JP2564052B2 - Water supply controller - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water supply controller for detecting a user's operation by a photoelectric switch or the like in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a water heater, which is a water heater, a photoelectric switch is provided on a hot water outlet pipe or the like, and when the photoelectric switch responds to a user's operation, the water supply operation is started or stopped each time. It is considered that the hot water is discharged and the hot water is stopped. In this case, when the photoelectric switch detects the user and the photoelectric switch issues a user detection signal, the controller for controlling the water supply operation starts the operation for starting or stopping the water supply.

[0003]

However, in a water heater or the like, the operation for starting water supply is usually performed by hand, so that even if water supply is started immediately after the operation, hot water flowing out is discharged. Can not be used immediately, and hot and cold water is easily wasted. In water heaters, etc., when the water supply is stopped, the hot water outlet pipe may be moved away from the sink water tank to the wall side.In such a case, a photoelectric switch that detects the operation without contact may be used. If it is equipped with, the photoelectric switch or the like will react to the wall surface or the part other than the sink of the sink to start the water supply, and there is a problem that the water supply must be stopped again each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the usability of a water supply device provided with a photoelectric switch or the like for detecting a user's operation in a non-contact manner and to provide a control device in which malfunction does not easily occur.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water supply controller for controlling the water supply operation of a water supply device having a movable water supply pipe portion at the downstream end of the water supply pipe, and a user who uses the water supply device. In order to contactlessly detect the water supply start operation operation of, the movable water supply pipe part is provided with a sensing part for sensing the presence of an object or the like within a predetermined distance, and while the sensing part senses the object or the like, An object sensing means for sending an object sensing signal, and a water supply control means for starting a water supply operation by judging completion of a water supply start operation by the user when the object sensing signal sent by the object sensing means stops. The technical means to have.

[0006]

According to the present invention, since the movable water supply pipe section at the downstream end of the water supply pipe is provided with the sensing unit for detecting the operation operation of the water supply start by the user, the user can move before using the water supply. when moving the formula water supply pipe section to the position required to use water, if the presence of a hand Ru sensed by the sensing unit, the object detection signal is sent emitted. Water supply a movable water supply pipe part
When the hand is moved away from the movable water supply pipe part after moving to the position required for use , the object detection signal is stopped, so the water supply control means determines that the user has completed the water supply start operation. , to start the water supply operation. Further, while performing a water supply start operation, because the hand or the like is sensed by the sensing unit,
Water supply does not start, so keep your hands away from the sensing unit
Therefore, the water supply is started at the time when the water supply start operation is finished and the hands, etc. are brought closer to the hot water outlet, so that the hot water does not flow out while the hands, etc. are away from the hot water outlet, so the hot water is wasted. do not become. When an operation for stopping the water supply is performed during the water supply, the control operation of the water supply stop is performed and the water supply is stopped. Also, since the water supply operation is started after the object detection signal stops, when the movable water supply pipe part is moved to the wall side after using the water supply device, the detection part of the object detection means accidentally reacts with the wall etc. Then, even if an object is sensed, the water supply operation is not started until the sensing state is released and the object sensing signal is stopped. Therefore, the water supply start operation is not erroneously performed, and there is no need to stop the water supply operation after the start of water supply due to the malfunction. Furthermore, when the movable water supply pipe part is moved to a wall after use, and if an object such as a wall is detected, then when using the water supply device, simply move the movable water supply pipe part to the required position. It is easy to use because the water supply can be started immediately just by moving to.

[0007]

According to the present invention, since the movable water supply pipe part is provided with the sensing part for detecting the operation operation of the user, the operation for moving the position of the movable water supply pipe part due to water supply is performed. can also serves as the operation for the start of the water supply by performing, separately, even without an operation for the start of the water supply, it is possible to provide easily an indication of the water supply start. In the water supply device, the movable water supply pipe part may be moved to the wall side after using water, etc., but in such a case, the water supply operation starts unless the object detection signal stops even if the sensor detects the wall etc. Water will not be accidentally supplied because it will not be done. Further, when the water supply start operation is performed, water is not supplied while the hand is away from the water supply port, so that wasteful water supply is not performed. Therefore, it is easy to use.

