JPH10249135A - Air purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the control meeting to actual feeling of a user in an air purifier automatically operated by detecting flame of a lighter, etc., or dust or the like in air by rapidly reducing the fouling degree and the rotation speed of an electric fan when visible suspended dust is decreased and a user feels clean. SOLUTION: In an air purifier body incorporating a filter for removing dust, odor or the like and an electric fan, a particle sensor 6 for detecting particle such as dust and a gas sensor 12 for detecting gas components, odor or the like are installed, and output signals thereof are inputted to a control circuit 12 through a detection circuit 16. By the difference between an output value of the gas sensor 12 according to the environment and a reference thereof, the fouling degree is judged to control the revolution strength of the electric fan. At this time, when output of the gas sensor 12 is raised and saturated, the reference is raised every prescribed time to relatively decrease the difference between the output and the reference of the gas sensor, and the raised part of the reference is made variable according to an absolute value of the particle sensor 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air purifier that automatically operates by detecting flames such as lighters and matches, gas components in the air, dust and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The construction of a conventional air purifier is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The main body 1 has a built-in electric blower 2,
The air sucked in from the air inlet 3 provided on the front surface is exhausted from the air outlet 5 on the upper surface after the dust is adsorbed by the filter-4. An operation switch 10 and a display unit 11 are provided. The operation switch 10 operates the electric blower 2 and the display unit 11
Is for displaying the degree of air contamination and the operating state of the electric blower. The ultraviolet ray sensor 17 is a kind of discharge tube, and discharges and emits a pulse when detecting ultraviolet ray contained in a flame or the like. Reference numeral 12 denotes a gas sensor for detecting that indoor air is contaminated.

When the operation switch 10 is set to the automatic operation position in the main body 1, the gas sensor 1 in a clean atmosphere is provided.
2 is set as a reference value 9, and the degree of contamination and the electric blower 2 are determined based on the relative ratio between the output of the gas sensor 12 and the reference value 9.
An automatic operation control circuit 13 for controlling the rotation intensity of the motor and performing automatic operation according to the output of the gas sensor 12 is also provided.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG.
1. As shown in FIG. 12, the output of the gas sensor 12 decreases even after a lapse of a specified time from the saturation point due to an increase in components which cannot be removed by the filter 4 but is detected by the gas sensor 12 or a sudden change in temperature or humidity. Since the reference value 9 may be small, the reference value 9 is increased and updated every predetermined time after a predetermined time after the saturation point, and the process is performed until the difference between the reference value 9 and the output of the gas sensor 12 disappears. The determination of the degree of contamination and the rotation strength of the electric blower 2 are changed according to the difference, and the operation is stopped when the difference is eliminated.

[0005]

In the structure of the conventional air purifier, floating dust such as dust visible to the user is reduced,
There is a problem that the air purifier continues to operate, but the air purifier stops even when a lot of floating dust, such as visible dust, is felt, but the operation does not match the actual feeling. .

[0006] Even when the operation is started with the ultraviolet sensor, there is a time difference until the air in the room reaches the air purifier, and it takes time to display the degree of the contamination and to increase the input of the electric blower. However, there are problems such as disagreement with actual feeling.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use and easy-to-use air purifier that can be operated in response to indoor dirt.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a gas sensor for detecting dirt of indoor air, particularly a gas component and an odor, and a particle sensor for mainly detecting particles such as dust. The output value of the gas sensor in the clean air is stored as a reference value, and the difference between the output value of the gas sensor according to the surrounding environment and the reference value is used to control the degree of contamination and the rotation intensity of the electric blower. And control means for controlling the degree of contamination and the rotation intensity of the electric blower also at the output of the particle sensor, that is, an automatic operation control circuit.The automatic operation control circuit increases the output of the gas sensor and saturates the output. That is, the reference value is increased every predetermined time after a predetermined time from the saturation time, and the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value is relatively reduced,
If there is an algorithm for automatic operation that updates the reference value until the difference is equal to or less than the level at which the electric blower operates, determine the rise in the reference value according to the absolute value of the particle sensor and update the reference value Control means for causing

