JP6852973B2 - Battery-powered alarm - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery-powered alarm that detects an event such as a gas leak, gas generation, or fire occurrence and issues an alarm.

A battery-powered battery-powered alarm loses its function when the battery runs out. Therefore, when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined value, it is necessary to give a notification prompting the battery to be replaced. Therefore, the battery-powered gas alarm according to Patent Document 1 is provided with a sound notification means for notifying a decrease in battery voltage when the battery voltage becomes equal to or lower than a threshold value. As a result, the person who hears the notification of the battery voltage drop can replace the battery and prevent the battery from running out. However, if a person is absent for a long period of time in the area where this gas alarm is installed, the notification of a low battery voltage may not be noticed, the battery may run out, and the function of the alarm may be lost. There is.

The alarm system according to Patent Document 2 specifies a fire detection means that sends a fire detection signal when a fire is detected, determines a fire based on the fire detection signal, identifies a fire area, and specifies an evacuation target area when a fire is determined. It is equipped with a fire receiving means for transmitting a fire signal and a light emitting means for emitting light that notifies the occurrence of a fire and urges evacuation based on the fire signal. Further, this warning system also has a self-diagnosis means for transmitting maintenance information to the fire receiving means and displaying the maintenance information when the internal resistance of the battery power supply of the own machine reaches a predetermined life value. ing. This is trying to avoid the inconvenience of the alarm system due to the dead battery. In such an alarm system, if a guard or the like is resident in the place where the fire receiving means is installed, only maintenance information is displayed and measures such as battery replacement are taken. In addition, since an electric circuit such as a commercial power source is drawn into the fire receiving means, measures against running out of batteries are not taken into consideration.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-081691 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-186430

Battery-powered alarms, which are installed in ordinary houses and offices and issue an alarm by detecting an event such as a fire, lose all functions when the battery runs out, so be as sure as possible before the battery runs out. It is necessary to perform a notification process for notifying a person of a decrease in battery voltage. However, it is necessary to avoid spending a lot of electric power on the notification process because it accelerates the battery exhaustion.
From the above-mentioned circumstances, there is a demand for a battery-powered alarm that can effectively perform the process of notifying a decrease in battery voltage while suppressing battery consumption.

The battery-powered alarm device according to the present invention is a battery-powered alarm device that is battery-driven by a battery voltage exceeding the minimum voltage value, and has an event detection unit that detects a predetermined event and outputs an event detection signal, and detects the battery voltage. A battery voltage detection unit, an information communication unit that transmits information to an external device, a voice output unit that outputs an event occurrence notification sound and a voltage drop notification sound, and an event occurrence notification command based on the event detection signal. When the event notification unit given to the audio output unit and the detection voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit are equal to or less than the first threshold value, the first command is output, and the detection voltage is lower than the first threshold value. In addition, when the voltage is higher than the minimum voltage value and is equal to or lower than the second threshold value, the battery voltage determination unit that outputs the second command and the voltage drop notification command that commands the voltage drop notification based on the first command are output as audio. It is provided with a first voltage drop notification unit given to the unit and a second voltage drop notification unit that gives a voltage drop information transmission command for instructing voltage drop information transmission to the information communication unit based on the second command. ..

According to this configuration, when the detected battery voltage becomes equal to or lower than the first threshold value higher than the minimum voltage value at which the function of the alarm is lost, the voltage drop is notified through the voice output unit. If the battery is not replaced despite the notification of the voltage drop, the battery voltage will drop further. This happens, for example, when a person is absent for a long period of time. Eventually, if the detected battery voltage is lower than the first threshold value but higher than the minimum threshold value and is equal to or lower than the second threshold value, the voltage drop information is communicated through the information and communication unit via an external device. Will be notified to. By using information transmission by communication, it is possible to give information on the voltage drop even to a person who is in a place where the notification of the voltage drop by the voice output unit does not reach. As a result, the person who receives the information on the voltage drop can take some measures and avoid the inconvenience caused by the battery voltage reaching the minimum voltage value (battery exhaustion).

