JP5388308B2 - Analog meter device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an analog meter device that detects and displays environmental data such as temperature and humidity.

  Generally, a thermohygrometer that displays temperature and humidity with an analog meter is known. Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are a combination of a bimetal thermometer and a telescopic hygrometer, and each pointer is moved using the expansion and contraction of an object accompanying a change in environment. It has become. As shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1, a coaxial type with a common central axis of rotation is also known for the pointer of the thermometer and the pointer of the hygrometer.

  There is also known a configuration in which temperature and humidity are detected by a predetermined sensor, and a pointer is driven by a motor in accordance with the detected value. Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose this type of thermometer and hygrometer. There are various types of sensors. For example, a temperature sensor is well known as a thermistor, and a humidity sensor is well known as a sensor that measures changes in conductivity associated with moisture absorption by a moisture sensitive body. In this way, the pointer driven by the motor has a smaller instruction delay and error, and the scale interval is completely constant, compared to the one that moves the pointer using the expansion and contraction of the object as described above. There is an advantage that the dial can be enlarged.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-38958 JP 2002-22848 A Japanese Patent No. 36553746 Special table 2007-537442 gazette

  Now, when the pointer is driven by a motor, although there are many advantages as described above, the problem of how to control the motor is important. This is because the motor control greatly affects the accuracy of the display, the stability of the behavior of the pointer, and the power consumption.

  The form of thermo-hygrometers tends to be diversified more and more with the purpose of use and higher performance, and it is necessary to further devise in order to achieve a more practical configuration for the motor driven pointer. it is conceivable that.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an analog meter device that is rationally configured as a device that displays environmental data such as temperature and humidity.

The invention described in claim 1 of the present application is directed to a sensor for detecting environmental data such as temperature and humidity, a dial on which a pointer is arranged, a movement for rotationally driving the pointer, and the environmental data detected by the sensor. In an analog meter device comprising a control means for controlling the movement according to
The movement drive system comprises a stepping motor capable of forward / reverse rotation, a speed reduction mechanism connected to the stepping motor, and a pointer pipe connected to the speed reduction mechanism,
The pointer is provided to support the pointer pipe,
When the amount of the environmental data corresponding to the rotation angle of the pointer per step of the stepping motor is A,
The pointer is for displaying the environmental data discretely at intervals of A,
The control means performs analog / digital conversion of the environmental data of the analog signal detected by the sensor at a predetermined time interval, and controls the movement so as to rotationally drive the pointer to a position where the converted value is displayed. shall,
Further, regarding the control of the movement by the control means, when the environmental data is converted from analog to digital, the value of the environmental data displayed at that time by the pointer is the environment before the analog to digital conversion. The analog meter device is configured such that when the difference is greater than or equal to data A, the pointer is rotationally driven, and when the difference is less than A, the pointer is not rotationally driven .

The invention described in claim 2 of the present application is directed to a sensor for detecting environmental data such as temperature and humidity, a dial on which a pointer is arranged, a movement for rotationally driving the pointer, and the environmental data detected by the sensor. In an analog meter device comprising a control means for controlling the movement according to
The sensor includes a first sensor and a second sensor that respectively detect different environmental data,
The pointer includes a first pointer and a second pointer having a common central axis of rotation,
The movement includes a first drive system that drives the first pointer, and a second drive system that drives the second pointer,
The first drive system and the second drive system of the movement include first and second stepping motors capable of forward and reverse rotation, first and second reduction mechanisms connected to the first and second stepping motors, and Comprising first and second pointer pipes connected to the speed reduction mechanism;
The first pointer and the second pointer are provided to be supported by the first and second pointer pipes,
The first pointer is driven to rotate according to one environmental data detected by the first sensor, and the second pointer is driven to rotate according to other environmental data detected by the second sensor; and , The drive area of the first pointer is provided on one of the right and left sides of the dial, and the drive area of the second pointer is provided on the other of the right and left sides of the dial,
The amount of the one environmental data corresponding to the rotation angle of the pointer per step of the first stepping motor is A, and it corresponds to the rotation angle of the pointer per step of the second stepping motor. When the amount of the other environmental data is B ,
The first pointer is to discretely display the one environmental data at intervals of A , and the second pointer is to discretely display the other environmental data at intervals of B ,
The control means performs analog-to-digital conversion on each environmental data of the analog signal detected by the sensor at a predetermined time interval, and rotates the movement so as to rotationally drive the pointer to a position where the converted value is displayed. Shall control
Further, regarding the control of the movement by the control means , when converting each of the environmental data into the analog-digital conversion ,
When the value of the one environmental data displayed by the first pointer is more than A with respect to the one environmental data before the analog / digital conversion, the first pointer is rotated. If the difference is less than A, do not rotate the first pointer.
Further , when the value of the other environmental data displayed by the second pointer is a difference of B or more with respect to the other environmental data before the analog-digital conversion, the second pointer is displayed. In the analog meter device, the second pointer is not rotationally driven when the difference is less than B.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the analog meter apparatus comprised rationally as an apparatus which displays environmental data, such as temperature and humidity, can be obtained.

