JPH07243644A - Combustion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a combustion device which can make a user recognize surely the information that it is necessary to change a battery with a suppression of a consumption of the battery. CONSTITUTION:This device comprises a control circuit 16 wherein a combustion control of a burner 1 is executed with a battery as an electric source, a battery voltage observing circuit 17 observing a battery voltage VD 2 with the battery 11 as an electric source, an electricity feeding circuit 19 executing an electricity feeding to the circuit 16, 17 only when an operation of the burner 1 is executed, and an auxiliary electricity feeding circuit 20 executing an electricity feeding to the battery voltage observing circuit 17 after a combustion operation of the burner 1 is stopped, or when the battery voltage VD 2 becomes lower than a predetermined value. When the battery voltage VD 2 becomes lower than the predetermined value, the battery voltage observing circuit 17 informs a user of it by switching on a LED lamp 12 about the effect.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combustion device such as a gas stove.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a gas stove is known which includes a control circuit for controlling combustion of a burner using a battery as a power source. This control circuit monitors, for example, the heating temperature of the cooked food and the presence or absence of misfiring or misfiring of the burner using a sensor such as a thermistor or a thermocouple. When a misfire or an ignition error occurs, the solenoid valve provided in the gas supply path to the burner is closed, thereby shutting off the gas supply to the burner and extinguishing the burner. Then, the control circuit holds the solenoid valve open during normal combustion of the burner.

In this type of gas stove, when the voltage of the battery, which is the power source of the control circuit, decreases to some extent, the operation of the control circuit becomes unstable, and the burner combustion control may not be accurately performed. There is For this reason,
In this type of gas stove, a battery voltage monitoring circuit that monitors the battery voltage and, when the battery voltage drops to a predetermined value set in advance, drives a notification device such as a display lamp or a buzzer provided in the body of the gas stove. It is known that the driving of the notification device causes the user to recognize that the battery needs to be replaced and that the battery is about to be replaced.

By the way, the battery voltage monitoring circuit uses the battery as a power source similarly to the control circuit, and it is necessary to always supply power to these circuits from the battery even if a circuit with low power consumption is used. However, this is not preferable because it causes the battery to be consumed more quickly. Therefore, for example, in the gas stove as described above, the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the control circuit are connected to the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the control circuit by interlocking with the ON operation (ignition operation) of the ignition / fire button for the user to perform the ignition / extinction operation of the burner. Power is supplied from the power supply, and the ignition / fire suppression button is turned off
The power supply from the battery to the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the control circuit is cut off in synchronization with the operation (fire extinguishing operation), that is, the battery voltage monitoring circuit and the control circuit are powered only when the gas stove is in operation. By doing so, the consumption of the battery can be suppressed to the necessary minimum.

However, if power is supplied to the battery voltage monitoring circuit only when the gas stove is operating as described above, when the battery voltage drops to the predetermined value during operation, the notification device notifies that fact. afterwards,
When the operation is stopped, the power supply to the battery voltage monitoring circuit is stopped, so the above notification is also stopped. Therefore, while the gas stove is in operation, if the user does not notice the above notification, the user cannot recognize that the battery needs to be replaced at least until the next operation, and the next time. Even when recognizing that the battery needs to be replaced during operation, the gas stove cannot be used until a new battery is purchased unless a spare battery is prepared. And, in particular, when the battery voltage drops to the predetermined value immediately before the operation of the gas stove ends, the notification time is short, so the user often does not notice the notification, and therefore Inconvenience was likely to occur.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to improve a combustion device equipped with a control means using a battery as a power source and a battery voltage monitoring means, and it is necessary to replace the battery while suppressing the consumption of the battery. An object of the present invention is to provide a combustion device that allows a user to be surely notified of the fact that it is time to replace the battery. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combustion device capable of performing such notification with a compact and inexpensive structure. Moreover, it aims at providing the combustion apparatus which can perform such an alert appropriately.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control means for controlling the operation of a combustion section using a battery as a power source, and a battery voltage for monitoring the battery voltage using the battery as a power source. When the voltage drops below a predetermined value, battery voltage monitoring means for driving a notification device to notify that effect, and power is supplied from the battery to the control means and battery voltage monitoring means during operation of the combustion section, and the combustion is performed. In a combustion device provided with a power supply means for stopping power supply to the control means and the battery voltage monitoring means when the section is not operating, when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value, when the combustion section is operating and It is characterized in that an auxiliary power supply means for supplying power from the battery to the battery voltage monitoring means is provided regardless of the operation.

Further, the auxiliary power feeding means is interposed between a power feeding path of the battery voltage monitoring means and the battery, and a switch means for connecting the power feeding path to the battery when a predetermined drive signal is given. Switch driving means for generating the driving signal and applying the driving signal to the switching means when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value.

Further, the battery voltage monitoring means, when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value, generates and outputs a notification command signal for commanding notification by the notification device, and the notification command signal. And a notification drive means for driving the notification device in response to the notification command signal. The switch drive means generates a drive signal for the switch means from the notification command signal.

