JPH0715358A - Battery-operated wireless transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly avoid a disable state of informing operation caused by a deficient voltage of a battery in the case of informing operation for an emergency by accurately discriminating a voltage of the battery on the condition that the emergency informing is actually CONSTITUTION:On the occurrence of an emergecy, an alarm means 2 makes informing operation and a wireless transmission circuit 4 outputs a signal representing it in a wireless way. Furthermore, in the normal state, a voltage of a battery 5 is monitored while supplying a drive current to the wireless transmission circuit 4 at predetermined time intervals and when the voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage, the wireless signal to inform it is outputted. The transmitter is provided with an auxiliary circuit 7 to consume power equivalent to power consumption of the alarm means 2 and power is supplied to the auxiliary circuit 7 when the voltage of the battery 5 is monitored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery-powered wireless transmitter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a battery-driven wireless transmitter of this type, when a sensor detects an abnormal situation such as a fire or a gas leak, an alarming operation such as a buzzer sounds and an abnormal operation occurs at the same time. There is one in which a signal indicating that a situation has occurred is wirelessly output from a wireless transmission circuit and is transmitted to a wireless receiver for security. In such a wireless transmitter, when the battery is exhausted and the voltage drops below a predetermined voltage value, even if an abnormal situation such as a fire is detected by the sensor, each unit such as the wireless transmission circuit is properly operated. It cannot be driven, and it is not possible to appropriately notify that an abnormality has occurred.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a structure in which the battery voltage is monitored at regular intervals and data indicating whether or not the voltage value is appropriate is transmitted to the wireless receiver side. However, if the voltage value is judged to be proper based on the voltage of the battery when the wireless transmission circuit is not driven, that voltage value is different from the operating condition when an abnormal situation actually occurs. Since it will be a different value,
Conventionally, it has been determined whether or not the voltage of the battery is appropriate based on the voltage value of the battery when the drive current is supplied to the wireless transmission circuit. With such a configuration, when the voltage value of the battery becomes a certain value or less, the fact can be recognized on the wireless receiver side, and the battery can be replaced before the so-called dead battery, which is convenient.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the voltage value of the battery is measured in a state in which current is not supplied to the alarm circuit for making a buzzer sound, etc. The measured voltage value is significantly different from the voltage value when the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm circuit are simultaneously driven, that is, when an abnormal situation actually occurs and the fact is notified. Therefore, conventionally, even when it is determined that the voltage value of the battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage value, both the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm circuit are appropriately driven when an abnormal situation actually occurs. In some cases, there is not enough voltage to operate the system, which makes it impossible to notify the abnormal situation, which is a problem. It should be noted that as a means for solving such a difficulty, it is conceivable that a drive current is supplied not only to the wireless transmission circuit but also to the alarm circuit when monitoring the voltage value of the battery, but this does not cause an abnormal situation. Nevertheless, since the alarm circuit performs the alarming operation and the buzzer sounds, etc., such means cannot be practically adopted, and the above difficulties cannot be appropriately solved.

On the other hand, in this type of battery-powered wireless transmitter, the tamper switch operates when the attached wireless transmitter is removed, as a means for ensuring detection of an abnormal situation and notification output thereof. There is also proposed a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly output a notification signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless transmitter. However,
With the conventional type, if the battery is removed from the wireless transmitter after removing the wireless transmitter so that the tamper switch does not operate, a notification signal indicating that an abnormality has already occurred from this wireless transmitter. Is not output. Therefore, conventionally, there is still room for improvement in the certainty of detecting an abnormality in such a wireless transmitter.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and its first object is to make it possible to accurately determine the voltage value of the battery under the condition that the notification operation of the abnormal situation is actually performed. Thus, it is possible to appropriately avoid the inoperable state of the notification operation due to the insufficient voltage of the battery at the time of the notification operation of the abnormal situation. The second object of the present invention is to
When the wireless transmitter is improperly removed, it is possible to reliably output the signal indicating that the abnormality has occurred in the wireless transmitter by wireless.

[0007]

The battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention according to claim 1 proposed for achieving the first object corresponds to the power consumption of the alarm means. Equipped with an auxiliary circuit for power consumption,
The auxiliary circuit is configured so that power is supplied from the battery when the voltage value of the battery is monitored by a predetermined control means while the drive current is being supplied to the wireless transmission circuit.