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A gas sensor that detects gas components and odors, a particle sensor that detects particles such as dust, a filter that removes dust and odors, an electric blower that feeds ambient air to the filter, The output value of the gas sensor is stored as a reference value, and the gas sensor according to the surrounding environment is stored.
Control means for controlling the rotational intensity of the electric blower by judging the degree of contamination from the difference between the output value of the reference value and the reference value, wherein the control means determines that the output of the gas sensor has increased and saturated. Detected, the reference value is increased at predetermined time intervals after a predetermined time after the saturation, and the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value is relatively reduced. Has an automatic driving algorithm that updates the reference value until the level becomes equal to or lower than the level at which the reference value is reduced, the configuration is such that the reference value is updated by varying the rise of the reference value according to the absolute value of the particle sensor. As a result, the amount of floating dust such as visible dust is reduced, and when the user feels clean, the degree of dirt due to the output of the gas sensor and the rotational strength of the electric blower are also rapidly reduced, and visible dust and the like are reduced. If the suspended dust does not decrease and the user does not feel clean, the operation continues according to the user's actual feeling because the degree of dirt due to the output of the gas sensor and the rotation intensity of the electric blower continue to operate without much decrease. An air purifier can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means detects that the output of the gas sensor has risen and is saturated, and the reference value is set every predetermined time after a predetermined time after the saturation. And automatically reduce the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value, and update the reference value until the difference falls below the level at which the electric blower is operated. In this case, a configuration is provided in which the reference value is updated by varying the rise of the reference value in accordance with the degree of output change of the particle sensor. Thus, the electric blower is controlled in accordance with the degree to which the floating dust such as visible dust is reduced by the driving of the air cleaner, so that an air cleaner that operates according to the user's feeling can be provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means detects that the output of the gas sensor has risen and saturated, and thereafter, every predetermined time from the point in time when the output of the particle sensor starts to decrease. Since the reference value is increased, the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value is relatively reduced, and the reference value is updated until the difference becomes equal to or less than the level at which the electric blower is operated. When floating dust such as visible dust is reduced and the user feels clean, the degree of contamination by the output of the gas sensor and the rotation intensity of the electric blower are also reduced, and air that operates according to the user's actual feeling Purifier can be provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when only one of the gas sensor and the particle sensor detects contamination by the control means, the sensitivity of the other sensor for determining the degree of contamination can be improved. And a configuration for controlling the electric blower based on the output of each sensor. The gas sensors are sensitive to gas components and odors, and the particle sensors are sensitive to dirt such as pollen and dust, but relatively insensitive to the other dirt. If the degree of dirt or the rotational strength of the electric blower determined by any of the sensors is large, the sensitivity of determining the degree of dirt of the other sensor or the rotational strength of the electric blower is improved. In this manner, the detection sensitivity to any air contamination is improved, and the air cleaning effect is improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas sensor for detecting gas components and odors, a particle sensor for detecting particles such as dust, a filter for removing dust and odors, and a flame. An ultraviolet ray detection sensor that detects ultraviolet rays, an electric blower that sends ambient air to the filter, and an output value of a gas sensor in clean air stored as a reference value, and an output value of the gas sensor according to the ambient environment. Control of the degree of contamination and the rotation intensity of the electric blower that operates according to the difference between the two.The output of the particle sensor also controls the degree of contamination and the rotation intensity of the electric blower, and the output of the ultraviolet detection sensor starts the electric blower. Control means for performing the operation when the electric blower is driven by the output of the ultraviolet detection sensor. Improve the determination sensitivity of the rotation strength of the dirt degree or an electric blower according to Sir has a configuration for controlling the electric blower based on the output of each sensor. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the degree of contamination by the outputs of the gas sensor and the particle sensor and to increase the rotational strength of the electric blower as soon as possible after detecting the flame of cigarettes, thereby providing an air purifier that has a real feeling.

