JP2017058041A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform proper air cleaning suitable for a surrounding condition while reflecting intention of a user himself/herself.SOLUTION: An air cleaner includes control means 9 having output control means 11 which switches an operation mode of blower means 5 between an automatic mode 12, a maximum mode 13 and an arbitrary mode 14 on the basis of an input signal of the operation mode to operation means 8. The control means 9 has maximum mode timing means 19 and mode storage means 20. The output control means 11 makes the blower means 5 operate at the maximum mode 13 when the maximum mode 13 is inputted to the operation means 8, and when elapsed time 18 by the maximum mode timing means 19 exceeds operation time 16, it switches the blower means 5 to the automatic mode 12, and in the case where input for releasing the maximum mode 13 is performed to the operation means 8 in the state where the elapsed time 18 by the maximum mode timing means 19 is equal to or less than the operation time 16, it switches the blower means 5 to the operation mode stored in the mode storage means 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an air purifier used in a general home or office.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, air purifiers that purify dirty air are equipped with a rapid mode that rapidly purifies dirty air, particularly as a device that circulates air so that air is forced to pass through the air purifying means by a blower such as a fan. A device that switches to an operation mode in accordance with the degree of air contamination after a certain period of operation is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3201190

  In such a conventional air purifier, the switching of the operation mode from the rapid mode is uniform, for example, when the rapid mode is entered by the wrong operation, or the rapid mode is exited by the wrong operation. In such a case, there is a problem that the air purification effect is lowered. At the same time, the mode is switched to an operation mode not intended by the user, and the user cannot purify the air as intended.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and is an air purifier capable of performing appropriate air purification suitable for the surrounding situation while reflecting the user's own intention with a simple operation of the user. The purpose is to provide a machine.

  In order to achieve this object, an air cleaner according to the present invention includes a main body having a suction port, a blow-out port, a ventilation path that communicates the suction port and the blow-out port, and the ventilation port from the suction port. Switching of the operation of the air blowing means for guiding the air to the outlet through the passage, the air purifying means for purifying the air passing through the ventilation passage, the dirt detecting means for detecting dirt outside the main body, and the operation of the air blowing means And an automatic mode for switching the air volume of the air blowing means according to the degree of contamination by the dirt detecting means based on the input of the operation mode to the operating means, and the air blowing means is preset with a maximum air volume. A control unit that switches between a maximum mode that is driven during the operation time and an arbitrary mode that drives the air blowing unit with an air volume that is equal to or less than the maximum air volume, and a time after the maximum mode is started. A maximum mode timing unit that counts time, and a mode storage unit that stores an operation mode immediately before switching to the maximum mode, and the control unit is configured to perform the maximum mode when the maximum mode is input to the operation unit. The air blowing means is operated, and when the elapsed time by the maximum mode timing means exceeds the operating time, the mode is switched to the automatic mode, and in the state where the elapsed time by the maximum mode timing means is equal to or less than the operating time, When an input for canceling the mode is performed, the mode is switched to the operation mode stored in the mode storage means, thereby achieving the intended purpose.

  According to the present invention, when the operation mode is switched from the maximum mode, by having two operation mode switching methods according to the input conditions to the control means, the user's own intention is reflected and the user can appropriately match the surrounding situation. The effect that it is possible to perform clean air purification.

1 is an external view showing an air cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Cross-sectional block diagram of the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which shows the control action of the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows the control action of the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Timing chart which shows an example of control operation of the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention Timing chart showing another example of the control operation of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows the reset determination step of the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. Timing chart showing an example of the reset determination step of the air purifier according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The timing chart which shows another example of the reset determination step of the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  An air cleaner according to the present invention includes a main body having a suction port, a blow-out port, and a ventilation path that communicates the suction port and the blow-out port, and air from the suction port to the blow-out port through the ventilation path. To the blowing means for guiding, the air purifying means for purifying the air passing through the ventilation path, the dirt detecting means for detecting dirt outside the main body, the operating means for accepting switching of the operation of the blowing means, and the operating means An automatic mode for switching the air volume of the blower means according to the degree of contamination by the dirt detection means based on the input of the operation mode, and a maximum mode for driving the blower means for a preset operation time at a maximum air volume; A control means for switching between an arbitrary mode for driving the air blowing means with an air volume equal to or less than the maximum air volume, and a maximum mode time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time since the start of the maximum mode. Mode storage means for storing an operation mode immediately before switching to the maximum mode, and the control means operates the blower means in the maximum mode when the maximum mode is input to the operation means, and the maximum When the elapsed time by the mode timing means exceeds the operation time, the mode is switched to the automatic mode, and an input for canceling the maximum mode is made to the operation means in a state where the elapsed time by the maximum mode timing means is equal to or less than the operation time. In this case, the operation mode is switched to the operation mode stored in the mode storage means.

