JP2006150317A - Air diffuser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air diffuser in which the power consumption of a fan motor of an electric fan is reduced without lessening a diffusion effect of the air diffuser so much, so that the operation of the electric fan can be continued even when a battery is not exchanged over a long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: The fan motor for rotating the fan is rotated intermittently, namely, is rotated for a rotation period and stopped for a standstill period by turns. An operation mode of a motor driving circuit is controlled so that the rotation period has a high-speed rotation period just after the start of the rotation of the fan motor and a low-speed rotation period subsequent to the high-speed rotation period. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air diffuser, and more particularly, to an electric fan built-in battery-type air diffuser suitable for uses such as indoor air diffuser for home fragrances.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electric fan built-in battery-type air diffuser suitable for uses such as indoor air diffuser for home fragrances has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of diffuser has a case with a gas outlet. In this case, there are a natural vaporization type gas generation source, a fan for generating an air flow from the gas generation source to the gas discharge port, a fan motor for rotating the fan, and a fan motor. A dry battery serving as a power source, a motor drive circuit interposed in a current path from the dry battery to the fan motor, and control means (such as a microcomputer) for controlling the operation mode of the motor drive circuit are accommodated.

  As the natural vaporization type gas generation source, for example, a gas bottle filled with a chemical solution such as a fragrance is usually used. In the recent example, the amount of the chemical solution filled in the medicine bottle is often set to an amount capable of continuing aeration for at least about one month.

The control means controls the operation mode of the motor drive circuit so that the rotation of the motor for rotating the blower is intermittent rotation having a rotation period and a stop period alternately. This is intended to save power so that the operation of the electric fan can be continued without requiring battery replacement for at least about one month even with a power supply of about two AA batteries.
JP 7-33180 A

  In such a conventional battery-type air diffuser with a built-in electric fan, even if the power capacity is about two AA batteries, the electric fan can be operated without replacing the battery for at least one month. As described above, in an effort to save power, however, in the recent market, consumers have demanded a diffuser that can operate an electric fan for a longer period of time without the need for battery replacement.

  However, in order to reduce power consumption, if the fan motor current is simply reduced during the rotation period during intermittent rotation operation, or if the rotation period itself during the intermittent rotation operation is simply shortened, It has been found that the effect of gas is significantly lowered and cannot be put to practical use.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption by the fan motor without reducing the aeration effect so much, and for a longer period of time. Another object of the present invention is to provide an air diffuser capable of sustaining the operation of an electric fan without the need for battery replacement.

  Other objects and operational effects of the present invention will be easily understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the following description of the specification.

  The air diffuser of the present invention has a case having a gas discharge port. In this case, there is a natural vaporization type gas generation source, a blower fan for generating an air flow from the gas generation source to the gas discharge port at a position facing the gas discharge port, and a fan for rotation. A fan motor, a dry battery serving as a power source for the fan motor, a motor drive circuit interposed in a current path from the dry battery to the fan motor, and a control means for controlling the operation mode of the motor drive circuit Has been.

  The control means is such that the rotation of the fan motor for rotating the blower fan is intermittent rotation having alternately a rotation period and a stop period, and the rotation period is a high-speed rotation period immediately after the start of rotation and a subsequent low-speed rotation period So that the operation mode of the motor drive circuit is controlled.

  According to such a configuration, the power consumption by the fan motor is reduced without significantly reducing the air diffusion effect, and the operation of the electric fan can be continued without the need for battery replacement for a longer period of time. .

  The reason for this is that, according to the inventor's earnest research, by providing a high-speed rotation period immediately after the start of rotation, the transition time from the airflow stop to the airflow restart is shortened. However, since the airflow is maintained with the help of the inertia of the gas, the overall power consumption during the high-speed rotation period and the low-speed rotation period is reduced compared to the previous case, thereby reducing the aeration effect much. Therefore, it is presumed that the operation of the electric fan can be continued by reducing the power consumption by the fan motor and without having to replace the battery for a longer period of time.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the motor drive circuit alternatively includes a low resistance feed path that feeds power from the dry battery to the fan motor, a high resistance feed path that feeds power from the dry battery to the fan motor, and these feed paths. And a control circuit that controls the switch circuit so that only the low-resistance power supply path is conducted in response to the high-speed rotation period of the rotation period. Corresponding to the low-speed rotation period, the switch circuit is controlled so that only the high-resistance power supply path is conducted, and further, corresponding to the stop period, the switch circuit is controlled so that none of the power supply paths is conducted. It may be configured.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the motor drive circuit includes a switch circuit for supplying power from the dry battery to the fan motor, and a detection circuit for detecting a potential difference between both terminals of the fan motor.
The control means
For a predetermined time (A) from the start of the rotation period, a pulse train voltage having a predetermined duty ratio is continuously applied to the fan motor by intermittently switching the switch circuit, and the predetermined time (A) has elapsed. After that, the voltage application to the fan motor is stopped by shutting off the switch circuit, the induced voltage generated by the inertial rotation of the fan motor is monitored by the detection circuit, and the induced voltage to be monitored is a predetermined threshold voltage ( Vth)
After the induced voltage reaches a predetermined threshold value (Vth), the first operation in which the switch circuit is turned on for a predetermined time (B) and the induction voltage of the motor reaching the threshold voltage (Vth) are detected. The second operation monitored through the circuit is alternately repeated.

