JP4668294B2 - Ion generator and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generation device and an electric device, and more particularly to an ion generation device and an electric device including a transformer driving circuit, a transformer, and an ion generation element.

  Many ion generators using the discharge phenomenon have been put into practical use. These ion generators usually include an ion generating element for generating ions, a high voltage transformer for supplying a high voltage to the ion generating element, a high voltage transformer driving circuit for driving the high voltage transformer, and a connector. And a power input unit.

  The types of ion generating elements are roughly classified into two types. One of them is a metal wire, a metal plate having an acute angle portion, a needle-shaped metal or the like as a discharge electrode, and a ground potential metal plate or grid as a counter electrode, or a counter electrode as a ground, especially a counter electrode. Is not placed. In this type of ion generating element, air serves as an insulator. This ion generating element is a method in which, when a high voltage is applied to an electrode, electric field concentration occurs at the tip of the electrode having an acute angle, and the air near the tip breaks down to cause a discharge phenomenon. .

  The other is composed of a pair of an induction electrode embedded in a high-voltage dielectric and a discharge electrode disposed on the dielectric surface. This type of ion generating element is a method in which when a high voltage is applied to an electrode, electric field concentration occurs in the vicinity of the outer edge of the discharge electrode on the surface, and the air in the immediate vicinity breaks down to cause a discharge phenomenon. is there.

  As high-voltage transformers for applying a high voltage to the ion generating element, a winding transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a piezoelectric transformer using a piezoelectric phenomenon made of a piezoelectric ceramic element have been put into practical use. .

  As a conventional ion generator, for example, there is one described in JP-A-2002-374670. This ion generator is of a type in which an ion generating electrode is used as a discharge electrode and a counter electrode is not disposed. In this ion generator, a piezoelectric transformer for supplying a high voltage to the ion generating electrode and a drive circuit for driving the piezoelectric transformer are mounted in a case and integrated by a mold. However, the ion generating electrode is arranged outside the case and is connected to a cable drawn from the case.

Also, regarding high-voltage transformers, differences between piezoelectric transformers and winding transformers and advantages and disadvantages are described. In piezoelectric transformers, the transformer itself can be made more compact than winding transformers, but the peripheral circuit is complicated. . It is described that the high-voltage transformer is mounted on the same substrate as other components, and that the substrate is arranged in the exterior case in a form that is floated a certain distance from the bottom of the case.
JP 2002-374670 A

  In the ion generator described in the above publication, a high-voltage transformer and a drive circuit are molded together in a case. For this reason, for example, it is not possible to mold only the high-voltage transformer without molding the drive circuit, and it is not possible to mold only the high voltage portion efficiently. In addition, if the high voltage part is not molded, there is a possibility that discharge will occur in the high voltage part other than the ion generating electrode, and it is necessary to ensure a large insulation distance between the components of the high voltage part in order to prevent such discharge. is there. In general, an insulation distance of 1 mm per 1 kV voltage is said to be a standard. When the insulation distance is increased in this way, the ion generating device becomes large, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the device.

  In the ion generator described in the above publication, the high-voltage transformer is mounted on the same substrate as the drive circuit. For this reason, in addition to the thickness of the substrate, the high voltage transformer arrangement section requires a height higher than the thickness of the high voltage transformer on the substrate surface (component surface) side, and the high voltage transformer on the substrate back surface (solder surface) side. The height of the lead part soldered or more is required. As a result, the thickness of the ion generating device is increased in the arrangement portion of the high-voltage transformer, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the device.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said subject, The objective is to provide the ion generator suitable for size reduction and thickness reduction, and an electric equipment carrying the same.

An ion generator according to the present invention includes a transformer driving circuit, a transformer driven by the transformer driving circuit to boost a voltage, and a voltage boosted by the transformer to apply at least positive ions and negative ions. An ion generation apparatus including an ion generation element for generating any of the elements includes a substrate and a case. The substrate has a transformer driving circuit mounted on the surface. The case houses therein a substrate on which a transformer driving circuit is mounted, a transformer, and an ion generating element. The ion generating element includes an induction electrode, a plurality of discharge electrodes, and a support substrate. The induction electrode is made of an integral metal plate having a plurality of through holes. Each of the plurality of discharge electrodes has a needle-like tip located within each of the plurality of through-holes of the induction electrode, within the thickness range of the through-hole , and located at the center of the through-hole. Yes. The support substrate supports the induction electrode and the plurality of discharge electrodes. The case is planarly divided into a transformer driving circuit block for arranging at least a transformer driving circuit, a transformer block for arranging at least a secondary side of the transformer, and an ion generating element block for arranging ion generating elements. It is partitioned. The transformer is housed in the case independently of the substrate.

  Another ion generator of the present invention includes a transformer driving circuit, a transformer driven by the transformer driving circuit to boost the voltage, and a positive voltage and a negative ion by applying the voltage boosted by the transformer. An ion generating device including an ion generating element for generating at least one of a transformer driving circuit block for disposing at least a transformer driving circuit and a transformer for disposing at least a secondary side of the transformer A case is provided that is partitioned in a plane into a block and an ion generating element block for arranging the ion generating elements.

