JP2007294285A - Ion generator, and electric apparatus equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator capable of reducing a cost and miniaturizable. <P>SOLUTION: This ion generator is provided with at least two discharge parts: a discharge electrode 12a of a first discharge part 12 being one of the discharge parts and an induction electrode 13b of a second discharge part 13 being the other of the discharge parts are electrically connected to each other; an induction electrode 12b of the first discharge part 12 and a discharge electrode 13a of the second discharge part 13 are electrically connected to each other; and the ion generator is also provided with a voltage application part 20 for applying a high voltage between a common connection point of the discharge electrode 12a of the first discharge part 12 and the induction electrode 13b of the second discharge part 13, and a common connection point of the induction electrode 12b of the first discharge part 12 and the discharge electrode 13a of the second discharge part 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator capable of decomposing bacteria, fungi, harmful substances, etc. floating in the air by releasing positive ions and negative ions into the space, and an electric device equipped with the same. is there.

  At present, there is an ion generating device having an ion generating element having a structure in which a discharge electrode is disposed outside a ceramic dielectric and an induction electrode is disposed inside. And the ion generator which can inactivate floating mold | fungi etc. is generating the positive ion and the negative ion.

  One method for generating positive and negative bipolar ions is to apply an alternating high voltage to one discharge unit. In such a system, since positive ions and negative ions are generated almost simultaneously from one discharge part, some of the positive and negative ions are neutralized and disappear together with the generation of ions, resulting in poor ion generation efficiency. There is a problem.

As a method of generating positive and negative bipolar ions that can solve this problem, high voltage of positive and negative polarity is applied to at least two discharge parts, and positive ions and negative ions are generated individually in each discharge part. There is a method (hereinafter referred to as ion independent emission method) in which each is independently released into a space (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-268126 (FIGS. 2 and 11)

  However, in the conventional ion independent emission method, in order to apply a high voltage of positive / negative / reverse polarity to at least two discharge parts, a plurality of transformers or a transformer having at least two secondary windings is usually required (for example, , Refer to Patent Document 1), and there is a problem that the cost and the size of the apparatus are increased.

  An object of this invention is to provide the ion generator which can achieve cost reduction and size reduction, and an electric equipment provided with the same in view of said subject.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ion generator according to the present invention includes at least two discharge units, and is a discharge electrode of a first discharge unit which is one of the discharge units and another one of the discharge units. An induction electrode of the second discharge part is electrically connected, an induction electrode of the first discharge part and a discharge electrode of the second discharge part are electrically connected, and the discharge electrode of the first discharge part and the A voltage application unit for applying a high voltage is provided between the common connection point of the induction electrode of the second discharge unit and the common connection point of the induction electrode of the first discharge unit and the discharge electrode of the second discharge unit. .

  According to such a configuration, the voltage application unit includes a common connection point between the discharge electrode of the first discharge unit and the induction electrode of the second discharge unit, and the induction electrode of the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit. By simply applying a high voltage between the common connection points of the discharge electrodes, the first discharge part (more specifically, the vicinity of the discharge electrode of the first discharge part) and the second discharge part (more specifically, the above-mentioned details) Since ions having different polarities are emitted from the vicinity of the discharge electrode of the second discharge part), a plurality of transformers or a transformer having at least two secondary windings is not required. Therefore, cost reduction and size reduction can be achieved.

  Moreover, in the ion generator of the said structure, it is desirable to provide the means by which the polarity of the said high voltage does not switch in the output terminal part of the said high voltage application part.

  When the polarity of the high voltage is fixed, the polarity of the ions emitted from the first discharge part and the polarity of the ions emitted from the second discharge part are fixed. Ion neutralization due to switching of the polarity of ions does not occur, and ion generation efficiency can be improved. Examples of means that do not switch the polarity of the high voltage include rectifier means and bias means.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electrical apparatus according to the present invention includes the ion generator having the above-described configuration and a sending means for sending ions generated by the ion generator into the air.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of transformers or a transformer having at least two secondary windings is not required, it is possible to reduce the cost and size of the ion generator and the electric equipment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ion generator according to the present invention, and FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show a plan view and a side sectional view of the ion generator, respectively. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ion generator according to the present invention includes an ion generating element 10 having a plurality of discharge units (two in this embodiment) for generating ions, and a predetermined voltage with respect to the ion generating element 10. A voltage applying unit 20 that performs application and lead wires 12p, 12q, 13p, and 13q that electrically connect the ion generating element 10 and the voltage applying unit 20 are provided.

