KR100445789B1 - Digital Timer and Driving Method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a digital timer and a driving method thereof, and in particular, the present invention includes a main body for protecting an internal circuit; A power plug formed in one region of the main body and configured to receive power; A load socket formed in another area of the main body and connected to a power plug of the load to supply power to the load; A key panel formed in another area of the front of the main body and having a plurality of keys for setting a power source and a time; A display formed in another area of the front of the main body and displaying a set time and a remaining time; And a timing circuit for controlling the power supplied from the power plug to the load socket according to the time set by the time setting key provided in the key panel. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the electronic device that does not have a built-in timer function can be set to operate as desired time, and when the power is not supplied due to power failure during the timer function, the power is not supplied. Remembering the time and the set operating time, when the power is applied again, only the remaining time of the set operating time can be operated to perform an efficient timer function.

Description

Digital Timer and Driving Method therefor}

The present invention relates to a digital timer and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to set an operation time of a desired product to operate a timer and to operate for a desired time. The present invention relates to a digital timer and a driving method thereof for storing a moment of time and a remaining operation time to operate a product for the remaining time when power is again applied.

Recent advances in electronic technology have made automation of factories, offices and homes possible. In particular, the most common category of automation technology is a timer of an electronic device. The timer of the electronic device divides and counts the clock generated by the crystal oscillator in units of time (seconds, minutes, hours), and is set by a user. The product is operated or stopped in time, and the functions of general household appliances (eg, washing machines, rice cookers, electric fans, air conditioners, water baths, etc.) and office automation products (computers, etc.) have been remarkably advanced. Conventional timers include a regulator capable of varying a resistance value of a variable resistor or a capacitance of a capacitor, and an analog scheme implemented mainly to arbitrarily vary a set time of a timer by manipulating the regulator.

However, such an analog timer has various problems. First, it is impossible to accurately set the desired operating time because the controller is operated according to the user's artificial judgment when setting the time. Second, a control error of the target device occurs due to an error in the set time, and thus, accurate control operation cannot be realized. Third, each timer must be separately configured to perform the continuous timer function, the on timer function, the off timer function, and the flicker function.

In order to solve this problem, most products have a digital timer that minimizes the occurrence of errors in the set time by digitizing the time setting method. However, there is still a problem that electronic products that do not have such a built-in digital timer or that have a built-in analog timer are difficult to control the operation according to the correct operation time. In addition, when the electronic products with such a built-in digital timer are not supplied due to a power failure during operation, the set time is erased, and thus the inconvenience of having to set the operation time again from the beginning.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, an object of the present invention is to implement an electronic product that does not have a built-in timer function to operate the desired time by setting the operating time It is to provide a digital timer and its driving method.

Another object of the present invention is to detect the time when the internal capacitor is discharged when the power is not supplied due to power failure during the timer function, and to store the time and the set operating time when the power is not supplied, and again The present invention provides a digital timer and a driving method thereof for supporting only the remaining time of the set operating time when it is applied.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a digital timer according to the present invention;

2 is a state diagram of use of the digital timer according to the present invention;

3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a digital timer according to the present invention;

4 is a detailed circuit diagram of a power supply unit and a switch unit according to the present invention;

5A is a detailed circuit diagram of a key input unit, a CPU, a memory unit, and a reset circuit according to the present invention;

5b is a detailed circuit diagram of an output driver according to the present invention;

6 is a detailed circuit diagram of the display unit according to the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a digital timer according to the present invention.

♣ Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ♣

100: digital timer 310: power supply

320: key input unit 330: power detection unit

340: CPU 350: output driver

360: display unit 370: memory unit

380: switch 390: load

The present invention for achieving the above object is a main body for protecting the internal circuit; A power plug formed in one region of the main body and configured to receive power; A load socket formed in another area of the main body and connected to a power plug of the load to supply power to the load; A key panel formed in one region of the front surface of the main body and having a plurality of keys for setting a power source and a time; A display formed in another area of the front of the main body and displaying a set time and a remaining time; And a timing circuit for controlling the power supplied from the power plug to the load socket according to the time set by the time setting key provided in the key panel.