  According to the ion generator of the present invention, since the inside of the case is partitioned in a plane into the transformer driving circuit block, the transformer block, and the ion generating element block, each block can be molded separately. For example, the transformer block can mold the entire secondary side of the transformer, but the ion generating element block can mold the high voltage circuit portion of the ion generating element without molding the ion generating portion. Thereby, since the high voltage | pressure part of an ion generator can be efficiently insulated / separated with a mold, it becomes possible to arrange | position each part close | similarly and the size and thickness reduction of an ion generator are attained.

  The ion generator preferably has a configuration in which a transformer block and an ion generating element block are molded.

  Thus, as described above, for example, in the transformer block, the entire secondary side of the transformer is molded, but in the ion generating element block, the high voltage circuit portion of the ion generating element can be molded without molding the ion generating portion. In addition, the high pressure portion of the ion generator can be efficiently insulated and separated with a mold. For this reason, it becomes possible to arrange each part close, and the ion generator can be made smaller and thinner.

  In the above ion generator, the transformer drive circuit block preferably has a configuration that can be molded with the transformer drive circuit disposed.

  As a result, the transformer drive circuit block can be molded as necessary, and the ion generator can be further reduced in size and thickness.

  Preferably, in the above ion generator, the case has a wall for partitioning the transformer driving circuit block and the transformer block, and the wall passes through a connection portion that electrically connects the transformer driving circuit and the transformer. Has a notch.

  With this wall, the transformer drive circuit block and the transformer block can be partitioned in a plane, and the transformer drive circuit and the transformer can be electrically connected by a notch provided in the wall.

  Preferably, in the above ion generator, the case has a wall for partitioning the primary side and the secondary side of the transformer, and the transformer has another part of the transformer at an intermediate portion between the primary side and the secondary side. The enlarged-diameter portion has a larger-diameter portion than the diameter, and the enlarged-diameter portion contacts the wall in a state where the intermediate portion of the transformer is fitted into the notch portion of the wall.

  Since the enlarged diameter portion abuts against the wall with the intermediate portion of the transformer fitted in the notch in the wall in this way, for example, when molding into the transformer block, the mold flows from the transformer block to the transformer drive circuit block. Can be prevented.

  In the above ion generator, the ion generator preferably includes an induction electrode, a plurality of discharge electrodes, and a support substrate. The induction electrode is made of an integral metal plate having a plurality of through holes, and the wall portion of the through hole is made thicker than the thickness of the metal plate by bending the peripheral portion of each of the plurality of through holes. It is. Each of the plurality of discharge electrodes has a needle-like tip located within each of the plurality of through holes of the induction electrode and within the thickness range of the through holes. The support substrate supports the induction electrode and the plurality of discharge electrodes.

  Thus, since the induction electrode is made of an integral metal plate, its thickness can be reduced. Further, since the peripheral portion of the through hole is bent, the thickness of the wall portion of the through hole can be made larger than the thickness of the metal plate while the induction electrode is formed of an integral metal plate. By positioning the needle-like tip within the thickness range of the through-hole, the shortest distance between the induction electrode and the discharge electrode is the distance between the needle-like tip of the discharge electrode and the peripheral portion of the through-hole of the induction electrode. . Here, since the thickness of the peripheral portion of the through hole is thicker than the thickness of the metal plate, even if the position of the discharge electrode slightly deviates in the thickness direction of the peripheral portion, the needle-shaped tip is the thickness of the through hole. Stay within the range. For this reason, the shortest distance between the induction electrode and the discharge electrode is maintained as the distance between the needle-like tip of the discharge electrode and the peripheral edge of the through hole of the induction electrode, reducing variations in the amount of ions generated due to variations in the positional relationship. It becomes possible to do.

  Preferably, in the above ion generator, the case has a main body that is planarly divided into a transformer driving circuit block, a transformer block, and an ion generating element block, and a lid for covering the main body. The lid has a plurality of ion emission holes provided corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes.

  Preferably, in the above ion generator, the case has a main body that is planarly divided into a transformer driving circuit block, a transformer block, and an ion generating element block, and a lid for covering the main body. The bottom portion of the main body has a plurality of ion emission holes provided corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes.

  In the above ion generator, each of the plurality of ion emission holes preferably has an opening size smaller than that of the through hole.

  Thereby, it can prevent that a hand touches the induction electrode which is an electricity supply part directly, and can prevent an electric shock.

  Another ion generator of the present invention includes a transformer driving circuit, a transformer driven by the transformer driving circuit to boost the voltage, and a positive voltage and a negative ion by applying the voltage boosted by the transformer. An ion generation device including an ion generation element for generating at least one of the above, and includes a substrate and a case. The substrate has a transformer driving circuit mounted on the surface. The case houses therein a substrate on which a transformer driving circuit is mounted, a transformer, and an ion generating element. The transformer is accommodated in the case without being mounted on the surface of the substrate.

  According to another ion generator of the present invention, since the transformer is accommodated in the case without being mounted on the surface of the substrate, the thickness of the substrate at the height of the case in the transformer block and the connection to the substrate You can remove the height you need for. Accordingly, the height of the case in the transformer block can be reduced, and the ion generator can be reduced in size.

  An electrical apparatus according to the present invention includes any of the above-described ion generators, and a blower unit for sending at least one of positive ions and negative ions generated by the ion generators in a blown airflow. Yes.

