JP2008138368A - Faucet device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a faucet device capable of using generated electric power efficiently while suppressing the consumption of a primary battery to the maximum extent even in various use environments. <P>SOLUTION: This faucet device has an electric power generating means, the primary battery connected electrically with the electric power generating means in parallel, a capacitor charged by outputs of the electric power generating means or the primary battery, a charging control means for controlling charging to the capacitor from the primary battery provided between the primary battery and the capacitor in series by turning it on or off, a voltage conversion means for converting a voltage of the capacitor to a predetermined voltage to feed it, and a faucet control means operated by electricity fed from the voltage conversion means. This faucet device is provided with a voltage detection means for detecting a voltage of the capacitor and a back-up voltage setting means for controlling the charging control means by turning it on when an output of the voltage detection means reaches a back-up voltage for starting charging to the capacitor from the primary battery or lower and setting a back-up voltage by changing it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a faucet device that opens and closes a water channel by electrical control using a solenoid valve, and more particularly to a faucet device that includes a power source that combines a power generation means and a primary battery.

Automatic faucet devices and automatic toilet bowl cleaning devices installed in toilets and washrooms are equipped with a hydroelectric generator (power generation means), which generates electricity using the water flowing by the faucet device itself, stores it, and operates as a power source Things are in practical use.
In the past, secondary batteries such as NiCd batteries were used as means for storing electricity, but there is a problem that secondary batteries need to be replaced in a few years due to deterioration. It has become mainstream.

  In addition, there is a method of guaranteeing the operation in a state where power generation is insufficient with a primary battery, in order to prevent the amount of power generation is small and the water storage voltage is lowered and the faucet device becomes inoperable. For example, there is a device in which a dry battery (primary battery) is provided in parallel with a storage battery (secondary battery) and used by switching (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the device of Patent Document 1, the means for switching between the storage battery and the dry battery is a diode (Patent Document 1, number 53 in FIG. 2), and the storage battery is “the voltage obtained by subtracting the forward voltage drop of the diode from the voltage of the dry battery. Can be viewed as a "backed up" configuration.

Further, as in Patent Document 1, when a primary battery (dry battery) is simply used as a backup battery, the primary battery is consumed first when the storage voltage of the secondary battery or capacitor decreases. There is a problem of end. Since the primary battery is an emergency means for guaranteeing the operation of the faucet device when power generation is insufficient, the primary battery must not be consumed before the power storage means.
In view of this, there is a device for preventing the primary battery from being unnecessarily consumed by providing a charge control means between the primary battery and the capacitor (see Patent Document 2).

In the device of Patent Document 2, normally, the charge control means is turned on, and the capacitor voltage is backed up so as not to fall below the voltage of the primary battery (more accurately, there is a voltage drop due to the charge control means).
And when the capacitor load requires a large current, such as energization of the solenoid valve, that is, only when the capacitor output current is large and the capacitor voltage temporarily drops, the charge control means is turned off and the backup by the primary battery is disconnected. Yes. This prevents the primary battery from being consumed before the capacitor charge.

  In the case where a capacitor is used as the power storage means, the voltage of the capacitor is proportional to the amount of power stored, so that the voltage fluctuation accompanying the charge / discharge of the capacitor is large. Then, like patent document 2, using a voltage conversion means (voltage conversion circuit), it stabilizes to a fixed voltage and it supplies electric power to the circuit and electromagnetic valve of a faucet device. That is, when a capacitor is used, voltage conversion means is necessary.

  In addition, there is a maximum voltage (withstand voltage) that can be applied to electrical components, and for a capacitor, the charging voltage by the generator must be limited in some way. In other words, a charging voltage limiting circuit is required so as not to exceed the breakdown voltage of the capacitor in order to avoid destruction of the capacitor components. In Patent Document 2, there is a power consuming circuit that aims to stabilize the torque generated in the generator by continuously taking out the load current from the generator regardless of the charging state of the capacitor, which limits the charging voltage of the capacitor. It also serves as a charging voltage control means.

  As described above, in any of the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the voltage of the capacitor (storage battery in Patent Document 1) serving as the power storage means is maintained so as not to be lower than the voltage of the primary battery. In other words, the power storage means was backed up at a (almost) fixed voltage determined by the type and number of primary batteries (when using one lithium battery, it is about 3 V).

For example, when the faucet device is not used on Saturdays, Sundays, etc., and the power generation is not performed for a long time, the voltage of the capacitor decreases. Then, when the backup voltage is lowered to the primary battery, consumption of the primary battery starts.
However, since the primary battery is a spare power source, it is better not to consume as much as possible. For that purpose, it is better to make the backup voltage as low as possible and use up the charge stored in the capacitor to the limit.

  Here, if the charge control means of Patent Document 2 is used, the backup voltage of the capacitor does not have to be “fixed at the voltage of the primary battery”. That is, if the voltage is lower than the voltage of the primary battery, the voltage for backing up the capacitor can be adjusted.

  For example, the lower limit of the capacitor backup voltage is the lower limit value of the voltage at which the voltage conversion circuit connected to the capacitor can operate, that is, the “minimum operable voltage”. When the voltage conversion circuit is constituted by a general-purpose C-MOS process booster IC that is commercially available as a general-purpose component, this type of IC can operate up to about 1.0 V, so the capacitor can be up to about 1.0 V. It can be used after being discharged.

