JP2020102085A - Alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an alarm that uses a microcomputer to select and control an electric power feed destination and can light an emergency lamp even at a time of replacing a power supply with an auxiliary power supply.SOLUTION: A gas alarm 1 includes an auxiliary power supply 20, and a microcomputer 11 that gives the alarm when determining based on a signal received from a gas sensor 10 that an abnormal state has occurred within a monitoring area, that determines whether it is in a power failure state in which feed of electric power from an external power supply EPS is discontinued, and that lights a white LED 14W using electric power fed from the auxiliary power supply 20 when determining to be in the power failure state. The microcomputer 11 is connected to the auxiliary power supply 20 via a switch 22 that is on in an initial state. In the initial state, the microcomputer can be activated with electric power fed from both the external power supply EPS and the auxiliary power supply 20. When determining not to be in the power failure state, the microcomputer controls and turns off the switch 22 so as to suspend electric power feed from the auxiliary power supply 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an alarm device.

Conventionally, there has been disclosed a fire alarm with an emergency light function that serves as emergency lighting in the event of a power failure. This fire alarm is designed to turn on the emergency lighting based on the built-in battery (standby power supply) when the power supply from the commercial power supply (external power supply) is cut off. According to this fire alarm device, the alarm device can be used as an emergency light in the event of a power failure such as a disaster.

JP, 2005-293308, A

Here, the alarm device described in Patent Document 1 includes an automatic switching circuit that automatically switches the contacts to the battery side in the event of a power failure without being controlled by the microcomputer. However, when the power supply destination is selected by the control of the microcomputer, the following configuration is assumed and the following problems may occur.

First, an alarm device in which a microcomputer is activated by electric power from an external power supply is assumed. This alarm device is installed in each home or the like, and when power is supplied from an external power source, the microcomputer is activated to monitor the occurrence of an abnormal state in the monitoring area. In this monitoring state, the microcomputer determines whether or not the voltage from the external power supply is reduced by the signal from the power failure detection circuit. When the microcomputer determines that the voltage from the external power supply has dropped, it switches the power supply destination to the standby power supply side before the voltage drops to a voltage at which it cannot operate, for example.

Here, for example, when the emergency light is used for a long time in a disaster, the standby power supply may be completely consumed. When the standby power source is completely consumed, the standby power source must be replaced (including the case where the standby power source that can be charged is taken out, charged, and then re-installed in the alarm device). In the status alarm, the microcomputer is started by the power from the external power supply, so even if the standby power supply is replaced, the microcomputer will not start and the power supply destination will not be switched to the standby power supply, and the emergency light will not light up. ..

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to turn on an emergency light even when replacing a standby power supply in a configuration in which a power supply destination is selectively controlled by a microcomputer. It is to provide an alarm device capable of performing.

The alarm device of the present invention is provided with a standby power source, and issues an alarm when it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred in the monitoring area based on a signal from the monitoring sensor, and is supplied with power from an external power source. It is provided with a microcomputer that determines whether or not the power supply is cut off and that turns on the lighting means by the power from the standby power supply when the power is off. The microcomputer is connected to the standby power supply via a switch that is turned on in the initial state and can be started by the power from both the external power source and the standby power source in the initial state, and the power supply from the external power source is cut off. When it is determined that the power is not dripping, the switch is turned off to stop the power supply from the standby power supply.

According to the alarm device of the present invention, the microcomputer is connected to the standby power supply via the switch that is turned on in the initial state, and can be activated by the power from both the external power source and the standby power source in the initial state. When it is determined that the power supply from the power supply is not cut off, the switch is controlled to be turned off to stop the power supply from the standby power supply. Therefore, even if the standby power supply is consumed and the standby power supply is replaced, the microcomputer is connected to the standby power supply through a switch that is turned on in the initial state, so the microcomputer is started by the standby power supply and the power failure state occurs. Then, the lighting means is turned on. Therefore, in the configuration in which the microcomputer selectively controls the power supply destination, the emergency light can be turned on even when the standby power supply is replaced.

