JP2006092866A - Ion generator and electric apparatus equipped with same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator capable of preventing contamination of a discharge surface without expanding the scale of the device; and to provide an electric apparatus equipped with it. <P>SOLUTION: This ion generator 1 ionizes part of air by applying a high voltage generated by a high-voltage generation circuit 18 for partially ionizing the air between an induction electrode 15 and a discharge electrode 16. Then, the high-voltage generation circuit 18 is controlled by a control part 17 so as to generate a voltage higher than that in normal operation, whereby corona discharge stronger than that in normal operation can be generated, and thereby a cleaning operation for removing a contaminant attached to the discharge surface can be executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator, and further relates to an electrical apparatus equipped with the ion generator. In addition, as an example applicable to the above-mentioned electrical equipment, it is mainly in a closed space (inside a house, one room in a building, a hospital room or operating room, in-house, in an airplane, in a ship, in a warehouse, in a refrigerator). Examples include air conditioners, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, air purifiers, refrigerators, fan heaters, microwave ovens, washing / drying machines, vacuum cleaners, and sterilizers.

  Conventionally, ion generators have been used to purify, sterilize, or deodorize indoor or automobile air. In many of these cases, the air sucked into the casing passes through the ion generating section where ions are generated by the discharge when the fan provided in the casing rotates, and the ions generated in the ion generating section thereby It is the structure mixed and discharged out of a housing | casing (refer patent document 1).

  As a problem of such a conventional ion generator, there is a problem that, when used for a long time in an air-dirty environment, contaminants adhere to the discharge surface, the discharge is weakened, and the ion emission amount is reduced. It was.

In order to solve this problem, a discharger, a charging device, and the like that clean the discharge surface by mechanical means such as a cleaning member have been disclosed and proposed (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-162964 A JP 7-43990 A

  However, the ion generator configured as in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that the number of parts increases and the apparatus itself increases in size.

  An object of this invention is to provide the ion generator which can prevent the contamination of a discharge surface, and an electric equipment provided with the same, without causing the expansion of an apparatus scale in view of said problem.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ion generator of the present invention performs ionization by applying a high voltage to inhaled air and applies it to the primary side in an ion generator that discharges the generated ions. A transformer for transforming a voltage to be output to the secondary side, a DC power source for applying a DC voltage to both ends of the primary side winding of the transformer, and switching the on / off A switching element for switching whether or not the DC voltage is applied to both ends of the primary side winding, a rectifying circuit for rectifying an electric signal output from the secondary side of the transformer, A pair of electrodes to which a rectified electrical signal output from the rectifier circuit is applied; and a control unit that changes a voltage value of the rectified electrical signal applied to the pair of electrodes. And the control unit And performing switching control on and off of the switching element.

  With this configuration, the value of the voltage applied between the electrodes included in the ion generator and the timing at which the voltage is applied are controlled by switching on and off the switching element.

  At this time, the ion generator may include a fan for diffusing the air sucked into the ion generator, and the rotational speed of the fan may be controlled by the control unit.

  In addition, the ion generator includes a pulse generator that generates a pulse signal composed of a binary voltage signal and switches the switching element on and off by supplying the generated pulse signal to the switching element. The control unit may perform on / off switching control of the switching element by changing a pulse width of a pulse signal generated by the pulse generator and a pulse generation timing.

  The control operation performed by the control unit on the switching element is to keep the switching element on for a predetermined time T1, and then keep the switching element off for a predetermined time T2. After that, a first control operation that repeats the control of keeping the switching element in the ON state for the T1 again, and keeping the switching element in the ON state for a predetermined time T3 different from the T1, and then switching the switching element. One of the second control operations in which the element is kept off for a predetermined time T4 different from T2 and then the switching element is kept on again for the time T3. It may be the content for selecting an action.

  When configured in this manner, the control unit only needs to operate by selecting one of two preset control operations, and the control content is simplified.