The switch means is composed of a semiconductor switch element such as a transistor. Further, the notification command means is composed of, for example, a comparator that compares the battery voltage with a predetermined value, and at this time, the switch driving means is composed of, for example, a buffer or an inverter using a semiconductor switch element such as a transistor.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined value is a battery voltage which is substantially equal to an operable limit value of the control means.

Further, the battery voltage monitoring means includes means for continuing the driving of the notification device when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value in the power supply state, regardless of the subsequent battery voltage value. It is characterized by being provided.

Further, the battery voltage is monitored by being supplied with power by the power supply means using the battery as a power source, and when the battery voltage drops below a second predetermined value higher than the predetermined value, a message to that effect is given. It is characterized in that it is provided with a second battery voltage monitoring means for notifying by a notification device in a format different from the battery voltage monitoring means.

[0014]

According to the present invention, normally, the battery voltage monitoring means is supplied with power from the battery by the power supply means only when the combustion section is in operation, and the battery voltage monitoring means is operated only when the combustion section is in operation. Monitor voltage. Then, when the battery is exhausted during the operation and the battery voltage becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined value,
The battery voltage monitoring means drives the notification device to notify the user that the battery voltage has dropped below a predetermined value. At this time, the battery voltage monitoring means is supplied with power from the battery by the auxiliary power supply means regardless of whether the combustion section is operating or not. Therefore, even if the operation of the combustion unit is stopped, the battery voltage monitoring means is continuously supplied with power,
Therefore, the above notification is given even after the operation of the combustion unit is stopped. As a result, the user can recognize that the battery needs to be replaced and that it is time to replace the battery not only during operation but also after the operation is stopped.

The auxiliary power supply means is composed of, for example, the switch means and the switch drive means. At this time,
The switch means is provided with the drive signal from the switch drive means when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value,
In response to this, the power supply path of the battery voltage monitoring means is connected to the battery. As a result, the battery voltage monitoring means is directly supplied with power from the battery via the switch means. Further, since the switch driving means is supplied with power via the battery voltage monitoring means, it is possible to generate the driving signal for the switch means even after the operation of the combustion section is stopped.
Power supply to the battery voltage monitoring means also continues.

In this case, when the battery voltage monitoring means includes the notification command means and the notification drive means, it is preferable to generate the drive signal for the switch means from the notification command signal generated by the notification command means. . By doing so, the notification command means of the battery voltage monitoring means is utilized as a part of the switch drive means for generating the drive signal of the switch means, and the switch drive means can have a simple configuration. It will be possible.

Further, when the predetermined value is set to a battery voltage substantially equal to the operable limit value of the control means, the battery is sufficiently consumed within a range that does not hinder the control of the combustion section by the control means. Since the notification is made by the battery voltage monitoring means at the stage, the battery can be used as much as possible as the power source of the control means and the like.

Further, when the predetermined value is set as described above, the power consumption of the sparker is relatively large when the sparker for igniting the combustion section is driven by the battery as a power source. The battery voltage may temporarily drop significantly below the predetermined value when the sparker is driven, and the battery voltage may return to the predetermined value or higher after the drive of the sparker is stopped. In addition, such a state in which the battery voltage drops is not preferable in terms of reliability of control by the control means, even temporarily. Therefore, it is preferable that the notification by the battery voltage monitoring means be continued when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value regardless of the value of the subsequent battery voltage.

Further, in the case where the predetermined value is set in this way, when the battery voltage monitoring means gives a notification, it is in a state in which the battery needs to be replaced promptly. It is preferable to inform the user that the time to replace the battery is approaching. Therefore, the second battery voltage monitoring means is provided, and when the battery voltage drops below a second predetermined value higher than the predetermined value, the notification device notifies that effect in a format different from that of the battery voltage monitoring means. It is preferable. As a result, the user can recognize that the time to replace the battery is approaching by the notification of the second battery voltage monitoring means, and can prepare for purchasing the spare battery. Since the notification by the second battery voltage monitoring means is performed at a time when there is still a margin before the time when the battery needs to be replaced, the power supply to the second battery voltage monitoring means consumes the battery. In order to suppress it as much as possible, it is preferable to perform it only during the operation of the combustion section as in the control circuit. However, like the power supply to the battery voltage monitoring means,
It is also possible to supply power even when the combustion unit is not operating.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the combustion apparatus of this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the combustion apparatus of this embodiment is, for example, a gas stove, 1 is a burner which is a combustion section, 2,
Reference numeral 3 is an electromagnetic valve and a gas amount adjusting valve provided in a gas supply path 4 for supplying gas to the burner 1, and 5 is ignition / extinction provided in a main body (not shown) of the gas stove for performing ignition / extinction operation of the burner 1. A button, 6 is a temperature sensor composed of a thermistor or the like for detecting the heating temperature of the cooking object W, and 7 is a combustion detection sensor composed of a thermocouple or the like for detecting the combustion state of the burner 1. Reference numeral 8 is an ignition electrode for igniting the burner 1, 9 is a sparker for causing a spark discharge in the ignition electrode 8 when the burner 1 is ignited, and 10 is an electronic circuit for performing various controls described below using a battery 11 as a power source. The control unit 12 is an LED lamp (informing device) provided in the gas stove body to inform the user of the degree of consumption (voltage state) of the battery 11.

