JP5515761B2 - Battery-powered alarm - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery-type alarm device that uses a battery as a power source, and more particularly to a battery-type alarm device that notifies a battery voltage drop alarm when the battery voltage drops.

Recently, for example, gas alarms and fire alarms have been provided as battery-powered alarms using batteries as an operating power source. These battery type alarms use lithium primary batteries suitable for extending the service life, and are designed so that they can be used without replacing the battery until the product life (for example, 5 years or 10 years).
By the way, the original purpose of the alarm device is to detect the occurrence of CO or fire due to gas leakage or incomplete combustion, and to notify these abnormalities to the surroundings with an alarm sound, alarm display, external output, or the like. However, if the battery runs out such that the battery voltage (battery capacity) of the battery-type alarm device is reduced or lost, the original purpose cannot be achieved. For this reason, the battery type alarm device is provided with a function (battery voltage drop alarm function) for notifying the battery exhaustion by an alarm sound or the like in advance. By providing a battery voltage drop alarm function to the alarm device, the user (or administrator) can know the battery voltage drop before the battery-powered alarm device does not operate normally. It is possible to replace the battery or the battery type alarm device itself.
For example, the internal resistance of the battery gradually increases with time, as indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, the battery voltage value (Vchk1) when the discharge current is large (at the time of large current discharge) gradually decreases as indicated by the broken line, and rapidly decreases at the end of discharge. In addition, the battery voltage value (Vchk2) during the minute current discharge gradually decreases as shown by the solid line.

As a method of detecting a voltage drop of a battery having such characteristics, a large current is passed through a pseudo load built in the alarm device at a constant time (for example, every 50 hours), and the battery voltage value measured at that time is used to A method for determining a voltage drop is known. As this pseudo load, a resistor having a resistance value for supplying a current corresponding to the maximum load of the battery type alarm device is used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional alarm device. In this figure, 1 is a battery for operating an alarm. The battery 1 is connected to a constant voltage circuit unit 2 that maintains an input voltage at a constant voltage, and supplies power to a control unit 3 constituted by, for example, a microcomputer that controls the operation of the alarm device. .
The control unit 3 receives the measurement results from the voltage measurement circuit unit A (4) and the voltage measurement circuit unit B (5) that measure the voltage value of the battery 1 and the output voltage value of the constant voltage circuit unit, respectively.
The alarm device is provided with another circuit unit 6 including a detection unit for detecting the occurrence of gas leakage or fire. The alarm device also includes an alarm unit 7 that receives various instructions from the control unit 3 and performs various alarm processes. The alarm unit 7 includes, for example, an alarm sound output unit 7a that emits an alarm sound by a speaker or a buzzer, an alarm display unit 7b that displays an alarm on a display such as an LED, and an external alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal to an external device (not shown). 7c and the like.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 9 denotes a pseudo load that causes a current corresponding to the maximum load current to flow through the battery 1 via a switch 8 (for example, a transistor) that is controlled by the control unit 3 to be turned on / off.
In order to detect the battery voltage (battery capacity) of the battery 1 in the battery-type alarm device configured as described above, the control unit 3 turns on the switch 8 every predetermined time to flow a current to the pseudo load 9, and the battery at that time The voltage measurement circuit unit A (4) measures the voltage value. The voltage measurement circuit unit A (4) uses a voltage detection element that changes an output signal when the voltage is less than a predetermined voltage value (Vchk1), and transmits the result to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 receives this result and determines whether or not the battery voltage has decreased.
In addition to the above determination, the voltage of the battery 1 when no current is passed through the pseudo load 9 is determined based on the measurement result of the voltage measurement circuit unit B (5). The battery type alarm device detects the voltage drop of the battery 1 by making these determinations, and when the voltage of the battery 1 is in a lowered state, the alarm unit 7 issues a battery voltage drop alarm. .

