JP2535243B2 - Low frequency therapy device - Google Patents

Description

Description: <Industrial field of application> The present invention relates to a low frequency treatment device of a type in which output level adjustment is performed by a key switch system.

<Prior Art> The adjustment method of the output level of the low frequency treatment device is roughly classified into a volume adjustment method and a key switch setting method.

There are two types of volume methods, one with a power switch and one with a power switch separately from the volume. In the former, the change from the OFF position to the ON position and the volume adjustment at the ON position are a series of operations. In the latter, the volume is adjusted separately from turning on the power. In the former, the output level is always raised from zero level, whereas
In the latter case, it is possible to increase the output level from the output level corresponding to the volume position at the end of the previous use.

The key switch system targeted by the present invention sets the output level to 1 in order from the zero level each time the key switch is pressed.
It is a step-by-step process. The reason why the output level is increased from zero level and is increased step by step is to prevent the user from being shocked by a sudden strong stimulus. This is called the zero start method.

In addition, in this type of low frequency treatment device, the adjustment direction of the output level is only one direction, that is, the up direction,
This is due to cost constraints. In other words, if the down-type adjustment is also possible, another key switch is required, and the circuit configuration becomes complicated and the cost increases.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> A low-frequency treatment device is repeatedly used several times a day or every day by a person in need of low-frequency treatment. Thus, for a person who repeatedly uses the low frequency treatment device, an appropriate output level is generally determined.

However, the conventional zero-start type low-frequency treatment device is troublesome in that the key switch must be repeatedly pressed to increase the output level to an appropriate level each time it is used. Even if the key switch is operated in such a way, the adjustment itself depends on the intuition of the user to adjust the output level to the same level as the output level immediately before the power was turned off (the appropriate output level) at the time of previous use. It was quite difficult to do so.

With the volume type and the power switch that are separate from each other in the above-mentioned volume method, it is possible to keep the output level last time by keeping the volume position at the end of the previous use, but suddenly when the power is turned on again. Since the output level is output last time, there is an inconvenience that the user is shocked.

In the key switch system to which the present invention is applied, at present, the one in which the previous output level is stored has not been developed, but if the previous output level is stored in such a way, If the output level can be automatically set the last time by the key operation after turning on the power, it is not necessary to repeatedly press the key switch, and the usability should be improved.

However, in this case, if the previous output level is suddenly output, the user will be shocked, and this does not result in the zero start method.

The present invention was devised in view of such circumstances, in a key switch type low frequency treatment device, without impairing the comfort of use of the potential start method,
The purpose is to improve the usability by simplifying the adjustment operation up to the output level similar to the previous output level.

<Means for Solving the Problem> The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve such an object.

That is, according to the present invention, in the low frequency treatment device in which the output level is increased by one step each time the output level adjustment key switch (6) is pressed, the previous output level storage means for storing the output level immediately before the power is turned off. (24) and when the power is turned on and the key switch (6) is continuously pressed, the output level is changed from zero level to the previous output level stored in the previous output level storage means (24). Alternatively, it is provided with an output level adjusting means (A) for continuously increasing the level until it reaches a predetermined level lower than the previous output level by a certain level.

<Operation> The operation of the above configuration of the present invention is as follows.

When the key switch is pressed after the power is turned on, the output level adjusting means starts the output level up from the zero level. When the key switch is pressed intermittently, the output level adjusting means increases the output level by one step each time the key switch is pressed, so that the user can set a desired output level. When the power is turned off, the output level immediately before that is stored in the previous output level storage means as the previous output level. This previous output level is usually an appropriate output level for the user. This is because the power is turned off after continuing low frequency treatment at an appropriate level.

When the key switch is held down after the power is turned on again, the output level adjusting means continuously raises the output level as long as the key switch is held down, and is stored in the previous output level storing means. When the previous output level or a predetermined level lower than the previous output level is reached, level up is stopped. Therefore, the output level can be automatically set to the previous output level or a predetermined level by a simple operation of simply pressing the key switch. In addition, if you press the key switch after that,
The output level is increased by one step each time the key switch is pressed.

In addition, if the limit of continuous level increase is the previous output level, setting to the previous output level can be done quickly,
With a predetermined level lower than the previous output level by a constant level, the level can be increased step by step starting from the predetermined level.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

2 (a) is a schematic front view of the low frequency treatment device, and FIG. 2 (b) is a rear view thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, a power switch 4, an output level adjusting key switch 6, and a monitor lamp (LED) 8 are provided on the operation surface, which is the front surface of the low-frequency treatment device main body 2, and the rear surface thereof is provided. A pair of electrodes 10 for applying a low frequency pulse to the human body are provided on the electrode surface.