The temperature sensor 6 is provided at the center of the burner 1 so that it contacts the article W to be heated when the article W to be heated is placed on the burner 1. In addition, the combustion detection sensor 7
The ignition electrode 8 is provided near the burner 1.

The solenoid valve 2 is biased toward the valve closing side by a spring 13. And the solenoid valve 2 has an ignition / extinguishing button 5
The spring 13 is interlocked with the ignition operation (pushing operation to the end position) of
The valve is mechanically opened against the urging force of the solenoid, and at this time, the switches 21 and 22 described later are closed and the solenoid 1 of the solenoid valve 2 is closed.
By energizing 4, the valve is held open even after the pressing operation of the ignition / fire extinguishing button 5 is released (a state of an intermediate position by a heart cam mechanism (not shown)). Further, the solenoid valve 2 is closed by the biasing force of the spring 13 by cutting off the power supply to the solenoid 14. The opening of the gas amount adjusting valve 3 is adjusted by, for example, operating the operator 15 connected to the gas amount adjusting valve 3.

The control unit 10 has, as its main circuit configuration, a control circuit 16 (control means) for controlling the combustion operation of the burner 1 via the solenoid valve 2 and a first battery voltage for monitoring the voltage of the battery 11. Monitoring circuit 17 (first battery voltage monitoring means) and second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18 (second battery voltage monitoring means)
(Battery voltage monitoring means) and a battery 11 in these circuits 16 to 18 during operation of the gas stove (during combustion operation of the burner 1).
From the power supply circuit 19 (power supply means) for supplying power from the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 to the battery 11 under predetermined conditions described later.
An auxiliary power supply circuit 20 (auxiliary power supply means) for supplying power from The battery 11 which is the power source of these circuits 16 to 18 has a rated voltage of 3V, for example.

The power supply circuit 19 includes a micro switch 21 connected to the positive electrode of the battery 11 and the micro switch 21.
And a micro switch 22 connected to the subsequent stage, and these switches 21 and 22 are switches that are closed at some point during the operation of the ignition / extinguishing button 5 from its starting end position to the intermediate position. -The ignition / fire button 5 is closed in conjunction with the ignition operation (push operation) of the fire extinguishing button 5 and the heart cam mechanism (not shown) is present even after the push operation is released.
Keeps the closed state by staying in the intermediate position by
Further, when the ignition / fire extinguishing button 5 is extinguished (released after re-pressing operation), the ignition / extinguishing tank 5 returns from the intermediate position to the starting end position, and the switches 21 and 22 are opened.

Further, constant voltage regulators 23 and 24 are connected to the subsequent stages of the microswitches 21 and 22, respectively. The regulator 23 receives the battery voltage VD1 generated in the subsequent stage when the switch 21 is closed as an input, and supplies the constant voltage VD1.
R1 (for example, 1.5 V, hereinafter referred to as regulator voltage VR1) is generated. Similarly, the regulator 24 receives the battery voltage VD2 (= VD1) generated at the subsequent stage when the switch 22 is closed as an input, and the constant voltage VR2 (= VR).
1, hereinafter referred to as regulator voltage VR2) is generated and output.

The control circuit 16 is composed of a comparator circuit, a timer circuit, a solenoid valve drive circuit, etc., which are not shown, and the temperature sensor 6, the combustion detection sensor 7 and the regulator 23 are connected to the input side thereof. The solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2 is connected to the output side. The power source of the control circuit 16 is connected to the subsequent stage of the switch 21 via a power supply path (not shown), and the battery voltage VD1 generated in the subsequent stage when the switch 21 is closed is supplied as the power source voltage.

In this case, the control circuit 16 controls the battery voltage VD1
The solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2 is energized in response to the power feeding.
Then, the control circuit 16 compares the signal level input from the combustion detection sensor 7 according to the combustion state of the burner 1 with a predetermined reference voltage generated from the regulator voltage VR1 during operation of the burner 1 The presence / absence of ignition error, misfire, or combustion failure of No. 1 is monitored, and when ignition failure, misfire, or combustion failure occurs, the power supply to the solenoid 14 is cut off. Further, the control circuit 16 sets the signal level input from the temperature sensor 6 according to the heating temperature of the object W to be heated during the operation of the burner 1 to the regulator voltage V.
By comparing with a predetermined reference voltage generated from R1, it is monitored whether the heating temperature of the object to be heated W is an abnormal overheating temperature or an arbitrary set temperature, and when overheating occurs, or Even when the temperature reaches an arbitrary set temperature, the power supply to the solenoid 14 is cut off.

The control circuit 16 may be composed of a microcomputer.

The first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 uses the LED when the battery voltage VD2 generated in the subsequent stage of the switch 22 when the switches 21 and 22 are closed is below a predetermined judgment value.
A lighting command circuit 25 (notification command means) that generates and outputs a lighting command signal (notification command signal) that commands the lighting of the lamp 12, and a lighting drive circuit 26 (which drives the LED lamp 12 to light by receiving the lighting command signal). And an alarm drive means).

