JP2001066378A - Lightning surge warning device and electronic equipment with lightning surge warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately confirm lightning distance by a device in hand by detecting light and voice with a photodetector and a microphone, respectively, by calculating the distance according to the time difference between both the detection time, and by comparing with past lightning distance danger data. SOLUTION: Light due to lightning is detected by a light detection means 10 of a photodetector such as a visible photodiode for converting to an electric signal, and at the same time the clocking of a clocking means 16 such as a stopwatch is started. Lightning sound after the lightning light occurs is detected by a sound detection means 13 such as a microphone for converting to the electric signal, and at the same time the clocking means 16 is stopped. The clocking means 16 executes start and stop, and clocks time from the generation of lightning light to that of lightning sound. An operation means 17 calculates sound velocity and the time of a clocking result for calculating distance. A comparison means 20 compares the calculation result of lightning generation distance with an accumulated lightning danger distance reference value data. A warning means 21 issues warning by voice or the like when it is judged that a measurement distance calculation result is danger distance according to the comparison result of the comparison means 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for preventing a surge from being destroyed in electronic equipment due to a lightning strike.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Lightning surge prevention devices for preventing the destruction of each electronic device due to lightning strikes. In each electronic device, with respect to lightning surge flowing from a power supply due to electrostatic induction or electromagnetic induction, etc. There is a method of using a varistor or the like, or a method of opening a slit in a printed wiring board, forming an arbitrary pattern, and discharging when a surge occurs to absorb a lightning surge.

The following method is based on the principle that lightning surge is not inserted into electronic equipment. The following method is used to predict the occurrence of lightning surge and cut off external connections to prevent damage to electronic components and the like. There is a conventional example.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-018285 describes a lightning surge protector for connecting and disconnecting each electronic device in response to approaching lightning.

A conventional example will be described with reference to FIG.
By detecting the time difference between the lightning noise and the sound of the thunder, the power supply, antenna and telephone line are disconnected simultaneously to protect the electronic equipment from lightning surge.

With respect to an input source of a signal received by the lightning surge protector from the outside, lightning is generated by a discharge phenomenon caused by a thundercloud, and noise generated at this time is received by the ANT in the lightning detection circuit 101 as noise coming in as an external radio wave. Detects the occurrence of lightning.

Further, a lightning sound is generated simultaneously with the lightning. This thunder noise is caught by a microphone of the thunder detection circuit 102 attached to the outside.

[0008] Receiving the light with a microphone, it recognizes that lightning has occurred, and measures the time difference between the lightning occurrence time and the time when a thunder sound is heard.

The lightning detection circuit 101 is built in a set for receiving lightning noise coming from an external radio wave with an AM radio antenna, and is tuned to an arbitrary frequency.
Caught as audio noise when lightning strikes.

The lightning sound detection circuit 102 detects a lightning sound by picking up a lightning sound with a microphone attached to the outside of the electronic device. The lightning approach detector 103 includes the lightning detection circuit 10
MM that sends 1 second output pulse in response to 1 signal
1 and the signal from the lightning sound detection circuit 102, if the time from the occurrence of lightning to the time when the lightning sound is heard is within 1 second,
An "H" level is output to drive solenoids SL1, SL2, and SL3 attached to each electronic device to cut off connection of a power outlet, an antenna, and the like.

It is provided that the electronic devices are protected from lightning surges and direct lightning strikes by simultaneously operating the disconnection of each solenoid to disconnect the circuit.

[0012]