  In addition, the ion generation device includes an operation unit for a user to instruct the control content performed by the control unit, and the user operates the operation unit, whereby the first control operation and the second control operation are performed. One of the control operations may be instructed to the control unit.

  In addition, the control operation content performed by the control unit on the switching element is automatically switched between the first control operation and the second control operation when a predetermined time has elapsed. It does not matter as a configuration.

  That is, when the control unit performs the second control operation for a predetermined time, the control content of the control unit may be automatically switched to the first control operation. The control content of the control unit may be automatically switched to the second control operation when a predetermined time elapses during which the control unit performs the first control operation.

  The pulse generator includes a calculation unit to which the same pulse signal as the pulse signal supplied to the switching element is provided, and the calculation unit counts the number of pulses of the pulse signal supplied from the pulse generator. A configuration may be adopted in which it is recognized that a predetermined time has elapsed and a control operation content switching instruction is given to the control unit. At this time, the control unit, the pulse generator, and the calculation unit may be configured on the same microcomputer. With this configuration, the device size of the ion generator can be reduced.

  Further, at this time, the arithmetic unit may count the number of times that the voltage value is high in the pulse signal from the pulse generator, or may count the number of times that the voltage value is low. Absent.

  Further, the arithmetic unit is provided with a timer that can detect the operation time of the ion generator inside in advance, and a control for switching the control operation to the control unit when the timer measures a predetermined time. A configuration for providing a signal may be used.

  Further, the value of T3 may be larger than the value of T1. By setting in this way, the voltage value generated in the high voltage generation circuit while the control unit is performing the second control operation is reduced while the control unit is performing the first control operation. The voltage value generated by the high voltage generation circuit can be made larger. Accordingly, if the state in which the control unit is performing the first control operation is the normal operation state, a voltage higher than that in the normal operation state is applied while the control unit is performing the second control operation. By being applied between the electrodes, a corona discharge stronger than that in a normal operation state can be generated, and contaminants attached to the discharge surface can be removed by this strong corona discharge.

  Further, at this time, the value of T4 may be smaller than the value of T2. By setting in this way, the frequency at which the high voltage generation circuit generates a high voltage while the control unit is performing the second control operation, and the control unit is performing the first control operation. In the meantime, the frequency of the high voltage generation circuit generating a high voltage can be increased. Therefore, while the control unit is performing the second control operation, the number of discharges within a predetermined time can be increased as compared with the normal operation state, thereby removing the contaminants attached to the discharge surface. Can be further increased.

  Further, at this time, a time for the control unit to perform the first control operation and a time for the second control operation to be set in advance, and the control unit automatically performs the first control operation and the A configuration for switching to the second control operation may be employed. In this way, when a normal operation for generating ions is performed for a certain period of time, it automatically switches to a cleaning operation for removing contaminants adhering to the discharge surface, and automatically again when a cleaning operation is performed for a predetermined time. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a high discharge efficiency state even if the user does not instruct the cleaning operation. In addition, by adopting a configuration in which the user can set in advance the timing for switching the control operation of the control unit, it is possible to perform flexible control in accordance with the usage state of the ion generator.

  The control operation performed by the control unit is selected as the second control operation until a predetermined time elapses immediately after the ion generator is driven, and the second control operation is automatically performed after the predetermined time elapses. It may be switched to one control operation.

  With this configuration, immediately after the ion generator is driven, that is, immediately after energization, the voltage applied between the electrodes is set to be higher than that during normal operation, which facilitates initial discharge. Furthermore, the frequency of the voltage applied between the electrodes in the initial energization is set higher than that in the normal operation to make the initial discharge easy to occur, and the frequency of applying the voltage in the normal operation is lower than the initial operation. Thus, it is possible to suppress discharge noise during normal operation.

  Further, while the controller performs the first control operation, the rotation speed of the fan is controlled to a predetermined rotation speed R1 with respect to the fan, and while the second control operation is performed, For the fan, the rotation speed of the fan may be controlled to a predetermined rotation speed R2 that is larger than R1.

