JPH04292732A - Device and method for detecting contamination degree of air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device for sensing pollution degree of an air purifier and a system therefor which enables controlling of the display of the degree of pollution and the amount of air by a method wherein the initial cleanness of air is recognized to automatically set the cleanness and the degree of pollution of air in a room by a self learning function and the degree of the cleanness of the air in the room is accurately sensed. CONSTITUTION: A means 11 is provided to detect the degree of pollution, a microcomputer 12 to recognize and control the current sensed state of the degree of pollution being classified by specified stages, a means 13 to store data, a means 14 to display the current state of the degree of pollution and a means 15 to control the driving of a fan by an amount of air control signal.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a contamination level sensing device and a contamination level recognition method for an air purifier. Specifically, the present invention relates to a contamination degree sensing device and a contamination degree recognition method for an air purifier. A contamination level sensing device and method for an air purifier that automatically sets standard values for the cleanliness level and contamination level of indoor air using a learning function, and controls the contamination level and air volume of indoor air using these set values. It is related to.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a pollution level sensing device for an air purifier, as shown in FIG.
and the pollution degree sensing voltage of the pollution degree sensing section 1 is converted to the A/D converter 2.
-1, the microcomputer 2 recognizes the contamination state corresponding to the current contamination degree value in the contamination degree recognition unit 2-2, and the current contamination state is determined by a control signal according to the contamination degree recognition of the microcomputer 2. The pollution level display section 3 displays the degree of pollution, and the air volume control section 4 controls the drive of the fan using an air volume control signal according to the recognition of the pollution level by the microcomputer 2.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 7, the pollution level sensing unit 1 includes a gas sensor 1-1 whose resistance value changes according to the detected indoor gas value, which is connected in series to a resistor RL to divide the power supply voltage VCC. voltage, and this divided voltage is output as the pollution level sensing voltage. The operation of the contamination level sensing device of the conventional air cleaner configured as described above will be explained as follows. First, when power is supplied to the air purifier, the gas sensor 1-1 of the pollution level sensing unit 1 determines the resistance value corresponding to the currently detected amount of gas after a stabilization time T. When power is supplied, as shown in FIG. 8(A), the transient state of the stabilization time T required until the resistance value of gas sensor 1-1 reaches 0.8 Ro after power is supplied is determined. After a while, the air has a stable resistance value Ro in the air clean state.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8(B), a voltage is output that is inversely proportional to the resistance value of the gas sensor 1-1. That is, the pollution level sensing voltage is
voltage Vout = RL ・VCC/(RL
+RO) will be output.

On the other hand, when power is supplied to the air purifier in a state where the air is contaminated, the resistance value of the gas sensor 1-1 becomes 0.0 after the power is supplied, as shown in FIG. 9(A). After passing through a transient state for a stabilization time T required to reach 8Ro, it reaches the resistance value Rs of the air-contaminated state. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9(B), the gas sensor 1
A voltage that is inversely proportional to the resistance value of -1 will be output.

That is, the pollution degree sensing voltage changes to the resistance value Rs of the gas sensor 1-1 after passing through a predetermined transient state (duration T).
The voltage according to Vout'=RL ・VCC/(RL +
RS) will be output. In this way, the gas sensor 1-1 goes through a transient state for a predetermined period of time in the initial stage of power supply, and then the gas sensor 1-1 has different resistance values depending on whether the air is clean or polluted. The resistance value of the gas sensor 1-1 changes and a pollution level sensing voltage is output as a voltage inversely proportional to the resistance value, and the output voltage of the pollution level sensing section 1 is inputted to the microcomputer 2 and sent to the A/D converter 2. After the signal is converted into a digital signal by -1, the pollution level recognition unit 2-2 recognizes the pollution level for the detected pollution level value converted into the digital signal.

[0007] In the conventional pollution level recognition method, after configuring a table of experimentally determined pollution level factors corresponding to the detected pollution level values, the pollution level corresponding to the currently sensed pollution level sensing value is determined. The pollution level was recognized by looking for factors, and the pollution level display and air volume were controlled. In addition, the contamination level recognition unit 2-2 of the microcomputer 2
In this system, the lowest pollution detection voltage in a stable state after an initial transient state is set as the reference value, and when the voltage drops below the reference value, the air is recognized as being clean, and when the voltage becomes higher than the reference value, it is recognized as clean air. Recognizing that the level of pollution is increasing, the level of pollution is displayed and the air volume is controlled.