  Thus, when switching the operation mode from the maximum mode, by having two operation mode switching methods depending on the input conditions to the control means, for example, even if the user enters the maximum mode by mistaken operation, the user With this simple operation, it is possible to return to the original operation mode, and there is an effect that it is possible to perform appropriate air purification suitable for the surrounding situation while reflecting the user's own intention.

  The air cleaner according to the present invention further includes a reset determination time storage unit that stores a reset determination time that is shorter than the operation time, and the control unit applies the operation unit to the operation unit during operation in the maximum mode. When an input for canceling the maximum mode is performed, the maximum mode being executed is canceled and the elapsed time is compared with the reset determination time. If the elapsed time exceeds the reset determination time, the operation continues further. When the maximum mode is input to the operation means, the maximum mode timing means is restarted without resetting the elapsed time measurement, and if the elapsed time is less than or equal to the reset determination time, the operation is continued. When the maximum mode is input to the means, the maximum mode time measuring means is reset and time measurement is started.

  Thereby, for example, when the maximum mode is set by an erroneous operation, if the elapsed time is equal to or less than the reset determination time, an input for canceling the maximum mode is further performed, so that the maximum mode Can be released.

  Further, even when the maximum mode is set by a correct operation and the elapsed time exceeds the reset determination time, the maximum mode can be recovered even if the maximum mode is exited by an incorrect operation. That is, by continuing to input the maximum mode, the elapsed time continues to operate in the maximum mode only for the remaining time until the operation time, and then switches to the automatic mode.

  For this reason, there exists an effect that appropriate air purification suitable for the surrounding situation can be performed while reflecting the user's own intention.

  In the air cleaner according to the present invention, the operation means is an electrostatic touch button that determines an input based on a change in capacitance caused by contact with the operation means.

  Thereby, for example, the user can switch the operation mode without applying finger pressure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, throughout the drawings, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the second and subsequent descriptions are omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air purifier in the present embodiment is provided with a suction port 2 and a blower outlet 3 in the main body 1, and has a ventilation path 4 that communicates the suction port 2 and the blower outlet 3. doing.

  The main body 1 functions as an outline that separates the inside and the outside of the air cleaner, and is mainly composed of a plastic resin.

  The suction port 2 is an opening that is provided in the lower front portion of the main body 1 and takes air into the main body 1.

  The blower outlet 3 is provided in the upper part of the main body 1 as an opening for blowing out air taken into the main body 1. Inside the main body 1, a blowing means 5 and an air purification means 6 are provided.

  The air blowing means 5 is, for example, a sirocco fan that generates an airflow for guiding air from the suction port 2 to the air outlet 3.

  The air purification means 6 is a so-called filter that is made of, for example, a fiber having a certain thickness or a sponge-like material, and has innumerable holes therein so that air can pass through the inside. And the air purification | cleaning means 6 filters the said air by allowing the air suck | inhaled from the suction inlet 2 to pass through innumerable holes.

  Further, in order to detect dirt on the air outside the main body 1, a dirt detecting means 7 is provided on the front surface or side surface of the main body 1.

  The dirt detection means 7 includes, for example, a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a lens. The dirt detection means 7 irradiates the dust with light emitted from the light emitting element, and receives the reflected light from the dust with the light receiving element through the lens. The dirt detector 7 counts the number of dusts by outputting a pulse signal each time dust is detected.

  An operation means 8 is provided on the front or upper surface of the main body 1 to accept switching of the operation of the blower means 5.

  The operation means 8 is provided with an operation panel having various buttons for accepting switching of operations from the user. The various buttons are electrostatic touch buttons that determine an input based on a change in capacitance due to contact. That is, the user can input to the operation means 8 by soft touch.