It is a block diagram which shows the gas alarm which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the microcomputer of the gas alarm device 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.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a gas alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the gas alarm will be described as an example of the alarm, but the alarm is not limited to the gas alarm, and may be any other type of alarm such as a fire alarm, a gas fire alarm, and a human alarm. It may be.

A gas alarm device (alarm device) 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a gas sensor (an example of a monitoring sensor) 10, and a gas leak or incomplete combustion (an example of an abnormal state) occurs in a monitoring area based on a signal from the gas sensor 10. An alarm is issued when it is determined that it is occurring.

Such a gas alarm device 1 includes a microcomputer 11, an illuminance sensor 12, an LED drive unit 13, a plurality of LEDs 14, a speaker drive unit 15, and a speaker 16. The microcomputer 11 controls the entire gas alarm device 1, and includes a detection processing unit 11a and an alarm processing unit 11b.

The detection processing unit 11a detects the gas concentration of the detection target gas based on the signal from the gas sensor 10. The detection processing unit 11a also detects the ambient illuminance based on the signal from the illuminance sensor 12.

The alarm processing unit 11b determines that there is an abnormal state when the detection processing unit 11a detects a gas concentration higher than a predetermined concentration, and executes an alarm process. At this time, the alarm processing unit 11b drives the LED driving unit 13 and the speaker driving unit 15 to turn on (including blinking) at least one of the plurality of LEDs 14 and output an alarm sound from the speaker 16.

Furthermore, the gas alarm device 1 includes an insertion plug 17, a power supply unit 18, a power failure detection unit 19, a standby power supply 20, a booster circuit 21, a switch 22, and a standby power supply stop unit 23.

The plug 17 is a connection portion with an external power source EPS which is a commercial AC power source, and is insertable into and removable from a plug receiver PR which is installed on a wall surface or the like and electrically connected with the external power source EPS.

The power supply unit 18 converts the AC power from the external power supply EPS into DC power and adjusts the pressure. The power failure detection unit 19 outputs a signal to that effect to the microcomputer 11 when the power supply from the external power source EPS is cut off and the power failure occurs. The microcomputer 11 also includes a power failure determination unit 11c. The power outage determination unit 11c determines whether or not there is a power outage at present based on the signal from the power outage detection unit 19.

The standby power source 20 is a power supply source built in the gas alarm device 1, and may be a primary battery such as a dry battery, for example. A secondary battery may be used as the backup power source 20. The booster circuit 21 boosts the standby power supply 20 to a voltage suitable for the operation of the microcomputer 11.

The switch 22 is interposed between the standby power supply 20 and the microcomputer 11. When the switch 22 is on, the power of the backup power supply 20 is supplied to the microcomputer 11, and when the switch 22 is off, the power supply is cut off. To be done. The switch 22 is turned on in the initial state, and is composed of, for example, a normally closed switch.

The standby power supply stopping unit 23 is controlled by the microcomputer 11, and when the power failure judging unit 11c judges that the power is not in a power failure state, that is, when the power supply from the external power source EPS is not cut off. In response to this instruction, the switch 22 is controlled to be turned off to stop the power supply from the standby power supply 20. On the other hand, when the power failure determining unit 11c determines that the power failure occurs, the above instruction from the microcomputer 11 is not issued. Therefore, the standby power supply stop unit 23 supplies the power from the standby power supply 20 to the microcomputer 11 without controlling the switch 22 to be turned off.

Further, the microcomputer 11 includes an emergency light processing unit 11d. The emergency light processing unit 11d controls the LED driving unit 13 to determine the white LED (illumination) among the plurality of LEDs 14 in a state where the power failure determination unit 11c determines that the power failure state is present and the power is being supplied from the standby power supply 20. Means) Turn on 14W. This white LED 14W will function as an emergency light.

In addition, the microcomputer 11 is determined to be in a power failure state by the power failure determination unit 11c, and is in a state of being supplied with power from the standby power supply 20, the detection processing unit 11a (excluding detection based on a signal from the illuminance sensor 12). Also, the execution of the processing by the alarm processing unit 11b is stopped. As a result, it is possible to prolong the usage time of the emergency light without consuming the power of the standby power supply 20 for the gas concentration detection and the alarm execution.