The lighting command circuit 25 includes a pair of dividing resistors 27 and 28 connected to the subsequent stage of the switch 22 and a pair of dividing resistors 29 and 30 connected to the output side of the regulator 24.
And the middle point of the dividing resistors 27 and 28 and the dividing resistors 29 and 30.
Comparator 3 that compares the voltages generated at the middle points
1 and.

The dividing resistors 27 and 28 are connected to the switches 21 and 2, respectively.
When the switch 2 is closed or the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 is activated (details will be described later), a voltage signal of a level corresponding to the battery voltage VD2 generated in the subsequent stage of the switch 22 is generated at the midpoint of the dividing resistors 27 and 28. Then, this is output to the comparator 31. Also,
The dividing resistors 29 and 30 generate a voltage signal of a constant level corresponding to the regulator voltage VR2 which is a constant voltage at the middle point thereof, and a judgment value (hereinafter referred to as a first judgment value) for comparing this with a battery voltage VD2. ) Is output to the comparator 31 as a reference voltage having a level corresponding to Then, the comparator 31 includes the middle point of the dividing resistors 27 and 28 and the dividing resistor 2
The battery voltage VD2 is compared with the first determination value by the signals respectively inputted from the middle points of 9 and 30, and the high and low binary level signals corresponding to the comparison result are generated and output. In this case, the output portion of the comparator 31 is connected to the pull-up resistor 32 to which the regulator voltage VR2 is applied via a power feeding path (not shown). The output of the comparator 31 is grounded when the battery voltage VD2> the first determination value, and is opened when the battery voltage VD2 ≦ the first determination value. Voltage V
When D2> first determination value, a low-level signal is generated at the output of the comparator 31, and the battery voltage VD2 ≦ first
When it is the judgment value, a high level signal is generated as a lighting command signal at the output part of the comparator 31. The first determination value is equal to or more than a limit value at which the control circuit 16 and the battery voltage monitoring circuits 17 and 18 of the present embodiment using the battery 11 as a power source can operate and is close to the limit value (for example, 1.9V). ) Is set. Further, the battery voltage VD2 is supplied to the comparator 31 as a power supply voltage from the latter stage of the switch 22 via a power supply path (not shown).

Further, the lighting command circuit 25 determines that the battery voltage VD2
A latch circuit 33 is provided for continuing the output of the lighting command signal (high level signal) from the comparator 31 regardless of the subsequent value of the battery voltage VD2 when ≦ the first determination value. The latch circuit 33 includes a comparator 31
Of the NPN type switching transistor 34 whose base input is the output of
The emitter is grounded, and the collector is connected to the input section of the comparator 31 on the side of the dividing resistors 27 and 28. In the latch circuit 33, when the output of the comparator 31 is at a low level (battery voltage VD2> first determination value), the emitter-collector of the transistor 34 is cut off, and the comparator 31 Once the output of is at a high level (the level of the lighting command signal), the emitter and collector of the transistor 34 become conductive, and the input portion of the comparator 31 on the side of the dividing resistors 27 and 28 is forcibly grounded via the transistor 34. To be done. As a result, once the battery voltage VD2 ≤ the first determination value and the lighting command signal (high level signal) is output from the comparator 31, the lighting command signal continues to be output regardless of the subsequent value of the battery voltage VD2. ..

The lighting drive circuit 26 includes an NPN switching transistor 35 having a base connected to the output portion of the comparator 31, and a PNP switching transistor 36 having a collector connected to the base via a resistor. Is equipped with. Transistor 35
Has its emitter grounded and has a comparator 31
When a high-level lighting command signal is output from, the emitter and collector are electrically connected to the ground side. As a result, the ground level (low level) signal is applied to the base of the transistor 36.

A regulator voltage VR2 is applied to the emitter of the transistor 36 via a power supply path (not shown), and the collector of the transistor 36 is connected to the LED lamp 12 via a resistor 37. As a result, the emitter-collector of the transistor 35 becomes conductive and the transistor 3
When a low level signal is applied to the base of transistor 6, the emitter and collector of transistor 36 become conductive. Therefore, the LED lamp 12 is energized and the LED lamp 1
2 lights up.

The second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18 is a blinking command circuit 38 for instructing the blinking of the LED lamp 12 when the battery voltage VD1 generated in the subsequent stage when the switch 21 is closed is below a predetermined judgment value. And a blink drive circuit 39 which receives the blink command and drives the LED lamp 12 to blink.

The blinking command circuit 38 is the lighting command circuit 2 described above.
As in the case of 5, the pair of dividing resistors 40, 41 and 4 are provided.
2, 43 and a comparator 44. The dividing resistors 40 and 41 are connected to the latter stage of the switch 21 and generate a voltage signal of a level corresponding to the battery voltage VD1 at the middle point thereof. The dividing resistors 42 and 43 are connected to the output side of the regulator 23, and generate a reference signal of a constant level corresponding to the regulator voltage VR1 at the midpoint thereof. Then, the comparator 44 uses the dividing resistors 40, 41 and 4
The battery voltage VD1 is compared with a predetermined judgment value (hereinafter, referred to as a second judgment value) by inputting a voltage signal generated at the midpoint of each of 2, 2 and 43, and an output according to the comparison result is generated. In this case, like the comparator 31, when the battery voltage VD1> the second determination value, the comparator 44 grounds the output section to output a low level signal, and when the battery voltage VD1 ≦ the second determination value, Open the output section. The second judgment value is set to a value higher than the first judgment value, for example, 2.65V. Further, the battery voltage VD1 is supplied to the comparator 44 as a power supply voltage from a stage subsequent to the switch 21 via a power supply path (not shown).