  According to the electric equipment of the present invention, ions generated by the ion generator can be sent on the airflow by the blower, so that, for example, ions can be released to the outside in the air conditioner, and in the refrigerator equipment. Ions can be released inside or outside.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the inside of the case is planarly divided into each element block, and the transformer is accommodated in the case without being mounted on the substrate, the ion generator can be reduced in size. Can be made thinner and thinner. For this reason, mounting on electrical equipment that could not be equipped with ion generators due to size restrictions so far is possible, expanding applications to electrical equipment equipped with ion generating equipment and increasing the degree of freedom of mounting locations. Is possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a configuration of an ion generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the ion generator shown in FIG. 1 with the lid removed. 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views taken along lines III-III and IV-IV in FIG.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the ion generator 50 of this Embodiment is the high voltage circuit 5 (FIG. 3), the ion generating element 10, the high voltage transformer 20, and the high voltage transformer drive circuit 30 (FIG. 3). And a power input connector 30b (FIG. 3) and an outer case 40.

  The high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 is for receiving the input voltage from the outside and driving the high-voltage transformer 20. The high voltage transformer 20 is driven by the high voltage transformer drive circuit 30 to boost the input voltage. The ion generating element 10 generates at least one of positive ions and negative ions by applying a voltage boosted by the high-voltage transformer 20.

  The exterior case 40 includes a main body 40a and a lid body 40b. The inside of the main body 40a includes an ion generating element block 40A for arranging the ion generating element 10, a high voltage transformer block 40B for arranging the high voltage transformer 20, and a high voltage transformer driving circuit for arranging the high voltage transformer driving circuit 30. It is partitioned in a plane with the block 40C. Each of the blocks 40A, 40B, and 40C is partitioned by walls 41, 42, and 43 disposed in the main body 40a, for example.

  The ion generating element 10 is accommodated in the ion generating element block 40A in a state where the constituent elements of the high voltage circuit 5 are attached. The high voltage transformer 20 is accommodated in the high voltage transformer block 40B without being mounted on the substrate. The high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 and the power input connector 30b are accommodated in the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C while being mounted on the substrate 31. A part of the power input connector 30b is exposed to the outside of the outer case 40, and has a structure in which a power source can be connected to the connector from the outside.

  Each functional element housed in the main body 40a is appropriately electrically connected and molded as will be described later, and finally a lid 40b is attached so as to close the upper opening of the main body 40a. . The lid 40b is provided with a hole 44 for ion emission.

  Next, each of the functional elements will be specifically described in the order of the ion generating element 10, the high-voltage transformer 20, and the high-voltage transformer driving circuit 30.

  6 and 7 are an exploded perspective view and a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the ion generating element used in the ion generating apparatus shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion R2 in FIG.

  Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, ion generating element 10 is for generating at least one of positive ions and negative ions by, for example, corona discharge, induction electrode 1, discharge electrode 2, and support substrate. 3.

  The induction electrode 1 is made of an integral metal plate and has a plurality of through holes 1b provided in the top plate portion 1a corresponding to the number of discharge electrodes 2. This through hole 1 b is an opening for discharging ions generated by corona discharge to the outside of the ion generating element 10.

  In the present embodiment, the number of through holes 1b is two, for example, and the planar shape of the through hole 1b is, for example, a circle. The peripheral portion of the through hole 1b is a bent portion 1c obtained by bending a metal plate with respect to the top plate portion 1a by a method such as drawing. Due to the bent portion 1c, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the thickness T1 of the peripheral wall portion of the through hole 1b is larger than the plate thickness T2 of the top plate portion 1a.

Further, the induction electrode 1 has, for example, substrate insertion portions 1d formed by bending a part of the metal plate with respect to the top plate portion 1a at both ends. The substrate insertion portion 1d has a wide support portion 1d ₁ and a narrow insertion portion 1d ₂ . One end of the support portion 1d ₁ is connected to the top plate portion 1a, the other end is connected to the insertion portion 1d _2.

The induction electrode 1 may have a substrate support portion 1e in which a part of a metal plate is bent with respect to the top plate portion 1a. The substrate support portion 1e is bent in the same direction (lower side in FIG. 6) as the bending direction of the substrate insertion portion 1d. The bending direction of the length of the substrate support portion 1e is bent direction of the support portion 1d ₁ of substrate insertion portion 1d is the length substantially the same.

  The bent portion 1c may be bent in the same direction as the substrate insertion portion 1d and the substrate support portion 1e (lower side in FIG. 6), or in the direction opposite to the substrate insertion portion 1d and the substrate support portion 1e (in FIG. 6). It may be bent to the upper side. The bent portion 1c, the substrate insertion portion 1d, and the substrate support portion 1e are bent, for example, at a substantially right angle with respect to the top plate portion 1a.

The discharge electrode 2 has a needle-like tip. Supporting substrate 3 has a through hole 3a for insertion of discharge electrode 2 and a through hole 3b for insertion of insertion portion 1d ₂ of substrate insertion portion 1d.

  The acicular discharge electrode 2 is supported by the support substrate 3 in a state of being inserted or press-fitted into the through hole 3 a and penetrating the support substrate 3. As a result, one end of the discharge electrode 2 in the shape of a needle protrudes to the front surface side of the support substrate 3, and the other end protruding to the back surface side of the support substrate 3 has a solder as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 4 can electrically connect lead wires and wiring patterns.

The insertion portion 1d ₂ of the induction electrode 1 is supported by the support substrate 3 in a state of being inserted into the through hole 3b and penetrating the support substrate 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a lead wire or a wiring pattern can be electrically connected to the tip of the insertion portion 1 d ₂ protruding to the back side of the support substrate 3 by solder 4.

