JP2020077156A - Alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an alarm capable of determining a failure relatively earlier.SOLUTION: A gas alarm 1 outputs an alarm when an abnormal state in a monitoring region is detected. The gas alarm 1 includes a failure determination unit that determines failure of a target circuit TC, and temperature sensors T1 to T3 that are disposed close to the target circuit TC. When temperature detected by the temperature sensors T1 to T3 indicates an increase rate equal to or higher than a predetermined value or temperature outside a predetermined range, the failure determination unit starts failure determination of the target circuit TC.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an alarm device.

  Conventionally, an alarm device such as gas / CO has a large number of failure detection functions (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). Such alarm devices have failure detection functions for each circuit, such as speaker disconnection detection function, heater failure detection function, thermistor failure detection function, power supply voltage abnormality detection function, and audio circuit failure detection function. Are driving. For example, detection of a voice circuit failure is performed every 25 hours.

JP, 2005-118422, A

  However, in the alarm device described in Patent Document 1, the failure detection function is performed only on a regular basis, and even if a failure occurs, the failure cannot be determined until the next failure detection, which is regularly performed. I will end up.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an alarm device that can determine a failure relatively early.

  The alarm device of the present invention outputs an alarm when an abnormal state in the monitoring area is detected. This alarm device includes a failure determination unit that determines a failure of a target circuit, and a temperature sensor that is arranged close to the target circuit. The failure determination means starts the failure determination of the target circuit when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor indicates a rate of increase of a predetermined value or more or indicates a temperature outside the predetermined range.

  According to the present invention, a failure determination is provided when a temperature sensor disposed close to a target circuit is provided and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor shows a rate of increase of a predetermined value or more, or a temperature outside a predetermined range. To start. Therefore, when the temperature of the target circuit suddenly rises or becomes an abnormal temperature, the failure judgment can be started, and the failure judgment is started by catching the phenomenon that may occur at the time of the failure of the temperature increase. A failure can be judged relatively early.

It is a block diagram which shows the gas alarm which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 2 is a functional block diagram of the microcomputer circuit shown in FIG. 1. FIG. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the failure determination process of the gas alarm which concerns on this embodiment. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows the failure determination process of the gas alarm which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described along with preferred embodiments. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, in the embodiments described below, there is a part where illustration or description of a part of the configuration is omitted, but for details of the omitted technology, as long as there is no conflict with the content described below. Needless to say, publicly known or well-known techniques are appropriately applied.

  Furthermore, in the following description, the alarm device will be described by taking a gas alarm device (including a CO alarm function) for LP gas and city gas as an example, but the alarm device is not limited to this, and may be a fire alarm device or a motion alarm device. It may be of a type that combines the functions of two or more alarms (for example, a gas fire alarm). Furthermore, although an outlet type alarm device having a battery will be described below as an example, an outlet type alarm device having no battery or a battery type alarm device may be used. In addition, the alarm device may have a function of operating in conjunction with another alarm device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a gas alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a gas alarm device (alarm device) 1 outputs an alarm when a high concentration gas abnormality (abnormal state) of LP gas, city gas and carbon monoxide gas is detected in the monitoring area. The power supply circuit 10, the gas sensor 11, the gas sensor circuit 12, the power failure detection circuit 13, the 5V constant voltage circuit 14, the temperature correction circuit 15, the display circuit 16, the voice alarm circuit 17, the switch circuit 18, the illuminance detection circuit 19, and the booster circuit 20. , A serial communication circuit 21, an external output circuit 22, and a microcomputer circuit 30 serving as an overall control unit.

  The power supply circuit 10 includes a surge protection circuit 10a, a rectifier circuit 10b, and a switching power supply circuit 10c. The surge protection circuit 10a is for protecting other circuits from a surge current flowing through the outlet, and the rectifier circuit 10b is for converting the AC voltage flowing through the outlet into a DC voltage. The switching power supply circuit 10c transforms the DC voltage from the rectifier circuit 10b. The voltage from the switching power supply circuit 10c is applied to the gas sensor circuit 12, the power failure detection circuit 13, the 5V constant voltage circuit 14, and the external output circuit 22. The switching power supply circuit 10c has an electrolytic capacitor C1.