1 is a front view showing an analog meter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an analog meter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view (figure seen from the back diagonal side) which shows a housing | casing in the Example of this invention. It is an external view (figure seen from the side slanting side) which shows a housing | casing in the Example of this invention. It is an external view (figure seen from front diagonally) which shows a movement concerning the Example of this invention. It is an external view (figure seen from the back slanting side) which shows the movement concerning the Example of this invention. It is an external view (figure seen from the side slanting side) which shows the movement concerning the Example of this invention. It is a back view which concerns on the Example of this invention and shows the inside of a movement. It is explanatory drawing which concerns on the Example of this invention and shows the inside of a movement. It is a front view which shows the analog meter apparatus (when the electric power remaining amount of a power supply has decreased) according to the Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a 1st pointer | guide concerning the Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd pointer | guide concerning the Example of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control of rotational driving of the pointer by the control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The analog meter device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a thermohygrometer that displays temperature and humidity as a plurality of environmental data. The analog meter device 1 is detected by sensors 210 and 220 that detect environmental data, a dial plate 400 on which hands 310 and 320 are arranged, a movement 500 that rotationally drives the hands 310 and 320, and sensors 210 and 220. And a control means 600 for controlling the movement 500 according to the environmental data. The sensor includes a first sensor 210 that detects temperature as environmental data and a second sensor 220 that detects humidity. As the pointer, a first pointer 310 and a second pointer 320 having a common central axis of rotation are provided.

  The movement 500 includes a first drive system 510 that drives the first pointer 310, a second drive system 520 that drives the second pointer 320, and a case body 530 that holds the first drive system 510 and the second drive system 520. It has.

  The analog meter device 1 is configured to rotationally drive the first pointer 310 according to the environmental data detected by the first sensor 210 and to rotationally drive the second pointer 320 according to the environmental data detected by the second sensor 220. It has become.

  The dial 400 is covered with a transparent cover 110 that is supported on the front surface of the housing 100 of the analog meter device 1. The first sensor 210, the second sensor 220, the movement 500, and the control means 600 are disposed inside the housing 100.

  The dial 400 is provided with a driving range of the first pointer 310 provided with a thermometer scale 401 at equal intervals around the rotation axes of the first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320, and a hygrometer scale 402. A driving range for the second pointer 320 is provided. Each of the hands 310 and 320 is configured to be rotationally driven in each driving range.

  The illustrated case 100 is circular and thin, and at its back, a locking portion 120 for locking to a hook on the wall side and a retractable leg 130 for leaning it are provided. Yes. Reference numeral 140 in the figure denotes a battery box for storing a battery that serves as the power source 10 of the analog meter device 1.

  Next, the movement 500 of this example will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the movement 500 of this example is configured by housing a first drive system 510 and a second drive system 520 in a thin case body 530. The control means 600 is a circuit board provided with a required circuit, and is mounted on the front surface of the case body 530, and the first sensor 210 and the second sensor 220 are mounted on the circuit board.