  With this configuration, it is possible to further enhance the effect of removing contaminants attached to the discharge surface while the control unit performs the second control operation.

  In addition, in order for the user to be able to adjust the amount of ion generation even during normal operation, the user adjusts the rotational speed of the fan during normal operation in the operation unit. It does not matter as a possible configuration. At this time, for example, the rotational speed of the fan is registered in advance as several different rotational speeds, and the buttons “Large ion generation amount”, “Medium ion generation amount”, and “Low ion generation amount” are operated in descending order of the rotation speed. The rotation speed of the fan during normal operation can be changed by the user selecting and pressing the button.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, for example, an N-channel MOS transistor can be used as the switching element. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a P-channel MOS transistor having reverse characteristics may be used, such as a bipolar transistor or a thyristor. Other switching elements may be used.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the ion generator is described. However, the present invention is not limited to the ion generator, and an air cleaner that obtains a desired effect by generating a high voltage at both ends of the electrode to cause corona discharge. The present invention can be similarly applied to electrostatic printers, static eliminators, and the like.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the air existing in the region sandwiched between the induction electrode and the discharge electrode is configured to act as an insulator. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a solid is interposed between the induction electrode and the discharge electrode. It may be an ion generating device having a configuration with a dielectric sandwiched therebetween. With this configuration, an insulator having a high insulation resistance and a high dielectric constant is sandwiched between the electrodes, so that the distance between the electrodes can be reduced and the applied voltage between the electrodes is set low. be able to.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the predetermined value in the high voltage generation circuit provided in the ion generator is changed without providing mechanical means such as a discharger or a charging device for cleaning the discharge surface. Accordingly, contaminants attached to the discharge surface can be removed, and the device scale of the ion generator can be reduced. In addition, by arranging the control unit and the high voltage generation circuit on the same controller unit substrate, the scale of the ion generator can be further reduced.

  In addition, the ion generator includes an arithmetic unit, and the arithmetic unit measures a predetermined time and then gives a control signal to the control unit, so that normal operation for generating ions and contamination attached to the discharge surface are performed. It is possible to automatically switch to a cleaning operation for removing substances.

  Furthermore, in the control unit, the voltage applied between the electrodes at the initial energization of the ion generator is set higher than that in the normal operation so as to easily cause the initial discharge, so that it is lower than the initial time in the normal operation. A stable discharge state is possible even at a voltage value. Furthermore, at this time, the frequency of the voltage applied between the electrodes at the initial stage of energization is set higher than that at the time of normal operation to make the initial discharge easy to occur, and the frequency of applying the voltage at the time of normal operation is higher than that at the initial time. By making it low, discharge noise during normal operation can be suppressed.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ion generator in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, the fact that a control signal is sent in the direction of the arrow is indicated by a solid line to which an arrow is added, and the fact that it is electrically connected is indicated by a dotted line.

  An ion generator 1 in FIG. 1 includes a housing 11 that generates ions, an air suction unit 12 that takes air into the housing 11, a fan 14 that diffuses air taken from the air suction unit 12, and a fan 14 includes an induction electrode 15 and a discharge electrode 16 for applying a high voltage in order to ionize a part of the air diffused at 14, and an air discharge unit 13 for discharging ionized air. In addition, a high voltage generation circuit 18 (which will be described later in circuit configuration) that generates a high voltage to be applied to the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 is electrically connected to the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16, and the high voltage Control is performed based on a control signal from a control unit 17 that controls operation conditions such as a voltage value of a voltage generated by the generation circuit. The control unit 17 is also electrically connected to the fan 14, and controls the rotational speed of the fan 14 by giving a control signal to the fan 14.