  The gas sensor 11 is capable of outputting a signal according to the concentration of a gas to be detected such as LP gas, city gas and carbon monoxide gas, and is composed of, for example, a semiconductor gas sensor or a catalytic combustion gas sensor. The gas sensor circuit 12 includes a sensor drive circuit 12a and a gas / CO detection circuit 12b that are driven under the control of the microcomputer circuit 30. The sensor drive circuit 12a is a circuit for driving the gas sensor 11, and the gas / CO detection circuit 12b outputs a signal corresponding to the concentration of the surrounding detection target gas to the microcomputer circuit 30.

  The power failure detection circuit 13 detects whether a power failure has occurred, based on the voltage value applied from the switching power supply circuit 10c. The 5V constant voltage circuit 14 transforms the voltage applied from the switching power supply circuit 10c into a 5V voltage, and the power failure detection circuit 13, the temperature correction circuit 15, the display circuit 16, the voice warning circuit 17, the switch circuit 18, and the illuminance detection circuit 19 are converted. , To the microcomputer circuit 30. The 5V constant voltage circuit 14 has an electrolytic capacitor C2.

  The temperature correction circuit 15 is a circuit that outputs a signal for correcting the detected temperature to an appropriate temperature when the microcomputer circuit 30 detects the temperature based on signals from temperature sensors T1 to T3 described later. The display circuit 16 has a display LED, and turns on the LED under the control of the microcomputer circuit 30.

  The voice alarm circuit 17 includes, for example, a voice IC containing a plurality of types of voice information, and outputs voice information corresponding to an instruction from the microcomputer circuit 30 from the speaker 17a. When the switch circuit 18 receives a switch operation from a user, the switch circuit 18 outputs a signal to that effect to the microcomputer circuit 30. The illuminance detection circuit 19 has an illuminance sensor 19a and outputs a signal corresponding to the illuminance of the surroundings to the microcomputer circuit 30.

  The booster circuit 20 boosts the voltage of the dry battery B in accordance with an instruction from the microcomputer circuit 30 when a power failure is detected by the power failure detection circuit 13, and the power failure detection circuit 13, the temperature correction circuit 15, the display circuit 16, the voice alarm circuit. 17, the switch circuit 18, the illuminance detection circuit 19, and the microcomputer circuit 30.

  The serial communication circuit 21 is a circuit for performing serial communication with an external device such as a setting device. The external output circuit 22 outputs a signal to an external device, and outputs a cutoff signal to, for example, a gas meter.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the microcomputer circuit 30 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the microcomputer circuit 30 includes a failure determination unit (failure determination unit) 31, a gas concentration calculation unit (gas concentration calculation unit) 32, a life estimation unit (life estimation unit) 33, and an alarm control unit. (Alarm control means) 34.

  The failure determination unit 31 determines the failure of the circuit TC (see FIG. 1) that is the target of failure determination. In the present embodiment, the circuit TC that is the target of failure determination is, for example, the 5V constant voltage circuit 14, the illuminance detection circuit 19, and the gas sensor circuit 12. It should be noted that the circuit that is the target of the failure determination is not limited to these, and may be the power supply circuit 10, the power failure detection circuit 13, or the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the gas alarm device 1 includes a plurality of temperature sensors T1 to T3. The plurality of temperature sensors T1 to T3 are arranged close to the circuit TC that is the target of failure determination, and output a signal according to the temperature of the circuit TC. Specifically, the first temperature sensor T1 is arranged close to the 5V constant voltage circuit 14, the second temperature sensor T2 is arranged close to the illuminance detection circuit 19, and the third temperature sensor T3 is arranged close to the gas sensor circuit 12.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the failure determination unit 31 has a second function of making a failure determination according to the temperature state of the target circuit TC, in addition to the first function of making a periodic failure determination. In the second function, the failure determination unit 31 starts the failure determination of the target circuit TC when the temperature detected by the signals from the temperature sensors T1 to T3 shows the increase rate of the predetermined value or more.