This low frequency treatment device is a cordless type, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a low frequency treatment device with a cord.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the low frequency treatment device shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, 12 is an ON / OFF control circuit, 14 is a pulse generator, 16 is a timer, 18 is a key input circuit, 20 is an output level setter, 22 is a D / A converter, and 24 is a previous output level storage means. (RAM), 26 is a comparator, 28 is a drive circuit,
The part surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line is composed of a microcomputer. The key input circuit 18, the output level setting device 20, and the comparator 26 constitute the output level adjusting means A in the configuration of the invention.

The ON / OFF control circuit 12 drives the pulse generator 14 and the timer 16 when the power switch 4 is turned ON, and when the power switch 4 is turned OFF or the timer 16 times out,
After the current output level of the output level setter 20 is transferred to the previous output level storage means 24 and stored as the previous output level, the output level setter 20 is reset and the pulse generator 14 is stopped at the same time. There is.

The pulse generator 14 is configured to generate a low frequency pulse and output it to the drive circuit 28 and the monitor lamp 8. The drive circuit 28 is configured to boost-control the low-frequency pulse from the pulse generator 14 to an output level according to the level control signal from the D / A converter 22 and output it to the electrode 10. However, in the initial state in which the level control signal is not output (when the power is turned on), the output to the electrode 10 is not performed. The monitor lamp 8 is configured to blink at a cycle corresponding to the low frequency pulse from the pulse generator 14.

The key input circuit 18 has a built-in up counter,
The function to increase the count value by one step each time the key switch 6 is pressed, and the count value is automatically and continuously increased by one step every predetermined time (0.5 to 1 sec) when the key switch 6 is continuously pressed. It has a function to improve the quality. The count data from the key input circuit 18 is designed to be sent to the output level setter 20,
The output level setter 20 is configured to set the output level based on the input count data. D / A
The converter 22 is configured to convert the digital output level input from the output level setter 20 into an analog level control signal and send it to the drive circuit 28.

The comparator 26 does not operate when the key switch 6 is intermittently pressed, but becomes active when the key switch 6 is continuously pressed, and the previous output level storage means
While reading the previous output level stored in it from 24, reading the current output level from the output level setter 20, comparing both levels, and when the current output level reaches the previous output level, the key input circuit It outputs a stop signal to 18. Key input circuit 18
When the stop signal is input, is configured to lock the count value at the time when the stop signal is input, even if the key switch 6 is continuously pressed.

Timer 16 is the specified duration of low frequency treatment (within 20 minutes)
When it counts up, an OFF signal is output to the ON / OFF control circuit 12, and the drive of the pulse generator 14 by the ON / OFF control circuit 12 is stopped to automatically power off the low frequency treatment device. Has become. Also, the ON / OFF control circuit 12
When the off signal from the timer 16 is input, or
When the power switch 4 is turned off, a control signal is sent to the output level setter 20, the current output level of the output level setter 20 immediately before the power is turned off is transferred to the previous output level storage means 24, and the current The output level is set as the previous output level in the previous output level storage means 24, and then the output level setter 20 is reset.

 Next, the operation of the low frequency treatment device of this embodiment will be described.

When the power switch 4 is turned ON, the ON / OFF control circuit 12 becomes active, drives the pulse generator 14, and simultaneously starts the timer 16. The pulse generator 14 delivers low frequency pulses to the drive circuit 28 and the monitor lamp 8. The monitor lamp 8 starts blinking at a cycle corresponding to the low-frequency pulse, but the drive circuit 28 does not output the level control signal from the D / A converter 22 until the key switch 6 is pressed, so that the electrode The low frequency pulse for 10 is not output.

Intermittent Push Operation Next, the key switch 6 is pushed. First, the operation when the key switch 6 is pushed intermittently will be described.

Each time the key switch 6 is pressed once, the key input circuit 18
Increases its count value from zero step by step. That is, the zero start method is secured.

The key input circuit 18 sends the count data to the output level setter 20. The output level setter 20 sets the output level based on the received count data, and the D / A
It is sent to the converter 22. The D / A converter 22 converts the received digital output level into an analog level control signal and sends it to the drive circuit 28. Drive circuit
28 boosts the output level of the low-frequency pulse from the pulse generator 14 according to the level control signal and outputs it to the electrode 10.

That is, each time the key switch 6 is pressed, the electrode 10
The output level (voltage level) of the low-frequency pulse for
It will be stepped up. Then, the user presses the key switch 6 intermittently repeatedly until the level of the low-frequency pulse felt by the body reaches an appropriate level.