In a state where the induction electrode 1 is supported by the support substrate 3, the stepped portion at the boundary between the support portion 1 d ₁ and the insertion portion 1 d ₂ comes into contact with the surface of the support substrate 3. As a result, the top plate portion 1 a of the induction electrode 1 is supported with a predetermined distance from the support substrate 3. The tip of the substrate support portion 1 e of the induction electrode 1 is in contact with the surface of the support substrate 3 in an auxiliary manner. That is, the induction electrode 1 can be positioned in the thickness direction with respect to the support substrate 3 by the substrate insertion portion 1d and the substrate support portion 1e.

  Further, in a state where the induction electrode 1 is supported by the support substrate 3, the discharge electrode 2 has its needle-like tip positioned at the center C of the circular through hole 1b as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the peripheral portion of the through hole 1b is disposed so as to be positioned within the range of the thickness T1 (that is, the bent length of the bent portion 1c). Further, the constituent elements of the high-voltage circuit 5 are attached to the back surface (solder surface) of the support substrate 3 as shown in FIG.

  As an example of the dimension, the thickness of the peripheral portion of the through hole 1b (that is, the bending length of the bent portion 1c) T1 is about 1 mm to 2 mm, and the plate thickness T2 of the plate-like induction electrode 1 is 0.5 mm to 1 mm. It is about the following. The thickness from the upper surface of the support substrate 3 to the surface of the induction electrode 1 is about 2 mm or more and 4 mm or less. Thereby, the thickness of the ion generator 50 which accommodated this ion generating element 10 in the inside can be thinned to about 5 mm or more and 8 mm or less.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration of a high-voltage transformer used in the ion generator shown in FIGS. Referring to FIG. 10, high-voltage transformer 20 is formed of a winding transformer, for example. The winding transformer 20 has a configuration in which a primary winding 21 and a secondary winding 22 which are insulated from each other are wound around a bobbin around an iron core. The primary winding 21 and the secondary winding 22 are They are arranged side by side.

  The voltage generated on the secondary side of the winding transformer 20 is generally determined by the turns ratio and inductance between the primary winding 21 and the secondary winding 22, and is usually applied to the secondary winding 22 to generate a high voltage. , Requires thousands of turns. The winding transformer 20 is increased in thickness when the winding having the number of turns of several thousand turns is wound around a narrow region of the bobbin. For this reason, instead of winding several thousand turns on a bobbin at a time, a bobbin structure in which one winding is divided into as many layers as possible and the number of turns per layer is reduced is used. It is preferable to reduce the thickness. Further, if the number of divisions is extremely increased, the length of the winding transformer 20 increases, which is disadvantageous for miniaturization. Therefore, it is preferable to divide the winding transformer 20 into an appropriate number.

  Both terminals 23 and 23 of the primary winding 21 are arranged at the end of the winding transformer 20 in the longitudinal direction (the direction in which the primary winding 21 and the secondary winding 22 are adjacent to each other). Both terminals 24, 24 of 22 are arranged on the side of the winding transformer 20.

  The high-voltage transformer 20 may be arranged in the high-voltage transformer block 40B of the main body 40a in a single state shown in FIG. 10, but the high-voltage transformer 20 is placed in the case 25 as shown in FIG. May be arranged. In this state, the molding is performed with the high-voltage transformer 20 placed in the case 25, and the gap between the case 25 and the high-voltage transformer 20 is filled with the molding material 26. Thereby, the insulation performance is ensured with the high-voltage transformer 20 alone. A lead wire 27 is connected to each of the terminals 23 and 24 of the high-voltage transformer 20 and is drawn out of the case 25.

  Referring to FIG. 3, high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 receives power supplied from power input connector 30b, charges the capacitor, and charges the capacitor using a semiconductor switch or the like when the voltage reaches a specified level or higher. It has a function of discharging electric charges and supplying current to the primary side of the high-voltage transformer 20. The element 30 a constituting the high voltage transformer drive circuit 30 is attached to the back surface of the substrate 31. A part or all of the power input connector 30b is attached to the back surface of the substrate 31. The power supply input connector 30b is configured to be electrically connected to the outside of the outer case 40 in a state where the substrate 31 on which the high voltage transformer drive circuit 30 and the power supply input connector 30b are mounted is disposed in the high voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C. Has been.

  In this embodiment, the solder surface of the substrate 31 of the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C is the upper side of FIG. 3, the component surface (component mounting surface) is the lower side of FIG. 3, and the power input connector 30b is the lower side of FIG. Is exposed.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, lid 40 b of exterior case 40 has an ion emission hole 44 in a wall portion facing through hole 1 b of ion generating element 10. Thereby, ions generated in the ion generating element 10 are released to the outside of the ion generating device 50 through the holes 44. As described above, since one discharge electrode 2 of the ion generating element 10 generates positive ions and the other discharge electrode 2 generates negative ions, one hole provided in the outer case 40 is provided. 44 becomes a positive ion generation part, and the other hole 44 becomes a negative ion generation part.

  In order to prevent an electric shock, the ion emission hole 44 is set to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the through hole 1b of the induction electrode 1 so that the hand does not directly touch the induction electrode 1 which is a current-carrying part. Further, the tip position of the discharge electrode 2 is also (total thickness of the lid 40b of the outer case 40) + (thickness of the top plate portion 1a of the induction electrode 1) + (bending length of the induction electrode 1). The depth of the outer case 40 is about 0.0 mm. As described above, the diameter of the ion emission hole 44 needs to be set small so that the tips of the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 do not touch. However, if the diameter is too small, the amount of ion emission decreases. For example, the size is 6 mm.