  In the above-described present invention and the embodiment thereof, a plurality of lengths are prepared for the low-speed rotation period, and one of them may be arbitrarily selected.

  According to the air diffuser of the present invention, the power consumption by the fan motor can be reduced without significantly reducing the air diffusion effect, and the operation of the electric fan can be continued for a longer period of time without the need for battery replacement. it can.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an air diffuser according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external view of the air diffuser of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an internal structure of the air diffuser.

  As is clear from these drawings, the air diffuser 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped case 10. The front plate 11 of the case 10 is provided with a gas discharge port 16, an operation lamp 17, and an observation window 14 for the remaining amount of the chemical solution, and the blower fan 15 faces the inside of the gas discharge port 16. ing.

  The reason why the blower fan 15 is provided at the position facing the gas discharge port 16 is to ensure that an air flow from the gas generation source to the gas discharge port 16 is formed and that the air diffuser is in operation. This is to make it possible to visually confirm this through rotation of the blower fan 15.

  The right side plate 12 of the case 10 is provided with a slide operation element 18 having three slide operation positions. As will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, the slide operator 18 is used to select a rotation pattern of three types of modes.

  Inside the case 10, a medicine bottle 20 having a suction core 20 a is provided. The medicine bottle 20 having the sucking core material 20a is filled with a chemical solution such as a fragrance, thereby forming a natural vaporization type gas generation source.

  A blower fan 15 is provided in the case 10 at a position facing the gas discharge port 16. In the illustrated example, a sirocco fan is used as the blower fan 15. A fan motor 19 is built directly below the blower fan 15 with the drive shaft being upright. When the fan motor 19 rotates, the blower fan 15 is rotationally driven accordingly. As a result, an air flow from the core material 20a, which is a gas generation source, toward the gas discharge port 16 is formed. The operation lamp 17 repeats blinking at a predetermined cycle when the apparatus is in an operating state.

  Although not shown, a circuit board is mounted in the case 10, and a circuit device constituted by a one-chip microcomputer is mounted on the circuit board as will be described later with reference to FIG. 4 or FIG. It is installed. This circuit device operates with a power source composed of a dry battery (not shown) (for example, two AA batteries).

  Further, as will be described in detail later, this circuit device includes a motor drive circuit (see FIG. 10) interposed in a current path from the dry battery to the motor, and control means for controlling the operation mode of the motor drive circuit. (Microcomputer).

  The control means is configured such that the rotation of the fan motor for rotating the blower fan is intermittent rotation that alternately has a rotation period and a stop period, and the rotation period is a high-speed rotation period immediately after the start of rotation and a subsequent low speed. The operation mode of the motor drive circuit is controlled so as to have a rotation period.

  An explanatory view of the rotation pattern of the fan motor is shown in FIG. In this air diffuser 1, three types of intermittent rotation patterns are prepared as shown in FIGS. These rotation patterns have the same period (T0) and have their own rotation periods (T1, T2, T3). In addition, each rotation period (T1, T2, T3) includes a high-speed rotation period (A) having a rotation speed (N2) and a low-speed rotation period (T1-A, T2-A, T3-) having a rotation speed (N1). A). As is clear from the figure, the high-speed rotation period (A) is positioned immediately after the start of the rotation period (T1, T2, T3).

  Since the air diffusion device of the present invention is configured as described above, the electric fan can be reduced without reducing the power consumption by the fan motor without significantly reducing the air diffusion effect, and without requiring battery replacement for a longer period of time. It has become possible to maintain the driving.

