JP2007000388A - Oxygen enriching machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen enriching machine which feeds an optimal oxygen enriched air in response to a user's relaxation. <P>SOLUTION: This oxygen enriching machine is equipped with an oxygen enriched air discharging means 23 which discharges the oxygen enriched air being obtained by an oxygen enriching means 2, and a control means (not shown in the figure). In this case, the control means controls the output state of the oxygen enriched air based on detection information from a relaxation detecting means 20 which detects the user's relaxation. For example, at the start of the use, the oxygen enriched air of a normal air volume and a normal oxygen condensation is discharged, and when a fact that the user has relaxed is sensed by the relaxation detecting means 20, the oxygen enriched air which is discharged from the oxygen enriched air discharging means 23 is optimized by reducing the air volume or the like. Thus, a trouble such that the air volume which has not been noticed at the initial stage in use is noticed after the mental condition has been settled down, and the relaxation is obstructed on the contrary can be prevented from occurring. Therefore, the comfortability of the user is increased, and the usability is increased as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen enricher that provides oxygen enriched air to a user.

As a conventional oxygen enricher, an apparatus main body that is connected to a commercial power source and generates oxygen-enriched air by concentrating oxygen in the air, an oxygen discharge unit that is connected to this and discharges oxygen-enriched air, and audio A generation source that generates sound, a headphone type sound output unit, and the like, and the oxygen discharge unit and the sound output unit are integrated, and the oxygen discharge unit is positioned in a mouth portion of a user, There is one that can inhale enriched air (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-63067

  It is generally known that oxygen-enriched air has the effect of recovering from fatigue and relaxing the mental state of the person. However, the conventional oxygen-enriching machine is not related to the use state of the user and is set in advance. It is only necessary to supply a predetermined amount of oxygen-enriched air with a specified oxygen concentration, and it does not necessarily supply the optimum oxygen-enriched air according to the use condition of the user. Even if there was no air volume, there was a problem that when the mental state calmed down, the air volume was worrisome, and conversely, the relaxed state was inhibited.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides an oxygen-enriching machine that improves user comfort and has high usability without being disturbed in a relaxed state. With the goal.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, an oxygen enricher of the present invention includes an oxygen enrichment unit that generates oxygen enriched air, and an oxygen enrichment that discharges the oxygen enriched air obtained by the oxygen enrichment unit. And a control unit for controlling an output state of the oxygen-enriched air based on detection information from the relaxation state detection unit. For example, when oxygen-enriched air having a normal air volume and oxygen concentration is discharged from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means at the start of use, and the relaxed state detecting means detects that the user has sufficiently relaxed, If the air volume of oxygen-enriched air discharged from the enriched air discharge means is reduced and the oxygen concentration is set to an appropriate level, even if the air volume was not noticed at the beginning of use, the air volume will be reduced when the mental state settles down. Will not be reversed relaxed state is inhibited, it is possible to improve the comfort of the user, usability is improved.

  The oxygen enricher of the present invention can be used because the control means can adjust the output state of the oxygen-enriched air so that the control means becomes the oxygen-enriched air optimum for the user according to the detection information from the relaxed state detecting means. Even if the air volume was not noticed in the early days, it is highly usable because it can eliminate the inconvenience of disturbing the relaxed state when the mental state settles down.

  The first invention is an oxygen enriching means for generating oxygen enriched air, an oxygen enriched air ejecting means for ejecting oxygen enriched air obtained by the oxygen enriched means, and a state in which a user is relaxing And a control unit for controlling the output state of the oxygen-enriched air based on detection information from the relaxed state detecting unit. When oxygen-enriched air with a normal air volume and oxygen concentration is discharged from the air discharge means, and the relaxed state detection means detects that the user has relaxed sufficiently, the oxygen-enriched air discharged from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means If the air volume is reduced and the oxygen concentration is set to an appropriate level, even if the air volume was not of interest at the beginning of use, the air volume will be worrisome when the mental state has settled, and the relaxed state will be disturbed. Rather, it is possible to improve the comfort of the user, usability is improved.