The event detection unit can be configured to detect the presence of a predetermined detection target gas as the detection of the predetermined event. In this configuration, if the detection target gas is city gas or propane gas, this battery-powered alarm can be used as a household gas leak alarm. Further, if the detection target gas is carbon monoxide or the like, this battery-powered alarm can be used as a household fire alarm. Of course, it can be used as an alarm that has both functions. In particular, in the case of household alarms, even if the resident is out for a long period of time, by registering an external device such as the resident's mobile phone as the destination of the information and communication unit, the battery is about to run out. You can be sure that you are notified. In addition, prior to the notification via the information and communication unit, the voltage drop is notified by voice such as an electronic sound in the installation area of the battery-powered alarm, so that the battery is usually replaced at that stage. As long as the notification does not occur via the information and communication unit. Since the notification via the information and communication unit does not occur frequently, there is little resistance to registering as the transmission destination of the information and communication unit.

There is a contradiction that the battery consumption increases when the voltage drop is continuously notified through the voice output unit for a long time. Therefore, in the battery-powered alarm device according to the present invention, when the detected voltage continues to be equal to or lower than the first threshold value, the first voltage drop notification unit issues the voltage drop notification command. It is configured to be given a plurality of times, for example, several times at time intervals. Even if this voice notification is overlooked when the notification is performed only a few times, the next step is notification via the information and communication unit.
Therefore, the consumption of the battery due to the voice notification can be suppressed as much as possible.

Since the battery exhaustion notification via the information communication unit is performed by communication, it is desirable to set an external device that can surely receive the notification as the communication destination of the notification. As a result, there is a high possibility that the urgency of running out of battery will be known even if the notification is made only once by communication. Further, since the second threshold value has a small margin until the function of the battery-powered alarm disappears, it is preferable that the battery consumption in the notification by communication is small. In consideration of these facts, in the battery-powered alarm device according to the present invention, even if the detected voltage continues to be equal to or lower than the second threshold value, the second voltage drop notification unit may perform the voltage. The configuration is such that the decrease information transmission command is given only once. One of the most reliable means of transmitting information to a person is to use a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone that each person brings. Therefore, the external device can be a pre-registered mobile communication terminal.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the basis of the flow of control data in a battery-powered alarm. It is a functional block diagram of the alarm system using one of the embodiments of a battery-powered alarm. It is a time chart diagram which shows an example of the notification processing which performs the notification prompting the battery replacement.

Before explaining a specific embodiment of the battery-powered alarm according to the present invention, the basics of the flow of control data in the battery-powered alarm of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This battery-powered alarm includes a battery voltage detection unit 20, an event detection unit 3, a control unit 4, a voice output unit 5, and an information communication unit 6 as functional units. Here, as the battery 2, a battery pack having a rating of 3 V (for example, two 1.5 V batteries) is used. Each function unit can basically maintain each function by supplying power from the battery 2, and when the battery 2 becomes the minimum voltage value, for example, 1.9 V or less, the normal function of the function is lost.

The battery voltage detection unit 20 detects the battery voltage and outputs the detected voltage. The event detection unit 3 is a sensor that detects at least one of fire, gas leak, carbon monoxide due to incomplete combustion, etc. as a detection event and outputs an event detection signal. The voice in the voice output unit 5 is a term in a wide range, and includes a buzzer sound, an electronic sound, and the like, and a necessary voice is output from a buzzer, a speaker, and the like based on a notification command from the control unit 4. The output notification is roughly divided into an alarm for notifying the occurrence of an event and a warning for notifying that the remaining battery level of the battery 2 has decreased. The information communication unit 6 is a network communication interface that transmits information to an external device such as a mobile phone or a personal computer through a telephone communication network or an Internet line. By registering a telephone number, e-mail address, etc., alarms such as fires and gas leaks and battery exhaustion (voltage drop) information can be sent to related parties.