  The reason for this is that, according to the earnest research by the present inventors, by providing a high-speed rotation period immediately after the start of rotation, the transition period from the airflow stop to the airflow restart is shortened. Even when switching, the airflow is maintained with the help of the inertia of the gas, so the power consumption throughout the high-speed rotation period and the low-speed rotation period is reduced compared to the previous case, which greatly reduces the aeration effect. It is presumed that the operation of the electric fan could be continued without reducing the power consumption by the fan motor without reducing the battery, and without having to replace the battery for a longer period of time.

  Next, a specific circuit device for realizing the fan motor rotation pattern described above will be described. FIG. 4 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the circuit device (first embodiment), and FIG. 5 shows a software configuration diagram (first embodiment) of the circuit device. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the applied voltage of the fan motor and the rotational speed. The figures are shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, this circuit device is configured around a CPU 100 that is a one-chip microcomputer. As a power source for the CPU 100, a dry battery (for example, two AA batteries) 101 is used.

  The CPU 100 includes main components as a computer such as a microprocessor, a ROM for storing various system programs, and a RAM used as a working area, and has a plurality of input ports or output ports.

  The port P00 is an output port for controlling the operation lamp 17 on and off. Between this port P00 and the low potential (VSS) of the dry battery 101, the resistance element 103 and the LED 102 constituting the operation lamp are connected in series.

  Ports P10, P11, and P12 are input ports for detecting the slide operation positions of the slide operation element 18. These input ports P10, P11, and P12 are respectively connected to the slide position selection terminals of the slide operation element 18. Connected.

  Ports P30 and P31 and ports P20 to P23 are all output ports. As a drive circuit constituting these output ports, as shown in FIG. 10, a P channel MOS transistor (TR1) and an N channel MOS transistor (TR2), which are very general, are complementarily connected. A tri-state circuit is used.

This tri-state circuit is connected between the high-side potential (VDD) of the power source and the low-side potential (VSS) of the power source. Therefore, when the transistor TR1 is turned on and the transistor TR2 is turned off, a high-side potential (VDD) appears at the output terminal (OUT). When the transistor TR1 is turned off and the transistor TR2 is turned on, a low-side potential (VSS) appears at the output terminal (OUT). Further, when both the transistors TR1 and TR2 are turned off, the output terminal (OUT) is floated from both potentials (VDD, VSS).
In the first embodiment described in detail later, the switch circuit is realized by always turning off the transistor TR2 and turning on and off the transistor TR1. If the fan motor is connected between the high-side potential (VDD) of the power supply and the output terminal (OUT) due to the circuit board or battery connection, the transistor TR1 is always turned off and the transistor TR2 is turned on / off. It goes without saying that a similar switch circuit can be obtained by turning it off.

  Returning to FIG. 4, one terminal of the fan motor 19 is connected to the low-side potential (VSS) of the power supply, and the other terminal is branched into two systems, one of which is connected to the ports P30 and P31 via the resistance element 105. The other is directly connected to the ports P20 to P23 without going through the resistance element 105. The use of the two output ports P30 and P31 or the four output ports P20 to P23 in parallel is a device for ensuring current capacity.

  By using the ports P30 and P31, a high resistance power supply path from the power supply to the fan motor 19 is formed, and by using the other ports P20 to P23, a low resistance power supply path from the power supply to the fan motor 19 is formed. It is formed. In addition, reference numeral 104 denotes a crystal resonator that is used to generate a reference clock for the CPU 100.

  Next, the operation of the CPU 100 shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is started by setting the dry battery 101 in the case.

  In the figure, when the process is started, the process of step 501 is first executed to activate the ports P20 to P23, while disabling the ports P30 and P31. As a result, a low-resistance power supply path that supplies power directly from the ports P20 to P23 to the fan motor 19 is selected.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 6A, after time t0, the high voltage (VDD) indicated by the symbol a is applied to the fan motor. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the rotational speed of the fan motor 19 rapidly increases after time t0.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined time (A) has elapsed and time t1 is reached (YES in step 502), the execution of step 503 enables ports P30 and P31, while disabling P20 to P23. As a result, a high-resistance power supply path for energizing the fan motor 19 from the high-side potential VDD of the power supply via the resistance element 105 is formed.

  In this state, the voltage supplied to the fan motor 19 is switched from the high voltage (a) to the low voltage (b) at time t1, as shown in FIG. 6 (a). As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the rotational speed of the fan motor is rapidly reduced from the rotational speed (N2) to the rotational speed (N1), and thereafter the state of the rotational speed (N1) is maintained. .

