JP3582268B2 - Solenoid drive device, valve device and automatic water supply device using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has a solenoid driving device that has a latching solenoid and a drive timing detection unit that determines the drive timing of the latching solenoid, and starts energization from a drive power supply at a drive timing determined by the detection unit to drive the latching solenoid. The present invention relates to a valve device and an automatic water supply device using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, water supply systems such as urinals, hand basins, and wash basins have been used to detect each location (for urinals, in front of the toilet, and for hand basins and wash basins, in front of the faucet fittings). ), Automatic water supply is performed when an object to be detected such as a human body or a hand enters. In order to realize such an automatic water supply function, a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a photodiode constitute a detection circuit for detecting a human body and the like. The energization of the solenoid coil constituting the valve is started.
[0003]
By the way, the latching solenoid can move the plunger by energizing the coil and hold the plunger once moved by the permanent magnet at the position after the movement, so that energizing the solenoid can be completed only in a short time only when the plunger moves. There is an advantage. Further, due to this advantage, not only the capacity of the power supply used can be reduced, but also the power supply circuit can be reduced in size and cost. For this reason, the latching solenoid is frequently used as an on-off valve in the above-mentioned water supply device. In driving and controlling the latching solenoid, various control methods have been put to practical use in order to take advantage of the feature that the energization time is short.
[0004]
According to the first control method, the energization time to the coil of the latching solenoid is compared with a predetermined set time, and when the energization time reaches the set time, the energization is stopped by determining that the plunger movement by the coil is completed. The second control method is to compare the amount of electricity supplied to the coil (the amount of charged electricity) with a predetermined set amount of electricity, and when the amount of supplied electricity reaches the set amount of electricity, determine that the plunger movement by the coil is also completed. To stop. As a third control method, as proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-58610, etc., a current value supplied to a coil is sequentially detected to determine a maximum value and a minimum value of a supplied current, and this maximum value and a minimum value are determined. When the result of the comparison with the value becomes a predetermined value, it is determined that the movement of the plunger by the coil is completed, and the power supply is stopped.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the water supply device adopting the above-described control method, there is no particular problem in the function of detecting a human body and the like and performing and stopping automatic water supply, but the following disadvantages have been pointed out.
[0006]
As described above, since the energization time is short, a battery or a low-voltage AC power supply is used as a driving power supply for the latching solenoid. In these drive power supplies, it may be difficult to maintain a stable voltage at all times, and the reduction in the voltage reduces the current flowing through the coil. In particular, in the case of a battery, it occurs inevitably as the use time increases. On the other hand, the water pressure on the primary side that supplies water to the water supply device is not constant but may fluctuate. Accordingly, the time from the start of energization to the actual completion of the movement of the plunger and the amount of energized electricity also change due to a voltage drop or a fluctuation in water pressure. Therefore, in the first and second control methods, it is necessary to provide a sufficient margin for the set time and the set amount of electricity. Taking the first control method as an example, when the design voltage can be obtained from the drive power supply, for example, when a new battery is used, the time until the movement of the plunger is actually completed is determined by the time for energizing the coil. The set time used for comparison cannot be set, and the set time should be about 1.5 to 3 times the set time. For this reason, depending on the state of use of the battery, energization must be performed even though the movement of the brassiere has been completed, and wasteful energization has been performed. The same applies to the second control method. It is to be noted that it is necessary to provide such a margin in the first and second control methods because it is not actually detected that the movement of the plunger is completed, but the completion of the movement of the plunger based on the energizing time or the amount of energized electricity. Due to expectation.
[0007]
On the other hand, when the coil of the latching solenoid is energized, the energizing current increases with the passage of time at the beginning of energization, and the plunger starts to move. When the plunger moves, a back electromotive force is generated in the coil with the movement of the plunger, so that the energizing current temporarily decreases. Next, when the movement of the plunger is completed, the back electromotive force disappears, and the energizing current increases again. That is, the current changes from the maximum value to the minimum value while the coil is energized, and the third control method can detect the completion of the movement of the plunger through this current change. Therefore, the third control method is excellent in that the energization can be stopped when the movement of the plunger is actually completed to avoid unnecessary energization, but the detection of the local maximum value and the local minimum value is necessary. However, there are the following problems.
[0008]
In the third control method, normally, a change in current is converted into a change in voltage to detect a local maximum value and a local minimum value. For the detection of the local maximum value, a peak hold circuit, a reference voltage serving as a threshold for determining whether the value is the local maximum value, a comparator for performing the determination, and the like are required. For the detection of the minimum value, a bottom hold circuit, a reference voltage, and a comparator corresponding to the detection of the maximum value are required. Furthermore, since the voltage of the drive power supply for energizing the coil of the solenoid changes, specifically, if a battery is used as the drive power supply, the voltage changes (decreases) according to the period of use. The value of the minimum value changes according to the voltage of the driving power supply. For this reason, in order to detect the transition of the current from the maximum value to the minimum value with high accuracy to improve the detection accuracy of the completion of the movement of the plunger and to avoid unnecessary energization, it is necessary to detect the maximum value according to the voltage fluctuation of the driving power supply. And the reference voltage for detecting the minimum value must be generated, and the circuit configuration is complicated.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to improve detection accuracy of completion of movement of a plunger with a simple circuit configuration and to avoid wasteful energization.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
In order to solve such a problem, a solenoid driving device according to a first aspect of the present invention
A latching solenoid that moves the plunger when the power is received and holds the position of the plunger after the movement, and a drive timing detection unit that determines the drive timing of the latching solenoid; A device that starts energizing a latching solenoid to drive the latching solenoid,
Energizing current waveform after energization to the latching solenoid is startedWaveform detection means for detecting a first signal waveform representing
Waveform generating means for receiving the input of the first signal waveform, performing delay processing on the first signal waveform, and generating a delayed waveform;
Extracting means for extracting, based on the detected first signal waveform and the delay waveform, a signal component that appears in the energized current waveform and indicates the completion of movement of the plunger;
When the signal component is extractedAnd stopping means for stopping power supply to the latching solenoid.
It is characterized by the following.
[0020]
SecondThe valve device of the invention is:
A latching solenoid that moves the plunger when the power is received and holds the position of the plunger after the movement, and a drive timing detection unit that determines the drive timing of the latching solenoid; A valve device that starts energizing a latching solenoid to drive the latching solenoid, and opens and closes a fluid line with the latching solenoid,
Waveform detection means for detecting a first signal waveform representing an energization current waveform after energization of the latching solenoid has been started;
Waveform generating means for receiving the input of the first signal waveform, performing delay processing on the first signal waveform, and generating a delayed waveform;
Extracting means for extracting, based on the detected first signal waveform and the delay waveform, a signal component that appears in the energized current waveform and indicates the completion of movement of the plunger;
And stopping means for stopping energization of the latching solenoid when the signal component is extracted.
It is characterized by the following.
[0021]
Furthermore,ThirdThe automatic water supply device of the invention is:
An automatic water supply device that executes water supply to a water supply device in accordance with detection of a detection target,
An on-off valve that has a latching solenoid that moves the plunger when it receives power and holds the position of the plunger after the movement, and that opens and closes a fluid line with the latching solenoid;
A detection unit that detects use of the water supply device and determines the opening / closing timing of the on-off valve;
Control means for starting energization from the drive power supply to the latching solenoid at the determined opening / closing timing, and controlling the drive of the latching solenoid;
The control means includes:
Waveform detection means for detecting a first signal waveform representing an energization current waveform after energization of the latching solenoid has been started;
Waveform generating means for receiving the input of the first signal waveform, performing delay processing on the first signal waveform, and generating a delayed waveform;
Extracting means for extracting, based on the detected first signal waveform and the delay waveform, a signal component that appears in the energized current waveform and indicates the completion of movement of the plunger;
And stopping means for stopping energization of the latching solenoid when the signal component is extracted.
It is characterized by the following.
[0022]
Having the above configurationFirstThe solenoid drive of the invention,SecondThe valve device of the invention andThirdIn the automatic water supply device of the present invention, energization from the drive power supply to the latching solenoid is started at a timing determined by the detection unit, and a first signal waveform representing a current waveform of the started energization is detected. This energizing current waveform increases as time elapses, as described above, and temporarily decreases due to the back electromotive force generated due to the movement of the plunger. Then, when the movement of the plunger is completed, the back electromotive force disappears and again. The energizing current has a waveform that increases, and such a current variation is also reflected in the first signal waveform. On the other hand, when the first signal waveform is subjected to delay processing, the above-mentioned current fluctuation in the high frequency region due to the movement of the plunger is not smoothed and appears in the delayed waveform. Significant fluctuations appear. Therefore, a signal component associated with the movement of the plunger that appears in the energized current waveform can be extracted from the first signal waveform reflecting the current fluctuation due to the movement of the plunger and the delay waveform not reflecting such current fluctuation. , This signal component indicates the completion of the movement of the plunger. Therefore, if this signal component is extracted, it can be said that the movement of the plunger has been completed.