  The ion generator 1 takes in air outside the device from the air suction part 12 into the housing 11, and the taken-in air is diffused by the fan 14. A part of the diffused air passes through a region sandwiched between the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16. The induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 are given a high voltage generated by the high voltage generation circuit 18, and a corona discharge is generated between the two electrodes, so that the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 are sandwiched between the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16. Air passing through the area is ionized. The ionized air is discharged from the air discharge unit 13 to the outside of the housing 11. The high voltage generated by the high voltage generation circuit 18 is controlled in voltage value and generation timing by the control unit 17 as will be described later.

  FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the high voltage generation circuit 18 included in the ion generator 1. The high voltage generation circuit 18 is driven by the DC power source 21, the DC power source 21 or another DC power source, generates a pulse voltage, and a switching element driven by an electric signal sent from the pulse generator 22. 23, a transformer 24 that transforms a voltage input via the switching element 23 to generate a high voltage on the secondary side, and a rectifier circuit 25 that rectifies the high voltage output to the secondary side of the transformer 24 It consists of. Then, the voltage rectified by the rectifier circuit 25 is applied to the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16, and a corona discharge is generated between the two electrodes. As the switching element 23, for example, an N-channel MOS transistor can be used.

  The pulse generator 22 generates a pulse waveform as shown in FIG. 3A and gives it to the switching element 23. The pulse wave is a waveform having a binary voltage value, and is composed of a state showing a high voltage value (High) and a state showing a low voltage value (Low), and these two states are periodically repeated. At this time, a time T1 indicating a high voltage value and a time T2 indicating a low voltage value are set by the control unit 17, so that the period T0 is a time T1 indicating a high voltage value and a low voltage value. It is determined by the sum of the time T2 shown.

  The switching element 23 performs a switching operation by a pulse wave from the pulse generator 22. When the pulse wave shows a high voltage value (High), the switching element 23 is energized, a DC voltage is applied to the primary side of the transformer 24, and a current flows through the primary winding of the transformer 24. If the pulse wave shows a low voltage value (Low) after this state is maintained for time T1, the switching element 23 is cut off, and no voltage is applied to the primary side of the transformer 24. At this time, the voltage at both ends of the primary winding of the transformer 24 changes because the primary winding of the transformer 24 tries to maintain the current value flowing when the switching element 23 is energized.

  Since the voltage value across the primary winding of the transformer 24 changes, mutual induction occurs, and the high voltage transformed according to the winding ratio of the transformer 24 is generated on the secondary side of the transformer 24. Occurs (see FIG. 3B). The high voltage generated on the secondary side of the transformer 24 is rectified by the rectifier circuit 25 and applied to the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16.

  At this time, energy is stored in the primary winding of the transformer 24 during the time T1 during which the switching element 23 maintains the energized state, and this energy is stored when the switching element 23 shifts from the energized state to the disconnected state. Energy is provided to the secondary side of the transformer 24. That is, the voltage V2 generated on the secondary side of the transformer 24 shown in FIG. 3B depends on the time T1 during which the energized state is maintained. For this reason, the voltage value which generate | occur | produces on the secondary side of the transformer 24 can be enlarged by setting time T1 long.

  On the other hand, after the switching element 23 is kept in the cut-off state, the energy stored in the primary winding of the transformer 24 is released to the secondary side of the transformer 24 while the switching element 23 is energized. Since no voltage is generated on the primary side of the transformer 24, the transformer 24 enters a standby state. When the switching element 23 is energized again, energy begins to be accumulated in the primary winding of the transformer 24. That is, the time T 2 affects the timing for generating the next high voltage on the secondary side of the transformer 24. Since the period T0 is determined by the sum of the time T1 and the time T2, the period T0 is shortened by setting the time T2 short. As a result, the time interval at which the high voltage is generated on the secondary side of the transformer 24 is shortened. Become.

  As described above, in the control unit 17, the voltage value generated in the high voltage generation circuit 18 can be reduced by setting the time T1 short, and conversely, the voltage value generated in the high voltage generation circuit 18 by setting the time T1 long. The voltage value to be increased can be increased. Further, the control unit 17 can shorten the time interval for generating the high voltage by setting the time T2 short, and conversely, the time interval for generating the high voltage can be lengthened by setting the time T2 long. can do.