When the user wants to stop the low frequency treatment, the power switch 4 is turned off, which causes the ON / OFF control circuit 12 to store the current output level of the output level setter 20 immediately before the power is turned off in the previous output level memory. After transferring to the means 24 and storing the present output level as the previous output level, the output level setter 20 is reset and at the same time, the pulse generator 14 is made inactive and the output of the low frequency pulse to the electrode 10 is stopped. At the same time, the monitor lamp 8 is turned off.

Even if the power switch 4 is not turned off, if the timer 16 counts up the specified continuous time,
An OFF signal is output to the ON / OFF control circuit 12, which causes the ON / OFF control circuit 12 to perform the same operation as described above.

Continuous Press Operation Next, the operation when the power switch 4 is turned on again and the key switch 6 is continuously pressed will be described.

The key input circuit 18 automatically and continuously increments the count value by one step from zero at predetermined time intervals (0.5 to 1 sec). Therefore, in this case as well, the zero start method is secured.

The output level setter 20 that receives the count data from the key input circuit 18 continuously raises the set output level, so that the output level of the low-frequency pulse output from the drive circuit 28 to the electrode 10 is also continuous. Will rise. Then, while the key switch 6 is continuously pressed, the comparator 26 becomes active, and the current output level of the output level setter 20 and the previous output level stored in the previous output level storage means 24 are constantly output. Compare with the level.

While the current output level is lower than the previous output level, the output from the comparator 26 to the key input circuit 18 is the “L” level, but when the current output level reaches the previous output level, the comparator 26 outputs the key. The "H" level stop signal is output to the input circuit 18, and as a result, the key input circuit 18 locks the count value at the time of inputting the stop signal.

After the count value is locked, the count value does not change even if the key switch 6 is continuously pressed. Therefore, the output level of the output level setter 20 is also locked, and the output level of the low frequency pulse output from the drive circuit 28 to the electrode 10 is also locked. The output level of the low-frequency pulse at this time is the same as the output level immediately before the power was turned off during the previous use.

As described above, the output level can be automatically set to the previous output level by a simple operation of simply pressing the key switch 6.

When the output level of the low frequency pulse to the electrode 10 is locked, the user releases the key switch 6. Then, after the key switch 6 is once released, the comparator 26 becomes inactive, and every time the key switch 6 is pressed once again, the output level can be increased by one step. it can.

By turning off the power again or counting up the timer 16, the output of the low frequency pulse from the electrode 10 is stopped and the monitor lamp 8 is turned off in the same manner as described above, and the output level immediately before the power is turned off is stored in the output level storage means 24. And are done.

If the pressing operation of the key switch 6 is canceled before the current output level reaches the previous output level during the continuous pressing operation, the continuous level-up stops at that point. The switch 6 can be intermittently pressed to increase the level step by step, or the continuous pressing operation can be performed again after the intermittent pressing operation to restart the continuous level-up. In the former case of intermittent pushing operation, the previous output level can be exceeded, but in the latter case of restarting continuous pushing operation, there is a limit up to the previous output level.

In the above embodiment, the current output level immediately before the power was turned off was stored in the previous output level storage means 24 as the previous output level, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the output level setter 20 and the previous output level storage By means of a subtractor or a multiplier between the means 24 or the previous output level storage means 24 and the comparator 26, a constant level (a constant value or a percentage reduction of the current output level from the previous output level It is also possible to compare the current output level with a predetermined level that is lower than the current output level. In this case, the continuous level increase can be temporarily stopped at a level lower than the previous output level, and from there, it can be increased by one step to approach the previous output level.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited.

(A) Since the output level increase is started from the zero level, the user is not shocked by the suddenly high output level, and the comfort of use of the zero start method can be secured.

(B) When setting the output level to an appropriate level, that is, the same level as the previous output level, it can be set automatically by simply pressing the key switch, so the trouble of repeatedly pressing the key switch is released, The adjustment operation can be simplified to improve usability.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a low-frequency therapeutic device, and FIG.
(A) of a figure is a front view of a low frequency treatment device, (b) is a rear view. 6 ... key switch, 24 ... previous output level storage means,
A: Output level adjustment means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A low-frequency treatment device in which the output level is increased by one step each time the output level adjustment key switch (6) is pressed, and the previous output level storage means (for storing the output level immediately before the power is turned off ( 24) and when the power is turned on and the key switch (6) is continuously pressed, the output level is changed from zero level to the previous output level stored in the previous output level storage means (24). A low-frequency treatment device comprising: an output level adjusting unit (A) that continuously increases until a predetermined level lower than the previous output level by a constant level is reached.