JP3463723B2 - Air purifier control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a control device for an air purifier that automatically operates according to contamination of surrounding air. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of control device, a minimum value of a sensor output during a predetermined sampling period is set as a reference output corresponding to clean air, and a relative value with respect to this output is used to contaminate surrounding air. Has been detected. In this way, it is possible to avoid the influence of the fluctuation of the sensor output irrespective of the daily fluctuation of the sensor or the air contamination due to the temperature and humidity. In addition, the work of adjusting the sensitivity of each individual sensor becomes unnecessary (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-27849). Further, in the control for stopping the air purifier, output decrease detecting means based on a relative value for detecting that the sensor output has decreased, and saturation detecting means for detecting that a change in the sensor output is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The blower is stopped at one of the outputs. By doing so, the sensor output is saturated as well as the dirt is actually removed,
The air purifier can be appropriately stopped even when no new dirt is generated (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-26416). FIG. 8 is a time chart showing a control operation of a conventional air cleaner. (A) of the figure shows the sensor output, where A is a reference value of the sensor output sampled in a predetermined period, A ₁ is the sensor output when dirt is removed, A
Reference numeral ₂ denotes a sensor output when the dirt cannot be removed and is saturated. And (b) the operation of the blower against A _1,
(C) are diagrams showing the operation of the blower against A _2. Next, the operation of the blower will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 (b) and 8 (c). When the sensor output increases and the difference from the reference output A exceeds a predetermined value, the operation of the blower is started. In addition, the amount of air blow is also "weak" in proportion to this difference →
"Medium" → "Strong". Here, the dirt as A ₁ are removed, air volume as shown in FIG. 8 (b) gradually decreases, and the fan falls below the reference output A is stopped. On the other hand, even when saturated not lowered to the reference output A sensor output as A _2, it is gradually decreased air volume as shown in FIG. 8 (c), after a predetermined time is controlled to stop the operation. As described above, in both cases, the blowers are finally stopped, and the operation is not performed again until the sensor output increases. [0005] As described above, the conventional control device is used when the contamination of the surrounding air is removed or the output of the sensor is saturated and there is no new increase in the contamination. Had stopped the operation of the blower. However, once the blower is stopped, the convection of air is reduced, the diffusion of dirt becomes slow, and it becomes difficult to detect dirt generated away from the air purifier. Further, it is difficult for a dust sensor to detect minute amounts of house dust and pollen that enter the room by natural ventilation. As described above, according to the conventional control method, there is a problem that it is difficult to drive in a place such as a bedroom where there are few elements that pollute air or where there is little convection of air. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and appropriate operation can be performed even in a place such as a bedroom where there are few elements that pollute air or where there is little air convection. An object is to obtain a control device for an air purifier. [0007] Control device of an air cleaner according to the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION, when the output from a sensor for detecting the contamination of the air is increased above a predetermined value to a predetermined reference value In a control device of an air purifier configured to operate a blower, an output decrease detection unit that detects an output decrease of the sensor, and a saturation that detects a saturation because an output change within a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Detecting means and a fan for outputting a signal for controlling the operation of the fan
Device control means and a sensor whose output detection means is equal to or less than a reference value.
A decrease in output is detected or the saturation detection means detects the sensor output.
Blower by the blower control means after detecting the saturation of
Operation in which the blower is operated intermittently at a predetermined airflow
Stops blower until mode and next air contamination is detected
One of the operation modes with the operation mode to be kept
Operation mode switching means for selecting the operation mode . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a sensor for detecting contamination of the surrounding air, and 2 denotes output reduction detecting means for detecting that the output of the sensor has dropped below a reference value during operation. , Relative detection from the sensitivity setting value and the like. Numeral 3 is a saturation detecting means for detecting that the output of the sensor 1 is less than a predetermined value during operation and the output of the sensor is saturated. When a state in which there is no increase or a state in which the difference or ratio is smaller than a predetermined value continues for a certain period of time, it is regarded as saturation. Reference numeral 4 denotes output level determining means for detecting that the sensor output level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value during operation.