JP 2005-208807 A JP 2001-41795 A

However, the above-described voltage drop detection method for the battery type alarm device can detect a decrease in the battery voltage before the alarm device becomes inoperable, but the battery becomes inactive and the internal resistance increases. In such a case, there is a problem that a battery voltage drop alarm is issued even though the battery capacity is sufficient.
In particular, the lithium manganese dioxide primary battery has a characteristic that the internal resistance tends to increase when used over 60% of the battery capacity, and there is a problem that the battery capacity cannot be used to the end. Furthermore, even when the battery is used in a high temperature environment, the internal resistance tends to increase.
Further, the discharge characteristics of the lithium primary battery vary depending on the ambient temperature. That is, when the same load current is passed, the voltage drop of the battery voltage is small when the ambient temperature is high, and the voltage drop is large when the ambient temperature is low. For this reason, in the conventional voltage drop detection method, when the battery voltage value is measured when the ambient temperature is extremely low, there is a problem that a battery voltage drop alarm is issued even though the battery capacity is sufficient. there were.
Therefore, in order to prevent a battery voltage drop alarm when the ambient temperature is extremely low, an alarm is given when a battery voltage drop is detected several times (for example, twice or four times) every 50 hours (or every 25 hours). Some alarms are designed to do this. However, the ambient temperature when the battery voltage value is measured a plurality of times is not always constant, and the battery voltage value varies with each measurement. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately measure the battery voltage. .

The reason for setting the battery voltage drop detection period to 50 hours, 25 hours, etc. is to prevent the voltage drop detection from being performed at the same time every day. For example, if the voltage is detected only during the warm daytime of the day, the battery voltage will drop greatly even if an alarm is issued during the cold nighttime, preventing the problem that the alarm cannot be performed. Because.
Or when it is comprised so that a battery voltage fall warning may be issued when the fall of a battery voltage is detected continuously several times, since the ambient temperature is not constant, the battery voltage value to measure will vary. For this reason, it is impossible to accurately measure the battery voltage value, and there is a concern that the battery voltage is insufficient (battery capacity is insufficient) even if an alarm is output. Therefore, there has been a problem that a voltage drop determination threshold having sufficient likelihood has to be set, and therefore, the battery must be replaced without being used up.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to accurately measure the battery voltage drop of the battery-type alarm device to prevent a false alarm of battery voltage drop, An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable battery type alarm that can be used until the end of discharge without wasting battery capacity.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the battery-type alarm device of the present invention detects one or more detection objects, converts the detection levels into electric signal levels, and outputs them, respectively,
A control unit that determines whether the level of each electrical signal output from the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the level of each electrical signal output from the detection unit by the control unit is a predetermined threshold value. An alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target, a battery that supplies operation power to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, respectively, and a voltage value of the battery A battery voltage measuring unit for measuring the battery, connected in parallel with the battery,
A pseudo load unit that receives a command from the control unit and flows a current substantially equal to a combined maximum current value flowing from the battery to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit;
A battery usage time measuring unit for measuring the battery usage time,
When a current is passed through the pseudo load unit by the control unit, a voltage value lower than a first voltage threshold is measured by the battery voltage measurement unit, and a usage time measured by the battery usage time measurement unit is predetermined. In the battery-type alarm device that is configured to output a battery voltage drop alarm from the alarm unit when the usage time is over or when the number of alarms output from the alarm unit is a predetermined number or more,
When the usage time measured by the battery usage time measurement unit is less than a predetermined usage time and the number of alarms output from the alarm unit is less than a predetermined number of times, the control unit supplies a current to the pseudo load unit. The battery is activated to perform the activation process.

In the battery-type alarm device described above, a current substantially equal to the maximum current of the alarm device is supplied to the pseudo load unit, and the battery voltage value at that time is measured. When the battery voltage value measured at this time is equal to or less than the first voltage threshold value for determining the remaining battery capacity, the control unit further determines that the battery usage time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. It is determined that there is no remaining capacity, and a battery voltage drop alarm is output from the alarm unit.
Alternatively battery-powered alarm device of the present invention, before Symbol controller, from the when current flows in the dummy load unit, a voltage value where the battery voltage measuring unit is below a first voltage threshold value is measured, and the alarm unit when the number of output by the alarm is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, Ru to output the battery voltage drop alarm from the alarm unit.