  Although the ion generator 50 has a thickness of 5 mm or more and 8 mm or less as described above, it may of course have a thickness larger than that.

Next, the state of electrical connection of each functional element will be described.
FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the ion generator according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing electrical connection of each functional element. Referring to FIG. 12, ion generator 50 is arranged in exterior case 40, ion generating element 10 and high voltage circuit 5 arranged in ion generating element block 40A, and high voltage transformer block 40B as described above. The high-voltage transformer 20, the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 disposed in the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C, and a power input connector 30b are provided. Note that a part of the power input connector 30b is disposed in the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C, and the other part is exposed to the outside of the outer case 40, so that the power can be connected to the connector from the outside. ing.

  The power input connector 30b is a portion that receives supply of DC power or commercial AC power as input power. The power input connector 30b is electrically connected to the high voltage transformer drive circuit 30. The high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 is electrically connected to the primary side of the high-voltage transformer 20. The high-voltage transformer 20 boosts the voltage input to the primary side and outputs it to the secondary side. One side of the secondary side of the high voltage transformer 20 is electrically connected to the induction electrode 1 of the ion generating element 10, and the other side of the secondary side is electrically connected to the discharge electrode 2 through the high voltage circuit 5.

  The high voltage circuit 5 applies a positive high voltage to the induction electrode 1 to the discharge electrode 2 that generates positive ions, and a negative high voltage to the induction electrode 1 for the discharge electrode 2 that generates negative ions. Is applied. Thereby, positive and negative bipolar ions can be generated. Of course, only positive ions or only negative ions can be generated by the configuration of the high-voltage circuit 5.

  As a specific connection configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the high-voltage transformer 20 has a primary-side terminal 23 and a secondary-side terminal 24, and the terminal 23 is equipped with a high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30. The substrate 31 is directly connected to the front surface (solder surface) by solder connection, and the terminals 24 are directly connected to the back surface (solder surface) of the support substrate 3 on which the high-voltage circuit 5 is mounted by solder connection. In addition, the above connection may be made by a lead wire without using the terminals 23 and 24.

  Further, the power input connector 30b and the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 are electrically connected by a lead wire or a wiring pattern (not shown) while being mounted on the substrate 31 as shown in FIG. Further, the high-voltage transformer 20, the ion generating element 10, and the high-voltage circuit 5 are electrically connected by a lead wire or a wiring pattern (not shown) while being mounted on the support substrate 3 as shown in FIG. 3.

Next, the mold will be described.
As described above, each functional element is appropriately molded in a state of being housed in the outer case and electrically connected. Here, since the ion generating element block 40A and the high-voltage transformer block 40B are high-voltage parts, the back surface side (soldering) of the supporting substrate 3 is excluded except for the ion generating part (front surface side of the supporting substrate 3) in the ion generating element block 40A. It is desirable to insulate the surface side) and the high-voltage transformer block 40B with a resin mold (for example, epoxy resin). As shown in FIG. 11, when the high-voltage transformer 20 is placed in the case 25, it is preferable to mold the case 25 independently by molding. As shown in FIG. 1, when the high-voltage transformer 20 is housed alone in the high-voltage transformer block 40B, it is preferable to mold the high-voltage transformer 20 together with the back side of the support substrate 3 of the ion generating element block 40A.

  In the latter case, the outer case 40 is provided with a wall 41 so that the mold from the high-voltage transformer block 40B does not flow into the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C, while the input terminal 23 of the high-voltage transformer 20 is driven by the high-voltage transformer. It is also necessary to pass a connecting portion (such as a lead wire) for connecting to the circuit 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable to provide a notch 41a for passing the connecting portion in a part of the wall 41.

  The high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C may also be molded depending on the usage environment of the ion generator 50. Basically, since the applied voltage is a household power supply voltage, the block 40C has a lower voltage than other blocks and is covered by the outer case 40 unless it is in a special environment such as high humidity or high dust. Therefore, there is a case where the mold is not required, and a structure that can select the mold (a moldable structure) can be obtained.

  Here, the structure in which a mold can be selected (a moldable structure) is that the substrate 31 on which the high-voltage transformer driving circuit 30 and the power input connector 30b are mounted is disposed in the high-voltage transformer driving circuit block 40C. 31 means that it can be turned from the front surface side (lid side) of 31 to the back surface side (bottom side of the main body 40a), and the molding material does not leak from the bottom of the main body 40a of the outer case 40. To do.

  That is, since the molding is performed after each functional element is arranged in the exterior case 40, the exterior of the exterior so that the mold material wraps around to the back side, which is the component mounting surface, even if the mold material is injected from the front surface side of the substrate 31. Case 40 and substrate 31 must be constructed. In addition, since the molding material is liquid at the time of injection, it leaks to the outside of the outer case 40 if the bottom of the outer case 40 is not sealed, so that the molding material is prevented from leaking. It is necessary to make the bottom part a sealed structure.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the entire high-voltage transformer 20 is arranged in the high-voltage transformer block 40B as shown in FIG. 2 has been described, but at least the secondary side (secondary winding) of the high-voltage transformer 20 is shown in FIG. The line 22 and the terminal 24) need only be arranged in the high-voltage transformer block 40B, and the primary side (primary winding 21 and terminal 23) of the high-voltage transformer 20 may be arranged in the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C. . In this case, the wall 41 that partitions the high-voltage transformer block 40B and the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C needs to be provided with a notch 41b for fitting the high-voltage transformer 20 therein.