The blinking drive circuit 39 includes an oscillator circuit 45 for generating a pulse signal having a constant period, an NPN switching transistor 46 having a base connected to an output portion of the oscillator circuit 45, and a transistor of the lighting drive circuit 26. 36
It has and. The oscillator circuit 45 has its input connected to the comparator 44, and when the output of the comparator 44 is a low level signal, it gives a low level signal to the base of the transistor 46 without oscillating, but the battery voltage VD1 ≦ When the second judgment value is reached and the output of the comparator 44 is opened, oscillation is started and a pulse signal having a constant cycle is applied to the base of the transistor 46. The emitter of the transistor 46 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the base of the transistor 36 of the lighting drive circuit 26. Therefore, when a pulse signal is applied to the base of the transistor 46 from the oscillation circuit 45, the emitter and collector of the transistor 46 are intermittently connected to the ground side, and thus the base of the transistor 36 of the lighting drive circuit 26 is connected. Is intermittently provided with a low level signal.
As a result, the emitter-collector of the transistor 36 of the lighting drive circuit 26 is intermittently conducted, and the LED lamp 1
2 is intermittently energized and the LED lamp 12 blinks.

The auxiliary power supply circuit 20 is a switch interposed between the battery 11 side in the front stage of the switch 21 and the rear stage of the switch 22 for supplying power to the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 so that both can be connected. The circuit 47 (switch means) and the switch drive circuit 48 for connecting the switch circuit 47 when the battery voltage VD2 generated in the subsequent stage of the switch 22 when the switches 21 and 22 are closed become equal to or lower than the first determination value.
(Switch drive means).

The switch circuit 47 is composed of a PNP type switching transistor 49, and the transistor 4
The emitter of 9 is directly connected to the + pole of the battery 11 in the front stage of the switch 21, and the collector is connected to the rear stage of the switch 22.

The switch drive circuit 48 includes the lighting command circuit 25 as a part thereof, and also includes an NPN switching transistor 50 having a base connected to the output portion of the comparator 31 of the lighting command circuit 25. The emitter of the transistor 50 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the base of the transistor 49 via a resistor.

In the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 having such a configuration, the battery voltage VD2 ≦ the first determination value, and the comparator 3
When a high level lighting command signal is output to the output section of 1,
The lighting command signal is applied to the base of the transistor 50 so that the emitter and collector of the transistor 50 are electrically connected to the ground side. Therefore, the transistor 49 of the switch circuit 47 is electrically connected between the emitter and collector thereof, whereby the subsequent stage of the switch 22 that supplies power to the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 is directly connected without passing through the switches 21 and 22. Is connected to the battery 11.

The battery 11 is further connected to the sparker 9 via a sparker switch 51. The sparker switch 51 is closed in conjunction with the ignition operation (pushing operation) of the ignition / fire extinguishing button 5 so that power is supplied from the battery 11 to the sparker 9 and the pressing operation of the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is released. Open in conjunction with. Opening and closing the sparker switch 51 and the switches 21 and 22 as described above
For example, the present applicant uses a heart cam mechanism as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-59498.

Next, the operation of the gas stove of this embodiment will be described.

In the gas stove of this embodiment, when the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is ignited, the switches 21 and 22 of the power supply circuit 19 are closed in conjunction with this operation. This allows
In the control circuit 16 and the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18, the battery voltage VD1 and the regulator voltage V
R1 is supplied with power and the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17
Then, the battery voltage VD2 (= VD1) and the regulator voltage VR2 (= VR1) are supplied from the rear side of the switch 22, and these circuits 16 to 18 are activated. In addition, when the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is ignited (pushed to the end position), the solenoid valve 2
Opens against the biasing force of the spring 13, and gas is supplied to the burner 1.

At this time, the control circuit 16 energizes the solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2 at the same time as the power is supplied from the battery 11, so that the solenoid valve 2 releases the pressing operation of the ignition / extinguishing button 5 (intermediate). The position state) is also held open. further,
While pushing the ignition / extinguishing button 5 to the end position, the sparkler switch 5 is closed and the sparker 9
Power is supplied from the battery 11 to the sparker 9 and is driven.
The sparker 9 causes a spark discharge in the ignition electrode 8 when it is driven, so that the burner 1 is ignited. When the pushing operation of the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is released to the intermediate position, the sparker switch 5 is opened, the power supply to the sparker 9 is stopped, and the sparker 9 stops its operation.