In addition, the gas alarm device 1 includes an operation switch 24. The emergency light processing unit 11d turns on or off the white LED 14W when the operation switch 24 is operated while receiving power from the standby power supply 20. Further, the emergency light processing unit 11d executes control to turn off the white LED 14W when the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor 12 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the microcomputer 11 of the gas alarm device 1 according to this embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 2 is started when the microcomputer 11 is activated. The microcomputer 11 is started up by inserting the plug 17 into the plug receiving PR and supplying power from the external power supply EPS, or in the initial state even if the power is not supplied from the external power supply EPS. When the power is turned on, power is supplied from the standby power supply 20.

When the process shown in FIG. 2 is started, the power failure determination unit 11c of the microcomputer 11 determines whether the external power supply EPS is in the ON state based on the signal from the power failure detection unit 19 (S1). If the external power supply EPS is not in the ON state (S1: NO), that is, if the microcomputer 11 is activated by the standby power supply 20, the process proceeds to step S8.

On the other hand, when the external power supply EPS is on (S1: YES), the microcomputer 11 stops the supply of the standby power supply 20 (S2). In this process, the microcomputer 11 operates the standby power supply stop unit 23 to turn off the switch 22. Further, the microcomputer 11 similarly controls the booster circuit 21 to be turned off.

After that, the microcomputer 11 causes the gas alarm 1 to perform a normal operation (S3). That is, the microcomputer 11 will monitor the abnormal state.

Next, the power failure determination unit 11c of the microcomputer 11 determines whether a power failure has occurred based on the signal from the power failure detection unit 19 (S4). When the power outage determination unit 11c determines that the power outage is not in progress (S4: NO), the process proceeds to step S3.

When the power outage determination unit 11c determines that there is a power outage (S4: YES), the microcomputer 11 cancels the supply stop of the standby power supply 20 (S5). That is, the microcomputer 11 releases the off command to the standby power supply stop unit 23. As a result, the switch 22 is turned on. The microcomputer 11 also releases the operation stop state of the booster circuit 21.

Next, when the microcomputer 11 receives the power supply from the standby power supply 20, the operation as the gas alarm device 1 is stopped (S6). At this time, the execution of the processing by the detection processing unit 11a (excluding the detection based on the signal from the illuminance sensor 12) and the alarm processing unit 11b is stopped.

After that, the microcomputer 11 drives the speaker driving unit 15 to cause the speaker 16 to output a power failure message indicating that the power failure has occurred (S7). Next, the emergency light processing unit 11d of the microcomputer 11 operates the gas alarm device 1 as an emergency light (S8). In this process, the emergency light processing unit 11d drives the LED driving unit 13 to turn on the white LED 14W.

Next, the power failure determination unit 11c of the microcomputer 11 determines whether the power recovery state has been restored from the power failure state based on the signal from the power failure detection unit 19 (S9). When the power failure determination unit 11c determines that the power is not restored (S9: NO), the process proceeds to step S8.

When the power failure determination unit 11c determines that the power is restored (S9: YES), the microcomputer 11 stops the supply of the standby power supply 20 (S10). In this process, the microcomputer 11 operates the standby power supply stop unit 23 to turn off the switch 22. Further, the microcomputer 11 similarly controls the booster circuit 21 to be turned off.

Next, the microcomputer 11 determines whether the process shown in FIG. 2 is started by the power from the standby power supply 20 (S11). When the microcomputer 11 determines that the power supply from the standby power source 20 has started (S11: YES), the process proceeds to step S3.

On the other hand, when the microcomputer 11 determines that the power is not started by the power from the standby power source 20 (S11: NO), that is, when the process is started by the power from the external power source EPS, the gas alarm device 1 includes the external power source EPS. After the electric power is supplied from the external power supply EPS, the electric power is supplied again from the external power supply EPS after the power failure state. In this case, the microcomputer 11 drives the speaker driving unit 15 and causes the speaker 16 to sound a power recovery message (S12). After that, the process proceeds to step S3.

The process shown in FIG. 2 is continuously executed until the power from the external power supply EPS is not supplied and the power of the standby power supply 20 is consumed.