[0008]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be explained based on examples. The gas water heater 1 as a water supply device shown in FIG. 2 is provided with an infrared sensor 30 in a hot water outlet pipe 20 below the main body, and a water supply operation and a water supply stop operation are performed each time the infrared sensor 30 detects a user. It is a water heater that can perform reversibly without touching.

Inside the main body cover 2 of the gas water heater 1,
As shown in FIG. 3, a water supply pipe 3 connected to water supply,
A burner 4 for heating the water passing through the water supply pipe 3 is provided. The water supply pipe 3 is provided with a water shutoff valve 5 that is opened and closed by a motor 5a, and a water governor 6 that adjusts the inflow water pressure by including a diaphragm that serves as a drive unit for a water pressure responsive valve 11 described later.
A heat exchanger 8 provided with a manually operated flow rate control valve 7 and a heat absorbing cylinder for absorbing the heat of the burner 4 was provided, and a flexible pipe made of metal was provided with a resin pipe cover at its downstream end. A tap pipe 20 is swingably connected.

On the other hand, the gas supply pipe 9 for supplying the fuel gas to the burner 4 is opened and closed by an electromagnetic safety valve 10 having two coils, an adsorption coil and a holding coil, and a hydraulic pressure which is opened and closed by a diaphragm provided in the water governor 6. A response valve 11, a gas governor 12 that keeps the gas supply pressure constant, and a gas control valve 13 that controls the gas supply amount to the burner 4 by manual operation are provided. The shower head 21 of the hot water outlet pipe 20 is provided with an infrared sensor 30 together with a water flow switching knob 22 for switching the shape of the outflow water by a well-known mechanism.

The infrared sensor 30 includes a light emitting diode 31 which emits infrared light and a photodiode 3 which receives infrared light.
A combination of two and is connected to a control device 50 provided inside the main body cover 2 by a lead wire (not shown) provided on the hot water outlet pipe 20. Infrared sensor 30
Is for emitting infrared rays to the outside by the light emitting diode 31 and mainly when reflected by the user's hand, the reflected light is received by the photodiode 32 to detect the operation of the user. Infrared sensor 30
Is a sensor control circuit 60 in the control device 50 described later.
By being controlled by, it operates as a photoelectric switch for instructing the water supply operation of the gas water heater 1.

Next, the control device 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 50 includes a sensor control circuit 60,
Composed of a switching circuit 51, a water valve control circuit 52, a combustion control circuit 53, a dry battery 54 as a power source, and a power switch 55 provided in front of the gas water heater 1 to close the combustion control. Sensor control circuit 60 excluding circuit 53, switching circuit 51, water valve control circuit 52
Is supplied with power.

The sensor control circuit 60 includes an infrared sensor 30.
A photoelectric switch is formed together therewith, the user is detected based on the infrared sensor 30, each time the user is detected, the water supply state and the water supply stop state are switched, and the switching circuit 51 and the water valve control circuit 52 are provided. To control.

The switching circuit 51 includes a power switch 5
5 is a circuit for controlling whether or not the power of the dry cell 54 supplied via 5 is supplied to the combustion control circuit 53, and when a control signal as a water supply state is transmitted from the sensor control circuit 60,
A transistor (not shown) as a switching element is turned on to perform energization operation, and when a control signal in a water supply stop state is transmitted, the transistor is turned off to stop energization. In addition to the control signal from the sensor control circuit 60, the switching circuit 51 is provided with the water pressure responsive valve 11 as a switch that outputs a signal for controlling the energization of the combustion control circuit 53, and the water pressure responsive valve 11 supplies the gas. Tube 9
Valve switch 51a for detecting opening of the valve
And a hot / cold water changeover switch 51b provided in front of the gas water heater 1, and the energizing operation described above detects that the response valve switch 51a has opened the gas supply pipe 9 and closes the contact. And the hot and cold water changeover switch 51b
Is performed only when hot water is selected and the contacts are closed, and power is supplied to the combustion control circuit 53.
If the contact of one of the switches 51a and 51b is not closed, the switching operation is not performed and the power supply to the fuel control circuit 53 is not performed.

