JPH11226289A - Electronic or electric apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make stand-by power zero by a process wherein a control means is energized through a power switch when the power is on, after that the energized state is held by a semiconductor switching element controlled by the control means, and the semiconductor switching element is turned off at the time of completing or interrupting of load operation. SOLUTION: A control circuit 2 starts to operate when a power switch 3 is pressed, and a semiconductor switching element 16 is turned on. On the other hand, while the power switch 3 is open, an instruction of washing processes is waited. When a control means 12 instructs to start the washing processes, a series of processes starts. When a closing signal for closing the power switch 3 is input during the washing processes, the control circuit 2 stops a load circuit by controlling a group of load circuit elements 11. And when an open signal is input by opening of the power switch 3, the switching element 16 is turned off. The switching element 16 is also turned off when the washing processes complete, thereby stand-by power is zero.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic or electric device such as an AV device or a washing machine having a power supply control circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a power supply control device of a washing machine,
A technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2523798 or the like is known. This is because, when the power plug is inserted into the outlet, the AC circuit is connected to the control circuit and the control circuit is activated. AC power is supplied.

When an automatic power-off at the end of operation or a power-off by the user is instructed, a relay contact is opened by a control circuit to cut off the supply of AC power to a load circuit. The configuration is such that the AC power is continuously supplied unless the power plug is unplugged.

[0004] In the above power supply control device, AC power is supplied to the control circuit even in a standby state where the power supply is turned off after the end of operation or the like, so that a small amount of power continues to be consumed. In recent years, the number of electrical appliances such as washing machines in ordinary households with built-in microcomputers has increased, and these appliances generate standby power that involves power consumption just by connecting to a power supply, and the total becomes a value that cannot be ignored. Is coming.
It is necessary to reduce the standby power as described above in order to reduce energy consumption in consideration of a shortage of power supply in the future.

In view of the above problems, a power supply control device that shuts off power supply to a load circuit such as a washing motor and a control circuit that controls the load circuit during standby of the washing machine to reduce power consumption, It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-051379. FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the power supply control device disclosed here.

Referring to FIG. 7, only a circuit portion related to control for reducing power consumption during standby to zero will be described. In this circuit, when the power switch 3 composed of a normally open push switch is pressed, the power switch 3
Is closed, and the AC power supply 4 is connected to the control circuit 2. Therefore, the control circuit 2 enters an operation state. When the control circuit 2 starts operating, the power relay contact 5 is closed, and when the pressing of the power switch 3 is stopped (the finger is released), the power switch 3 returns to the open state.

When all the steps of the operation by the control circuit 2 are completed, or when the power switch 3 is pressed during the operation of the control circuit 2, the load operation is stopped and the power supply relay contact 5
Is opened. When the pressing is stopped, the power switch 3
Returns to the open state. As described above, after the washing operation is completed, all the circuits are cut off from the AC power supply 4, so that the power consumption in the standby state becomes zero.

[0008]

However, in the power supply control device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-051379 of the prior art, an operation sound is generated when the power supply relay contact 5 is closed and opened. Lacks quietness. When a reservation timer is used which is left for a predetermined time after the power is turned on (after the control circuit 2 is activated), the power supply relay 5 is used to keep the control circuit 2 operational.
Must be kept closed. Therefore, in this case, power is continuously consumed during standby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention eliminates power consumption during standby in an electronic or electrical device such as a washing machine, and reduces operating noise generated by a power supply relay at the time of power switch operation and at the end of load circuit operation. It is intended to be removed. It is another object of the present invention to reduce power consumption during reservation standby.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a first circuit, a second circuit, and a power supply are connected in series, and the first circuit is an electronic circuit. Alternatively, the second circuit is a parallel circuit of a load circuit of the electric device main body and a control means for controlling the load circuit, and the second circuit is a power supply switch means and a first circuit.
In the electronic or electrical equipment which is a parallel circuit with the switching element of the above and is a circuit for switching connection / disconnection between the first circuit and the power supply, the first switching element comprises a semiconductor element, while the power switch means is A normally open push switch, wherein these switching elements and switches connect the first circuit and the power supply when closed, and the control means responds to the operation of the power switch means. Then, the first switching element is opened and closed.

In the above configuration, when the control means is not energized, that is, when both the switching element and the switch are in the open state, when the power switch means is closed, that is, pressed (operated), the power supply and the control means are connected. Then, the control means enters an operating state. When the control means starts operation, the control means sets the first switching element to a closed state (ON), and power is supplied to the control means via the first switching element even if the power switch returns to the open state. It is connected. The first switching element holds the ON state until a signal for turning OFF is generated by the control means. Therefore, even if the power switch is once closed and then opened, the control means can maintain the operation and operate the load circuit.