In addition, the timing circuit includes an AC / DC rectifier circuit and a 220V / 110V switching switch, the power supply unit rectifying and smoothing the power required for operation; A key input unit for generating a power key signal instructing to start the operation and a time setting key signal for setting an operation time; A power detection unit connected to the power supply unit and detecting power applied from the power supply unit to notify the fact that the power is cut off; It is connected to the power supply unit, the key input unit and the power detection unit, and is operated by the rectified and smoothed DC power in the power supply unit, and determines the key signal input from the key input unit to perform the operation corresponding to the determined key signal. A CPU for transmitting a control signal, receiving a power cutoff signal applied from a power sensing unit, and controlling to store a time and an operation time at the moment; An output driver connected to the CPU and configured to receive various control signals from the CPU and drive the display unit corresponding to the received control signals; It is connected to the CPU and saves the set operation time applied from the CPU and the operation time at the moment when the power off signal of the CPU is applied, and extracts the corresponding data if there is a request signal from the CPU when the power is supplied again. A memory unit to transfer; And a switch unit connected to the power supply unit and the CPU, the switch unit operating by a switching control signal applied from the CPU to switch the operating power input through the power supply unit to the load.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a digital timer that includes a timer for counting a time and performs a timer function for a set time, the method including: setting a desired operation time by manipulating a key input unit; Apply the switching control signal to supply the operating power to the load, start the timer to count the time, calculate and display the set operating time and remaining time, instruct to save the set operating time, and set the operation Performing a timer function for a time; Determining whether power is cut off while the timer function is being performed; If the power is cut off while the timer function is being executed, the stored operating time is saved, and the remaining time is calculated by processing the remaining time by extracting the data of the set operating time and the stored operating time when the power is supplied again, and executing the timer function for the remaining time. Doing; And determining whether the set operation time has expired if the power is not cut off during the execution of the timer function, and if the operation time has not expired, continue to perform the set timer function, and if the operation time expires, cutting off the operation power supplied to the load. It is characterized by including.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a digital timer and a driving method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a digital timer 100 according to the present invention.

The digital timer 100 includes a main body 110 for protecting the device from external pressure, a plug 120 for connecting to an AC power supply outlet, an electronic product (eg, a shaker, etc.) to perform a timer function, and the like. Socket 130 for connection, FND window (Multisegmented LED Displays) 140 for displaying the operation time and remaining time, power key 150 for instructing the start operation and stop operation of the digital timer 100, Time setting keys (160, 170, 180) for setting the operation time, LED display unit (150a, 160a, 170a, 180a) for displaying the operation of the selected key can be configured to include from outside. Here, the time setting key can be freely set according to the designer's choice. For example, when the present invention is applied to a medicine bath, it can be set as 20 hours [herbal medicine], 60 hours [dry ginseng], 70 hours [water ginseng], Of course, depending on the type can be set in minutes or seconds.

In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the back of the digital timer 100 is provided with a 220V / 110V selector switch that can be selected freely 220V or 110V can be set to match the operating power of the electronic products to run the timer function have.

2 is a state diagram of use of the digital timer 100 according to the present invention. First, the plug 120 of the digital timer 100 is inserted into the outlet 200, and then the plug 300 of the electronic product to execute the timer function is inserted into the socket 130 of the digital timer 100. Let's do it. Next, the operation of the electronic product is executed, the power key 150 of the digital timer 200 is pressed, and any one of the desired time setting keys 160, 170, and 180 is selected.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the digital timer 100 according to the present invention. The digital timer 100 includes a power supply unit 310, a key input unit 320, a power detection unit 330, and a CPU 340. ), An output driver 350, a display 360, a buzzer 365, a memory 370, and a switch 380.

The power supply 310 rectifies and smoothes the power required for the operation of the digital timer 100 and the load (that is, the electronic product to execute the timer function) from the AC power supply 220V or 110V. The power supply 310 includes an AC / DC rectifier circuit for converting AC power into DC power. The power supply 310 includes a 220V / 110V selector switch that can freely select 220V or 110V, so that the power supply 310 can be set according to the operating power of the corresponding electronic product.