The water valve control circuit 52 is a sensor control circuit 60.
Motor 5 for driving the water shutoff valve 5 according to the control signal of
In the circuit for energizing a, the motor 5a is energized every time the operation by the user is detected by the sensor control circuit 60 and the water supply state and the water supply stop state are switched. here,
When a control signal indicating each state is transmitted from the sensor control circuit 60, if the control signal is different from the detection state of the position detection switch 5b that detects the state of the water shutoff valve 5, the motor 5a is driven and the sensor When the control signal of the control circuit 60 and the detection state of the position detection switch 5b match, the motor 5
The energization of a is stopped.

The combustion control circuit 53 is a switching circuit 5
When electric power is supplied via 1, the electromagnetic safety valve 10 is opened by a predetermined valve opening control, the ignition operation is performed by the igniter 4a to ignite the burner 4, and the flame rod 4b ignites the burner 4. When detected, the ignition operation is ended. Further, the incombustion is detected by the thermocouple 4c, and in the case of abnormal combustion, the electromagnetic safety valve 10 is closed to stop the combustion.

Next, the sensor control circuit 60 will be described with reference to FIG. The sensor control circuit 60 detects a signal of a frequency dividing circuit 62 that divides the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 61 into a pulse signal of 16 Hz, an LED driver circuit 63 for driving the light emitting diode 31, and a signal of the photodiode 32 as a light receiving signal. A light receiving detection circuit 64, a synchronization gate 65,
The light receiving continuation confirmation circuit 66, a reset timer circuit 67, a count circuit 68, an output determination circuit 69, and an output holding circuit 70.

As shown in FIG. 5, the output of the frequency dividing circuit 62 is a pulse signal provided with a very short pulse width of 61 μS with respect to a pulse period of 62.5 mS. In response to the pulse signal output from the circuit 62, the light emitting diode 31 is energized to generate pulsed infrared rays, and according to the pulse signal from the frequency dividing circuit 62,
A very short lighting time of 61 μS is given for a pulse period of 62.5 mS.

The received light detection circuit 64 is composed of the photodiode 3
When the infrared ray 2 receives the infrared ray, an output signal corresponding to the infrared ray is generated, and the output signal is transmitted to the synchronization gate 65 and the continuous light receiving confirmation circuit 66. Here, when infrared light is received by the photodiode 32, if the received infrared light is not so large compared to the previous light receiving state, it is not considered that the infrared light emitted by the light emitting diode 31 is reflected. Therefore, the light reception is detected only when the infrared light received by the photodiode 32 largely changes.

The synchronizing gate 65 is a circuit which opens the gate only when it is synchronized with the pulsed infrared rays emitted from the light emitting diode 31 and transmits the output signal of the light receiving detection circuit 64 to the counting circuit 68. When the infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode 31 is reflected by the user's operation, the photodiode 32 is turned on during the time when the light emitting diode 31 is turned on according to the ON signal of the frequency dividing circuit 62. It will be received. As a result, the light receiving signal is transmitted to the counting circuit 68 only when the infrared light synchronized with the light emitting signal of the light emitting diode 31 is received.

The light reception continuity confirmation circuit 66 determines whether or not the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting diode 31 and reflected by the user's operation are continuously received, and a reset signal corresponding to each state is given. This is a circuit for sending to the counting circuit 68. When the infrared light is received by the photodiode 32, and the infrared light is emitted from the light emitting diode 31 and reflected by the operation of the user or the like, the pulse repetition period of the pulse signal of the frequency dividing circuit 62 is changed. Since the light is always received once in the interval,
If the infrared light reception signal is transmitted between the transmission of the pulse of the pulse signal generated by the frequency division circuit 62 and the transmission of the next pulse, it is determined that the light reception is in progress and the frequency division circuit 62 If the light reception signal is not transmitted from the time to the transmission of the next pulse, it is determined that the light reception is not continued. Count circuit 68 by light reception continuity confirmation circuit 66
When it is determined that the light reception is not continued, the reset signal is continuously transmitted to the count circuit 68 regardless of the reset signal from the reset timer circuit 67, and the light reception is continued. When it is determined that the reset signal is transmitted from the reset timer circuit 67 in a predetermined cycle, the reset signal is transmitted to the count circuit 68.