And the said control part in the battery-type alarm device of this invention is the use time which the said battery use time measurement part measured is less than predetermined use time, and the frequency | count of the alarm output from the said alarm part is less than predetermined number of times when, it intends row activation treatment of the battery by flowing a current to the dummy load unit.

The battery-type alarm device according to the present invention detects one or more detection objects, converts each detection level into an electric signal level, and outputs the electric signal, and each electric signal output by the detection unit. A control unit for determining whether or not each level exceeds a predetermined threshold; and when the level of each electrical signal output from the detection unit is determined by the control unit to exceed a predetermined threshold, the detection target An alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to each of the above, a battery that provides operating power to each of the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, a battery voltage measurement unit that measures a voltage value of the battery, and the battery A pseudo load unit that is connected in parallel with the battery, and that receives a command from the control unit and flows a current substantially equal to a combined maximum current value flowing from the battery to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, and the battery A battery usage time measurement unit that measures usage time, and when the control unit causes a current to flow through the pseudo load unit, the battery voltage measurement unit measures a voltage value below a first voltage threshold, and When the usage time measured by the battery usage time measurement unit is a predetermined usage time or more, or when the number of alarms output from the alarm unit is a predetermined number of times or more, a battery voltage drop alarm is output from the alarm unit in battery-powered alarm device which is adapted to, further on it comprises a temperature detection section for detecting ambient temperature, the control unit, the dummy load unit cell voltage when measured by applying a current to the value and the temperature detected at this time The battery voltage value is corrected to the temperature when the temperature detecting unit detects the lowest ambient temperature value within a predetermined period from the ambient temperature detected by the unit.
Battery-powered alarm device described above, the lowest temperature value of ambient temperature within a predetermined period is T _L ° C., when the ambient temperature when the measured battery voltage value was T _a ° C., measured at T _a ° C. The battery voltage value is corrected to be the battery voltage value at T _L ° C. Then, the alarm device determines whether the corrected battery voltage value is less than a predetermined value.
The battery-type alarm device according to the present invention also includes a detection unit that detects one or more detection targets, converts the detection levels into electrical signal levels, and outputs the electrical signals, and the electrical signals output by the detection unit. A control unit that determines whether or not each level exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and when the control unit determines that the level of each electrical signal output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the detection An alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to an object, a battery that provides operating power to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, a battery voltage measurement unit that measures a voltage value of the battery, and A pseudo load unit that is connected in parallel with a battery, and that receives a command from the control unit and flows a current substantially equal to a combined maximum current value flowing from the battery to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit; A battery usage time measurement unit for measuring the usage time of the pond, and when the control unit supplies a current to the pseudo load unit, the battery voltage measurement unit measures a voltage value lower than a first voltage threshold value. And when the usage time measured by the battery usage time measurement unit is a predetermined usage time or more, or when the number of alarms output from the alarm unit is a predetermined number of times or more, the alarm unit issues a battery voltage drop alarm. in battery-powered alarm device which is adapted to output a, a temperature detector for detecting the ambient temperature further, the minimum temperature value for each day the temperature detecting unit detects and holding a predetermined period, minimum temperature value in the predetermined time period In particular, the control unit is configured to detect a battery voltage value when measured by passing a current through the pseudo load unit and the temperature detection unit at this time. From ambient temperature, the average temperature calculation unit is characterized by correcting the battery voltage value to the average temperature value determined.
Battery-powered alarm device described above, the average value of the minimum temperature is the T ₀ ° C., when the ambient temperature when the measured battery voltage value was T _a ° C., the battery voltage value measured at T _a ° C. T Correct the battery voltage value at ₀ ° C. The alarm device is configured to determine whether the corrected battery voltage value is less than a predetermined value.