The key input unit 320 generates a power key signal for instructing to start the operation by applying power to the digital timer 100 and generates a time setting key signal for setting an operation time, and the key input unit 320 As shown in FIG. 1, the power key 150 includes a plurality of time setting keys 160, 170, and 180. A plurality of key signals generated by the key input unit 320 may be formed according to a setting time, and each key signal is divided into different power sources and applied to the CPU 340. In the present invention, the data input terminal of the CPU 340 is insufficient, so that different key signals are distinguished by applying different power to each key signal. For example, the power key 150 may apply 4.8V, and the time setting keys 160, 170, and 180 may be applied as 3V, 2.5V, and 2V, respectively. Of course, it can be changed freely according to the selection.

The power detector 330 is connected to the power supply unit 310, and detects the power applied from the power supply unit 310, and when the power is cut off due to a power failure (ie, when the internal capacitor is discharged) It serves to deliver to the CPU (340). When the power is cut off due to a power failure, the applied power forms a constant trajectory (that is, a parabola). By detecting this moment, it is possible to detect the time when the power is cut off.

The CPU 340 is connected to the power supply unit 310, the key input unit 320, and the power detection unit 330, and is operated by a DC power source 5V rectified and smoothed by the power supply unit 310. Determining the key signal input from the 320 to send a variety of control signals to perform the operation corresponding to the determined key signal, and receives the power off signal applied from the power detector 330 at the time and operation of the moment It controls to memorize time. That is, when any one of the time setting keys 160, 170, and 180 of the key input unit 320 is inputted, the self-initiated timer is started and at the same time, the LED driving signal is sent to confirm the operation of the corresponding time setting key from the outside. The LED display unit 160a, 170a, and 180a, which are notified to operate, sends a switching control signal instructing to apply the operating power of the load 390, sends an FND driving signal, and operates an operation time corresponding to the input time setting key. Control to display information and progress.

The output driver 350 is connected to the CPU 340 and receives various control signals (for example, an LED driving signal, an FND driving signal, a buzzer driving signal, etc.) applied from the CPU and corresponds to the received control signal. It acts to drive FND or buzzer.

The display unit 360 is connected to the output driver 350, and operates specific LEDs or FNDs according to driving signals (eg, LED driving signals and FND driving signals) applied from the output driving unit 350 to externally transmit specific information. It plays a role of supporting in checking. The LED is for displaying the operation status of the power key and time setting key input by the user, and the FND is for displaying the operation time and progress of the selected time setting key numerically. Here, FND is commonly used for numbers and simple symbolic expressions and is collectively referred to as seven segments. The 7 segments are classified into Common Anode and Common Cathod according to where the common point is, and there are 14-Segment, 3 * 5 Array, 5 * 7 Array, and 10-Bar Graph. Therefore, it is preferable that the FND be selected to be easy to control the operation in consideration of the operation environment and the like of the digital timer 100.

The memory unit 370 is interconnected with the CPU 340, and stores an operating time at the moment when a power-off signal of the CPU 340 is generated due to a set operating time applied from the CPU 340 and a power failure. And when the power is supplied again, if there is a request signal of the data from the CPU 340 serves to extract and transfer the data. In the present invention, it is preferable to use an EEPROM capable of storing data even when the power is cut off.

The switch unit 380 is connected to the power supply unit 310 and the CPU 340, and operates by a switching control signal applied from the CPU 340 to load operation power input through the power supply unit 310 (eg, The electronic device to switch to a timer). In the present invention, the switch unit 380 uses TRIAC, which is a contactless element, to solve the cause of failure due to contact wear, and uses a photo TRIAC to insulate an applied DC power supply with an AC power supply. Here, the photo TRIAC operates by the TRIAC driving signal applied from the CPU 340, and the TRIAC is turned on by the turn-on signal of the photo TRIAC to apply operating power to the load 390.

