JPH09282587A - Radio type alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce current consumption and on the other hand to improve reliability by always monitoring the state of an object to be detected for issuing alarm. SOLUTION: Relating to an alarm transmitter X, through the operation of a power source control part 5, only when a pulse is inputted (turned ON) from an oscillation circuit part 6, is a power supply voltage applied to the circuits of the other components and only when the pulse is turned on, is a sensor part 1 turned to the sensing state. Relating to an alarm receiver Y, through the operation of the power source control part 5, only when the pulse is inputted (turned ON) from the oscillation circuit part 6, is the power supply voltage applied to the circuits of the other components and only when the pulse is turned on, is an alarm receiving part turned to a reception waiting state. Therefore, the current consumption is suppressed and in the case of a battery driven type, the service life of a battery is prolonged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, the temperature and liquid level of a liquid such as bath water, intrusion of outsiders into a room,
It monitors the on / off status of switches, and issues a warning when these trouble occur.It detects the so-called detection target status such as a security-related alarm device and issues an alarm when a predetermined status is reached. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless alarm device that issues an alarm by transmitting information by radio waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when the temperature or liquid level of a bath water or the like reaches a predetermined value by detecting the state of a detection target such as the temperature or liquid level of a bath water or the like. As an alarm device that issues an alarm when the state of a detection target reaches a predetermined state, a wireless alarm device that transmits information by radio waves and issues an alarm is known.

Such a wireless alarm device has, for example, a sensor section for detecting the state of the detection target such as the temperature of the liquid or the liquid surface level, and the state of the detection target has been preset by the sensor section. When an alarm signal is sensed, an alarm transmitter that transmits an alarm signal by wireless radio waves, and an alarm receiver that issues an alarm when the alarm signal by wireless radio waves emitted by the alarm transmitter is received.

[0004]

When such a wireless alarm device is used in an application in which it is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the object to be detected and issue an alarm, the sensor unit on the alarm transmitter side detects the alarm. Since it is necessary to constantly sense the state of the target and to always stand by to receive the alarm signal by the radio wave emitted from the transmitter in the alarm receiver, both the alarm transmitter and the alarm receiver have a capacity of several mA or more. Current is constantly consumed.

In particular, in a wireless alarm device using a battery as a power source, the life of the battery is extremely short and it is necessary to replace the battery frequently. Therefore, the condition of the detection target is constantly monitored to issue an alarm. It was unsuitable for applications that needed it.

[0006] In addition, in order to preserve such an extremely short battery life, it is necessary to turn off the power supply, and there is the inconvenience that the alarm is not issued when it is important to turn off the power supply. There was a point.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and the structure of the alarm transmitter and the alarm receiver is improved so that the sensing of the detection target state and the standby of the alarm receiver are intermittently performed. An object of the present invention is to reduce the current consumption and to constantly monitor the state of the detection target to issue an alarm, thereby improving the reliability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a wireless alarm device of the present invention intermittently performs a state detecting section for detecting the state of a detection target and a state detecting operation by the state detecting section. An alarm signal for continuously transmitting an alarm signal by radio waves when the state becomes a preset state on the basis of an intermittent operation signal output means for outputting a signal to cause the state detection section to output a signal Unit, a power source for the circuit of each component, an alarm transmitter, an alarm receiving unit for receiving an alarm signal by a radio wave emitted by the alarm transmitter, and a standby for reception by the alarm receiving unit. Intermittent operation signal output means for outputting a signal for intermittently performing an action, an alarm generation section for continuously issuing an alarm when the alarm reception section receives an alarm signal, and a power supply for the circuit of each component, Configured with And having an alarm receivers, the.

Incidentally, the intermittent operation signal output means of each of the alarm transmitter and the alarm receiver intermittently turns on the power source so as to intermittently output the power source voltage of the circuit of the constituent element.
It may be configured to have a power supply control unit that is turned off and an oscillation circuit unit that generates a pulse for intermittently turning on and off the power supply control unit. In addition, the wireless alarm device of the present invention is preferably applied to a battery-driven device that uses a battery as a power source.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The battery-powered wireless alarm device according to the present embodiment is roughly classified into an alarm transmitter X having a function of sensing a state of a detection target, and an alarm transmitter X.
An alarm receiver Y that receives a radio wave emitted from the device and issues an alarm such as a buzzer or lamp (see FIG. 1).
And FIG. 3).

The alarm transmitter X and the alarm receiver Y are constructed as shown in the block diagrams of FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively.