  Here, a temperature rise may occur at the time of a circuit failure. Therefore, the failure determination unit 31 according to the present embodiment determines the failure of the target circuit TC relatively early by starting the failure determination when the temperature of the target circuit TC suddenly rises. You can

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the gas alarm device 1 includes a humidity sensor T4. The humidity sensor T4 outputs a signal according to the ambient humidity. Here, the failure determination unit 31 has a third function of starting the failure determination of the target circuit TC when the humidity detected by the signal from the humidity sensor T4 indicates a humidity outside the specified range. .. There is a circuit with a high probability of failure when the humidity becomes abnormal. Therefore, the failure determination unit 31 according to the present embodiment can determine the failure of the target circuit TC relatively early by starting the failure determination when the humidity is out of the specified range. The circuit for which a failure is determined when the humidity is out of the specified range may be all or a part of the target circuit TC.

  The gas concentration calculator 32 calculates the concentration of the gas to be detected. Further, the gas concentration calculation unit 32 has a function of correcting the calculation result of the gas concentration to be detected. Here, the sensor output characteristics of the semiconductor gas sensor and the like tend to change according to the ambient temperature and the ambient humidity. Therefore, the gas concentration calculation unit 32 according to the present embodiment corrects the calculation result of the gas concentration to be detected according to the ambient temperature and the ambient humidity.

  In the present embodiment, the third temperature sensor T3 is arranged close to the gas sensor circuit 12. Furthermore, the gas alarm device 1 according to this embodiment includes a humidity sensor T4. Therefore, the gas concentration calculation unit 32 corrects the calculation result of the gas concentration to be detected according to the signals from the third temperature sensor T3 and the humidity sensor T4. As a result, it is possible to improve the gas detection accuracy by using the third temperature sensor T3 and the humidity sensor T4, which are also provided for early determination of failure.

  The life estimation unit 33 determines the life of the specific circuit. Here, the specific circuit is the circuit TC that is the target of the above-described failure determination, and more specifically, the electrolytic capacitor C2 of the 5V constant voltage circuit 14. The specific circuit may be, for example, the electrolytic capacitor C1 of the switching power supply circuit 10c, and is not limited to the electrolytic capacitor C2 of the circuit TC that is the target of failure determination.

  In the present embodiment, the life estimation unit 33 calculates the life by an estimated life formula that takes into account self-temperature rise due to ambient temperature and ripple current, for example, when the electrolytic capacitors C1 and C2 are conductive polymer aluminum solid electrolytic capacitors. You can

  The alarm control unit 34 controls the audio alarm circuit 17 to output an alarm from the speaker 17a when the concentration of the detection target gas calculated and corrected by the gas concentration calculation unit 32 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. Further, the alarm control unit 34 also has a function of outputting an alarm from the speaker 17a when the life estimated by the life estimation unit 33 is shorter than a specified value. With this function, it is possible to call attention when, for example, the life of the electrolytic capacitors C1 and C2 is shorter than the alarm device life of 5 years.

  Next, the failure determination process of the gas alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a first flowchart showing a failure determination process of the gas alarm device 1 according to this embodiment. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 shows the failure determination processing of the 5V constant voltage circuit 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, the microcomputer circuit 30 detects the temperature near the 5V constant voltage circuit 14 based on the signal from the first temperature sensor T1 and detects the ambient humidity based on the signal from the humidity sensor T4. Yes (S1). Next, the microcomputer circuit 30 performs temperature correction based on the signal from the temperature correction circuit 15 (S2). If the gas alarm device 1 has a humidity correction circuit, the humidity correction may be performed in the process of step S2.

