JP7657541B2 - Ion generating devices and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ion generating device and an electrical device equipped with the ion generating device.

One example of an ion generating device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This ion generating device includes a first discharge electrode for emitting positive ions, a second discharge electrode for emitting negative ions, and an induction electrode for forming an electric field between the first discharge electrode and the second discharge electrode.

JP 2017-216182 A

In the ion generating device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the substrate on which the first and second discharge electrodes are formed is different from the substrate on which the induction electrode is formed, so the number of parts constituting the device increases. As a result, the device becomes larger and the cost increases.

One aspect of the present invention aims to realize a small, low-cost ion generating device.

In order to solve the above problems, an ion generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a transformer element that boosts an input voltage, a discharge electrode connected to one of the secondary terminals of the transformer element, a substrate on which the discharge electrode is provided, and a linear conductor connected to the other of the secondary terminals of the transformer element, at least a portion of which is separated from the substrate, and generates ions by discharging between the discharge electrode and the linear conductor, and further comprises a resin that seals at least a portion or all of the linear conductor between the discharge electrode and the linear conductor opposite the discharge electrode on the side of the substrate where the tip of the discharge electrode is located.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a small, low-cost ion generating device.

1 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of an ion generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of an ion generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the shape of a wire according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the shape of a wire according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the shape of a wire according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a wire according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a wire according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an electrical device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[Circuit configuration of ion generating device 1]
Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration of the ion generating device 1 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the ion generating device 1 includes a transformer element 11 (high voltage transformer element), diodes 12a and 12b, and discharge electrodes 13a and 13b. The discharge electrodes 13a and 13b will be described later with reference to Fig. 1.

The transformer element 11 is driven by a drive circuit (not shown) to boost the input voltage.

Diodes 12a and 12b are connected in parallel and in opposite directions between transformer element 11 and discharge electrodes 13a and 13b. Specifically, the anode of diode 12a and the cathode of diode 12b are connected to transformer element 11. The cathode of diode 12a is connected to discharge electrode 13a. The anode of diode 12b is connected to discharge electrode 13b.

[Configuration of ion generating device 1]
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of ion generating device 1 according to embodiment 1. In Fig. 1, the primary side of transformer element 11 is not indicated by a reference symbol, and a description thereof will be omitted. Ion generating device 1 further includes a substrate 14, a housing 15, and a wire (linear conductor) 20 in addition to the components shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are provided on substrate 14. Substrate 14 is a circuit board on which pattern 14a is formed, which connects terminal 111 of transformer element 11 to discharge electrodes 13a and 13b. Diodes 12a and 12b are provided in the middle of pattern 14a.

The transformer element 11 has a terminal 111 (one terminal), a terminal 112 (the other terminal), and a coil 113 on the secondary side. The terminals 111 and 112 are rod-shaped conductors that protrude from the transformer element 11 on both sides of the axis C of the coil 113 (the +X direction side and the -X direction side in FIG. 1).

The terminal 111 has a first end 111a and a second end 111b. The terminal 112 has a third end 112a and a fourth end 112b. The first end 111a and the second end 111b are located on different sides of the axis C. The third end 112a and the fourth end 112b are located on different sides of the axis C.

The first end 111a is a portion to which one end of the conductor that forms the coil 113 is connected. The second end 111b is a portion to which the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are connected via the above-mentioned pattern 14a. The third end 112a is a portion to which the other end of the conductor that forms the coil 113 is connected. The fourth end 112b is a portion to which one end of the wire 20 is connected.

The conductor forming the coil 113 is thin, so if the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b and the wire 20 are connected to the part where the conductor is connected to the terminal 111, there is a risk that the conductor will be damaged during the connection process. In the transformer element 11, the conductor is connected to the first end 111a and the third end 112a. Furthermore, the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are connected to the second end 111b, and the wire 20 is connected to the fourth end 112b. This reduces the risk of the conductor being damaged during the connection process.

The coil 113 is a coil formed of a conducting wire. In the ion generating device 1, the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are arranged on different sides of the axis C of the coil 113.

The wire 20 is a linear conductor made of metal. However, the wire 20 is not limited to metal as long as it is an electrically conductive material, and may be, for example, carbon fiber. The wire 20 is also bendable. This improves the degree of freedom in arranging the wire 20 within the ion generating device 1. The wire 20 may be formed, for example, by bending a cylindrical wire. When the wire 20 is cylindrical, its cross section is circular. The wire 20 may also be formed into a wire shape by, for example, cutting a metal plate. In this case, the cross section of the wire 20 is rectangular.