However, as in the above-described apparatus, a method of detecting noise by employing a radio receiver or the like as a method of detecting lightning, or a method of driving a solenoid to shut off each electronic device, etc. And the circuit configuration is complicated and the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. In contrast to a conventional lightning surge protector, the lightning surge warning device of the present invention has a lightning strike distance in hand,
If it can be confirmed and a warning about the lightning hazard distance occurs, remove the power outlet of each electronic device and the insertion of the receiving antenna,
This is to provide a simple lightning forecast warning.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a relay switching circuit is provided in an electronic device to receive a lightning surge warning signal, and a power supply unit and a radio wave receiving unit of the electronic device in order to prevent a circuit breakage of the electronic device due to a lightning surge. Is to shut off.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides means for solving such problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conversion means for detecting light with a light receiving element and converting the light into an electric signal, a conversion means for detecting sound with a microphone and converting the sound into an electric signal,
A means for setting a timekeeping control signal for controlling timekeeping with each detected electric signal, a timekeeping means for measuring a period from light detection to voice detection, and a calculating means for calculating a distance from the result of the timekeeping, From the time of lightning occurrence, perform the above means several times, measure each distance and point, display the distribution of lightning strike points, calculate the lightning moving speed, and calculate the lightning speed, It is provided with a comparing means for comparing with the lightning distance danger standard value data, and displays a time at which the lightning strike falls within the lightning distance danger standard value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for displaying a time at which a lightning strike falls within a lightning distance danger standard value, and a means for automatically disconnecting a power supply / antenna connection of an electronic device after the displayed time. It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conversion means for detecting light with a light receiving element and converting the light into an electric signal, a conversion means for detecting sound with a microphone and converting the sound into an electric signal,
Means for using each detected electric signal as a time control signal for controlling time, time means for measuring a period from light detection to sound detection, arithmetic means for calculating a distance from the result of the time measurement, and lightning The above means are performed several times from the time of occurrence, the distances and points are measured, the distribution of lightning strike points is displayed, the calculation means for calculating the moving speed of lightning, the calculation results and the past lightning strike distance A comparison means for comparing with the danger reference value data is provided, and a time at which the lightning strike point is out of the lightning distance danger reference value is displayed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for displaying a time at which a lightning strike falls outside a lightning distance danger standard value, and a means for automatically resetting a power supply / antenna connection of an electronic device after the displayed time has elapsed. It is characterized by having.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a lightning surge warning device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a lightning surge warning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
0, signal conversion means 11 and 14, time control means 12, 1
5, voice detection means 13, clock means 16, arithmetic means 17,
Distance display means 18, dangerous distance reference value 19, comparison means 2
0, warning means 21.

As a natural phenomenon of lightning, a thundercloud is generated, and a discharge phenomenon occurs between the thundercloud and the ground, resulting in lightning.

Depending on the location of the lightning strike, a lightning strike occurs and a thunder can be heard within a few seconds. The time between the lightning lightning and the sound of the lightning is measured, and the measured time is calculated as the distance to predict the lightning strike distance.

The present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When a lightning strike occurs, the sky darkens and the lightning light becomes sharp. The lightning light is detected by the light detecting means 10 and converted into an electric signal by the signal conversion means 11, and the control means 12 controls the timing simultaneously with the detection of the lightning light. As a result, the timer 16 is started.

A few seconds after the occurrence of the lightning light, a lightning sound is heard, and the lightning sound is detected by the sound detecting means 13 and converted into an electric signal by the signal converting means 14. The timer means 16 is stopped by the control means 15 for controlling.

As lightning light detecting means 10, light is received by a light receiving element such as a visible light photodiode, a phototransistor or the like, which is converted into an "H" signal of an electric signal, and the time measuring means 16 is controlled as a control signal.

The timing means receives the "H" signal of the control signal,
Start timing.

As the lightning sound detecting means 13, a lightning sound is detected by a microphone or the like, converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal is controlled to control the time measuring means 16. The timing means receives the control signal and stops the timing.

The timing means 16 employs a stopwatch or the like, receives a lightning light detection control signal and a lightning sound detection control signal, starts timekeeping, stops timekeeping, and measures the time between the occurrence of lightning light and the occurrence of lightning sound. .

The calculating means 17 calculates the distance by calculating the sound speed in the air of about 350 m / sec and the time obtained by the time counting by the time counting means.

As an example, if the timing result is 3 seconds, 3 ×
350 = 1,050m ≒ 1km.

As a result of the above calculation, the distance from the lightning generation point to the measurement point is found to be about 1 km.

The distance display means 18 displays the calculated result on a display unit provided with a liquid crystal display unit.

The lightning strike risk reference value 19 accumulates the dangerous distance from the past lightning strike distance, and uses the statistical result of the lightning strike risk reference value data of the dangerous area distance as the reference value.

The comparing means 20 compares the calculated distance of the lightning occurrence distance with the lightning risk reference value to determine whether the measurement point is within the lightning risk distance zone.

The warning means 21 outputs a voice when a result of the comparison by the comparing means 20 indicates that the measured distance calculation result is shorter than the lightning strike danger reference value 19 and is determined to be a lightning strike danger distance.
Alternatively, a warning is issued on the display.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart of each means according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a timing chart of timing, and FIG. 2A shows a timing when the light detecting means 10 detects lightning light, and the timing means 16 is started simultaneously with the detection.