  The ion generating element 10 includes a dielectric 11 (upper dielectric 11a and lower dielectric 11b), and a first discharge unit 12 (discharge electrode 12a, induction electrode 12b, discharge electrode contact 12c, induction electrode contact 12d, connection terminal 12e, and 12f and connection paths 12g and 12h), the second discharge section 13 (discharge electrode 13a, induction electrode 13b, discharge electrode contact 13c, induction electrode contact 13d, connection terminals 13e and 13f, and connection paths 13g and 13h), And a coating layer 14.

  The discharge electrode contacts 12c, 13c are connected to the discharge electrodes 12a, 13e through the connection terminals 12e, 13e and the connection paths 12g, 13g provided on the same formation surface as the discharge electrodes 12a, 13a (that is, the surface of the upper dielectric 11a). It is electrically connected to 13a. Then, one end of a lead wire (copper wire, aluminum wire or the like) 12p, 13p is connected to the discharge electrode contact 12c, 13c, and the voltage application unit 20 is connected to the other end of the lead wire 12p, 13p, and the discharge electrode 12a, 13a and the voltage application unit 20 are electrically connected.

  The induction electrode contacts 12d and 13d are connected to the induction electrodes via connection terminals 12f and 13f and connection paths 12h and 13h provided on the same surface as the induction electrodes 12b and 13b (that is, the surface of the lower dielectric 11b). 12b and 13b are electrically connected. Then, one end of lead wires (copper wire, aluminum wire or the like) 12q, 13q is connected to the induction electrode contacts 12d, 13d, and the voltage application unit 20 is connected to the other end of the lead wires 12q, 13q, the induction electrode 12b, 13b and the voltage application unit 20 are electrically connected.

When the voltage application unit 20 applies the voltage described later between the discharge electrode 12a and the induction electrode 12b of the first discharge unit 12 and between the discharge electrode 13a and the induction electrode 13b of the second discharge unit 13, positive ions Some H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is an arbitrary natural number) and O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is an arbitrary natural number) which are negative ions are generated. As a result, H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m and O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n are released into the air, so that these ions surround the airborne fungi and viruses in the air. It can be inactivated by the action of the hydroxyl radical (.OH) of the generated active species.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the voltage application unit 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ion generator shown in FIG. For convenience of explanation, the same parts as those in FIG.

  The voltage application unit 20 receives power from the input power supply 30. The voltage application unit 20 includes a rectifier diode 21, an input resistor 22, a capacitor 23, a transformer driving switching element 24, and a diode 25 as a primary side circuit of the transformer 26, and a rectifier diode as a secondary side circuit of the transformer 26. 27. As the transformer driving switching element 24, a triac or two-terminal thyristor capable of bidirectional conduction is used.

  First, the primary side circuit of the transformer 26 will be described. When the input power source 30 is an AC commercial power source, the capacitor 23 is charged by the voltage of the input power source 30 via the rectifier diode 21 and the input resistor 22, and the transformer driving switching is performed when the voltage across the capacitor 23 becomes equal to or higher than the specified voltage. The element 24 is turned on, and a voltage is applied to the primary side winding 26 a of the transformer 26. Immediately thereafter, the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor 23 is discharged through the transformer driving switching element 24 and the primary side winding 26a of the transformer 26, the voltage across the capacitor 23 returns to zero, and the transformer driving switching element 24 is turned off. The capacitor 23 is charged again, and charging and discharging are repeated at a specified period. The diode 25 serves as a flywheel diode that quickly stops the current flowing through the primary winding 26a of the transformer 26.

  Next, the secondary side circuit of the transformer 26 will be described. One end of the secondary winding 26 b of the transformer 26 is connected to the discharge electrode 12 a of the first discharge unit 12 and the induction electrode 13 b of the second discharge unit 13. The other end of the secondary winding 26 b of the transformer 26 is connected to the induction electrode 12 b of the first discharge unit 12 and the discharge electrode 13 a of the second discharge unit 13. When the transformer driving switching element 24 of the primary side circuit is turned on, the energy on the primary side is transmitted to the secondary winding 26b of the transformer 26, and the rectifier diode 27 is interposed between both ends of the secondary winding 26b of the transformer 26. When is not inserted, an impulse voltage is generated. On the other hand, when the rectifier diode 27 is inserted between both ends of the secondary winding 26b of the transformer 26, a voltage is generated in the first wave of the impulse waveform because the rectifier diode 27 is reverse-biased. However, in the second wave of the impulse waveform, a forward bias is applied to the rectifier diode 27 and energy is consumed between the rectifier diode 27 and the secondary winding 26b of the transformer 26. Therefore, only the first wave of the impulse waveform is generated. Waveform voltage is generated.

