JP2000300593A - Heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent wasteful energy consumption by automatically stopping the heating of a heating element in case one forgets to stop heating by detecting the contact of the heating element to a human body by a pressure detection section and controlling the heating element on the basis of a signal output from the pressure detection section. SOLUTION: This heater to heat the waist has a belt-shaped bag 1 wrapped around the waist, and is bound detachably to the waist by Velcro or the like provided continuously on both ends. In the bag 1, a heating element 3 using a commercial power supply 2 as an energy source, in the portion that contacts the waist of which a heater is embedded, a temperature detection section 4 that detects the temperature of the heating element 3, and a temperature setting section 5 to set the heating element 3 at a temperature the user wants are provided. In this case, a pressure detection section 6 is provided between a human body and a heating element 3, and when a signal from the pressure detection section 6 is below a prescribed pressure, the heater is considered in an unmounted state, and heating of the heating element 3 is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heating apparatus for transferring heat of a heating element to a human body to collect heat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, heating tools for warming the human body include:
For example, in general, a heater is buried at a position corresponding to the waist of a belt-shaped bag that is wrapped around the waist, and a user operates a temperature control unit to set a desired temperature to collect heat. Was.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional heating device, when the heating device is heated to warm the human body, the heating must be stopped by the user even if the user does not use the device while wrapping around the waist. There was a problem that it was in a heated state. In addition, even if the temperature is set to the same value, the degree of contact of the heater with the waist changes depending on the degree of winding of the belt-shaped bag wound around the waist, so that there is a problem that the temperature obtained at the waist changes.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is a first object of the present invention to improve economy and safety by controlling the heating element by detecting use. A second object is to allow the human body to be comfortably warmed according to the state of contact with the human body.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the first object, a contact of a heating element with a human body is detected by a pressure detecting unit, and a signal output from the pressure detecting unit is detected. The heating element is controlled based on this.

[0006] This makes it possible to stop the heating of the heating element when the use of the apparatus is finished or when the operation to stop the heating is forgotten, and economically and safely without wasting energy. Can be used.

In order to achieve the second object, the control unit changes the temperature control level of the heating element according to the intensity of the pressure output from the pressure detection unit.

Accordingly, when the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element is strong, the temperature control level is lowered, and when the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element is low, the temperature control level is increased. Even if the degree of contact changes, the temperature change obtained at the contact part on the human body side can be reduced,
It can warm the human body comfortably.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a heating element for heating a human body by contacting the same with a human body, a pressure detector for detecting contact of the heating element with the human body, A control unit for controlling the heating of the heating element by an output signal from the pressure detection unit. The heating unit can detect the contact of the heating element with the human body and perform heating, thereby heating the human body safely without waste. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, after the heating element has been heated for a predetermined time, when a signal output from the pressure detecting section is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure, The heating of the heating element is stopped.If the use is terminated or if the operation to stop the heating is forgotten, the output from the pressure detector will be lower than the predetermined pressure. Heating of the heating element can be stopped,
It can be used economically and safely without wasting energy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, when the signal output from the pressure detector is a predetermined pressure or less, the heating element is heated after a predetermined time. Is provided with a timer section to stop the heating, and in the case of temporarily suspending the use of the heating device or re-attaching, if the heating is not immediately stopped within a predetermined time, and the use is truly terminated The heating of the heating element can be stopped after a predetermined time, and the usability of the heating device can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the control section controls the temperature of the heating element according to the strength of the pressure output from the pressure detecting section. The level is changed.If the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element is strong, the temperature control level can be lowered, and if the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element is low, the temperature control level can be increased. Even if the degree of contact between the heating element and the human body changes, the temperature change obtained at the contact portion on the human body side can be reduced, and the comfort can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the pressure detecting portion is disposed on the side of the heating element in contact with the human body. Since the contact state can be accurately detected, the degree of contact between the heating element and the human body can be reduced, so that the temperature change obtained at the contact portion on the human body side can be further reduced, and comfort can be improved. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fifth aspects, a heating element is constituted by a catalytic combustion device using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel.
Light and comfortable heating can be achieved even in places where there is no commercial power supply.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
This embodiment shows a heating device that is wrapped around the waist to warm the waist, and is attached and detached by providing hook-and-loop fasteners at both ends of a bag 1 formed in a belt shape sewn around the waist. The bag 1 can be freely connected.
Includes a heating element 3 in which a heater is buried in a portion that comes into contact with the waist using a commercial power source 2 as an energy source;
And a temperature setting unit 5 for the user to set the heating element 3 to a desired temperature.

The pressure detecting section 6 disposed between the human body and the heating element 3 detects the pressure by utilizing the piezoresistance effect, and includes a pressure detecting section 6, a temperature detecting section 4, and a temperature setting section 5. Is input to the control unit 7 to control the heating of the heating element 3. The pressure detecting section 6 is a diffusion type semiconductor pressure sensor utilizing a general piezoresistance effect, and a diffusion strain gauge is formed on the surface of a silicon wafer. When pressure is applied, the diaphragm bends and the applied stress increases. The electrical signal output according to the pressure is input to the control unit 7 using the resistivity that changes with the pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, after the control unit 7 heats the heating element 3 for a predetermined time, when the signal from the pressure detection unit 6 is lower than a predetermined pressure, the control unit 7 sends the signal to the heating element 3. The heating is stopped, and if the pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the temperature control level of the heating element 3 is reduced according to the intensity of the pressure signal from the pressure detection unit 6. Further, the temperature setting unit 5 is connected to the control unit 7 in the bag 1 by a plurality of electric cables.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the user wraps the bag 1 around the waist, turns on the commercial power supply 2, and operates the temperature setting unit 5 to set a desired temperature. Control unit 7
Compares the set temperature signal from the temperature setting unit 5 with the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 4, and heats the heating element 3 if the temperature of the temperature detection unit 4 is lower than the set temperature set by the temperature setting unit 5. Conversely, if the temperature is high, the heating is stopped so that the heating element 3 is controlled to the set temperature.