  Therefore, when the ion generator 1 is configured in this way, when the discharge is weakened due to contaminants adhering to the discharge surface, the control unit 17 causes the ion generator 1 to discharge ions into the air. (Hereinafter referred to as “normal operation”) by setting the time T1 longer than that during the normal operation and applying a voltage higher than that during the normal operation between the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16. It is possible to generate a corona discharge stronger than that during normal operation, thereby removing contaminants adhering to the discharge surface (hereinafter referred to as “cleaning operation”). At this time, the control unit 17 further sets the time T2 to be shorter than the state in which the ion generator 1 is normally operated, and increases the number of discharges within a certain time than during the normal operation, whereby the discharge is performed. The effect of removing contaminants attached to the surface can be further enhanced.

  When the ion generator 1 is configured in this way, the control unit 17 preliminarily performs the times T1 and T2 in the normal operation mode in which the normal operation is performed in advance and the time T1 in the cleaning operation mode in which the cleaning operation is performed. By registering T2 and allowing the user to select the normal operation mode and the cleaning operation mode, the operation can be easily switched between the normal operation and the cleaning operation.

  At this time, like the ion generator 1 a shown in FIG. 4, the ion generator 1 of FIG. 1 is newly provided with an operation unit 31 that can be operated by the user, and when the user operates the operation unit 31. By adopting a configuration in which the operation content is given to the control unit 17 as an electrical signal, the user can instruct an operation switching operation between the normal operation and the cleaning operation.

  The operation unit 31 is provided with a “normal operation button” for designating the normal operation of the ion generator 1 and a “cleaning operation button” for designating the cleaning operation, and the user depresses one of these buttons. The operation mode of the ion generator 1 may be selected. At this time, the operation unit 31 is electrically connected to the control unit 17, and when the button is pressed, the times T1 and T2 to be set from the control unit 17 are given to the high voltage generation circuit 18.

  Further, at this time, in order to further enhance the effect of removing contaminants attached to the discharge surface, the rotational speed of the fan 14 may be increased during the cleaning operation as compared with the normal operation. At this time, by selecting the mode, the control unit 17 sets the times T1 and T2 for the high voltage generation circuit 18, and the control unit 17 sets the rotational speed of the fan 14 with respect to the fan 14. A signal for setting is given.

  Even in the normal operation mode, in order to allow the user to adjust the ion generation amount, the operation unit 31 may be configured such that the user can adjust the rotational speed of the fan 14 during normal operation. At this time, for example, the rotational speed of the fan 14 is registered in advance as several different rotational speeds, and the buttons “large ion generation amount”, “medium ion generation amount”, and “low ion generation amount” are selected in the descending order of the rotational speed. The rotation speed of the fan 14 during normal operation can be changed by providing the operation unit 31 and selecting and pressing the button by the user.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, the predetermined value in the high voltage generation circuit 18 is changed without providing mechanical means such as a discharger or a charging device for cleaning the discharge surface. By doing so, contaminants adhering to the discharge surface can be removed, and the device scale of the ion generator can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the control unit 17 and the high voltage generation circuit 18 are individually arranged as shown in FIG. 1, but these are arranged on the same controller unit board. It doesn't matter. By doing in this way, the apparatus scale of the ion generator 1 can be further reduced.

  In this embodiment, a pulse signal from the pulse generator 22 is used as a control signal for on / off control of the switching element 23, and the control unit 17 controls the pulse width and timing of the pulse signal. However, the means for performing on / off control of the switching element 23 is not limited to this method, and if the ion generator 1 includes control means for performing on / off control of the switching element 23 at predetermined time intervals. Similar effects can be obtained.

