JPH11178211A - Tap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tap which does not cause failures to electrical machinery and apparatus connected to the tap, even if a breaker is actuated. SOLUTION: This tap 100 is provided with plug sockets 1,2, 3, 4, 5, furnished for the insertion of the plug terminals of electrical machinery and apparatus, breakers furnished with one-to-one corresponding to these plug sockets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and a current detecting means, which detects the value of current flowing in the input cord 14 of the tap 100. If the current value detected by this current detecting means becomes equal to or more than a given value, one of the breakers is actuated with priority. Which one to be actuated with priority is predetermined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tap to which a plurality of electric devices can be connected.

[0002]

[Prior Art] Many electrical devices in homes and offices
(This refers to all devices equipped with a plug for insertion into an outlet. The same applies to the following.) In some cases, the number of outlets (outlets) drawn in advance in a home or office room Has a limit, a tap 100 provided with a plurality of outlets 101 as shown in FIG.
To connect many electrical devices such as personal computers, printers, televisions, videos, and kotatsu.

[0003]

In the above case,
If the total current exceeds the rated value when many electrical devices are connected and these electrical devices are used at the same time, an indoor circuit breaker (hereinafter referred to as an indoor breaker) is provided for safety. Or a mechanism is provided to activate the circuit breaker and forcibly cut off the circuit. In particular, there is a high possibility that the breaker will operate when using a heating device such as an electric stove, a kotatsu, or a hair dryer. When the indoor breaker trips, the circuits of all connected electrical equipment are cut off.To restore the operation of the electrical equipment, the indoor breaker must be manually returned to its original state. Will be The problem in the conventional technology is, for example, a case where a personal computer is connected. If a circuit is suddenly cut off while using the personal computer, data stored in a hard disk or a memory is destroyed, In some cases, there is a problem that the personal computer itself breaks down.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tap which can prevent a malfunction of an electric device connected to an outlet by operating an indoor breaker. To provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a tap according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of outlets provided for inserting plug terminals of electric equipment and a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of outlets. A plurality of breakers provided, and current detecting means for detecting a current value flowing through the input code line of the tap, and when the current value detected by the current detecting means is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the plurality of breakers are provided. Wherein the breaker that operates preferentially is determined in advance. Note that the breaker characterized by the present invention is not an indoor breaker, but any general one provided inside the tap and having a function of forcibly interrupting a circuit.

In this tap, a breaker is provided for each of a plurality of outlets in a one-to-one correspondence. If the current value flowing through the input cord line of the tap exceeds a predetermined value, it is difficult to operate each breaker simultaneously. Instead, each breaker is activated in a predetermined order.
Therefore, an electric device, such as a personal computer, that does not need to operate the breaker suddenly should be connected to the outlet at which the breaker operates last. Once some breakers have been activated and the power supply has stabilized, the rest of the breakers need not be activated and the circuit will not be suddenly interrupted. Here, a case where the current value exceeds a predetermined value will be described. The predetermined value is not limited to one, and a plurality of values may be set in advance. Further, the breaker may be activated at the moment when the current value exceeds a predetermined value,
The breaker may be activated only when the state in which the current value exceeds the predetermined value continues for a predetermined time. Thus, it is preferable to set a plurality of combinations of the predetermined value and the predetermined time.

When an electrical device is connected to a tap having the above characteristics, the electrical device that can be operated even when the circuit breaker is cut off by operating the circuit breaker is connected to the outlet where the circuit breaker is operated first and the circuit breaker is operated. The troublesome electrical equipment should be connected to the outlet where the circuit breaker last operates. Therefore, it is possible to provide a tap that does not cause a problem in the connected electric device when the breaker operates.

[0008] Of the plurality of outlets, a breaker may not be provided for a specific outlet, and a plurality of breakers may be provided on a one-to-one basis for outlets other than the specific outlet. According to this, it is sufficient to connect an electric device which is not required to operate the breaker to a specific outlet, and to connect other electric devices to an outlet provided with the breaker.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of outlets are arranged in a line, and the specific outlet is provided at an end of the line. This makes it easier for users to remember which outlet is a particular outlet,
There is no way to accidentally plug in electrical equipment that would otherwise be difficult to operate a breaker such as a personal computer into a different outlet.

