JP6058345B2 - Futon dryer and object detection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a futon dryer used by inserting a part between a mattress and a comforter, and an object detection method for detecting misuse.

  The futon dryer includes a blowing unit and a heating unit inside the exterior body, and heats the outside air sucked from the suction port and discharges it from the discharge port. A part of the discharge port side is inserted and arranged between the mattress and the comforter, and heated drying air is supplied between them to dry each futon.

  The futon dryer described in Patent Document 1 includes a duct that communicates with a suction port at one end of the exterior body. The duct constitutes an air passage, and an air blowing means and a heating means are disposed inside, and the heated hot air is discharged from the discharge port at the tip of the duct. Moreover, it arrange | positions between a mattress and a comforter, and the arm for forming a ventilation space between these is mounted.

  If the suction port is blocked by the comforter due to misuse, the suction of outside air is cut off and lessened, and unintentional excessive heating of the drying air by the heating means occurs. In addition, since fluid resistance will increase if a suction inlet is obstruct | occluded, excessive heat_generation | fever will arise in a ventilation means (its drive motor) by overload. Also, if the entire futon dryer is covered by misuse, it may be inadvertently stepped on and damaged.

  In order to prevent the occurrence of these problems, a method of arranging an infrared sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part and detecting whether or not a comforter is hung on the suction part can be considered. However, when the light receiving unit of the infrared sensor receives an infrared signal (hereinafter referred to as “remote control light”) such as sunlight or a TV remote controller, it may erroneously determine that the comforter is hung.

JP-A-6-218190

  An object of the present invention is to provide a futon dryer and an object detection method capable of preventing erroneous determination due to ambient light and reliably preventing unintentional excessive heating of drying air due to misuse.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the futon dryer and the object detection method of the present invention have a suction port, a suction portion disposed outside the comforter, a discharge port, and are disposed between the mattress and the comforter. An insertion portion that is disposed in the air passage extending from the suction port to the discharge port, sucks outside air from the suction port, and discharges the air from the discharge port; and the light emitting portion. The light receiving unit receives the reflected light of the light emitted from the futon, the futon detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of the comforter on the suction unit, the light emission control unit for causing the light from the light emitting unit to emit light, and the light receiving unit. Based on the difference in intensity between the high intensity side and the low intensity side of the intensity of the received light and the set determination value, a determination means for determining whether or not a comforter is hung on the suction portion is provided. . Here, the mattress is one on which a person lies, and includes a bed mat. A comforter is a material that covers a person and includes a blanket.

  The object detection method used for the futon dryer is a method in which the judgment means sets the difference in intensity between the high intensity side and the low intensity side of the intensity of the light input from the light receiving section while causing the light emission control means to pulse light from the light emitting section. The presence / absence of an object in the light emitting direction of the light emitting unit is detected based on the determined value.

  When there is an object (quilt) in the light emitting direction of the light emitting part, the light intensity is controlled by the light emission control means, and the light intensity is input from the light receiving part receiving the reflected light to the judging means (voltage). Becomes higher during on-pulse (light emission) and lower during off-pulse (non-light emission). Therefore, the presence / absence of an object can be determined based on these intensity differences and the set determination value. Incidentally, when there is no hanging object, the intensity of the light input from the light receiving unit to the determining means is maintained at the same low intensity as that during off-pulse.

  On the other hand, the intensity of light input to the determination means from the light receiving unit that receives sunlight is substantially constant, so that there is no difference in intensity. Therefore, it can prevent misjudging that there exists an object by receiving sunlight. In addition, the intensity of light input from the light receiving unit that has received remote control light to the determination unit has a waveform corresponding to a specific period and pulse set in the remote control, and has a high intensity side and a low intensity side. However, these intensity differences do not match the set judgment value. In other words, it is easy to make the difference in intensity between the high-intensity side and the low-intensity side of existing remote-control light of various remote controllers different. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination that there is an object by detecting the remote control light.