  That is, if the charge control means of Patent Document 2 is used, even if the voltage of the primary battery is 3.0 V, for example, the backup voltage of the capacitor is set to 1.0 V, and the primary voltage is reduced until the voltage of the capacitor drops to 1.0 V. By not charging from the battery, consumption of the primary battery can be avoided.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-66872 JP 2001-207498 A

  However, there are two major problems with the method of operating the capacitor voltage to the lowest possible value.

First, the first problem will be described.
In order to charge the capacitor with the output of the generator, a diode bridge that rectifies the generator output, a diode that prevents the leakage current of the capacitor, and the like are required. Here, if the capacitor voltage is low, the loss ratio of the forward voltage drop of the diode in the circuit is relatively increased.
Further, the “electric power” charged from the generator to the capacitor is determined by “capacitor voltage” × “charging current”. If the “electric power” to be charged is constant, the “charge current” increases as the “capacitor voltage” decreases. The generator is composed of a magnet and a coil, and the coil has a resistance of several Ω to several tens of Ω. Therefore, when the charging current increases, the loss of resistance in the generator increases.

For the above reasons, the lower the voltage of the capacitor, the more the loss of the diode and resistance increases, and the power charged from the generator to the capacitor tends to decrease.
The above is the first problem.

Next, the second problem will be described.
As described above, a voltage conversion circuit is connected to the output of the capacitor, and the voltage of the capacitor is converted to a voltage suitable for the circuit of the faucet device and the solenoid valve. Here, if the idea is to make the backup voltage of the capacitor as low as possible in order to avoid the consumption of the primary battery, the voltage conversion circuit inevitably becomes a booster circuit.

  A typical booster circuit consists of a coil, a diode, and a switching element (boost IC). As in the case of charging a capacitor from a generator, if the capacitor voltage is low, the input voltage of the booster circuit is low. , The operating current increases. Then, the loss increases, which is a disadvantageous condition for circuit operation, and the boosting efficiency is lowered. This is the second problem.

As described above, when the capacitor backup voltage is set low in order to avoid consumption of the primary battery, there is an adverse effect that the loss increases in both charging from the generator to the capacitor and boosting of the capacitor voltage.
Then, the surplus power after driving the solenoid valve with respect to the generated power is reduced, and in the worst case, the voltage of the capacitor may not increase even if power is generated.

That is, if the backup voltage of the capacitor is lowered too much in order to avoid consumption of the primary battery, the capacitor will not rise even if power is generated, and there is a possibility that the battery will be consumed from the primary battery indefinitely.
In particular, there is a high possibility that the conditions for use of the water faucet device are low, such as low water pressure, low flow rate, and short discharge time.

  However, on the other hand, sufficient power generation capacity can be expected at sites with favorable conditions for power generation such as high water pressure, large flow rate, and long discharge time, so problems may occur even if the capacitor backup voltage is lowered. The nature is low. In that case, lowering the backup voltage of the capacitor is advantageous in avoiding the consumption of the primary battery.

  Thus, considering the various use conditions of the faucet device, it is not possible to determine the optimum capacitor backup voltage.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in a faucet device equipped with a power source combining a power generation means and a primary battery, the consumption of the primary battery is avoided to the maximum even in various usage environments. An object of the present invention is to provide a faucet device that can efficiently use generated electric power.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power generation means, a primary battery electrically connected in parallel with the power generation means, and the output of the power generation means or the primary battery is charged. A capacitor that is provided in series between the primary battery and the capacitor to control on / off charging of the capacitor from the primary battery, and converts the voltage of the capacitor into a predetermined voltage to supply power In a faucet device comprising: a voltage conversion means that performs the operation; and a faucet control means that operates by power feeding from the voltage conversion means.
Voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the capacitor, and when the output of the voltage detection means is equal to or lower than a backup voltage for starting charging of the capacitor from the primary battery, the charge control means is on-controlled, and the backup voltage is A backup voltage setting means that can be set variably is provided.
The backup voltage can be set and changed according to the usage status of the environment where the faucet is installed, and the most balanced operating conditions can be selected to efficiently use the power output while suppressing the consumption of the primary battery. .