  In the second invention, in particular, the relaxed state detecting means of the first invention is formed by a pressure detecting means that forms a sheet and detects a change in pressure applied by at least a part of the body of the user. Since the relaxed state detecting means is in the form of a sheet, the user can use the relaxed state detecting means without disturbing the user even when lying down. Because it consists of pressure detection means that detects changes in pressure applied by a part of the body, it can accurately detect the user's relaxed state such as the body movement and breathing state of the user when lying down Since the output state of oxygen-enriched air can be adjusted so that the control means becomes the oxygen-enriched air that is optimal for the user, even if the air volume was not noticed at the beginning of use, When the come calm the air volume is worrisome, it is possible to prevent inhibiting the relaxed state to the contrary, it is possible to improve the comfort of the user, usability is improved.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means of the second aspect of the invention causes oxygen-enriched air to be discharged from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means when the pressure level detected by the pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined threshold. Therefore, it is possible to automatically determine that the user's body lay on the sheet-like relaxed state detecting means and to discharge the oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharging means. When it becomes, it becomes unnecessary to operate an oxygen enricher and the usability is further improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means of the second or third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means is changed according to the amount of change in the pressure level per unit time of the pressure detection means. The amount of change can be detected by detecting the movement of the user's body and breathing status because the oxygen-enriched air has a relaxing effect. When it is large, it is judged that the spirit is uplifted, and the discharge amount and / or oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched air is increased. Fine control such as reducing the discharge amount and / or the oxygen concentration is possible, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed, and user comfort can be further improved.

  In particular, the control means according to any one of the second to fourth aspects is characterized in that the oxygen-enriched air discharge is performed when the change amount of the pressure level per unit time of the pressure detection means falls below a predetermined change amount. Since the discharge of oxygen-enriched air from the means is stopped, it is possible to automatically stop the discharge of oxygen-enriched air by judging that the user has entered a completely relaxed state, There is no need to perform troublesome work such as getting up and stopping the oxygen enricher when the user enters the relaxed state, thus improving usability.

  In particular, the control means according to any one of the second to fifth inventions is characterized in that the oxygen-enriched air discharge is performed when the change amount of the pressure level per unit time of the pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined change amount. The oxygen-enriched air discharge from the means is resumed, and when the user's mental state is elevated again, the supply of oxygen-enriched air can be automatically resumed, so it is in a relaxed state again Since it is not necessary for the user to bother operating the oxygen-enriching machine in order to enter, the usability is further improved.

  In the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, when the control means of any one of the second to sixth aspects of the invention detects that the pressure level of the pressure detection means is equal to or lower than a predetermined level, the control means of the oxygen-enriched air discharge means The discharge of oxygen-enriched air is stopped, and it is determined that the pressure level of the pressure detection means is lower than a predetermined level, that is, the user has finished sucking up oxygen-enriched air and has risen. By stopping the discharge of the chemical air, it is not necessary for the user to bother to stop the oxygen enricher, so that the usability and comfort are further improved.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, a part of the relaxed state detecting means of any one of the first to seventh aspects of the invention is projected in a pillow shape, and an oxygen-enriched air discharge means is provided in the pillow-like protruding portion. By providing the oxygen-enriched air discharge means on the pillow-like protrusion, it is not necessary to set a conventional headset on the head even when lying down, so that the usability is further improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 6, an oxygen-enriching means 2 for generating air with a high oxygen concentration, so-called oxygen-enriched air, is provided inside the main body 1. The oxygen enrichment means 2 includes an oxygen enrichment membrane unit 3, a fan 4 serving as a blowing means, and a pump 5 serving as a suction means.