  Therefore, since the futon dryer which employ | adopted this object detection method has provided the futon detection means in the suction part which has a suction inlet, it can judge the misuse state which the comforter was set on the suction part. That is, since it is possible to quickly determine a situation where the suction port is likely to be blocked, it is possible to reliably prevent unintentional excessive heating of the drying air. In addition, the problem of inadvertently trampling and damaging the futon dryer can be reliably prevented.

  The determination means detects the high intensity side during the on-pulse by the light emission control means, and detects the low intensity side during the off-pulse. In this way, it is possible to reliably detect the high intensity side and the low intensity side. Moreover, since the intensity of the light input by the determination unit is not always monitored, the load on the determination unit can be reduced.

  In this case, the determination means detects the high intensity side and the low intensity side at the time of continuous on-pulse and off-pulse by the light emission control means. In this way, since it is not affected by surrounding changes over time, highly accurate detection can be realized.

  The determination means determines that the comforter is hung when the comforter presence determination based on the strength difference and the determination value continues for a set determination time or the number of determinations. In this way, it is practically impossible to match the period and pulse waveform of the remote control light. Therefore, erroneous determination by the determination unit can be reliably prevented.

  In the object detection method of the present invention, the reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit, and the presence or absence of the object is determined based on the intensity difference between the high intensity side and the low intensity side and the determination value. It is possible to substantially prevent misjudgment due to ambient light.

  Therefore, the futon dryer using this object detection method is provided with the futon detection means in the suction part having the suction port, so that the suction port is blocked by the comforter and prevents unintentional excessive heating of the drying air. it can. In addition, carelessly stepping on will not damage the futon dryer.

Sectional drawing which shows the futon dryer of the use condition of embodiment which concerns on this invention. The perspective view of FIG. The perspective view which shows the futon dryer of a folded state. The block diagram which shows the structure of a futon dryer. The time chart which shows the structure of each drying course. The graph which shows the voltage waveform at the time of receiving the reflected light of the light from a light emission part. The graph which shows an example of the voltage waveform at the time of receiving other light. The flowchart which shows control of a futon dryer. The flowchart which shows the futon detection process of step S3 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the interruption stop process of step S4 of FIG. The flowchart which shows the futon presence determination of step S3-1 of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show a futon dryer 10 using an object detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the futon dryer 10 includes an exterior body having a dryer body (main body) 11 and a discharge member 17 that is hingedly connected to the dryer body 11. Inside, a fan 22 that is a blowing means and a PTC heater 24 that is a heating means are disposed, and the sucked outside air is heated and discharged. In this embodiment, a pair of infrared sensors 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B are provided as futon detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the comforter on the suction portion 12 of the dryer body 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the dryer main body 11 includes a suction portion 12 that is exposed and disposed outside the comforter, and a superposition portion (insertion portion) 14 that is inserted and disposed between the mattress and the comforter. Is provided. The suction part 12 has a rectangular tube shape extending in the lateral direction (width direction), and a suction port 13 for taking in outside air is formed on both side surfaces. The overlapping portion 14 is formed lower than the overall height of the suction portion 12, and a step portion 15 made of a vertical wall extending upward is formed between the overlapping portion 14 and the suction portion 12. By this step part 15, it can suppress that a comforter is hung on the suction part 12. FIG.

  A hinge connection portion 16 is provided at the end of the overlapping portion 14 opposite to the suction portion 12. The hinge connecting portion 16 has a cylindrical shape with both lateral ends opened, and the internal space constitutes a part of the air passage 21. The discharge member 17 is connected and can be rotated between the use state shown in FIG. 2 and the folded state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the discharge member 17 is an insertion portion that is disposed between the mattress and the comforter together with the overlapping portion 14 in the use state. A pair of connecting portions 18 and 18 are provided on both sides of the hinge connecting portion 16 so as to be turnable. The overall height is lower than the overall height of the suction portion 12, and the inside is hollow. A louver 19 is disposed at the tip opening, and a pair of discharge ports 20 are provided on both sides thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an air passage 21 extending from the suction port 13 to the discharge port 20 is formed inside the exterior body, and a fan 22 and a PTC heater 24 are disposed in the air passage 21. The fans 22 are sirocco fans and are respectively disposed inside the suction port 13 in the suction part 12. It is rotated by a drive motor 23 which is drive means disposed between the pair of fans 22 and 22. A PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater has a self-temperature control function based on the ambient temperature. The PTC heater 24 is disposed in the overlapping portion 14 in a state where it is disposed in the heat transfer member 25 having a large number of fins.

