JP2013196583A - Light alarm device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily notice alarm light.SOLUTION: A light alarm device includes a fire sensor 1, a light source 3, and a light emission control part 5 for making the light source emit light when a value detected by the fire sensor becomes a prescribed value or larger. The light emission control part 5 includes a light sensor 4 and a light emission control signal generation part 5 for increasing/decreasing a pulse width according to light intensity detected by the light sensor 4 and generating light emission control signals.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical alarm device that outputs an alarm by emitting light.

  2. Description of the Related Art A fire alarm device is known that is installed inside or outside a building (for example, a ceiling or a wall surface) and outputs an alarm by sound or light when a fire occurs. In such a fire alarm device, when a sensor detects a fire, an alarm function is activated, and the user is made aware of the occurrence of a fire by performing sound output and strobe light emission. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-174095 (Patent Document 1) discloses an optical alarm device capable of increasing an alarm effect by coloring strobe light. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-163657 (Patent Document 2) discloses an alarm device that outputs an alarm signal when a fire or the like is detected, and causes a light emitting element to emit light in a predetermined lighting pattern. .

  By the way, in the prior example represented by the above, when a fire is detected, a warning by light emission is given, but the light emission interval at that time is constant and the light quantity is also constant. For this reason, depending on the user's condition and environment, there may be a situation in which it is difficult to quickly notice light for warning (hereinafter referred to as “warning light”). For example, if a fire occurs in a neighboring room at night in a house and smoke enters the ceiling of a bedroom, the warning light from the light alarm device installed on the ceiling blocks the smoke. If this happens, the user may not be aware of the warning light.

JP 2005-174095 A JP 2009-163657 A

  A specific aspect of the present invention is to provide an optical alarm device that allows a user to easily notice alarm light.

  The light alarm device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: (a) a fire sensor that detects heat or smoke; (b) a light source; and (c) a light source when a value detected by the fire sensor exceeds a predetermined value. A light emission control unit for generating a light emission control signal by increasing or decreasing the pulse width according to the light intensity detected by the light sensor and (e) the light sensor. It is a light alarm device characterized by having a generating part.

  In the above-described light alarm device, the light emission amount of the light source is increased or decreased according to the light intensity detected by the light sensor, so that the light source can be made to emit light with an optimum light amount according to the amount of smoke. This makes it easier for the user to notice the light emission.

  The optical sensor in the above light alarm device preferably includes, for example, a light receiving element and a filter that cuts at least infrared light from light incident on the light receiving element.

  Thereby, light components other than the reflected light by smoke can be suppressed, and the light intensity of the reflected light by smoke can be detected more accurately.

  The light alarm device according to another aspect of the present invention includes: (a) a fire sensor that detects heat or smoke; (b) a light source; and (c) a value detected by the fire sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The light alarm device includes a light emission control unit that supplies a light emission control signal for generating a light emission pattern that repeats the alarm light composed of a plurality of light emissions at a predetermined cycle.

  In the above-mentioned light alarm device, for example, alarm light including a plurality of light emission at short intervals of about 0.1 to 0.3 seconds can be repeatedly output, so that the user can easily notice the alarm light. Become.

  In the above-described light alarm device, it is also preferable that the light intensities of the plurality of emitted lights included in the alarm light are different from each other. Moreover, it is also preferable that the light intensity of this warning light changes for every repetition period.

  Thereby, it becomes possible to make it easier to notice the alarm light by appropriately selecting the light emission pattern, the light emission interval, and the light intensity depending on the installation place of the light alarm device and the subject. For example, when a light emission pattern in which the light intensity of each set of light emission gradually increases is used, a user who is relatively close to the light alarm device takes measures so as not to be dazzled by strong light emission. Will be able to.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the light alarm device of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of the light emission control circuit. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing the operation content when the light intensity detected by the optical sensor is low. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the operation contents when the light intensity detected by the optical sensor is high. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the light alarm device of the second embodiment. FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D are conceptual diagrams for explaining states of warning light output from the light warning device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the light alarm device of the first embodiment. The light alarm device shown in FIG. 1 includes a fire sensor 1, a light emission control circuit (light emission control unit) 2, and a light source 3. In this light alarm device, when a temperature above a certain level is detected by the fire sensor 1, the light emission state of the light source 3 is controlled by the light emission control circuit 2, and a light alarm is output. The light source 3 in this embodiment is, for example, a strobe device. Note that the fire sensor 1 may detect smoke or may detect both smoke and temperature.