  Next, the operating voltage waveform will be described. First, the case where the rectifier diode 27 is not inserted, that is, the case where the rectifier diode 27 is removed from the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In this case, an alternating voltage having an impulse waveform as shown in FIG. 3 is generated at both ends of the secondary winding 26b of the transformer 26 (the waveform shown in FIG. 3A is obtained with reference to the cathode side of the rectifier diode 27). If the anode side of the rectifier diode 27 is used as a reference, the waveform in FIG.

  Here, the 1st discharge part 12 is demonstrated. FIG. 3A shows a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 12b when the discharge electrode 12a of the first discharge part 12 is used as a reference. 4A shows the voltage waveform of the discharge electrode 12a when the line AC2 shown in FIG. 2 (in some cases, the ground terminal) is used as a reference, and FIG. 4B shows the line AC2 shown in FIG. Is a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 12b when the ground terminal is used as a reference. In the vicinity of the discharge electrode 12a of the first discharge unit 12, both positive ions and negative ions are instantaneously generated by the discharge, but ions having a polarity opposite to the potential of the discharge electrode 12a shown in FIG. Since ions neutralized by the potential of 12a and having the same polarity as the potential of the discharge electrode 12a shown in FIG. 4A are repelled and released by the potential of the discharge electrode 12a, the first waveform having the waveform shown in FIG. The ions are alternately discharged in the order of positive ions in the discharge of the wave and negative ions in the discharge of the second wave.

  The 2nd discharge part 13 is demonstrated similarly. FIG. 3B is a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 13b when the discharge electrode 13a of the second discharge part 13 is used as a reference. 5A shows the voltage waveform of the discharge electrode 13a with reference to the line AC2 (in some cases, the ground terminal) shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5B shows the line AC2 shown in FIG. Is a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 13b when the ground terminal is used as a reference. In the vicinity of the discharge electrode 13a of the second discharge section 13, both positive ions and negative ions are instantaneously generated by the discharge, but ions having a polarity opposite to the potential of the discharge electrode 13a shown in FIG. Since the ions neutralized by the potential of 13a and having the same polarity as the potential of the discharge electrode 13a shown in FIG. 5A are repelled and released by the potential of the discharge electrode 13a, the first waveform having the waveform shown in FIG. The ions are alternately discharged in the order of negative ions in the discharge of the wave and positive ions in the discharge of the second wave.

  Therefore, when the rectifier diode 27 is not inserted, that is, when the rectifier diode 27 is removed from the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2, ions having different polarities are emitted from the first discharge unit 12 and the second discharge unit 13. The polarity of each ion emitted from the 1st discharge part 12 and the 2nd discharge part 13 is changing for every wave of the alternating voltage of the impulse waveform shown in FIG.

  Next, the case where the rectifier diode 27 is inserted, that is, the case of the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In this case, a voltage having a waveform as shown in FIG. 6 (a voltage of only the first wave of the alternating voltage of the impulse waveform shown in FIG. 3) is generated at both ends of the secondary winding 26b of the transformer 26 (rectifier diode 27). The waveform of FIG. 6A is obtained with reference to the cathode side of FIG. 6, and the waveform of FIG. 6B is obtained with reference to the anode side of the rectifier diode 27).

  Here, the 1st discharge part 12 is demonstrated. FIG. 6A shows a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 12b when the discharge electrode 12a of the first discharge part 12 is used as a reference. FIG. 7A shows the voltage waveform of the discharge electrode 12a with reference to the line AC2 (in some cases, the ground terminal) shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7B shows the line AC2 shown in FIG. Is a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 12b when the ground terminal is used as a reference. In the vicinity of the discharge electrode 12a of the first discharge unit 12, both positive ions and negative ions are instantaneously generated by the discharge, but negative ions having a polarity opposite to the positive potential of the discharge electrode 12a shown in FIG. Neutralized by the positive potential of the discharge electrode 12a, and positive ions having the same polarity as the positive potential of the discharge electrode 12a shown in FIG. 7A are repelled and released by the positive potential of the discharge electrode 12a, so that positive ions are released. The

