JP2009163657A - Alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alarm capable of recognizing surely an output of alarm. <P>SOLUTION: This alarm is provided with a detecting part 2 for detecting respectively one or more of detection objects, and for converting respectively detection levels thereof into electric signal levels to be output, a determination control part 3 for determining whether each electric signal level output from the detecting part 2 exceeds a prescribed threshold value or not, an alarming part 4 for outputting an alarm signal corresponding to the detection object, when any of the respective electric signal levels output from the detecting part 2 is determined to exceed the prescribed threshold value by the determination control part 3, and an alert display part 10 having a plurality of light emitting elements for emitting light at a prescribed lighting pattern corresponding to the detection object, when the alarming part 4 outputs the alarm signal corresponding to the detection object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an alarm device, and more particularly, an alarm device having a combined detection function of gas leak detection and incomplete combustion detection, and an alarm device having a fire detection function in addition to these detections, can easily output an alarm. The present invention relates to an alarm device suitable for visual recognition.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an alarm device that detects an abnormal state such as a gas leak and outputs an alarm has been stipulated by laws and standards to display the cause of the alarm by a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED). .
For example, for a combined alarm device that detects gas leak and incomplete combustion, a yellow LED that displays an alarm of incomplete combustion (eg, CO gas detection), gas leak (eg, detection of methane gas, hydrogen gas, etc.) A red LED for displaying an alarm and a green LED for displaying energization are provided. The alarm device configured in this manner displays a yellow LED or a red LED according to the danger level by blinking when the concentration is low or turning on when the concentration is high.
By the way, this type of alarm device has a mission to promptly notify the user of an abnormal state with an LED or an alarm sound when an abnormal state such as a gas leak is detected. The user immediately recognizes that some abnormality has occurred by listening to the alarm sound emitted from the alarm device, and then listens to the message output from the alarm device or looks at the alarm display by the LED. This makes it possible to grasp the cause of the abnormality. However, when the hearing impaired, such as a hearing impaired person or an elderly person, the alarm sound output from the alarm device is missed, and there is a concern that recognition of the alarm device operation may be delayed. As a result, the discovery of abnormalities such as gas leaks was delayed and the damage could be increased.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, an alarm device has been attempted in which a light source is provided in the alarm device and the light source is instantaneously turned on when an abnormal state is detected to improve the visibility to the user (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
JP-A-2005-293466

However, although the alarm device described above can be turned on instantaneously when an abnormal state is detected, it is merely a notification of light intensity. For this reason, the alarm device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the light source that is instantaneously turned on in a bright room such as daytime is not conspicuous, and therefore recognition of the alarm device operation is delayed.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an alarm device that can more reliably recognize that an alarm has been output.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the alarm device of the present invention detects one or more detection targets, converts each detection level into an electric signal level, and outputs the detected signal, and the detection unit outputs A determination control unit that determines whether or not each electric signal level exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and any one of the electric signal levels output from the detection unit by the determination control unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value When it is determined that the alarm unit outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target, and when the alarm unit outputs the alarm signal corresponding to the detection target, a predetermined lighting pattern corresponding to the detection target And an alert display unit having a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light.
The alarm device is accommodated in a box having a plurality of surfaces, and the plurality of light emitting elements are provided on a predetermined surface of the box, for example, a front portion of the alarm device, and a predetermined position of the front portion. It is characterized in that the light emitting elements are arranged at substantially equal distances from each other and at substantially the same distance from the adjacent light emitting elements.
The above-mentioned alarm device has a plurality of light emitting elements (for example, LEDs) arranged on the front portion of the alarm housing, and when the alarm unit outputs an alarm, each LED is turned on / off in turn to display the rotation ( For example, the alarm display is performed in a predetermined lighting pattern in which display is performed in a clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction) or all LEDs are blinked simultaneously.

Preferably, the detection unit includes a gas sensor that detects at least one or both of methane gas and CO gas.
More preferably, the detection unit includes a fire sensor that detects a fire.

  As described above, the alarm device of the present invention includes an alert display unit having a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs) in the vicinity of the central portion of the front of the alarm device. By using the LEDs to display clockwise and counterclockwise directions, or by simultaneously flashing all LEDs, it becomes easier to recognize the detection of abnormal conditions, and the user can quickly know the alarm output. The effect which was excellent in practical use, such as these, can be show | played.