  In the vicinity of the operation means 8, for example, a control means 9 that switches the operation of the air blowing means 5 based on an operation mode input to the operation means 8 by a user is provided.

  The control means 9 is constituted by a microcomputer. In other words, a driver corresponding to each drive unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a blowing unit 5 and a dirt detecting unit 7 is provided in the control unit 9 with an internal bus. Connected through. The CPU uses, for example, a RAM as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM, and controls the operation of each drive unit by exchanging data and commands with the driver based on the execution result. Will be described later.

  Then, control of the air cleaner by the control means 9 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control operation of the air cleaner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control means 9 includes a mode switching means 10 and an output control means 11.

  The mode switching unit 10 determines the operation mode based on the input from the operation unit 8. The mode switching means 10 stores three operation modes, that is, an automatic mode 12, a maximum mode 13, and an arbitrary mode 14 as operation steps of the blower means 5.

  The automatic mode 12 is an operation mode in which the air volume of the blowing unit 5 is switched according to the degree of contamination by the contamination detection unit 7.

  The maximum mode 13 is an operation mode in which the blower 5 is driven for a preset operation time 16 with a maximum air volume 15. The maximum air volume here refers to the maximum air volume that the air blowing means 5 can stably provide within a safe range, and the air volume varies depending on the ability of the air blowing means 5.

  The arbitrary mode 14 is an operation mode in which the air blowing means 5 is driven with an air volume 17 equal to or less than the maximum air volume 15. Here, the optional mode 14 has at least two airflows. As an example, the airflow is determined by the user's own intention, such as “weak”, “medium”, and “strong” from the smallest airflow. Several types of airflow may be set so that can be determined. For example, the “strong” air volume matches the maximum air volume 15.

  Based on the operation mode determined by the mode switching means 10, the output control means 11 switches the operation of the blower means 5, that is, the rotation speed and the operating time.

  Further, the control means 9 is provided with a maximum mode timing means 19 that measures an elapsed time 18 after the maximum mode 13 is started.

  Further, the control means 9 is provided with a mode storage means 20 for storing an operation mode immediately before switching to the maximum mode 13.

  In the above configuration, the control operation of the air cleaner will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, S means a step.

  As an example, first, a case where the arbitrary mode 14 is set at the start by the user of the air cleaner will be described.

  When the maximum mode 13 is selected by an input to the operation means 8 by the user with the optional mode 14 set, the output control means 11 of the control means 9 switches the air volume of the blower means 5 to the maximum air volume 15 ( S101 Yes → S102).

  At the same time as switching to the maximum air volume 15, the output controller 11 operates the maximum mode timer 19 that measures the elapsed time 18 since the start of the maximum mode 13 (S103).

  Further, the output control unit 11 stores the operation mode immediately before switching to the maximum mode 13, that is, the arbitrary mode 14 in the mode storage unit 20 (S104).

  When the elapsed time 18 by the maximum mode timing means 19 exceeds the operating time 16, the output control means 11 switches the blower means 5 to the automatic mode 12 and changes the air volume according to the degree of dirt by the dirt detection means 7. Air purification is performed (S105 Yes → S106).

  On the other hand, when an input for canceling the maximum mode 13 is made to the operating means 8 while the elapsed time 18 is less than or equal to the operating time 16, the operation mode is switched to the operation mode stored in the mode storage means 20 (S105 No → S107 Yes → S108). ).

  That is, the output control means 11 switches the air blowing means 5 to the arbitrary mode 14, returns to the operation mode determined by the user's own intention, and performs air purification.

  Thereafter, the output control means 11 repeats from the determination whether or not the maximum mode 13 has been selected (S108 → S101).

  An example of the control operation of the air cleaner described in the flowchart is shown in the timing charts of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 5, after starting operation in the maximum mode 13, the output control means 11 determines an elapsed time 18 from the time when the maximum mode 13 was started, and an operating time 16 in which the elapsed time 18 is stored in the memory. Is exceeded, the blowing means 5 is switched to the automatic mode 12 at the timing 30 that has exceeded.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the output control unit 11 sends the blowing unit to the arbitrary mode 14 when the operation unit 8 receives an input to cancel the maximum mode 13 at a timing 31 where the elapsed time 18 is equal to or less than the operation time 16. 5 is switched.