  The light emission control circuit 2 of the present embodiment performs control to increase / decrease the amount of light emitted by the light source 3 according to the magnitude of light detected by the light sensor 4. The light sensor 4 and the light emission control signal generation unit 5 are controlled by the light emission control circuit 2. It is configured to include.

  The optical sensor 4 detects the light intensity of the space where the light alarm device is installed, and outputs a detection signal (electric signal) having a magnitude corresponding to the light intensity. By using this optical sensor 4, when the room is filled with smoke, the light intensity of the reflected light obtained by reflecting the light output from the light source 3 on the smoke can be detected.

  The light emission control signal generation unit 5 generates a light emission control signal in which the light emission time of the light source 3 is increased / decreased according to the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 4 and supplies the light emission control signal to the light source 3 to be output from the light source 3. Controls the amount of light emitted.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of the light emission control circuit 2. The light emission control circuit 2 exemplified here includes the light sensor 4 and the light emission control signal generation unit 5 as described above. The illustrated optical sensor 4 includes a phototransistor 41 and a filter 42 that blocks long-wavelength light (near infrared light) and infrared light that are incident on the phototransistor 41. The illustrated light emission control signal generator 5 includes a pulse generator 60, resistance elements 61, 62, 63, 64, 69, 71, 73, capacitive elements (capacitors) 65, 68, diodes 66, 67, a comparator 70, A buffer 72 is provided.

  The pulse generator 60 generates a pulse signal having a predetermined cycle when the detection signal output from the fire sensor 1 is equal to or higher than a certain level.

  The resistance elements 61, 62, 63 are connected in series with each other, one end of the resistance element 61 is connected to the power supply potential, and one end of the resistance element 63 is connected to the reference potential (ground potential). The collector of the phototransistor 41 is connected to a node between the resistance element 61 and the resistance element 62.

  The resistor element 64 and the capacitor element 65 are connected in parallel to each other, the node connected to each other is connected to the emitter of the phototransistor 41, and the other end is connected to the reference potential.

  The diode 66 has an anode connected to the node between the resistance element 62 and the resistance element 63, and a cathode connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 70. The diode 67 has an anode connected to the node of the resistor element 64 and the capacitor element 65, and a cathode connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 70.

  One end of the capacitive element 68 is connected to the pulse generator 60, and the other end is connected to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70. The resistor element 69 has one end connected to the power supply potential and the other end connected to a node between the capacitor element 68 and the comparator 70.

  The comparator 70 compares the potentials of the non-inverting input terminal and the inverting input terminal, and selectively outputs either a relatively high potential or a low potential. The resistance element 71 has one end connected to the power supply potential and the other end connected to a node between the output end of the comparator 70 and the input end of the buffer 72. The buffer (voltage converter) 72 is connected at its input end to the output end of the comparator 70. The resistance element 73 is connected between the output end of the buffer 72 and the light source 3.

  Next, the operation content of the light emission control circuit 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing the operation content when the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 4 is low (when smoke is absent or low). FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the operation content when the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 4 is high (when smoke is present). Here, FIGS. 3A and 4A are waveform diagrams of point A in the circuit, FIGS. 3B and 4B are waveform diagrams of point B in the circuit, and FIG. 4C is a waveform diagram of point C in the circuit, FIGS. 3D and 4D are waveform diagrams of point D in the circuit, and FIGS. 3E and 4E are circuits. 3 (F) and FIG. 4 (F) are waveform diagrams at point F in the circuit, and FIGS. 3 (G) and 4 (G) are waveform diagrams at point G in the circuit. is there.

  First, it demonstrates along FIG. When a temperature above a certain level is detected by the fire sensor 1 and the detection signal from the fire sensor 1 exceeds a predetermined level, the pulse generator 60 to which this detection signal is input outputs a pulse signal with a fixed period (FIG. 3A). ). A constant voltage divided by the resistance elements 61 and 62 and the resistance element 63 is applied to the anode of the diode 66 (FIG. 3B).

  When the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 4 is low, the phototransistor 41 is turned off, so that an extremely low voltage is applied to the diode 67 (FIG. 3C). A voltage substantially equal to the output voltage of the diode 66 is applied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 (FIG. 3D).

  On the other hand, a voltage obtained by passing the pulse signal output from the pulse generator 60 through the capacitor 68 is input to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 (FIG. 3E). This voltage temporarily decreases in response to the falling edge of the pulse signal, and then increases along the charging curve of the capacitive element 68, and thereafter becomes a constant value.