(B) shows the time when the sound detecting means 13 detects the lightning sound, and the time measuring means 16 is stopped simultaneously with the detection.

T is the time of light detection (a) and the time of sound detection (b)
Is the time measured between

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a timing chart of the result of calculation and the warning / display, where m is the distance based on the danger distance, and point (c) indicates the limit position.

M ′ is the distance of the result of the calculating means 17;
When the distance is shorter than the limit position of the point (c) by the comparing means 20, a warning is generated by the warning means 21 together with the distance display by the distance display means 18.

When the distance is longer than the limit position, the display means displays the calculated distance.

As described above, the danger distance reference value 19 is determined from the past lightning strike distance data, and the comparison result is compared with the calculation result. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple type device for manually extracting a power outlet, an antenna connection, a telephone line outlet, and the like, and preventing each electronic device from being damaged by lightning surge when lightning occurs.

In addition, a relay switch is provided in a connection portion such as a power outlet, an antenna connection portion, and a telephone line in each electronic device using the warning signal of the present invention as a control signal. You can also shut off the power to the device.

In FIG. 3, the lightning strike warning signal is
0, the warning signal is converted into a control signal by the control means 22 and input to the relay switching circuit 25 installed inside the electronic device.

The relay switching circuit 25 includes a power outlet 24 to which commercial power is supplied and a main power path 26.
When a warning signal is generated, the power supply to the electronic equipment is automatically cut off, and the surge voltage input from the commercial power supply is cut off to the electronic circuits to protect the surge voltage.

On the other hand, in response to a lightning surge from the antenna unit 29 for receiving a radio signal, a relay switching circuit 28 is provided between the antenna unit 29 and the IF / tuner unit 27 so that a warning signal is generated. At the same time, the connection of the antenna unit 28 is automatically cut off simultaneously with the relay switching circuit 25 of the power supply unit, thereby protecting the IF / tuner unit 27 from being damaged by a lightning surge from the radio wave receiving antenna unit.

According to FIG. 3, according to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the light detecting means 10, the sound detecting means 13, the signal converting means 11 and 14, and the timing control means 12 and 15 are installed outdoors. Only means for transmitting each control signal by detecting each lightning light and lightning sound is provided.
8, dangerous distance reference value 19, comparing means 20, warning means 2
1. The warning control means 22 is placed indoors to be in a separate format.

Each detecting means is placed outdoors to monitor the occurrence of lightning during one or two days.

When a lightning is detected and a warning signal is generated, the power supply unit of the electronic device and the connection of the radio wave receiving antenna unit can be automatically cut off, thereby protecting the always-on electronic device from lightning surge.

In FIG. 4, an example of a photodetector and a direction detector in the shape of a polygonal prism (in FIG. 4, indicated by an octagonal prism) is shown in the upper part of FIG. Increasing the number of divisions of the polygonal shape improves the accuracy of the direction accordingly.

However, in view of the price of the detector and the complexity of the circuit, 8- to 64-division is desirable. Each of the divided surfaces is provided with photodetectors A, B, C, D, E,... And installed on a roof.

By comparing the intensities of the light from the photodetectors A, B, C, D, E,..., The direction having the highest intensity is defined as the direction in which lightning has occurred.

The lower part of FIG. 4 shows an example of a display device installed indoors. The current location P is displayed at the center, and each lightning strike point is distinguished and displayed.

The moving direction of the thundercloud can be specified, for example, by taking the average value of each lightning strike occurring within a certain period of time and changing the average value.

In the figure, A'B'C'D'E'F'G'H 'is divided into a fan shape of 45.degree. (In the case of an octagonal prism) with the current position P at the top, and the north, south, east and west are aligned with the map. For example, if the detection result in the light direction detection is, for example, the direction detector of E detects light, the location on the map of E 'is illuminated, and the lightning strike point is E
The direction on the map can be found on the display unit.

Further, the distance between the lightning strike point and the lightning strike point can be determined from the time difference between the light detecting means and the lightning strike sound detecting means.

The results obtained by measuring the lightning strike point several times are represented as,, and. Also, the dotted line represents the lightning group, and the traveling direction of the lightning group can be determined.

In the figure, r is the radius of the lightning strike danger distance reference range (k
m), and r1, r2, r3, and r4 are represented by the distances between the lightning strike points.