  The oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3 is composed of a flat membrane (not shown) of an organic polymer, and utilizes the difference in the speed of molecules passing through the flat membrane, and allows oxygen to pass more than nitrogen in the air. So-called oxygen-enriched air having a relatively high oxygen concentration is obtained. The proportion of oxygen in normal air is about 21% (nitrogen is about 79%), but in the oxygen-enriched air after passing through the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3 of the present embodiment, the proportion of oxygen is about 30% (about 70% nitrogen).

  The fan 4 is provided inside the main body 1, sucks outside air into the main body 1 from an air inlet 7 provided on the back surface of the main body 1, and sends it to the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3. The outside air other than the air that has flowed in is exhausted to the outside from the exhaust port 8 provided on the side surface of the main body 1.

  The pump 5 is provided below the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3 in the main body 1, sucks air through the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3, and supplies the obtained oxygen-enriched air to the downstream oxygen-enriched air supply path. 11 is sent to a discharge port 12 constituted by a bent tube (not shown) rotatably attached to the side surface of the main body 1, and is connected to the discharge port 12, which will be described later. To the outside, that is, to the user side.

  The pump 5 is a bellows pump having a high pressure during operation in order to secure a flow rate of oxygen-enriched air against the passage pressure loss of the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3. The intake port 7 is provided with an intake filter 9 for collecting dust contained in the outside air. The external air passes through the intake filter 9 from the intake port 7 and then passes through the suction path 10 to the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3. Supplied through. The discharge amount of oxygen-enriched air at this time can be controlled by changing the output of the pump 5.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3 has a multi-stage structure including an oxygen-enriched membrane A3a, an oxygen-enriched membrane B3b, and an oxygen-enriched membrane C3c. And adjusting means 13 comprising a plurality of solenoid valves 13a-13c so that the mixing ratio with normal air can be adjusted, that is, the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched air can be adjusted. 14, the discharge amount of oxygen-enriched air and the oxygen concentration can be adjusted by controlling the pump 5 and the adjusting means 13.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a relaxed state detecting means that is formed in a sheet size of a human body size and detects the user's use state when the user lies on the sheet, and the pressure applied by the weight of the user is applied to the inside. There is provided pressure detecting means 21 comprising a pressure sensor that converts the voltage to output. The relaxed state detection means 20 is provided with a substantially U-shaped pillow-like protrusion 22, and is sent to the discharge port 12 provided on the side surface of the main body 1 near the tip of the pillow-like protrusion 22. A plurality of oxygen-enriched air discharge means 23 for supplying oxygen-enriched air to the user are provided.

  The discharge port 12 and the enriched air discharge means 23 are connected by a connecting pipe 24 made of a flexible tube such as vinyl chloride. Further, the pressure detection means 21 determines the optimum oxygen-enriched air discharge amount and / or oxygen concentration based on the voltage signal level of the pressure detection means 21 through a signal cable 25 that is provided in parallel with the connecting pipe 24. A voltage level signal corresponding to the pressure is output to the control means 14 including a microcomputer to be controlled.

  About the oxygen enricher comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

First, when the user lies on the relaxed state detection means 20, the pressure detection means 21 detects the pressure from the user's shoulder to the back, and a voltage signal is output to the control means 14. When the control means 14 determines that the output voltage level exceeds a preset threshold level V ₀ in the control means 14, the operation of the main body 1 is automatically started.

When the operation of the main body 1 is started, electric power is supplied to the fan 4 and the pump 5, and the outside air is sucked from the air inlet 7 provided in the main body 1, and is further passed through the suction path 10 through the intake filter 9 that removes dust. The oxygen-enriched air obtained by passing through the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3 and passing through the oxygen-enriched membrane unit 3 passes through the oxygen-enriched air supply path 11 on the downstream side to the side surface of the main body 1. From the provided discharge port 12, it is discharged from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means 23 through the connecting pipe 24, and is supplied to the user who is lying on the head on the pillow-like protrusion 22. After that, when the output voltage level of the pressure detection means 21 falls below the threshold level V ₀ set in advance in the control means 14, the user's body leaves the pressure detection means 21 portion of the relaxed state detection means 20. The operation of the main body 1 is stopped when it is determined that the user has stood up.