  Further, in this configuration, when the inside of the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C is not molded, the high-voltage transformer 20 includes a primary side (primary winding 21 and terminal 23) and a secondary side (secondary winding) as shown in FIG. 22 and the terminal 24) are preferably provided with an enlarged diameter portion 28 having a larger diameter than other portions of the high-voltage transformer 20. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, one end face of the enlarged-diameter portion 28 of the high-voltage transformer 20 comes into contact with the wall 41 in a state where the high-voltage transformer 20 is fitted in the notch 41 b of the wall 41. Thereby, the mold in the high voltage transformer block 40B can be prevented from flowing into the high voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C.

  Further, in the above description, the case where the ion releasing hole 44 is provided in the lid 40b of the outer case 40 has been described. However, the hole 44 is provided on the bottom surface of the main body 40a of the outer case 40 as shown in FIG. Also good. That is, the lid 40b may be on the side where the ion emission hole 44 is provided, or may be on the side where the ion emission hole 44 is not provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, by providing a step S at the bottom of the outer case 40 between the high-voltage transformer block 40B and the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C, the high-voltage transformer 20 is disposed in the outer case 40. The height position of the 20 terminals 23 may be a height position in contact with the upper surface of the substrate 31 on which the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 is mounted. As a result, the terminal 23 of the high-voltage transformer 20 can be directly connected to the substrate 31 by soldering or the like.

  In FIG. 15, for convenience of explanation, illustration of a wall that partitions between the high-voltage transformer block 40B and the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 16, when the element 30 a constituting the high-voltage transformer driving circuit is mounted on the substrate 31, the element 30 a may be disposed in the through hole 31 a in which a part of the substrate 31 is cut out. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17, the element 30a is electrically connected to other elements by a lead wire 32 or the like. The lead wire 32 is disposed below the substrate 31 in FIG. 17, but may be disposed above the substrate 31. Thus, by disposing the element 30 a in the through hole 31 a of the substrate 31, it is possible to make the device 30 a thinner than when the element 30 a is mounted on the substrate 31.

  In the case of generating ions of either positive ions or negative ions in the ion generator, the needle-like tip position of the discharge electrode 2 for generating ions is aligned with the center of the through hole 1b of the induction electrode 1, And by arrange | positioning in the range of the thickness T1 of the through-hole 1b of the induction electrode 1, the induction electrode 1 and the acicular tip of the discharge electrode 2 are made to oppose on both sides of air space.

  Further, in order to release positive ions and negative ions, both the acicular tip position of the discharge electrode 2 generating positive ions and the acicular tip position of the discharge electrode 2 generating negative ions are provided. Are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, aligned with the center of the through-hole 1b of the induction electrode 1 and within the thickness T1 of the through-hole 1b of the induction electrode 1. The needle-like tip of the discharge electrode 2 is opposed to the air space.

  In the ion generating element 10, the plate-like induction electrode 1 and the needle-like discharge electrode 2 are arranged with a predetermined distance as described above, and a high voltage is applied between the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2. Is applied, corona discharge occurs at the tip of the needle-like discharge electrode 2. At least one of positive ions and negative ions is generated by the corona discharge, and the ions are released from the through-hole 1 b provided in the induction electrode 1 to the outside of the ion generating element 10. Furthermore, it becomes possible to discharge | release ion more effectively by adding ventilation.

  When both positive ions and negative ions are generated, positive corona discharge is generated at the tip of one discharge electrode 2 to generate positive ions, and negative corona discharge is generated at the tip of the other discharge electrode 2 to generate negative ions. Generate ions. The applied waveform is not particularly limited here, and is a high voltage such as a direct current, an alternating current waveform biased positively or negatively, or a pulse waveform biased positively or negatively. The voltage value is sufficient to generate a discharge, and a voltage region in which a predetermined ion species is generated is selected.

Here, the positive ion is a cluster ion in which a plurality of water molecules are attached around a hydrogen ion (H ⁺ ), and is represented as H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is an arbitrary natural number). Negative ions are cluster ions in which a plurality of water molecules are attached around oxygen ions (O ₂ ⁻ ), and are expressed as O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is an arbitrary natural number).

  According to the ion generator 50 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the interior of the outer case 40 is planarly divided into a high voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C, a high voltage transformer block 40B, and an ion generator element block 40A. Since it is partitioned, each block can be molded separately. For example, while the entire secondary side of the transformer is molded in the high voltage transformer block 40B, the high voltage circuit 5 of the ion generating element can be molded in the ion generating element block 40A without molding the ion generating portion. Thereby, since the high voltage | pressure part of the ion generator 50 can be efficiently insulated / separated with a mold, it becomes possible to arrange | position each part close | similarly and the size and thickness reduction of an ion generator are attained.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the high-voltage transformer 20 is not mounted on the surface of the substrate 31 and is housed in the high-voltage transformer block 40B of the outer case 40, the outer case 40 of the high-voltage transformer block 40B The height (for example, 1.0 mm to 1.6 mm) of the substrate 31 and the height necessary for connection to the substrate 31 (for example, at least 2 mm) can be deleted. Accordingly, the height of the outer case 40 in the high-voltage transformer block 40B can be reduced, and the ion generator 50 can be reduced in size.