In this way, according to the gas alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment, the microcomputer 11 is connected to the standby power supply 20 via the switch 22 that is turned on in the initial state, and the external power supply EPS and the standby power source are connected in the initial state. It can be activated by the power from both power sources 20, and when the power supply from the external power source EPS is not cut off, the switch 22 is controlled to be off to stop the power supply from the standby power source 20. Therefore, even if the standby power source 20 is consumed and the standby power source 20 is replaced, the microcomputer 11 is connected to the standby power source 20 via the switch 22 that is turned on in the initial state. The white LED 14W is turned on by determining the power failure state. Therefore, in the configuration in which the power supply destination is selectively controlled by the microcomputer 11, the emergency light can be turned on even when the standby power supply 20 is replaced.

Particularly, in Patent Document 1, an automatic switching circuit is provided, and the automatic switching circuit selectively switches the contact between the external power source side and the standby power source side. Therefore, when the power failure detection circuit fails, the automatic switching circuit does not operate and the emergency light cannot be used. However, the gas alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment is one in which the switch 22 is turned on in the initial state and is provided for the backup power source 20, and the external power source EPS side or the backup power source 20 is provided. It does not selectively switch between the side. Therefore, the power from the standby power supply 20 is first supplied to the microcomputer 11 regardless of the result of the power failure detection. Therefore, the emergency light can be used even when the failure of the power failure detection unit 19 does not depend on the result of the power failure detection. it can.

Further, when the microcomputer 11 determines that the power supply from the external power supply EPS is cut off and the power supply is cut off, the microcomputer 11 is activated by the power boosted by the booster circuit 21. The microcomputer 11 can be properly activated even if a voltage that is insufficient for operating the memory 11 is obtained.

Further, the microcomputer 11 stops the power supply from the standby power supply 20 and the operation of the booster circuit 21 when the power supply from the external power supply EPS is not cut off. Therefore, when the standby power source 20 can obtain only a voltage insufficient to operate the microcomputer 11 and the booster circuit 21 is provided, the operation of the booster circuit 21 can be appropriately stopped.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, 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 suitable changes are possible. You may combine the technique of. Furthermore, known or well-known techniques may be combined within a possible range.

For example, although the gas alarm device 1 sounds a message at the time of power failure or power recovery in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the message does not have to sound, and is externally transmitted by displaying a plurality of LEDs 14 or the like. You may do it.

Further, although the gas alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the booster circuit 21 for the standby power supply 20, the invention is not limited to this, and the booster circuit 21 is not provided, and a voltage suitable for starting the microcomputer 11 is provided. The resulting standby power source 20 may be installed.

1: Gas alarm (alarm)
10: Gas sensor (monitoring sensor)
11: Microcomputer 11a: Detection processing unit 11b: Alarm processing unit 11c: Power failure determination unit 11d: Emergency light processing unit 12: Illuminance sensor 13: LED drive unit 14: Multiple LEDs
14W: White LED (illumination means)
15: speaker drive unit 16: speaker 17: plug 18: power supply unit 19: power failure detection unit 20: standby power supply 21: booster circuit 22: switch 23: standby power supply stop unit 24: operation switch EPS: external power supply PR: plug received

Claims (3)

In addition to having a standby power supply, in an alarm device that issues an alarm when it is determined that an abnormal state has occurred in the monitoring area based on the signal from the monitoring sensor,
Lighting means that can be turned on,
Along with determining whether or not the power supply from the external power supply is in a power failure state, the microcomputer that turns on the lighting means by the power from the standby power supply when it is determined to be in the power failure state,
The microcomputer is connected to the standby power supply via a switch that is turned on in the initial state, and can be activated by power from both the external power supply and the standby power supply in the initial state, and must be in the power failure state. An alarm device characterized in that when judged, the switch is controlled to be turned off to stop the power supply from the standby power supply. Further comprising a booster circuit for boosting the standby power supply,
The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein, when the microcomputer determines that it is in the power failure state, the microcomputer is activated by power boosted by the booster circuit. The alarm device according to claim 2, wherein the microcomputer stops the power supply from the standby power supply and stops the operation of the booster circuit when it is determined that the power failure is not occurring.

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