  Next, the microcomputer circuit 30 determines whether or not any one of the following 1) to 3) is satisfied. That is, the microcomputer circuit 30 has 1) a difference of 5 ° C. (predetermined temperature) from the temperature at the previous detection, 2) a current humidity of 20% or less, and 3) a current humidity of 80% or more. It is determined whether any one of the two is satisfied (S3).

  When it is determined that none of the microcomputer circuits 30 satisfies the condition (S3: NO), the process shown in FIG. 3 ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that any one of them is satisfied (S3: YES), the microcomputer circuit 30 determines whether 5 seconds (predetermined time) has elapsed since the previous detection (S4).

  When the microcomputer circuit 30 determines that 5 seconds have not elapsed since the previous detection (S4: NO), the process proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, when the microcomputer circuit 30 determines that 5 seconds have elapsed since the previous detection (S4: YES), it indicates a temperature difference (rate of increase) of 5 ° C. or higher in 5 seconds, or indicates abnormal humidity. The failure determination unit 31 starts failure determination (S5).

  In step S5, the failure determination unit 31 detects the voltage of each unit (power failure detection circuit 13, temperature correction circuit 15, display circuit 16, voice alarm circuit 17, switch circuit 18, illuminance detection circuit 19, microcomputer circuit 30, etc.). (S5).

  Next, the failure determination unit 31 determines whether the voltage of each unit is abnormal (for example, there is a difference of 5 V or more from the predetermined voltage) (S6). When the failure determination unit 31 determines that the voltage is abnormal (S6: YES), the alarm control unit 34 outputs an alarm indicating that there is a failure (S7), and then the process illustrated in FIG. 3 ends. When the failure determination unit 31 determines that the voltage is abnormal, the failure may be notified to the gas utility by communication.

  On the other hand, when the failure determination unit 31 determines that the voltage is not abnormal (S6: NO), the failure determination unit 31 determines that the 5V constant voltage circuit 14 is normal, and the process illustrated in FIG. 3 ends.

  Next, another failure determination process of the gas alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a second flowchart showing a failure determination process of the gas alarm device 1 according to this embodiment. Note that the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows the failure determination processing of the illuminance detection circuit 19. Further, in FIG. 4, the same processes as those in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer circuit 30 detects the temperature near the illuminance detection circuit 19 based on the signal from the second temperature sensor T2, and also detects the ambient humidity based on the signal from the humidity sensor T4. Yes (S11). Then, the same processing as steps S2 to S4 shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

  Then, the failure determination unit 31 starts failure determination (S15). In step S15, the failure determination unit 31 inputs the detection value of the illuminance detection circuit 19 (S15) and determines whether the detection value is abnormal (S16). Here, the failure determination unit 31 learns the detected illuminance and stores the maximum illuminance and the minimum illuminance, and when the illuminance outside this range is detected, it is determined to be abnormal.

  When the failure determination unit 31 determines that the detected value of the illuminance is abnormal (S16: YES), the alarm control unit 34 outputs an alarm indicating that there is a failure as in the process shown in FIG. 3 (S7). Then, the process shown in FIG. 4 ends. When the failure determination unit 31 determines that the detected value of the illuminance is abnormal, the failure may be notified to the gas utility by communication.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the detected illuminance value is not abnormal (S16: NO), the failure determination unit 31 determines that the illuminance detection circuit 19 is normal, and the process illustrated in FIG. 4 ends.

  Although not shown in the flowchart, the gas sensor circuit 12 is also determined to be in failure.

  In this way, according to the gas alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment, the temperature sensors T1 to T3 that are arranged close to the target circuit TC are provided, and the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors T1 to T3 are equal to or greater than the predetermined value. The failure judgment is started when the rising rate of is indicated. Therefore, when the temperature of the target circuit TC suddenly rises, the failure determination can be started, and the failure determination is started by catching the phenomenon that may occur at the time of the failure of the temperature increase, and the failure is relatively early. Can be judged.

