JP2015095953A - Electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage on an apparatus due to liquid spill of a battery by preventing a battery, attached to the apparatus during electric outage, from remaining in a state connected electrically, in an electric apparatus normally operating with a commercial power supply, and can be operated by a battery during electric outage.SOLUTION: An electric apparatus 1 includes a DC power supply circuit 11 for connection with a commercial power supply, a battery attachment section 12 of a power supply battery 3, a battery detector 15 for detecting the power supply battery 3 attached to the battery attachment section 12, and a battery warning section 16 outputting a warning for encouraging removal of the power supply battery 3, if it is still attached to the battery attachment section 12, after resetting electric outage of the commercial power supply.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of an electric device that operates with a commercial power source and can be operated with a battery in the event of a power failure.

  Conventionally, an electric device operated by a battery may be equipped with a protection function for preventing liquid leakage due to a consumed battery. As a prior art regarding such a protection function, for example, there is the following Patent Document 1. In this document, in an electrical device, when a battery voltage detection circuit is connected in parallel with a load circuit, and an extremely low battery voltage is detected by the battery voltage detection circuit, a switching circuit interposed in the battery power supply path Is described as blocking.

JP-A-55-014607

The electric device as described in Patent Document 1 normally has a battery feeding path kept in a connected state and does not operate in a state where the battery feeding path is cut off, so the user recognizes that the battery is dead. can do.
However, in the case of an electric device that can be operated by a commercial power supply during normal times and can be operated by a battery during a power failure, even if the battery is attached during normal operation, the electric power supply operates. When a battery is mounted during a power failure, the battery operates. However, when the power is restored, it returns to a state where it operates with a commercial power source. As a result, it is easily predicted that the battery mounted at the time of a power failure will remain in an electrically connected state, and the battery will leak and damage the electrical equipment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in such an electric device, the battery attached to the device is not electrically connected at the time of a power failure, and the battery leaks. The purpose is to prevent damage to electrical equipment.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electric device according to the present invention is an electric device including a DC power supply circuit connected to a commercial power source and a battery mounting portion of a power battery, and the power source mounted on the battery mounting portion. A battery detection unit that detects a battery and a battery warning unit that outputs a warning prompting the user to remove the power supply battery if the power supply battery remains attached to the battery attachment unit after the commercial power supply is restored from a power failure. is there.

  In the present invention, the electrical device further includes a power failure switch that is operated during a power failure to connect the power supply path of the power battery, and a power supply path control unit that automatically shuts off the power supply path, the battery detection unit, You may comprise the detection switch which physically detects the power supply battery with which the said battery mounting part was mounted | worn.

  Alternatively, the electrical device further includes a power failure switch that is operated during a power failure to connect the power supply path of the power battery, and a power supply path control unit that automatically connects and disconnects the power supply path, and the battery detection unit is The battery voltage may be detected with the feeding path as a connected state.

  The electric device may further include a power supply return determination unit that determines whether the commercial power supply has recovered from a power failure when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the electric device.

  The electric device may be a toilet device, and when the power failure switch is operated, a turn trap constituting a drainage mechanism may be activated.

  In the electric device according to the present invention, if the power supply battery remains attached to the battery attachment part after the power failure recovery of the commercial power supply, a warning prompting the user to remove the power supply battery is output, so the battery remains electrically connected. This prevents damage to electrical equipment due to battery leakage.

1 is a basic overall circuit diagram of an electrical device as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a fundamental whole circuit diagram of the electric equipment made into the modification of the embodiment. (A), (b) is the conceptual diagram explaining the operating principle of the battery detection part comprised by the detection switch about the state by which the battery was removed from the battery mounting part, and the state by which the battery was mounted | worn, respectively. It is a fundamental whole circuit diagram of the electric equipment made into the other modification of the embodiment. (A), (b) is a circuit diagram explaining the battery detection part comprised by the battery detection part comprised by the field effect transistor, respectively, and a shunt regulator, respectively. It is the basic whole circuit diagram of the toilet device made into an example of an electric equipment. (A), (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the specific structure and effect | action of both toilet bowl apparatuses shown in FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The electric device according to the present embodiment has a battery mounting portion, and is assumed to be an electric device that is normally operated by a commercial power source and that is operated by a battery mounted on the battery mounting portion at the time of a power failure. For example, if the electric device is a toilet device, it is safe to drain the battery by electric power by attaching a battery even during a power failure. The battery referred to here is a power supply battery for power failure.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic overall configuration of an electrical apparatus that is an example of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the electric device 1 includes a DC power supply circuit 11 connected to a commercial power supply and a battery mounting portion 12 to which the battery 3 is mounted. The configuration of the battery mounting portion 12 is not particularly limited. For example, a recess for mounting the battery 3 may be exposed on the outer surface of the housing of the electric device 1, or the recess may be covered with a lid or the like. In short, it is only necessary that the user can easily attach the battery 3 when a power failure occurs. The power supply path 13 led out from the battery mounting part 12 is connected to the output part of the DC power supply circuit 11 through a backflow prevention diode 14. As the elements according to the present invention, the battery detection unit 15 that detects the battery 3 mounted on the battery mounting unit 12, and the battery 3 if the battery 3 remains mounted on the battery mounting unit 12 after the power failure of the commercial power supply is restored. A battery warning unit 16 is provided for outputting a warning prompting removal of the battery.