  Here, in FIG. 4, when the automatic mode 12 is set instead of the arbitrary mode 14 at the start by the user of the air cleaner, regardless of the magnitude comparison result between the elapsed time 18 and the operation time 16. Then, the maximum mode 13 is switched to the automatic mode 12.

  As described above, the air cleaner according to the present embodiment switches between the two operation modes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to the input conditions to the control means 9 when switching the operation mode from the maximum mode 13. Have a way.

  Thereby, for example, when 2 hours, which is the operation time in the maximum mode 13, elapses, the air cleaner operates in the automatic mode 12, that is, operates according to the ambient air quality.

  On the other hand, for example, when the maximum mode is set by mistake during operation in the arbitrary mode 14, the normal mode as the user is to cancel the maximum mode 13 in a time shorter than the operation time 16. It is. In such a case, the user can cancel the maximum mode 13 to return the air cleaner to the previous operation mode (arbitrary mode 14).

  In addition, although the example of the erroneous operation by a user was described, in this Embodiment, the change of the operation mode is received by the electrostatic touch button. Unlike the conventional press detection button that detects a press, the electrostatic touch button is considered to have selected a switch simply by touching it. That is, although input by soft touch is possible, there is a problem that operation errors increase. This embodiment has a higher effect when an electrostatic touch button that increases the number of erroneous operations is employed.

(Embodiment 2)
Then, the air cleaner which concerns on Embodiment 2 is demonstrated. The air cleaner according to the present embodiment further includes a reset determination time storage unit 22 in addition to the control unit 9 shown in FIG. 3 of the air cleaner shown in the first embodiment.

  The reset determination time storage unit 22 stores a reset determination time 21 shorter than the operation time 16 for resetting.

  The process flow of the air cleaner according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the reset determination step, FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating an example of the reset determination step, and FIG. 9 is a timing chart illustrating another example of the reset determination step. Note that the process S-1 in FIG. 7 indicates the processes from S101 to S108 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 used for the description of the first embodiment.

  The output control means 11 cancels the maximum mode 13 being executed and stores the mode when the input to cancel the maximum mode 13 is made to the electrostatic touch button of the operation means 8 during operation in the maximum mode 13. The point of switching to the operation mode stored in the means 20 is as described above (FIG. 4: S107 → S108, FIG. 7: S108).

  This state shows the state at the timing 31 in FIG. That is, it corresponds to the case where the operation unit 8 is input to cancel the maximum mode 13 at the timing 31 where the elapsed time 18 is equal to or less than the operation time 16.

  At this time, the output control means 11 shifts to the immediately preceding operation mode (arbitrary mode here) stored in the mode storage means 20.

  In the present embodiment, the output control means 11 further compares the elapsed time 18 with the reset determination time 21 (S201).

  Here, when the elapsed time 18 exceeds the reset determination time 21, it is determined that an input for canceling the maximum mode 13 has been made to the operating means 8 by mistake.

  Based on this determination, when the maximum mode 13 is further input to the operation means 8, the output control means 11 sets the air blowing means 5 to the maximum air volume 15 (S201 Yes → S202 Yes → S203).

  Subsequently, the output control means 11 restarts the maximum mode timing means 19 without resetting the elapsed time 18 (S204). In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the time counted by the maximum mode time measuring means 19 is resumed in a state where the elapsed time 18 is held, so that the maximum mode 13 is the total operation time with a temporary interruption. It has been operating for 16. That is, even if the electrostatic switch is touched by mistake, it can be recovered. Thereafter, when the elapsed time 18 by the maximum mode timing means 19 exceeds the operating time 16 at the timing 32, the air blowing means 5 is switched to the automatic mode 12 and air purification is performed with the air volume according to the degree of dirt by the dirt detecting means 7. These are the same as those shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 7: S104 to S108).

  On the other hand, when the elapsed time 18 is equal to or less than the reset determination time 21, it is determined that an input to set the maximum mode 13 is erroneously made to the operating unit 8 when the maximum mode 13 is set.

  Based on this determination, even if the maximum mode 13 is continuously input to the operation means 8, the maximum mode time measuring means 19 is reset and time measurement is started. That is, the same operation as when the maximum mode 13 is newly set shown in the first embodiment is performed (No in S201).