The control unit 4 includes a battery voltage determination unit 40, a first voltage drop notification unit 41, a second voltage drop notification unit 42, and an event notification unit 43, which are mainly constructed by software. .. The battery voltage determination unit 40 has a first threshold value and a second threshold value as determination criteria for the detection voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit 20. The first threshold and the second threshold are higher than the minimum voltage value of the battery 2 at which this alarm becomes inoperable, and the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. For example, the minimum voltage value can be set to about 1.9V, the first threshold value can be set to about 2.4V, and the second threshold value can be set to about 2.1V. The battery voltage determination unit 40 first outputs a first command when the remaining amount of the battery 2 starts to decrease and the detected voltage becomes equal to or less than the first threshold value, and further decreases the remaining amount of the battery 2 to perform the second operation. When it becomes less than the threshold value (2.1V), the second command is output. The first command and the second command are commands for notifying that the battery is about to run out, and the second command has a higher degree of urgency. First, when the first command is output, the first voltage drop notification unit 41 gives a voltage drop notification command to the voice output unit 5, and the voltage drop notification is performed. The notification of this voltage drop is a blinking lamp or an intermittent buzzer. The blinking interval and the time interval of the intermittent sound should be such that a person notices an abnormality. The duration is limited to a few days in order to reduce battery consumption due to notification as much as possible. If the notification of the voltage drop is not noticed by a person and the battery is not replaced, the remaining amount of the battery 2 is further reduced and the second command is output. As a result, the second voltage drop notification unit 42 gives a voltage drop information transmission command to the information communication unit 6, and the voltage drop information is transmitted. The content of this information transmission is a drop in battery voltage, which encourages battery replacement via telephone or email. The output of the second command means that the remaining battery level has reached a dangerous stage. Therefore, in order to reduce the consumption of the battery 2 as much as possible, the process based on the second command accompanied by the voltage drop information transmission command. Is preferably limited to only once.

The event notification unit 43 is a functional unit conventionally provided in a fire alarm or a gas leak alarm, generates an event occurrence notification command based on an event detection signal from the event detection unit 3, and the audio output unit 5 generates an event occurrence notification command. It is instructed to notify the occurrence of an event by artificial voice, buzzer sound, or blinking light.

Next, an alarm system in which one of the embodiments of the battery-powered alarm according to the present invention is used will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of such an alarm system. The battery-powered alarm used here adopts the basic configuration described with reference to FIG.

This battery-powered alarm is a gas leak alarm (hereinafter simply abbreviated as an alarm) that has a built-in battery pack with a rating of 3 V as battery 2, and has a function due to battery exhaustion (the battery voltage is below the minimum voltage value). It is necessary to replace the battery before the battery runs out in order to avoid the loss of the battery. Alarms are located in the kitchen of a general residence or in the ceiling area of a room with gas equipment.

The alarm has a built-in buzzer 50 as a voice notification device of the voice output unit 5 that performs voice notification, and a wireless automatic communication unit 60 as a communication device of the information communication unit 6 that transmits information. .. Mobile phone numbers and e-mail addresses of residents and gas maintenance and inspection companies are registered in the automatic communication unit 60, and internally generated information can be transmitted to the registration destination.

Since the structure of the event detection unit 3 formed as the gas detection sensor is well known, the description of the structure is omitted here. A battery voltage detection unit 20 that detects the battery voltage is connected to the battery 2 in order to know the remaining charge of the battery 2.

The control functions of the alarm are almost integrated in the control unit 4. The battery voltage determination unit 40, the first voltage drop notification unit 41, the second voltage drop notification unit 42, and the event notification unit 43, which are constructed in the control unit 4, are almost the same as those described with reference to FIG. is there. The event detection signal (gas leak detection signal) from the event detection unit 3 and the detection voltage from the battery voltage detection unit 20 are transferred to the inside via the input data processing unit 44. The event detection notification command (gas leak detection notification command) from the event notification unit 43 is converted into a drive signal of the buzzer 50 by the output data processing unit 45 and sent to the buzzer 50 to generate an event occurrence notification sound (gas leak notification sound). The buzzer is driven by the buzzer sound pattern set as.

The voltage drop notification command output from the first voltage drop notification unit 41 when the battery voltage becomes equal to or lower than the first threshold value is also converted into a drive signal of the buzzer 50 by the output data processing unit 45, and becomes the buzzer 50. Sent. In this embodiment, the drive signal sounds an intermittent buzzer for three days. The voltage drop information transmission command output from the second voltage drop notification unit 42 when the battery voltage becomes equal to or lower than the second threshold value is sent to the automatic communication unit 60 via the output data processing unit 45. The automatic communication unit 60 transmits information prompting the battery replacement to the registered destination because the battery is imminently exhausted.

When the event detection notification command (gas leak detection notification command) is output from the event notification unit 43, the fact that a gas leak has occurred is transmitted to the registered destination through the automatic communication unit 60. It is also possible to do.

Next, using the time chart of FIG. 3, an example of a notification process for performing a notification prompting battery replacement will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, here, the battery 2 has a rated voltage of 3 V, the battery voltage drops to the first threshold value of 2.4 V at the time point: t1, and further, the time point: t2. The battery voltage drops to the second threshold value of 2.1V. The minimum voltage value at which the function of the alarm can be maintained is 1.9V.