First, the configuration of the alarm transmitter X will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The alarm transmitter X is a sensor unit 1 as a state detecting unit which is a means for detecting the state of a detection target.
The comparator unit 2, the control unit 3, the alarm transmission unit 4 that transmits an alarm signal by radio waves from the antenna 4A, and the power supply is intermittently turned on so as to intermittently output the power supply voltage of the circuits of these components.
N / OFF, the power supply control unit 5 and the power supply control unit 5 which constitute the intermittent operation signal output means are turned on intermittently.
An oscillator circuit section 6 which generates a pulse for turning off and constitutes an intermittent operation signal output means together with a power source control section 5, a reset input section 7 for inputting a reset signal, and a battery 8 as a power source.

Here, the oscillation circuit section 6 continuously generates a pulse by constantly applying a power supply voltage, and supplies the generated pulse to the power supply control section 5. The oscillating circuit section 6 is specifically composed of a low-current-consumption driving element such as a C-MOS IC, and has a constant current of several tens μA.
It is kept below.

The power supply control section 5 applies a power supply voltage to the circuits of the other components only when the pulse is input from the oscillation circuit section 6 (when the pulse is ON). As a result, the sensor section 1 outputs the pulse when the pulse is ON. Only in sensing state (low power consumption mode).

As described above, while the power supply voltage is being supplied from the power supply control unit 5 to the circuits of the other components,
That is, when the sensor unit 1 is in the sensing state and the state of the detection target is a predetermined state, that is, the comparator unit 2
In the above, the output of the sensor unit 1 input to this and the alarm threshold value (threshold value H of the time chart of FIG. 2 described later)
When the input of the sensor unit 1 exceeds the alarm threshold value, the control unit 3 outputs an oscillation stop signal to the oscillation circuit unit 6 and the power supply voltage is held. The alarm signal is transmitted from the alarm transmission unit 4 by radio waves (alarm transmission mode).

Such a state continues until the input of the sensor unit 1 falls below the alarm threshold value or there is a reset input from the reset input unit 7, and in those cases, the power supply voltage is intermittently applied again. It is switched to the "low power consumption mode".

As described above, when the "alarm transmission mode" is canceled by the reset input and the "low power consumption mode" is switched to the intermittent sensing state, the input of the sensor unit 1 is still the alarm threshold value. Is exceeded,
The "alarm transmission mode" is entered again, and the alarm signal is transmitted.

In order to prevent this, in the present embodiment,
Alarm threshold with hysteresis (Fig. 2 described later)
The threshold value L) of the time chart of is set, and if it does not fall below this alarm threshold once, "alarm transmission mode"
The circuit is devised so that it does not become. However, this function can be removed for security-critical applications.

FIG. 2 is a time chart of the operation of the above-mentioned alarm transmitter. The above-mentioned operation will be supplementarily described based on this time chart. As shown in FIG. While the power supply voltage is applied to the circuits of the other components, the sensor unit 1 is in the sensing state. Then, when the state of the detection target becomes a predetermined state, that is, in the comparator unit 2, the output of the sensor unit 1 input thereto is compared with the alarm threshold value, and the input of the comparator unit 2 is performed. As shown in FIG. 7E, when the input of the sensor unit 1 exceeds the alarm threshold value, an oscillation stop signal is output from the control unit 3 to the oscillation circuit unit 6, Based on the power supply voltage holding signal shown in (C), the power supply voltage is held as shown in FIG. Further, when there is a reset input from the reset input section 7 as shown in FIG. 6D, the power supply voltage is intermittently applied again as shown in FIG.

Next, the structure of the alarm receiver Y will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The alarm receiver Y receives an alarm signal from the above-mentioned alarm transmitter X by radio waves via the antenna 9A. The power supply is intermittently turned on / off to intermittently output the power supply voltage of the receiver 9, the detector 10, the controller 11, the alarm generation unit 12 such as a buzzer, an LED, and a vibration, and the circuits of these components. , A power supply control section 1 constituting an intermittent operation signal output means
3. An oscillation circuit section 14 that generates a pulse for intermittently turning on / off the power supply control section 13 and constitutes an intermittent operation signal output means together with the power supply control section 13, a reset input section 15 for inputting a reset signal, and a power supply. And a battery 16 that becomes

Here, the oscillation circuit section 14 continuously generates a pulse by constantly applying a power supply voltage, and supplies the generated pulse to the power supply control section 13. Specifically, like the alarm transmitter X, the oscillating circuit section 14 is composed of a low-current-consumption driving element such as a C-MOS IC, and keeps the constantly flowing current to several tens of μA or less.

The power supply control unit 13 supplies the power supply voltage to the circuits of the other components only when the pulse is input from the oscillation circuit unit 14 (when the pulse is ON). As a result, the alarm reception unit 9 outputs the pulse ON. Only when it is in the reception standby state (low power consumption mode). At this time, it is desirable to set the pulse ON time to the minimum value of the time during which the alarm signal can be stably received in consideration of battery life.