When the power switch is pressed during the operation of the control means, the control means outputs a signal for opening (OFF) the first switching element and turns off the first switching element. In the above operation, since the switching element is made of a semiconductor element, an unpleasant mechanical sound accompanying the opening / closing operation of the switching element does not occur.

[0013] The inventions described in claims 2 and 3 are the same as in claim 1.
In the electronic or electric device described in the above, further, a second switching element made of a semiconductor element having a smaller conduction capacity than the first switching element is arranged in parallel in the second circuit, and the second switching element is In the closed state, the first circuit is connected to the power supply, and the control means responds to the operation of the power switch by turning on the second switching element when all the switching elements are in the open state. Is closed, the first switching element is closed when the load circuit is operated, and then the second switching element is opened. When at least one of the switching elements is closed, the first switching element is closed. The switching element is set to an open state.

When the power switch is operated in the open state, that is, when the control means is not energized, the power supply and the control means are connected and the control means is in the operating state. When the control means starts operation, the second switching element is first closed, so that the power supply is connected to the control means via the second switching element even if the power switch returns to the open state. At this time, since the load circuit is not operating, the current capacity of the second switching element can be small, and the current for controlling the second switching element is also small. For example, as described in claim 3, when the standby of the load circuit operation is reserved in a state where only the second switching element is closed, the power consumption is reduced as described above.

When the load circuit operates, the control means closes the first switching element having a capacity corresponding to the load of the motor or the like and opens the second switching element.
In this state, the load circuit can be operated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic or electrical device according to the first aspect, the first switching element is a triac. In such a configuration, the triac can be controlled by a pulse, so that the control current can be reduced.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of Embodiment 1 in which the present invention is applied to a washing machine, and portions corresponding to the conventional example shown in FIG. In FIG.
A first circuit including a load circuit 1 and a control circuit 2, a second circuit including a first semiconductor switching element 16 and a power switch 3, and an AC power supply 4 are connected in series. Further, in the first circuit, the load circuit 1 and the control circuit 2 are connected in parallel, and in the second circuit, the first semiconductor switching element 16 and the power switch 3 are connected in parallel.

The load circuit 1 includes a load 10 including a drain valve 7, a water supply valve 8, and a washing machine motor 9, and a load control element group 11 for controlling the load 10. In the figure, 12 is a control instruction device for instructing the control circuit 2 on the control state of the load 10, 13 is a display device for displaying the control state of the washing machine instructed by the control instruction device 12, and 14 is a power switch. Reference numeral 17 denotes a first semiconductor switching element control circuit for controlling the ON / OFF of the first semiconductor switching element 16 by a control signal from the control circuit 2. Control circuit 2, control instruction device 1
2. The display device 13, the power switch open / close detection circuit 14, and the first semiconductor switching element control circuit 17 are collectively referred to as control means.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, when the power switch 3 composed of a normally open push switch is pressed, the power switch 3 is closed and the AC power supply 4 is connected to the control circuit 2 to connect the control circuit 2 to the control circuit 2. Set to operation state. When the control circuit 2 starts operating, the first semiconductor switching element control circuit 1
7 is supplied to output a control current to turn on the first semiconductor switching element 16. And
The first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned on.

The first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned on
Then, even if the pressing of the power switch 3 is released and the power switch 3 returns to the open state, the AC power supply 4 is supplied to the control circuit 2 and the load circuit 1 via the first semiconductor switching element 16. The ON state of the first semiconductor switching element 16 as described above indicates that the signal for turning off the first semiconductor switching element 16 from the control circuit 2 is the first state.
Is held until output to the semiconductor switching element control circuit 17 of FIG.

Therefore, once the power switch 3 is closed, the control circuit 2 can maintain the operating state even if it is opened thereafter. The control circuit 2 includes a load circuit control element group 11
To operate the load 10 and the control instruction device 12
, And output to the display device 13,
A state in which a series of operations of the washing machine can be performed is achieved.

A series of washing operations such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration are started by input from the control instruction device 12,
When the process is executed and all steps are completed, the control circuit 2 outputs a signal to the first semiconductor switching element control circuit 17 to turn off the first semiconductor switching element 16. And the first semiconductor switching element 16 is OF
It becomes F. Thus, the AC power supply 4 is cut off by the control circuit 2 and the load circuit 1, and a series of washing operations is completed. Then, after the end of the washing operation, the power consumption of the washing machine can be reduced to zero.