[0023]
For this reason,FirstThe solenoid drive of the invention,SecondThe valve device of the invention andThirdADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the automatic water supply apparatus of this invention, completion of movement of a plunger is grasped | ascertained through extraction of the signal component which shows completion of movement of a plunger, and when a movement of a plunger is actually completed, energization is stopped and wasteful energization can be avoided. In addition, even if the voltage of the drive power supply fluctuates, the time from the start of movement of the plunger to the completion of the movement is almost constant. It occurs regardless of the fluctuation and does not appear in the delayed signal. Therefore, there is no need for a circuit configuration capable of changing an electrical property, for example, a voltage according to a voltage change of the driving power supply, and the circuit configuration can be simplified.
[0024]
Having the above configurationFirstThe solenoid drive of the invention,SecondThe valve device of the invention orThirdIn the automatic water supply device of the present invention, the following aspects may be adopted. The first aspect is
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The waveform generating means has a delay circuit including a capacitor and a resistor, and a CR filter circuit to which the voltage waveform is input.
[0025]
The second aspect is
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The waveform generating means has a delay circuit composed of an LR filter circuit that includes a coil and a resistor and receives the voltage waveform.
[0026]
According to the first and second aspects, since a CR filter circuit or an LR filter circuit having a known and simple circuit configuration may be used, the circuit configuration can be further simplified.
[0027]
Further, in the first aspect,
The waveform generating means is configured to control the operation of the CR filter circuit during a period from when the energization is started to when a predetermined time earlier than a time at which a signal component indicating the completion of movement of the plunger is expected to be extracted is reached. There is a time constant changing means for changing the time constant to a small value.
[0028]
According to the third aspect, a signal waveform whose first signal waveform is delayed appears immediately before the completion of the movement of the plunger in the delay waveform, and before that, a waveform substantially the same as the first signal waveform appears. . For this reason, the signal component extracted from the first signal waveform and the delay signal more clearly indicates the completion of the movement of the plunger. Therefore, according to the third aspect, the completion of the movement of the plunger is more reliably detected through the extraction of the signal component indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger. Can be avoided more reliably.
[0029]
Further, in the third aspect,
The time constant varying means includes a short-circuiting means for short-circuiting the resistor included in the CR filter circuit to input the first signal waveform.
[0030]
According to the fourth aspect, wasteful energization can be more reliably avoided with a simple circuit configuration in which a resistor is short-circuited.
[0031]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an example of a hand-washing machine. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of an automatic water supply type hand washing machine. As shown in the figure, the hand washer was fixed to a faucet fitting 14 attached to a top plate 12 integrated with a hand washing ball 10, a valve unit 16 located below the top plate 12, and a building wall surface. And a battery box 18. In this hand washing machine, when it is detected that a hand has been inserted into the hand washing ball 10, the diaphragm valve 20 of the valve unit 16 is opened to reach the primary side water supply port 22 and the faucet downstream thereof. It is configured to discharge water from a water discharge fitting 26 at the tip of the faucet fitting 14 via a pipe 24. Further, when the hand comes out of the hand-washing ball 10, the diaphragm valve 20 is closed, and the water discharge performed so far is stopped.
[0032]
A detection window 28 facing the ball surface of the hand-washing ball 10 is opened in the faucet fitting 14, and a control unit 30 for detecting a human body and controlling valve opening / closing is installed behind the detection window 28. The control unit 30 is fixed to the faucet fitting 14 via a circuit board 31 forming the bottom of the box. The control unit 30 includes various electronic devices such as a microcomputer, which will be described later, mounted on the circuit board 31 and surrounded by a case.
[0033]
The valve unit 16 normally has the diaphragm valve 20 in a closed state, and has a latching solenoid 23 as a driving power supply for the diaphragm. The latching solenoid 23 moves the plunger connected to the diaphragm forward and backward by energizing the coil, and when the plunger is moved from the valve-closing side to the valve-opening side, the plunger is permanently at its moving position (valve-opening side). Hold by magnet. The movement of the plunger from the valve-opening position to the valve-closing side is performed by separating the plunger from the permanent magnet and moving the plunger to a position where magnetic attraction does not occur, and holding the plunger at the moving position (valve-closed position). I do. The diaphragm valve 20 opens and closes the pipeline by moving and holding the plunger by the latching solenoid 23.
[0034]
The battery box 18 stores a predetermined number of AA alkaline batteries, and uses the stored dry batteries as a drive power source for the control unit 30 and also as a drive power source for the latching solenoid 23 via the control unit 30. A power supply line is wired between the battery box 18 and the control unit 30 of the faucet fitting 14, and a solenoid drive line is wired between the control unit 30 and the latching solenoid 23.
[0035]
Next, an electrical configuration of the control unit 30 of the above-described handwasher will be described with reference to a block circuit diagram shown in FIG. As shown, Of this reference example (first reference example)The control unit 30 mainly includes a microcomputer 32. The microcomputer 32 always receives the voltage of the battery 33 housed in the battery box 18 as a drive voltage, and its operation clock is determined by the oscillator 34.
[0036]
The control unit 30 further includes a detection circuit 38 for detecting the presence or absence of a hand on the hand-washing ball 10. The detection circuit 38 detects light in the infrared region (hereinafter, referred to as infrared light) (Referred to as light), and a photodiode 36 that receives light reflected by a hand or the like that has entered the detection target location. The detection circuit 38 is configured to receive application of a voltage from the battery 33 via a switching circuit 37 that is turned on and off by the microcomputer 32, and to transmit and receive signals to and from the microcomputer 32. The LED 35 is mounted on the back surface of the circuit board 31 so as to face the detection target as shown in FIG. The photodiode 36 is also mounted on the back surface of the circuit board 31 so as to face the detection target like the LED 35. In this case, the detection circuit 38 emits infrared light from the LED 35 to the detection target while the switching circuit 37 is in the ON state. When the amount of light received by the photodiode 36 reflected by the detection target such as the hand exceeds the predetermined amount of received light, a valve opening signal is output to the microcomputer 32 as the water supply timing, and the amount of received light becomes the predetermined amount. When it decreases to the value, it is determined that it is the water stop timing and a valve closing signal is output. At this time, the electric signal obtained from the photodiode 36 is integrated by an integration circuit of the detection circuit 38, and the integrated value (integration result) is processed by a comparator, an A / D converter, and the like, and is processed by a microcomputer. 32 is used to determine the presence / absence of the detection target, and thus to determine the water supply timing.
[0037]
The latching solenoid 23 has a coil 39 for generating an electromagnetic force for moving the plunger, and a transistor bridge 40 for energizing the coil 39 and determining the direction of the current at that time. Each transistor of the transistor bridge 40 is connected to an output port of a microcomputer 32 as shown in the figure, and when it is determined that the microcomputer 32 opens or closes the diaphragm valve 20 as described later, It is turned on and off as follows. For example, if it is the valve opening timing, the output ports P02 and P04 are kept off and the output ports P01 and P03 are turned on at the same time. As a result, a current flows from the battery 33 to the coil 39 through the transistors corresponding to the output ports in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2, and the diaphragm valve 20 is driven to open. When terminating the energization for opening the valve, the output ports P01 and P03 that have been turned on are simultaneously turned off, and the energization for opening the valve to the coil 39 is terminated. On the other hand, at the valve closing timing, the output ports P01 and P03 are kept off and the output ports P02 and P04 are turned on at the same time. As a result, a current flows from the battery 33 to the coil 39 via the transistors corresponding to these output ports in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2, and the diaphragm valve 20 is driven to close. When terminating the energization for closing the valve, the output ports P02 and P04 that have been turned on are simultaneously turned off, and the energization for closing the coil 39 ends.
[0038]
The control unit 30 has an energization monitoring circuit 41 in addition to the detection circuit 38 for detecting a human body described above. The energization monitoring circuit 41 monitors the current applied to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23 and regulates the energization termination timing. The non-inverting amplifier circuit is connected to the detection resistor 42 connected to the coil 39. 43, a high frequency component detection circuit 44, and an output adjustment circuit 55. The non-inverting amplifying circuit 43 has an operational amplifier 45, a resistor 46 connected to its negative terminal, and a resistor 47 incorporated in a short-circuit line between the negative terminal and the output. At this time, the voltage generated in the detection resistor 42 is amplified and output without inverting its phase.