  When the fan 22 is operated, outside air is taken into the suction part 12 from the suction port 13 and sent out into the superposition part 14. After being heated by the PTC heater 24 in the overlapping portion 14, it is discharged from the discharge port 20 via the hinge connection portion 16 and the discharge member 17. In addition, in order to detect the heating temperature by the PTC heater 24, a thermistor 26 as temperature detecting means is disposed in the overlapping portion 14 on the downstream side of the heat transfer member 25 with respect to the blowing direction by the fan 22. .

  An operation panel 27 is provided on the upper surface of the suction portion 12 in use so as to be positioned on the step portion 15 side, and an operation substrate 28 is provided on the inner side thereof. On the operation board 28, switches 29a to 29e as input means, LEDs 30a to 30o as display means, and two infrared sensors as futon detection means so as to correspond to each part of the operation panel 27 shown in FIG. 31A and 31B are provided.

  The switch 29a is a power switch and is repeatedly turned on and off every time it is operated. The switch 29b is a start switch, and the drying course selected by the operation is executed. The switch 29c is a selection switch, and the futon drying course can be selected in the order of "standard", "blow finish", "eco", "warm", and "tick countermeasure". The switch 29d is a hot air / air blowing switch, and can select a drying course of clothes and the like in the order of “warm air” and “air blowing”. The switch 29e is a time selection switch, and the execution time of warm air or air can be selected in the order of “15” “30” “45” “60” “75” “90” “120” “180”.

  The LEDs 30a to 30e are provided beside character displays of “standard”, “blow finish”, “eco”, “warm”, and “anti-tick”, and indicate a selection state by operating the switch 29c. The LEDs 30f and 30g are provided beside the character display of “warm air” and “air blowing”, and indicate a selection state by operating the switch 29d. The LEDs 30h to 30o are provided beside the execution time numbers and indicate a selection state by operating the switch 29e.

  The infrared sensors 31A and 31B have a light emitting part 32 and a light receiving part 33, and detect the presence or absence of an upper comforter depending on whether the light receiving part 33 receives reflected light (infrared light) emitted from the light emitting part 32 or not. To do. A voltage (futon presence signal) corresponding to the intensity of light output when the light receiving unit 33 receives reflected light by hanging the comforter upward is a voltage output when the light receiving unit 33 does not receive reflected light ( Higher than futon no signal). It is located on both sides of the operation panel 27 and disposed on the overlapping portion 14 side with respect to the suction port 13.

  A substrate case 34 is disposed in the suction portion 12 so as to be positioned on the back surface (inside) of the step portion 15, and a control substrate 35 connected to the operation substrate 28 is disposed therein. On the control board 35, a pulse driving unit 36 that is a light emission control unit of the light emitting unit 32 and a microcomputer 37 that is a control unit are mounted. The pulse driving unit 36 includes a switching circuit, and controls the light emitting unit 32 to emit light with a pulse waveform having a set on pulse width P1 (for example, 5 ms) and off pulse width P2 (for example, 12 ms). The microcomputer 37 controls the fan 22 and the PTC heater 24 in accordance with a program stored in a ROM 38 which is a built-in storage unit, and executes a selected predetermined drying course.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each drying course is composed of a combination of five types of steps. In the air volume adjustment step, the heating amount by the PTC heater 24 is maintained constant, and the air volume by the fan 22 is adjusted based on the temperature detected by the thermistor 26. In the heating amount adjustment step, the amount of air blown by the fan 22 is maintained constant (maximum), and the PTC heater 24 is controlled on and off based on the temperature detected by the thermistor 26. In the air blowing step, the operation of the PTC heater 24 is stopped, and the amount of air blown by the fan 22 is kept constant (maximum). In the non-adjustment step, the heating amount by the PTC heater 24 is kept constant, and the air blowing amount by the fan 22 is kept constant (maximum). In the cooling step, the operation of the PTC heater 24 is stopped, and the amount of air blown by the fan 22 is kept constant (weak (for example, 35%)). Note that the air blowing step and the cooling step are different in that the air blowing step is executed for a user-selected time and the cooling step is executed for a preset time set in advance.