When the power switch 3 is closed during the operation of the control circuit 2, the detection circuit 14 for detecting opening and closing of the power switch 3 detects this and transmits a detection signal to the control circuit 2. Upon receiving the detection signal, the control circuit 2 outputs a signal to the first semiconductor switching element control circuit 17 to turn off the first semiconductor switching element 16 after stopping the load circuit if it is in operation. I do. Then, the first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned off.

OF of First Semiconductor Switching Element 16
By F, the control circuit 2 and the load circuit 1 are cut off from the AC power supply 4, and the power consumption of the washing machine becomes zero. As described above, since the switching element 16 of the present embodiment is formed of a semiconductor element, no unpleasant mechanical sound is generated in the switching operation of the switching element.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of this embodiment. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to this flowchart. When the power switch 3 is pressed in step S1, step S2
Starts the operation of the control circuit 2, and turns on the first semiconductor switching element 16 in step S3. Next, in step S4, it is determined whether the power switch 3 is open or closed. If the power switch 3 is closed, the process returns to the step of waiting for an open signal.
5 and if the power switch 3 is open, step S6
Go to and wait for the instruction of the washing process.

In step S5, when a closing signal indicating that the power switch 3 is closed is input, the process proceeds to step S13 to wait for an opening signal, and if an opening signal is input, the process proceeds to step S10. The first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned off. In step S6, when an instruction to start the washing process is issued by the control device 12, the process proceeds to step S7 where a series of processes is started. If a reserved operation to start driving after a lapse of a certain time is instructed, the process proceeds to step S7 after the lapse of a certain time.

When a closing signal for closing the power switch 3 is input during the execution of the washing process in step S8, the control circuit 2 first stops the load circuit 10 by controlling the load circuit element group 11 in step S12. Do. Then, in step S13, the process waits for the input of an opening signal indicating that the power switch 3 has been opened. When the opening signal is input, the first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned off in step S10.

If it is detected in step S8 that the power switch has been opened, the flow advances to the next step S9 to determine whether or not the washing process has been completed. If the washing process has not been completed, the process returns to step S8. If the washing process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S10, where the first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned off.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment 2 in which the present invention is applied to a washing machine, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a second semiconductor switching element 18 having a smaller conduction capacity than the first semiconductor switching element 16 is connected in parallel to the first semiconductor switching element 16, and a second semiconductor switching element 18. Semiconductor switching element 18
In that a second semiconductor switching element control circuit 19 for providing a control current to the control circuit is provided as a control means.

The first semiconductor switching element 16 and the second
When the power supply switch 3 is pressed and closed in a state where both the semiconductor switching elements 18 are OFF, that is, the control circuit 2 and the load circuit 1 are cut off from the AC power supply 4, the control circuit 2 starts operating as described above. When the control circuit 2 starts operating, the second semiconductor switching element control circuit 1
9 is supplied with a signal to turn on the second semiconductor switching element 18. Then, the second semiconductor switching element 18 is turned on.

The control circuit 2 holds the ON state of the second semiconductor switching element 18 by itself. Since the second semiconductor switching element 18 is not turned on when the load circuit 1 operates, the current rating is small and the current for controlling the current is small.

When a series of washing operations such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration are started by an input from the control instruction device 12, the control circuit 2 firstly operates the first semiconductor having a rating corresponding to the current of the load 10. A signal is output to the first semiconductor switching element control circuit 17 to turn on the switching element 16, and the first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned on. Next, the second semiconductor switching element 18 is turned off.
The second semiconductor switching element control circuit 19
And the second semiconductor switching element 18 is turned off.

As a result, the control circuit 2 holds the operating state by itself through the first semiconductor switching element 16, controls the load circuit control element group 11 to operate the load 10, and performs a series of washing operations. . With the configuration as described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, for example, the control current of the semiconductor switching element in the standby for the reserved operation in which the washing operation is started after a certain period of time can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced. Can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of this embodiment. Only parts different from FIG. 2 will be described. Step S2
When the control circuit 2 starts operating in step S31, the second semiconductor switching element 18 is turned on in step S31. When the start instruction of the washing process is issued in step S6, the first semiconductor switching element 16 is turned on in step S61, and the second semiconductor switching element 1 is turned on in step S62.
8 is turned off, and the process proceeds to the washing step of step S7.