As described above, the battery type alarm device of the present invention can accurately perform the battery voltage drop determination of the lithium primary battery as the power source, and can appropriately perform the battery voltage drop alarm, thereby improving the reliability of the device. .
In addition, the battery-type alarm device of the present invention can use the battery capacity to the end even when the battery is in an inactive state and the internal resistance of the lithium primary battery is increased, thus extending the battery life. can do.
Furthermore, the battery-type alarm device of the present invention eliminates variations in battery voltage determination due to ambient temperature, can accurately detect battery voltage drop even when the ambient temperature changes, and can improve the reliability of the device. There is a great practical effect of being able to.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the battery-type alarm device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the determination process of the battery voltage fall in the battery type alarm device which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The graph which shows the discharge characteristic of the battery by the difference in ambient temperature. The graph which shows the discharge characteristic of the battery before an activation process and after an activation process. The flowchart which shows the detection timing of the battery voltage fall in the battery-type alarm device which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the discharge characteristic of a battery. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the conventional battery-type alarm device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 denote the same components, and the basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional one shown in FIG. Therefore, the explanation is briefly described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the battery-type alarm device according to the present invention. The battery-type alarm device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 differs from the conventional battery-type alarm device shown in FIG. 7 in that a predetermined reference voltage is generated from the output of the constant voltage circuit unit 2 and applied to the control unit 3. In order to activate the battery 1 through the reference voltage circuit unit 10, the ambient temperature detection unit 11 that detects the ambient temperature of the alarm device, and the switch 12 (for example, a transistor) that is controlled by the control unit 3 to be turned on / off. It is in the point provided with the load 13 for discharge which flows the electric current.
The constant voltage circuit unit 2 plays a role of supplying the output voltage output from the battery 1 to the control unit 3 with a stabilized constant voltage. The voltage stabilized by the constant voltage circuit unit 2 is also used as a reference voltage for a battery voltage measuring unit 3a described later. The ambient temperature detection unit 11 is configured by a temperature detection sensor such as a thermistor.
Furthermore, the control unit 3 of the battery-type alarm device of the present invention includes a battery voltage measurement unit 3a that measures the voltage value of the battery 1, a counting unit 3b that counts the elapsed time (cumulative usage time) from the start of battery use and the number of alarms, A storage unit 3c is provided for holding initial setting values, programs, data, and the like of the alarm device. Specifically, the control unit 3 is, for example, a microcomputer, the battery voltage measurement unit 3a is an AD converter built in the microcomputer, and the storage unit 3c is a RAM inside the microcomputer or an EEPROM connected to the outside of the microcomputer. Etc.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment (Example 1) according to the battery-type alarm device of the present invention will be described with reference to a process flowchart for determining a battery voltage drop shown in FIG.
First, the control unit 3 turns on the switch 8 to cause a current to flow through the pseudo load 9 (large current discharge), and the battery voltage value Vchkl (see FIG. 6) measured by the battery voltage measurement unit 3a is a predetermined voltage drop determination. It is determined whether the threshold value is less than Vthl (see FIG. 6) (Vchkl <Vthl) (step S1).
Here, the pseudo load 9 has a resistance value that allows a current equivalent to the maximum load used by the alarm to flow, and is configured in advance so as to simulate the battery voltage value at the maximum current at which the alarm operates. Further, the voltage drop determination threshold value Vthl is set to a voltage value having a likelihood corresponding to a minimum operation voltage value at which the alarm device operates and a period to be used after the alarm.
When the control unit 3 determines that the battery voltage value Vchkl measured by the battery voltage measurement unit 3a in step S1 is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage drop determination threshold Vthl (Vchkl ≧ Vthl), the battery 1 is normal. (Step S8).
On the other hand, when the control unit 3 determines that the battery voltage value Vchkl measured by the battery voltage measurement unit 3a in step S1 is less than a predetermined voltage drop determination threshold Vthl (Vchkl <Vthl), the control unit 3 turns off the switch 8. Then, the battery voltage measuring unit 3a reads the battery voltage value Vchk2 at the time of minute current discharge flowing through the control unit 3 and the like, and determines whether it is less than a predetermined voltage drop determination threshold Vth2 (Vchk2 <Vth2) (step) S2). The voltage drop determination threshold value Vth2 in step S2 is set to a voltage higher than the lowest voltage at which the control unit 3 can operate and higher than Vthl.