Further, by providing an indicator for displaying the level of the current value flowing through the tap, it is possible to know in advance whether the level is immediately before the breaker is activated or a safe level where there is no fear of the breaker being activated.

Further, if a plurality of reset switches for returning the activated breaker are provided corresponding to the plurality of outlets, the original state can be promptly restored by operating the reset switch. .

Further, by providing an alarm means for generating an alarm sound in accordance with the operation of the breaker, it is possible to immediately know that the breaker has been activated, and to immediately take measures after the breaker is activated. Further, if the operation or non-operation of the alarm means can be selected, the alarm sound can be prevented from being generated, so that the tap can be used easily.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Appearance Configuration of Tap] FIG. 1 shows an appearance of a tap 100. The tap 1 includes a first outlet 1, a second outlet 2, a third outlet 3, a fourth outlet 4, a fifth outlet 5, and a first reset button 6, a second reset button 7, 3 reset button 8, 4th reset button 9,
A fifth reset button 10, a level indicator 11 for displaying a current level flowing through the tap 100, an energizing lamp 12 for indicating that the power is being supplied, and an alarm 13
And an input code line 14.

[Description of Circuit Configuration] FIGS.
9 shows an operation circuit provided inside the 00. When the input cord line 14 of the tap 100 is connected to a household outlet, 100 V AC is supplied to the lines L and N. The line L is connected to the lines L1 to L5 of the outlets 1 to 5 through the transformer T via the fuse FUSE. Line N is a circuit breaker circuit CB1 to CB
5 are connected to the lines N1 to N5 of the outlets 1 to 5, respectively. Circuit breaker circuit CB1-CB
5 is a semiconductor relay element SSR1 to SSR5 functioning as a so-called breaker;
Varistors BR1 to BR5 connected in parallel with SSR5 for noise removal, and semiconductor relay elements SSR1 to SSR1
It has resistors R1 to R5 and capacitors C1 to C5 connected in parallel with the SSR5. Here, the semiconductor relay elements SSR1 to SSR5 are bidirectional switch elements having a gate for triggering a triac or the like. The gates of the semiconductor relay elements SSR1 to SSR5 are directly connected to the fifth terminals of the control IC1 to IC5 that control the switching of the semiconductor relay elements SSR1 to SSR5, and one terminal of the semiconductor relay elements SSR1 to SSR5 is directly connected to the fourth terminal. Connected, and the other terminals are connected to resistors R6 to R10.
Is connected to the fifth terminal. Semiconductor relay element SS
By controlling the gate voltages of R1 to SSR5, the line N
Can be cut off from the current supply line.

The first terminals of the control ICs 1 to 5 are connected to a resistor R1.
1 to R15 and connected to VCC (feed line)
The third terminal is connected to the eleventh to fifteenth terminals of the CPU (indicated by SCR1 to SCR5 in the figure). CP
U functions as a microcomputer that controls the entire circuit of the tap 1, and a predetermined control program is written in advance. The CPU is a semiconductor relay element SS
It also functions as a breaker operation control unit that controls R1 to SSR5. Reference numeral 20 in the figure denotes a known circuit for generating a DC constant voltage (5 V or 12 V) for control. The constant voltage Vcc is supplied to the CPU, each IC, and the like (indicated by Vcc in the figure). In the figure, GND indicates a ground line.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the tap 100. The current detecting means 21 includes a rectifier circuit section 21a, and inputs a DC voltage value at the node P1 having a certain correlation with a current value flowing through the line L to a second terminal of the CPU. The protection circuit 21b has a diode D1 and a diode D2 connected in series, and protects a voltage higher than Vcc from being input to the second terminal of the CPU. This CP
The second terminal of U is an analog input terminal, and the CPU is at node P
A / D conversion is performed on the DC voltage value of No. 1 and the current value is converted into a current value with a fixed correlation, and the converted current value is provided to a process in the CPU as a detected current value.