According to the invention of claim 2, in the faucet device according to claim 1, the backup voltage setting means is an operation switch that can be switched in a plurality of stages.
For example, the optimum backup voltage can be arbitrarily set according to the difference in installation locations such as a station, office, and home, water pressure, flow rate, number of users, and the like, and can be easily changed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the faucet device according to the first aspect further comprises a power generation amount detection means for detecting a power generation amount of the power generation means, wherein the backup voltage setting means is a power generation amount detection means. The backup voltage is set according to the power generation amount output, and when the power generation amount is larger than the predetermined power generation amount, the backup voltage is set lower than the predetermined backup voltage.
If the amount of power generation is large, the backup voltage can be lowered to suppress the consumption of the primary battery. In other words, if the amount of power generation is small, the backup voltage can be increased and the generated power can be used efficiently. By automatically making the selection, it is possible to save time and trouble-free setting of the backup voltage.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the faucet device according to the third aspect, the time measuring means for measuring time with a period of one day or seven days, and the charging voltage of the capacitor by the output of the power generation means are predetermined. Charging voltage limiting means for limiting the voltage to be equal to or lower than the maximum voltage of the power supply, and the backup voltage setting means is configured to charge the capacitor from the predetermined maximum voltage by the accumulated power amount for one day of the power generation output. Since the voltage obtained by subtracting the rising voltage is the backup voltage,
Since the average value of the charging voltage is the highest and the charging / discharging amount of the capacitor is maximized with a cycle of one day, the capacity of the capacitor will be maximized with little circuit loss. The possibility that the primary battery is consumed can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the faucet device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the faucet device according to the fourth aspect further comprises storage means for dividing the one-day cycle into a plurality of time zones and storing the power generation amount output. The output is stored in the storage unit for one day, and the backup voltage setting unit sets the backup voltage based on the integrated power amount for the one day.
The latest power generation amount for 24 hours a day is grasped, and the backup voltage is set with high accuracy and the optimum operation is possible especially at the site where the difference between weekdays and holidays is small and the daily use is averaged.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the faucet device according to the fifth aspect, the accumulated electric energy for one day is stored for a plurality of days, and the backup voltage setting means is stored for the plurality of days. Since the average value of the power generation amount per day is calculated from the power generation amount, and the backup voltage is set based on the average value,
In particular, it is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous setting of the backup voltage at a site where the frequency of daily use of the faucet varies greatly.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the faucet device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the faucet device according to the fourth aspect comprises storage means for storing the amount of generated power divided into a plurality of time zones with seven days as one cycle, and the backup voltage The setting means predicts the power generation amount within 24 hours from the current power generation amount for each of the divided time zones, and sets the backup voltage based on the predicted value of the power generation amount within the 24 hours.
In particular, it is possible to set an optimal backup voltage at a site where the frequency of use of the faucet on weekdays and holidays is clearly separated, such as in schools and offices.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the faucet device according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the power generation amount detecting means is configured to generate power generated by the power generation means according to a time during which the flow path is open. Because it detects
It is possible to detect the amount of power generation with only a simple calculation without the need for additional circuit components.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the faucet device according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the power generation amount detecting means changes the voltage of the capacitor during the time when the flow path is open. Since the power generation amount of the power generation means is detected by
Accurate detection of power generation is possible, including differences in the environment such as the water pressure and water volume at the site where the faucet is installed.

  According to the present invention, since the backup voltage is set according to the use status of the faucet, the backup voltage is not simply lowered to avoid the consumption of the primary battery, but conversely, the charging from the generator or the boosting circuit Rather than simply increasing the backup voltage to increase the efficiency of the battery, the optimal backup voltage can be set from various conditions, and the circuit can operate under the most efficient conditions while avoiding the consumption of the primary battery.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 3 is a faucet control means, and inputs / outputs signals such as “monitor the voltage of each part” and “output an on / off signal” to each element constituting the faucet device, Control the operation of the faucet device. Reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer serving as the center of the faucet control means 3, 2 denotes a sensor for detecting a user of the faucet device, and 1 and 2 constitute the faucet control means 3.

The sensor 2 is a sensor that detects a hand if the faucet device is an automatic faucet device (hand washing machine), and outputs a detection result to the microcomputer 1.
Note that the sensor 2 is not essential for the faucet control means 3 and may be a manual operation switch, a timer or the like as long as it is a control condition for opening and closing the water channel of the faucet device.

4 is an electromagnetic valve (solenoid on the electric circuit) for opening and closing the flow path of the faucet device, and 5 is an electromagnetic valve energizing means for energizing the electromagnetic valve 4.
The electromagnetic valve 4 is a latching type electromagnetic valve that does not consume current except when the flow path is opened / closed, and the electromagnetic valve energizing means 5 is positive / negative for opening / closing the electromagnetic valve 4. This is an H-bridge circuit that conducts reverse current. Then, the solenoid valve 4 is energized or closed by a port operation of the microcomputer 1.

A capacitor 6 constitutes a power source for the faucet control means 3 and the solenoid valve energization means 5 together with the voltage conversion means 7. The voltage conversion means 7 in FIG. 1 is a switching type booster circuit using a coil and a diode, but is not limited to the configuration in FIG. 1, and may be a charge pump circuit including a capacitor and a diode, for example.
When the voltage of the capacitor 6 is VC, VC is input to the A / D conversion port of the microcomputer 1 and the microcomputer 1 (water faucet control means) can monitor the charging voltage VC of the capacitor 6.

Reference numeral 8 denotes power generation means, which is composed of a hydroelectric generator provided in the flow path of the faucet device and a diode bridge for full-wave rectification of the output. Then, the capacitor 6 is charged by the output of the power generation means 8.
9. When the capacitor 6 is charged by the power generation means 8, the voltage of the capacitor 6 exceeds a predetermined maximum voltage, and the capacitor 6 itself, the voltage conversion means 7 connected thereto, the faucet control means 3 and the like are destroyed by overvoltage. It is a charging voltage limiting means for not.

  However, since the output voltage of the power generation means 8 may be limited, 9 can also be configured by a three-terminal regulator IC. However, the thing of FIG. 1 solves the problem that the flow volume of a faucet device fluctuates because the load current of a generator changes. This will be described below.

  Normally, the power generation means 8 is in a state of outputting the charging current of the capacitor 6, and in this state, the flow rate of the faucet device is adjusted to an appropriate amount (usually depending on the opening degree of the stop cock). That is, the flow rate is set in a state in which the power generation means 8 outputs predetermined power and is a resistance of the flow path of the faucet device.

However, when the charging of the capacitor 6 progresses and the voltage rises, charging becomes unnecessary or charging is prohibited, the destination of the output current of the generator 8 is lost.
If the charging of the capacitor 6 is simply stopped, the output current of the power generation means 8 becomes zero, the hydroelectric generator does not function as the resistance of the flow path of the faucet device, and the flow rate of the faucet device increases.
Thus, in the case of hydroelectric power generation, if the output current of the power generation means is changed depending on the state of charge of the capacitor, the flow rate of the water faucet device changes regardless of the user's intention.