Next, the control means 14 recognizes that the user is lying on the relaxed state detection means 20 and is in use while the output voltage level from the pressure detection means 21 exceeds the threshold level V ₀ , As shown in FIG. 2, the change in the voltage signal level from the pressure detecting means 21 per unit time t preset in the control means 14 is always calculated, and the oxygen-enriched air according to the relaxed state of the user. Adjust the density and discharge amount.

That is, since the output voltage level from the pressure detecting means 21 rises and falls in synchronization with the state of breathing of the user, the peak voltage level V _P and the bottom voltage level V _{B of} the output voltage level are recognized, and V _P → A time λ of one cycle of V _B → V _P is detected, an average cycle λ _H per unit time is calculated, compared with a threshold value λ 1 set in advance in the control means 14, and used when shorter than λ 1 It is determined that the person's respiration rate is high, that is, the mental state of the user is elevated, and the oxygen concentration and the discharge amount of the oxygen-enriched air are increased. Conversely, when the average period λ _H is longer than λ1, it is determined that the user's respiration rate is low, that is, the user is approaching a relaxed state, and control is performed such as reducing the concentration and discharge amount of oxygen-enriched air.

  The amount of discharge is increased or decreased by changing the power supplied from the control means 14 to the pump 5. That is, as the power supplied to the pump 5 is increased, the amount of outside air sucked can be increased, that is, the discharge amount of oxygen-enriched air can be increased.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 14 switches the electromagnetic valves 13 a to 13 c of the adjustment unit 13 to change the path through which the outside air passes, as shown in FIG. 6.

  That is, in FIG. 6, since only the electromagnetic valve 13b is open, the outside air sucked from the intake port 7 passes through all the oxygen-enriched films A3a, B3b, and C3c, and has the highest oxygen concentration.

  Further, if only the electromagnetic valve 13a is opened, the air passes through only the oxygen-enriched film A3a, and the concentration can be suppressed. Further, if only 13c is opened, the route does not pass through the oxygen-enriched films A3a, B3b, and C3c. Therefore, the concentration can be further suppressed by mixing with other routes.

  Note that the means for creating oxygen-enriched air, the means for controlling the concentration, and the discharge amount are not limited to this embodiment, and it is sufficient if the oxygen concentration and the discharge amount can be controlled. In this embodiment, the case where the threshold value of the period λ is one has been described, but it goes without saying that finer control of the oxygen concentration and the discharge amount can be achieved by providing several threshold values.

Furthermore, the control means 14 is provided with a preset threshold value λ ₀ , and when the average period λ _H per unit time is determined to be λ ₀ or more, it is determined that the user has completely entered a relaxed state, When the driving is automatically stopped and the average period λ _H per unit time is lowered to λ1, it is determined that the mental state of the user has been raised again and the driving is resumed.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the pressure detection unit 21 is provided in the relaxed state detection unit 20, and the output voltage level of the pressure detection unit 21 is a threshold level V ₀ set in advance in the control unit 14. When it is determined that the vehicle has exceeded the limit, the operation is automatically started, so that it is automatically determined that the user's body has been placed on the relaxed state detection means 20 and the oxygen-enriched air discharge means 23 Oxygen-enriched air can be discharged, and the user does not have to bother operating the oxygen-enriching machine at the time of use, so the usability is improved.

When the output voltage level of the pressure detection means 21 falls below the threshold level V ₀ set in advance in the control means 14, it is determined that the user's body has moved away from the pressure detection means 21 of the relaxed state detection means 20. By stopping the operation, it is possible to prevent the oxygen enriched air from continuing to be discharged when the user gets up and stops using it, and the user has stopped using the oxygen enricher. Occasionally there is no need to stop the oxygen enricher and the usability is improved.