  That is, for example, like the high voltage generation circuit 18a shown in FIG. 5, the switching element 23a is connected to the primary side of the transformer 24. When the switching element 23a is energized, the DC power source 21 supplies a DC voltage. When the switching element 23a is cut off and no DC voltage is applied, and the control unit 17a performs the on / off control of the switching element 23a, the same effect as described above can be obtained. Can do. At this time, the control unit 17a performs on / off switching of the switching element 23a at a predetermined time interval, and when performing the cleaning operation, a desired effect can be obtained by changing the time interval.

  Specifically, a time T1a for maintaining the switching element 23a in the energized state during the normal operation, a time T2a for maintaining the switching element 23a in the disconnected state during the normal operation, and a time for maintaining the switching element 23a in the energized state during the cleaning operation. T1b and a time T2b for maintaining the switching element 23a in the shut-off state during the cleaning operation are given in advance, and when switching from the normal operation to the cleaning operation is performed, the switching timing of the switching element 23a is switched. It does n’t matter. At this time, by setting the time T2a longer than the time T1a, the voltage value of the voltage generated between the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 during the cleaning operation is increased, and the corona discharge is stronger than during the normal operation. Thus, contaminants adhering to the discharge surface can be removed. Furthermore, by setting the time T2b to be shorter than the time T1b, the frequency of high voltage generated during the cleaning operation is increased, thereby further enhancing the effect of removing contaminants attached to the discharge surface.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ion generator in this embodiment. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The ion generator 1b shown in FIG. 6 performs an operation based on an electric signal from the high voltage generation circuit 18 in addition to the ion generator 1 shown in FIG. 1, and outputs the operation result to the control unit 17. The unit 32 is provided. FIG. 7 shows an electrical connection relationship between the arithmetic unit 32, the high voltage generation circuit 18, and the control unit 17. Below, the operation content of the calculating part 32 is demonstrated based on FIG.

  The arithmetic unit 32 receives the same pulse signal as the pulse signal output from the pulse generator 22 to the switching element 23 and counts the pulse wave number of the pulse signal. Specifically, the number of occurrences of a state showing a high voltage value (High) in the pulse waveform having the shape shown in FIG. 3A output from the pulse generator 22 is counted. The calculation unit 32 is given a predetermined count number in advance, and when the predetermined count number is counted, gives a control signal to the controller 17 to change the set values of the times T1 and T2. At this time, the time T1 after the change is given as a large value with respect to the time T1 before the change, and the value calculated from the time T1 after the change so that the time T2 after the change becomes equal to the cycle T0 before the change. By providing, the voltage value generated in the high voltage generation circuit 18 can be increased.

  When the ion generator 1b is configured in this way, the voltage value generated by the high voltage generation circuit 18 is automatically set to a large value after a predetermined time has elapsed since the ion generator 1b is normally operated. Switching to the cleaning operation mode is performed.

  For example, when the normal operation mode of the ion generator 1b is set such that the time T1 is set to 10 μs and the time T2 is set to 10 ms, the time T1 is calculated when the calculation unit 32 counts the pulse wave from the pulse generator 22 360,000 times. Is set to 20 μs and the time T2 is set to 10 ms. When the calculation unit 32 is set to give the control unit 17 to the control unit 17, the ion generator 1b automatically enters the normal operation mode after 1 hour has elapsed since the start of the normal operation. To the cleaning operation mode.

  Further, when the calculation unit 32 changes the times T1 and T2 (after the cleaning operation is started) and the pulse wave number of the pulse signal given from the pulse generator 22 counts a predetermined count number, the setting in the normal operation mode is performed. The time T1 and the time T2 can be given to the control unit 17 again.

  When the ion generator 1b is configured in this way, the voltage value generated by the high voltage generation circuit 18 is automatically changed during the cleaning operation after a predetermined time has elapsed since the ion generator 1b is in the cleaning operation. Switching to the normal operation mode set to a smaller value is performed.