  Further, since the failure judgment is started when the humidity shows a humidity outside the specified range, it is possible to judge the failure of the circuit TC whose failure probability increases due to the abnormal humidity relatively early.

  Further, in order to correct the calculation result of the gas concentration to be detected according to the signals from the third temperature sensor T3 and the humidity sensor T4, the third temperature sensor T3 and the humidity sensor T4 provided for early start of failure determination are used. As a result, the gas detection accuracy can be improved.

  In addition, the life of the electrolytic capacitor C2 of the target circuit TC is estimated based on the signal from the temperature sensor T1, and an alarm is output when the estimated life is less than a specified value. The life of a specific circuit can be estimated by using the temperature sensor T1 provided for early start of failure determination, and an alarm output based on the life can be performed.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, and other appropriate changes are possible within a possible range. You may combine the technique of.

  For example, the circuit TC that is the target of failure detection in the above embodiment is not limited to the gas sensor circuit 12, the 5V constant voltage circuit 14, and the illuminance detection circuit 19, and may be another circuit such as the power supply circuit 10.

  Further, in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the failure determination is started based on the temperature difference for 5 seconds (predetermined time), but the invention is not limited to this, and for example, the first to third temperature sensors T1 to T3. The failure determination may be started when the temperature detected based on the above indicates a temperature outside the predetermined range.

  Furthermore, the gas alarm 1 according to the present embodiment may be a gas fire alarm having a fire detection function. In this case, the gas fire alarm has a temperature sensor outside the case and checks the temperature outside the case to judge a fire. In addition, the gas fire alarm device learns the temperature by the internal temperature sensors T1 to T3. For example, when the temperature change exceeds the learned temperature range, the fire determination threshold value is lowered to It is preferable to detect the fire early by an external temperature sensor.

1: Gas alarm (alarm)
10: Power supply circuit 10a: Surge protection circuit 10b: Rectifier circuit 10c: Switching power supply circuit 11: Gas sensor 12: Gas sensor circuit 12a: Sensor drive circuit 12b: Gas / CO detection circuit 13: Power failure detection circuit 14: 5V constant voltage circuit 15: Temperature correction circuit 16: Display circuit 17: Voice alarm circuit 17a: Speaker 18: Switch circuit 19: Illuminance detection circuit 19a: Illuminance sensor 20: Booster circuit 21: Serial communication circuit 22: External output circuit 30: Microcomputer circuit 31: Failure judgment Department (fault judgment means)
32: Gas concentration calculation unit (gas concentration calculation means)
33: Life estimation part (life estimation means)
34: Alarm control unit (alarm control means)
B: Dry batteries C1, C2: Electrolytic capacitor (specific circuit)
T1 to T3: Temperature sensor T4: Humidity sensor TC: Target circuit

Claims (4)

An alarm device that outputs an alarm when an abnormal condition in the monitoring area is detected,
Failure determination means for determining the failure of the target circuit,
A temperature sensor arranged close to the target circuit,
The failure determination means starts the failure determination of the target circuit when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor shows a rising rate of a predetermined value or more or a temperature outside a predetermined range. And an alarm device. Further equipped with a humidity sensor to detect the ambient humidity,
The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the failure determination means starts a failure determination of the target circuit when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor indicates a humidity outside a specified range. The target circuit is a gas sensor circuit that outputs a signal according to the concentration of the surrounding detection target gas,
Gas concentration calculating means for calculating the gas concentration to be detected in accordance with the signal from the gas sensor circuit and correcting the calculation result of the gas concentration to be detected in accordance with the signals from the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor is further provided. The alarm device according to claim 2, further comprising: Life estimation means for estimating the life of a specific circuit based on a signal from the temperature sensor,
Alarm control means for outputting an alarm when the life estimated by the life estimating means is below a specified value,
The alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

Images