[0008]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional air purifier contamination level sensing device and its method, when the air purifier is operated in a state where the indoor air is contaminated, the air purifier as shown in FIG. However, since the detected value of the contaminated state is set as the reference value, the clean state of the air is incorrectly recognized, and the function of the air purifier cannot be fully performed. In addition, when the gas sensor is working normally, the resistance value of the gas sensor changes due to the influence of the surrounding temperature and humidity, so it is necessary to reset the reference value of the air cleanliness state and correct the reference value. Since the device cannot correct the reference value, there is a disadvantage that the air cleanliness state may be mistakenly recognized as a polluted state.

[0009] In order to solve these problems, the air purifier recognizes the initial air cleanliness state and uses its self-learning function to automatically reset the cleanliness state and pollution level of the indoor air. It is an object of the present invention to provide a contamination level sensing device and method for an air purifier that can accurately sense the cleanliness level of an air purifier and display the contamination level and control the air volume.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the air purifier contamination level sensing device according to the present invention includes a contamination level sensing means 11 for sensing the degree of contamination using a gas sensor;
A microcomputer 12 that recognizes the contamination degree based on the contamination degree detection value of the contamination degree sensing means and controls the system, a memory means 13 that stores processing data for contamination degree recognition of the microcomputer 12, and the microcomputer 12.
It is composed of a pollution degree display means 14 that displays the pollution degree through pollution degree recognition control, and an air volume control means 15 that controls the air volume.

The microcomputer 12 also includes an A/D converter 12-1 for converting the pollution level data of the pollution level sensing means 11 into digital data, and an A/D converter 12-1.
contamination level recognition means 12-2 which sets an initial value based on the output data of 1 and recognizes the degree of contamination using a self-learning function; and stabilization according to changes in the initial value of the contamination level sensing means 11 and changes in the value due to changes in the surrounding environment. Timer 12-3 that counts time
Then, the value between the minimum value and the maximum value recognized by the pollution degree recognition means 12-2 is divided into predetermined stages and stored in the memory means 13, and the pollution degree display and air volume control signal of the stage corresponding to the current pollution degree sensed value are displayed. and a divider 12-4 that outputs.

0012

[Operation] In the air purifier pollution level sensing device configured as described above, when power is supplied, the pollution level sensing means 11 causes the microcomputer 12 to detect a change in the pollution level sensed value after a predetermined transient period. After that, if the detected pollution level value does not change during operation for a predetermined period of time, the detected pollution level value is compared with the preset minimum value and a new minimum value is set. When a value is set and the pollution level detection value increases, it is recognized whether or not a factor corresponding to the current pollution level detection value is set, and if it is not set, it is set to the maximum and minimum values that have already been set. Compare the current pollution degree value to set a new maximum value and a new minimum value again, divide the maximum value and minimum value into predetermined stages, and store them in the memory means 13 as reference factors;
After recognizing the standard factors corresponding to the current detected pollution level in each stage, the pollution level is displayed and the air volume is controlled.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the pollution degree sensing device for an air purifier according to the present invention includes a pollution degree sensing means 11 for detecting the pollution degree of indoor air as a voltage using a sensor, and a pollution degree sensing means 11 for detecting the pollution degree of indoor air as a voltage using a sensor. A microcomputer 12 that converts the sensed data into digital data by an A/D converter, recognizes the contamination state corresponding to the current contamination level sensed value, and controls the system;
a memory means 13 for storing the contamination degree recognition processing data of No. 2, and a contamination degree display means 14 for displaying the current contamination state using a control signal based on the contamination degree recognition of the microcomputer 12;
The airflow control section 15 controls the drive of the fan using an airflow control signal based on the recognition of the degree of contamination by the microcomputer 12.

Further, as the sensor of the pollution level sensing means 11, for example, a gas sensor 11-1 can be used. Further, as the memory means 13, for example, a RAM can be used, and as the pollution level display means 14, for example, a liquid crystal display can be used. Furthermore,
The microcomputer 12 includes an A/D converter 12-1 that converts the pollution degree sensing data of the gas sensor 11-1 into digital data, and a contamination converter that recognizes the pollution degree based on the output data of the A/D converter 12-1. degree recognition means 12
-2, a timer 12-3 that counts the initial period of the gas sensor 11-1 and the stabilization time due to changes in the surrounding environment;
A divider 12-4 divides the minimum value and maximum value determined by the pollution degree recognition by the pollution degree recognition means into predetermined stages and outputs the pollution degree display control signal and air volume control signal of the stage corresponding to the current pollution degree. It is configured.