  The electrical device 1 further includes a control unit 17 configured by a microcomputer or the like to control the entire device, a step-down circuit 18 that supplies a low-voltage power source to the control unit 17, a load unit 19 that executes a function of the electrical device 1, An operation unit (not shown) that receives a command operation of the function is provided. The low voltage detection unit 20 is a circuit for detecting a voltage drop of the battery 3. A warning may be issued when a voltage drop in the battery 3 is detected during a power failure.

  The load unit 19 is an element that realizes the function of the electrical device 1, and the content thereof varies depending on the type of the device, but is basically considered to be composed of various actuators, sensors, amplifiers, and the like.

  The configuration of the battery detection unit 15 is not particularly limited. For example, the battery detection unit 15 may be configured to physically detect the battery 3 mounted on the battery mounting unit 12 or may be configured to detect electrically.

  The configuration of the battery warning unit 16 is not particularly limited. For example, a human sensor or the like is provided in the electric device 1, and the battery warning unit 16 may sound a buzzer sound or issue a voice message as a warning prompting the user to remove the battery 3 when a human body is detected. Also good. Such a buzzer sound or a voice message may be periodically repeated until the battery 3 is removed from the electric device 1 or may be performed only once at a high volume after the power failure is restored. Further, as a warning prompting removal of the battery 3, a warning lamp or the like may blink until the battery 3 is removed from the electrical device 1. Or you may make it a part of function of the electric equipment 1 restrict | limit until the battery 3 is removed.

  If such a warning is issued from the electric device 1, the battery 3 attached to the electronic device is not left in the electric device 1 in the event of a power failure, and the battery 3 remains electrically connected. Thus, damage to the electric device 1 due to the leakage of the battery 3 can be prevented.

  Since the electric device 1 automatically outputs a warning prompting removal of the battery 3 after the power failure is restored, it is necessary to recognize the power failure restoration. More precisely, it is desirable for the electrical device 1 to determine the event itself of a power failure recovery, but it may also be determined whether or not it is currently operating with a commercial power supply.

  There are an electrical method and a software method as a method for determining whether or not the electric device 1 is operating by receiving a commercial power source. Regardless of the method, the control unit 17 functions as a power supply return determination unit.

  As an example of an electrical method, a battery that outputs a voltage level lower than that of the DC power supply circuit 11 is adopted, and the control unit 17 detects the voltage level of the power supply path 13 with a voltage detection element or the like, thereby It is conceivable to determine whether or not it is operating. In this case, although the electric equipment 1 can make a determination of power failure recovery at any time, the cost of the voltage detection element is required.

  On the other hand, as an example of a software method, the control unit 17 may determine that a power failure is restored when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start-up. This method is suitable for the electric device 1 having a configuration in which the electric device 1 is activated by a user's operation during a power outage and the user's operation or the power is automatically turned off after executing a predetermined function. . In addition, this method does not require a voltage detection element or the like, and is excellent in cost.

  The electrical device 1 is provided with a power failure switch 21. The power failure switch 21 has an a contact and is wired so as to control the a contact of the relay element 22. That is, when the power failure switch 21 is operated during a power failure, the power supply path 13 of the battery 3 is connected by the relay element 22 only during the operation. On the other hand, when the electrical device 1 is operating with commercial power, assuming that the DC power supply circuit 11 does not stop even after executing the function, a predetermined time has elapsed since the end of the function. When it is done, it is reasonable to judge the power failure recovery with the passage of time. If such a power failure switch 21 is provided, the discharge of the battery 3 can be suppressed when the electric device 1 is not used, so that the possibility of liquid leakage is further reduced.