[0014]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 1 is provided with a particle sensor 6. The particle sensor 6 includes an infrared light emitting diode and a phototransistor. The output of the particle sensor 6 has a characteristic that the voltage value is low when there are no particles such as dust and the voltage value is high when there are particles such as dust.

The circuit system will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The control circuit 13 drives the electric blower 2 by receiving a signal from the operation switch 10. When the automatic operation is set, the outputs of the gas sensor 12 and the particle sensor 6 are input to the control circuit 13 via the detection circuit 16 and determined.
The electric blower 2 and the display unit 11 are controlled.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the output value of each sensor in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a control flow in that case.

When the air purifier is operated, the filter 4
However, there is a case where the output of the gas sensor 12 decreases little even after a predetermined time T1 from the saturation point due to an increase in components detected by the gas sensor 12 or a sudden change in temperature or humidity. Therefore, the reference value 9 is increased and updated every prescribed time ΔT until the difference between the reference value 9 and the output of the gas sensor 12 disappears. The strength of the electric blower 2 is changed according to the difference, and the operation is stopped when the difference is eliminated. The update of the reference value 9 is changed according to the absolute value of the particle sensor 6. That is, if the amount of floating dust such as dust is small and the output of the particle sensor 9 is low, the value of the reference value 9 is updated to be large, and the relative difference from the output of the gas sensor 12 is reduced. Conversely, if the amount of floating dust such as dust is large and the output of the particle sensor 9 is high, the value of the reference value 9 is updated to be small.

As described above, when the floating dust such as visible dust is reduced and the user feels clean, the degree of dirt due to the output of the gas sensor 12 and the rotational strength of the electric blower 2 are also rapidly reduced. If the floating dust such as visible dust does not decrease and the user does not feel that it is clean, the operation is continued without much decrease in the degree of contamination by the output of the gas sensor 12 and the rotation intensity of the electric blower 2. Thus, it is possible to provide a method of controlling an air purifier that operates in a manner that meets the feeling of the above.

The gas sensor 12 is indicated by a dashed line.
Is lower than the specified time and the difference from the reference value is lower than the level at which the electric blower 2 operates, the reference value does not increase.

(Embodiment 2) A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows an output change by each sensor, and FIG. 6 shows a control flow in that case. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Based on each sensor output value in FIG.
The reference value 9 is updated by changing the value of the update value according to the output change degree (change rate) of the particle sensor 6. That is, FIG.
As shown in the control flow, if the amount of floating dust such as dust is rapidly reduced and the output of the particle sensor 9 is also rapidly reduced, the value of the reference value 9 is greatly updated, and the relative value to the output of the gas sensor 12 is increased. Reduce the difference. Conversely, if the floating dust such as dust does not decrease and the output of the particle sensor 9 changes little, the value of the reference value 9 is updated to be small. As described above, the update value is determined in accordance with the change rate of the particle sensor. Therefore, when the operation of the air washer reduces the amount of floating dust such as visible dust and the user feels clean, the gas sensor 12 is not cleaned. The recognition of the degree of contamination by the output and the rotational strength of the electric blower 2 also decrease rapidly. On the other hand, when the air duster does not reduce the amount of floating dust such as visible dust even when the air washer is operated, and the user does not feel clean, the degree of contamination due to the output of the gas sensor 12 and the rotational strength of the electric blower 2 are not so high. Since the operation is continued without decreasing, it is possible to provide a method of controlling an air purifier that operates in accordance with the user's actual feeling.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows the output change of each sensor.
FIG. 8 shows a control flow at that time. In the present embodiment, the updating of the reference value 9 is started when the output of the particle sensor 6 starts to decrease. That is, if the amount of floating dust such as dust decreases and the output of the particle sensor 9 decreases, the value of the reference value 9 is updated, and the relative difference from the output of the gas sensor 12 is reduced. In this way, when the floating dust such as visible dust is reduced and the user feels clean, the degree of dirt due to the output of the gas sensor 12 and the rotational strength of the electric blower 2 are also reduced, so that the user feels real. Thus, a method of controlling an air purifier that operates in accordance with the above conditions can be provided. In this case, the reference value may be updated in accordance with the absolute value of the particle sensor, the reference value may be updated in accordance with the change rate of the output of the particle sensor, or the reference value may be updated. .