  With the configuration as described above, after the ion generator 1b starts normal operation, it automatically switches to the cleaning operation mode when a predetermined time elapses, thereby removing contaminants attached to the discharge surface. In addition to increasing the discharge efficiency, after performing this cleaning operation for a predetermined time, it is automatically switched to the normal operation mode again, so that the normal operation can be performed with the user maintaining high discharge efficiency without switching operation. It can be performed.

  In the cleaning operation, it has been described above that the voltage value in the high voltage generation circuit 18 is increased by setting the time T1 longer. However, as in the case of the first embodiment, the time T2 is further shortened. Setting may be made to increase the discharge frequency to improve the cleaning effect.

  Further, in order to easily cause a discharge between the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 immediately after the ion generator 1b is driven, the high voltage generation circuit 18 sets a long time T1 until a predetermined time immediately after the drive. The voltage value may be set high, or the time T2 may be set short to set the high voltage application frequency high. And after this predetermined time passes, it is good also as what switches to normal operation mode by changing time T1 and time T2.

  In this way, the voltage applied to the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 in the initial energization is set higher than that in the normal operation so that the initial discharge is easily caused, so that the voltage lower than the initial time in the normal operation. A stable discharge state is possible even with a value. Further, at this time, the frequency of the voltage applied to the induction electrode 15 and the discharge electrode 16 in the initial energization is set higher than that in the normal operation so as to easily cause the initial discharge, and the frequency of applying the voltage in the normal operation. By making the lower than the initial value, it is possible to suppress the discharge noise during normal operation.

  In addition, the arithmetic unit 32 described above counts the number of times that the voltage value is high (high) among the pulse signals from the pulse generator 22, but counts the number of times that the voltage value is low (low). It does n’t matter what you do.

  Moreover, although the calculating part 32 was set as the structure which calculates predetermined time based on the pulse signal from the pulse generator 22, the calculating part 32 can detect the operation time of the ion generator 1b beforehand inside. A timer may be provided, and a control signal for switching the operation mode may be given to the control unit 17 when the timer measures a predetermined time.

  Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 17, the high voltage generation circuit 18, and the calculation unit 32 are individually arranged, but these are arranged on the same controller unit board. It may be arranged. By doing in this way, the apparatus size of the ion generator 1b can be reduced.

  In each of the embodiments described above, a time for the control unit to perform the first control operation and a time for the second control operation to be set in advance, and the control unit automatically performs the first control operation. It may be configured to switch between the control operation and the second control operation. In this way, when a normal operation for generating ions is performed for a certain period of time, it automatically switches to a cleaning operation for removing contaminants adhering to the discharge surface, and automatically again when a cleaning operation is performed for a predetermined time. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a high discharge efficiency state even if the user does not instruct the cleaning operation. In addition, by adopting a configuration in which the user can set in advance the timing for switching the control operation of the control unit, it is possible to perform flexible control in accordance with the usage state of the ion generator.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the switching element 23 is not limited to an N-channel MOS transistor, but may be a P-channel MOS transistor having reverse characteristics, for example, or may be another switching element such as a bipolar transistor or a thyristor. . When the switching element 23 is a P-channel MOS transistor, the characteristics are reversed. Therefore, the same effect can be obtained by setting the times T1 and T2 to values opposite to those when the N-channel MOS transistor is employed.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the ion generator is described. However, the present invention is not limited to the ion generator, and an air cleaner that obtains a desired effect by generating a high voltage at both ends of the electrode to cause corona discharge. The present invention can be similarly applied to electrostatic printers, static eliminators, and the like.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the air existing in the region sandwiched between the induction electrode and the discharge electrode is configured to serve as an insulator. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a solid state is formed between the induction electrode and the discharge electrode. It may be an ion generating device having a configuration with a dielectric sandwiched therebetween. With this configuration, an insulator having a high insulation resistance and a high dielectric constant is sandwiched between the electrodes, so that the distance between the electrodes can be reduced and the applied voltage between the electrodes is set low. be able to.