  As a result, if the maximum mode is canceled due to an erroneous operation, if the elapsed time exceeds the reset judgment time, the maximum mode can be set for a predetermined time by setting the maximum mode. You can drive. In other words, it can be prevented that the maximum mode is set again and the maximum mode is exceeded more than necessary.

  For example, in China, there is a disinfection machine certification, and in order to obtain the certification, in order to satisfy the standard of the sterilization rate of the space, it is necessary to operate in the disinfection mode of the maximum mode 13 with the operation time 16 being 2 hours. .

Consider a case in which an input for canceling the disinfection mode is erroneously input to the operation means 8 when the elapsed time 18 by the maximum mode time measuring means 19 is 1.5 hours, for example. In such a case, even if the sterilization mode is input next, even though the sterilization rate of the space is already high, it operates at the maximum air volume for 2 hours continuously, and the total air volume becomes 3.5 hours in total. It is useless from the viewpoint of energy saving.
As an example, by setting the reset determination time 21 to 0.5 hours, the maximum is 2.5 hours, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of energy saving.

  In this way, even when the operation unit 8 having the electrostatic touch button that is likely to cause an operation mistake is erroneously operated and the maximum mode 13 is entered, the user can easily perform the operation on the operation unit 8. The original operation mode can be restored. Further, even if the maximum mode 13 is canceled by an erroneous operation, the maximum mode 13 can be operated for the remaining time of the operation time 16 by a simple operation of the user's operation means 8 by the user. It is possible to perform appropriate air purification suitable for the surrounding conditions while reflecting the user's own intention.

  The air purifier according to the present invention can be applied to a humidifier function air purifier, an air conditioner, and an air conditioner for home use and office use.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Suction port 3 Outlet 4 Ventilation path 5 Blowing means 6 Air purification means 7 Dirt detection means 8 Operation means 9 Control means 10 Mode switching means 11 Output control means 12 Automatic mode 13 Maximum mode 14 Arbitrary mode 15 Maximum air volume 16 Operation Time 17 Air volume 18 below maximum air volume 15 Elapsed time 19 Maximum mode timer 20 Mode memory 21 Reset determination time 22 Reset determination time memory

Claims (3)

A main body having a suction port, a blowout port, and a ventilation path communicating the suction port and the blowout port;
An air blowing means for guiding air from the suction port to the air outlet through the ventilation path;
Air purification means for purifying the air passing through the ventilation path;
Dirt detecting means for detecting dirt outside the main body;
Operating means for accepting switching of the operation of the blowing means;
Based on the input of the operation mode to the operation means,
An automatic mode for switching the air volume of the air blowing means according to the degree of dirt by the dirt detecting means;
A maximum mode for driving the air blowing means with a maximum air volume for a preset operation time;
An arbitrary mode in which the air blowing means is driven with an air volume equal to or less than the maximum air volume;
Control means for switching between,
Maximum mode timing means for timing the elapsed time since the start of the maximum mode;
Mode storage means for storing an operation mode immediately before switching to the maximum mode,
The control means includes
When the maximum mode is input to the operation means, the air blowing means is operated in the maximum mode,
When the elapsed time by the maximum mode timer exceeds the operation time, the mode is switched to the automatic mode,
An air purifier that switches to the operation mode stored in the mode storage means when an input for canceling the maximum mode is made to the operation means in a state where the elapsed time by the maximum mode time measuring means is equal to or less than the operation time. Reset determination time storage means for storing a reset determination time that is shorter than the operation time;
The control means includes
When the input to cancel the maximum mode is performed on the operating means during operation in the maximum mode, cancel the maximum mode being executed and compare the elapsed time and the reset determination time,
When the elapsed time exceeds the reset determination time, when the maximum mode is continuously input to the operation means, the maximum mode timing means is restarted without resetting the elapsed time measurement,
2. The air cleaning according to claim 1, wherein when the elapsed time is equal to or shorter than the reset determination time, when the maximum mode is further input to the operation unit, the maximum mode timing unit is reset to start timing. Machine. The operation means includes
The air cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air cleaner is an electrostatic touch button that determines an input based on a change in capacitance caused by contact with the operation means.

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