When the control unit 3 determines in step S2 that the battery voltage value Vchk2 is less than a predetermined voltage drop determination threshold value Vth2 (Vchk2 <Vth2), the alarm unit 7 issues a battery exhaustion alarm as battery exhaustion due to battery consumption. Output (step S9).
On the other hand, in step S2, the control unit 3 determines that the battery voltage value Vchk2 (see FIG. 6) during the minute current discharge is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage drop determination threshold Vth2 (see FIG. 6) (Vchk2 ≧ Vth2). When the determination is made, it is determined whether the usage time (cumulative usage time) from the start of battery use is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (step S3).
Next, in step S3, when it is determined that the usage time (cumulative usage time) from the start of battery use is not equal to or greater than the predetermined time, the control unit 3 determines whether the number of alarms is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times (step S4). .
Note that the determination performed by the control unit 3 in step S3 and step S4 is for confirming the degree of consumption of the battery 1. Here, the number of alarms with large current consumption is described as an example, but the current consumption is also large in addition. If there is a process, the process is also determined. The total current consumption may be determined by calculation by the control unit 3.
In Step S3 or Step S4, when the control unit 3 determines that the accumulated usage time is equal to or greater than a predetermined time (equipment life time) or the alarm count is equal to or greater than the predetermined count, the alarm unit 7 determines that the battery has run out due to battery consumption. A battery exhaustion warning is output (step S9).

On the other hand, when the control unit 3 determines in step S4 that the number of alarms is not greater than or equal to the predetermined number of times, that is, when the cumulative usage time is less than the predetermined time (equipment life time), the alarm number is less than the predetermined number. If it is, it is considered that the voltage is not reduced due to battery consumption. It can be determined that the battery capacity is sufficient, but the battery is inactive (internal battery resistance is increased), and there is a voltage drop due to large current discharge. For this reason, the control part 3 performs the activation process of the battery 1 (step S5). In the activation process of the battery 1, the controller 3 activates the battery by turning on the switch 12 and flowing a large current through the discharge load 13. Although the current value and the time passed through the discharge load 13 vary depending on the battery capacity and type of the power source, for example, the discharge current is 300 mA, and this current is passed through the discharge load 13 for 1 second.
The cause of the inactivation (increase in internal resistance) of the battery is due to the formation of a film on the lithium surface. Therefore, the high resistance discharge can remove the film and reduce the internal resistance. Here, the discharge load 13 is provided separately from the pseudo load 9. However, when the battery activation process can be performed even with the discharge current generated by the pseudo load 9, the activation process using the pseudo load 9 is performed without providing the discharge load 13. You can go.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in the battery voltage (solid line) before the activation process is performed on the deactivated battery and changes (broken line) after the activation process is performed. As shown in this figure, the voltage drop determination threshold value Vthl is below before the activation process, but it is confirmed that the threshold value Vthl is exceeded after the activation process.

After performing the battery activation process in step S5, the control unit 3 turns on the switch 8 again to pass a current through the pseudo load 9 (large current discharge), and the battery voltage value Vchkl measured by the battery voltage measurement unit 3a. Is determined to be less than a predetermined voltage drop determination threshold Vthl (Vchkl <Vthl). If the battery voltage value is normal (Vchkl ≧ Vthl), it can be used continuously (step S7). When it is determined that the battery voltage value is again less than the determination threshold value (Vchkl <Vthl), the control unit 3 issues a battery voltage drop alarm as a battery abnormality (step S10).
Prior to the battery activation process performed in step S5, the control unit 3 detects the ambient temperature with the ambient temperature detection unit 11, and if the temperature is below the minimum guaranteed operating temperature of the alarm device, the temporary battery voltage due to the extremely low temperature. It may be determined that the voltage has dropped, and the voltage drop determination in step S6 may be skipped.
Thus, since the battery type alarm device of the present invention has conventionally determined the battery voltage drop only by the method shown in step S1, the battery voltage drop of the present invention may be erroneously determined. The alarm can accurately determine the battery voltage drop as described above.
Note that the measurement of the battery voltage value in step S1 and step S2 described above may be performed using an element that changes the output when the voltage to be detected, such as a voltage detection element, falls below a predetermined threshold, as in the past. However, in the present invention, it is desirable to use an AD converter (battery voltage measurement unit 3a) built in the microcomputer constituting the control unit 3 instead of the voltage detection element. Of course, an AD conversion unit may be provided outside the control unit 3.