Hereinafter, an alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part thereof.
In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing for housing each component of the alarm device. The housing 1 is provided with a mounting hinge 1a so as to be attached to a wall surface of a room (not shown) that detects, for example, gas leakage, incomplete combustion, and fire by screwing or the like.
This alarm device includes a gas detector 2a that detects the presence of a flammable gas (for example, methane gas, hydrogen gas, etc.), a CO detector 2b that detects the presence of CO gas, and a fire detector 2c that detects the occurrence of a fire. . Each of these detection units 2a, 2b, and 2c constitutes a detection unit 2 that outputs an electric signal of a level corresponding to the detection level of each detection target and gives it to the determination control unit 3 at the next stage.
Incidentally, each sensor 2a, 2b, 2c uses various sensors such as a known gas sensor, smoke sensor, temperature sensor, etc., but these are well-known sensors, and the description thereof is omitted. Of course, the detection unit 2 may be configured by only one of the gas detection unit 2a, the CO detection unit 2b, and the fire detection unit 2c described above. In short, the type of the detection unit 2 is not limited in the alarm device of the present invention as long as it can detect a desired detection target (detected target).

Each of these detection units 2a, 2b, and 2c is in contact with the external space through a vent hole provided in the housing 1. Specifically, when the alarm device is attached to a wall or the like not shown in the case 1, a fire detection vent 1 c where the fire detection unit 2 c is in contact with the external space on the front part 1 b of the case 1 located in front of the case 1, Gas detection vents 1e through which the gas detection unit 2a and the CO detection unit 2b are in contact with the external space are respectively provided on the side surface 1d of the housing 1.
The determination control unit 3 is configured mainly with a microcomputer, for example, and receives electrical signals output from the detection units 2a, 2b, and 2c of the detection unit 2, and the levels of these electrical signals exceed a predetermined level. Determine whether or not. When the determination control unit 3 determines that the level of the electrical signal output by the detection unit 2 exceeds a predetermined level, the determination control unit 3 drives the alarm unit 4 that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target. Specifically, the alarm unit 4 includes a gas detection (gas leak) alarm indicator lamp 4a, a CO detection (incomplete combustion) alarm indicator lamp 4b, a fire detection indicator lamp 4c, and an alarm sound at positions visible from the front of the housing 1. Is provided with an alarm sound issuing unit 4d for outputting the sound. Then, the alarm device lights or blinks each of these indicator lamps 4a, 4b, 4c according to the determination result of the determination control unit 3, and emits an alarm sound from the alarm sound notification unit 4d.
The alarm device also includes a power supply unit 5 that supplies power for operation to these units. Although not particularly shown, the power supply unit 5 may be configured to receive commercial AC power and convert it to a predetermined voltage, or may be configured using a battery such as a lithium battery.

In general, the alarm device of the present invention configured as described above is characterized in that when the alarm unit 4 outputs an alarm, the display output of each of the indicator lamps 4a, 4b, 4c and the alarm sound alarm unit In addition to the acoustic alarm by 4d, the alarm is notified to the user by light emission by a plurality of light emitting elements included in the alert display unit 10.
The alert display unit 10 includes a plurality of light emitting elements (for example, LEDs), and has, for example, a fire detection vent 1c provided in the front portion 1b of the housing 1 as a central point, and is approximately equidistant from the central point. In addition, the light emitting elements adjacent to each other are arranged with substantially the same distance (LEDs 1 to 4). For example, FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which four LEDs are arranged on the front portion 1 b of the housing 1. In this case, LED1-4 is arrange | positioned so that it may each be located in the vertex of a square, when it sees from the front part 1b direction of an alarm device.
About the alarm device of the present invention having such characteristics, the operation when the detection unit 2 detects an abnormality will be described in more detail.
First, it is assumed that the gas detector 2a of the detector 2 detects a gas leak. Then, the level of the electric signal output from the gas detection unit 2a changes, and the determination control unit 3 detects this level change of the electric signal. When the determination control unit 3 determines that the level of the electric signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it gives a command to the alarm unit 4 as if there is a gas leak, turns on the gas detection alarm display lamp 4a, and generates an alarm sound. A gas leak alarm sound is output from the reporting unit 4d. The determination control unit 3 blinks the gas detection alarm display lamp 4a according to the level of the electric signal output from the gas detection unit 2a, that is, when the detected gas concentration is low, and when the gas concentration is high. The gas detection alarm indicator lamp 4a is turned on.

