JPH04279198A - Electronic iron - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operational properties of 'off' setting in a continuous temp. setting means by setting an interval between 'off' setting and another temp. setting longer than that between one temp. setting and another one except 'off' setting. CONSTITUTION:In a continuous temp. setting means which sequentially switches temp. setting with a key switch 13 on, a switching time from 'off' to 'high' is set longer than each switching time between 'high' and 'medium' and 'low' and 'off'. Therefore, when ironing is ended, with the key switch 13 on, the temp. setting is sequentially switched to 'off' at short intervals, and at 'off', a buzzer sounds through a buzzer circuit 24 to inform a user of it. After that, as the 'off' setting is kept longer than other setting, a user is given enough time to turn off the key switch 13.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic iron whose temperature settings can be changed continuously.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-5900, for example, in an electronic iron of this type, when a key switch for temperature setting is kept on for a certain period of time or more, the iron is set to "off". The configuration is such that the temperature setting can be switched one step at a time to a higher temperature side at regular intervals.

However, in the above configuration, if the cycle system is used in which the key switch returns to "off" after the highest temperature setting, if the key switch is kept on, the above-mentioned constant cycle returns to "off" and then returns to the next temperature setting. Since the settings are switched at intervals, there is a problem in that if the key switch is turned off at the wrong timing when the "off" setting is operated, which is always done after using the iron, the setting will be switched to a setting other than "off". This problem becomes particularly noticeable as the temperature setting switching time interval becomes shorter.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to improve the operability of the "off" setting in an electronic iron that can continuously set the temperature. It is.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a display means for displaying a plurality of temperature settings including "off", a key switch for changing the setting of the display means, and a temperature setting that changes every time the key switch is turned on. A stepwise temperature setting means for changing the setting one step at a time to set a desired temperature, and a continuous temperature setting means for sequentially changing the temperature setting of the plurality of steps at time intervals when the key switch continues to be turned on. , this continuous temperature setting means makes the time interval from switching to the next temperature setting after changing from another temperature setting to "off" setting to the time interval from switching from a temperature setting other than "off" setting to the next temperature setting. is also set for a long time.

[0006] The continuous temperature setting means further includes a notification means for emitting a sound to distinguish the fact that the continuous temperature setting means has been set to "off" from the case that other temperature settings have been made.

[0007]

[Operation] Since the present invention is constructed as described above, when the key switch is kept on when ironing is finished, the temperature setting display on the display means changes sequentially, and when the setting is set to "off", The display time continues longer than the display times of other temperature settings, giving the operator time to turn off the key switch.

[0008] Furthermore, when the temperature is set to "off", a sound is simultaneously generated to distinguish it from other temperature settings, thereby reliably informing the user that the temperature has been set to "off".

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this example, the temperature setting is set to four levels: "off", "low", "medium", and "high", and for convenience of explanation, the ironing temperature for "synthetic fiber" fabric is set to "low". , “
"Hair" and "cotton" are classified as "medium", and "linen" is classified as "high".

In FIG. 1, (1) is an AC power supply, (2)
is a heater built into the base (not shown), which is connected to the AC power supply (1) via the relay contact (3a) of the relay (3).
)It is connected to the. (4) is a DC power supply that outputs low DC voltage connected to an AC power supply, and (5) is this DC power supply (
4) A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) that operates by receiving power from the microcomputer. This microcomputer (5)
is for controlling the operation of each part according to a preset processing program, and is a heating control means that controls the energization of the heater (2) to change the temperature of the base, based on input from a key switch (13) to be described later. The step of switching the temperature setting described above and the continuous temperature setting means, and the LED described below.
(16), (17), (18), and (19); and a buzzer control means, which controls the driving of a buzzer circuit (24), which will be described later.

(6) is a heat sensitive element such as a thermistor that detects the temperature of the base part, and is connected between the DC power terminals via a resistor (7), and the temperature of the base part is detected between the heat sensitive element and the resistor (7). Convert the voltage at this connection point to A/D
Converter (8) converts it into a digital signal and sends it to the microcontroller (5)
By inputting the detected temperature of the base to the input terminal (i2) of the microcomputer (5).

(9) is a relay control circuit, which is composed of a transistor (10) and resistors (11) and (12), and the relay coil (3b) of the relay (3) is connected to the transistor (
A resistor (11) is connected between the emitter and base of the transistor (10), and the base is connected to the resistor (11) through the emitter collector of the transistor (10).
2) to the output terminal (O6) of the microcomputer (5).

Therefore, when the output terminal (O6) becomes L level (hereinafter simply referred to as L), the transistor (10) is turned on, the relay coil (3b) is energized, and the relay contact (
The heater (2) is energized via 3a), and
When the output terminal (O6) becomes H level (hereinafter simply referred to as H), the transistor (10) turns off and the relay coil (
3b) becomes de-energized, the relay contact (3a) opens, and the power to the heater (2) is cut off.

(13) is a temperature setting key switch for changing the amount of heat generated by the heater (2), which is composed of a push switch, etc., and is connected between DC power supply terminals via a resistor (14). In addition, the connection point between the switch (13) and the resistor (14) is the input terminal (i) of the microcomputer (5).
1), and when the switch (13) is turned on or off, L and H signals are input to the microcomputer (5), respectively.

(15) is a display means, which includes a plurality of LEDs corresponding to each setting of "off", "low", "medium", and "high".
Each anode of (16) to (19) has a resistance (2
0) to (23) to the positive terminal of the DC power supply, and their respective cathodes are connected to the output terminals (O1), (O2), (O3), and (O4) of the microcomputer (5). , by outputting L and H signals from each output terminal (O1) to (O4), each LED (16) to (19)
are turned on or off, respectively. (24) is a buzzer circuit constituting the notification means, and is driven by the H signal from the output terminal (O5) of the microcomputer (5).