A battery-powered wireless transmitter according to a second aspect of the present invention is the same as that of the first aspect.
When a predetermined abnormal situation is detected by the detection means and a signal indicating the occurrence of abnormality is wirelessly output from the wireless transmission circuit, power is not supplied from the battery to the auxiliary circuit.

[0009] A battery-driven wireless transmitter according to the present invention as claimed in claim 3 which is proposed to achieve the above-mentioned second object, is a battery in which each part in the wireless transmitter is set in a battery mounting part. A battery-powered wireless transmitter configured to be driven by electric power, the backup power supply being provided at a position separate from the battery, and for detecting removal of the battery from the battery mounting portion. The detection means and a wireless drive circuit that wirelessly outputs a signal indicating an abnormality occurrence by the power of the backup power supply when the removal of the battery is detected by the detection means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention.
A changeover switch for cutting off the power supply from the backup power source to each part in the wireless transmitter is provided, and the battery mounted in the battery mounting part supplies power to each part in the wireless transmitter at a certain voltage or more. The power supply from the backup power supply to each part of the wireless transmitter is blocked when the power is supplied.

[0011]

In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the voltage value of the battery is monitored by the predetermined control means at predetermined time intervals, the wireless transmission is performed. Not only the power is consumed in the transmitter circuit, but the power equivalent to the power consumption of the alarm means is also consumed in the auxiliary circuit at the same time. It is equal to the voltage value when driven simultaneously. Therefore, as long as the voltage value of the battery monitored at each predetermined time interval is a predetermined proper voltage value, simultaneous driving of the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm means when an abnormal situation occurs is compensated, When an abnormal situation occurs, the driving voltage for the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm means will not become insufficient. Since the auxiliary circuit provided separately from the alarm means is supplied with electric power, the alarm means is not unduly driven when the voltage value of the battery is monitored.

In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, when an abnormal situation actually occurs and a notification operation is performed, power is not supplied to the auxiliary circuit. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately avoid the occurrence of a shortage in the drive voltage of the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm means due to useless power supply to the auxiliary circuit.

In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the battery is removed from the battery mounting portion by removing the wireless transmitter from a predetermined mounting position or the like, This is detected by a predetermined detection means, and a signal indicating the occurrence of abnormality is wirelessly output by the power of the backup power supply. Thus, the backup power source is provided at a position separate from the battery mounted in the battery mounting portion, and can be provided so as not to be easily removed. Then, unless the backup power source is removed before the battery, the wireless drive circuit is appropriately driven by the power of the backup power source, and the signal indicating the occurrence of abnormality is wirelessly output. Therefore, even when the wireless transmitter is improperly removed and the battery is removed, it is possible to reliably wirelessly output the signal indicating the abnormality.

In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, when the wireless transmitter is not yet mounted at a predetermined position and the battery is not mounted in the battery mounting portion. By turning off the changeover switch, it is possible to prevent the power supply from the backup power supply to each unit in the wireless transmitter. Further, even when the battery is mounted in the battery mounting portion and the wireless receiver is used, the power supply from the backup power source to each portion in the wireless transmitter is blocked. Therefore, it is possible to thoroughly prevent unnecessary power consumption of the backup power supply, and it is possible to effectively secure the power of the backup power supply in case the battery is removed due to mischief or the like. Further, by preventing wasteful power consumption of the backup power supply in this way, a small power supply (battery) having a small power capacity can be adopted as the backup power supply.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment (corresponding to claims 1 and 2)] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a battery-driven wireless transmitter A according to the present invention. This wireless transmitter A includes a sensor 1 (corresponding to a detection means of the present invention) for detecting a predetermined abnormal situation such as a fire or a gas leak, and a buzzer sounds when the sensor 1 detects an abnormal situation. It is provided with a buzzer ringing circuit 2 (corresponding to an alarm means of the present invention) for performing a reporting operation, a control circuit 3 composed of a CPU and the like, and a wireless transmission circuit 4. In the wireless transmission circuit 4, the transmission circuit 41 and the multiplication circuit 42 connected to the transmission element 40 are voltage-controlled by the control circuit 3, and
The data input from the control circuit 3 to the modulation circuit 43 is wirelessly output from the two antennas ANT1 and ANT2.