[0039]
The high-frequency component detection circuit 44 is for extracting a signal component having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency of the input signal. The high-frequency component detection circuit 44 includes a capacitor 49 and a resistor 50 connected in series to a negative terminal of an operational amplifier 48, A terminal is provided with a reference power supply 51 for generating a reference voltage V 1, and a short circuit between the negative terminal and the output of the operational amplifier 48 has a resistor 52. Further, the output adjustment circuit 55 converts the output from the high-frequency component detection circuit 44 into a pulse and uses it as an input signal to the microcomputer 32. The comparator 53 inputs the output of the operational amplifier 48 to the plus terminal, And a reference power supply 54 connected to the positive terminal to generate the reference voltage V2. The high frequency component detection circuit 44 extracts a signal component having a frequency equal to or higher than the frequency determined by the capacitance of the capacitor 49 and the resistance value of the resistor 50 from the input signal amplified and output by the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43, and The component is inverted and amplified with respect to the reference voltage V1 and output to the output adjustment circuit 55. The output adjustment circuit 55 receiving this output compares this inverted amplified signal with the reference voltage V2 to form a pulse and outputs it to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. In this case, the reference voltage V2 is set slightly higher than the reference voltage V1.
[0040]
Here, the state of signal processing by the conduction monitoring circuit 41 will be described. When the transistor bridge 40 is switched to start energization for opening the coil 39 as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, from the time T1 of the valve opening timing, the coil 39 is gradually increased according to the time constant of the coil 39. Current flows through the coil 39, and the current value increases. The electromagnetic force acting on the plunger increases due to the increase in the current, and the plunger starts moving at a certain time T2. Then, a back electromotive force is generated in the coil 39 by the inductive action with the movement of the plunger, and the current flowing through the coil 39 is temporarily reduced by the back electromotive force. When the movement of the plunger is completed, the back electromotive force disappears (time T3), and the current flowing through the coil 39 thereafter increases again. This change in current after the start of energization is regarded as a change in voltage generated in the detection resistor 42 connected to the coil 39, and is shown in FIG. The voltage that changes in this way is input as an input signal from the branch point 42a (see FIG. 2) to the non-inverting amplifier 43 of the conduction monitoring circuit 41, and is output as amplified by the non-inverting amplifier 43 ( FIG. 3 (b). The amplified output is subjected to the extraction of the high-frequency component by the capacitor 49 and the resistor 50 of the high-frequency component detection circuit 44 and the inversion amplification by the operational amplifier 48, and the inverted output from the operational amplifier 48 is obtained (FIG. 3C).
[0041]
The inverted output is input to the comparator 53 of the output adjustment circuit 55 from the plus terminal, and the reference voltage V2 of the reference power supply 54 is input from the minus terminal (FIG. 3D). The result of the comparison of the signal by the comparator 53, that is, the final output from the conduction monitoring circuit 41 becomes a pulse output as shown in FIG. 3E, and is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. Since this pulse-like output is generated as described above due to a current change caused by the completion of the movement of the plunger, it becomes a signal indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger. Note that the state of the signal shown in FIG. 3 is a case where the power is continuously supplied from time T1, and when the diaphragm valve 20 is opened, a predetermined time has elapsed from time T3 when the movement of the plunger is completed. The energization ends at the time T4. The power supply end timing (time T4) in this case is determined by automatic water supply control described later.
[0042]
Next, the automatic water supply control (routine) performed by the control unit 30 of the hand-washing machine having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. The automatic water supply routine shown in FIG. 4 is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals. First, a sensor for human body detection is driven to prepare for human body detection (step S100). That is, the output port P06 is turned on, the LED 35 is turned on, and the detection circuit 38 irradiates the detection target portion with infrared light and scans the light receiving state of the photodiode 36. Then, it waits for a detection signal from the detection circuit 38 to be input.
[0043]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a human body has been detected based on the input of the detection signal from the detection circuit 38 (step S110). If an affirmative determination is made, it is determined whether or not water is still (step S120). In other words, when a human body is detected in this routine this time, the human body has been detected in the previous routine and the water has already been discharged, or water is still stopped because the human body detection in this routine is the first one. It is determined whether it is in the state. In this case, the determination as to whether or not the water is still can be made as follows. The history of ON / OFF of the output ports P01 to P04 related to the energization of the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23 is configured to be stored in the RAM of the microcomputer 32. Based on the stored history, the current valve state of the diaphragm valve 20 is stored. I understand. For example, if the immediately preceding storage result is (output ports P01, P03 = ON / output ports P02, P04 = OFF), a current flows through the coil 39 in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. It can be seen that 20 has been driven to the valve opening side. Also, instead of the output port on / off history, a flow sensor or the like may be separately provided to determine from the output whether water is still or not.
[0044]
If a negative determination is made in step S120, it can be said that the water discharge has already been started by the present routine before the previous time and the water is being discharged at the present time. Therefore, the present routine is temporarily terminated without performing any processing. On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S120, it means that a human body has been detected but water has not been discharged. Therefore, the valve opening energization process for opening the diaphragm valve 20 is started in order to promptly discharge water in response to the human body detection (step S130). That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the detailed processing of step S130, first, the output ports P01 and P03 are turned on, the output ports P02 and P04 are turned off, and the switch for opening the transistor bridge 40 is opened. The state is set (step S131). As a result, a current flows from the battery 33 to the coil 39 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 to drive the diaphragm valve 20 to the valve opening side. When the valve is driven in this manner, the primary water supply port 22 and the pipe 24 communicate with each other in the valve unit 16, and water discharge from the faucet fitting 14 is started.
[0045]
Subsequent to the above-described switching, the input state of the signal from the conduction monitoring circuit 41 is scanned to determine the presence or absence of a Hi-level signal in the pulsed output signal (step S133), and until the Hi-level signal is input. stand by. If there is an input of the Hi-level signal, it is determined whether or not the Low-level signal has been input in the pulse-like output signal (step S135), and the process waits until the input of the Low-level signal. If this Low level signal is input, it is determined that the movement of the plunger to the valve-opening side is completed by energizing the coil 39 to open the valve, and the transistor bridge 40 is switched to the valve-opening end (step S137). That is, the output ports P01 and P03 that have been turned on are turned off, and all of the output ports P01 to P04 are turned off. As a result, the energization of the coil 39 to open the valve is terminated, but the plunger is kept moved to the valve opening side due to the nature of the latching solenoid 23. Therefore, once the diaphragm valve 20 is thus opened, the diaphragm valve 20 is kept open by the holding function of the latching solenoid 23. Therefore, the water discharge started in accordance with the human body detection is continued until the following water stop processing is performed. When step S134 is executed, the process of this routine is once terminated, and the process from step S100 is repeated after a predetermined time has elapsed. Note that the time at which the input of the Low level signal is determined in step S135 is the power supply end timing (time T4) shown in FIG.
[0046]
On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S110 shown in FIG. 4 that a human body has not been detected, it is determined whether water is being discharged (step S140). In other words, if a human body has not been detected in this routine this time, the human body has not been detected in the previous previous routine and the water has already stopped, or the human body has not been detected for the first time in this routine, and the water is still being discharged. It is determined. In this case, the determination as to whether or not water is being discharged is made based on the history of ON / OFF of the output ports P01 to P04 as described above.
[0047]
If a negative determination is made in step S140, it can be said that the water has been stopped by the present routine before the previous time, and thus the present routine is temporarily terminated without performing any processing. However, if an affirmative determination is made in step S140, it means that the human body has not been detected but has been discharged. Therefore, in order to stop the water promptly in response to the non-detection of the human body, a valve closing energizing process for closing the diaphragm valve 20 is started (step S150). That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 showing the detailed processing of step S150, first, the output ports P02 and P04 are turned on, and the output ports P01 and P03 are turned off to close the transistor bridge 40. The state is set (step S151). As a result, a current flows from the battery 33 to the coil 39 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 to drive the diaphragm valve 20 to the valve closing side. When the valve is driven in this manner, the communication between the primary-side water supply port 22 and the pipe 24 in the valve unit 16 is cut off, and the water discharge performed so far from the faucet fitting 14 is stopped.
[0048]
Subsequent to the switching described above, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the valve closing energization has reached 5 msec (step S153), and the process waits until a positive determination is made. That is, the valve closing drive switching state described above is maintained for 5 msec after the valve closing energization is started. If an affirmative determination is made in step S153, it is determined that the movement of the plunger to the valve-closing side has been completed by the valve-closing energization of the coil 39, and the transistor bridge 40 is subjected to valve-closing end switching (step S155). That is, both the output ports P02 and P04 that have been turned on until then are turned off, all the output ports P01 to P04 are turned off, and the valve closing energization to the coil 39 ends. Once the diaphragm valve 20 is closed through such valve closing energization, the holding function of the latching solenoid 23 keeps the diaphragm valve 20 closed. Therefore, the water remains stopped until a new human body is detected.