The wire 20 is formed to face the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b. Specifically, the wire 20 has a line segment that is parallel to the line segment connecting the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b and is longer than the line segment on both sides of the center of the line segment. In addition, at least a part of the wire 20 is separated from the substrate 14. In other words, at least a part of the wire 20 is not in contact with the substrate 14. In further words, at least a part of the wire 20 is floating above the substrate 14. In this embodiment 1, the entire wire 20 is separated from the substrate 14 (floating). The discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are located on the outside of the wire 20.

The discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are electrodes that discharge between themselves and the wire 20. The discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are connected to one terminal 111 of the secondary side terminals of the transformer element 11. In the first embodiment, the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are needle electrodes. The discharge electrodes 13a and 13b protrude in the -Z direction from the substrate 14. Positive ions are generated by applying a positive voltage to the discharge electrode 13a, and negative ions are generated by applying a negative voltage to the discharge electrode 13b. However, the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b may be brush electrodes or surface electrodes. Furthermore, the number of discharge electrodes that the ion generating device 1 has is not limited to two.

The housing 15 contains the transformer element 11, the diodes 12a and 12b, the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b, the substrate 14, and the wire 20. The inside of the housing 15 is filled with epoxy resin (not shown). This allows ions to be generated stably. The inside of the housing 15 does not necessarily have to be filled with epoxy resin. However, from the viewpoint of improving the stability of the discharge, it is preferable that the inside of the housing 15 is filled with epoxy resin.

In this embodiment, the entire wire 20 is sealed with epoxy resin. However, the entire wire 20 does not have to be sealed with epoxy resin. In other words, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the wire 20 is sealed with epoxy resin. This reduces the possibility of abnormal discharge due to dust or moisture between the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b and the wire 20 facing the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b.

At least the ends of the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b on the +Z direction side, i.e., the ends soldered to the substrate 14, are preferably sealed with epoxy resin. This reduces the possibility of an air layer forming around the ends, and reduces the possibility of abnormal discharge from the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b.

The inner wall of the housing 15 has two protrusions 16 that protrude into the housing 15. However, the protrusions 16 may be provided in one location, or three or more locations. The protrusions 16 are for engaging the wire 20. By engaging the wire 20 with the protrusions 16, the shape of the wire 20 can be stabilized at a stage before the resin is filled inside the housing 15.

In the ion generating device 1, ions are generated by discharging between the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b and the wire 20 that faces these discharge electrodes 13a and 13b. By using the wire 20 as an induction electrode, a substrate for the induction electrode is not required, and the device can be made smaller and less expensive without compromising ion generation performance.

[Embodiment 2]
Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the shapes of wire 30 and wire 40 according to embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 3, both wires 30 and 40 have arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b.

The arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b are formed to face the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b, respectively. Specifically, the arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b have an arc shape centered on the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b, respectively. Furthermore, the wires 30 and 40 are closest to the discharge electrodes 13a and 13b at the arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b.

In an ion generator 1 equipped with wire 30 or 40, the area where discharge electrode 13a and discharge electrode 13b are closest to wire 30 or 40 is larger than in an ion generator 1 equipped with wire 20. Therefore, in an ion generator 1 equipped with wire 30 or 40, more stable discharge can be achieved.

Figure 4 shows the shapes of wires 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 in embodiment 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, wires 50 and 60 have arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b, similar to wire 40. However, in wires 50 and 60, the shape of the portion between arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b is different from that of wire 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, wire 70 and wire 80 have portions 32a and 32b consisting of multiple line segments instead of arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b of wire 50 or wire 60. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the multiple line segments constituting portions 32a and 32b consisting of multiple line segments are perpendicular to each other, but this is not limited to this. In wire 70 and wire 80, portions 32a and 32b consisting of multiple line segments face discharge electrodes 13a and 13b from three directions, respectively. Therefore, wire 70 and 80 are closest to discharge electrodes 13a and 13b at three points in portions 32a and 32b consisting of multiple line segments.

As shown in FIG. 4, wire 90 and wire 100 have portions 33a and 33b consisting of multiple line segments. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the multiple line segments constituting portions 33a and 33b consisting of multiple line segments are perpendicular to each other, but this is not limited to this. In wire 90 and wire 100, portions 33a and 33b consisting of multiple line segments face discharge electrodes 13a and 13b from two directions, respectively. Therefore, wires 90 and 100 are closest to discharge electrodes 13a and 13b at two points in portions 32a and 32b consisting of multiple line segments.