At the same time, the determination control unit 3 gives a command to the alert display unit 10 to display gas leak detection. Then, the alert display part 10 drives LED1-LED4 sequentially at the timing shown in FIG. Incidentally, each LED1-4 is driven at the lighting timing which can visually recognize that each LED is lighted on and off sequentially. When the LEDs 1 to 4 are driven in this way, the user can visually recognize that the LEDs 1 to 4 are sequentially turned on and off in the clockwise direction from the front of the housing 1 of the alarm device.
Further, the determination control unit 3 gives an instruction to appropriately adjust the lighting timing of the alert display unit 10 according to the level of the electric signal output from the gas detection unit 2a, that is, according to the detected gas concentration. Specifically, the blinking timing of the LEDs 1 to 4 is accelerated as the detected gas concentration increases. That is, the LEDs 1 to 4 are sequentially turned on and blinked so as to increase the rotational speed in the clockwise direction.
Similarly, when the CO detection unit 2b detects CO gas, that is, detects incomplete combustion, the level of the electrical signal output from the CO detection unit 2b changes, and the determination control unit 3 detects this level change of the electrical signal. To do. When the determination control unit 3 determines that the level of the electric signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it gives a command to the alarm unit 4 as if incomplete combustion has occurred, turns on the CO detection alarm display lamp 4b, A CO gas detection warning sound is output from the sound reporting unit 4d. The determination control unit 3 blinks the CO detection alarm display lamp 4b according to the level of the electric signal output from the CO detection unit 2b, that is, when the detected CO gas concentration is low, and the CO gas concentration is reduced. When it is high, the CO detection alarm indicator lamp 4b is turned on.

At the same time, the determination control unit 3 gives a command to the alert display unit 10 to display incomplete combustion detection. Then, the alert display part 10 drives LED1-LED4 sequentially at the timing shown in FIG. Thus, when each LED1-4 is driven, the user can visually recognize from the front of the housing 1 of the alarm device that each LED1-4 is sequentially turned on and off counterclockwise.
Then, the determination control unit 3 gives an instruction to appropriately adjust the lighting timing of the alert display unit 10 according to the level of the electric signal output from the CO detection unit 2b, that is, according to the detected CO gas concentration. Specifically, the blinking timing of the LEDs 1 to 4 is accelerated as the detected CO gas concentration increases. That is, the LEDs 1 to 4 are sequentially turned on and blinked so as to increase the counterclockwise rotation speed.
Further, when the fire detection unit 2c detects the occurrence of a fire, the level of the electrical signal output from the fire detection unit 2c changes, and the determination control unit 3 detects this level change of the electrical signal. When the determination control unit 3 determines that the level of the electric signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the determination control unit 3 gives a command to the alarm unit 4 as if a fire has occurred, turns on the fire detection indicator lamp 4c, and generates an alarm sound. The fire detection alarm sound is output from the part 4d.

At the same time, the determination control unit 3 gives a command to the alert display unit 10 to display fire detection. Then, the alert display unit 10 repeats turning on and off all the LEDs 1 to 4 at the timing shown in FIG.
Thus, the alarm device of the present invention has a plurality of LEDs arranged in front of the alarm device in addition to various alarm lamps for energization display of the alarm device, incomplete combustion alarm display, gas leak alarm display, and fire alarm display. When detected, these LEDs are rotated and flashed at the same time to display an alert, giving a change to the display when the alarm is triggered, so that the user can operate the alarm more. It became possible to make it easy to recognize.
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 gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, when a gas leak is detected, the LEDs 1 to 4 are sequentially turned on in the clockwise direction, and when incomplete combustion is detected, the LEDs 1 to 4 are sequentially turned on in the counterclockwise direction to detect the occurrence of a fire. Although the LEDs 1 to 4 are configured to blink simultaneously, it is needless to say that these lighting patterns may be replaced.
Or although alert display part 10 explained the case where four LEDs were used in the embodiment mentioned above, the number of lamps may be increased further, and a plurality of LEDs are arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of case 1. They may be arranged obliquely, etc., and lit in order or simultaneously.

  Furthermore, the alarm device of the present invention can increase variations in alarm display by using a two-color LED, a multi-color LED, or the like for the LED of the alert display unit 10, and can further improve the visibility.

The figure which shows the external appearance of the alarm device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the alarm device shown in FIG. The figure which shows the lighting timing of the alert display part when the alarm device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention detects gas leak. The figure which shows the lighting timing of the alert display part when the alarm device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention detects incomplete combustion. The figure which shows the lighting timing of the alert display part when the alarm device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention detects generation | occurrence | production of a fire.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Detection part 2a Gas detection part 2b CO detection part 2c Fire detection part 3 Judgment control part 4 Alarm part 5 Power supply part 10 Alert display part

Claims (4)

A detection unit that detects one or more detection targets, converts the detection levels into electrical signal levels, and outputs the electrical signals;
A determination control unit for determining whether 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 when it is determined by the determination control unit that any one of the levels of the electrical signals output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold;
An alarm display unit having a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light in a predetermined lighting pattern according to the detection target when the alarm unit outputs the alarm signal according to the detection target. . The alarm is housed in a box having a plurality of surfaces,
The plurality of light emitting elements are provided on a predetermined surface of the box, and are arranged at substantially equal distances from a predetermined position on the surface and at substantially the same distance from the light emitting elements adjacent to each other. The alarm device according to claim 1.   The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a gas sensor that detects at least one or both of methane gas and CO gas.   The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a fire sensor that detects a fire.

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