[0049]
As explained aboveThis reference exampleIn the hand-washing machine, when the diaphragm valve 20 is driven to discharge water and discharge water in accordance with the detection of a human body by the detection circuit 38, the current value once decreases to a current waveform that is supplied from the battery 33 to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23. The current fluctuation that increases thereafter is checked by the conduction monitoring circuit 41, and if the frequency region is a high frequency region accompanying the movement of the plunger, the current fluctuation in the high frequency region is detected by the high frequency component detection circuit 44 (FIG. 2, FIG. (See FIG. 3). Then, through the detection of the current fluctuation in the high frequency region caused by the movement of the plunger (steps S133 and S134), the energization is stopped when the movement of the plunger is actually completed, so that unnecessary energization can be avoided. Moreover, even if the voltage of the battery 33 fluctuates, the time from the start of the movement of the plunger to the completion of the movement is substantially constant. It happens regardless of voltage fluctuation. Therefore, only a constant voltage reference power source is required for the circuit for detecting the current fluctuation, specifically, the high frequency component detection circuit 44 and the output adjustment circuit 55, and different reference voltages are generated according to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage. A circuit configuration that can be used is unnecessary. Therefore,This reference exampleAccording to this, the circuit configuration can be simplified.
[0050]
Then,Of the first reference exampleA modified example will be described. In the first modified example, the configuration of the conduction monitoring circuit 41 is different. As shown in FIG. 7, a second high-frequency component detection circuit 56 configured as a so-called VCVS type active high-pass filter is added to the high-frequency component detection circuit 44. Prepare instead. Although the output adjusting circuit 55 has the same configuration, a reference power supply 62 for generating a reference voltage V3 is used, and the reference power supply 62 is connected to a positive terminal of the comparator 53.
[0051]
The second high frequency component detection circuit 56 includes a capacitor 58 and a capacitor 59 connected in series to a positive terminal of an operational amplifier 57, and a reference power supply 51 for generating a reference voltage V1 is connected downstream of the capacitor 59. It is provided with a branch connection with 60 interposed. Further, a resistor 61 is provided in a short-circuit line between the downstream of the capacitor 58 and the output of the operational amplifier 57, and the negative terminal of the operational amplifier 57 is short-circuited to the output. In this case, the resistance values of the resistor 60 and the resistor 61 are determined according to the extraction frequency of the second high-frequency component detection circuit 56 and the capacitance of the capacitor. Since the second high-frequency component detection circuit 56 is a VCVS type active high-pass filter, the low-frequency component of the input signal from the non-inverting amplifier 43 is almost blocked, and the capacitance of the capacitors 58 and 59 is reduced. And a signal component in a high frequency region higher than the frequency determined by the resistance values of the resistors 60 and 61, amplifies the high frequency signal component, and outputs the amplified signal component to the output adjustment circuit 55. Upon receiving this output, the output adjustment circuit 55 compares the amplified signal (filter output) from the second high-frequency component detection circuit 56 with the reference voltage V3, and outputs a pulse to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32.
[0052]
Here, the state of signal processing by the conduction monitoring circuit 41 in the first modification will be described. When the valve-opening energization to the coil 39 is started, the current change at the time of the valve-opening energization is regarded as a voltage change generated in the detection resistor 42 as described above (FIG. 8A), and is not inverted. The output is amplified by the amplifier circuit 43 (FIG. 8B). This amplified output is subjected to high-frequency component extraction by a capacitor or the like of the second high-frequency component detection circuit 56 and amplification by the operational amplifier 57, and becomes a filter output (FIG. 8C). The filter output is input to the comparator 53 of the output adjustment circuit 55 from the negative terminal, and the reference voltage V3 of the reference power supply 62 is input from the positive terminal (FIG. 8D). The result of the comparison of the signals by the comparator 53, that is, the final output, becomes a pulse-like output indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger (FIG. 8E), and is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. In this case, the reference voltage V3 is set slightly lower than the reference voltage V1 in the second high frequency component detection circuit 56.
[0053]
In the first modified example,1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that described above is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. Even in the first modified example, a VCVS type active high-pass filter having a well-known circuit configuration and a simple circuit configuration is used for generating an output signal for determining the end timing of valve-opening energization to the coil 39. Was. Therefore, there is no need to newly design a circuit, so that the design cost and the assembly cost can be reduced in addition to the simplification of the circuit configuration.
[0054]
In the first modification, the second high-frequency component detection circuit 56 is configured as a VCVS-type active high-pass filter to almost block the low-frequency components of the signal and to remove the signal components in the high-frequency region above a predetermined frequency. Extraction efficiency was increased. Therefore, a pulse-like signal whose rise and fall are clear can be obtained from the energization monitoring circuit 41, and the end timing of the valve-opening energization to the coil 39 is more accurately defined to terminate the valve-opening energization. In addition, it is possible to suppress an energization loss when energizing the valve.
[0055]
Next,1 Reference exampleA second modified example will be described. Also in the second modification, the configuration of the conduction monitoring circuit 41 is different. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, in the second modification, the conduction monitoring circuit 41 includes a non-inverting amplifier circuit 43 and a third high-frequency component detection circuit 63. The third high frequency component detection circuit 63 has a comparator 64 for directly inputting the amplified output of the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43 to the negative terminal, and a line branched from the line of the negative terminal and input to the positive terminal. And a capacitor 66 is connected to the line by branch connection. That is, the third high-frequency component detection circuit 63 includes a low-pass filter circuit 67 including the resistor 65 and the capacitor 66. The third high-frequency component detection circuit 63 outputs an input signal from the non-inverting amplifier 43 to the negative terminal and an input signal of a low-frequency component determined by the resistor 65 and the capacitor 66 of the input signal. Then, the input signal input to the plus terminal is subjected to a comparison process in the comparator 64. As a result, the third high-frequency component detection circuit 63 amplifies and outputs a signal component in a high-frequency region obtained by excluding the low-frequency component input signal from the input signal of the non-inverting amplification circuit 43 to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. I do.
[0056]
Here, the state of the signal processing by the conduction monitoring circuit 41 in the second modified example will be described. When the valve 39 is energized to open the coil 39, the change in the current when the valve 39 is energized is captured as a voltage change generated in the detection resistor 42 as described above (FIG. 10A). The output is amplified by the amplifier circuit 43 (FIG. 10B). This amplified output is converted into a signal of the output waveform as it is and a signal of the output waveform of the low frequency component extracted by the low-pass filter circuit 67, and the former is connected to the negative terminal of the comparator 64 in the third high frequency component detection circuit 63. The latter is input to the plus terminal (FIG. 10 (c)). Therefore, the result of comparison of the two input signals by the comparator 64, that is, the final output is a pulse-like output indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger (FIG. 10D), and is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. .
[0057]
Even in this second modification,1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that described above is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. Even in the second modification, when generating an output signal for determining the end timing of valve-opening energization to the coil 39, only a resistor, a capacitor, and an operational amplifier are required as circuit configuration devices. A third high frequency component detection circuit 63 was used. Therefore, in addition to the simplification of the circuit configuration, it is possible to reduce the design cost and the assembling cost.
[0058]
Further, in the second modified example, the reference power supplies 51, 54, 62 and the output adjustment circuit 55 are required in configuring the third high-frequency component detection circuit 63 for generating the above-mentioned pulsed output signal. do not do. For this reason, according to the second modified example, with a simpler configuration, the end timing of the valve-opening energization to the coil 39 is accurately defined and the valve-opening energization is ended, and the energization loss at the time of the valve-opening energization is reduced. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the reference voltage is not required and the battery 33 does not need to be used for generating the reference voltage, the service period of the battery 33 can be extended.
[0059]
Next,2 Reference examplesWill be described. This second2 Reference examplesIs the1 Reference exampleAs shown in FIG. 11, a selection frequency detection circuit 70 for selectively transmitting a signal component of a frequency in a predetermined frequency band is provided in place of the high frequency component detection circuit 44, as shown in FIG. An output adjustment circuit 71 having the same circuit configuration as the output adjustment circuit 55 is provided, but the reference voltage V2 of the reference power supply 54 is connected to the positive terminal of the comparator 53.