In addition, the digital timer 100 includes a reset circuit for preventing a malfunction of the device when the power is initially supplied or when the power is turned off.

4 to 6 are circuit diagrams for main functions of the digital timer 100 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of the power supply unit 310 and the switch unit 380, and FIG. 5A is a key input unit ( 320 is a detailed circuit diagram of the CPU 340, the memory unit 370, and the reset circuit. FIG. 5B is a detailed circuit diagram of the output driver 350, and FIG. 6 is a display unit 360. It shows a detailed circuit diagram for the. The circuits for the respective components illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 described above are merely exemplary and may be variously modified. In addition, since description of the circuit of each component is easily understood by those skilled in the art, detailed description is omitted.

Hereinafter, the operation relationship of the digital timer and its driving method according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a digital timer according to the present invention. Prior to the operation of the digital timer, a user may connect a digital timer to an outlet and plug a plug of an electronic product to execute a timer function. Assume that you have plugged in a socket and entered the power key. When the power key is input, the CPU applies the LED driving signal to the output driver to operate the power display LED, thereby indicating to the outside that the digital timer is operable. Here, pressing the power key again turns the power indicator LED off and at the same time turns off the power.

The user selects any one of the time setting keys in order to perform a desired timer function and sets an operation time (S705). When the operation time is set, the CPU determines the time setting key based on the power applied from the key input unit, and applies a switching control signal to the switch unit to drive the photo TRIAC to turn on the TRIAC to load the power required for operation (that is, The electronic device is controlled to be supplied to the electronic product to be executed (S710). As mentioned above, key signals applied from the key input unit are distinguished by different levels of power.

At the same time, the CPU starts a built-in timer to count the time and displays the set operation time on the FND window so that the user can check whether the input setting time is correct (S715). For example, the instruction to store in the EEPROM (S720). The steps S710 to S720 are executed by the CPU at the same time, and are merely divided for clarity.

The CPU performs a timer function by operating its own timer (S725), and displays the advanced operation time on the FND window so that the user can know the advanced operation time and the remaining time. During the timer function, the power detector periodically monitors and measures the power applied from the power supply and transfers the measured power value to the CPU. The CPU checks the power supply state by receiving the measured power value applied from the power detector, and determines whether the power is cut off while the timer function is being performed (S730). When the power is cut off due to a power failure, the applied power forms a constant trajectory (that is, a parabola), and the power detector detects this moment to detect a power off point. As a result of the determination in step S730, when it is determined that the power is cut off, the CPU instructs to store the operation time that has progressed up to the time of turning off the power in the memory unit (S735). At this time, since the switching control signal applied from the CPU to the switch unit is blocked, the photo TRIAC is turned off and at the same time, the TRIAC is turned off and the operating power supplied to the load is cut off. Thereafter, the CPU monitors the power values transmitted from the power supply unit and the power detection unit to determine whether the power is again supplied (S740). As a result of the determination, if the power is not supplied again, the process proceeds to step S735 and waits for the power to be supplied again. If the power is supplied again, the CPU stores data on the set operating time and the advanced operating time stored in the memory unit. Extract and process the remaining time, and display the remaining time on the FND window to support the user to know the operation time and the remaining time (S745). In other words, rather than setting a new timer function from the beginning, it controls to execute only the remaining time based on the stored data. If the remaining time is displayed, the process proceeds to step S725 and subsequent steps are repeated.

As a result of the determination in step S730, if the power is not cut, the normal timer function is performed. Therefore, the CPU determines whether the set operation time has expired (S750), and if the operation time has not expired, proceeds to step S725. The timer function continues, and when the operation time expires, the switching control signal is applied to the switch unit to cut off the operation power supplied to the load (S755). When the switching control signal is not applied to the switch unit, the photo TRIAC is turned off and at the same time the TRIAC is turned off and the operating power supplied to the load is cut off.

The above description is only for explaining one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be variously changed within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the shape and structure of each component specifically shown in the embodiments of the present invention may be modified.