  That is, in the manufacture of the analog meter device 1, the first drive system 510 and the second drive system 520 are provided inside the case body 530 to create the movement 500, and the first sensor 210, the second sensor 220, and the movement 500 are formed. , And the control means 600 are assembled into one unit, which is arranged inside the housing 100. According to such a configuration, complication of assembling work can be avoided. Further, if such a unit is arranged inside the housing 100, the design and size of the housing 100 can be easily changed. That is, the degree of freedom in designing the analog meter device 1 is improved, and various product developments can be easily performed.

  In particular, providing the sensors 210 and 220 on the circuit board serving as the control means 600 has an advantage that it is easy to ensure the detection accuracy by the sensors 210 and 220. Generally, when a sensor is connected to a substrate via a lead wire, a measurement error occurs in sensor detection due to the electrical resistance, wiring capacitance, etc. of the lead wire. In this respect, according to this example, such a measurement error problem can be avoided. The number of parts is reduced and the detection accuracy is improved. Further, when designing the housing, it is not necessary to consider where the sensor is arranged, so that the design work is facilitated.

  The first drive system 510 includes a first stepping motor 511 capable of forward / reverse rotation, a first reduction mechanism 512 connected to the first stepping motor 511, and a first pointer pipe 513 connected to the first reduction mechanism 512. At the same time, the second drive system 520 includes a second stepping motor 521 capable of forward / reverse rotation, a second reduction mechanism 522 connected to the second stepping motor 521, and a second pointer connected to the second reduction mechanism 522. It consists of a pipe 523. Each speed reduction mechanism 512, 522 is a train wheel having a predetermined gear ratio set, and a gear portion that meshes with each speed reduction mechanism 512, 522 is provided at the base end portion of each pointer pipe 513, 523, respectively. ing.

  The first indicator pipe 513 and the second indicator pipe 523 are provided so that one of them is inserted into the other and protrudes outside the front surface of the case body 530. A hole 601 that penetrates through the first pointer pipe 513 and the second pointer pipe 523 is provided at a key portion of the circuit board that is the control means 600. The first pointer pipe 513 and the second pointer pipe 523 project the case body 530 inside the housing 100 and the center of the dial 400. The first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320 are provided to be supported by the first pointer pipe 513 and the second pointer pipe 523, respectively.

  In addition, the movement 500 of this example includes a position detection unit 540 that detects the positions of the first pointer pipe 513 and the second pointer pipe 523. The illustrated position detecting means 540 includes a light emitting element 541 and a light receiving element 542. The light emitting element 541 and the light receiving element 542 are arranged so as to sandwich the first driving system 510 and the second driving system 520 therebetween. Specifically, one of the light emitting element 541 and the light receiving element 542 is provided on a circuit board serving as the control means 600, and the other of them is provided at an important point on the back side of the case body 530. A light transmitting portion 543 that transmits light from the light emitting element 541 is provided at the main points of the first driving system 510 and the second driving system 520 located between the light emitting element 541 and the light receiving element 542. An LED is used as the light emitting element 541 and a phototransistor is used as the light receiving element 542. At the time of position detection, the first drive system 510 and the second drive system 520 are driven while the light emitting element 541 is turned on. The positions of the pointer pipes 513 and 523 are specified from the detection pattern of the light receiving element 542 at that time.

  The position detection by the position detection means 540 is executed when a reset switch 710 provided on the back surface of the housing is pressed. Or you may comprise so that it may perform regularly (for example, once a day) by the control means 600 provided with the time measuring means. After detecting the positions of the first pointer pipe 513 and the second pointer pipe 523, the control unit 600 counts the number of steps of the first stepping motor 511 and the second stepping motor 521 to count the first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320. Each indicated position is recognized.