The LEDs 1 to 8 constitute a level indicator 11 and indicate current levels in eight levels. LED9 to LED13 are cut off display (
It lights up when the breaker is activated), and is integrated with the reset buttons 6 to 10. The LED 14 constitutes the energizing lamp 12. The anode of LED1 to LED7 is a transistor Tr
1 and the cathode is connected to a resistor R16
Through R22 to the 21st through 27th terminals of the CPU. The anodes of the LEDs 8 to 14 are connected to the collector of the transistor Tr2, and the cathodes are similarly connected to the 21st to 27th terminals of the CPU via the resistors R11 to R17. Transistor Tr1
Controls the lighting of LED1 to LED7, and the transistor Tr2 controls the lighting of LED8 to LED14. The emitters of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are connected to the Vcc line, and the bases are connected to the sixth and seventh terminals of the CPU via resistors R23 and R24, respectively. Further, resistors R25 and R26 are connected between the emitter and the base, respectively.

In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a crystal oscillator which generates a clock pulse for driving the CPU. Both ends of the crystal oscillator 22 are connected to the ninth and tenth terminals of the CPU, and are also connected to the GND line via capacitors C6 and C7.

Reference numeral 23 in the figure denotes a buzzer, which emits an alarm sound when the breaker operates. One terminal of the buzzer 23 is connected to the Vcc line, and the other terminal is connected to a twenty-eighth terminal (indicated by BEEP) of the CPU.

The switches SW1 to SW5 are reset buttons 6 to
This is a self-return type switch that is interlocked with the pressing of 10. Switches SW1 to SW5 by pressing reset buttons 6 to 10
Is turned on to return the breaker to its original state. One terminal of the switches SW1 to SW5 is connected to a resistor R18.
To R22 and to the 21st to 25th terminals of the CPU. Switches SW1 to S
The other terminal of W5 is connected to the sixteenth terminal of the CPU.

The switches SW6 to SW9 are for setting the cutoff current, and the current level for operating the breaker can be set in advance by a combination of ON / OFF of these four switches. For example, it can be set arbitrarily in units of 1A from 6A to 15A. Regarding the cutoff time (time until the breaker is actually activated), refer to (1)
If 100% of the set current lasts for about 20 seconds (Condition 1),
(2) Or, when 200% of the set current lasts about 2 seconds (Condition 2), (3) When 300% of the set current lasts about 0.5 seconds
(Condition 3), (4) It can be set in advance as if 400% of the set current lasted for about 0.1 second (Condition 4). One terminal of the switches SW6 to SW9 is connected to the 21st to 25th terminals of the CPU similarly to the above-described SW1 to SW4. The other terminals of the switches SW6 to SW9 are all connected to the seventeenth terminal of the CPU.

The switches SW10 to SW13 are used to set a buzzer warning sound generation mode.
The mode can be set by a combination of ON / OFF of two switches. Figure 2 shows the mode settings
Can be set by turning the mode setting knob 15 provided on the back surface of the tap 100 as shown in FIG. The modes include a mode in which the buzzer is always turned off, a mode in which a buzzer sound is generated when the outlet 1 is cut off, and a mode in which the outlet 2 is cut off (in this case, the outlet 1 is also cut off). ) Buzzer sound mode, when outlet 3 is cut off (In this case, outlets 1 and 2 are also cut off.) Buzzer sound mode, when 70% or more of the set current flows (In this case, a buzzer is generated in advance of the cut-off before it is cut off.), A buzzer is generated when 80% or more of the set current flows. It is. Switches SW10 to S
One terminal of W13 is connected to the 21st to 25th terminals of the CPU similarly to the aforementioned SW1 to SW4. The other terminals of the switches SW10 to SW13 are all connected to the eighteenth terminal of the CPU.

[Explanation of Circuit Operation] Next, the operation of the circuit according to the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, detection of a current value by the current detecting means is started (step # 10). The current value is always detected, and in order to display the level indicator 11,
An output value corresponding to the detected current value is output to the 21st to 27th terminals of the CPU. When the set current value is exceeded, the excess current value and excess elapsed time are sequentially stored.
Next, it is determined whether or not the condition for operating the breaker is satisfied based on the detected current value based on the excess elapsed time and the excess current value that are sequentially stored and updated (step # 12). The condition determination subroutine is shown in FIG.
It is checked whether any of the conditions 1 to 4 described above is satisfied (steps # 100 to # 100).
106). If neither condition is satisfied, it is not necessary to operate the breaker, and the process returns to step # 12 indicated by reference symbol a, and the condition determination subroutine is repeated. If any of the conditions 1 to 4 is satisfied, first, the breaker of the first outlet 1 is operated (step # 14), and the LED 9 is turned on and the buzzer 23 is operated (steps # 16, # 18). It can be visually recognized by turning on the LED, and can be recognized audibly by sounding the buzzer 23. The operation of the breaker is controlled from the eleventh terminal (SCR1) of the CPU.
The signal is output to the third terminal of C1, thereby inactivating the semiconductor relay element SSR1 to cut off the circuit. Therefore, the electric device connected to the first outlet 1 is made inoperative.