  The microcomputer 37 of the present embodiment also serves as a determination unit that determines whether or not a comforter is hung on the suction portion 12 based on the comforter presence / absence signals input from the infrared sensors 31A and 31B. When a futon presence signal is input from either one of the two infrared sensors 31A and 31B, it is determined that there is a futon on the suction portion 12 (determination for futon). However, when the user changes the drying course of the futon dryer 10, in order to prevent misjudgment when the suction section 12 is temporarily blocked, every set determination time t0 (for example, 0.017 seconds), Determine whether there is a comforter (primary judgment). Then, when the futon presence determination is continued for the set determination time t1 (for example, 2 seconds) or more, it is determined that the comforter is hung (secondary determination). If it is determined that there is a futon, the operation of the PTC heater 24 is stopped and the fan 22 is operated for a set cooling time t2 (for example, 20 seconds). The determination time t1 corresponds to a time equal to or more than 100 times of the determination time t0.

  Next, futon presence / absence determination (object detection method) by the microcomputer 37 using the infrared sensors 31A and 31B will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the microcomputer 37 causes the light emitting units 32 of the infrared sensors 31A and 31B to emit pulses with a pulse waveform having an on-pulse width P1 and an off-pulse width P2 via a pulse driving unit 36. When the light receiving unit 33 receives the reflected light of the light from the light emitting unit 32 (on pulse), the output voltage becomes high (high voltage), and when the reflected light is not received (off pulse). The output voltage is low (low voltage). For this reason, the voltage input to the microcomputer 37 is maintained at a low voltage when the comforter is not applied, and the high voltage and the low voltage are repeated when the comforter is applied.

  Therefore, the microcomputer 37 is based on the voltage difference (intensity difference) ΔV between the high-voltage side voltage (high-intensity side) V1 and the low-voltage side voltage (low-intensity side) V2 input from the receiving unit 33 and the set determination value V0. If it is within the set error range, it is determined that the comforter is hung on the suction portion 12 that is the light emitting direction of the light emitting unit 32, and if it is outside the error range, it is determined that the comforter is not hung. The high-voltage side voltage V1 is captured (detected) during the on-pulse, and the low-voltage side voltage V2 is captured during the off-pulse. Moreover, a voltage difference ΔV between the high-voltage side voltage V1 at the time of continuous on-pulse and the low-voltage side voltage V2 at the time of off-pulse is calculated. That is, the high voltage V1 and the low voltage V2 are taken in one pulse. Further, in order to ensure the stability (reliability) of the input voltage, it is captured at the end of the on-pulse width P1 and off-pulse width P2 (for example, 0.2 ms before). Then, the voltage difference ΔV is calculated for all the pulses and compared with the determination value V0 (the presence / absence determination of the futon). In order to execute this configuration, a first acquisition time t0-1 and a second acquisition time t0-2 linked to the light emission pulse are set.

  6B, when the light receiving unit 33 of the infrared sensors 31A and 31B receives sunlight, the voltage input from the light receiving unit 33 to the microcomputer 37 maintains a substantially constant high voltage. Therefore, there is no voltage difference between the voltage acquired at the first acquisition time t0-1 and the voltage acquired at the second acquisition time t0-2. Therefore, even if sunlight is received during use, it is not erroneously determined that the comforter is hung.