The absolute value of the current sensor output level is compared with a predetermined value, and the result is output. Reference numeral 5 denotes an air flow rate determining means for determining an air flow rate of the blower 10 based on the results of the output decrease detecting means 2, the saturation detecting means 3, and the output level determining means 4; The blower control means 7 for converting the control signal into the control signal is a sensitivity switching means. When the high sensitivity side is selected, even if the output of the sensor 1 increases slightly, the operation of the blower 10 is started to clean the air. Further, once the operation is started, the condition for stopping the blower becomes severe, and the operation is performed for a longer time. Reference numeral 8 denotes an operation mode changeover switch for setting an intermittent operation mode, and reference numeral 9 denotes a timer for generating the time of the intermittent operation. FIG. 2 shows the functional block diagram of FIG. 1 in a block diagram of an electric circuit. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a sensor for detecting contamination of air, and the output changes according to the degree of contamination. This change is used as analog data in AD
Output to the conversion circuit 14. This output increases when the degree of contamination is high, and decreases when the degree of contamination is low. AD
The conversion circuit 14 is a circuit for converting the analog data from the sensor 1 into digital data and inputting it to the microcomputer 17, and may be included in the function of the microcomputer 17. These and microcomputer 1
Together with the functions of 7, it operates as the output decrease detecting means 2 and the saturation detecting means 3, the output level determining means 4, the blower amount determining means 5, the time measuring means 9, and the blower controlling means 6. Reference numeral 18 denotes a driver that receives the output of the microcomputer 17 and drives the blower 10. The microcomputer 17 changes predetermined values of the output level determining means 4, the output decrease detecting means 2, the saturation detecting means 3 and the like according to the sensitivity set in the sensitivity changeover switch 7. Operation mode switch 8
Sets the intermittent operation mode. Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, steps 20, 21
To read the data of the sensor 1 and the setting of the sensitivity switch 7. These readings do not need to be performed every time, and may be performed at appropriate constant intervals. Next, it is determined whether or not the operation is intermittent (step 22). If no dirt is detected in the surrounding air for the time being, the operation is an intermittent operation, and the steps after step 23 will be described first. At step 23, contamination of the surrounding air is detected. A known technique is applied to the contamination detection method.
If no contamination is detected here, the operation of the blower 10 is switched between start and stop at predetermined time intervals according to the time determination in step 26, and the intermittent operation is performed. If contamination is detected in step 23, the intermittent operation is canceled (step 24), and the operation of the blower 10 is started in step 30. When the operation of the blower 10 is started, the above-described steps 22 to 2 are performed.
Branch to 8. In steps 28 and 29, output decrease detection and saturation detection are performed. The output decrease detection is regarded as an output decrease when the sensor output approaches the reference output A to a predetermined value or less. In the next method of detecting saturation, a sensor output is sampled at a predetermined interval, and when a state in which the difference or ratio is smaller than a predetermined value continues for a predetermined period, it is regarded as saturation. If neither output decrease nor saturation is detected in steps 28 and 29, the air flow rate is determined from the sensor reading value,
The operation of the blower 10 is continued as it is (Step 3
0). If the output decrease or saturation is detected in steps 28 and 29, the absolute value of the sensor output level is compared with a predetermined value in the output level determination in step 31. If the sensor output level is higher than the predetermined value, The operation branches to step 30 to continue the operation of the blower 10. If the sensor output level is lower than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step 32, where the intermittent operation is started. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the relationship between the decrease in the sensor output and the operation of the blower 10. 4A shows the sensor output, FIG. 4B shows the operation of the blower 10 in the control of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4C shows the operation of the blower in the conventional control. When the sensor 1 responds to dirt and the sensor output increases, both the first embodiment and the conventional example start strong operation. Thereafter, when the dirt of the air is gradually removed, the air volume of the blower 10 is also gradually reduced. When the sensor output falls below the reference value A, the conventional fan stops the blower. However, in the first embodiment, the blower amount is set to “weak” and the intermittent operation is performed. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the relationship between the saturation of the sensor output and the operation of the blower 10. 5A shows the sensor output, FIG. 5B shows the operation of the blower 10 in the control of the first embodiment, and FIG. 5B shows the operation of the blower in the conventional control. When the state in which the difference or ratio of the sensor output sampled at a certain interval is smaller than a predetermined value continues for a predetermined period B, it is regarded as saturation, and at a point C, the conventional fan stops the operation of the blower. Then, the air volume is set to "weak" and the intermittent operation is performed. As described above, when it is determined that the dirt in the surrounding air has been removed or saturated, the blower 10 is operated intermittently at a predetermined airflow after a predetermined time, so that an element such as a bedroom that becomes dirty with air is removed. There is an effect that an appropriate operation can be performed even in a place with a small amount of air or a place where the convection of air is small. Embodiment 2 FIG. In the first embodiment, although the duty ratio of the OFF time of the intermittent operation T ₁ and ON time T ₂ constant, the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 6, the sensor output Level L ₁ , L
_2, L ₃ OFF in intermittent operation in the output from the output level discrimination means 4 for changing the output value in accordance with the time T ₁ and the ON time T
The duty ratio of ₂ is changed.