Next, a reset switch check is performed (
Step # 20). FIG. 7 shows the contents of the subroutine. First, it is checked whether the reset button has been pressed (step # 200). In this case, the switch SW1 of the first reset button 6 corresponding to the first outlet 1 is turned off.
Check if N. If not, the process returns to the main routine. If the reset button is pressed, the corresponding LED is turned off (step # 202),
The sounding of the buzzer 23 is stopped (step # 204).
Next, the process returns to the position of a.

Returning to the main routine, the condition determining subroutine is executed again (step # 22). This is the first
This is to check whether the current has become stable as a result of activating the breaker of the outlet 1. If none of the conditions 1 to 4 is satisfied as described above, the process returns to the symbol a, and the next breaker operates. I will not do it.
If it is determined in step # 22 that the current value is still higher than the predetermined value, the breaker of the second outlet 2 is operated (step # 24). Next, the LED 10 is turned on (step # 26), and a reset switch check is performed again (step # 28). Check here,
It is checked whether the reset buttons of both the first outlet 1 and the second outlet 2 have been pressed. Then, the condition redetermining subroutine of the re-recovery time (step # 3
0) is executed. As described above, the breakers of the outlet are operated in order until the current value is stabilized (steps # 32, 34, 36). After all the breakers are finally operated to cut off the current, the reset switch check (step # 36) is repeated until the reset button is pressed.

[Modification] A modification of the above-described embodiment will be described. Although the breakers are configured to operate sequentially from the first outlet 1 to the fifth outlet 5 one by one, two breakers may be operated collectively.
That is, the first and second outlets 1 and 2 are operated first, and then the third and fourth outlets 3 and 4 are operated. Various modifications can be considered in the method of assigning priorities within the scope of the present invention. Further, a configuration in which a breaker is provided only in the first to fourth outlets 1, 2, 3, and 4, and a breaker is not provided in the fifth outlet 5 may be adopted. A device such as a personal computer that does not require a breaker to operate is connected to the fifth outlet 5.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a tap.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mode setting knob.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram in a tap.

FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram in a tap.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the circuit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a condition determination subroutine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a subroutine of a reset switch check.

FIG. 8 illustrates a state where a plurality of electric devices are connected to a tap.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 First to fifth outlets 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 First to fifth reset buttons 11 Level indicator 12 Power supply lamp 14 Input code line 15 Mode setting knob 21 Current detection means 23 Buzzer 100 tap SSR1-SSR5 Semiconductor relay element (breaker) CB1-CB5 Circuit breaker circuit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of outlets provided for inserting plug terminals of electrical equipment, a plurality of breakers provided one-to-one with respect to the plurality of outlets, and a current value flowing through an input cord line of a tap. Current detecting means for detecting, when the current value detected by the current detecting means is equal to or more than a predetermined value, a breaker which operates preferentially among the plurality of breakers is predetermined. Tap to do. 2. A plurality of outlets provided for inserting plug terminals of electrical equipment, a plurality of breakers provided one-to-one with outlets other than a specific outlet among the plurality of outlets, Current detection means for detecting a current value flowing through the input code line of the tap, wherein a breaker which operates preferentially among the plurality of breakers when the current value detected by the current detection means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value A tap characterized in that is predetermined. 3. The tap according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of outlets are arranged in a line, and the specific outlet is provided at an end of the line. 4. An indicator for displaying a level of a current flowing through said tap is provided.
The tap according to any one of to 3. 5. The tap according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of reset switches for returning the activated breaker are provided corresponding to the plurality of outlets. 6. An alarm means for generating an alarm sound when the breaker is actuated.
Tap described in any of. 7. The tap according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting whether to activate or deactivate the alarm means.