Time point: At t1, when the detection voltage drops to the first threshold value and the battery voltage determination unit 40 outputs the first command, the first voltage drop notification unit 41 outputs the voltage drop notification command, and the buzzer 50 outputs the first command. An intermittent buzzer sounds as a voltage drop notification sound. The period of this intermittent buzzer sound is about several minutes in order to suppress battery consumption, but it can be set arbitrarily. At the same time, the internal counter of the control unit 4 starts. This internal counter outputs a counting completion signal after 3 days have passed. When the counting completion signal is output after 3 days have passed, the intermittent buzzer sound stops. Of course, during this period, if the battery is replaced and the detected voltage exceeds the first threshold value, the intermittent buzzer sound is immediately stopped and the counter is reset.

If the battery 2 is not replaced and the number of days elapses, the battery voltage determination unit 40 outputs the second command when the detection voltage drops to the second threshold value at the time point: t2. As a result, when the voltage drop information transmission command output from the second voltage drop notification unit 42 is given to the automatic communication unit 60, the automatic communication unit 60 is imminently running out of battery at the registered e-mail address. To send information prompting you to replace the battery. If the person viewing this information receives the information, if he / she is away from the alarm, he / she can contact a person near the alarm or return to the place where the alarm is located. As a result, there is a high possibility that the battery will be replaced in order to avoid running out of the battery. In addition, instead of the configuration in which the second command is not transmitted again after the second command is transmitted, a configuration in which the second command is transmitted a plurality of times at predetermined intervals may be adopted.

[Another Embodiment]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, each functional unit constructed in the control unit 4 is divided with an emphasis on making the explanation of control easy to understand, and integration of these functional units is performed. Further division can be freely performed within the framework of the present invention.
(2) The external device as a transmission destination of the voltage drop information by the automatic communication unit 60 includes communication terminals in the same residence, for example, various communication terminals such as a television, a communication type remote controller, and an intercom. Generally, a communication type remote controller installed under a name such as a bathroom remote controller or a kitchen remote controller is a device provided with an operation button, an information display unit, a voice output unit, and the like.
(3) Further, the external device includes a communication terminal of a service shop that is in charge of the area to which the residence belongs and performs maintenance such as alarms.

The configuration disclosed in the above embodiment (including another embodiment, the same shall apply hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configuration disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction. The embodiments disclosed in the present specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the object of the present invention.

The present invention is applicable to various battery-powered alarms.

2: Battery 20: Battery voltage detection unit 3: Event detection unit 4: Control unit 40: Battery voltage determination unit 41: First voltage drop notification unit 42: Second voltage drop notification unit 43: Event notification unit 44: Input data processing Unit 45: Output data processing unit 5: Audio output unit 50: Buzzer 6: Information communication unit 60: Automatic communication unit

Claims (3)

A battery-powered alarm that is battery-powered by a battery voltage that exceeds the minimum voltage value.
An event detection unit that detects a predetermined event and outputs an event detection signal,
The battery voltage detection unit that detects the battery voltage and
Information and communication unit that sends information to external devices
An audio output unit that outputs an event occurrence notification sound and a voltage drop notification sound,
An event notification unit that gives an event occurrence notification command to the voice output unit based on the event detection signal, and
When the detection voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the first command is output, and the detection voltage is lower than the first threshold value and higher than the minimum voltage value. If it is less than or equal to the threshold value, the battery voltage judgment unit that outputs the second command and
Based on the first command, the first voltage drop notification unit that gives a voltage drop notification command to the voice output unit to notify the voltage drop notification, and the first voltage drop notification unit.
A second voltage drop notification unit that gives a voltage drop information transmission command for instructing voltage drop information transmission to the information communication unit based on the second command is provided.
Even if the state wherein the detection voltage is equal to or less than the second threshold value is continued, the second voltage drop notification unit state, and it is only providing the voltage drop information transmission command once,
When the state in which the detected voltage is equal to or lower than the first threshold value continues, the first voltage drop alarm unit gives the voltage drop alarm command a plurality of times during a set number of days at predetermined time intervals. Type alarm. The battery-powered alarm according to claim 1, wherein the event detection unit detects the presence or absence of a predetermined detection target gas as detection of the predetermined event. The battery-powered alarm according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external device is a pre-registered mobile communication terminal.

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