Further, the control means 14 recognizes that the user is in use while the output voltage level from the pressure detection means 21 exceeds the threshold level V ₀ , and always sets a unit preset in the control means 14. The change of the voltage signal level from the pressure detection means 21 per time t is calculated, and the control means 14 controls the fan 4, the pump 5 and the adjustment means 13 according to the user's relaxed state, and is optimal for the user. Because the oxygen-enriched air with an appropriate oxygen concentration and the optimal discharge rate are adjusted, even if the air volume was not noticed at the beginning of use, the air volume will be worrisome when the mental state settles down. Since it is not hindered and the comfort of the user can be improved, the usability is improved.

In the present embodiment, the control means 14 is provided with a preset threshold value λ ₀ , and when the average period λ _H per unit time is determined to be equal to or greater than λ ₀ , the user is completely relaxed. The operation of the main body 1 is automatically stopped, and if the average period λ _H per unit time decreases to λ1, the user's mental state is determined to have been raised again and the operation is resumed. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform troublesome work such as getting up and stopping the oxygen enricher when the user enters the relaxed state, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, when the user's mental state is elevated again, the supply of oxygen-enriched air is automatically resumed, so that the user has to bother to operate the oxygen enricher to enter the relaxed state again. Therefore, the usability is improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the relaxed state detecting means 20 protrudes in a pillow shape, and the oxygen-enriched air discharge means 23 for discharging oxygen-enriched air is provided in the pillow-like protruding portion 22, thereby Even in the state of use, since there is no need to set the headset on the head as in the prior art, the usability and comfort are further improved.

  In the above embodiment, the relaxed state detecting means 20 has been described as an example of a human body size. However, the relaxed state detecting means 20 is configured to be as large as the head of a human body. Even if it is a form used by placing on a pillow, it has the same effect.

  As described above, the oxygen enricher according to the present invention determines the optimum concentration and discharge amount of oxygen-enriched air based on the user's relaxed state without disturbing even when lying down. Therefore, it can be applied not only at home but also in facilities and equipment that can effectively use high concentration oxygen such as fatigue recovery.

System block diagram of the oxygen enricher in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Chart showing the control method of the oxygen enricher External perspective view showing the overall configuration of the oxygen enricher Side sectional view of the main body of the oxygen enricher Top sectional view of the oxygen enricher body Schematic diagram of main components of the oxygen enricher

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Oxygen enrichment means 3 Oxygen enrichment membrane unit 13 Adjustment means 14 Control means 20 Relaxed state detection means 21 Pressure detection means 22 Pillar-shaped protrusion 23 Oxygen enriched air discharge means

Claims (8)

Oxygen-enriching means for generating oxygen-enriched air, oxygen-enriched air ejecting means for ejecting oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen-enriching means, and relaxed state detection for detecting a user's relaxing state Means and a control means for controlling the output state of the oxygen-enriched air based on detection information from the relaxed state detecting means. 2. The oxygen enricher according to claim 1, wherein the relaxed state detection means is formed in a sheet shape and is constituted by pressure detection means for detecting a change in pressure applied by at least a part of the user's body. The oxygen enricher according to claim 2, wherein the control means discharges oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means when the pressure level detected by the pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The control means changes the discharge amount and / or oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means in accordance with the amount of change in the pressure level per unit time of the pressure detection means. 3. The oxygen enricher according to 3. The control means stops the discharge of oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means when the change amount of the pressure level per unit time of the pressure detection means falls below a predetermined change amount. 5. The oxygen enricher according to any one of 4 above. The control means restarts the discharge of oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means when the change amount of the pressure level per unit time of the pressure detection means exceeds a predetermined change amount. The oxygen enricher according to any one of 5. 7. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control means stops the discharge of the oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched air discharge means when detecting that the pressure level of the pressure detection means is equal to or lower than a predetermined level. The oxygen enricher according to claim 1. The oxygen enrichment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a part of the relaxed state detection means protrudes in a pillow shape, and an oxygen-enriched air discharge means is provided in the pillow-like protrusion. Machine.

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