As described above, the reset timer circuit 67 is a circuit for generating a reset signal for resetting the count circuit 68, and the 16H generated by the frequency dividing circuit 62.
250m where the pulse signal of z is further divided to 4Hz
A pulse signal having a pulse width of 31 mS is generated with a period of S.

The counting circuit 68 is a circuit for counting the light receiving signals that have passed through the synchronizing gate 65. When the first light receiving signal is transmitted after being reset, the counting gate is opened, and the light receiving signals transmitted thereafter are counted. To do. When the light reception signal is not transmitted and the light reception is not continued, the reset signal from the light reception continuation confirmation circuit 66 is received, the counted value is cleared, and the next light reception signal is waited. Therefore, when there is no light receiving signal, the light receiving signal is always in the reset state, and when the light receiving signal is transmitted, the reset is performed in the cycle of 250 mS according to the reset signal from the reset timer circuit 67.

The output determination circuit 69 determines whether or not there is an operation by the user based on the count result of the count circuit 68. As described above, while the light reception signal detected by the light reception detection circuit 64 continues, the reset signal from the reset timer circuit 67 is repeatedly transmitted to the count circuit 68 via the light reception continuation confirmation circuit 66 at a cycle of 250 mS. Since it is transmitted, if the received light signal is not due to disturbance, the synchronized received light signal is transmitted to the counting circuit 68 four times even at the maximum including the signal for opening the gate for counting. Only Therefore, the output determination circuit 69 determines that the synchronized light reception signal is counted three times due to the user's operation, and determines the number of lighting of the light emitting diode 31 driven by the output of the frequency dividing circuit 62. The output signal of the frequency dividing circuit 62 is collated with the separately counted count number, and it is confirmed that the synchronized count number of the light receiving signal and the count number of the light emitting diode 31 driven to light up match. At this time, it is determined that the user has been detected.

The output holding circuit 70 determines the output as a photoelectric switch based on the user detection signal of the output determination circuit 69. Here, even if a user detection signal is sent from the output determination circuit 69, the output is not immediately inverted,
Until the next reset signal is transmitted from the reset timer circuit 67 and the determination of the user's detection is made, the system waits in that state, and the output is inverted when the user detection signal is interrupted in the determination of the user's detection. I do. As a result, when the user is continuously detected, the output as the photoelectric switch is not inverted while the user detection signal is continuously transmitted, and the operation operation of the user is finished. Then, when the user moves away from the infrared sensor 30 and the user detection signal stops, the output is inverted for the first time. Therefore, the water supply operation is not started immediately after the user detection.

Next, the sensor control circuit 6 having the above configuration
The operation of 0 will be described based on FIG. Power switch 5
When 5 is turned on, a predetermined pulse oscillation is started in the oscillation circuit 61 and converted into a 16 Hz pulse signal in the frequency dividing circuit 62. The light emitting diode 31 is driven according to the pulse signal and emits pulsed light. On the other hand, the infrared light is received by the photodiode 32,
When detected by the light reception detection circuit 64, the light reception signal is transmitted to the synchronization determination circuit 65 and the light reception continuation confirmation circuit 66. The light-reception continuation confirmation circuit 66 stops the reset signal to the count circuit 68 in response to the light-reception signal, whereby the count circuit 68 opens the gate for counting the light-reception signal from the synchronization gate 65, and then transmits the signal. The received light signal synchronized with the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting diode 31 is counted.

At this time, if the received infrared ray is due to the operation of the user, the infrared ray corresponding to the pulse signal of 16 Hz is received, so that the light receiving detection circuit 64 continuously detects the infrared ray. , Light reception continuity confirmation circuit 6
Since it is determined in 6 that light reception is continuing, the reset signal from the reset timer circuit 67 is transmitted to the counting circuit 68 at 250 mS. When the infrared light corresponding to the pulsed infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode 31 is received by the photodiode 32, the light receiving signal is delayed by a minute time with respect to the light emission start timing of the light emitting diode 31. Is received as a signal, which is a light receiving signal during light emission in the light emitting diode 31, that is, a light receiving signal during the pulse forming time in the pulse signal by the frequency dividing circuit 62. Therefore, the received light signal is transmitted to the counting circuit 68 and counted while the synchronization gate 65, which opens the gate in accordance with the output signal of the frequency dividing circuit 62, is open. When the infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode 31 is reflected by the user and continuously received by the photodiode 32, the counter circuit 68 is reset by the reset signal from the reset timer circuit 67, and then 4 times in succession. Since one light receiving signal is transmitted to the counter circuit 68 through the synchronizing gate 65 and the remaining light receiving signals except the first light receiving signal are counted, the count value becomes "3", and the output judging circuit 69 When the user detection is determined, and then the user moves away from the infrared sensor 30 and the user is no longer detected, the output as the photoelectric switch is determined and the output is inverted.