In addition to the above, the wireless transmitter A has a buzzer ringing circuit 2 and a wireless transmitting circuit 4 as well.
Battery 5 for supplying electric power to various parts such as
There is provided a voltage detector 6 for detecting the voltage value of 1 and inputting a signal to that effect to the control circuit 3 when the voltage value falls below a predetermined voltage value, an auxiliary circuit 7, and the like. Here, the auxiliary circuit 7 is configured such that power is supplied from the battery 5 under the control of the control circuit 3, and the amount of power consumed by this auxiliary circuit 7 (the amount of power per unit time) is The value of the resistance R is set so that the consumption amount corresponds to the power consumption of the buzzer ringing circuit 2. The resistance R may be a variable resistance whose resistance value can be increased or decreased.

When the abnormality detection signal from the sensor 1 is input, the control circuit 3 controls the wireless transmission circuit 4 so as to wirelessly output a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred. It also has a control function such as. That is, the control circuit 3 regularly monitors the voltage value of the battery 5 based on the input signal from the voltage detector 6 at predetermined constant time intervals (for example, every 1.2 hours). This monitoring may be configured to be performed by receiving a predetermined wireless signal from another external communication device, in which case this wireless transmitter A wireless reception for receiving the wireless signal. It is necessary to have a circuit. Control circuit 3
As a result of monitoring the voltage value, the wireless transmission circuit 4 wirelessly outputs a signal indicating that the voltage value of the battery 5 is normal if the voltage value is equal to or higher than a predetermined constant value. Further, when the voltage value is equal to or lower than a certain value, the battery 5 is configured to be controlled to wirelessly output a signal indicating that the voltage value is insufficient. However, at the time of monitoring the battery, it is controlled so that the dummy current I is output to the auxiliary circuit 7 at the same time when the drive current is supplied from the battery 5 to the wireless transmission circuit 4, and the voltage value in this state is It is configured to determine whether or not the value is a certain value or more.

Next, the operation of the battery-driven wireless transmitter A having the above structure will be described. First, in a normal time when no abnormal situation occurs, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the drive current is supplied to the wireless transmission circuit 4 at regular time intervals of a fixed time T. Then, the dummy current I is supplied to the auxiliary circuit 7. Then, the voltage value of the battery 5 in this state is checked by the control circuit 3, and the signal S1 indicating the result is wirelessly output. In this case, when the measured voltage value is below the predetermined voltage value and the voltage is insufficient, a signal to that effect is wirelessly output. It can be recognized that the battery 5 needs to be replaced, and the battery 5 can be immediately replaced. On the other hand, when the measured voltage value is a certain value or more, a signal indicating that the voltage of the battery 5 is normal is output, and the wireless receiver side can also confirm that.

Next, when an abnormal situation such as a fire occurs, and this is detected by the sensor 1, the wireless transmission circuit 4 outputs a wireless signal S indicating that the abnormal situation has occurred, and at the same time, a buzzer ringing circuit. 2 will be driven and a buzzer alarm will be emitted. At that time, the dummy current I is not supplied to the auxiliary circuit 7. Then, the power consumption of the battery 5 at that time is obtained by adding the power consumption W1 of the wireless transmission circuit 4 and the power consumption W2 of the buzzer sounding circuit 2 as shown by an arrow N1 in FIG. However, the power consumption amount W2 of the buzzer ringing circuit 2 is equal to the power consumption amount W3 of the auxiliary circuit 7 at the time of checking the voltage of the battery 5 indicated by an arrow N2. Therefore, the power consumption (W1) supplied to the wireless transmission circuit 4 and the auxiliary circuit 7 is reduced.
+ W3), at the time of checking the voltage of the arrow N2, as long as the voltage value of the battery 5 is a certain value or more, the wireless transmission circuit 4 and the buzzer sounding circuit 2 are simultaneously driven even when the alarm of the arrow N1 is issued. Sufficient voltage will be compensated for. That is, although a sufficient voltage equal to or higher than a predetermined constant value is obtained at the time of checking the voltage of the battery 5, the voltage of the battery 5 becomes insufficient when an abnormal situation occurs and the wireless transmission circuit 4 and the buzzer ringing circuit 2 Therefore, the problem that simultaneous driving of the two becomes difficult will not occur.