The operation and method of recognizing the degree of contamination of the air purifier contamination level sensing device according to the present invention constructed as described above will be explained as follows. First, when power is supplied and automatic operation starts, the resistance value of the gas sensor 11-1 decreases rapidly at the time of power supply and then gradually increases, as shown in FIG. It takes a long time to reach a stable resistance value Ro, so it is usually set at 0.
The time T when the air cleaner reaches 8Ro is set as the transient period time, and the air purifier starts normal operation after the transient period time has passed.

After the air purifier starts normal operation, the resistance value of the gas sensor 11-1 of the pollution level sensing section 11 decreases as the pollution level increases, and increases as the pollution level decreases. As shown in FIG. 4(B), in the contamination degree sensing means 11 that outputs a voltage inversely proportional to the resistance value of the gas sensor 11-1, the voltage increases when the contamination degree increases, and the voltage increases when the contamination degree decreases. voltage becomes low.

In this manner, when the pollution level sensing voltage (VOUT) proportional to the pollution level is inputted from the pollution level sensing means 11, it is inputted to the microcomputer 12, and after the transient time T has elapsed, the voltage is input to the A/D converter 12-1. The contamination level recognition program is executed based on the contamination level sensing data. Here, in the contamination degree recognition method of the microcomputer 12, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. In order to set an initial reference value of the state, a step S1 is performed in which the pollution degree sensing data is read while driving the fan motor to the maximum air volume.

Thereafter, after a predetermined time T1 is counted by the timer 13, a step S2 is performed in which the degree of change in the detected contamination level value during the predetermined time T1 is recognized. Next, as a result of the step S2 of recognizing the degree of change, if the sensed contamination value does not change for a predetermined time and the degree of change is "0", a step S4 of resetting the minimum value is performed. Step S4-1 is performed to compare the minimum value stored in the RAM with the current pollution degree sensing value, and if it is the same as or smaller than the minimum value, the current pollution degree value is stored as the minimum value (S4-2), and the minimum value is If it is larger than , the pollution degree recognition step S4-3 is performed to recognize the pollution degree of the current pollution degree sensing value and display the pollution degree and control the air volume.

Here, the minimum value is stored in the RAM 13. If the degree of change in the detected contamination level value is "+", step S5 of the self-learning function is performed as shown in FIG. Also, if the degree of change in the detected pollution level value is "-", the degree of change is the degree of change during the initial stabilization time of the gas sensor 11-1.
(Vd-Vs)/stabilization time", and if they are the same, the current pollution degree sensing value is set to the air cleanliness standard value (minimum value). (S3-2), and if the degree of change in the initial stabilization time and the current degree of change are not the same, the degree of change and the degree of contamination based on the current detected value of contamination degree are recognized and the degree of contamination is displayed and the air volume is displayed. A contamination level recognition step S3-3 is performed to control the level of contamination.

[0020]The self-learning function means S5 is
As shown in FIG. 3, this is performed when the degree of change is "+", and the voltage for each pollution degree level stored in the RAM is compared with the current pollution degree sensing voltage value (S5-1). When the corresponding voltage is stored in the RAM 13, a pollution level recognition step S5-2 is performed in which the pollution level of the pollution level corresponding to the current pollution level sensing voltage is displayed and the air volume is controlled. If RAM1
If there is no data stored in Step 3 or there is no corresponding voltage among the voltages for each pollution level, step S5-3 of resetting the voltage values for each pollution level is performed, and the voltage values for each pollution level are reset. Step S5-3 is for compensating for a change in the pollution level reference value in the air clean state due to a change in the resistance value of the gas sensor 11-1 due to a change in ambient temperature and humidity.

Voltage value reset step S for each pollution degree level
5-3, the RAM 13 does not store a voltage value for each pollution level level, or the voltage value for the pollution level level corresponding to the current pollution level sensed value is selected from among the voltage values for each pollution level level stored in the RAM. If there is no value, after performing step S5-31 in which the current detected value of the degree of contamination is stored as a new maximum value, the sensed value of the degree of contamination is maintained unchanged for a predetermined period of time, and the degree of change is maintained at "0". Then, the current pollution degree sensing value is stored as the minimum value (S5-32), and the difference A between the maximum value and the minimum value is calculated.
(S5-33), and set the difference A to the preset reference value B.
Compare with.