On the other hand, when a plurality of infrared rays due to disturbance are continuously received by the photodiode 32, the counting circuit 68 starts counting by the first infrared ray, but the subsequent infrared rays are reset by the counting circuit 68. Since there is almost no synchronization with the light emission of the light emitting diode 31 three times before being reset by the reset signal of the cycle of 250 mS of the timer circuit 67, it cannot pass through the synchronization gate 65, and infrared rays are continuously received. Even if it is done, user detection will not be erroneously performed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the gas water heater 1 has a water supply operation and a water supply operation according to the user detection signal of the sensor control circuit 60 each time the user is once detected and then the user is no longer detected. The stop operation is reversed. Further, when the hot water switch 51b is selected to be hot water, the burner 4 is ignited together with the water supply operation, and the hot water flows out. In addition, when the hot water outlet pipe 20 is moved to a wall near the sink when the use of the gas water heater 1 is finished, the infrared sensor 30 receives the infrared light reflected by the wall and erroneously detects a user detection signal. Even if the water is emitted, the sensor control circuit 60 does not invert the output as the photoelectric switch until the user detection signal stops, so that water supply does not start and the photoelectric switch does not start. Since there is no outflow of hot water due to the malfunction of, there is no need to stop the hot water again.

As described above, in the present invention, since the operation for starting or stopping the water supply is performed after the user is no longer detected, the hot and cold water is unlikely to be wasted. Further, when the hot water outlet pipe 20 is brought close to the wall, even if the infrared sensor 30 or the wall reacts with the wall, the control operation relating to the water shutoff valve 5 is not performed until the hot water outlet pipe 20 is moved away from the wall. ,
It has few malfunctions and is easy to use.

Although the infrared sensor 30 is provided on the side of the tap pipe 20 in the above embodiment, it may be provided on the lower side. In that case, even if a portion of the sink other than the sink is detected, no malfunction occurs. Further, although the gas water heater is shown as the water supply device, it may be a water supply device provided in a sink, a washbasin, or the like. Although the water flow switching knob 22 and the infrared sensor 30 are shown on the same side surface of the shower head 21 in the drawing, the position of the infrared sensor 30 relative to the position of the water flow switching knob 22 is 90 degrees or 1 degree.
If the angle is changed, such as 80 degrees, the infrared sensor 30 does not react when switching the water flow, which improves usability.

In the above embodiment, the output signal of the frequency dividing circuit for controlling the light emitting diode is used to determine whether or not the light receiving signal is synchronized with the light emission of the light emitting diode. A light receiving element for receiving light may be provided and the synchronization may be determined based on the light receiving signal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a sensor control circuit in a gas water heater controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a gas water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a gas circuit and a water circuit in the gas water heater of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control device in the gas water heater according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the sensor control circuit in the gas water heater showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the relationship between the user detection signal and the water supply operation in the gas water heater of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 gas water heater (water heater) 30 infrared sensor (operation detection means) 50 control device (water heater control device)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water supply controller for controlling a water supply operation of a water supply device having a movable water supply pipe section at a downstream end of the water supply pipe, wherein a water supply start operation operation of a user who uses the water supply device is non-contact. In order to detect the object, the movable water supply pipe part is provided with a sensing part for sensing the presence of an object or the like within a predetermined distance, and an object sensing that sends an object sensing signal while the object or the like is sensed by the sensing part. Means, and water supply control means for starting the water supply operation by determining the completion of the water supply start operation by the user when the object detection signal sent by the object detection means is stopped. Water supply controller.