  The high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C has a configuration that can be molded with the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 disposed, and therefore, the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C can be molded as necessary. Can be reduced in size and thickness.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exterior case 40 has a wall 41 for partitioning the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C and the high-voltage transformer block 40B, and the wall 41 is provided with the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 and the high-voltage transformer 20. Is provided with a notch 41a through which a connecting portion (terminal 23 or lead wire) is electrically connected. The wall 41 can partition the high-voltage transformer drive circuit block 40C and the high-voltage transformer block 40B in a plane, and the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 and the high-voltage transformer 20 are electrically connected by a notch 41a provided on the wall 41. It becomes possible.

  6 to 9, in the ion generating element 10, since the induction electrode 1 is made of an integral metal plate, the thickness can be reduced. Thereby, thickness reduction is realizable. Since the peripheral portion of the through hole 1b is bent like a bent portion 1c, the thickness T1 of the wall portion of the through hole 1b is set to the plate of the top plate portion 1a while the induction electrode 1 is formed of an integral metal plate. It can be thicker than the thickness T2. By positioning the needle-like tip within the thickness T1 of the through-hole 1b, the shortest distance between the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 is the distance between the needle-like tip of the discharge electrode 2 and the through-hole 1b of the induction electrode 1. It is the distance to the peripheral part. Here, since the thickness T1 of the peripheral portion of the through hole 1b is thicker than the plate thickness T2 of the metal plate, even if the position of the discharge electrode 2 is slightly shifted in the thickness direction of the peripheral portion, the needle-shaped tip is It remains within the range of the thickness T1 of the through hole 1b. For this reason, the shortest distance between the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 is maintained as the distance between the needle-shaped tip of the discharge electrode 2 and the peripheral portion of the through hole 1b of the induction electrode 1, and the generation of ions caused by the variation in positional relationship It becomes possible to reduce variation in the amount.

  Further, since both the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 are positioned and supported by the support substrate 3, variations in the positional relationship between the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 can be suppressed.

Each of the discharge electrode 2 and the insertion portion 1d ₂ penetrates the support substrate 3 and is supported by the support substrate 3. In this way, the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 are supported by the support substrate 3, and the end of the discharge electrode 2 protruding from the back side of the support substrate 3 and the insertion portion 1 d ₂ of the induction electrode 1 are electrically connected to each other. Circuits and the like can be electrically connected.

  In addition, since the induction electrode 1 can be positioned with respect to the support substrate 3 by bringing the end of the substrate support portion 1e into contact with the surface of the support substrate 3, the variation in the positional relationship between the induction electrode 1 and the discharge electrode 2 is further increased. Can be suppressed. Further, since the end portion of the substrate support portion 1e is merely brought into contact with the surface without penetrating the support substrate 3, it is easy to secure an insulation distance from the discharge electrode 2.

  Further, each of the plurality of ion emission holes 44 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has an opening size smaller than that of the through-hole 1b, so that it is possible to prevent the hand from directly touching the induction electrode 1 which is a current-carrying portion. Electric shock can be prevented.

If positive ions and negative ions are released, both positive ions in the air, H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is an arbitrary natural number), and negative ions, O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is an arbitrary natural number) is generated in an approximately equivalent amount, so that both ions surround mold fungi and viruses floating in the air, and the active species hydroxyl radicals (・ By the action of OH), it is possible to remove floating fungi and the like.

  Next, the structure of an air cleaner will be described as an example of an electric device using the above ion generator.

  FIG. 18 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of an air cleaner using the ion generator shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the air cleaner showing an ion generator arranged in the air cleaner shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, air cleaner 60 has a front panel 61 and a main body 62. A blow-out port 63 is provided at the upper rear portion of the main body 62, and clean air containing ions is supplied into the room from the blow-out port 63. An air intake 64 is formed at the center of the main body 62. The air taken in from the air intake port 64 on the front surface of the air cleaner 60 is cleaned by passing through a filter (not shown). The purified air is supplied to the outside from the outlet 63 through the fan casing 65.

  The ion generator 50 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is attached to a part of the fan casing 65 that forms a passage path for purified air. The ion generator 50 is arranged so that ions can be discharged into the air flow from the hole 44 serving as the ion generator. As an example of the arrangement of the ion generation device 50, positions such as a position P1 and a position P2 that are relatively far from the outlet 63 in the air passage path can be considered. Thus, by allowing the air to pass through the ion generator 44 of the ion generator 50, the air purifier 60 can have an ion generation function of supplying ions to the outside together with clean air from the air outlet 63. .

  According to the air purifier 60 of the present embodiment, the ions generated in the ion generator 50 can be sent on the airflow by the blower (air passage route), so that the ions can be released outside the apparatus. it can.

  In the present embodiment, an air purifier has been described as an example of an electric device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electric device includes an air conditioner (air conditioner), a refrigerator, A vacuum cleaner, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, an electric fan heater, etc. may be sufficient, and what is necessary is just an electric equipment which has a ventilation part for carrying ions on an airflow.