Conventionally, since the battery voltage is directly used as the reference voltage of the AD converter, when the battery voltage decreases, the voltage value reading by AD conversion cannot be performed with sufficient accuracy. Therefore, in this embodiment, the constant voltage circuit unit 2, the reference voltage circuit unit 10, and the control unit 3 (battery voltage measurement unit 3a configured by an AD converter, hereinafter referred to as an AD converter) are configured. .
The constant voltage circuit unit 2 supplies a stable voltage to the control unit 3 and supplies a reference voltage for the battery voltage measurement unit 3a.
The reference voltage circuit unit 10 plays a role of generating a reference voltage for detecting an abnormality (AD converter) of the constant voltage circuit unit 2. The voltage output from the reference voltage circuit unit 10 is set lower than the voltage of the constant voltage circuit unit 2. That is, if the constant voltage circuit unit 2 becomes abnormal, the reference voltage of the AD converter also becomes abnormal, and the voltage of the reference voltage circuit unit 10 read from the AD converter fluctuates. For example, when the voltage of the constant voltage circuit unit 2 becomes lower than normal, the voltage value read from the reference voltage circuit unit 10 becomes high, so that the abnormality of the constant voltage circuit unit 2 can be detected.
As described above, according to the battery type alarm device of the present invention, voltage detection is conventionally performed by the voltage detection element. However, as described above, since the means for detecting an abnormality in the constant voltage circuit unit 2 is provided, AD is provided. Even if the battery voltage value is measured with the converter, sufficient reliability can be ensured.

Next, the 2nd form (Example 2) which concerns on the battery-type alarm device of this invention is demonstrated.
The difference between the second embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment described above is that the battery voltage value generated by the ambient temperature when measuring the battery voltage value in the battery voltage drop determination at the time of large current discharge performed in step S1 and step S6. The variation of the battery voltage is reduced, and the battery voltage drop determination is performed more accurately.
By the way, as described above, the battery has a characteristic that the discharge characteristic deteriorates at a low temperature and the battery voltage decreases greatly. In particular, when a large current is discharged, the voltage drop becomes significant. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the ambient temperature and the battery voltage during the battery voltage measurement process. As shown in this figure, even with the same load current, when the ambient temperature is 10 ° C. (broken line), the battery voltage is greatly reduced compared to when the ambient temperature is 30 ° C. (solid line). Further, when the ambient temperature is −10 ° C. (one-dot chain line), the battery voltage is greatly reduced as compared to when the ambient temperature is 30 ° C. (solid line). For this reason, it is necessary to measure the battery voltage under a certain condition and reduce the variation in the measured voltage value due to the difference in ambient temperature.
For this reason, the battery-type alarm device according to the second embodiment detects the ambient temperature from the ambient temperature detector 11 at regular intervals (for example, every minute), and the minimum value (minimum temperature data) and the minimum of the ambient temperature data. The time data at the time of the value is stored in the storage unit 3c. The battery type alarm device according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the battery voltage value in the time zone where the lowest temperature of the day is reached by performing the next battery voltage determination 24 hours after the time when the lowest temperature is detected. It is in the point which prevents that the temperature to measure varies.