[Second embodiment (corresponding to claims 3 and 4)]
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the battery-powered wireless transmitter Aa according to the present invention. The wireless transmitter Aa includes a wireless drive circuit 15, a battery mounting portion 12 formed in a battery box shape in which a battery 11 for supplying power to the wireless drive circuit 15 and other circuits is detachably mounted, The battery mounting portion 12 is provided with a voltage detector 13 for detecting a voltage value at both ends, a backup power supply 10, a manual changeover switch 14 connected to the backup power supply 10, and the like. here,
The wireless drive circuit 15 is a wireless transmission circuit similar to the wireless transmission circuit 4 shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment,
CPU that executes drive control of this wireless transmission circuit
And the like (none of them are shown).

The voltage detector 13 corresponds to a means for detecting the removal of the battery 11, and when the measured voltage value becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage value, the wireless drive circuit 15 is instructed at that time. A signal to that effect (tamper input) is provided. When the tamper input is received, the wireless drive circuit 15 is configured to operate so as to wirelessly output a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless transmitter Aa.

The backup power source 10 includes a battery mounting portion 12
Although a battery having a smaller capacity and a smaller capacity than that of the battery 11 set in is used, the backup power source 10 is different from the battery 11 in that it is installed inside the wireless transmitter Aa so that it cannot be easily removed from the outside. It has been incorporated. Further, the backup power supply 10 is provided so that power can be supplied to the wireless drive circuit 15 when the contact a of the changeover switch 14 is closed in a state where the battery 11 is not set. On the other hand, the output voltage of the backup power supply 10 is slightly lower than that of the battery 11, and when the battery 11 having a higher voltage than the backup power supply 10 is set in the battery mounting portion 12, the backup power supply 10 wirelessly drives the battery. It is configured so that power is not supplied to the circuit 15.
In the figure, D1 and D2 are diodes.

Next, an example of use and operation of the battery-driven wireless transmitter Aa having the above structure will be described. First, when the wireless transmitter Aa is not installed and used, that is, when the battery 11 is not set in the battery mounting portion 12, the contact b side of the changeover switch 14 is closed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the power of the backup power supply 10 from being supplied to the wireless drive circuit 15, and it is possible to prevent power consumption of the backup power supply 10. The changeover switch 14 may be switched to close the contact a side when the battery 11 is set in the battery mounting portion 12 and the wireless transmitter Aa is installed and used at a predetermined position. Further, when the wireless transmitter Aa is installed and used, even if the contact a side of the changeover switch 14 is closed, the backup power supply 10 has a lower voltage than the battery 11, so that the backup power supply 10 is connected to the wireless drive circuit. No electric power is supplied to the wireless drive circuit 15
Will be driven exclusively by the power of the battery 11.
Therefore, the backup power source 10 is the wireless transmitter Aa.
There is no fear of exhaustion due to long-term use.

Next, when the wireless transmitter Aa installed and used at a predetermined place is removed by someone and the battery 11 is removed, the voltage value measured by the voltage detector 13 becomes zero, and the wireless drive circuit Tamper input is made to 15. At the same time, the power supply from the backup power supply 10 to the wireless drive circuit 15 becomes possible. Therefore, despite the removal of the battery 11, the wireless drive circuit 15 is appropriately driven, and a signal indicating that the wireless receiver Aa has an abnormality is wirelessly output, and the wireless receiver side receiving this signal outputs the signal. It is possible to determine that fact and take appropriate countermeasures. The backup power source 10 only needs to have an electric capacity enough to make one abnormality notification when the battery 11 is removed, and may be a very small one.

[0025]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the battery-driven wireless transmitter according to the present invention as defined in claims 1 and 2, the auxiliary circuit provided separately from the alarm means is supplied with electric power. By supplying power, the voltage value of the battery can be accurately determined under the same conditions as when an abnormal situation occurred, without improperly driving the alarm means. Therefore,
Despite the fact that the voltage value of the battery monitored at every predetermined time interval is a predetermined proper voltage value, it is appropriate to deal with the situation where the battery voltage becomes insufficient when the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm means are driven when an abnormality occurs. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect that it is possible to accurately avoid the inoperable state of the notification operation due to the battery voltage shortage at the time of the notification operation of the abnormal situation.