[0060]
The selection frequency detection circuit 70 inputs the reference voltage V1 generated by the reference power supply 51 to the positive terminal of the operational amplifier 72 in the preceding stage, the operational amplifier 73 in the subsequent stage, and the operational amplifier 74 in the return line to the operational amplifier 72 in the preceding stage, These operational amplifiers, the illustrated capacitor C and the resistors R1 to R4 attached to each amplifier constitute a so-called known biquad bandpass filter. Since the selected frequency detection circuit 70 is a biquad-type band-pass filter, the center frequency determined by the capacitance and the resistance of the capacitor C and the resistances of the resistors R1 to R4 among the input signals from the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43. , A signal component in a frequency band of a predetermined band is extracted from the reference voltage V 1, the signal component is amplified, and output to the output adjustment circuit 71. Upon receiving this output, the output adjustment circuit 71 compares the amplified signal (filter output) from the selected frequency detection circuit 70 with a signal component determined by the reference voltage V2 and outputs the signal to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. In this case, the selected frequency detection circuit 70 is designed so that the frequency region of a predetermined band at the time of signal extraction includes the frequency in the current change that occurs with the completion of the movement of the plunger.
[0061]
Here, this2 Reference examplesThe state of signal processing by the power supply monitoring circuit 41 in the above will be described. When the valve 39 is energized to open the coil 39, the change in current when the valve 39 is energized is captured as a voltage change generated in the detection resistor 42 as described above (FIG. 12A). The output is amplified by the amplifier circuit 43 (FIG. 12B). The amplified output is subjected to signal component extraction (bandpass) in a frequency band of a predetermined band and amplification by the selected frequency detection circuit 70, and is output as a filter output (FIG. 12C). At this time, as described above, the current change that gradually increases from the energization start time T1 is a low-frequency signal because the amount of change per unit time is small, and is thus shielded by a band pass in a frequency band of a predetermined band. . The comparator output of the output adjustment circuit 71 receives the filter output from the minus terminal and the reference voltage V2 of the reference power supply 54 from the plus terminal (FIG. 12D). The comparison result of the signal by the comparator 53, that is, the final output, becomes a pulse-like output indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger (FIG. 12E), and is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. In this case, the reference voltage V2 is set slightly lower than the reference voltage V1 in the selected frequency detection circuit 70. In addition, at the energization start time T1, the voltage increases from zero voltage (current zero), and immediately after this time T1, the change at this time appears in the filter output (FIG. 12C). However, the reference voltage V2, which is slightly higher than the reference voltage V1, is not detected by the comparison by the comparator 53 (FIG. 12D), and is not output as the final output.
[0062]
Assuming that noise is superimposed for some reason after the start of energization, this noise appears in the voltage change generated in the detection resistor 42 and the amplified output from the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43 as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure. Therefore, when the minimum value in the signal waveform is simply detected, the minimum value due to the noise may be erroneously detected as the minimum value associated with the completion of the movement of the plunger. However, such noise is generally introduced by induction or radiation, and by its nature, only a very short-time change is superimposed.Therefore, the signal caused by the noise is a signal with a frequency higher than the frequency of the signal accompanying the plunger movement. Become. Therefore, the high-frequency signal component caused by this noise is shielded by the band pass in the frequency band of the predetermined band in the selected frequency detection circuit 70, and does not appear in the filter output, and finally in the final output, and no erroneous detection occurs.
[0063]
This second2 Reference examplesThen,1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that described above is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. And thisSecond reference exampleHowever, in generating the output signal for determining the end timing of the valve-opening energization to the coil 39, the current value once decreases in the waveform of the current applied from the battery 33 to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23, and then increases. Is checked by the conduction monitoring circuit 41 having the selected frequency detection circuit 70. Then, if the frequency region is a high frequency region of a predetermined band accompanying the movement of the plunger, a current variation in the high frequency region is detected by the selection frequency detection circuit 70 (see FIGS. 11 and 12), and before the movement of the plunger or The current fluctuation of the simple increase fluctuation after the movement of the plunger and the current fluctuation caused by noise are excluded because they are current fluctuations in the above-mentioned predetermined band other than the high frequency region. Therefore, through detection of a current fluctuation in a high frequency region in a predetermined band due to the movement of the plunger (steps S133 and S134), the energization is stopped when the movement of the plunger is actually completed, so that unnecessary energization can be avoided. Moreover, even if the voltage of the battery 33 fluctuates, the time from the start of the movement of the plunger to the completion of the movement is substantially constant. This occurs regardless of the voltage fluctuation of the battery 33. Therefore, the circuit for detecting the current fluctuation, specifically, the selection frequency detection circuit 70 and the output adjustment circuit 71 need only a constant voltage reference power supply, and generate different reference voltages according to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage. A circuit configuration that can be used is unnecessary. For this reason,2 Reference examplesThus, the circuit configuration can be simplified.
[0064]
Also, this2 Reference examplesIn the above, since the selected frequency detection circuit 70 is a band-pass filter for extracting a signal component in a high frequency region of a predetermined band, it is erroneously considered that a signal change appearing at a high frequency due to noise is caused by the completion of the movement of the plunger. There is no detection. Therefore, the reliability of the drive control of the diaphragm valve 20 through the energization control of the latching solenoid 23 can be improved. Further, since the selected frequency detection circuit 70 is configured as a well-known biquad-type bandpass filter, no special circuit design or the like is required, so that design cost and manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0065]
Next,2 Reference examplesA first modified example will be described. Even in the first modification, the configuration of the conduction monitoring circuit 41 is different. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, in the first modification, the energization monitoring circuit 41 includes an inverting amplifier circuit 75 for extracting and amplifying a signal in a frequency band of a predetermined band and an output adjustment circuit instead of the selected frequency detection circuit 70. 76. The inverting amplifying circuit 75 has an operational amplifier 79 which inputs the amplified output of the non-inverting amplifying circuit 43 via a capacitor 77 and a resistor 78 to a negative terminal, and a line which bypasses the operational amplifier 79 from the line of the negative terminal. Is provided with a resistor 80 and a capacitor 81 in parallel, and a plus side terminal connected to a generator 51 for generating a reference voltage V1. That is, the inverting amplifier circuit 75 removes the DC component and the low-frequency component in a certain low-frequency region from the input signal from the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43 by the capacitor 77, and removes the high-frequency component by the capacitor 81. Remove. Then, the signal components in the frequency range of the predetermined band after removing these frequency components are inverted and amplified with respect to the reference voltage V1 and output to the output adjustment circuit 76. At this time, the capacitance and the resistance of the capacitor and the resistor are designed so that the frequency region of the predetermined band after removing the high frequency and the low frequency components includes the frequency in the current change caused by the completion of the movement of the plunger. ing.
[0066]
The output adjustment circuit 76 has a comparator 82 for directly inputting the amplified output of the inverting amplifier circuit 75 to the positive terminal, and has a resistor 83 for a line branched from the line of the positive terminal and input to the negative terminal. The line is provided with a capacitor 84 which is branched and connected. That is, the output adjustment circuit 76 includes a low-pass filter circuit 85 including the resistor 83 and the capacitor 84. The output adjustment circuit 76 receives the input signal from the inverting amplifier circuit 75 input to the plus terminal and the input signal of the low-frequency component determined by the resistor 83 and the capacitor 84 of the input signal. The input signal input to the terminal is subjected to comparison processing by the comparator 82. As a result, the output adjustment circuit 76 pulsates a signal component obtained by excluding the input signal of the low frequency component from the input signal of the inverting amplification circuit 75 and outputs the signal to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. In this case, since the high-frequency component of the input signal of the inverting amplifier circuit 75 has already been removed by the inverting amplifier circuit 75, the output signal from the output adjusting circuit 76 is a signal component in a frequency band of a predetermined band.
[0067]
Here, the state of signal processing by the conduction monitoring circuit 41 in the first modification will be described. When the valve 39 is energized to open the coil 39, the current change at the time of energizing the valve 39 is regarded as a voltage change generated in the detection resistor 42 as described above (FIG. 14A). The output is amplified by the amplifier circuit 43 (FIG. 14B). The amplified output is subjected to removal of the DC component in the inverting amplifier circuit 75 and a certain amount of low-frequency components and low-frequency components in a low-frequency region, and inverting amplification, to obtain an inverted amplified output (FIG. 14C). At this time, as described above, the current change that gradually increases from the energization start time T1 becomes a low-frequency signal because the amount of change per unit time is small, so that the signal processing in the individual inverting amplifier circuits 75 causes the current change to some extent. Be shielded. The inverted amplified output is converted into a signal of an output waveform as it is and a signal of an output waveform of a low-frequency component extracted by the low-pass filter circuit 85. The former is input to a plus terminal of a comparator 82 in an output adjustment circuit 76. The latter is input to the minus terminal (FIG. 14 (c)). For this reason, the signal components in the low frequency region that could not be shielded by the inverting amplifier circuit 75 are not detected by the comparison processing by the comparator 82, and the comparison result of the two input signals by the comparator 82, that is, the final output is the movement of the plunger. It becomes a pulse-like output indicating completion (FIG. 14D) and is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32.