  When the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 temporarily decreases in response to the falling edge of the pulse signal, the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal becomes higher than this, so the voltage at the output terminal of the comparator 70 increases. Thereafter, when the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 recovers and exceeds the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal, the voltage at the output terminal of the comparator 70 decreases. The voltage at the output terminal of the comparator 70 is pulsed as shown (FIG. 3F). A light emission control signal is obtained by passing the voltage at the output terminal through the buffer 72 (FIG. 3G). Note that the voltage value of the waveform in FIG. 3G is actually higher than that of the waveform in FIG. 3F (the same applies to FIG. 4G).

  Next, a description will be given with reference to FIG. Each of points A and B in the circuit is the same as in FIG. 3 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). On the other hand, when the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 4 is higher than a certain level, the phototransistor 41 is turned on, so that the capacitive element 65 is gradually charged and the voltage rises. A voltage at one end of the capacitor 65 is applied to the diode 67 (FIG. 4C). A voltage equal to the sum of the output voltage of the diode 66 and the output voltage of the diode 67 is applied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 (FIG. 4D).

  On the other hand, the voltage obtained by passing the pulse signal output from the pulse generator 60 through the capacitive element 68 is input to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 as in the case of FIG. 3 (FIG. 4E). Once the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 decreases, the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal becomes higher than this, so the voltage at the output terminal of the comparator 70 increases. Thereafter, when the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 recovers and exceeds the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal, the voltage at the output terminal of the comparator 70 decreases. At this time, since the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 increases as described above, the time until the voltage at the inverting input terminal of the comparator 70 recovers and exceeds the voltage at the non-inverting input terminal becomes longer. . Therefore, the voltage from the output terminal of the comparator 70 has a longer pulse width as shown in FIG. 4 (F). A light emission control signal is obtained by passing the voltage at the output terminal through the buffer 72 (FIG. 4G).

  That is, the light emission control signal output from the light emission control circuit 2 has its pulse width increased or decreased according to the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 4. By supplying such a light emission control signal to the light source 3, the light emission time in the light source 3 can be increased or decreased. Thereby, the substantial light emission amount can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the duration of the light emission state.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the light emission amount of the light source is increased or decreased according to the light intensity detected by the optical sensor, it is possible to cause the light source to emit light with an optimum light amount according to the amount of smoke. Become. This makes it easier for the user to notice the light emission. In addition, when the amount of smoke is small, the amount of emitted light is relatively low, so that it is possible to avoid making the user feel excessive glare. In addition, since the light emission amount can be controlled every time the light source emits light, the light emission amount can be controlled in response to a change in the amount of smoke.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the light alarm device of the second embodiment. The light alarm device shown in FIG. 5 includes a fire sensor 101, a light sensor 102, a light emission control unit 103, a memory 104, and a light source 105. In this light alarm device, when a temperature above a certain level is detected by the fire sensor 101, the light emission state of the light source 105 is controlled by the light emission control unit 103, and an alarm light is output. The light source 105 in the present embodiment is an LED light source including a plurality of LEDs, for example.

  The fire sensor 101 detects the temperature of a room or the like where the light alarm device of the present embodiment is installed, and outputs a detection signal (electric signal) corresponding to the detected temperature. Note that the fire sensor 101 may detect smoke, or may detect both smoke and temperature.

  The optical sensor 102 detects the light intensity in a room or the like where the light alarm device of the present embodiment is installed, and outputs a detection signal (electric signal) corresponding thereto. The detection signal of the optical sensor 102 indicates the light intensity of the reflected light obtained by reflecting the light output from the light source 105 to the smoke when the room is filled with smoke.

  The light emission control unit 103 causes the light source 105 to output warning light when the temperature detected by the fire sensor 101 exceeds a certain level, and the light intensity of the warning light is determined according to the magnitude of light detected by the light sensor 102. It is configured to increase or decrease, and includes an alarm determination unit 111, a light emission pattern setting unit 112, a light intensity setting unit 113, and a light emission control signal generation unit 114. The light emission control unit 103 is configured by causing a microcomputer to execute a predetermined operation program, for example.

  The alarm determination unit 111 determines whether an alarm is necessary based on the detection signal output from the fire sensor 101. Specifically, the alarm determination unit 111 determines that an alarm is necessary when a temperature equal to or higher than a certain level is detected. A set value of temperature serving as a boundary for determining whether or not an alarm is necessary is determined in advance. For example, the set value is stored in the memory 104.