  The 2nd discharge part 13 is demonstrated similarly. FIG. 6B is a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 13 b when the discharge electrode 13 a of the second discharge unit 13 is used as a reference. 8A shows the voltage waveform of the discharge electrode 13a with reference to the line AC2 (in some cases, the ground terminal) shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8B shows the line AC2 shown in FIG. Is a voltage waveform of the induction electrode 13b when the ground terminal is used as a reference. In the vicinity of the discharge electrode 13a of the second discharge unit 13, both positive ions and negative ions are instantaneously generated by the discharge, but positive ions having a polarity opposite to the negative potential of the discharge electrode 13a shown in FIG. Since the negative ions having the same polarity as the negative potential of the discharge electrode 13a shown in FIG. 8A are repelled and released by the negative potential of the discharge electrode 13a, the negative ions are released. The

  Therefore, in the case where the rectifier diode 27 is inserted, that is, in the case of the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2, positive ions are emitted from the first discharge part 12 and negative ions are emitted from the second discharge part 13.

  The ion generator of the embodiment described above has a configuration in which the secondary winding includes one transformer regardless of the presence or absence of the rectifier diode 27, and includes a plurality of transformers or a transformer having at least two secondary windings. Since it is not necessary, cost reduction and size reduction can be achieved. In addition, since the ion generator of the above-described embodiment is an ion independent emission method, that is, a method in which positive ions and negative ions are individually generated in the respective discharge units, and each is independently discharged into the space. 27 is provided so that the polarity of the high voltage output from the voltage application unit is not switched, so that the ion generation efficiency can be improved.

  The ion generator according to the present invention described above may be mounted on an electrical device such as an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, a humidifier, an air cleaner, a refrigerator, a fan heater, a microwave oven, a washing dryer, a vacuum cleaner, or a sterilizer. . And it is good to equip such an electric equipment with the sending means (for example, ventilation fan) which sends out the ion which generate | occur | produced with the ion generator in the air. In such an electric device, in addition to the original function of the device, positive and negative ions can be released into the air by the installed ion generator and delivery means.

These are figures which show schematic structure of one Embodiment of the ion generator which concerns on this invention. These are circuit diagrams which show the electrical constitution of the ion generator shown in FIG. These are figures which show the operating voltage waveform of the ion generator which is the structure which remove | eliminated the rectifier diode of the secondary side circuit from the circuit structure shown in FIG. These are figures which show the operating voltage waveform of the ion generator which is the structure which remove | eliminated the rectifier diode of the secondary side circuit from the circuit structure shown in FIG. These are figures which show the operating voltage waveform of the ion generator which is the structure which remove | eliminated the rectifier diode of the secondary side circuit from the circuit structure shown in FIG. These are figures which show the operating voltage waveform of the ion generator which is the circuit structure shown in FIG. These are figures which show the operating voltage waveform of the ion generator which is the circuit structure shown in FIG. These are figures which show the operating voltage waveform of the ion generator which is the circuit structure shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ion generating element 11 Dielectric 11a Upper dielectric 11b Lower dielectric 12 1st discharge part 13 2nd discharge part 12a, 13a Discharge electrode 12b, 13b Induction electrode 12c, 13c Discharge electrode contact 12d, 13d Induction electrode contact 12e, 12f , 13e, 13f Connection terminal 12g, 12h, 13g, 13h Connection path 12P, 12q, 13p, 13q Lead wire 14 Coating layer 20 Voltage application section 21 Rectifier diode 22 Input resistance 23 Capacitor 24 Transformer driving switching element 25 Diode 26 Transformer 26a Primary winding of transformer 26b Secondary winding of transformer 27 Rectifier diode 30 Input power supply

Claims (3)

Including at least two discharge parts,
A discharge electrode of the first discharge part, which is one of the discharge parts, and an induction electrode of the second discharge part, which is another one of the discharge parts, are electrically connected;
The induction electrode of the first discharge part and the discharge electrode of the second discharge part are electrically connected;
A high voltage is applied between a common connection point of the discharge electrode of the first discharge part and the induction electrode of the second discharge part and a common connection point of the induction electrode of the first discharge part and the discharge electrode of the second discharge part. An ion generator comprising a voltage application unit for applying.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein means for preventing the polarity of the high voltage from being switched is provided at an output end of the high-voltage applying unit.   An electrical apparatus comprising: the ion generator according to claim 1 or 2; and a sending unit that sends out ions generated by the ion generator into the air.

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