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment will be described. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The gas sensor 12 has a characteristic of detecting gas components and odor, and the particle sensor 6 has a characteristic of detecting fine particles such as pollen and dust. Each of these sensors is sensitive to the aforementioned dirt, but relatively insensitive to the other dirt. If only one of the sensors detects dirt, the driving of the electric blower is controlled based on the outputs of both sensors if the sensitivity of the other sensors for determining the degree of dirt is improved. In this manner, the detection sensitivity of the gas component and the particle component is reciprocally improved with respect to any air contamination, and the air cleaning effect is doubled.

(Embodiment 5) A fifth embodiment will be described. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 17 shown in FIG. 1 denotes an ultraviolet sensor, which is a kind of discharge tube, and discharges and emits a pulse when detecting ultraviolet light contained in flames such as cigarettes. This discharge pulse is shown in FIG.
Detected by the detection circuit 16 shown in FIG.
Start operation with. When the operation is started, the degree of contamination based on the outputs of the gas sensor 12 and the particle sensor 6 and the sensitivity for determining the rotational strength of the electric blower 2 are improved. Thereby, when smoking a cigarette or the like at a distance from the air purifier, the air purifier is driven before components that pollute the air such as odors and dust generated by the smoking act reach the air purifier. Since the diffusion action works at the same time as the unpleasant component is emitted to the surroundings, the user does not feel discomfort. That is, it is possible to detect the degree of contamination by the outputs of the gas sensor 12 and the particle sensor 6 and to increase the rotational strength of the electric blower 2 as soon as possible after detecting a flame such as a cigarette, so that the air purifier can be operated in a realistic manner. .

[0029]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the floating dust such as visible dust is reduced and the user feels clean,
The degree of dirt due to the output of the gas sensor and the rotational intensity of the electric blower also decrease rapidly, and the amount of floating dust such as visible dust does not decrease.If the user does not feel clean, Since the electric blower continues to operate without significantly decreasing the rotational strength, an air purifier that operates according to the user's feeling can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the rotation intensity of the electric blower is controlled in accordance with the degree of reduction of floating dust such as visible dust, which is suitable for the user. An operating air purifier can be provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the amount of floating dust such as visible dust decreases and the user feels clean, the degree of contamination by the output of the gas sensor and the rotation of the electric blower are reduced. Since the strength is also reduced, an air purifier that operates in accordance with the actual feeling of the user can be provided.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present invention, when the degree of contamination determined by any of the sensors or the rotational intensity of the electric blower is large, the sensitivity of determining the degree of contamination of the other sensors or the rotational intensity of the electric blower is high. Improve. According to the present invention, the gas sensor is sensitive to dirt such as pollen and dust, whereas the gas sensor is relatively insensitive to dirt such as pollen and dust. It is possible to provide an air purifier in which the detection sensitivity is improved with respect to any air contamination and the air cleaning effect is doubled.

According to the invention described in claim 5 of the present invention, when the operation is started by the ultraviolet sensor, the sensitivity of determining the degree of contamination and the rotation intensity of the electric blower by the outputs of the gas sensor and the particle sensor is improved. As a result, the degree of contamination can be detected by the output of the gas sensor and the particle sensor as soon as the flame is detected, and the rotational strength of the electric blower can be increased, so that a real air cleaner can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an air purifier showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the air purifier.

FIG. 3 is an output change diagram of a gas sensor and a particle sensor of the air purifier.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control of an electric blower of the air purifier.

FIG. 5 is an output change diagram of a gas sensor and a particle sensor of an air purifier showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of control of the electric blower of the air purifier.

FIG. 7 is an output change diagram of a gas sensor and a particle sensor of an air purifier showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of control of the electric blower of the air purifier.