Here, the reason for measuring the battery voltage value in the time zone where the lowest temperature is reached is that the battery voltage drop is greatest at the lowest temperature, and it is necessary to prevent the loss of function even when the alarm is at the lowest temperature. Because there is.
Now, a battery-type alarm device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to a processing flowchart shown in FIG.
First, the control unit 3 reads the temperature detection signal from the ambient temperature detection unit 11 at regular intervals (for example, every 10 minutes), and holds the minimum temperature in the storage unit 3c (step S20). For example, when there is correction of another sensor, the ambient temperature detection cycle may be performed every driving cycle of the sensor.
Next, each time the controller 3 reads from the ambient temperature detector 11, the controller 3 compares the stored minimum temperature with the lowest temperature measured this time (step S21). When the current temperature is lower than the minimum temperature, the control unit 3 updates the minimum temperature held in the storage unit 3c and also detects the minimum temperature (the control circuit unit has a clock calendar function). If not, the accumulated use time may be stored in the storage unit 3c (step S22).
If the minimum temperature stored in the storage unit 3c is not updated even after 12 hours have elapsed from the time when the minimum temperature was recorded, the control unit 3 sets the minimum temperature time that has already been read to the minimum. It is set as the temperature determination time (step S24). On the other hand, when 12 hours have not elapsed since the time when the lowest temperature was recorded in step S23, the control unit 3 proceeds to the next step.

Then, the control unit 3 determines whether 24 hours have elapsed from the minimum temperature update time determined in step S24 (step S25), and when it is determined that 24 hours have elapsed, measures the battery voltage value (step S26). Then, the process returns to step S20 again and the above process is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S25 that 24 hours have not elapsed, the control unit 3 returns to step S20 again and repeats the above processing.
Thus, the battery type alarm device of the present invention can measure the battery voltage value in the time zone of the expected minimum temperature, and can obtain the battery voltage value with high accuracy.
As another method, when there is sufficient capacity in the storage unit 3c, the data sampled for the past day may be held in the memory unit. For example, a method may be used in which temperature data is stored in a memory every hour (24 pieces of temperature data are stored), and the battery voltage value is measured 24 hours after the lowest temperature.
Next, a modification of the above-described second embodiment will be described.
The ambient temperature detection unit 11 holds the minimum ambient temperature data of the ambient temperature in the storage unit 3c for several days (for example, for one week). The control unit 3 calculates the average minimum temperature for several days (for example, for one week) based on the minimum temperature data held in the storage unit 3c.

In accordance with the voltage determination method performed in the above-described step S1 or the like in order to detect the presence or absence of a battery voltage drop, the control unit 3 sends a current to the pseudo load 9 and reads the battery voltage value at that time in the battery voltage measurement unit 3a. At this time, the control unit 3 also reads the ambient temperature data from the ambient temperature detection unit 11. And the control part 3 correct | amends the data of a battery voltage value so that it may become a battery voltage value when it measures by average minimum temperature, and calculates the estimated battery voltage value of the battery 1 at the time of average minimum temperature.
For example, if the average value of the minimum temperature is 0 ° C. and the ambient temperature when the battery voltage value is measured is 10 ° C., the estimated battery voltage value is the battery voltage value obtained at 10 ° C. Correction calculation is performed so that the battery voltage value at 0 ° C. is obtained, and an estimated battery voltage value at 0 ° C. is calculated.
The controller 3 determines whether the estimated battery voltage value calculated in this way is less than a predetermined voltage value, thereby determining the battery voltage. Here, the reason for averaging the minimum temperature is to avoid the determination when the temperature is extremely low. The reason for correcting to the lowest temperature is to measure the battery voltage under this worst condition because the battery has a worse discharge characteristic as the ambient temperature is lower.
The above-described correction of the battery voltage value is configured to be the average value of the minimum temperature, but depending on the use state of the alarm device, the correction of the battery voltage value may be performed at the average temperature of the day. It doesn't matter.