As described above, according to the digital timer and the driving method thereof according to the present invention, an electronic product that does not have a built-in timer function can be operated for a desired time by setting an operation time, When the power is not supplied, the time when the power is not supplied and the set operating time are memorized, and when the power is applied again, only the remaining time of the set operating time is operated to perform an effective timer function.

Claims (9)

A main body protecting an internal circuit; A power plug formed in one region of the main body and configured to receive power; A load socket formed in another area of the main body and connected to a power plug of a load to supply power to the load; A key panel formed in one region of the front surface of the main body and having a plurality of keys for setting a power source and a time; A display formed in another area of the front of the main body and displaying a set time and a remaining time; And It is made of a timing circuit for controlling the power supplied from the power plug to the load socket according to the time set by the time setting key provided in the key panel, The timing circuit A power supply unit including an AC / DC rectifier circuit and a 220V / 110V switching switch and rectifying and smoothing power required for operation; A key input unit for generating a power key signal instructing to start an operation and a time setting key signal for setting an operation time; A power detection unit connected to the power supply unit and detecting power applied from the power supply unit to notify the fact that the power is cut off; It is connected to the power supply unit, the key input unit and the power detection unit, and operates by the rectified and smoothed DC power in the power supply unit, and determines the key signal input from the key input unit to perform the operation corresponding to the determined key signal A CPU for transmitting various control signals to perform, and controlling to receive a power cut signal applied from the power sensing unit and to store the time and operation time at the moment; An output driver connected to the CPU and configured to receive various control signals from the CPU and drive a display unit corresponding to the received control signal; Interconnected with the CPU, and stores the set operation time applied from the CPU and the operation time at the moment when the power-off signal of the CPU is applied, and if there is a request signal of data from the CPU when the power is supplied again, A memory unit for extracting and transferring data; And And a switch unit connected to the power supply unit and the CPU, the switch unit operating by a switching control signal applied from the CPU to switch operation power inputted through the power supply unit to a load. delete The method of claim 1, The key input unit includes a power key for instructing a start operation and a stop operation, and a plurality of time setting keys for setting an operation time. Each key signal generated from the key input unit is divided into different power sources and is applied to the CPU. The method of claim 1, The display unit includes an LED, a FND or a buzzer, The LED of the selected key input unit is displayed according to the LED driving signal applied from the CPU, the FND is driven according to the FND driving signal, and the set operating time and remaining time are displayed, and the current operating state is audible according to the buzzer driving signal. Digital timer characterized in that the output so that you can. The method of claim 1, And the memory unit uses an EEPROM capable of storing data even when power is cut off. The method of claim 1, The switch unit includes a photo TRIAC for insulating the applied DC power supply to AC power and TRIAC which is a contactless switching element, And a TRIAC driving signal applied from the CPU, wherein the TRIAC is turned on by the turn-on signal of the photo TRIAC to apply operating power to the load. The method of claim 1, The CPU receives the measured power value applied from the power detection unit to determine whether the power is cut off, and instructs the memory unit to store the operation time that has progressed up to the moment when the power is cut off, And when the power is supplied again, extracting data on the set operating time and the advanced operating time stored in the memory unit to calculate and process the remaining time, and to display the remaining time. In the method of driving a digital timer that has a built-in timer to count the time, and performs a timer function for a set time, Operating a key input unit to set a desired operation time; Applying a switching control signal to supply operating power to the load, start a timer to count time, calculate and display the set operating time and remaining time, instruct to store the set operating time, and set Performing a timer function during the operation time; Determining whether power is cut off during the timer function; If the power is cut off during the execution of the timer function, the stored operating time is stored, and data for the set operating time and the advanced operating time stored when the power is supplied again is calculated and processed for the remaining time, and the timer function for the remaining time. Performing; And If the power is not cut off during the execution of the timer function, it is determined whether the set operation time expires. If the operation time does not expire, the set timer function continues. If the operation time expires, the operation power supplied to the load is cut off. Including the steps of: The key input unit includes a power key for instructing a start operation and a stop operation, and a plurality of time setting keys for setting an operation time. Each key signal generated by the key input unit is divided into different power sources. delete