[0068]
Assuming that noise is superimposed for some reason after the start of energization, this noise appears in the voltage change generated in the detection resistor 42 and the amplified output from the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43 as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure. However, as described above, since the signal due to such noise is a signal having a frequency higher than the frequency of the signal accompanying the plunger movement, it is removed by the signal processing in the inverting amplifier circuit 75, and the inverting amplified output, As a result, it does not appear in the final output and no false detection occurs.
[0069]
Even in the first modified example,1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that described above is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. Even in the first modified example, when generating an output signal for determining the end timing of valve-opening energization to the coil 39, the current waveform that is energized from the battery 33 to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23 is changed. The inverting amplifier circuit 75 and the output adjusting circuit 76 detect whether the current fluctuation in which the current value once decreases and then increases is a current fluctuation in a high frequency region in a predetermined band (see FIGS. 13 and 14), and moves the plunger. When power supply is actually completed, power supply is stopped to avoid unnecessary power supply. In addition, a circuit for detecting a current fluctuation, specifically, the inverting amplifier circuit 75 requires only a constant voltage reference power supply, and a circuit configuration that can generate a different reference voltage according to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage is provided. Not required. Therefore, the circuit configuration can be simplified according to the first modification.
[0070]
In the first modification, since the high-frequency signal component is removed by the inverting amplifier circuit 75, a signal change appearing at a high frequency due to noise is erroneously detected as being caused by the completion of the movement of the plunger. There is no. Therefore, the reliability of the drive control of the diaphragm valve 20 through the energization control of the latching solenoid 23 can be improved.
[0071]
nextOf the present inventionExplain the example. This fruitAs shown in FIG. 15, the present embodiment also has the first and second embodiments described above in that the electrical configuration is configured around the microcomputer 32 and has a detection circuit 38 for detecting a human body.2 Reference examplesIs the same as AndReal truthIn the embodiment, the control unit 301 Reference exampleAnd a second current monitoring circuit 90 that monitors the current supplied to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23 to determine the power supply end timing with a configuration different from that of the current monitoring circuit 41, and the power supplied to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23. A coulomb management circuit 100 for determining the quantity. The second power supply monitoring circuit 90 and the coulomb management circuit 100 are incorporated between a wiring line extending from the coil 39 to the detection resistor 42 and the microcomputer 32.
[0072]
Real truthThe second energization monitoring circuit 90 in the embodiment1 Reference exampleThe power supply monitoring circuit 41 extracts a high-frequency component of the signal and obtains a pulse-like signal indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger based on the high-frequency component. The method and the configuration are different in that a pulse-like signal indicating the completion of the movement is obtained. AndReal truthAs shown in FIG. 16, the second energization monitoring circuit 90 in the embodiment has a non-inverting amplifier circuit 91 and an output adjustment circuit 92 from the side of the detection resistor 42 connected to the coil 39. This non-inverting amplifier circuit 911 Reference exampleThere is no difference from the non-inverting amplifier circuit 43 in the circuit configuration. A resistor 94 is connected to the negative terminal of the operational amplifier 93, and a resistor 95 is incorporated in the short-circuit line. The non-inverting amplifying circuit 91 amplifies the voltage generated at the detection resistor 42 when the coil 39 is energized without inverting the phase thereof, and outputs the amplified voltage to the output adjusting circuit 92.
[0073]
The output adjusting circuit 92 has a comparator 96 which directly inputs the amplified output of the non-inverting amplifier circuit 91 to a positive terminal, and a resistor 97 which is branched from the line of the positive terminal and input to the negative terminal. The line is provided with a capacitor 98 which is branched and connected. That is, the output adjustment circuit 92 includes a low-pass filter circuit (CR filter circuit) including the resistor 97 and the capacitor 98. Then, since the CR filter circuit outputs the input signal with a delay determined by the resistor 97 and the capacitor 98, the output adjustment circuit 92 outputs the input signal from the non-inverting amplifier 43 input to the plus terminal. The signal and a delayed signal obtained by delaying the input signal are subjected to comparison processing in a comparator 96. As a result, the output adjustment circuit 92 outputs a pulse signal indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger as follows.
[0074]
As described above, the original waveform signal obtained by amplifying the voltage generated in the detection resistor 42 according to its phase is input to the plus terminal as shown by the solid line in FIG. 17 to the comparator 96 of the output adjustment circuit 92. On the other hand, a delay signal as indicated by a dotted line in the figure is generated by a CR filter circuit and input to the minus side terminal. For this reason, the comparator 96 compares these signals in consideration of the polarity of the input terminal, so that a pulse-like signal is generated as shown in FIG. , A voltage change occurring in the detection resistor), the pulse signal again indicates the completion of the movement of the plunger. The pulse signal is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32.
[0075]
It should be noted that the CR filter circuit operates as a low-pass filter circuit or a delay circuit by appropriately selecting a capacitor value and a resistance value.FruitThe output adjustment circuit 92 of the embodiment1 Reference exampleThe third high frequency component detection circuit 63 (see FIG. 9) in the second modified example of FIG.
[0076]
The coulomb management circuit 100 includes operational amplifiers 101 and 102, a transistor 103, a resistor 104, and a capacitor 105. The coulomb management circuit 100 converts a voltage generated in the detection resistor 42 when the coil 39 is energized into a current by the operational amplifier 101, the transistor 103, and the resistor 104 in the preceding stage, and converts the converted current in the subsequent stage. Is integrated by the operational amplifier 102 and the capacitor 105. Thus, the coulomb management circuit 100 converts the current flowing through the coil 39 into an integral amount, and outputs the output to the A / D conversion input port PI3 of the microcomputer 32. The microcomputer 32 receiving this output calculates the amount of electricity (electric charge) that has been applied to the coil 39 and uses it as a coulomb management value for the subsequent processing.
[0077]
ThisFruitEven in the example,1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that shown in FIG. 4 is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. Less than,Real truthThe details of the valve opening energizing process (step S130 in FIG. 4) performed in the embodiment will be described. ThisFruitIn the embodiment, when the process proceeds to step S130, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.1 Reference exampleIn the same manner as described above, valve-opening drive switching is performed (step S131), and the output ports P01 and P03 are turned on and the output ports P02 and P04 are turned off. As a result, a current flows from the battery 33 to the coil 39 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 15 to drive the diaphragm valve 20 to the valve-opening side, and start water discharge from the faucet fitting 14.
[0078]
Subsequent to the above-described switching, based on the pulse-like bottom detection signal from the second conduction monitoring circuit 90, it is determined whether or not an inflection point (bottom) has been detected in the waveform of the current supplied to the coil 39. A determination is made (step S232). If a negative determination is made here, based on the input signal from the coulomb management circuit 100, it is determined whether or not the amount of electricity supplied to the coil 39, that is, the coulomb management value is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount of electricity α1 (step S233). ) And whether the elapsed time (time management value) from the start of energization measured by the timer of the microcomputer 32 is equal to or longer than a predetermined elapsed time β1 (step S234). If a negative determination is made in both steps S233 and S234, the process proceeds to step S232 and repeats the bottom detection until an affirmative determination is made in any of the steps. That is, while the bottom detection is not performed, the comparison determination of the coulomb management value and the time management value is performed in steps S233 and 234. In this case, the predetermined amount of electricity α1 and the predetermined elapsed time β1 are determined as follows, and are stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 32.
[0079]
As shown in FIG. 17, the amount of electricity supplied to the coil 39 up to time t0 when the bottom detection is normally performed is obtained. Then, the amount of electricity that is about twice the obtained amount of energized electricity is defined as a predetermined amount of electricity α1. Further, an elapsed time approximately twice as long as the elapsed time t0 between the times t0 is defined as a predetermined elapsed time β1.
[0080]
If an affirmative determination is made in any of steps S233 and S234, the bottom detection is not performed after the energization of the coil 39 is started after the transistor bridge 40 is switched to open as described above in step S131. Assuming that the amount of current supplied to the coil 39 and the elapsed time of power supply are sufficient, the transistor bridge 40 is switched to end of valve opening (step S135). That is, the output ports P01 and P03 that have been turned on are turned off, and all of the output ports P01 to P04 are turned off. If it is determined in step S232 that the bottom has been detected, the process immediately proceeds to step S135 to perform the valve-opening termination switching. Then, in step S135, the energization of the coil 39 is terminated, but as described above, the diaphragm valve 20 remains open, and the water discharge started in response to the human body detection is stopped. Continue until done.