  As shown by a solid line in FIG. 6B, when the light receiving unit 33 of the infrared sensors 31A and 31B receives remote control light, the voltage input from the light receiving unit 33 to the microcomputer 37 has a specific period and pulse set in the remote control. It has a corresponding waveform and has a high voltage and a low voltage. However, the voltage difference ΔV between the voltage acquired at the first acquisition time t0-1 and the voltage acquired at the second acquisition time t0-2 does not coincide with the set determination value V0. In other words, the determination value V0 and the light amount of the light emitting unit 32 are set so as to be different from the voltage difference between the high-voltage side voltage and the low-voltage side voltage of the existing remote control light of various remote controllers. Therefore, even if the remote control light is received during use, it is not erroneously determined that the comforter is hung. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the comforter does not determine that the comforter is hung unless it is determined that the comforter is continuously present until the determination time t1 corresponding to 100 times or more has elapsed. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to match the period of the remote control light and the waveform of the pulse. Therefore, erroneous determination can be reliably prevented.

  Next, the control by the microcomputer 37 will be specifically described.

  When a predetermined drying course is selected by the operation of the switches 29c to 29e of the operation panel 27 and executed by the operation of the switch 29b, as shown in FIG. 7, the microcomputer 37 performs the futon drying process in step S1 and step S3. The futon detection process is performed in parallel.

  In the futon drying process of step S1, the fan 22 and the PTC heater 24 are operated except the air course, and the outside air sucked from the suction port 13 is heated and discharged from the discharge port 20. And each step shown in FIG. 5 is performed, and if it complete | finishes (step S2), a futon drying process will be complete | finished.

  In the futon detection step of step S3, the presence / absence of a futon is determined based on the futon presence / absence signals input from the infrared sensors 31A and 31B. This determination is continued until the futon drying process is completed unless it is determined that there is a futon. And when it is judged that there is a futon, the interruption stop process of step S4 and the abnormality notification process of step S5 are processed in parallel.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, in the futon detection step, the microcomputer 37 executes the futon presence / absence determination described later in step S <b> 3-1, and then in step S <b> 3-2, the determination is whether there is a futon or not. It is detected whether or not a flag fa meaning “1” is “1”. If fa is “0” (no futon determination), the process proceeds to step S3-3, the flag fb is set to “0”, and the process returns to step S3-1. On the other hand, if fa is “1” (judgment presence determination), the process proceeds to step S3-4. When the flag fb is “0”, it means that the t1 (determination) timer count is stopped due to the no-futon determination. If it is “1”, it means that the determination that there is a futon continues and the determination timer is counting.

  In step S3-4, it is determined whether fb is “1”. If it is “0”, that is, if it is the first futon presence determination, fb is set to “1” in step S3-5. Next, after the judgment timer is reset and started in step S3-6, the process returns to step S3-1. If it is “1”, that is, if it is the second and subsequent futon determination, the process proceeds to step S3-7.

  In step S3-7, it is determined whether the determination timer has counted up. That is, it is determined whether or not the futon presence determination has continued for the determination time t1. If it has not been counted up, the process returns to step S3-1. If it is counting up, it is determined that a futon is being put on and returns. Thereby, the interruption stop process of step S4 and the abnormality notification process of step S5 are executed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the interrupt stop process in step S4, the microcomputer 37 stops (turns off) the PTC heater 24 in step S4-1, and then turns the fan 22 in a power supply rate of 35% in step S4-2. Make it work. Next, after the 20-second timer is reset and started in step S4-3, the process waits until the 20-second timer counts up in step S4-4. When the 20-second timer counts up, the fan 22 is turned off in step S4-5 and the process returns (proceed to step S6). In the state where the interruption stop predetermined is finished, the futon drying process of Step S1 is in a temporarily stopped (interrupted) state.

  Further, in the abnormality notifying step in step S <b> 5, the microcomputer 37 outputs a notification sound with a piezoelectric buzzer (not shown) mounted on the control board 35 and blinks predetermined LEDs 30 a to 30 e mounted on the operation board 28. This abnormality notification process is continued until the start switch 29b is operated in step S6 or the power on / off switch 29a is operated in step S7.