  The charging voltage limiting means 9 turns on the resistance load when the voltage VC of the capacitor 6 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined limiting voltage (the maximum voltage that the circuit after the capacitor 6 can tolerate), and simultaneously stops the charging of the capacitor 6. The output current is consumed by resistance, and the load current of the generator is stabilized. In this way, the problem that the flow rate of the faucet device fluctuates depending on the state of charge of the capacitor is avoided.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a primary battery. 11 is a charge control means for controlling charging from the primary battery 10 to the capacitor 6, a transistor for turning on / off the connection between the primary battery 10 and the capacitor 6, a resistor for limiting the maximum value of the charging current, and the primary battery by the capacitor 6. 10 diodes for preventing reverse charging.
Control of charging of the capacitor 6 by the primary battery 10 is performed by turning on / off the transistor by the port output of the microcomputer 1.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a setting switch for arbitrarily setting the operation mode, operation conditions, and the like of the faucet control means 3 from the outside, and the state of the switch is input to the microcomputer 1. This is used for setting the backup voltage of the present invention.
The overall configuration of the faucet device described above is shown in FIG.

  Next, the basic operation of the faucet device will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the main routine of the microcomputer 1 included in the faucet control means 3. The sensor 2 is activated periodically, and when a human body (hand) as a user of the faucet device is sensed, the electromagnetic valve 4 is driven to discharge water. The sensor 2 is automatically attached to the toilet hand-washer. This is a well-known operation for automatic faucet device (hand washing machine) to discharge / stop water.

The sensor 2 is driven in program step S001 (hereinafter referred to as S001) of the main routine of FIG. 2, and if a human body is sensed in S002, whether or not the water is discharged is checked in S003, and if not discharged, the solenoid valve 4 is opened in S005. Turn on electricity to start water discharge.
If a human body is not detected in S002, it is checked whether the water is stopped in S004. If the water is not stopped, the solenoid valve 4 is closed and energized in S006 to enter a water-stopped state.
In this way, the water is discharged while the sensor 2 is sensing, and the water is stopped when the sensor 2 is not sensing.

After the energization process of the solenoid valve 4, a voltage VTH serving as a threshold for determining whether or not to charge the capacitor 6 from the primary battery 10 is set in S007. Details of the VTH setting method will be described later.
In S008, in order to check the voltage VC of the capacitor 6, A / D conversion of VC is performed, and in S009, it is checked whether VC has dropped below VTH.

  If VC has dropped below VTH, the transistor of the charging control means 11 is turned on in S010 to charge the capacitor 6 from the primary battery 10. If VC has reached VTH in S009, the transistor of the charging control means 11 is turned off in S011 to stop charging the primary battery 10 to the capacitor 6.

However, the charging current to the capacitor 6 is adjusted by the current output capability of the primary battery 10 and the current limiting resistance of the charging control means 11, and the capacitor 6 usually uses a large capacity of around 1 Farad. Thus, the charging of the capacitor 6 is never completed.
That is, the capacitor 6 is charged over a period of time while looping through the main routine of FIG. 2, and the charging is stopped when VC reaches VTH.

  With the above operation, the voltage of the capacitor 6 is held by the primary battery 10 so as not to fall below the threshold voltage VTH. That is, the capacitor voltage is backed up to VTH1 or higher. Therefore, the threshold voltage VTH can be said to be a “backup voltage” of the capacitor 6 by the primary battery 10.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment as a method of setting the “backup voltage VTH”.

Although VTH is set in S007 of the main routine of FIG. 2, the processing of FIG. 3 is executed in the first embodiment. In S101 of FIG. 3, the state of the setting switch 12 of FIG. 1 is read. In S102, VTH is determined from the state of the switch.
For example, if the setting switch 12 is a rotary switch that can be selected in a plurality of stages, there is a method of reading and setting a predetermined value of VTH from the ROM table of the microcomputer in accordance with the read switch state.
Alternatively, if the setting switch 12 is a variable resistor, VTH may be calculated in proportion to the read resistance value.

The method of selecting VTH by the setting switch 12 is effective under the following conditions of use of the faucet device.
For example, consider a case where a faucet device is attached to a station with a large number of users.
In such a field, the faucet device is frequently used and the power generation means 8 has a high power generation capability. Even if the voltage of the capacitor 6 decreases at night and the circuit loss of the voltage conversion means 7 increases, the voltage of the capacitor 6 is reliably duplicated during the day because there are many faucet users.

  However, if there is a problem with the power generation means 8 and the power generation amount is insufficient, the consumption of the primary battery 10 increases because there are many users. In order to prepare for such troubles, it is better to set the backup voltage VTH of the capacitor 6 as low as possible to suppress the consumption of the primary battery 10 as much as possible even if the normal power generation amount is large.

Further, consider a case where the faucet device is attached to a general household.
In ordinary households, it is used only by a few families, so it is used less frequently and produces less electricity than a station.
In this case, if the voltage of the capacitor 6 decreases and the circuit loss increases, the voltage of the capacitor 6 may not be recovered by power generation. In this case, the primary battery is constantly consumed, and the generated power is not efficiently used.
Therefore, when the frequency of use of the faucet device is low, it is better to set the backup voltage VTH of the capacitor 6 higher to suppress the charging of the capacitor and the circuit loss of the voltage conversion means.

  If VTH is set high, the chance that the primary battery 10 will charge the capacitor 6 will increase, and the consumption of the primary battery will tend to increase. However, since the consumption of the faucet device itself is low, the primary battery will be consumed quickly. There is no end. Rather, the effect of efficiently using the generated energy is greater.

As described above, the backup voltage VTH is set low at the site where the power generation amount is large, and the backup voltage VTH is set high at the site where the power generation amount is small. Thereby, control suitable for the installation conditions is performed.
Two examples of lower and higher backup voltages have been described, but intermediate settings may be used depending on the site. In addition, it can be readjusted periodically according to the usage situation.
Further, the setting switch 12 may be adjusted by a water faucet builder or administrator at a public site, or by a builder or user at home.

  Next, a second embodiment of the method for setting the backup voltage VTH will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 also shows details of the operation contents of S007 of FIG. 2 as in FIG.

In FIG. 4, a timer is counted in S201. This timer is a timekeeping means that measures time with a period of one day, and like a normal clock, it continuously counts the passage of time, and is a variable that counts every 24 hours and counts up every hour. Is h. h increases from 0 to 23 every hour, and next to 23 returns to 0.
That is, it is a variable corresponding to “hour” among “hour” and “minute” of the clock, but it is not necessary to adjust the time as in the clock.

If it is the switching timing of h in S202, zero is inserted into the water discharge time (h) corresponding to the variable h in S203. That is, at the timing of every hour, the value of the water discharge time (h) corresponding to the time variable h is reset.
In S204, it is checked whether or not the water is discharged. If the water is discharged, the water discharge time (h) is added in S205. Thereby, the total value of the water discharge time of 1 hour (time which opens the flow path of the faucet device) whose time is h enters in the water discharge time (h).

In S206, the value of the water discharge time (h) is summed in the range of h = 0-23. That is, the total value of the water discharge time for the past 24 hours is calculated.
The power generation means 8 of the faucet device is a hydroelectric generator provided in the flow path, and the amount of power generation is proportional to the time that the generator is rotating, that is, the water discharge time that is the time that the flow path is open (such as water pressure). Excluding variable factors). In other words, the water discharge time (h) can be said to be a variable that divides a day into 24 time periods and stores the power generation amount for each time period.
Therefore, the power generation amount for the past 24 hours can be indirectly calculated by calculating the total water discharge time for the past 24 hours in S206.

In S207, the backup voltage VTH of the capacitor 6 is calculated from the total water discharge time of the past 24 hours, that is, from the power generation amount for 24 hours.
At this time, if the total water discharge time is large, that is, if the amount of power generation is large, even if the voltage of the capacitor 6 is greatly reduced, the charging voltage of the capacitor 6 is recovered by a sufficient amount of power generation. At that time, even if the circuit efficiency is lowered because the voltage of the capacitor 6 is low, power generation exceeding that is expected.
Therefore, it is better to set the backup voltage VTH lower.

On the contrary, when the total water discharge time is small, that is, when the amount of power generation is small, if the voltage of the capacitor 6 greatly decreases, the circuit efficiency decreases when the voltage of the capacitor 6 is low, and when the amount of power generation is small, There is a high possibility that the charging voltage cannot be recovered.
In that case, since the efficiency of the voltage conversion means 7 is low, the consumption of the primary battery 10 tends to further increase. Therefore, it is better to set the backup voltage VTH higher and move it in a state with good circuit efficiency.

  The above is a simple logic of setting the backup voltage lower if the power generation amount is large, and setting the backup voltage lower if the power generation amount is small. It can be set by using a table in which the power generation amount and the backup voltage are associated with each other (generally referred to as a table).

Alternatively, VTH may be calculated by the following calculation formula.

VTH = (charge limit voltage) − (total water discharge time for 24 hours) × (proportional constant)

The charging limit voltage is the upper limit of the charging voltage of the capacitor 6 determined by the charging voltage limiting means 9, and is the maximum voltage for charging the capacitor by the power generation means. The proportionality constant is determined from the relationship between the power generation amount of the power generation means 8 and the water discharge time, the capacity of the capacitor 6, the consumption of the faucet control means 3 and the electromagnetic valve 4, the operation margin, and the like.

In the above equation, the relationship between the power generation amount (water discharge time) and VTH is a linear equation. However, since the energy actually stored in the capacitor is proportional to the square of the capacitor voltage, this must be taken into account. May be. That means

VTH squared = (charging limit voltage) squared-(24 hours total water discharge time) x (proportional constant)

If VTH is determined from the above equation, the calculation is somewhat complicated, but a more appropriate value is obtained.

Here, the reason for calculating the total of the water discharge time for 24 hours, that is, the total of the power generation amount for 24 hours will be described.
The capacitor 6 is charged during a period when the power generation amount is larger than the circuit consumption amount, and conversely, is discharged during a period when the power generation amount is small. Although the primary battery backs up the capacitor when the amount of power generation is small, a control system that avoids the situation where the capacitor is discharged until backup by the primary battery is necessary is preferable.

  The capacitor is discharged to a low voltage in a situation where the faucet device is not used for a long time and power generation is not performed. For example, as a situation in which the faucet device is not used for a long period of time, it may be a summer vacation at school, year-end and New Year holidays at the office, etc. In that case, the power obtained by power generation will be discharged and other than operating with a primary battery Absent. Therefore, the balance between charging and discharging of the capacitor cannot be controlled.

First, the shortest charge and discharge cycle that can always occur under various usage conditions is 24 hours a day with a cycle of day and night. Stations, schools, commercial facilities, etc., usually repeat the 24 hours when the faucet is used and when it is not used. The 24 hours are the same in any place and country because the faucet device is related to human life such as a toilet and a washroom.
In other words, the first period to be considered as the charging / discharging period of the capacitor is 24 hours. If the amount of power generation for 24 hours is known, it can be calculated how much the voltage of the capacitor discharged at night can be increased during the day, and the charging / discharging of the capacitor in the 24-hour cycle can be controlled.
This is the reason for calculating 24 hours.

As a use condition of the faucet device, the next possible cycle after 24 hours is 7 days and 1 week. Schools and offices have a clear weekly break, and stations have some regularity. One week will be described in another embodiment.
If one week is exceeded, the next cycle will be one month, but it is usually unthinkable for the usage status of the faucet device to change regularly in a one-month cycle.

  Next, a third embodiment of the method for setting the backup voltage VTH will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 also shows details of the operation contents of S007 of FIG. 2 as in FIG. 4, and some operations are different from FIG.

  The difference between FIG. 5 and FIG. 4 is that the time variable h is 0 to 71, which is a period of 72 hours, that is, 3 days. The value of the water discharge time (h) corresponding to the time variable h is also 72 hours, and requires more storage area and calculation amount of the microcomputer 1 than FIG. However, the power generation amount can be stored by dividing three days into 72 time zones.

In S306, since the total water discharge amount for the past 72 hours from h = 0 to 71, that is, the past three days is calculated, the total power generation amount for the past three days is indirectly calculated.
In S307, an average value of 24 hours of water discharge time (which may be divided by 3) is calculated from the total water discharge time in the past three days, and VTH is calculated in S308.

  By doing so, the processing of the microcomputer 1 is increased, but even if the use frequency of the faucet device varies from day to day, by averaging it, a more appropriate backup voltage VTH is set.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the method for setting the backup voltage VTH will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 also shows details of the operation contents of S007 of FIG. 2 as in FIG. 5, and some operations are different from FIG.

In FIG. 6, the time variables are d and h, 24 hours are counted when h = 0 to 23, and 7 days, that is, days of the week are counted when d = 1 to 7. Therefore, the value of the water discharge time (d, h) has the meaning of the total water discharge time for one hour at a certain time on a certain day of the week.
Then, by repeating S401 to S405, the total value of the water discharge time every hour is stored as data for one week. That is, the use pattern of the faucet device for one week is stored every hour. It can also be said that 7 days are divided into 168 time zones, and the power generation amount is stored for each time zone.

In S406, for the stored water discharge time (d, h), from the current d, h to 24 hours later, that is, from the same time as the current one week before, the water discharge time (d, Calculate the total value of h).
This is intended to estimate the total water discharge time of 24 hours from the present from the data of the same time zone one week ago.

  The reason is as described above. This is because the pattern of using or not using the faucet device is considered to repeat every one week on behalf of schools and offices. Therefore, if the usage pattern is stored in one week, the most effective usage pattern of the faucet device is the most accurate, and the power generation amount predicted from this is also highly accurate.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the method for setting the backup voltage VTH will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 also shows details of the operation contents of S007 of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, similarly to FIG. 4, the VTH setting operation is performed in a 24-hour period of h = 0 to 23. If it is the switching timing of h in S502, zero is inserted in the value of VC increase (h) corresponding to the variable h in S503. That is, at the timing of every hour, the value of VC increase (h) corresponding to the time variable h is reset.

In S504, it is checked whether or not the water is discharged. If the water is discharged, the VC is measured by A / D conversion in S505, and the increase in VC from the previous measurement is added to the VC increase (h) in S506. To do.
As a result, the total value of the VC voltage increase for one hour at time h is entered in the VC increase (h).

In S507, the VC increase (h) values are summed in the range of h = 0-23. That is, the total value of the VC rising voltage in the past 24 hours is calculated.
In S508, VTH is set from the total value of the VC rising voltage over the past 24 hours. At this time, the fact that the total value of the increased voltage of VC is large means that the amount of power generation is large. In that case, even if the voltage of the capacitor 6 greatly decreases, the voltage recovers with a sufficient amount of power generation. At that time, even if the circuit efficiency is lowered because the voltage of the capacitor 6 is low, power generation exceeding that is expected.
Therefore, it is better to set the backup voltage VTH lower.
When the total value of the increased voltage of VC is small, it is better to set VTH higher than the reverse of the above.

Next, the effect of setting the backup voltage according to the power generation amount will be described using a timing chart.
First, FIG. 8 shows an example in which the backup voltage VTH is too high. In FIG. 8, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the voltage of the capacitor 6, and shows how the voltage of the capacitor changes over time. The time is 12 hours each in the daytime and at night, and shows the change for about 2 days.

The daytime is a time period in which the faucet device is used and power is generated to increase the voltage of the capacitor. On the other hand, the nighttime is a time period in which the faucet device is operated with the charge stored in the capacitor without using the faucet. The microcomputer 1 and the sensor 2 of the faucet control means 3 in FIG.
Thus, for example, in the case of an office, the daytime is considered to be 8 am to 8 pm, and the night time is considered to be 8 pm to 8 am the next morning. Naturally, the day and night are not necessarily 12 hours each, but in order to simplify the pattern, the time is 12 hours.

  In FIG. 8, the faucet device is used during the daytime, power is generated, and the capacitor voltage gradually increases. When the maximum voltage (charging limit voltage) determined by the charging voltage limiting means 9 in FIG. 1 is reached, no further charging is performed, so that the capacitor voltage that has reached its peak at the charging limit voltage as shown in FIG. A flat part is produced. At this time, the generated electric power is consumed by the charging voltage limiting means, and for the purpose of power generation, the electric power is wasted.

  At night in FIG. 8, the capacitor voltage decreases due to consumption of the faucet control means 3 including the microcomputer 1 and the sensor 2. However, when the backup voltage VTH is a voltage as shown in FIG. 8, the charging from the primary battery 10 to the capacitor 6, that is, the backup, is started before the 12 hours of the night time ends, and the capacitor voltage is maintained. At this time, power is supplied from the primary battery 10 to the microcomputer 1 and the sensor 2 via the capacitor 6.

As described above, in the case of FIG. 8, the power generated in the daytime is consumed by the charging voltage limiting means 9, and the primary battery 10 is consumed for the faucet control means 3 at night, and both generate power. As a device to use, it is useless consumption.
The factor is that the backup voltage VTH is too high for the power generation capacity of the faucet device.

FIG. 9 shows an appropriate backup voltage VTH set for the power generation capability of the faucet device.
First, by lowering VTH with respect to FIG. 8, consumption of the primary battery 10 at night is eliminated. For this reason, the capacitor voltage at the time when daytime power generation starts is lowered, but if the power generation capability of FIG. 9 is provided, the voltage can be increased to the charge limit voltage in the daytime 12 hours.
This is an ideal state where neither the generated power nor the primary battery is used.

  Note that FIG. 9 has no flat portion as shown in FIG. 8 at the upper and lower limits of the capacitor voltage, but this is merely an example of the optimum condition, and by reducing the flat portion of the voltage as much as possible. The effect of reducing wasteful consumption occurs. Therefore, it is not that the effect of the present invention is not obtained when there is even a flat portion of the voltage.

  Next, FIG. 10 is an example in which the backup voltage VTH is too low. FIG. 10 assumes a case where the power generation capability of the faucet device is lower than those in FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, there are few users of the faucet device, and the amount of power generation is small due to the fact that water is discharged only for a short time with a single water discharge, or the water discharge flow rate is small.

From the viewpoint of reducing the consumption of the primary battery 10 as much as possible, it is normal to think that it is better to lower the VTH. As shown in FIG. 10, when VTH is lowered even though the power generation amount of the faucet device is small, the rise in the capacitor voltage is small even during the daytime power generation, and it enters the night without reaching the charge limit voltage.
In this case, the capacitor voltage is always in a low state, and as described above, the loss of the capacitor charging circuit is large, and the voltage conversion means 7 operates with low efficiency. Will be further increased.

FIG. 11 shows an appropriate backup voltage VTH set for the power generation capability of the faucet device.
First, by increasing VTH, the capacitor voltage reaches close to the charge limit voltage when the daytime is over. Since VTH is set high, backup by the primary battery 10 will start soon after going into the night, but since it operates in a high voltage state, it operates with a low circuit loss and high efficiency of the voltage conversion means 7. That is, the primary battery 10 can be consumed under the least waste condition.

As described above, by appropriately setting the VTH according to the daily power generation amount, an efficient operation as a faucet device becomes possible. The setting of VTH is performed by the program shown in FIGS.
Basically, the calculation is performed such that the larger the power generation amount, the lower the VTH, and the lower the power generation amount, the higher the VTH is set. The calculation method follows the following idea.

  As shown in FIG. 9, an appropriate VTH setting is that no power consumption by the charging voltage limiting means occurs during the day and no backup by the primary battery is performed at night. Further, even when backup with a primary battery is unavoidable as shown in FIG. 11, it is better that the capacitor voltage is charged close to the charge limit voltage at the end of the daytime.

  That is, it is only necessary to back up with a voltage obtained by subtracting the voltage increase of the capacitor due to the amount of power generation during the day from the charge limit voltage (predetermined maximum voltage) of the capacitor 6. In other words, the amount of power generated during the day is the amount of power generated for 24 hours. Actually, it is difficult to accurately measure the amount of power generation, and since there are variations in the capacity of the capacitor 6 and the consumption of the faucet control means 3, it is impossible to set an ideal VTH at all. If VTH can be controlled close to the ideal, a corresponding effect can be obtained.

  FIG. 12 shows an operation example from Sunday when there is no user of the faucet device to Monday when the faucet device begins to be used. Here, VTH is set by the method according to the flowchart of FIG. That is, the power generation pattern of the faucet device is stored and learned by dividing it into a plurality of time zones in a weekly cycle, and the electric power generated within 24 hours is predicted for the currently operating time, and VTH is calculated. Set.

  In the example of FIG. 12, it is assumed that the faucet device is not used at all on Sundays, and that there are sufficiently many faucet devices on other days. Therefore, if it is a day other than Sunday, compared to the power consumption of the faucet control means 3 at night, the generated power in the daytime is sufficiently higher.

First, it is known from the learning of the water discharge time (d, h) in FIG. 6 that power generation is not performed all day on Sunday. Therefore, VTH is set high before entering the daytime on Sunday, that is, from Saturday night. .
Thus, since it is predicted that the capacitor voltage will decrease without generating power all day on Sunday, the VTH is set high, the capacitor voltage decreases and the circuit loss increases, and the efficiency of the voltage conversion means 7 increases. Avoiding operating at low conditions.

When entering the daytime on Sunday, it is determined that the capacitor voltage can be recovered within 24 hours from the predicted power generation amount within 24 hours, and VTH is gradually lowered. This is also the operation according to FIG.
In FIG. 12, the capacitor voltage decreases at a rate slower than the decrease in VTH. If the predicted power generation amount is smaller than that in FIG. 12, the decrease rate of VTH becomes slow, and the capacitor voltage may decrease while being backed up by VTH. That is, the relationship between the capacitor voltage and VTH in FIG. 12 is merely an example.
At noon (morning) on Monday, use of the faucet device begins and electricity is generated and the capacitor voltage rises. And at the beginning of the night on Monday, the charging limit voltage is reached.

As shown in FIG. 12, if it is predicted that no power generation will be performed on Sunday and VTH is not set high on Saturday night, the capacitor voltage will greatly decrease during Sunday daytime. Then, backup by the primary battery 10 must be performed in a state where the efficiency of the voltage conversion means 7 is low.
However, in FIG. 12, since the backup is performed with the capacitor voltage being high, the consumption of the primary battery 10 is also effectively used. That is, by predicting the power generation amount, efficient primary battery consumption can be realized.

It is a circuit diagram of the faucet device which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the main routine which shows the basic operation | movement of the microcomputer of the faucet device which is embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows operation | movement of the 1st Example of the setting method of the backup voltage of this invention. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows operation | movement of the 2nd Example of the setting method of the backup voltage of this invention. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows operation | movement of the 3rd Example of the setting method of the backup voltage of this invention. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows operation | movement of the 4th Example of the backup voltage setting method of this invention. It is a flowchart of the subroutine which shows operation | movement of the 5th Example of the setting method of the backup voltage of this invention. It is a timing chart which shows change of capacitor voltage when setting of backup voltage is too high. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing changes in capacitor voltage when the setting of the backup voltage that is too high in FIG. 8 is appropriately corrected. It is a timing chart which shows change of capacitor voltage when setting of backup voltage is too low. FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing changes in capacitor voltage when the setting of the backup voltage that is too low in FIG. 10 is appropriately corrected. It is a timing chart which shows change of capacitor voltage when changing backup voltage by implementation of the present invention. It is an example which shows the structure of the water faucet apparatus with which this invention is implemented.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microcomputer 2 ... Sensor 3 ... Water faucet control means 4 ... Solenoid valve 5 ... Electromagnetic valve energization means 6 ... Capacitor 7 ... Voltage conversion means 8 ... Electric power generation means 9 ... Charge voltage limiting means 10 ... Primary battery 11 ... Charge control means 12 ... Setting switch

Claims (9)

Power generation means, a primary battery electrically connected in parallel with the power generation means, a capacitor charged by the output of the power generation means or the primary battery, and provided in series between the primary battery and the capacitor Charge control means for controlling on / off charging of the capacitor from the primary battery, voltage conversion means for converting the voltage of the capacitor to a predetermined voltage and supplying power, and water operated by power supply from the voltage conversion means A faucet device comprising:
Voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the capacitor, and when the output of the voltage detection means is equal to or lower than a backup voltage for starting charging of the capacitor from the primary battery, the charge control means is on-controlled, and the backup voltage is A faucet device comprising backup voltage setting means that can be set variably. The faucet device according to claim 1, wherein the backup voltage setting means is an operation switch that can be switched in a plurality of stages. 2. The faucet device according to claim 1, further comprising a power generation amount detection means for detecting a power generation amount of the power generation means, wherein the backup voltage setting means sets a backup voltage according to the power generation amount output of the power generation amount detection means. The faucet device is characterized in that when the power generation amount is larger than a predetermined power generation amount, the backup voltage is set lower than the predetermined backup voltage. 4. The faucet device according to claim 3, wherein a time measuring means for measuring time with a period of one day or seven days and a charging voltage of the capacitor by the output of the power generating means are limited to a predetermined maximum voltage or less. Charging voltage limiting means, wherein the backup voltage setting means subtracts a voltage obtained by subtracting the voltage that the capacitor is charged and increased by the accumulated power amount for one day of the power generation amount output from the predetermined maximum voltage, A faucet device having the backup voltage. 5. The faucet device according to claim 4, further comprising storage means for storing the power generation output by dividing the cycle of the day into a plurality of time zones, and storing the power generation output for the day in the storage means. The faucet device stores the backup voltage, and the backup voltage setting means sets the backup voltage based on the integrated electric energy for one day. 6. The faucet device according to claim 5, wherein the accumulated power amount for one day is stored for a plurality of days, and the backup voltage setting means calculates the power generation amount per day from the power generation amount stored for the plurality of days. A faucet device that calculates an average value and sets the backup voltage based on the average value. 5. The faucet device according to claim 4, further comprising a storage unit that stores the generated power amount by dividing the generated power amount into a plurality of time zones with 7 days as one cycle, and the backup voltage setting unit includes the divided time zones. A water faucet device that predicts a power generation amount within 24 hours from the current power generation amount for each unit and sets the backup voltage based on a predicted value of the power generation amount within 24 hours. The faucet device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the power generation amount detection means detects the power generation amount of the power generation means based on a time during which the flow path is open. apparatus. The faucet device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the power generation amount detection means detects the power generation amount of the power generation means based on a change in the voltage of the capacitor during the time when the flow path is open. A faucet device characterized by that.

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