  Thus, since the battery type alarm device of the present invention detects the battery voltage drop by the above-described method, the variation in the measurement of the battery voltage value due to the ambient temperature is reduced, so that the battery voltage drop can be accurately detected and judged. Thus, there is a practically great effect that an appropriate battery voltage drop alarm is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery 2 Constant voltage circuit part 3 Control part 3a Battery voltage measurement part 3b Counting part 3c Memory | storage part 7 Alarm part 7a Alarm sound output part 7b Alarm display part 7c External alarm part 8 Switch 9 Pseudo load 10 Reference voltage circuit part 11 Ambient temperature Detector 12 Switch 13 Discharge load

Claims (3)

A detection unit that detects one or more detection targets, converts each detection level to an electric signal level, and outputs the electric signal level, and whether the level of each electric signal output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A control unit for determining whether or not,
When it is determined that the level of each electric signal output from the detection unit by the control unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target,
Batteries that provide operating power to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, and
A battery voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage value of the battery;
A pseudo load unit that is connected in parallel with the battery, and that receives a command from the control unit and flows a current substantially equal to a combined maximum current value flowing from the battery to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit;
A battery usage time measuring unit for measuring the battery usage time,
When a current is passed through the pseudo load unit by the control unit, a voltage value lower than a first voltage threshold is measured by the battery voltage measurement unit, and a usage time measured by the battery usage time measurement unit is predetermined. In the battery-type alarm device that is configured to output a battery voltage drop alarm from the alarm unit when the usage time is over or when the number of alarms output from the alarm unit is a predetermined number or more,
When the usage time measured by the battery usage time measurement unit is less than a predetermined usage time and the number of alarms output from the alarm unit is less than a predetermined number of times, the control unit supplies a current to the pseudo load unit. The battery-type alarm device is characterized in that the battery is activated to perform the activation process.
A detection unit that detects one or more detection targets, converts the detection levels into electrical signal levels, and outputs the electrical signals;
A control unit for determining whether the level of each electrical signal output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
When it is determined that the level of each electric signal output from the detection unit by the control unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target,
Batteries that provide operating power to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, and
A battery voltage measuring unit that measures a voltage value before Symbol batteries,
A pseudo load unit that is connected in parallel with the battery, and that receives a command from the control unit and flows a current substantially equal to a combined maximum current value flowing from the battery to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit ;
A battery usage time measuring unit for measuring the battery usage time,
By the control unit, before Symbol when current flows in the dummy load unit, before Symbol measured voltage value below a first voltage threshold by the battery voltage measuring unit, and the battery use time measuring section with a total measuring the use time There can to be greater than or equal to a predetermined operating time, or when the number of alarm output from the alarm unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, batteries type alarm you so that to output a pre-Symbol alarm battery voltage drop from the alarm unit In the vessel
Furthermore, it has a temperature detector that detects the ambient temperature,
The control unit, based on the battery voltage value measured by passing a current through the pseudo load unit and the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit at this time, is the lowest ambient temperature value of the ambient temperature within a predetermined period by the temperature detection unit. A battery-type alarm device , wherein the battery voltage value is corrected to a temperature at the time of detection . A detection unit that detects one or more detection targets, converts the detection levels into electrical signal levels, and outputs the electrical signals;
A control unit for determining whether the level of each electrical signal output by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
When it is determined that the level of each electric signal output from the detection unit by the control unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an alarm unit that outputs an alarm signal corresponding to the detection target,
Batteries that provide operating power to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit, and
A battery voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage value of the battery;
A pseudo load unit that is connected in parallel with the battery, and that receives a command from the control unit and flows a current substantially equal to a combined maximum current value flowing from the battery to the detection unit, the control unit, and the alarm unit;
A battery usage time measuring unit for measuring the battery usage time,
By the control unit, to come to have electric current before Symbol dummy load unit is pre SL voltage value below a first voltage threshold by the battery voltage measuring unit is measured and meter measured the previous SL battery use time measuring section can use time is equal to or more than a predetermined operating time, or when the number of alarm output from the alarm unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, before Symbol batteries you so that to output a low battery voltage warning from the alarm unit In the type alarm ,
Furthermore, a temperature detector that detects the ambient temperature,
An average temperature calculation unit that holds a minimum temperature value for each day detected by the temperature detection unit for a predetermined period, and calculates an average temperature value of the minimum temperature value in the predetermined period;
The control unit is configured to calculate the battery voltage from the battery voltage value measured by passing a current through the pseudo load unit and the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit at the average temperature value obtained by the average temperature calculation unit. A battery-type alarm device that corrects the value.

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