  Thereafter, when the set rotation time elapses and time (t2) is reached (YES in step 504), the execution of step 505 disables all of the output ports P30 and P31 and the output ports P20 to P23, and the fan motor 19 is disconnected from the power source. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), after time t2, the induced electromotive force of the fan motor also decreases along a gentle curve as the inertia speed of the fan motor decreases.

  Thereafter, every time the set stop time elapses (YES in Step 506), Steps 501 to 505 described above are repeatedly executed. As a result, the intermittent rotation pattern having the high speed rotation period (A) and the low speed rotation period (T1-A, T2-A, T3-A) is realized as described above with reference to FIG.

  Note that switching from the first mode to the third mode can be realized by selecting one of three types of set times prepared in advance according to the detection inputs of the ports P10 to P12.

  Next, another example of the electric circuit device will be described. FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram of the electric circuit device (second embodiment), and FIG. 8 is a software configuration diagram of the device (second embodiment). FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the voltage at the port P50 and the rotational speed of the fan motor. The explanatory diagrams shown are respectively shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, with respect to the hardware configuration diagram, the difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that a resistance element is not interposed in the configuration of the port P50 and the power supply path to the fan motor 19. It is. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The port P50 is configured as an input port for monitoring the terminal voltage of the fan motor 19. On the other hand, the ports P40 to P43 are output ports similar to the ports P20 to P23 in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and the tristate circuit shown in FIG. A switch circuit is realized by always turning off and turning on / off the transistor TR1. If the fan motor is connected between the high-side potential (VDD) of the power supply and the output terminal (OUT) due to the circuit board or battery connection, the transistor TR1 is always turned off and the transistor TR2 is turned on / off. It goes without saying that a similar switch circuit can be obtained by turning it off. Further, a fan motor driving pulse train having a predetermined duty ratio shown in FIG. 11 is outputted from these output ports P40 to P43.

  Next, the operation of the CPU shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 and the waveform diagram of FIG.

  When the processing is started in FIG. 8, step 801 is first executed to activate the ports P40 to P43, and the fan motor driving pulse train shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, the rotational speed of the motor 19 increases rapidly to the rotational speed (N2) after time t0.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined time (A) has elapsed (YES in Step 802), Step 803 is executed, and the tristate circuit constituting each of the ports P40 to P43 enters a state where both the transistors TR1 and TR2 are turned off. The fan motor 19 is disconnected from the power source and rotates with inertia. At this time, the induced voltage generated by the inertial rotation is monitored at the port P50.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal voltage of the fan motor 19 decreases as the inertial rotation decreases after the time (t1) when the predetermined time (A) elapses. After that, when the value of the voltage monitored at this port P50 reaches a predetermined threshold value (Vth), it is determined in step 804 that the motor back electromotive force (fan rotation speed) has decreased (step 804 YES). ) Ports P40 to P43 are activated again, and the fan motor drive pulse train shown in FIG. 11 is supplied for a predetermined time (B) (step 805).

  When the predetermined time (B) elapses, the ports P40 to P43 are disabled again, and the fan motor 19 is disconnected from these ports. Thereafter, the voltage application for a predetermined time (B) (step 805) and the stop of the voltage application (step 803) are alternately repeated until the time (t2) after the preset rotation time has elapsed, As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, the rotational speed of the motor is maintained at N1.

  Thereafter, when the set rotation time elapses and time t2 is reached (YES in step 806), step 807 is executed, and all of the ports P40 to P43 are disconnected from the motor 100, and voltage application to the motor is stopped. (Step 807).

  Thereafter, every time the set stop time elapses (YES in Step 808), Steps 801 to 807 described above are repeated, whereby the rotation pattern of the fan motor shown in FIG. 3 is realized.

  In the second embodiment, since the resistance element is not used for switching the current of the fan motor 19, it is possible to avoid useless power loss due to the resistance and realize further reduction in power consumption. it can. Further, in order to simplify the software, the fixed time (B) during the low-speed rotation is the same as the width of one pulse of FIG. 11 output at the fixed time (A) (18 ms in the second embodiment). It can also be set to time.

  Also in this second embodiment, it is needless to say that the rotation patterns of the first mode to the third mode shown in FIG. 3 can be selected according to the operation position of the slide operator 18.

  Further, the operation lamp 17 provided on the outer surface of the case 10 continues the blinking operation in a predetermined pattern by executing the process of step 500 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 or step 800 of the flowchart of FIG. Even at night, the user can be notified that the air diffuser is in operation.