  In step S6, it is detected whether or not the start switch 29b of the operation panel 27 has been operated. When the operation of the start switch 29b is detected, the process proceeds to step S2, and the continuation of the suspended futon drying process of step S1 is executed. If the operation of the start switch 29b is not detected, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, it is detected whether or not the power on / off switch 29a of the operation panel 27 has been operated. When detecting the operation of the power on / off switch 29a, the microcomputer 37 ends the futon drying process even in an interrupted state where all the steps of the futon drying process in step S1 are not completed. If the operation of the power on / off switch 29a is not detected, the process returns to step S5, and the abnormality notification process is continued.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the futon presence / absence determination in step S3-1, the microcomputer 37 waits until the first capture time t0-1 elapses in step S10. When the first acquisition time t0-1 has elapsed, the high-voltage side voltage V1 is acquired from the light receiving unit 33 of the infrared sensors 31A and 31B in step S11. Next, in step S12, the process waits until the second capture time t0-2 elapses. Then, when the first capture time t0-1 has elapsed, the low-voltage side voltage V2 is captured from the light receiving unit 33 of the infrared sensors 31A and 31B in step S13.

  Next, after calculating the voltage difference ΔV from the captured high voltage V1 and low voltage V2 in step S14, it is determined in step S15 whether the voltage difference ΔV and the determination value V0 are the same within the error range. To do. If the voltage difference ΔV and the determination value V0 are the same, it is determined that there is a futon, and fa is returned to “1”. If the voltage difference ΔV and the determination value V0 are not the same, it is determined that there is no futon, and fa is returned to “0”.

  Thus, since the pair of infrared sensors 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B are provided in the suction portion 12 having the suction port 13, it is possible to determine the misuse state in which the comforter is set on the suction portion 12. In addition, since the infrared sensors 31A and 31B are provided on the operation panel 27 so as to be positioned closer to the overlapping portion 14 than the suction port 13, a situation in which the suction port 13 is highly likely to be blocked by the comforter is quickly performed. I can judge. Moreover, in order to judge that the comforter is hung when a futon presence signal is input from one of the pair of infrared sensors 31A and 31B disposed on both sides of the suction part 12, Even when the comforter is set obliquely, it can be reliably detected.

  Therefore, unintentional excessive heating of the drying air due to the suction port 13 being blocked by the comforter can be prevented. In addition, since the entire futon dryer is not covered, the problem of inadvertently stepping on and damaging it can be reliably prevented. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent malfunction such as applying a load to the operation panel 27 from the comforter and changing to an unintended drying course.

  And if it is judged that the comforter is hung on the suction part 12, since the operation | movement of the PTC heater 24 will be stopped, it can prevent that the air for drying heated too much is discharged from the discharge outlet 20. FIG. In addition, since the fan 22 is operated only for the cooling time t2 after the PTC heater 24 is stopped, not only the heating region but also the entire futon dryer can be quickly cooled.

  In the futon presence / absence determination, the high-voltage side voltage V1 is detected during the on-pulse, the low-voltage side voltage V2 is detected during the continuous off-pulse, and the voltage difference ΔV is compared with the determination value V0. Therefore, the load on the microcomputer 37 can be reduced, high-precision detection can be realized without being affected by surrounding changes over time, and misjudgment due to other light can be reliably prevented. In addition, since it is determined that the comforter is put on when the futon determination is continued for the determination time t1 or more, an error when the user temporarily blocks the infrared sensors 31A and 31B, such as when changing the drying course, etc. Judgment can be prevented.