  In the case of this example, a monitor switch 720 is provided on the front surface or side surface of the housing 100. In this example, the control means 600 stores a maximum temperature, a minimum temperature, a maximum humidity, and a minimum humidity in a predetermined time zone (for example, a time zone from 24 hours before to the present time), and this monitor switch 720. When is pressed, the first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320 are displayed according to the indicated positions. That is, the past environment data is displayed.

  For example, when the monitor switch 720 is pressed once, the first pointer 310 indicates the maximum temperature and the second pointer 320 indicates the maximum humidity, and when pressed twice, the first pointer 310 indicates the minimum temperature and the second pointer 320. Indicates the minimum humidity. If the button is pressed three times or if the monitor switch 720 is not pressed for a certain time (for example, 30 seconds), the first pointer 310 returns to the current temperature and the second pointer 320 returns to the current humidity. A speaker 730 is provided inside the housing 100. When the monitor switch 720 is pressed, a desired announcement flows along with the melody. Or you may comprise so that the past environmental data may be displayed regularly by the control means 600 provided with the time measuring means.

  Thus, according to the structure which displays the past environmental data, the multifunctionalization of the analog meter device 1 can be achieved.

  Furthermore, in this example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the remaining amount of power of the power source 10 is reduced, the first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320 are overlapped and stopped. When the voltage of the power source 10 falls below a predetermined value set in advance, the control means 600 drives the first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320 to a predetermined position before the power is completely cut off. Stop them in position. Between the thermometer scale 401 and the hygrometer scale 402, there is provided a blank portion 403 in which the scales 401 and 402 are not provided, and the first pointer 310 and the second pointer 320 are the blank portion. It stops at the position where 403 is indicated.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to promptly notify the person viewing the analog meter device 1 that the battery has run out. If the battery runs out while the environmental data is displayed, the hands 310 and 320 remain displaying the environmental data when the battery runs out, and the person viewing the analog meter device 1 uses the current environmental data as the current environmental data. There is a possibility of misunderstanding. In this respect, according to the present example, since it can be recognized at a glance that the battery has run out, such inconvenience can be avoided.

  Next, the rotational driving of the hands 310 and 320 at the time of displaying environmental data will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 11, when the amount of environmental data (temperature) corresponding to the rotation angle of the first pointer 310 per step of the first stepping motor 511 is A, the first pointer 310 converts the environmental data into A Are displayed discretely at intervals. In the illustrated example, the rotation angle of the first pointer 310 per step of the first stepping motor 511 is 0.5 °, and the amount of environmental data corresponding to the rotation angle is 0.2 ° C. The scale 401 of the thermometer is 5 times A, that is, 1 ° C. intervals.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the amount of environmental data (humidity) corresponding to the rotation angle of the second pointer 320 per step of the second stepping motor 521 is B, the second pointer 320 is the environmental data. Are discretely displayed at intervals of B. In the illustrated example, the rotation angle of the second pointer 320 per step of the second stepping motor 521 is 1 °, and the amount of environmental data corresponding to the rotation angle is 0.5%. The hygrometer scale 402 is twice B, that is, at an interval of 1%.

  Each of the first sensor 210 and the second sensor 220 detects predetermined environmental data as an analog signal. The control means 600 performs analog-digital conversion on each environmental data of the analog signals detected by the first sensor 210 and the second sensor 220 at a predetermined time interval, and the first pointer 310 is located at a position where the converted value is displayed. The movement 500 is controlled so that the second pointer 320 is driven to rotate. In the case of a thermometer or hygrometer that is routinely used in a general lifestyle, the practical time range is 20 seconds or more and 180 seconds or less, and in this example, the interval is 60 seconds. .

  As described above, according to the configuration in which the hands 310 and 320 are rotationally driven at a time interval of 20 seconds or more, unnecessary behavior of the hands 310 and 320, such that the hands 310 and 320 reciprocate in small increments due to slight changes in environmental data. Can be avoided. Power consumption can also be reduced.