  Even when such a power failure switch 21 is provided, the voltage level of the power supply path 13 may be detected by a voltage detection element or the like to determine whether or not the power supply switch 13 is operating.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic overall configuration of an electric apparatus that is a modification of the embodiment. Elements common to those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The difference from that of FIG. 1 is that a power supply path control unit 23 that automatically shuts off the power supply path 13 that is connected by the operation of the power failure switch 21 is provided. The power supply path control unit 23 may be configured by providing a transistor element in parallel with the power failure switch 21. The transistor element is ON / OFF controlled by the control unit 17. In other words, the power supply path control unit 23 is turned on when the electric device 1 is activated by the operation of the power failure switch 21, and can maintain the power supply path 13 in the connected state even after the power failure switch 21 is returned. When the control unit 17 is activated by the operation of the power failure switch 21, the control unit 17 executes a predetermined function while controlling the power supply path control unit 23, and when the function is completed, the control unit 17 controls the power supply path control unit 23 to be turned off. As a result, the power supply path 13 of the battery 3 is blocked. If such a power supply path control unit 23 is provided, the user does not have to continue to operate the power failure switch 21 until the intended function is terminated, and thus the usability of the electric device 1 is improved.

  Moreover, in this modification, the battery detection part 15 is comprised by the detection switch, and detects the battery 3 with which the battery mounting part 12 was mounted | worn physically. A specific configuration and operation of such a battery detection unit 15 are shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 3A conceptually shows a battery mounting part to which a detection switch is fixed as a battery detection part. The detection switch 15 a is fixed so that its operating piece protrudes inward from the frame portion of the battery mounting portion 12. The battery 3 is not attached, and at this time, the detection switch 15a is in an off state.

  FIG. 3B conceptually shows the battery mounting portion 12 on which a battery is mounted. At this time, the operating piece of the detection switch 15a is pushed in by the battery 3, whereby the detection switch 15a is turned on. The controller 17 detects the battery 3 by electrically reading the state of the detection switch 15a.

  With such a configuration, since the battery 3 can be detected even when the power supply path 13 of the battery 3 is blocked, the control program for the detection can be simplified. Further, since the battery 3 is detected regardless of the battery voltage, even the discharged battery 3 can be reliably detected.

  FIG. 4 shows a basic overall configuration of an electrical apparatus that is another modification of the embodiment. Elements common to those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The electric device 1 is provided with a power supply path control unit 23 similar to the modification. That is, the power supply path control unit 23 here automatically connects and disconnects the power supply path 13.

  This modification is characterized in that the battery detection unit 15 is composed of a voltage detection element. The voltage detection element operates by receiving the power supply of the battery 3 from the power supply path 13 in the connected state, and detects the battery voltage. With such a configuration, since the voltage detection element is cheaper than the detection switch as described above, the manufacturing cost of the electric device 1 can be suppressed. However, in this case, since the battery voltage cannot be detected unless the power supply path 13 is in the connected state, the control unit 17 periodically sets the power supply path 13 in the connected state by the power supply path control unit 23 after the commercial power supply recovers from the power failure. 3 may be detected.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are two specific examples of a battery detection unit configured by a voltage detection element.

  The battery detection part 15 shown to Fig.5 (a) is comprised by the enhancement type field effect transistor. The source terminal of the field effect transistor 15b is grounded, the gate terminal is connected to the battery, and the drain terminal is connected to the power supply path 13 via the resistance element 15c. If the battery voltage is higher than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor 15b in a state where power is applied to the power supply path 13, the field effect transistor 15b is turned on and the drain terminal is at a low level. On the other hand, if the battery voltage is lower than the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor 15b, the field effect transistor 15b remains in the off state and becomes the drain terminal high level. The control unit 17 reads the voltage level of such a drain terminal and detects the battery 3.

  The battery detection unit 15 shown in FIG. 5B is composed of a shunt regulator IC. The anode terminal of the shunt regulator IC 15d is grounded, the REF terminal is connected to the battery 3, and the cathode terminal is connected to the power supply path 13 via the resistance element 15c. If the battery voltage is higher than the internal reference voltage of the shunt regulator IC 15d in a state where power is applied to the power supply path 13, the voltage at the cathode terminal becomes high level. On the other hand, if the battery voltage is lower than the internal reference voltage of the shunt regulator IC 15d, the voltage at the cathode terminal becomes low level. The controller 17 detects the battery 3 by reading the voltage level of the cathode terminal.

  FIG. 6 shows a main configuration of a toilet device to which the present invention is applied. The toilet device 1A is an example of an electric apparatus according to the present invention, and has a basic configuration in which a load unit such as cleaning, draining, showering, and toilet seat warming is operated by a commercial power source. Elements common to those shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  A drainage mechanism 19a is shown as a representative of the load section. The drainage mechanism 19a includes a turn trap 19b and a motor or the like (not shown) serving as a driving source thereof. The operation unit 24 includes a drain switch, a shower switch, a shower temperature adjustment switch, a toilet seat heater switch, a toilet seat temperature adjustment switch, and the like (not shown).

