JPH08285355A - Power saving humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] Regarding the heater control of the humidifier, a semiconductor is used for control, the life of the circuit itself is extended, the switching timing of the semiconductor is changed, and power control can be freely controlled and running. A humidifier that can reduce costs. A high-speed microcomputer 1 for functionally controlling a humidifier operates by turning on a power switch, controls a heater control circuit 5 for controlling a heater for heating water in an evaporation dish, and a humidity sensor unit 8 controls the atmosphere. The inside humidity is monitored by a microcomputer. Further, when the energy saving operation is performed, the frequency of the phase control is controlled by the frequency synchronization signal detection circuit 2. During this energy-saving operation, the cycle operation is also performed by the frequency even with the phase control, and the commercial frequency is 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
Then, it is controlled to turn off for one cycle, and the voltage is 0V.
If you start from a point, you can solve problems such as inrush current and sparks.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric device which uses a semiconductor switch and which has a control means for controlling AC power in synchronism with a commercial frequency in a home electric appliance using a heater such as a PTC or a thermistor. Further, it has a heater for humidifying water and an evaporation dish, and a control circuit including a high-speed microcomputer with control software for heater, humidity setting, timer, display, water level, etc. is provided, and the heater is synchronized with the power supply frequency. The present invention relates to a humidifier having control means for controlling by a signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when controlling the electric power of a humidifier, a method has been adopted in which the electric power is reduced as a result by turning on / off a heater circuit or controlling a phase. However, with this method, the humidification amount also decreases in synchronization.

Further, as a method for lowering the total amount of humidification, a humidifier controller for extending the humidifying time by combining with a timer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-347082. However, this merely extends the humidification time to the required amount of humidification.

[0004]

As described above, the method of turning on / off the heater circuit or lowering the electric power by phase control causes the amount of humidification to be lowered synchronously. Further, in the control for extending the humidifying time by combining with the timer, the humidifying time is simply extended with respect to the required humidifying amount.

Further, in order to reduce the electric power supplied to the heater, the heater control element may be simply turned on / off. However, mechanical switching, for example, in the case of using a relay or the like, sparks (noise) and a life are caused due to the presence of contacts. However, high speed control is impossible. (FIG. 5A) Further, what is generally considered for switching by a semiconductor switch (for example, a thyristor or the like) performs phase control, but in this case, inrush current cannot be limited. (Fig. 5
(B)) In these methods, an additional circuit such as a noise filter is necessary for the generated noise, and particularly in the case of the power system, there is a problem that the shape becomes large and the cost becomes high.

The object of the present invention is to reduce the electric power by about 10% as compared with the conventional products of our company, and to suppress the humidification amount by a reduction of about 20cc (8%) per hour. To provide a humidifier capable of freely controlling electric power control by changing a switching timing, and extending a life of the circuit itself and reducing a running cost by using a semiconductor for heater control. Is.

[0007]

An electric device according to the present invention has a control means for controlling a heater power in a home electric appliance using a heater such as a PTC or a thermistor in synchronization with a power supply frequency by using a semiconductor switch. There is an electric device.

The humidifier according to the present invention has a body for holding a heater for heating water, a heat conductive resin for transmitting heat to the heater, and an evaporation dish for evaporating the water, and evaporating the steam to the outlet. A humidifier having a control circuit including a hood and a water supply channel for guiding water from a water tank to an evaporation dish and having a high-speed microcomputer to which control software such as a heater, humidity setting, timer, display, and water level is added, A humidifier having a control means for controlling the heater by a signal synchronized with a power supply frequency.

Further, it is an electric device which uses the control means in combination with a timer and humidity setting. Further, it is an electric device for turning on / off the control of the heater by a semiconductor.

[0010]

[Operation] In order to reduce the electric power supplied to the heater of the humidifier,
It is enough to simply turn on / off the heater control element, but mechanical switching, for example, by means of a relay or the like, has problems with sparks and life due to the contact, making it impossible to control at high speed. Although phase control is performed by switching by, it is not possible to limit the inrush current, so an additional circuit such as a noise filter is necessary for the generated noise, especially in the case of a power system, the shape becomes large,
The cost will be high.

According to the present invention, by controlling the period by frequency even in the phase control, the general commercial frequency is 50
Alternatively, by utilizing the frequency of 60 Hz, for example, 2 cycles are turned on and 1 cycle is turned off during 1 second to control, and the problems such as inrush current and spark are solved by starting from the 0 V point of the voltage. . Here, a high-speed type microcomputer capable of confirming and calculating a pulse is used within one cycle (16 to 20 msec) of the commercial frequency.