  Further, in this example, focusing on the point that unnecessary behavior of the hands 310 and 320 is avoided, the following configuration is adopted for the control of the movement 500 by the control means 600. That is, when the environmental data of the first sensor 210 is converted from analog to digital, the value of the environmental data displayed by the first pointer 310 is shifted by A or more from the environmental data before analog to digital conversion. If not, the first pointer 310 is not rotated. Similarly, when the environmental data of the second sensor 220 is converted from analog to digital, the value of the environmental data displayed by the second pointer 320 at that time is B with respect to the environmental data before analog / digital conversion. When there is no deviation, the second pointer 320 is not rotated.

  The analog signals output from the sensors 210 and 220 are converted from analog to digital based on preset threshold values. For example, in the case of temperature, the threshold value between 20.0 ° C. and 20.2 ° C. is set to 20.1 ° C. According to the analog-digital conversion, if the environmental data based on the analog signal of the first sensor 210 is less than 20.1 ° C., it is 20.0 ° C., and if it is 20.1 ° C. or higher, it is 20.2 ° C. Here, in a place where the temperature change is small, assuming that the environmental data based on the analog signal is stable for a long time in the range of about 0.1 ° C. before and after 20.1 ° C., the first is shown despite the small temperature change. A phenomenon may be considered in which the pointer 310 reciprocates between a position indicating 20.0 ° C. and a position indicating 20.2 ° C. at predetermined time intervals. Since the resolution of the temperature display of the analog meter device 1 is A, such a movement of the first pointer 310 is unnecessary. Therefore, if the environmental data value displayed by the first pointer 310 is 20.0 ° C., and the environmental data before analog / digital conversion is not shifted by 0.2 ° C. or more, the first pointer 310 is driven to rotate. I tried not to.

  Similarly, in the case of humidity, for example, the threshold value between 50.0% and 50.5% is set to 50.25%. According to the analog-digital conversion, if the environmental data based on the analog signal of the second sensor 220 is less than 50.25%, it is 50.0%, and if it is 50.25% or more, it is 50.5%. Here, assuming that the environmental data based on the analog signal is stable for a long time in the range of about 0.25% before and after 50.25% in a place where the humidity change is small, the second is obtained even though the humidity change is small. A phenomenon may be considered in which the pointer 320 reciprocates between a position indicating 50.0% and a position indicating 50.5% at a predetermined time interval. Since the analog meter device 1 has a humidity display resolution B, such movement of the second pointer 320 is unnecessary. Therefore, when the environmental data value displayed by the second pointer 320 is 50.0%, and the environmental data before analog-digital conversion is not shifted by 0.25% or more, the second pointer 320 is rotationally driven. I tried not to.

  As shown in FIG. 13, each sensor 210, 220 detects temperature and humidity as analog signals every 60 seconds (Step 1) (Step 2). Then, if the temperature value displayed by the first pointer 310 is shifted by 0.2 ° C. or more with respect to the temperature before analog / digital conversion, the control means 600 converts the detected temperature from analog to digital. Then, the first pointer 310 is rotationally driven (Steps 3 and 4). If it is not shifted by 0.2 ° C. or more, it is not rotationally driven. Further, if the humidity value displayed by the second pointer 320 is shifted by 0.5% or more with respect to the humidity before the analog / digital conversion, the detected humidity is converted into the second pointer by analog / digital conversion. 320 is rotationally driven (Steps 5 and 6). If it does not deviate 0.5% or more, it will not rotate. Such a configuration is more effective in avoiding unnecessary behavior of the hands 310 and 320, and can reduce power consumption more reliably.

  As described above, the analog meter device of this example is extremely rationally configured as a thermohygrometer that drives a pointer with a motor. In addition, it is needless to say that the configuration of each part in the present example can be appropriately changed in design within the technical scope described in the claims, and is not limited to that illustrated in the drawings. For example, in this example, the temperature and humidity are detected and displayed as the environmental data. Alternatively, other environmental data such as atmospheric pressure may be detected and displayed.