When an ignition error occurs during ignition of the burner 1, this is detected by the control circuit 16 via the combustion detection sensor 7. At this time, the control circuit 16 causes the solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2 to operate. Stop energizing. As a result, the solenoid valve 2 is closed by the biasing force of the spring 13, and the gas supply to the burner 1 is cut off.

When misfire or poor combustion occurs after the normal ignition of the burner 1, this is detected by the control circuit 16 via the combustion detection sensor 7. At this time, the control circuit 1
6 stops the energization of the solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2. As a result, the solenoid valve 2 is closed, the gas supply to the burner 1 is cut off, and the combustion of the burner 1 is stopped.

Furthermore, during normal combustion operation of the burner 1,
When the heating temperature of the object W to be heated reaches an abnormally high temperature or an arbitrary set temperature, this is passed via the temperature sensor 6 to the control circuit 1.
6, the control circuit 16 stops energizing the solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2 at this time. As a result, the combustion of the burner 1 is stopped as in the case of misfire.

When the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is extinguished in order to stop the above-described combustion operation of the burner 1 (operation from the intermediate position to the starting end position), the switch 21, 22 opens. At this time, when the battery 11 is less consumed and the battery voltage VD2 is larger than the first determination value of the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17, the transistor 49 of the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 is in the cutoff state. By opening the switch 21, the power supply from the battery 11 to the control circuit 16 and the battery voltage monitoring circuits 17 and 18 is stopped. Then, at this time, the energization of the solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2 from the control circuit 16 is stopped and the solenoid valve 2 is closed, whereby the gas supply to the burner 1 is stopped and the combustion operation of the burner 1 is stopped. Stops.

In addition, during the above-described combustion operation of the burner 1, the battery voltages VD1 and VD2 are determined by the battery voltage monitoring circuit 1
The battery voltage monitoring circuit 1 monitored by
7 and 18 operate as follows according to the values of the battery voltages VD1 and VD2.

That is, the consumption of the battery 11 is small, and the battery voltages VD1 and VD2 are 2.65V (>) which is the second determination value.
If it is larger than the first determination value), the comparator 44 of the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 and the comparator 31 of the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 output the low level signal as described above. In this case, the lighting drive circuit 26
The transistors 35 and 36 and the transistor 46 of the blinking drive circuit 39 are in the cutoff state, and therefore the LED lamp 12 is turned off without being energized.

When the battery 11 is depleted to some extent and the battery voltage VD1≤the second judgment value (2.65V), the output of the comparator 44 of the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 is changed as described above. It will be released. Therefore, the oscillation circuit 45 of the blinking drive circuit 39 starts oscillation and gives a pulse signal to the base of the transistor 46. At this time, as described above, the emitters and collectors of the transistors 46 and 36 are intermittently connected to each other, whereby the LED lamp 12 is intermittently energized through the transistor 36,
The LED lamp 12 blinks. Then, the blinking of the LED lamp 12 informs the user that the battery 11 is about to be replaced, so that the user can purchase a spare battery before the battery 11 is further consumed. Action can be taken.

In this case, when the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is extinguished, the switches 21 and 22 of the power supply circuit 19 are opened, so that the power supply to the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 is stopped and the LED lamp 12 is turned off. Turn off the light. Therefore, the blinking of the LED lamp 12 is performed only during the combustion operation of the burner 1. For this reason, the user may overlook the blinking of the LED lamp 12, but at the stage where the LED lamp 12 blinks in this way, the battery voltage VD1 changes to the control circuit 1
6 is a voltage that can be operated without any trouble, so the user
The combustion operation of the burner 1 can be performed for a while without any trouble. In addition, the blinking of the LED lamp 12 is performed only during the combustion operation of the burner 1, so that the consumption of the battery 11 can be suppressed as much as necessary.

Next, when the consumption of the battery 11 further progresses during the combustion operation of the burner 1 and the battery voltage VD2 ≦ the first determination value (1.9 V), as described above, the first battery voltage monitoring circuit is started. A high-level lighting command signal is generated at the output of the comparator 31 of 17. In this case, the battery voltage VD2
If the condition of ≦ the first determination value (1.9 V) continues, the generation of the lighting command signal by the comparator 31 also continues, but in the present embodiment, the comparator 31 includes the latch circuit 33. Is temporarily connected, the battery voltage VD2 ≦ the first determination value (1.9
V), the comparator 31 continues to generate the lighting command signal regardless of the value of the battery voltage VD2. That is, for example, when the burner 1 is ignited (when the ignition / extinguishing button 5 is pressed), the sparker 9 supplied from the battery 11 consumes a relatively large amount of power. The battery voltage VD2 drops below the first determination value (1.9 V) at which the operation of the control circuit 16 or the like may be temporarily unstable only when the power is supplied to the spark plug 9, When stopped, battery voltage V
D2 may recover above the first judgment value (1.9V) again. Even if the battery voltage VD2 drops in this way, it is not preferable for ensuring reliable operation of the control circuit 16 and the like. Therefore, even in such a case, the generation of the lighting instruction signal by the comparator 31 is continued.