Particularly, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2,
Since an unnecessary power supply to the auxiliary circuit is avoided when an abnormal situation actually occurs, it is possible to more appropriately prevent the shortage of the driving voltage of the wireless transmission circuit and the alarm means. .

According to the battery-powered wireless transmitter of the present invention as defined in claims 3 and 4, the backup power source is used when the wireless transmitter is improperly removed and the battery is removed. As a result, it is possible to reliably output a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless transmitter by wireless, and it is possible to appropriately deal with such an abnormal situation.

Particularly, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4,
Since it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption of the backup power supply, it is possible to effectively secure the power of the backup power supply in case the battery is removed due to mischief, etc. The advantage is that a small power supply with a small electric capacity can be adopted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an operating state of the battery-powered wireless transmitter shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing another embodiment of the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 sensor 2 buzzer ringing circuit 3 control circuit 4 wireless transmission circuit 5 battery 6 voltage detector 7 auxiliary circuit 10 backup power supply 11 battery 12 battery mounting part 13 voltage detector 14 changeover switch 15 wireless drive circuit A, Aa battery drive type wireless Transmitter

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 28, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment (corresponding to claims 1 and 2)] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a battery-driven wireless transmitter A according to the present invention. This wireless transmitter A includes a sensor 1 (corresponding to a detection means of the present invention) for detecting a predetermined abnormal situation such as a fire or a gas leak, and a buzzer sounds when the sensor 1 detects an abnormal situation. It is provided with a buzzer ringing circuit 2 (corresponding to an alarm means of the present invention) for performing a reporting operation, a control circuit 3 composed of a CPU and the like, and a wireless transmission circuit 4. In the wireless transmission circuit 4, the oscillation circuit 41 and the multiplication circuit 42 connected to the oscillator 40 are voltage-controlled by the control circuit 3, and
The data input from the control circuit 3 to the modulation circuit 43 is wirelessly output from the two antennas ANT1 and ANT2.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Okada 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When the detection means detects a predetermined abnormal situation, the control means drives the wireless transmission circuit to wirelessly output a signal indicating the occurrence of the abnormality, and the detection means detects the predetermined abnormal situation. When the alarm is detected, an alarm means for performing an alarming operation, a battery for supplying driving power to each of the parts, and a voltage detection means for detecting a decrease in the voltage value of the battery are provided, and the control means is , Monitoring the voltage value of the battery while supplying a drive current to the wireless transmission circuit at predetermined time intervals, and when the voltage value is lower than a predetermined constant voltage value, the A battery-powered wireless transmitter configured to drive and control a wireless transmission circuit so as to output a wireless signal for notifying the effect, said alarm means The auxiliary circuit is provided separately for performing power consumption corresponding to the power consumption of the battery, and this auxiliary circuit supplies power from the battery when the control unit monitors the voltage value of the battery. A battery-powered wireless transmitter characterized in that it is configured to be supplied. 2. The power supply from the battery to the auxiliary circuit according to claim 1, when a signal indicating the occurrence of an abnormality is wirelessly output from the wireless transmission circuit when the detection means detects a predetermined abnormal situation. A battery-powered wireless transmitter characterized in that it is configured so as not to be operated. 3. A battery-driven wireless transmitter configured so that each part in the wireless transmitter is driven by electric power of a battery set in a battery mounting part, the wireless transmitter being provided at a position separate from the battery. Backup power source, detection means for detecting the removal of the battery from the battery mounting portion, and when the detection means detects the removal of the battery, a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred due to the power of the backup power source is wirelessly transmitted. A battery-powered wireless transmitter, comprising: a wireless drive circuit for outputting. 4. The switch according to claim 3, further comprising a changeover switch for cutting off the power supply from the backup power source to each part in the wireless transmitter, and from the battery mounted in the battery mounting part to the inside of the wireless transmitter. A battery-powered wireless transmitter, characterized in that it is configured so that the power supply from the backup power source to each part of the wireless transmitter is blocked when power is supplied to each part at a certain voltage or more. .