[0022] If it is smaller than the reference value B, the current RAM
After the current pollution degree is recognized based on the voltage value for each pollution degree level stored in , a pollution degree recognition step S5-34 is performed to control the pollution degree display and air volume. Further, if the difference A between the maximum value and the minimum value is greater than or equal to the reference value B, the difference A between the maximum value and the minimum value is divided into N stages, and the voltage value for each pollution degree level is determined as described above. Store in RAM 13 (S5-35),
A pollution level recognition step S5-2 is performed to display the pollution level at the stage corresponding to the current pollution level sensing voltage and control the air volume.

Next, after performing the contamination degree recognition step, the process returns to the step of reading the new contamination degree sensing value, recognizing its degree of change, and performing contamination degree recognition control. Therefore, in the air purifier according to the present invention, during initial operation, the initial reference value is set to no error, and when the resistance value of the gas sensor 11-1 changes due to changes in ambient temperature and humidity, the degree of pollution is detected. Recognizes the degree of change due to voltage change and waits for a specified period of time (for example,
If there is no change in the degree of change for 20 to 30 minutes), the pollution degree sensing voltage value at that time is reset to the minimum value and stored, and the reference value of the air cleanliness state is adjusted to correspond to changes in ambient temperature or humidity. It is now possible to automatically change the degree of contamination, detect the degree of contamination accurately without any errors, display the degree of contamination, and control the air volume.

[0024]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, in the air purifier contamination level sensing device and its method according to the present invention, even if the air purifier is started in a contaminated state, the initial clean state remains unchanged. Set reference values accurately without errors,
During normal operation, even if the resistance value of the gas sensor changes due to changes in ambient temperature and humidity, the reference value for air cleanliness is reset to accommodate the change, and the accurate level of pollution is detected and controlled without error. There is an effect that can be carried out. In addition, the display of the pollution level and the control of the air volume are divided into N stages based on the maximum and minimum values of the detected pollution level, so that the pollution level can be controlled in a more detailed manner. This has the effect of displaying and controlling information.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a contamination sensing device for an air cleaner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of reference value setting and pollution level recognition of the air purifier according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a self-learning function flowchart according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing the output characteristics of the pollution sensing section of the present invention in an air clean state, where (A) is a resistance value change characteristic diagram of the gas sensor, and (B) is a pollution level sensing output voltage characteristic diagram. .

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram of resistance value changes due to temperature/humidity changes of the gas sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a contamination level sensing device of a conventional air cleaner.

FIG. 7 is a detailed circuit diagram of a conventional pollution level sensing section.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing the initial output characteristics of the conventional pollution level sensing unit in the air clean state, where (A) is a characteristic diagram showing the change in the initial resistance value of the gas sensor, and (B) is the initial pollution level sensing unit. FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in output voltage.

FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram showing the initial output characteristics of the conventional pollution level sensing unit in the air pollution state, where (A) is a characteristic diagram showing the change in the initial resistance value of the gas sensor, and (B) is the initial pollution sensing output. FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing voltage changes.

[Explanation of symbols]

11...Contamination level sensing means 12...Microcomputer 12-1...A/D converter 12-2...Contamination degree recognition means 12-3...Timer 12-4...Divider 13...Memory means 14...Contamination degree display means 15...Air volume control means