As described above, when the comparator 31 generates and outputs a high-level lighting command signal, as described above, the emitters and collectors of the transistors 35 and 36 of the lighting drive circuit 26 are continuously conducted. , The LED lamp 12 is continuously energized via the transistor 36 and lights. Then, by turning on the LED lamp 12, the user is informed that the battery 11 needs to be replaced promptly.

Further, the emitter and collector of the transistor 50 of the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 are electrically connected to the ground side, and a low level signal is applied to the base of the transistor 49 of the switch circuit 47 via the transistor 50. Therefore, the emitter and collector of the transistor 49 are electrically connected, and as a result, the battery voltage VD2 is supplied to the battery 1 at the subsequent stage of the switch 22 which supplies power to the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17.
1 is directly applied through the transistor 49.

Therefore, during operation of the burner 1, the battery voltage VD2
However, when it decreases to the first determination value (1.9 V) that may cause the operation of the control circuit 16 and the like to become unstable, regardless of whether it is continuous or temporary, The emitters of the transistors 49 and 50 of the auxiliary power supply circuit 20
The collectors are maintained in a conductive state, and the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 is continuously supplied with electric power so that the LED lamp 12
Lights continuously. Then, this state continues even after the ignition / fire extinguishing button 5 is extinguished and the combustion operation of the burner 1 is stopped.

Therefore, the user can recognize the lighting of the LED lamp 12 not only while the burner 1 is operating, but also when the burner 1 is not operating. Even if the lighting is overlooked or the LED lamp 12 is lit just before the end of the operation, the user can be surely notified that the battery 11 needs to be replaced. In addition, when extinguishing the fire, the switch 2
2 is opened, the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 to the control circuit 16
No power is supplied to the side.

In this embodiment, the control circuit 1
6 includes a comparator 3 of the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17.
The output of 1 is input (see Fig. 1),
The control circuit 16 controls the battery voltage VD2 ≦ the first determination value (1.9 V) from the comparator 31 during the combustion operation of the burner 1.
When the lighting command signal indicating that
The solenoid valve 2 is turned off by stopping the energization of the solenoid 14 of the solenoid valve 2.
Close the valve.

As described above, in the gas stove of this embodiment, the LED lamp 12 indicating that the battery 11 needs to be replaced is turned on even after the burner 1 is stopped, so that the user can be surely notified. Can be recognized. In this case, the first determination value that determines the timing at which the LED lamp 12 is turned on is a value close to the limit value at which the control circuit 16 or the like can operate, so that the operation of the control circuit 16 or the like is not hindered. When the battery 11 is fully used, the above notification can be accurately performed.

Further, since the switch drive circuit 48 of the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 generates the drive signal (low level signal) of the switch circuit 47 based on the output of the comparator 31 of the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17, The comparator 31 and the like of the voltage monitoring circuit 17 are utilized as a part of the auxiliary power feeding circuit 20, and the auxiliary power feeding circuit 20 can have an extremely simple configuration.

In the embodiment described above, both the blinking of the LED lamp 12 indicating that the battery 11 is about to be replaced and the lighting of the LED lamp 12 indicating that the battery 11 needs replacing. Although the notification is performed, only one of them may be notified. In this case, the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18 may be removed when only the latter notification is made, and the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 of the present embodiment is made when only the former notification is made. Instead, a battery voltage monitoring circuit similar to the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18 may be provided, and the auxiliary power supply circuit 20 may be connected thereto. Further, in this embodiment, the LED lamp 12 is used as the notification device for notifying the user of the decrease in the battery voltages VD1 and VD2, but other types of light emitters may be used, or the buzzer may be used. You may use a sound generator such as
The degree of decrease in the battery voltages VD1 and VD2 may be notified by changing the emission color, volume, and timbre.

Further, in this embodiment, the auxiliary power feeding circuit 20 is provided only on the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 side.
It is also possible to provide a similar auxiliary power supply circuit on the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18 side so that the LED lamp 12 blinks even after the combustion operation of the burner 1 is stopped. In this case, in order to suppress the consumption of the battery 11 as much as possible, it is preferable that the second determination value of the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18 be set lower than in the case of the present embodiment. Further, a latch circuit similar to the latch circuit 33 provided in the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17 may be provided in the second battery voltage monitoring circuit 18.

Further, in the present embodiment, the switch circuit 47 of the auxiliary power feeding circuit 20 is composed of the transistor 49 which is a semiconductor switch element, but it may be composed of a relay or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the switch drive circuit 48 of the auxiliary power feeding circuit 20 is constituted by using the transistor 50. However, for example, when the battery voltage VD2 ≦ the first judgment value (1.9V), If a comparator that outputs a low-level lighting command signal (notification command signal) is provided, the transistor 49 can be directly driven by using the comparator as a switch driving circuit.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drive signal of the switch circuit 47 is generated from the lighting command signal of the comparator 31 of the first battery voltage monitoring circuit 17,
A circuit similar to the lighting command circuit 25 including the comparator 31 may be separately provided to generate the drive signal for the switch circuit 47.