  Further, in the above embodiment, since a sirocco fan is used as the blower fan 15, in addition to high air blowing capability, the number of blades is large even at low speed rotation, so that it is relatively easy for the user. It can be impressed as if it is rotating at high speed, and there is an advantage that it does not give the user a sense of incongruity even if the fan is rotated at low speed to reduce power consumption.

  In particular, in this embodiment, since the sirocco fan, which is the blower fan 15, is exposed inside the gas discharge port 16, the user determines whether the air diffuser 1 is in operation or has stopped due to battery exhaustion. It can be visually confirmed by the operation of the blower fan. In addition, according to the present invention, since the rotation speed immediately after the start of rotation is high-speed rotation, it operates reliably for a long time for the user. There is also an advantage of giving the impression of doing.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an air diffuser that can reduce the power consumed by the fan motor without significantly reducing the air diffuser effect, and can maintain the operation of the electric fan without the need for battery replacement for a longer period of time. Can be provided.

It is an external view of this invention aeration apparatus. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of this invention aeration apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the rotation pattern of a fan motor. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram (first embodiment). FIG. It is a software block diagram (1st Embodiment). It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the applied voltage of a fan motor, and rotation speed. It is a hardware block diagram (2nd Embodiment). It is a software block diagram (2nd Embodiment). It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the voltage of port P50, and the rotation speed of a fan motor. It is a circuit block diagram of the output port of CPU. It is explanatory drawing of the pulse train for a fan motor drive.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air diffuser 10 Case 11 Front plate 12 Right side plate 13 Top plate 15 Blower fan 16 Gas discharge port 17 Operation lamp 18 Slide operation element 19 Fan motor 20 Medicine bottle 20a Core material 100 CPU
101 Dry cell 102 LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Resistance element 104 Crystal oscillator 105 Resistance element P00 Operation lamp output port P10, P11, P12 Slide operation element input port P20-P23 Low resistance feed path selection output port P30, P31 High resistance feed path selection output port P40 ~ P43 Power supply output port P50 Motor voltage monitoring input port Vdd High side potential of power supply Vss Low side potential of power supply

Claims (4)

In the case with a gas outlet,
A natural vaporization source,
A blower fan for generating an air flow from the gas generation source to the gas discharge port at a position facing the gas discharge port;
A fan motor for rotating the blower fan;
A dry battery as a power source for the fan motor;
A motor drive circuit interposed in a current path from the dry battery to the fan motor;
Control means for controlling the operation mode of the motor drive circuit;
And contain
The control means
The rotation of the fan motor for rotating the blower fan is intermittent rotation having a rotation period and a stop period alternately, and the rotation period has a high-speed rotation period immediately after the rotation start and a subsequent low-speed rotation period In order to control the operation mode of the motor drive circuit,
A diffuser characterized by that. The motor drive circuit
A low-resistance feed path that feeds power from the dry battery to the fan motor;
A high-resistance feed path that feeds power from the dry battery to the fan motor;
A switch circuit for selectively conducting the power supply paths, and
The control means
Corresponding to the high-speed rotation period of the rotation period, the switch circuit is controlled so that only the low-resistance power supply path is conducted,
The switch circuit is controlled so that only the high-resistance power supply path is turned on in response to the low-speed rotation period of the rotation period, and further, the switch circuit is turned off so that no power supply path is turned on in response to the stop period To control,
The air diffuser according to claim 1. The motor drive circuit
A switch circuit for supplying power from the dry battery to the fan motor and a detection circuit for detecting a potential difference between both terminals of the fan motor,
The control means
For a predetermined time (A) from the start of the rotation period, a pulse train voltage having a predetermined duty ratio is continuously applied to the fan motor by intermittently switching the switch circuit, and the predetermined time (A) has elapsed. After that, the voltage application to the fan motor is stopped by shutting off the switch circuit, the induced voltage generated by the inertial rotation of the fan motor is monitored by the detection circuit, and the induced voltage to be monitored is a predetermined threshold voltage ( Vth)
After the induced voltage reaches a predetermined threshold value (Vth), the first operation in which the switch circuit is turned on for a predetermined time (B) and the induction voltage of the motor reaching the threshold voltage (Vth) are detected. Alternately repeating the second operation monitored through the circuit,
The air diffuser according to claim 1.   The diffuser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of lengths are prepared for the low-speed rotation period, and one of them can be arbitrarily selected.

Images