If a reserved operation for starting the operation after the lapse of a predetermined time is instructed in step S6, the process proceeds to step S61 after the lapse of the predetermined time. If it is determined in step S9 that the washing process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S11.
The first semiconductor switching element 16 in the N state is
F. When the power switch is opened in step S15, in step S11, of the first semiconductor switching element 16 or the second semiconductor switching element 18, the switching element in the ON state is turned off.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a block diagram of Embodiment 3 in which the present invention is applied to a washing machine, and portions corresponding to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, as the first semiconductor switching element 16 and the first semiconductor switching element control circuit 17 of the first embodiment, specifically, a triac 16a and a triac 16a
A gate driving circuit 17a for driving the gate of the gate is used. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

The gate is turned off by the gate drive circuit 17a.
When the power switch 3 is pressed and closed in the state of F, that is, in a state where the control circuit 2 and the load circuit 1 are cut off from the AC power supply 4, the control circuit 2 starts operating as described above.
When the control circuit 2 starts operating, the gate drive circuit 17
A signal is supplied to a to turn on the triac 16a, and the triac 16a is turned on. The control circuit 2 self-holds the ON state of the triac 16a.

In order to hold the triac 16a in the ON state, the control circuit 2 specifically drives the gate to be turned on with the zero point of the AC power supply 4 current interposed therebetween. A timing chart of the gate drive circuit 17a is illustrated. FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram of the power supply current. At this time, the timing of gate drive by the gate drive circuit 17a is set, for example, as shown in the waveform diagram of FIG. By driving the gate in this manner, the triac 16a continues to be turned on without being turned off.

In this embodiment, since the gate is driven by a pulse, the power consumption for holding the triac 16a in the ON state is reduced. Of course, this also reduces the power consumption during standby for reserved driving. Other control methods are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The above description has been made on the case where the present invention is applied to a washing machine. However, the present invention can be applied not only to general electric equipment but also to electronic equipment such as AV equipment. . In the embodiment, an AC power supply is used as a power supply, but a DC power supply can be similarly used.

[0042]

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the power is turned on, the power is supplied to the control means via the power switch, and thereafter, the power is maintained by the semiconductor switching element controlled by the control means. When the operation is completed or interrupted, the semiconductor switching element is turned off to shut off all power to the load and the control means, so that standby power can be reduced to zero. Sometimes unpleasant mechanical noise does not occur.

According to the second and third aspects, when the load is not operating, the operating state of the control means is maintained by the semiconductor switching element having a small conduction current rating. When the load is not operating, for example, the power consumption during standby of the reserved operation in which the operation of the washing process starts after a certain period of time can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect, since the triac is used as the semiconductor switching element, it can be driven by a pulse, and the load can be reduced without adding the semiconductor switching element as in the second or third aspect. When is not operating, for example, power consumption during standby for reserved operation can be reduced. Since the control current of the semiconductor switching element is reduced, the power consumption during the load operation can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a waveform chart for explaining the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Load circuit 2 Control circuit 3 Power switch 4 AC power supply 5 Power relay contact 7 Drain valve 8 Water supply valve 9 Motor 10 Load 11 Load control element group 12 Control instruction device 13 Display device 14 Power switch open / close detection circuit 15 Power relay control coil 16 First semiconductor switching element 17 First semiconductor switching element control circuit 18 Second semiconductor switching element 19 Second semiconductor switching element control circuit 16a Triac 17a Gate drive circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first circuit, a second circuit, and a power supply are connected in series, and the first circuit is a parallel circuit of a load circuit of an electronic or electric device main body and control means for controlling the load circuit.
In an electronic or electric device, wherein the second circuit is a parallel circuit of a power switch means and a first switching element and is a circuit for switching connection / disconnection between the first circuit and the power supply, the first switching element is The power switch means comprises a normally open push switch, and these switching elements and switches connect the first circuit and the power supply when in a closed state; An electronic or electric device, wherein the control means switches the first switching element between open and closed in response to operation of the power switch means. 2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the second circuit includes a semiconductor element having a smaller conduction capacity than the first switching element.
Are connected in parallel, and the second switching element connects the first circuit and the power supply when in the closed state, and the control means responds to the operation of the power supply switch means. When all the switching elements are in the open state, the second switching element is first closed, and when the load circuit is operated, the first switching element is closed and then the second switching element is opened. The electronic or electric device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is in a state, and when at least one of the switching elements is in a closed state, the switching element in a closed state is in an open state. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:
3. The electronic or electric device according to claim 2, wherein the switching element is in a closed state, and the first switching element is in an open state. 4. 4. The electronic or electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the first switching element is a triac.