  The futon dryer 10 and the object detection method of the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

  In particular, the detection method includes a first acquisition time t0-1 for acquiring the high-voltage side voltage V1 and a second acquisition time t0-2 for acquiring the low-voltage side voltage V2 so as to be interlocked with the light emission pulse of the light emitting unit 32. Although set, it is not limited to this method. For example, the voltage input from the light receiving unit 33 may be continuously captured, and the determination may be made based on the voltage difference ΔV between the high-voltage side voltage V1 averaged by the on-pulse and the low-voltage side voltage V2 averaged by the off-pulse and the determination value V0. . In this case, the maximum voltage on the high voltage side and the minimum voltage on the low voltage side may be excluded and averaged. Further, the high-voltage side voltage V1 and the low-voltage side voltage V2 are taken in by continuous on-pulse and off-pulse, but the high-voltage side voltage V1 and low-voltage side voltage are obtained by discontinuous on-pulse and off-pulse separated by a predetermined time (for example, 1 pulse). You may capture V2. Further, the voltage difference ΔV is calculated for all pulses and compared with the determination value V0. However, the voltage difference ΔV may be calculated for each predetermined pulse (for example, two pulses) and compared with the determination value V0. And it is good also as a method which combined these.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it is set as the structure which does not determine that there exists a futon unless the determination of futon is continued for the determination time t1, but it may be determined that there is a futon immediately after one futon determination. Furthermore, the determination number n may be set instead of the determination time t1, and it may be determined that there is a futon when the futon presence determination is continuously established for the determination number n or more. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when it is determined that there is a futon, the PTC heater 24 is stopped and the fan 22 is operated only for the cooling time t2. However, both may be stopped and changed as desired. Is possible.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the two infrared sensors 31A and 31B are used. However, only one infrared sensor 31A or 31B may be provided in the center, or three or more may be provided. Moreover, an arrangement | positioning site | part is not restricted to the upper surface in use condition, You may arrange | position to the side surface and step part 15 which provided the suction inlet 13. FIG. Moreover, inclined wall portions may be provided on both sides of the upper portion of the suction portion 12 in the use state, and disposed on the inclined wall portion. In place of the infrared sensors 31A and 31B, other types of sensors such as a sensor using visible light may be employed.

10 ... Futon dryer 11 ... Dryer body (main body)
12 ... Suction part 13 ... Suction port 14 ... Superimposition part (insertion part)
15 ... Step part 16 ... Hinge connection part 17 ... Discharge member (insertion part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Connection part 19 ... Louver 20 ... Discharge port 21 ... Air flow path 22 ... Fan (blower means)
23 ... Drive motor 24 ... PTC heater (heating means)
25 ... Heat transfer member 26 ... Thermistor (temperature detection means)
27 ... Operation panel 28 ... Operation board 29a-29e ... Switch 30a-30o ... LED
31A, 31B ... Infrared sensor (futon detection means)
32 ... Light emitting unit 33 ... Light receiving unit 34 ... Substrate case 35 ... Control substrate 36 ... Pulse drive unit (light emission control means)
37 ... Microcomputer (control means, judgment means)
38 ... ROM

Claims (4)

A suction port having a suction port and disposed on the outside of the comforter;
An insertion portion having a discharge port and disposed between the mattress and the comforter;
Blower means disposed in the air passage extending from the suction port to the discharge port, for sucking outside air from the suction port and discharging from the discharge port;
A futon detection means that is provided in the suction portion and detects the presence or absence of a comforter on the suction portion by receiving reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting portion by the light receiving portion;
Light emission control means for controlling the light emitting unit to emit light in pulses;
Determination means for determining whether or not a comforter is hung on the suction portion, based on the difference between the high-intensity side and low-intensity side intensity of light received by the light-receiving unit, and a set determination value;
A futon dryer, comprising:   2. The futon dryer according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit detects a high-intensity side during an on-pulse by the light emission control unit and detects a low-intensity side during an off-pulse.   The futon dryer according to claim 2, wherein the determination means detects a high intensity side and a low intensity side at the time of continuous on-pulse and off-pulse by the light emission control means. While emitting light from the light emitting part by the light emission control means,
Wherein determining means, based on the determination value set the intensity difference between the high-strength side and the low intensity side of the intensity of light input from the light receiving unit, to determine the presence or absence of an object in the emission direction of the light emitting portion An object detection method.

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