  The analog meter device of the present invention can be suitably used as an analog temperature / humidity meter.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Analog meter apparatus 10 Power supply 100 Case 110 Transparent cover 120 Locking part 130 Retractable leg 140 Battery box 210 1st sensor 220 2nd sensor 310 1st pointer 320 2nd pointer 400 Dial 401 Thermometer scale 402 Humidity Scale 403 Blank part 500 Movement 510 First drive system 511 First stepping motor 512 First reduction mechanism 513 First pointer pipe 520 Second drive system 521 Second stepping motor 522 Second reduction mechanism 523 Second pointer pipe 530 Case Body 540 Position detecting means 541 Light emitting element 542 Light receiving element 543 Light transmitting portion 600 Control means 601 Hole portion 710 Reset switch 720 Monitor switch 730 Speaker

Claims (2)

A sensor for detecting environmental data such as temperature and humidity; a dial on which hands are arranged; a movement for rotating the hands; and a control means for controlling the movement according to the environmental data detected by the sensors; In an analog meter device equipped with
The movement drive system comprises a stepping motor capable of forward / reverse rotation, a speed reduction mechanism connected to the stepping motor, and a pointer pipe connected to the speed reduction mechanism,
The pointer is provided to support the pointer pipe,
When the amount of the environmental data corresponding to the rotation angle of the pointer per step of the stepping motor is A,
The pointer is for displaying the environmental data discretely at intervals of A,
The control means performs analog / digital conversion of the environmental data of the analog signal detected by the sensor at a predetermined time interval, and controls the movement so as to rotationally drive the pointer to a position where the converted value is displayed. shall,
Further, regarding the control of the movement by the control means, when the environmental data is converted from analog to digital, the value of the environmental data displayed at that time by the pointer is the environment before the analog to digital conversion. An analog meter device characterized in that when the difference is greater than or equal to A, the pointer is rotationally driven, and when the difference is less than A, the pointer is not rotationally driven . A sensor for detecting environmental data such as temperature and humidity; a dial on which hands are arranged; a movement for rotating the hands; and a control means for controlling the movement according to the environmental data detected by the sensors; In an analog meter device equipped with
The sensor includes a first sensor and a second sensor that respectively detect different environmental data,
The pointer includes a first pointer and a second pointer having a common central axis of rotation,
The movement includes a first drive system that drives the first pointer, and a second drive system that drives the second pointer,
The first drive system and the second drive system of the movement include first and second stepping motors capable of forward and reverse rotation, first and second reduction mechanisms connected to the first and second stepping motors, and Comprising first and second pointer pipes connected to the speed reduction mechanism;
The first pointer and the second pointer are provided to be supported by the first and second pointer pipes,
The first pointer is driven to rotate according to one environmental data detected by the first sensor, and the second pointer is driven to rotate according to other environmental data detected by the second sensor; and , The drive area of the first pointer is provided on one of the right and left sides of the dial, and the drive area of the second pointer is provided on the other of the right and left sides of the dial,
The amount of the one environmental data corresponding to the rotation angle of the pointer per step of the first stepping motor is A, and it corresponds to the rotation angle of the pointer per step of the second stepping motor. When the amount of the other environmental data is B ,
The first pointer is to discretely display the one environmental data at intervals of A , and the second pointer is to discretely display the other environmental data at intervals of B ,
The control means performs analog-to-digital conversion on each environmental data of the analog signal detected by the sensor at a predetermined time interval, and rotates the movement so as to rotationally drive the pointer to a position where the converted value is displayed. Shall control
Further, regarding the control of the movement by the control means , when converting each of the environmental data into the analog-digital conversion ,
When the value of the one environmental data displayed by the first pointer is more than A with respect to the one environmental data before the analog / digital conversion, the first pointer is rotated. If the difference is less than A, do not rotate the first pointer.
Further , when the value of the other environmental data displayed by the second pointer is a difference of B or more with respect to the other environmental data before the analog-digital conversion, the second pointer is displayed. The analog meter device is characterized in that when the difference is less than B, the second pointer is not rotated.

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