FIG. 9 is an external view of an air purifier showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is an internal configuration diagram of the air purifier.

FIG. 11 is an output change diagram of a gas sensor of the air purifier.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of control of an electric blower of the air purifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Electric blower 6 Particle sensor 12 Gas sensor 13 Automatic operation control circuit 17 UV sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seichi Ueno 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A gas sensor for detecting gas components or odors, a particle sensor for detecting particles such as dust, a filter for removing dust or odors and the like, and an electric blower for feeding ambient air to the filter. The output value of the gas sensor in the clean air is stored as a reference value, the degree of contamination is determined based on the difference between the output value of the gas sensor according to the surrounding environment and the reference value, and the rotation intensity of the electric blower is controlled. Control means for performing the control, wherein the control means detects that the output of the gas sensor has risen and saturated, and raises the reference value every predetermined time after a predetermined time after the saturation, If there is an algorithm for automatic operation in which the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value is reduced and the reference value is updated until the difference falls below the level at which the electric blower operates, the particle An air purifier that updates the reference value by varying the rise in the reference value according to the absolute value of the sensor. 2. A gas sensor for detecting gas components and odors, a particle sensor for detecting particles such as dust, a filter for removing dust and odors and the like, and an electric blower for feeding ambient air to the filter. The output value of the gas sensor in the clean air is stored as a reference value, the degree of contamination is determined based on the difference between the output value of the gas sensor according to the surrounding environment and the reference value, and the rotation intensity of the electric blower is controlled. Control means for performing the control, wherein the control means detects that the output of the gas sensor has risen and saturated, and raises the reference value every predetermined time after a predetermined time after the saturation, If there is an algorithm for automatic operation in which the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value is reduced and the reference value is updated until the difference falls below the level at which the electric blower operates, the particle An air purifier that updates the reference value by varying the rise in the reference value according to the degree of change in sensor output. 3. A gas sensor for detecting gas components and odors, a particle sensor for detecting particles such as dust, a filter for removing dust and odors and the like, and an electric blower for feeding ambient air to the filter. The output value of the gas sensor in the clean air is stored as a reference value, the degree of contamination is determined based on the difference between the output value of the gas sensor according to the surrounding environment and the reference value, and the rotation intensity of the electric blower is controlled. Control means for performing, the control means, after detecting that the output of the gas sensor rises and is saturated, increases the reference value every predetermined time from the time when the output of the particle sensor starts to decrease, An air purifier that relatively reduces the difference between the output of the gas sensor and the reference value, and updates the reference value until the difference becomes equal to or less than the level at which the electric blower operates. 4. A gas sensor for detecting a gas component or an odor, a particle sensor for detecting particles such as dust, a filter for removing dust or odor, and an electric blower for sending ambient air to the filter. The output value of the gas sensor in the clean air is stored as a reference value, and the degree of contamination and the rotational intensity of the operating electric blower are controlled based on the difference from the output value of the gas sensor according to the surrounding environment. Control means for controlling the degree of dirt and the rotation intensity of the electric blower, and the control means, when only one of the sensors detects dirt, improves the determination sensitivity of the dirt degree and the like of the other sensor, An air purifier that controls an electric blower based on the output of each sensor. 5. A gas sensor for detecting a gas component or an odor, a particle sensor for detecting particles such as dust, a filter for removing dust or odor, and an ultraviolet detection sensor for detecting ultraviolet light contained in a flame. The output value of the gas sensor in the clean air and the electric blower that sends ambient air to the filter, and stores the output value of the gas sensor in the clean air as a reference value. Control means for controlling the rotational intensity of the blower, controlling the degree of contamination and the rotational intensity of the electric blower also with the output of the particle sensor, and starting the electric blower with the output of the ultraviolet detection sensor; When the electric blower is driven by the output of the ultraviolet ray detection sensor, the degree of contamination by the gas sensor and the particle sensor and the electric blower are controlled. An air purifier that controls the electric blower based on the output of each sensor, improving the sensitivity of determining the rotational intensity of the blower.