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A pollution degree sensing means (11) for detecting the pollution degree of indoor air using a sensor;
a microcomputer (12) that recognizes the contamination state corresponding to the current contamination degree value detected by step 11) and controls the entire system; and a microcomputer (12) that recognizes and processes the contamination degree. a memory means (13) for storing data; a contamination degree display means (14) for displaying the current contamination state using a control signal based on the contamination degree recognition of the microcomputer (12); an air volume control unit (15) that controls the drive of the fan using an air volume control signal based on recognition;
A pollution level sensing device for an air purifier. [Claim 2] The microcomputer (12)
is an A/D converter (
12-1), a contamination degree recognition means (12-2) that sets an initial reference value based on the output data of the A/D converter (12-1) and recognizes the degree of contamination using a self-learning function; A timer (1) counts stabilization time according to a change in the initial value of the sensing means (11) and a change in value due to a change in the surrounding environment.
2-3), the value between the minimum value and the maximum value recognized by the contamination degree recognition means (12-2) is divided into predetermined stages and stored in the memory means (13), and the current contamination degree sensed value is The pollution level sensing device for an air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a divider (12-4) for outputting pollution level display control and air volume control signals of corresponding stages. 3. The pollution degree sensing device for an air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the pollution degree display means (14) divides and displays the air pollution state into two or more stages. 4. A step (S1) of reading the detected pollution degree value at predetermined intervals while controlling the air volume to the maximum after the automatic operation has started and a transient period has elapsed; Step of recognizing the degree of change in the detected value (S2)
and an initial standard value setting step (S3) of setting an initial pollution degree recognition or initial air cleanliness standard value when the degree of change recognized in the change degree recognition step decreases; A minimum value setting step (S4) in which the minimum value is selectively reset and the contamination degree is recognized when there is no change in the minimum value.
), and a self-learning function step (S5) that automatically sets the maximum value and minimum value and the contamination degree recognition factor when the degree of change recognized in the change degree recognition step increases;
After recognizing and controlling the degree of contamination during the execution of each of the above steps,
A method for recognizing the degree of contamination of an air purifier, comprising a step (S6) of reading a new sensed contamination degree value, recognizing the degree of change, and returning to the step of controlling. 5. The initial reference value setting step (S3) includes:
When the degree of change in the pollution degree sensing value is "-", the degree of change during the time during which the value of the sensing means (11) after the transient period is stabilized to the value of the air clean state and the current pollution degree sensing value is "-". Step of comparing whether or not the degree of change of the value is the same (S3-1
), if the degree of change during the stabilization time and the current degree of change are the same, the step of setting the current pollution degree sensing value to the air cleanliness reference value (minimum value) and storing it (S3-2) and,
If the degree of change during the stabilization time and the current degree of change are not the same, the degree of contamination is recognized based on the degree of change and the current degree of contamination sensed value, and the degree of contamination is displayed and the air volume is controlled. The contamination level recognition method for an air cleaner according to claim 4, comprising step (S3-3). 6. The minimum value setting step (S4) compares the current sensed pollution level value with the minimum value stored in the memory means (13) when there is no change in the degree of change in the sensed pollution level value. a step (S4-1); and a step (S4-2) of storing the current pollution degree sensing value as a new minimum value if the current pollution degree sensing value is less than or equal to the minimum value stored in the memory means (13); ), and if the current detected pollution level value is larger than the minimum value of the memory means (13), the pollution level is configured to recognize the pollution level based on the current detected pollution level value, display the pollution level, and control the air volume. The contamination degree recognition method for an air cleaner according to claim 4, comprising a recognition system (S4-3). 7. The self-learning function step (S5) includes a step (S5-1) of comparing the current contamination degree sensing value with contamination degree grade-specific values stored in the memory means (13);
a pollution level recognition step (S5-2) for displaying the pollution level and controlling the air volume after recognizing the current pollution level based on the pollution level level values stored in the memory unit (13); and the memory unit (13) If no value for each pollution level is stored in the memory means (13), or if there is no value for the current pollution level sensed value among the values for each pollution level stored in the memory means (13), the new maximum value is and a step (S5-3) of resetting a value for each pollution degree level to recognize the pollution degree after resetting the minimum value and resetting a new value for each pollution degree level (S5-3). How to recognize the degree of contamination of a machine. [Claim 8] The step of resetting values for each pollution degree level (
S5-3) is performed when the memory means (13) does not store voltage values for each contamination degree level, or when the memory means (13)
3) When there is no value corresponding to the current pollution level sensed value among the pollution degree level values stored in step 3), the step of storing the pollution degree sensed value at that time as a new maximum value (S5-3)
1), and after storing the new maximum value, when the state of no change in the degree of change is maintained for a predetermined period of time, a step of setting and storing the current pollution degree sensing value to a new minimum value (S5-3
2), the step of calculating the difference between the new minimum value and the maximum value (S5-33), and if the difference between the new minimum value and the maximum value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, the memory means (
A pollution level recognition step (S5-34) in which the current pollution level is recognized based on the pollution level level values stored in step 13), and then the pollution level is displayed and the air volume is controlled (S5-34); If it is greater than or equal to the reference value, there is a step (S5-35) of dividing the difference between the new minimum value and maximum value into N stages and storing the values for each contamination degree level (S5-35); 8. The method for recognizing the degree of contamination of an air cleaner according to claim 7, comprising a degree of contamination recognition step (S5-2) of displaying the degree of contamination and controlling the air volume after recognizing the degree of contamination.