[0081]
Explained aboveFruitEven in this embodiment, when generating an output signal for determining the end timing of valve-opening energization to the coil 39, the current value once decreases to a current waveform that is energized from the battery 33 to the coil 39 of the latching solenoid 23. The movement of the plunger, which appears in the voltage waveform, and hence the energized current waveform, from the voltage waveform in which the current fluctuation appears to increase thereafter and the delay signal in which such voltage fluctuation is smoothed through the delay processing of this voltage waveform (See FIGS. 16 and 17), and the energization is stopped when the movement of the plunger is actually completed, so that unnecessary energization can be avoided. In addition, the circuit for detecting the current fluctuation, specifically, the output adjusting circuit 92 and the non-inverting amplifier circuit 91 constituting the second conduction monitoring circuit 90 differ not only according to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage but also the reference power supply. No circuit configuration that can generate the reference voltage is required. For this reason,FruitAccording to the embodiment, with a simpler configuration, it is possible to precisely define the end timing of the valve-opening energization to the coil 39 and end the valve-opening energization, thereby avoiding an energization loss in the valve-opening energization. In addition, the output adjustment circuit 92 requires only a resistor, a capacitor, and a comparator as a circuit configuration device, and has only a simple CR filter. Therefore, in addition to the simplification of the circuit configuration, the design cost and the assembly cost are reduced. Can be reduced. Furthermore, since the reference voltage is not required and the battery 33 does not need to be used for generating the reference voltage, the use period of the battery 33 can be extended.
[0082]
Also,FruitIn this embodiment, even if the bottom detection is not performed in step S232, the energization of the coil 39 is stopped if either the coulomb management value or the time management value reaches the predetermined amount of electricity α1 and the elapsed time β1 (step S232). S233, 234). In this case, the predetermined amount of electricity α1 and the elapsed time β1 are approximately equal to the amount of electricity supplied to the coil 39 and the elapsed time when the inflection point (see FIG. 17) that appears in the current waveform is detected as the bottom. It is twice. Therefore, even when the bottom detection cannot be performed due to the influence of noise or the like on the energizing current, the fluctuation of the power supply voltage, or the fluctuation of the water pressure, the amount of energized electricity supplied to the coil 39 and the elapsed time of energization can be sufficient. Thus, the power supply to the coil 39 can be stopped. For this reason,Real truthAccording to the hand washer of the embodiment, even though the movement of the plunger is completed by energizing the coil 39, the energizing is not carelessly continued, and wasteful energization can be suppressed.
[0083]
Then, onDescriptionA first modification of the embodiment will be described. This first modification is described above.FruitThe configuration of the second energization monitoring circuit 90 is different from that of the embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 19, a second output adjustment circuit 110 is provided instead of the output adjustment circuit 92. The second output adjustment circuit 110 is the same as the output adjustment circuit 92 in that the second output adjustment circuit 110 includes a comparator 96 and that a CR filter circuit including a resistor 97 and a capacitor 98 is provided on the line of the negative terminal thereof. The difference is that a switch 111 for short-circuiting the resistor 97 is provided as an N-channel MOSFET. The switch 111 is turned on / off by a control signal from the output port P07 of the microcomputer 32, and when the resistor 97 is short-circuited, the time constant of the CR filter circuit is made extremely small. Then, even in the first modified example having the second output adjustment circuit 110, a pulse-like signal indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger is output as follows.
[0084]
As described above, the comparator 96 of the second output adjustment circuit 110 inputs the original waveform signal obtained by amplifying the voltage generated at the detection resistor 42 in accordance with the phase to the plus terminal as shown by the solid line in FIG. Is done. On the other hand, the switch 111 is turned on until the time T2 from the start of energization of the coil 39, and is then turned off. Therefore, a delay signal as indicated by a dotted line in the figure is applied to the minus terminal after the time T2. It is generated and input by the CR filter circuit. For this reason, the comparator 96 compares these signals in consideration of the polarity of the input terminal, so that a pulse-like signal is generated as shown in FIG. , A voltage change occurring in the detection resistor), the pulse signal again indicates the completion of the movement of the plunger. The pulse signal is input to the input port PI1 of the microcomputer 32. In this case, the time T2 when the switch 111 is turned off is shorter than the time t0 when the bottom detection is normally performed, and is set as the time when about 80% of the elapsed time (PRESET time) has elapsed until the time T1. And stored in the ROM of the microcomputer 32.
[0085]
The aboveEven in the first modification,1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that shown in FIG. 4 is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. Hereinafter, the details of the valve opening energizing process (step S130 in FIG. 4) performed in the first modification will be described. In the first modification, when the process proceeds to step S130, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 21, first, the output of the delay signal to the comparator 96 is cut off (step S301). Specifically, the output port P07 is turned on, the switch 111 is turned on, and the signal input to the negative terminal of the comparator 96 is also the same original waveform signal as the positive terminal. Thereafter, valve-opening drive switching is performed (step S131), and the output ports P01 and P03 are turned on and the output ports P02 and P04 are turned off. As a result, a current flows from the battery 33 to the coil 39 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 15 to drive the diaphragm valve 20 to the valve opening side.
[0086]
Subsequent to the switching described above, it is determined whether or not the time when the switch 111 is turned on in step S301, that is, whether or not the PRESET time has elapsed since the energization of the coil 39 has started (step S302), and an affirmative determination is made. Wait until you do. If an affirmative determination is made in step S302, the output of the delay signal to the comparator 96 is started (step S303). Specifically, the switch 111 is turned off by turning off the output port P07 that has been turned on until then, and the signal delayed by the CR delay circuit is input to the minus terminal of the comparator 96. As a result, the comparator 96 generates a pulse-like bottom detection signal from the original waveform signal and the delayed waveform signal (see FIG. 20). Then, aboveFruitAs in the embodiment, the determination of the presence or absence of the bottom detection (step S232), the determination of the appropriateness of the coulomb management value (step S233), and the determination of the appropriateness of the time management value (step S234) are sequentially performed, and a positive determination is made in any of the processes. In this case, the transistor bridge 40 is switched to end of valve opening (step S135), and the energization of the coil 39 is ended. As a result, the diaphragm valve 20 remains open, and the water discharge started in response to the human body detection is continued until the water stop processing is performed.
[0087]
Explained aboveThe firstEven in the first modification, when generating an output signal for determining the end timing of the valve-opening energization to the coil 39,AboveIn the same manner as in the embodiment, a pulse-like bottom detection signal accompanying the movement of the plunger appearing in the voltage waveform, and hence the conduction current waveform, is generated (see FIGS. 19 and 20), and when the movement of the plunger is actually completed. To stop power supply and avoid unnecessary power supply. In addition, the circuit for detecting the current fluctuation, specifically, the second output adjustment circuit 110 and the like constituting the second conduction monitoring circuit 90 are provided not only with the reference power supply but also with the reference voltage different depending on the fluctuation of the power supply voltage. Is not required. Therefore, according to the first modification as well, with a simpler configuration, the end timing of the valve-opening energization to the coil 39 is accurately defined to terminate the valve-opening energization, and the energization loss during the valve-opening energization is reduced. Can be avoided. In addition, the second output adjustment circuit 110 requires only a switch 111 composed of a resistor, a capacitor, an operational amplifier, and an N-channel MOS type FET as a circuit configuration device, and the circuit configuration has only a simple CR filter. Therefore, in addition to the simplification of the circuit configuration, the design cost and the assembly cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the reference voltage is not required and the battery 33 does not need to be used for generating the reference voltage, the use period of the battery 33 can be extended.
[0088]
Also in the first modification, if either the coulomb management value or the time management value is equal to the predetermined amount of electricity α1 and the elapsed time β1 when the bottom detection is not performed, the power supply to the coil 39 is stopped. (Steps S233 and S234), the power supply to the coil 39 can be stopped when the amount of power supplied to the coil 39 and the elapsed power supply time are sufficient. For this reason, even with the hand washer of the first modification, even though the movement of the plunger is completed by energizing the coil 39, the energizing is not carelessly continued, and unnecessary energizing can be suppressed. .
[0089]
next, RealA second modified example of the embodiment will be described. This second modification is described above.FruitThe configuration of the second energization monitoring circuit 90 differs from that of the embodiment, and has a third output adjustment circuit 120 instead of the output adjustment circuit 92 as shown in FIG. The third output adjustment circuit 120 is the same as the output adjustment circuit 92 in that the third output adjustment circuit 120 includes a comparator 96. The third output adjustment circuit 120 is configured such that an LR filter circuit including a coil 121 and a resistor 122 is provided on the line of the negative terminal of the comparator 96. Is different. In the second modified example having the third output adjustment circuit 120,FruitAs in the embodiment, a pulse signal indicating the completion of the movement of the plunger is output.