Further, after heating the heating element 3 for a predetermined time, the control section 7 stops heating the heating element 3 when the signal from the pressure detecting section 6 is lower than a predetermined pressure. That is, when the use of the device is started, the heating of the heating element 3 is started regardless of the signal from the pressure detection unit 6, so that the use can be started regardless of the presence or absence of the attachment. When the pressure level is such that the heating element 3 is not in contact with the human body, the heating of the heating element can be automatically stopped, and the apparatus can be used economically and safely without consuming unnecessary energy. Can be.

Further, the controller 7 lowers the temperature control level of the heating element 3 according to the strength of the pressure signal from the pressure detecting section 6. Therefore, when the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element 3 is strong, the temperature control level is reduced. Is lowered, and conversely, when the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element 3 is low, the temperature control level is raised. Therefore, even if the degree of contact between the heating element 3 and the human body changes depending on the manner of mounting the bag 1 and the degree of tightening, the temperature change obtained at the contact portion on the human body side can be reduced, and the comfort is improved. be able to.

Further, since the pressure detecting section 6 is arranged between the human body and the heating element 3, the contact state between the heating element 3 and the human body can be accurately detected, and the degree of contact between the heating element 3 and the human body can be reduced. The change in temperature obtained at the contact portion on the human body side with respect to the change can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 6, when a signal from the pressure detecting section 6 is lower than a predetermined pressure, a timer section 8 for stopping heating after a predetermined time is formed. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In normal use, when the bag 1 is mounted, the signal from the pressure detecting section 6 is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, so that the control section 7 controls the heating element 3 at a desired temperature. I do. When the bag 1 is detached from the human body,
When the signal from the pressure detection unit 6 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined pressure, the timer unit 8 starts counting time. During this time, the heating device operates normally, and therefore, even in the case where the attachment degree is poor and the attachment is re-attached, the use can be continued as long as the attachment / detachment is within a predetermined time. When the use is finished, the heating of the heating element 3 can be stopped after a predetermined time, and the usability of the heating device can be improved.

In the first and second embodiments, the heating device is used by being attached to the waist of the human body. However, a heating device that is used in contact with a part of the human body, such as a slipper or a cushion having the heating element 3, is also used. It goes without saying that a similar effect can be obtained.

The configuration and processing of the control unit 7 and the timer unit 8 can be simplified by using a microcomputer.

In the first or second embodiment, the control unit 7 is provided inside the bag 1, but it may be provided outside the bag 1 together with the temperature setting unit 5.

The heating element 3 can be constituted by a catalytic combustion heating device using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel in addition to the one using a commercial power supply. In this case, the heating device can be arbitrarily and flexibly used in a place where there is no commercial power supply, and a heating device that is convenient to carry can be obtained.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a heating element for heating a human body by contacting the same with a human body, and a pressure detection for detecting contact of the heating element with the human body. Unit and a control unit for controlling the heating of the heating element by an output signal from the pressure detection unit, so that the heating element can be heated by detecting the attachment to the human body, and the human body can be safely used without waste. Can be warmed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, after the heating element is heated for a predetermined time, when the signal output from the pressure detector is lower than a predetermined pressure, the heating of the heating element is stopped. Therefore, when the use is terminated or the operation to stop heating is forgotten, the heating of the heating element can be stopped, and economical and safe use can be achieved without wasteful energy consumption. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the signal output from the pressure detecting section is equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure, the timer section for stopping the heating of the heating element after a predetermined time is provided. In the case of temporary interruption or re-attachment, the heating is not stopped immediately within a predetermined time, and when the use is terminated, the heating of the heating element can be stopped after a predetermined time. The usability of the device can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control unit changes the temperature control level of the heating element according to the intensity of the pressure output from the pressure detection unit. If the degree of contact between the heating element and the heating element is strong, the temperature control level can be lowered; if the degree of contact between the human body and the heating element is low, the temperature control level can be increased, and the degree of contact between the heating element and the human body changes. However, the temperature change obtained at the contact portion on the human body side can be reduced, and the comfort can be improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the pressure detecting section is arranged on the side of the heating element in contact with the human body, the contact state between the heating element and the human body can be accurately detected, and The change in temperature at the contact portion on the side of the human body with respect to the change in the degree of contact between the body and the human body can be further reduced, and the comfort can be further improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the heat generating couple is constituted by the catalytic combustion heating device using liquefied petroleum gas as fuel, it can be used flexibly in any place without commercial power supply. A portable heating device can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a heating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the heating device.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the heating device in a mounted state.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the heating device.

FIG. 5 is a control characteristic diagram of the heating device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a heating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Heating element 6 Pressure detection unit 7 Control unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tadashi Ando 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 4C099 AA01 CA11 EA08 GA03 JA01 JA07 LA08 LA27 NA02 PA01 PA10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A heating element for heating a human body by contacting the same with a human body, a pressure detecting section for detecting contact of the heating element with the human body, and heating the heating element by an output signal from the pressure detecting section. A heating device comprising a control unit for controlling. 2. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after heating the heating element for a predetermined time, when the signal output from the pressure detection unit is lower than a predetermined pressure, heating of the heating element is stopped. 3. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timer section for stopping heating of the heating element after a predetermined time when a signal output from the pressure detection section is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure. 4. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the temperature control level of the heating element according to the intensity of the pressure output from the pressure detection unit. apparatus. 5. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure detection unit is disposed on a side of the heating element that contacts the human body. 6. The heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is constituted by a catalytic combustion device using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel.