JP2009064368A - Alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alarm allowing acquisition of an alarm history without imparting uneasiness to a user using the alarm. <P>SOLUTION: This alarm has: an alarm part outputting each alarm signal according to a detection target when a level of each electric signal outputted by a detection part detecting gas leakage, carbon monoxide, or occurrence of a fire, for example, as one or more detection targets exceeds a prescribed threshold value; and a switch part imparting an instruction to make alarm cause held in an alarm cause history holding part with the history of the preceding alarm cause outputted by the alarm part, i.e., the detection of the gas leakage or carbon monoxide, or the detection of the occurrence of the fire as the preceding history be outputted. When receiving the instruction to make demonstration output be outputted from the switch part, the alarm signal is made to be outputted from the alarm part in predetermined order in each the preceding alarm cause held by the alarm cause history holding part to obtain the alarm cause. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an alarm device, and more particularly, to an alarm device suitable for referring to the cause of an alarm when the alarm device detects the presence of a detection target and issues an alarm.

Conventionally, as an alarm device, a composite gas alarm device that detects gas leakage and carbon monoxide (CO), and a composite gas alarm device with a fire alarm function that detects a fire together (for example, Patent Document 1). The alarm device described in Patent Document 1 has an automatic return function that ends alarm output when gas detection ends. In addition, this alarm device is configured to change the display state of the power supply display unit that displays the energization state after automatic recovery, and to identify the type or concentration of the gas detected most recently.
Alternatively, an alarm device is known that includes an alarm history storage unit that stores an alarm cause that has been detected and output an alarm, and that includes a switch that gives a command to output the cause of the alarm with an LED display or voice (for example, (See Patent Document 2). This alarm device can also force a demonstration output of one or more of the alarm outputs output from this alarm device by operating a switch.
By the way, in this alarm device, if a switch that outputs the alarm cause and a switch that outputs the demonstration are provided separately, the cost increases, so it is common to use these functions with a single switch. It is. In this case, the operation of the alarm device changes depending on the switch operation. Specifically, it is performed by changing the operation of the switch such as a normal pressing operation of the switch, a long pressing operation of the switch, a double click operation of the switch, and the like. Alternatively, there is an alarm device that does not change the operation of these switches and continuously activates all functions after the switch operation.
Japanese Patent No. 3641506 JP 2007-102260 A

However, the alarm device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above continuously displays the cause of the alarm even after an abnormal state such as gas leakage is resolved. Although this display ends after a certain period of time, there was a problem that caused the user to feel uneasy about whether the failure of the alarm device, gas leakage, or failure of the gas equipment has been resolved. . Furthermore, it cannot be denied that the user who uses this alarm device judges that the alarm device has failed and removes the alarm device.
On the other hand, in the alarm device described in Patent Document 2, when a switch that gives an instruction of an alarm cause output and a demonstration output is also used, the switch operation must be changed to give an output instruction to the alarm device, There was a problem that the operation was complicated and difficult to handle. Alternatively, when it is desired to check only the alarm history in an alarm device that continuously operates both the alarm history output and the demonstration output without changing the switch operation, the demonstration output time is a wasteful waiting time. For this reason, there is a problem that the user or the like is irritated. Furthermore, since this alarm device continuously executes alarm history output and demonstration output, the separation is not clear. For this reason, it is difficult to determine at which timing the alarm history is output. Therefore, it cannot be denied that the output of the alarm history cannot be recognized.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily grasp the cause of an alarm (alarm history) without causing anxiety to the user who uses the alarm device. It is to provide an alarm that can.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the alarm device of the present invention detects, for example, gas leaks, carbon monoxide (CO), and fires as one or more detection targets, and sets the detection levels to electrical signals. A detection unit that converts and outputs each level of the electric signal, and an alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target when the level of each electrical signal output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, respectively. The history of the latest alarm cause output by this alarm unit, that is, the detection of gas leak and carbon monoxide (CO), as well as the alarm cause history holding unit that holds that the occurrence of fire has been detected and the detection unit detects Depending on each detection target, an alarm demonstration control unit that forcibly outputs (demonstration) an alarm signal output from the alarm unit, and a command that causes the alarm demonstration control unit to output a demonstration from the alarm unit It constituted a switch section that gives.
In particular, the alarm demonstration control unit in the alarm device of the present invention, when receiving an instruction to output a demonstration output from the switch unit, in the order determined in advance for each of the latest alarm causes held by the alarm cause history holding unit An alarm signal is output from the alarm unit.
Therefore, the alarm device described above does not always display the cause of the alarm (alarm history), but outputs the alarm history only after receiving an instruction from the switch unit. The alarm device described above can perform alarm output and demonstration output by operating the switch unit once.

  Since the alarm device of the present invention does not always output the alarm history, the user who uses the alarm device does not feel uneasy. In addition, the alarm device of the present invention outputs the alarm cause (alarm history) held in the alarm cause history holding unit together with the alarm demonstration output by the alarm demonstration control unit that has been operated by the switch unit. Alarm history can be output without annoying annoyance. Furthermore, the alarm device of the present invention has a great practical effect that it is not necessary for the user or the like to distinguish at which timing the alarm cause (alarm history) is output, and the alarm cause can be obtained reliably. .

Hereinafter, an alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an example of an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited by this drawing.
Now, an alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention is an alarm device that detects combustible gas, carbon monoxide (CO), and fire. In FIG. 1, 1 is a combustible gas detector that detects a combustible gas (for example, methane gas, hydrogen gas, etc.), 2 is a CO detector that detects the presence of CO, and 3 is a fire that detects the occurrence of a fire. It is a detection unit. Each of these detectors 1, 2, 3 constitutes a detector 4 by outputting an electric signal having a level corresponding to the detection level of each detection target.
Incidentally, each of these detection units 1, 2, and 3 uses various sensors such as a known gas sensor, smoke sensor, temperature sensor, etc., but since these are well-known sensors, the description thereof is omitted.
Of course, the detection unit 4 includes at least one detection unit 1, 2, 3 in addition to the three detection units of the combustible gas detection unit 1, the CO detection unit 2, and the fire detection unit 3 described above. May be configured. Or the detection part 4 may be comprised using detection parts other than each detection part 1,2,3 mentioned above. In short, as long as the detection unit 4 can detect an object to be detected (a detection target), the type of the alarm unit of the present invention is not limited.

A control unit 5 receives electrical signals output from the detection units 1, 2, and 3 of the detection unit 4, and determines whether the levels of these electrical signals exceed a predetermined level. When the control unit 5 determines that the level of the electric signal output from each of the detection units 1, 2, and 3 exceeds a predetermined level, the control unit 5 outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target, To drive. Specifically, the alarm unit 6 outputs an alarm by voice, sound, lamp display, or the like for each detection target.
The control unit 5 stops the alarm output from the alarm unit 6 when there is no more target to be detected (automatic return function).
Furthermore, the alarm device of the present invention includes an alarm cause history holding unit 7 that holds the history of the latest alarm cause (alarm history) output from the alarm unit 6, and the latest alarm history held in the alarm cause history holding unit 7. The switch part 8 which gives the control part 5 the command to output is provided.
As the alarm cause history holding unit 7, for example, an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) or a memory such as a flash memory that does not erase the stored data is applied. Although details of the alarm cause history holding unit 7 will be described later, the alarm cause history holding unit 7 is not limited to the above-described memory as long as the alarm cause history output from the alarm unit 6 can be held.

Further, the control unit 5 starts from the alarm unit 6 in a predetermined order when the alarm history is not held in the alarm cause history holding unit 7 or when the switch unit 8 is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed from the alarm output. An alarm demonstration control unit 5a for performing a so-called demonstration (demonstration output) for demonstrating and outputting an alarm operation is provided.
This demonstration output is output from the alarm unit 6 as “alarm action at alarm device failure judgment (self-function diagnosis)” → “alarm action at fire detection” → “alarm action at detection of flammable gas” → “at the time of CO detection” Alarms are output sequentially as in “alarm operation”.
In general, the alarm device of the present invention configured as described above is characterized in that when the control unit 5 receives an operation of the switch unit 8, the alarm cause history holding unit 7 stores history information of any alarm cause. Is held, the order of the demonstration output of various alarms is changed for each history information and output from the alarm unit 6.
The operation of the alarm device of the present invention having such characteristics will be described more specifically. For example, when the latest alarm history held in the alarm cause history holding unit 7 is flammable gas detection, the order of the demonstration output outputted from the alarm unit 6 is “alarm operation when flammable gas is detected” → “failure diagnosis” Alarm action at time "→" Alarm action at fire detection "→" Alarm action at CO detection ".

Further, when the latest alarm history held in the alarm cause history holding unit 7 is CO detection, the order of the demonstration output outputted from the alarm unit 6 is “alarm operation at the time of CO detection” → “alarm at the time of failure diagnosis” "Operation" → "Alarm action when a fire is detected" → "Alarm action when a flammable gas is detected"
Alternatively, when the latest alarm history held in the alarm cause history holding unit 7 is a fire detection, the order of the demonstration output output from the alarm unit 6 is “alarm operation at the time of fire detection” → “alarm at the time of failure diagnosis” “Operation” → “Alarm action when flammable gas is detected” → “Alarm action when CO is detected”.
That is, when the user or the like wants to know the latest alarm cause, the alarm cause (alarm history) can be obtained by recognizing the first demonstration output output from the alarm unit 6 when the switch unit 8 is operated. That is, the alarm device of the present invention outputs the cause of the alarm output as the alarm history only when the switch unit 8 is operated. Therefore, the alarm device of the present invention cannot know the presence or absence of the alarm after the detection of the detection target by the detection unit 4 unless the switch unit 8 is operated. (Alarm history) can be confirmed.
Therefore, an administrator such as a user or a gas company can confirm the cause of alarm output (alarm history) by operating the switch unit 8 after alarm output. Alternatively, the administrator or the like can surely confirm the cause of the alarm output (alarm history) and take appropriate measures when the user arrives at the site by a report from the user based on the alarm output.