  The toilet apparatus 1A can operate the drainage mechanism 19a if a user installs a predetermined battery 3 in the battery mounting part 12 even during a power failure. The battery 3 may be removed after the power failure is restored. In the present invention, in order to prevent the user from forgetting to remove the battery, the battery warning unit 16 outputs a warning prompting the user to remove the battery 3. Thereby, damage to the toilet device 1A due to the leakage of the battery 3 is prevented.

  Each of the longitudinal sectional views of FIGS. 7 (a)-(b) is when the toilet device is viewed from the side, and FIG. 7 (a) shows a state waiting for drainage, and FIG. 7 (b). Indicates the state during drainage. In these drawings, the toilet seat 8, the lid, and the like are omitted.

  The toilet device 1A is a Western type, and a bowl portion 1b for receiving stool is opened on the upper surface of the toilet body 1a, and on the rear side (right side in the figure), a drainage mechanism 19a for discharging sewage, A water injection mechanism 19c for injecting tap water into the bowl portion 1b is provided.

  The drainage mechanism 19a is interposed between a drainage port 19d and a sewage port 19e provided behind the bowl portion 1b, and includes an airtight wall 19f and a turn trap 19b.

  The turn trap 19b is a bellows body made of a flexible resin or the like, and the tip thereof is either the trap position shown in FIG. 6 (a) or the purge position shown in FIG. 6 (b) by an arm 19g that rotates in the vertical direction. It is designed to be positioned. The arm 19g is rotated by a motor (not shown).

  Here, the trap position is a position waiting for drainage. At this time, the tap water is stored in the bowl portion 1b up to the level of the tip of the turn trap 19b facing upward, and shuts off the sewage port 19e. On the other hand, the purge position is a position at the time of drainage, and the sewage accumulated in the bowl portion 1b at this time is discharged to the sewage port 19e through the turn trap 19b facing downward.

  The water injection mechanism 19 c is configured by an electromagnetic valve or the like connected to a faucet of a water pipe, and operates based on the control of the control unit 17. For example, the valve closing timing of the water injection mechanism 19c is linked to the operation timing of the turn trap 19b. The tap water released from the water injection mechanism 19c is poured into the bowl portion 1b through the path indicated by the arrow in the figure.

  Even during a power failure of the commercial power source, if the power failure switch 21 is operated with the battery 3 attached, the drainage mechanism 19a including the turn trap 19b and the water injection mechanism 19c operate. However, additional functions such as a shower and a toilet seat heater are not activated in order to suppress the consumption of the battery 3. As the power failure switch 21, a lever 21a may be used.

  As a usage form of the toilet device 1A, the turn trap 19b is at a trap position before and during use of the toilet device 1A, and tap water is stored in the bowl portion 1b. After use of the toilet device 1A, tap water is poured from the water injection mechanism 19c in order to wash the bowl portion 1b by lever operation. At the same time, the turn trap 19b is at one end purge position, and the sewage collected in the bowl portion 1b is discharged through the sewage port 19e. When the predetermined time elapses, the turn trap 19b is returned to the trap position, but the tap water is continuously poured for a while, and the tap water is again stored in the bowl portion 1b.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric equipment 1A Toilet device 11 DC power supply circuit 12 Battery installation part 13 Feeding path 15 Battery detection part 15a Detection switch 16 Battery warning part 17 Power supply return judgment part 19a Drain mechanism 19b Turn trap 21 Power failure switch 3 Power supply battery

Claims (5)

In an electric device comprising a DC power supply circuit connected to a commercial power supply and a battery mounting portion of a power supply battery,
A battery detection unit for detecting a power supply battery mounted on the battery mounting unit;
An electrical apparatus comprising: a battery warning unit that outputs a warning prompting removal of the power supply battery if the power supply battery remains attached to the battery attachment unit after the commercial power supply recovers from a power failure. In claim 1,
A power failure switch that is operated during a power failure and connects the power supply path of the power battery,
A power supply path control unit that automatically shuts off the power supply path;
The electric device according to claim 1, wherein the battery detection unit includes a detection switch that physically detects a power battery attached to the battery attachment unit. In claim 1,
A power failure switch that is operated during a power failure to connect the power supply path of the power battery,
A power supply path controller that automatically connects and disconnects the power supply path;
The battery detection unit is configured to detect a battery voltage with the feeding path as a connected state. In claim 2 or 3,
An electric device further comprising a power supply return determination unit that determines whether a commercial power supply is recovered from a power failure when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the electric device. In any one of Claims 2-4,
The electrical device is a toilet device, and when the power failure switch is operated, a turn trap constituting a drainage mechanism is activated.

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