Further, in the present embodiment, the gas stove has been described as an example of the combustion apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can be applied to other combustion devices such as a water heater and a heater that use a battery as a power source. Further, in the present embodiment, the gas stove using the sparker 9 for igniting the burner 1 has been described as an example.
The present invention can be applied to a gas stove including a piezoelectric element for ignition.

Further, in the present embodiment, the solenoid valve 2 which opens by pressing the ignition / fire extinguishing button 5 is shown, but an electromagnetic valve which opens electrically may be used. In this case, a lock-type switch or changeover switch is used instead of the ignition / extinguishing button 5 and the switches 21 and 22.
The operation may be controlled by supplying power to the control circuit 16 or the like.

[0070]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value during the operation of the combustion section, a battery voltage monitoring means for notifying that,
Normally, the control means for controlling the operation of the combustion part is powered by the power supply means only when the combustion part is operating, while when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value, the battery voltage monitoring means is supplemented by the auxiliary power supply means to the combustion part. By supplying power regardless of whether the combustion section is in operation or not, it is possible to perform notification by the battery voltage monitoring means even after the combustion section is stopped.
It is possible to surely notify the user of the notification that the battery needs to be replaced or that the battery is about to be replaced, while suppressing the consumption of the battery.

The auxiliary power supply means is composed of a switch means interposed between the power supply path of the battery voltage monitoring means and the battery, and a switch driving means supplied with power through the battery voltage monitoring means. As a result, the above-mentioned power supply to the battery voltage monitoring means can be accurately performed with a relatively simple configuration. In particular, by generating the drive signal of the switch means from the notification command signal of the notification command means provided in the battery voltage monitoring means, the notification command means can be utilized as a part of the auxiliary power supply means, and the auxiliary power supply means An extremely simple and small size can be achieved by using a simple switch element or the like.

Further, by setting the predetermined value of the battery voltage for performing the above notification to a value close to the operable limit value of the control means, it is necessary to replace the battery without interfering with the operation of the control means or the like. It is possible to accurately give a notification to that effect when the battery is sufficiently consumed.

Further, the battery voltage monitoring means is provided with means for continuing the above-mentioned notification regardless of the value of the subsequent battery voltage when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value in the power supply state of the battery voltage monitoring means. Due to this, if the battery voltage drops to a certain extent that there is a risk of interfering with the operation of the control means or the like even temporarily, the notification is given, so that the control means or the like can operate reliably, Moreover, the above-mentioned notification can be accurately performed when the battery is completely consumed.

Further, the second value higher than the predetermined value
When the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value of, the second battery voltage monitoring means for notifying the user in a different form from the battery voltage monitoring means is provided to inform the user that the battery is about to be replaced. It is possible to notify the user, and it is possible for the user to accurately recognize the decrease in the battery voltage according to the degree. Then, in this case, the second battery voltage monitoring means is supplied with electric power only when the combustion unit is operating, so that the consumption of the battery can be suppressed to a necessary limit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Burner (combustion part), 11 ... Battery, 12 ... LED lamp (informing device), 16 ... Control circuit (control means), 17 ...
First battery voltage monitoring circuit (battery voltage monitoring means), 18 ...
A second battery voltage monitoring circuit (second battery voltage monitoring means),
19 ... Power feeding circuit (power feeding means), 20 ... Auxiliary power feeding circuit (auxiliary power feeding means), 25 ... Lighting instruction circuit (notification instruction means),
26 ... Lighting drive circuit (notification drive means), 47 ... Switch circuit (switch means), 48 ... Switch drive circuit (switch drive means).

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Control means for controlling the operation of a combustion section using a battery as a power source, and monitoring the battery voltage using the battery as a power source,
When the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value, battery voltage monitoring means for driving a notification device for notifying that, and power supply from the battery to the control means and battery voltage monitoring means during operation of the combustion unit. In a combustion device including a power supply unit that stops power supply to the control unit and the battery voltage monitoring unit when the combustion unit is not operating, when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value, the combustion unit A combustion apparatus comprising an auxiliary power supply means for supplying power from the battery to the battery voltage monitoring means regardless of whether the battery is operating or not. 2. The auxiliary power supply means is interposed between a power supply path of the battery voltage monitoring means and the battery, and a switch means for connecting the power supply path to the battery when a predetermined drive signal is applied. , Is powered through the battery voltage monitoring means,
2. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch drive unit that generates the drive signal and applies the drive signal to the switch unit when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value. 3. The notification command means for generating and outputting a notification command signal for commanding notification by the notification device when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value, and the battery command monitoring means. 3. The combustion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a notification drive unit that receives the notification signal and drives the notification device, wherein the switch drive unit generates a drive signal for the switch unit from the notification command signal. 4. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is a battery voltage which is substantially equal to an operable limit value of the control means. 5. The battery voltage monitoring means includes means for continuing to drive the alarm device when the battery voltage drops below the predetermined value in the power supply state, regardless of the subsequent battery voltage value. The combustion apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: 6. The battery is supplied with power from the battery as a power source to monitor the battery voltage, and when the battery voltage falls below a second predetermined value higher than the predetermined value, the battery is notified to that effect. The combustion apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a second battery voltage monitoring means for making a notification by a notification device in a format different from that of the voltage monitoring means.