[0012]

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

In the humidifier of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the evaporation tray 38 is attached to the attachment portion of the main body 36 in which the attachment portion of the evaporation tray 38 and the water supply portion 39 are provided side by side. The bottom of the evaporation dish 38 with the bottom (not shown)
A water hood is connected, and a steam hood receiving portion 37 is provided on the evaporation tray 38, and a steam hood integrally attached to the hood cover is fitted on the receiving portion 37 to detachably attach the hood cover. A water tank (also not shown) is mounted on the upper portion of the water supply reservoir 39.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of the control method of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a high-speed microcomputer (one-chip microcomputer) that controls a humidifier to perform energy-saving control, 2 is a frequency synchronization signal detection circuit, 3 is a power supply circuit that supplies DC power to the microcomputer control circuit, 4 is a noise filter that cuts noise from the power supply, 5 is a heater control circuit that controls the heater, 6 is a heater unit that heats water, 7 is a display function circuit that displays the operating state, and 8 is the humidity in the atmosphere. This is a humidity sensor unit for sensing.

First, when the power switch is turned on, a high-speed microcomputer that controls the function of the humidifier operates, controls a heater control circuit that controls a heater that heats water in the evaporation dish, and a humidity sensor controls the temperature of the atmosphere. Humidity is monitored by a microcomputer. In addition, during energy saving operation, the frequency for phase control is controlled by the frequency synchronization signal detection circuit.

As a result, the phase control also controls the period by frequency, and the general commercial frequency is 50 Hz or 6 Hz.
Utilizing the fact that it is 0 Hz, 2 cycles are ON during this 1 second
However, it is controlled to turn off for one cycle, and the operation is started from the 0V point of the voltage.

One cycle of the commercial frequency (16 to 20)
A high-speed type microcomputer is used so that pulse confirmation and calculation can be executed within msec).

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of the operation of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the power source O is denoted by 101.
When N is judged and the power is turned on, the microcomputer operates and 10
Humidity setting control is started in 2 and ON / OFF of the timer power saving switch is determined in 103. If the power saving switch is OFF, normal operation is performed, and if the power saving switch is ON, energy saving operation is performed. It

As a result, the power consumption is reduced by about 10% compared to the in-house product, and the humidification amount is 20 per hour.
It is possible to obtain the energy saving effect of being suppressed by a reduction of about cc (about 8%).

FIG. 4 shows the control waveform of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the phase control also controls the period by frequency,
Utilizing the fact that the AC voltage repeats 50 to 60 times the amplitude of a general commercial frequency in one second, it is controlled to turn on for two cycles and turn off for one cycle during this one second, and start from the 0V point of the voltage. It is controlled by a high-speed type microcomputer so that the control current waveform at this time is shown.

The zero point is detected by the zero volt detection circuit in synchronism with the AC waveform and the signal is sent to the microcomputer. The microcomputer side performs high-speed arithmetic processing to drive the heater control semiconductor element (here, triac). .

Although the humidifier has been described above, it goes without saying that it can be applied to an electric device using another heater.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electric power is reduced by about 10% and the humidification amount is suppressed by about 20cc (about 8%) per hour as compared with the conventional products of the company. The power control can be controlled freely by changing the semiconductor switching timing.

As another effect, noise due to inrush current and noise due to contact points can be suppressed, so that the noise filter of the power supply can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

By using it together with the timer (high-speed microcomputer) built in the main body, it is possible to prevent forgetting to turn off the data such as in the office or at bedtime. When the set humidity is reached by the humidity sensor, the heater circuit is turned off for more energy saving operation. Further, there is an effect that the life of the circuit itself can be extended and the running cost can be reduced by using the semiconductor for controlling the heater.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the functions of the present invention in a flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a humidifier of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the present invention by a flow chart.

FIG. 5 is a current waveform diagram for heater control according to the conventional method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. High-speed microcomputer (one-chip microcomputer) 2. Frequency synchronization signal detection circuit 3. Power supply circuit 4. Noise filter 5. Heater control circuit 6. Heater unit 7. Display function circuit 8. Humidity sensor unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electric device for a home electric appliance using a heater such as a PTC or a thermistor, comprising a semiconductor switch and having a control means for controlling the heater power in synchronization with a power supply frequency. 2. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is used in combination with a timer and a humidity setting. 3. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein control of the heater is turned on / off by a semiconductor switch. 4. A heater for heating water, a heat conductive resin for transmitting heat to the heater, and an evaporation dish for evaporating the water are held by a main body, and an evaporation hood and a water tank for guiding steam to an outlet are provided. A humidifier having a control circuit including a water supply channel for guiding water to an evaporating dish, a heater, a humidity setting, a timer, a display, a high-speed microcomputer to which control software such as a water level is added. The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the synchronized signals.