Furthermore, the alarm device of the present invention does not indicate the cause of the alarm output in the normal state after the detection of the detection unit 4 (automatic return function). A practically great effect such as not causing unnecessary sense of anxiety is obtained.
It should be noted that the order of the alarm demonstration described above is not limited to the order described above as long as the type of the first alarm output can be recognized.
The operation of the alarm device of the present invention having such characteristics will be described in more detail.
When each of the detection units 1, 2, and 3 included in the detection unit 4 detects the presence of the detection target, each of the detection units 1, 2, and 3 converts the control signal into an electric signal having a level corresponding to the detection level. Part 5 is given. Specifically, when the combustible gas detection unit 1 detects the combustible gas, the combustible gas detection unit 1 gives an electric signal of a level corresponding to the detection level to the control unit 5. When the control unit 5 receives the electrical signal from the combustible gas detection unit 1 and determines that the level exceeds a predetermined level, the alarm unit 6 says, for example, “Is there a leaking gas?” A warning sound (sound signal) is output together with a warning signal (sound signal) (high flammable gas concentration).
Further, when the CO detection unit 2 detects carbon monoxide, the CO detection unit 2 gives an electric signal of a level corresponding to the detection level to the control unit 5. When the control unit 5 receives the electrical signal from the CO detection unit 2 and determines that the level exceeds the predetermined level, the alarm unit 6 gives, for example, “Pippippoppo Air is dirty and dangerous. Open the window.” The warning signal (sound signal) is output together with the warning signal (sound signal) (CO concentration is high).

Or the fire detection part 3 will give the electric signal according to the detection level to the control part 5, if a fire is detected. When the control unit 5 receives the electrical signal from the CO detection unit 2 and determines that the level exceeds the predetermined level, the control unit 5 receives an alarm from the alarm unit 6, for example, “Ppy fire alarm has been activated. Please check.” The warning signal (audio signal) is output together with the warning signal (acoustic signal).
When outputting the warning signal and the warning sound from the alarm unit 6, the control unit 5 causes the alarm cause history holding unit 7 to hold the cause of the alarm as history information.
Here, it is assumed that when there is an alarm output from the alarm device, the user is not in a place where the alarm output can be recognized, and then there is no target to be detected, and the alarm output of the alarm device is restored by the automatic return function. At this time, the user who has come to the location cannot confirm whether or not the alarm is output because the alarm display is not output from the alarm device.
However, when the user operates the switch unit 8, the alarm history can be obtained from the first demonstration output output from the alarm unit 6. The alarm cause history information is obtained by the alarm demonstration control unit 5a having received the operation of the switch unit 8 taking out the alarm history information held in the alarm cause history holding unit 7 and using the alarm history information as the first demonstration output. Is output. In other words, if the first demonstration output is "alarm action at alarm device failure determination (self-function diagnosis)", there is no alarm history, if "alarm action at the time of flammable gas detection", flammable gas detection, "CO detection If it is “alarm operation at the time”, it can be determined that CO is detected and if “alarm operation at the time of fire detection” is detected, it is determined that a fire is detected.

Since the alarm device of the present invention is configured as described above, the alarm output is surely generated from the first demonstration output obtained by the operation of the switch unit 8 by a manager such as a gas company in addition to the user. The cause (alarm history) can be grasped.
Thus, since the alarm device of the present invention outputs the cause of alarm output (alarm history) as the first demonstration output when the switch unit 8 is operated, a user or a manager such as a gas business operator needs a complicated switch. The alarm history can be easily confirmed without operating the unit 8. In addition, the alarm device of the present invention does not cause unnecessary anxiety to the user because the alarm display is automatically reset when the normal state is restored after the detection of the detection unit 4 is completed. Moreover, since the alarm device of the present invention can confirm the alarm history reliably when the administrator or the like arrives at the site by a report from the user based on the alarm output, the appropriate action is taken based on the alarm history. Can be obtained in practical use.
The alarm device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the alarm device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Combustible gas detection part 2 CO detection part 3 Fire detection part 4 Detection part 5 Control part 5a Alarm demonstration control part 6 Alarm part 7 Alarm cause log | history holding part 8 Switch part

Claims (1)

A detection unit that detects one or more detection targets, converts the detection levels into electrical signal levels, and outputs the respective detection levels;
When the level of each electrical signal output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target, and
An alarm cause history holding unit that holds a history of the latest alarm causes output by the alarm unit;
According to each detection target detected by the detection unit, an alarm demonstration control unit for forcibly demonstrating output of an alarm signal output from the alarm unit,
An alarm device comprising a switch unit for giving a command to perform a demonstration output from the alarm device to the alarm demonstration control unit;
When receiving an instruction to output a demonstration output from the switch unit, the alarm demonstration control unit outputs an alarm signal from the alarm unit in a predetermined order for each of the latest alarm causes held by the alarm cause history holding unit. Alarm device characterized by letting it.

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