[0090]
aboveIn the second modification, the1 Reference exampleThe same automatic water supply routine as that shown in FIG. 4 is executed to control the opening and closing of the diaphragm valve 20.1 Reference exampleThe valve opening energization can be terminated in the same manner as in the above. Also, details of the valve opening energizing process (step S130 in FIG. 4) at this time.Also the aboveIt is the same as the embodiment. Therefore, even in the second modified example,FruitThe same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.
[0091]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. is there.
[0092]
For example, in each of the embodiments described above, the case where the present invention is applied to automatic water supply in a hand washer has been described. Of course. Further, it is also possible to provide an output adjusting circuit other than that shown in the third embodiment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of an automatic water supply type hand washer of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of a control unit 30 of the hand washer.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of signal processing performed by an energization monitoring circuit 41 of a control unit 30.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing automatic water supply control performed by the control unit 30.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a valve opening energizing process in the automatic water supply control.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of a valve closing energization process.
FIG. 71 Reference exampleFIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of an energization monitoring circuit 41 included in a first modified example of FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining signal processing performed by an energization monitoring circuit 41 according to the first modification.
FIG. 91 Reference exampleFIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of an energization monitoring circuit 41 included in a second modified example of FIG.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of signal processing performed by an energization monitoring circuit 41 according to a second modification.
FIG. 112 Reference examplesFIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of the control unit 30 of FIG.
FIG. 122 Reference examplesFIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing a state of signal processing performed by a conduction monitoring circuit 41 in FIG.
FIG. 132 Reference examplesFIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of an energization monitoring circuit 41 included in a first modified example of FIG.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for describing a state of signal processing performed by an energization monitoring circuit 41 according to the first modified example.
FIG.The present inventionFIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of the control unit 30 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a second conduction monitoring circuit 90 and a coulomb management circuit 100;
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of signal processing performed by the second energization monitoring circuit 90.
FIG.RealThe flowchart which shows the detail of the valve opening energization process in the automatic water supply control performed in an Example.
FIG.RealFIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a second energization monitoring circuit 90 included in a first modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state of signal processing performed by a second energization monitoring circuit 90 in the first modified example.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing details of a valve opening energizing process in automatic water supply control performed in the first modified example.
FIG. 22RealFIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a second energization monitoring circuit 90 included in a second modification of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Hand wash ball
14 ... Faucet fitting
16 ... Valve unit
18. Battery box
20 ... diaphragm valve
23 ... Latching solenoid
26 ... Water spout
28 ... Detection window
30 ... Control unit
32 ... microcomputer
33 ... Battery
35 ... LED
36 ... Photodiode
37 ... Switching circuit
38 ... Detection circuit
39 ... coil
40 ... Transistor bridge
41 ... Electrification monitoring circuit
42 ... Detection resistance
43 ... Non-inverting amplifier circuit
44 ... High frequency component detection circuit
55 ... Output adjustment circuit
56 ... second high frequency component detection circuit
63 ... third high frequency component detection circuit
67 ... Low-pass filter circuit
70 ... Selection frequency detection circuit
71 ... Output adjustment circuit
75 ... Inverting amplifier circuit
76 ... Output adjustment circuit
85 ... Low-pass filter circuit
90 ... second energization monitoring circuit
91 ... Non-inverting amplifier
92 ... Output adjustment circuit
100 ... Coulomb management circuit
110 ... second output adjustment circuit
111 ... Switch
120 ... third output adjustment circuit
V1 ... Reference voltage
V2 ... Reference voltage
V3 ... Reference voltage

Claims (15)

A latching solenoid that moves the plunger when the power is received and holds the position of the plunger after the movement, and a drive timing detection unit that determines the drive timing of the latching solenoid; A device that starts energizing a latching solenoid to drive the latching solenoid,
Waveform detection means for detecting a first signal waveform representing an energization current waveform after energization of the latching solenoid has been started;
Waveform generating means for receiving the input of the first signal waveform, performing delay processing on the first signal waveform, and generating a delayed waveform;
Extracting means for extracting, based on the detected first signal waveform and the delay waveform, a signal component that appears in the energized current waveform and indicates the completion of movement of the plunger;
Stopping means for stopping the supply of current to the latching solenoid when the signal component is extracted. The solenoid drive according to claim 1,
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
A solenoid driving device, wherein the waveform generating means includes a delay circuit including a CR filter circuit configured to include a capacitor and a resistor and to which the voltage waveform is input. The solenoid drive according to claim 1,
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The solenoid drive device, wherein the waveform generating means includes a delay circuit including an LR filter circuit configured to include a coil and a resistor and to which the voltage waveform is input. The solenoid drive according to claim 2,
The waveform generating means is configured to operate the CR filter circuit from the start of the energization to a predetermined time earlier than a time at which a signal component indicating the completion of movement of the plunger is expected to be extracted. A solenoid driving device having a time constant changing means for changing a time constant to a small value. The solenoid drive according to claim 4, wherein
The solenoid drive device, wherein the time constant varying means has a short-circuiting means for short-circuiting the resistor included in the CR filter circuit to input the first signal waveform. A latching solenoid that moves the plunger when the power is received and holds the position of the plunger after the movement, and a drive timing detection unit that determines the drive timing of the latching solenoid; A valve device that starts energizing a latching solenoid to drive the latching solenoid, and opens and closes a fluid line with the latching solenoid,
Waveform detection means for detecting a first signal waveform representing an energization current waveform after energization of the latching solenoid has been started;
Waveform generating means for receiving the input of the first signal waveform, performing delay processing on the first signal waveform, and generating a delayed waveform;
Extracting means for extracting, based on the detected first signal waveform and the delay waveform, a signal component that appears in the energized current waveform and indicates the completion of movement of the plunger;
A valve device comprising: stopping means for stopping the energization of the latching solenoid when the signal component is extracted. The valve device according to claim 6, wherein
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The valve device, wherein the waveform generating means includes a delay circuit including a CR filter circuit configured to include a capacitor and a resistor and to which the voltage waveform is input. The valve device according to claim 6, wherein
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The valve device, wherein the waveform generation unit includes a delay circuit including an LR filter circuit configured to include a coil and a resistance and to which the voltage waveform is input. A valve device according to claim 7 Symbol mounting,
The waveform generation means may be configured to operate the CR filter circuit from the start of the energization to a predetermined time earlier than a time at which a signal component indicating the completion of movement of the plunger is expected to be extracted. A valve device having a time constant changing means for changing a time constant to a small value. The valve device according to claim 9, wherein
The valve device, wherein the time constant varying means includes a short-circuiting means for short-circuiting the resistor included in the CR filter circuit to input the first signal waveform. An automatic water supply device that executes water supply to a water supply device in accordance with detection of a detection target,
An on-off valve that has a latching solenoid that moves the plunger when it receives power and holds the position of the plunger after the movement, and that opens and closes a fluid line with the latching solenoid;
A detection unit that detects use of the water supply device and determines the opening / closing timing of the on-off valve;
Control means for starting energization from the drive power supply to the latching solenoid at the determined opening / closing timing, and controlling the drive of the latching solenoid;
The control means includes:
Waveform detection means for detecting a first signal waveform representing an energization current waveform after energization of the latching solenoid has been started;
Waveform generating means for receiving the input of the first signal waveform, performing delay processing on the first signal waveform, and generating a delayed waveform;
Extracting means for extracting, based on the detected first signal waveform and the delay waveform, a signal component that appears in the energized current waveform and indicates the completion of movement of the plunger;
An automatic water supply device, comprising: a stopping unit that stops supplying power to the latching solenoid when the signal component is extracted. It is an automatic water supply device according to claim 11,
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The automatic water supply device, wherein the waveform generating means includes a delay circuit including a CR filter circuit configured to include a capacitor and a resistor and to which the voltage waveform is input. It is an automatic water supply device according to claim 11,
The waveform detection unit includes a unit that converts the current-carrying current waveform into a voltage waveform and sets the voltage waveform as the first signal waveform.
The automatic water supply device, wherein the waveform generation means includes a delay circuit including an LR filter circuit configured to include a coil and a resistance and to which the voltage waveform is input. An automatic water supply device according to claim 12 Symbol mounting,
The waveform generation means may be configured to operate the CR filter circuit from the start of the energization to a predetermined time earlier than a time at which a signal component indicating the completion of movement of the plunger is expected to be extracted. An automatic water supply device having a time constant changing means for changing a time constant to a small value. It is an automatic water supply device according to claim 14,
The automatic water supply device, wherein the time constant varying means includes a short-circuiting means for short-circuiting the resistor included in the CR filter circuit to input the first signal waveform.

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