON) period to the voltage OFF (OFF) period in a fixed period according to the changed wind direction. In this case, as shown in (a) of fig. 4, if the wind direction is upward, the wind speed near the ion generating device 101 is high and the ions generated by the ion generating device 101 are not easily canceled out, so the voltage OFF (OFF) period is set to be short, and as shown in (b) of fig. 4, if the wind direction is downward, the wind speed near the ion generator 101 is low and the ions generated by the ion generator 101 are easily canceled out, so the voltage OFF (OFF) period is set to be long.

(modification example)

As in

embodiments

2 and 3, it is preferable to perform the setting of the voltage OFF (OFF) period in consideration of the wind speed in addition to the wind direction. Thereby, a voltage OFF (OFF) period optimal for the ion generating device 101 can be set.

(implementation in software)

The control block (particularly, the control circuit 10) of the ion generating apparatus 101 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software.

In the latter case, the ion generating apparatus 101 has a computer that executes program instructions, which are software for realizing the respective functions. The computer has, for example, at least one processor (control device), and also has at least one computer-readable storage medium storing the program described above. In the computer, the object of the present invention is achieved by the processor reading the program from the storage medium and executing the program. As the processor, for example, a cpu (central Processing unit) can be used. As the storage medium, a non-transitory tangible medium such as a rom (read Only memory) or the like can be used, and a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Further, a ram (random Access memory) or the like for expanding the above-described program may be provided. The program may be supplied to the computer through an arbitrary transmission medium (a communication network, a broadcast wave, or the like) through which the program is transmitted. Further, an aspect of the present invention can be implemented in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the above-described program is embodied by electronic transmission.

(conclusion)

The ion generating apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising an ion generator 11 for generating ions by applying a voltage at a voltage ON (ON) level; and a voltage control circuit 10a that controls ON and OFF (ON and OFF) of the voltage applied to the ionizer 11, wherein the voltage control circuit 10a controls a voltage OFF (OFF) period indicating a period in which voltage OFF (OFF) levels continue to be longer than a voltage ON (ON) period indicating a period in which voltage ON (ON) levels continue.

According to the above configuration, the voltage control circuit controls so that the voltage-OFF (OFF) period is longer than the voltage-ON (ON) period, so that when ions generated in the voltage-ON (ON) period remain without being cancelled, the ions remaining without being cancelled are sufficiently diffused in the voltage-OFF (OFF) period, reducing the proportion of cancellation by ions generated in the next voltage-ON (ON) period.

Further, the voltage-OFF (OFF) period is longer than the voltage-ON (ON)) period, and therefore, is also longer than the period in which the ionizer stops generating ions, with the result that deterioration of the ionizer is reduced and a long life can be achieved, as compared with the case where the same period as that of the ionizer continuously energized is used.

An ion generating apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the voltage control circuit 10a may set the voltage OFF (OFF)) period to be longer than a preset period.

According to the above configuration, by setting the voltage-OFF (OFF) period to be longer than the preset period, it is possible to sufficiently diffuse the ions that are not cancelled.

An ion generating apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the voltage control circuit 10a may set the voltage-ON (ON) period to a period in which ion cancellation does not occur in the voltage-ON (ON) period.

According to the above configuration, since ion cancellation does not occur in the voltage-ON (ON) period, it is possible to sufficiently suppress a reduction in the amount of ion generation in the ion generating device. Further, the above period is preferably 0.5ms when the voltage OFF (OFF) period is set to 4ms, but is not limited to this value.

An ion generating apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ion generating apparatus according to any of the first to third aspects, further comprising: a fan (indoor fan 4) for blowing the ions generated by the ion generator 11; an ion detection circuit 13 that detects the ion concentration; and a drive control circuit 10b that controls the rotation speed of the fan (indoor fan 4) based on the ion concentration detected by the ion detection circuit 13, and the voltage control circuit 10a may set the proportion of the voltage on period in a fixed period based on the rotation speed of the fan (indoor fan 4) obtained from the drive control circuit 10 b.

According to the above configuration, by setting the proportion of the voltage ON period (ON) in the fixed period according to the rotation speed of the fan, the voltage ON period (ON) can be set according to the wind speed.

This allows the amount of ions generated to be appropriately adjusted according to the speed of the wind contacting the ions generated by the ionizer.

An ion generating apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the fourth aspect described above, wherein the voltage control circuit 10a controls to increase the proportion of the voltage ON (ON) period when the rotation speed of the fan (indoor fan 4) obtained from the drive control circuit 10b is greater than a preset value, and to decrease the proportion of the voltage ON (ON) period when the rotation speed of the fan (indoor fan 4) obtained is less than the preset value.

According to the above configuration, since an appropriate ratio of voltage ON (ON) can be set according to the wind speed, a reduction in the amount of ion generation can be appropriately suppressed.

An ion generating apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the ion generating apparatus according to any of the first to third aspects, further comprising: and a wind direction changing unit (louver 2) for changing a direction of wind blowing ions generated in the ion generator 11, wherein the voltage control circuit 10a may set a ratio of the voltage ON (ON) period in a fixed period according to the direction changed by the wind direction changing unit (louver 2).

According to the above configuration, the proportion of the above voltage ON (ON) period within a fixed period is set according to the direction of wind blowing toward ions, so that the voltage ON (ON) period can be set according to the wind speed.

An air conditioner according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized by having the ion generating device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

The ion generating apparatus according to the aspects of the present invention may be realized by a computer, and in this case, a control program of the ion generating apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium storing the control program, which cause a computer to realize the ion generating apparatus described above by operating the computer as an ionizer with various components (software elements), also belong to the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, various modifications may be made within the scope shown in the claims, and examples obtained by appropriately combining technical means respectively disclosed in different examples are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Further, by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments, new technical features can be formed.

Description of the reference numerals

2 louver board (wind direction changing part)

4 indoor fan (Fan)

10 control circuit

10a voltage control circuit

10b drive control circuit

11 ion generator

11a ion generating element

11b ion generating element

12 fan driving motor

13 ion detection circuit

22 protective cover

23 discharge electrode

24 circuit board

100 indoor unit

101 ion generating device

Claims

1. An ion generating apparatus, comprising: an ion generator that generates ions by applying a voltage of a voltage-on level; and

a voltage control circuit for controlling the on and off of the voltage applied to the ionizer,

the voltage control circuit controls the voltage-off period, which indicates a period in which the voltage-off levels continue, to be longer than the voltage-on period, which indicates a period in which the voltage-on levels continue.

2. The ion generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage control circuit sets the voltage-off period to be longer than a preset period.

3. The ion generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the voltage control circuit sets the voltage-on period to a period in which ion cancellation does not occur within the voltage-on period.

4. The ion generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

a fan blowing the ions generated in the ionizer;

an ion detection circuit that detects an ion concentration; and

a drive control circuit for controlling the rotation speed of the fan according to the ion concentration detected by the ion detection circuit,

the voltage control circuit sets the proportion of the voltage turn-on period in a fixed period according to the fan rotating speed obtained from the drive control circuit.

5. The ion generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the voltage control circuit performs control to increase the proportion of the voltage on period when the rotation speed of the fan obtained from the drive control circuit is greater than a preset value, and to decrease the proportion of the voltage on period when the obtained rotation speed of the fan is less than the preset value.

6. The ion generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

a wind direction changing part for changing the direction of wind blowing the ions generated by the ion generator,

the voltage control circuit sets the ratio of the voltage on period in a fixed period according to the direction changed by the wind direction changing part.

7. An air conditioner characterized by having the ion generating device of any one of claims 1 to 6.