  Examples that fall under the category of electrical equipment equipped with the ion generator of the present invention are mainly closed spaces (houses, rooms in buildings, hospital rooms and operating rooms, offices, airplanes, ships, warehouses, refrigerators) Air conditioners, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, air purifiers, refrigerators, fan heaters, microwave ovens, washing / drying machines, vacuum cleaners, sterilizers, etc.

These are block diagrams which show the structure of the ion generator of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. These are block diagrams which show the relationship between the high voltage generation circuit with which the ion generator of the 1st Embodiment of this invention is provided, and a control part. These are an example of the pulse waveform which the pulse generation circuit with which the ion generator of this invention is provided, and an example of the waveform of the high voltage which generate | occur | produces on the secondary side of a transformer. These are another block diagrams which show the structure of the ion generator of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. These are another block diagrams which show the relationship between the high voltage generation circuit with which the ion generator of the 1st Embodiment of this invention is provided, and a control part. These are block diagrams which show the structure of the ion generator of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. These are block diagrams which show the relationship between the high voltage generation circuit with which the ion generator of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is provided, a control part, and a calculating part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b Ion generator 11 Case 12 Air suction part 13 Air discharge part 14 Fan 15 Induction electrode 16 Discharge electrode 17, 17a Control part 18, 18a High voltage generation circuit 21 DC power supply 22 Pulse generator 23, 23a Switching Element 24 Transformer 25 Rectifier circuit 31 Operation unit 32 Calculation unit

Claims (10)

In an ion generator that applies high voltage to inhaled air to perform ionization and discharges the generated ions,
A transformer that transforms the voltage applied to the primary side and outputs it to the secondary side;
A DC power supply for applying a DC voltage across the primary winding of the transformer;
A switching element for switching whether the DC voltage is applied or not applied to both ends of the primary winding of the transformer by switching on and off;
A rectifier circuit for rectifying an electrical signal output from the secondary side of the transformer;
A pair of electrodes to which a rectified electrical signal output from the rectifier circuit is applied;
A controller that changes the magnitude of the voltage value of the rectified electrical signal applied to the pair of electrodes,
The control unit is
An ion generator characterized by performing on / off switching control of the switching element. A pulse generator that generates a pulse signal composed of a binary voltage signal, and that turns the switching element on and off by applying the generated pulse signal to the switching element;
The control unit is
2. The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein on / off switching control of the switching element is performed by changing a pulse width of a pulse signal generated by the pulse generator and a pulse generation timing. . The control operation content performed by the control unit on the switching element is:
A first control operation that periodically repeats the control of keeping the switching element in an on state for a predetermined time T1, and then keeping the switching element in an off state for a predetermined time T2.
A second control is periodically repeated in which the switching element is kept on for a predetermined time T3 different from T1, and thereafter the switching element is kept off for a predetermined time T4 different from T2. The ion generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control operation is a content to select any one of the control operations. Comprising an operation unit for a user to instruct the control content performed by the control unit;
The ion generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the user instructs the control unit to perform one of the first control operation and the second control operation by operating the operation unit. . The control operation content performed by the control unit on the switching element is:
The ion generator according to claim 3, wherein the ion generator is automatically switched between the first control operation and the second control operation when a predetermined time elapses. An arithmetic unit that is provided with the same pulse signal as the pulse signal that the pulse generator gives to the switching element;
The arithmetic unit recognizes that the predetermined time has elapsed by counting the number of pulses of the pulse signal given from the pulse generator, and gives an instruction to switch the control operation content to the control unit The ion generator according to claim 5.   7. The ion generator according to claim 3, wherein the value of T3 is larger than the value of T1.   8. The ion generator according to claim 7, wherein the value of T4 is smaller than the value of T2. The control operation performed by the control unit is
The second control operation is selected until a predetermined time elapses immediately after the ion generator is driven,
The ion generator according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the ion generation device is automatically switched to the first control operation after the predetermined time has elapsed.   An electric device comprising the ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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