6, from the top (a) a sensor output, (b) the operation of the blower 10 when the sensor output level is saturated with L _1, (c) is the case where the sensor output level is saturated with L ₂ blowers 10 operation, (d) is the operation of the blower 10 when the sensor output level is decreased to the reference value a in L _3.
If the sensor output at the time of saturation is high, the ON time T _{2 of the} blower 10
The percentage is high. That is, in the case of (b), continuous operation of “weak”, in the case of (c), intermittent operation of “weak”,
In the case of (d), the ON time T ₂ is further increased by the intermittent operation of “weak”.
Is set to be short. As described above, in the second embodiment, the ON / OFF duty ratio of the intermittent operation is changed in accordance with the output level of the sensor 1, so that the dirty air in the room can be removed quietly and quickly. it can. The same effect can be obtained not only by changing the ON / OFF duty ratio of the intermittent operation but also by changing the length of the intermittent operation cycle T. Embodiment 3 FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, steps 20 to 32 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted. In step 35, the operation mode changeover switch 8 is read. By the setting of the intermittent operation mode read here, the following step 3
If it is not in the intermittent operation mode in step 6, step 26 is skipped and in step 27 the blower 10 is stopped. By doing so, the operation state of the blower 10 after it is determined that the dirt on the air has been removed or saturated is changed to an operation mode in which the blower 10 is intermittently operated at a predetermined air volume and until the next dirt on the air is detected. One of the operation modes in which the blower 10 is kept stopped can be selected by turning on and off the operation mode changeover switch 8. As described above, in the third embodiment, the operation state of the blower 10 after it is determined that the dirt on the surrounding air has been removed or saturated is changed to an operation mode in which the blower 10 is operated intermittently at a predetermined air volume. Next, it is possible to manually select either the operation mode in which the blower is stopped until the air contamination is detected, so that the setting can be set according to the user's preference and the room situation Can be used and the usability is improved. As described above, according to the present invention, the operation of the blower after it is determined that dirt on the air has been removed or saturated.
Operation mode in which the blower is operated intermittently at a predetermined air volume.
And then stopped the blower until air contamination was detected
User can select one of the driving modes to leave
To suit the user's preferences and room conditions
Setting can be made, and there is an effect that usability is improved . [0024]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a control device of an air purifier according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the control device for the air purifier of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the relationship between the sensor output and the operation of the blower according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the relationship between the sensor output and the operation of the blower according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a time chart illustrating a relationship between a sensor output and an operation of a blower according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the relationship between the sensor output and the operation of the blower in the conventional control. [Description of Signs] 1 sensor, 2 output drop detecting means, 3 saturation detecting means, 4 output level determining means, 5 air flow rate determining means, 6
Blower control means, 7 Sensitivity switching means, 8 Operation mode switching means, 9 Clocking means, 10 Blower, 17 microcomputer.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F ^7/ 00-7/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] An air purifier configured to operate a blower when an output from a sensor for detecting air contamination increases by a predetermined value or more with respect to a preset reference value. Controlling the operation of the blower , the output decrease detecting means for detecting the output decrease of the sensor, the saturation detecting means for detecting the saturation because the change in the output within a predetermined time is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Air to output a signal for
Device control means and a sensor whose output detection means is equal to or less than a reference value.
A decrease in output is detected or the saturation detection means detects the sensor output.
Blower by the blower control means after detecting the saturation of
Operation in which the blower is operated intermittently at a predetermined airflow
Stops blower until mode and next air contamination is detected
One of the operation modes with the operation mode to be kept
And an operation mode switching means for selecting an operation mode .