Next, to explain the operation of the above configuration, immediately after the AC power supply (1) is turned on, it is set to "off", and the output terminal (O1) of the microcomputer (5) is set to L.
As a result, only the LED (16) lights up, while the output terminal (
O6) becomes H, and power to the heater (2) is cut off.

Stepwise temperature setting in which the temperature is set by repeatedly turning on the key switch (13) will be described below. First, from the above state, if you turn on the switch (13) only once and input the L signal to the input terminal (i1),
The microcomputer (5) switches the temperature setting to "high" and sets the output terminal (O1) to H and the output terminal (O4) to "high".
Only the display LED (19) is lit to indicate that the setting has been switched to "high". At the same time, the microcomputer (5) outputs the output terminal (O5) for a certain period of time (100ms).
)H and drives the buzzer circuit (24) for a short fixed period of time to generate a "beep" sound. After that, the microcomputer (5
) takes in the temperature signal of the base from the input terminal (i2) and sends it to the output terminal (O6) so that the set temperature is reached.
) to control the energization/disconnection of the heater (2).

When the key switch (13) is turned on again, the "medium" setting is set, and in the same way as described above, only the "medium" setting display LED (18) lights up and the buzzer circuit (24) turns on. It is driven for a short period of time, and
When the switch (13) is turned on again, the "low" setting is set, and the LED (17) for displaying the "low" setting is turned on as described above.
lights up and the buzzer circuit (24) is driven for a short fixed period of time. Next, when the switch (13) is turned on again, the setting is set to "off", and the LED (16) for displaying "off" is turned on.
) will light up to indicate that it is in the "off" state, and the buzzer circuit (24) will run for a slightly longer period of time (250ms) and emit a "beep" sound to indicate that it is in the "off" setting. Clearly distinguish and notify. From now on, switch (13
) setting is switched in the order of "High", "Medium", "Low", "Off", and "High" each time the switch is turned on.

Next, continuous temperature setting in which the key switch (13) is kept on and the temperature settings are sequentially changed will be explained with reference to the waveform diagram shown in FIG. First, from the "off" setting, turn on the key switch (13) at point a.
If you continue to input the signal to the terminal (i1), the microcontroller (5)
At point a, the temperature setting is switched to "high", and the LED (19) is turned on in the same way as in the case of step temperature setting, and the buzzer makes a short "beep" sound (100 ms). At time b, when time T1 (800 ms) has elapsed since time a, the setting is switched to "medium" and the time T2 (40 ms) has elapsed from time b.
At point c, which has elapsed (0ms), switch to the "low" setting,
Further, at time d, when time T2 has elapsed, the setting is switched to "off". During this time, the LEDs are LED (18), LED (1
7), and the LED (16) lights up in this order. At point d when it is set to "off", the buzzer beeps for a long time (250ms).
) to make it easier to distinguish it from other settings. Then, at time e, when a set time T3 (800ms) longer than time T2 has elapsed since time d when the setting was set to "off", the setting is switched to "high" again, and after that, the setting is changed from "medium" to "low" at intervals of time T2. ” - “Off”, and when the setting is set to “Off”, the setting is switched to “High” after time T3 has elapsed in the same manner as from time d to e.

When the key switch (13) is turned off, the settings at that time become the actual settings. Therefore, when you want to finish ironing, if you keep the key switch (13) turned on, the settings will change in sequence at short time intervals until the temperature setting is set to "off", and once it is set to "off",
First, a buzzer sound that can be distinguished from other settings makes it easy to confirm that the "off" setting has been set, and the "off" setting is maintained longer than other settings, so you can use it easily. This allows sufficient time for the person to turn off the key switch (13).

In the above continuous temperature setting, there is a time T1 for maintaining the temperature setting immediately after the key switch (13) is turned on, and a time T1 for maintaining the "off" setting.
3 is the same time (800ms), but T2 (40ms)
If they are longer than 0 ms), they may be set to different times. In addition, the buzzer sounds when the "off" setting and other settings are set are distinguished by their length, but the frequency of the buzzer sounds can be changed to differentiate them, or the buzzer sound can be distinguished by sound. It's okay. Alternatively, the buzzer may be emitted only when the setting is set to "off".

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by keeping the key switch on when ironing is finished, when the setting is changed to "off", the state is set higher than other settings. Since it can be maintained for a long time, the "off" setting can be easily selected, and there is no need to repeatedly turn on and switch the key switch, resulting in extremely good operability. In addition, the buzzer makes it possible to distinguish between the "off" setting and other temperature settings, further improving operability. Furthermore, if you keep the key switch on, you can arbitrarily set the temperature other than the "off" setting, so the operability of normal temperature settings will not be impaired.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an input/output waveform diagram of the microcomputer of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

5. Microcomputer 13 Key switch 15 Display means 24 Buzzer circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Display means for displaying temperature settings in multiple stages including "off", a key switch for switching the settings of the display means, and a display means for changing the temperature setting by one step each time the key switch is turned on.
stepwise temperature setting means for switching step by step to set a desired temperature, and continuous temperature setting means for sequentially switching the temperature settings of the plurality of steps at time intervals when the key switch continues to be turned on. The temperature setting means sets the time interval for switching to the next temperature setting after changing from another temperature setting to "off" setting to be longer than the time interval for switching from a temperature setting other than "off" setting to the next temperature setting. An electronic iron that is characterized by: [Claim 2] The continuous temperature setting means allows the temperature to be turned off.
2. The electronic iron according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means for emitting a sound to distinguish the temperature setting from other temperature settings.