As described above, while the power supply control unit 13 is supplying the power supply voltage to the circuits of the other components, that is, in the reception standby state, the alarm transmitter X sends the alarm to the alarm reception unit 9. When an alarm signal based on the generated radio wave is input, the control unit 11 outputs an oscillation stop signal to the oscillation circuit unit 14, the power supply voltage is held, and the alarm generation unit 12 issues an alarm (alarm). Generation mode).

This state is continued until there is a reset input from the reset input section 15, and when there is a reset input, it is switched to the above-mentioned "low power consumption mode" in which the power supply voltage is intermittently applied again.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of the operation of the above-mentioned alarm receiver Y, and the above-mentioned operation will be supplementarily explained based on this time chart, as shown in FIG.
While the power supply control unit 13 supplies the power supply voltage to the circuits of the other components, it is in the reception standby state. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the alarm signal by the radio wave emitted from the alarm transmitter X is input to the alarm receiving unit 9, the control unit 11 sends an oscillation stop signal to the oscillation circuit unit 14. Is output, and the power supply voltage is held as shown in FIG. 7A based on the power supply voltage holding signal shown in FIG. Further, when there is a reset input from the reset input section 15 as shown in FIG.
The power supply voltage is applied intermittently again.

According to this structure, in the alarm transmitter X, the power supply control unit 5 acts to supply the power supply voltage to the circuits of other components only when the pulse is input from the oscillation circuit unit 6 (when the pulse is ON). The sensor unit 1 is set to the "low power consumption mode" in which the sensing state is set only when the pulse is ON, and the alarm receiver Y is operated by the power supply control unit 13 when the pulse is input from the oscillation circuit unit 14 (pulse Only when (ON), the power supply voltage is applied to the circuits of the other components, and the alarm receiving unit 9 is set to the "low power consumption mode" in which it is in the reception standby state only when the pulse is ON. It can be suppressed, and the battery-driven type can prolong the battery life.

Specifically, in both the alarm transmitter X and the alarm receiver Y, the reciprocal of the ON duty ratio of the intermittent pulse of the power supply voltage in the "low power consumption mode" can be approximated to a multiple of the battery life with respect to the continuous energization. Also, the oscillation circuit units 6 and 1
The output cycle of the pulse from 4 is the sensor unit 1 of the alarm transmitter X.
And the sampling period of the alarm receiver 9 of the alarm receiver Y.

As a result, according to the specifications of the alarm device, if the ON duty ratio is made as small as possible, the lifespan of the batteries 8 and 16 of the alarm transmitter X and the alarm receiver Y can be extended accordingly.

Therefore, from the above, the wireless alarm device of this configuration is used in applications where it is necessary to constantly monitor the state of the detection target in order to issue an alarm, for example, the temperature and liquid level of the liquid such as bath water. It can be said that it is most suitable for the purpose of monitoring and issuing an alarm. Further, since the battery life is preserved, it is not necessary to turn off the power source, so that there is no inconvenience that an alarm is not issued at an important point due to forgetting to turn on the power source, and reliability can be improved.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is suitable for applications where the current consumption can be suppressed and the state of the detection target needs to be constantly monitored to issue an alarm. In particular, in the battery-driven type, the battery life can be extended.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in particular, a block diagram showing a configuration of an alarm transmitter.

FIG. 2 is a time chart explaining the operation of the alarm transmitter of the above.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in particular, a block diagram showing a configuration of an alarm receiver.

FIG. 4 is a time chart explaining the operation of the alarm receiver of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 X alarm transmitter 1 sensor unit 2 comparator unit 3 control unit 4 alarm transmission unit 5 power supply control unit 6 transmission circuit unit 7 reset input unit 8 battery Y alarm receiver 9 alarm reception unit 10 detection unit 11 control unit 12 alarm generation unit 13 power control unit 14 oscillator circuit unit 15 reset input unit 16 battery

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A state detection section for detecting a state of a detection target, an intermittent operation signal output means for outputting a signal for intermittently performing a state detection operation by the state detection section, and a signal output from the state detection section. Based on the above, when the state becomes a preset state, an alarm configured to include an alarm transmission unit that continuously transmits an alarm signal by radio waves and a power supply for each component circuit. A transmitter, an alarm receiver for receiving an alarm signal by a radio wave emitted by the alarm transmitter, an intermittent operation signal output means for outputting a signal for intermittently performing a reception standby action by the alarm receiver, and the alarm A radio having an alarm generation unit for continuously issuing an alarm when the reception unit receives an alarm signal, and an alarm receiver configured to have a power supply for the circuit of each component. Alarm system. 2. The intermittent operation signal output means of each of the alarm transmitter and the alarm receiver intermittently turns on / off the power source to intermittently output a power source voltage of a circuit of a constituent element.
2. The wireless alarm device according to claim 1, further comprising: a power source control unit that turns on and a oscillating circuit unit that generates a pulse for intermittently turning on and off the power source control unit. 3. The wireless alarm device according to claim 1, which is of a battery-driven type using a battery as a power source.