  The light emission pattern setting unit 112 sets a light emission pattern to be used as the alarm light when the alarm determination unit 111 determines that an alarm is necessary. For example, setting data for a plurality of light emission patterns (see FIG. 6 to be described later) is stored in the memory 104 in advance, and the light emission pattern setting unit 112 appropriately reads the setting data from the memory, and sets the light emission pattern using the setting data. .

  The light intensity setting unit 113 sets the maximum value of the light intensity of the warning light based on the detection signal output from the optical sensor 102. The maximum value is determined in advance. For example, the maximum value is stored in the memory 104.

  The light emission control signal generation unit 114 generates a light emission control signal based on the light emission pattern set by the light emission pattern setting unit 112 and the maximum value of the light intensity set by the light intensity setting unit 113, and supplies this to the light source 105. To do.

  Next, the operation content of the light alarm device of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D are conceptual diagrams for explaining the state of alarm light output from the light alarm device. Each light emission pattern shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D is a set of light emission of a plurality of times (three times in this example) within the period T1, and this is repeated with the period T2 interposed therebetween. The mutual interval T3 of the plurality of light emissions in one set is, for example, about 0.1 to 0.3 seconds. Further, a period T2 that is a pause period between the sets is, for example, about 1 second. FIG. 6A shows a light emission pattern in which the light intensity of a plurality of light emissions in each set decreases in order. FIG. 6B shows a light emission pattern in which the light intensity of a plurality of light emissions in each set changes from large to small to large. FIG. 6C shows a light emission pattern in which the light intensity of a plurality of light emissions in each set increases in order. FIG. 6D shows a light emission pattern in which the maximum value of the light intensity of light emission in each set decreases in order for each set. Here, a pattern in which the light intensity of a plurality of emitted lights in each set decreases in order is shown, but a pattern that changes from large to small to large may be used, or a pattern that increases in order. In any light emission pattern, the light intensity maximum value (the maximum value in the first set in the example shown in FIG. 6D) is set by the light intensity setting unit 113. The light intensity setting unit 113 may be omitted and a predetermined maximum value may be used.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the warning light including a plurality of light emission at relatively short intervals is repeatedly output for each set, so that the user can easily notice the warning light. In addition, by appropriately selecting the light emission pattern, light emission interval, and light intensity according to the installation location of the light alarm device and the target person (for example, the elderly, the hearing impaired, etc.), the alarm light can be more easily noticed. It becomes possible. For example, when a light emission pattern in which the light intensity of each set of light emission gradually increases is used, a user who is relatively close to the light alarm device takes measures so as not to be dazzled by strong light emission. Will be able to.

  In addition, when the light intensity of the light source is increased or decreased according to the light intensity detected by the optical sensor 102, it is possible to cause the light source to emit light with an optimum light amount according to the amount of smoke. This makes it easier for the user to notice the light emission. In addition, when the amount of smoke is small, the amount of emitted light is relatively low, so that it is possible to avoid making the user feel excessive glare.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the content of embodiment mentioned above, In the range of the summary of this invention, it can change and implement variously.

1, 101: Fire sensor 2: Light emission control circuit (light emission control unit)
3, 105: Light source 4, 102: Light sensor 5: Light emission control signal generation unit 103: Light emission control unit 104: Memory 111: Alarm determination unit 112: Light emission pattern setting unit 113: Light intensity setting unit 114: Light emission control signal generation unit

Claims (6)

A fire sensor,
A light source;
A light emission control unit that causes the light source to emit light when a value detected by the fire sensor becomes a predetermined value or more
Including
The light emission control unit
A light sensor,
A light emission control signal generation unit that generates a light emission control signal by increasing or decreasing the pulse width according to the light intensity detected by the light sensor,
Having a light alarm device.   The light alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor includes a light receiving element and a filter that cuts at least infrared light from light incident on the light receiving element. A fire sensor,
A light source;
When the value detected by the fire sensor becomes a predetermined value or more, a light emission control unit that supplies a light emission control signal for generating a light emission pattern that repeats a warning light consisting of a plurality of light emissions at a predetermined cycle,
Including light alarm device.   The light alarm device according to claim 3, wherein light intensity of the plurality of emitted lights included in the alarm light is different from each other.   The light warning device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the light intensity of the warning light is different for each repetition period.   The optical alarm device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein an interval between the plurality of light emissions included in the alarm light is 0.1 to 0.3 seconds.

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