The lightning strike point in the circle at the bottom of FIG. 4 indicates that it is within the lightning strike risk range.

Further, the time and the sound speed of each lightning strike can be known, and the time at which the lightning strike point enters the lightning hazard reference value can be displayed. The displayed time is counted down and the time is counted as "0". , Or when the vehicle enters the lightning risk standard value, the power supply of each electronic device and the antenna connection are automatically cut off, and conversely, the time when the lightning is out of the lightning risk standard value is calculated, After timing or within a certain time,
If the data of the lightning strike is out of the lightning risk standard value, the power supply and antenna connection of each electronic device can be automatically restored.

[0063]

Since the lightning surge warning device of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to display and warn a lightning strike danger distance with a simple configuration by detecting a lightning light or a lightning sound such as lightning. Also, it can be operated by holding it in hand, and it is easy in terms of cost and can be simplified.

Further, according to the present invention, a relay switching circuit is provided in a power supply unit and a radio wave receiving unit inside the electronic device,
When a lightning strike warning signal occurs, the power supply unit automatically
By shutting off the radio wave receiving section, it is possible to protect electronic devices from constant lightning surges.

In the present invention, the lightning spot distribution area can be determined by lightning light detection, light generation direction detection, and lightning strike detection, and the lightning movement direction and movement speed can be determined, so that lightning strike danger standard values and the like can be determined. The time of entry and exit of a lightning strike point is displayed on the display, and the power supply and antenna connection of electronic devices and the like can be automatically cut off and restored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of a lightning surge warning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart at the time of warning of each means of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram in which an electronic device according to the present invention is provided with a power supply and an antenna connection cutoff circuit based on a lightning warning signal.

FIG. 4 is a distribution diagram of lightning strike points according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional lightning surge protector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light detection means 11 Signal conversion means 12 Time control means 13 Sound detection means 14 Signal conversion means 15 Time control means 16 Timekeeping means 17 Calculation means 18 Display means 19 Critical distance reference value 20 Comparison means 21 Warning means 22 Warning control means 24 Outlet 25, 28 relay switching circuit 26 main power supply 27 IF / tuner 29 antenna 101 lightning detection circuit 102 lightning sound detection circuit 103 lightning approach detector 104 AC power supply circuit breaker 105 telephone line circuit breaker 106 antenna connection circuit breaker

Claims (5)

[Claims] A detecting means for detecting light with a light receiving element and converting the light into an electric signal; a converting means for detecting sound with a microphone and converting the sound into an electric signal; Means for controlling the timekeeping as a timekeeping control signal, timekeeping means for measuring the period from light detection to voice detection, and arithmetic means for calculating the distance from the result of the timekeeping time, A means for performing the above means, measuring each distance and point, and displaying a distribution of lightning strike points;
Comprising calculation means for calculating the moving speed of lightning, and comparison means for comparing the calculation result with past lightning distance danger reference value data, wherein a time at which a lightning strike falls within the lightning distance danger reference value is displayed. Lightning surge warning device. 2. A lightning surge warning device according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a time during which the lightning strike falls within a lightning distance danger standard value, and after the displayed time has elapsed, connecting the power supply / antenna of the electronic device. An electronic device comprising a lightning surge warning device, comprising: means for automatically shutting off. 3. A conversion means for detecting light with a light receiving element and converting it into an electric signal, a conversion means for detecting sound with a microphone and converting it into an electric signal, and timing each of the detected electric signals. Means for controlling a time control signal, time measuring means for measuring a period from light detection to voice detection, calculating means for calculating a distance from the result of the time measurement, and a plurality of times from the time of lightning occurrence. Means for measuring each distance and point, and displaying the distribution of lightning strike points,
Comprising calculating means for calculating the moving speed of lightning, and comparing means for comparing the calculation result with past lightning distance danger reference value data, wherein a time at which a lightning strike falls outside the lightning distance danger reference value is displayed. And lightning surge warning device. 4. A lightning surge warning device according to claim 3, wherein a means for displaying a time at which a lightning strike falls outside a lightning distance danger standard value, and a power / antenna connection of an electronic device after the displayed time has elapsed. An electronic device provided with a lightning surge warning device, comprising: means for automatically resetting the lightning. 5. The lightning surge warning device according to claim 1, wherein the light detection device includes omnidirectional light receiving means for detecting light to specify a light generation direction. .