  In the above, the power source (input power source) input to the ion generator 10 may be either a commercial AC power source or a DC power source. When the input power source is a commercial AC power source, it is necessary to provide a legal distance between components constituting the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 that is a primary circuit and between patterns of the printed circuit board. In addition, a component that can ensure a withstand voltage against the power supply voltage is required, leading to an increase in size, but the circuit configuration can be simplified and the number of components can be reduced. On the other hand, when the input power source is a DC power source, the distance between the components constituting the high-voltage transformer drive circuit 30 serving as the primary side circuit and the pattern of the printed circuit board is greatly relaxed compared to the case of the commercial AC power source, and the short distance In the case where the component itself can be a small product such as a chip component and high-density arrangement is possible, but the circuit for realizing a high-voltage drive circuit becomes complicated and the number of components is the above-mentioned commercial AC power supply More than

  The high-voltage transformer 20 may be a winding transformer or a piezoelectric transformer. Winding transformers are generally determined by the turns ratio and inductance between the primary and secondary windings, and usually require several thousand turns to generate a high voltage, so a corresponding size is required. . On the other hand, some piezoelectric transformers in practical use are small and thin, but in principle, a certain length is required. In addition, there are difficulties in that there is a limit on the load amount of output and that the drive circuit is complicated.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be particularly advantageously applied to an ion generating element, an ion generating apparatus, and an electric device for generating at least one of positive ions and negative ions by corona discharge.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the ion generator in one embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view in the state which removed the cover body in the ion generator shown in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the IV-IV line of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the R1 part of FIG. 2 from the arrow A direction. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the ion generating element used for the ion generator shown in FIGS. 1-4. It is a top view which shows roughly the structure of the ion generating element used for the ion generator shown in FIGS. 1-4. It is a schematic sectional drawing which follows the VIII-VIII line of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view which expands and shows the R2 part of FIG. It is a top view which shows roughly the structure of the high voltage | pressure transformer used for the ion generator shown in FIGS. It is a top view which shows a mode that the high voltage | pressure was molded in the case. It is a functional block diagram of the ion generator in one embodiment of the present invention, and is a figure showing electrical connection of each functional element. It is a top view which shows the structure which has arrange | positioned only the secondary side of a high voltage | pressure transformer in the high voltage | pressure transformer block, and has arrange | positioned the primary side to the high voltage transformer drive circuit block. It is a top view which shows the structure which provided the enlarged diameter part between the primary side and secondary side of a high voltage | pressure transformer. It is a figure which shows the structure which provided the level | step difference in the case bottom part between a high voltage transformer block and a high voltage transformer drive circuit block. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the element of the drive circuit has been arrange | positioned in the through-hole which cut out the board | substrate which mounts a high voltage | pressure transformer drive circuit. It is a fragmentary sectional view which follows the XVII-XVII line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the air cleaner using the ion generator shown in FIGS. 1-3. It is an exploded view of the air cleaner which shows a mode that the ion generator was arrange | positioned to the air cleaner shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 induction electrode, 1a top plate portion, 1b through hole, 1c bent portion, 1d substrate insertion portion, 1e
Substrate support part, 2 discharge electrode, 3 support substrate, 3a, 3b through hole, 4 solder, 5 high voltage circuit, 10 ion generating element, 20 high voltage transformer, 21 primary winding, 22 secondary winding, 23, 24 terminal, 25 Case, 26 Mold material, 27 Lead wire, 28 Expanded diameter part, 30 High voltage transformer drive circuit, 30a element, 30b Power input connector, 31 Substrate,
31a through hole, 32 lead wire, 40 outer case, 40a body, 40b lid, 40A ion generating element block, 40B high voltage transformer block, 40C high voltage transformer drive circuit block, 41, 42, 43 wall, 41a, 41b notch, 44 ion release hole, 50 ion generator, 60 air purifier, 61 front panel, 62 main body, 63 outlet, 64 air intake, 65 fan casing.

Claims (5)

A transformer driving circuit, a transformer driven by the transformer driving circuit for boosting a voltage, and ions for generating at least one of positive ions and negative ions by applying a voltage boosted by the transformer An ion generator comprising a generating element,
A substrate on which the transformer driving circuit is mounted;
The substrate on which the transformer driving circuit is mounted, the transformer, and a case that accommodates the ion generating element therein,
The ion generating element is
An induction electrode made of an integral metal plate having a plurality of through holes;
A plurality of discharges each having a needle-like tip located within each of the plurality of through-holes of the induction electrode and within the thickness range of the through-hole and located at the center of the through-hole Electrodes,
A support substrate that supports the induction electrode and the plurality of discharge electrodes;
The case includes at least a transformer driving circuit block for arranging the transformer driving circuit, a transformer block for arranging at least a secondary side of the transformer, and an ion generating element block for arranging the ion generating element. Is divided in a plane,
The ion generator, wherein the transformer is housed in the case independently of the substrate. The case has a main body that is divided in a plane into the transformer driving circuit block, the transformer block, and the ion generating element block, and a lid for covering the main body,
2. The ion according to claim 1, wherein each of the lid bodies has a plurality of ion emission holes provided corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes of the ion generating element. Generator. The case has a main body that is divided in a plane into the transformer driving circuit block, the transformer block, and the ion generating element block, and a lid for covering the main body,
The bottom portion of the main body has a plurality of ion emission holes each provided corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes of the ion generating element. Ion generator.   4. The ion generator according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of ion emission holes has an opening size smaller than the through hole of the ion generation element. 5. The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An electric device comprising: a blower for sending at least one of positive ions and negative ions generated in the ion generator on a blown airflow.

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