As shown in FIG. 4, wire 110 and wire 120 have portions 34a and 34b that approach discharge electrodes 13a and 13b multiple times. In wire 110 and wire 120, portions 34a and 34b that approach discharge electrodes 13a and 13b multiple times each face discharge electrodes 13a and 13b. Therefore, wires 110 and 120 come closest to discharge electrodes 13a and 13b at multiple points in portions 34a and 34b, which are made up of multiple line segments.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the shape of wire 130 according to embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 5, wire 130 has arc-shaped portions 35a and 35b instead of arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b of wire 30 or wire 40. Arc-shaped portions 35a and 35b are formed so that coil 113 and discharge electrodes 13a and 13b are located on the same side of wire 130. Also, arc-shaped portions 35a and 35b are formed to face discharge electrodes 13a and 13b, respectively, similar to arc-shaped portions 31a and 31b.

An ion generator 1 equipped with such wires 50 to 120 can perform stable discharge, similar to an ion generator 1 equipped with wires 30 or 40. However, the shape of the wires according to this embodiment is not limited to those shown in Figures 3 to 5.

[Embodiment 3]
Further embodiments of the present invention are described below.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing wire 140, which is an example of a wire according to embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 6, wire 140 has a bent portion 36. Furthermore, wire 140 may have a shape similar to wire 20, etc., in a portion omitted in Figure 6. In the example shown in Figure 6, bent portion 36 is formed by bending wire 140 so as to be closer to substrate 14 (see Figure 1) than other portions of wire 140. However, bent portion 36 may also be formed by bending wire 140 so as to be farther from substrate 14 than other portions of wire 140.

In the ion generator 1 having the wire 140, for example, the wire 140 can be extended in a direction from the fourth end 112b toward the second end 111b. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, by forming a bent portion 36 near the second end 111b, the wire 140 can be extended while avoiding the second end 111b. Therefore, the ion generator 1 having the wire 140 has greater freedom of design than the ion generator 1 having the wire 20 or the like.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing wire 150, which is another example of a wire according to embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 7, wire 150 has a bent portion 37. Bent portion 37 is formed by bending wire 150 so that wire 150 comes into contact with substrate 14. Therefore, wire 150 comes into contact with substrate 14 at least at one point.

In an ion generating device 1 equipped with a wire 150, when installing the wire 150, a portion of the bent portion 37 is brought into contact with the substrate 14, making it easy to position the wire 150 relative to the substrate 14.

[Embodiment 4]
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a hair dryer 160 (electrical device) according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the hair dryer 160 includes a main body 161 and a heater 162. The hair dryer 160 also includes an ion generator 1. In this way, by using the wire 20 as an induction electrode in the hair dryer 160 as well, a substrate for the induction electrode is not required, and the device can be made smaller and less expensive without degrading the ion generation performance. The main body 161 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The heater 162 and the ion generator 1 are disposed inside the main body 161.

The hair dryer 160 heats the air drawn in from an inlet 163 on one side of a cylindrical body 161 with a heater 162, generates ions with an ion generator 1, and then blows the air out from an outlet 164 on the other side of the body 161. In the hair dryer 160, the ion generator 1 is disposed between the heater 162 and the outlet 164.

The electrical device according to this embodiment is not limited to a hair dryer. Other examples of the electrical device according to this embodiment include hair irons, toothbrushes, facial massagers, air conditioners, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and washing machines. The ion generating device 1 described above is particularly suitable for use in items for which miniaturization is highly desirable, such as hair irons and toothbrushes. By providing such electrical devices with the ion generating device 1, the electrical devices can be made smaller and less expensive than electrical devices equipped with conventional ion generating devices. Furthermore, the ion generating device 1 can be installed in electrical devices that could not be equipped with conventional ion generating devices due to their size.

〔summary〕
The ion generating device of aspect 1 of the present invention comprises a transformer element that boosts an input voltage, a discharge electrode connected to one of the secondary terminals of the transformer element, a substrate on which the discharge electrode is provided, and a linear conductor that is connected to the other of the secondary terminals of the transformer element and at least a portion of which is separated from the substrate, and generates ions by discharging between the discharge electrode and the linear conductor.

According to the above configuration, the ion generating device generates ions by discharging between the discharge electrode and the linear conductor facing the discharge electrode. By using the linear conductor as the induction electrode, a substrate for the induction electrode is not required, and it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the ion generating device without compromising the ion generation performance.

The ion generating device according to aspect 2 of the present invention is the same as that according to aspect 1 above, but the linear conductor may have an arc-shaped portion that faces the discharge electrode.

The above configuration can increase the area where the discharge electrode and the arc-shaped portion facing the discharge electrode are closest to each other. Therefore, in an ion generating device equipped with a linear conductor having an arc-shaped portion, more stable discharge can be achieved.

The ion generating device according to aspect 3 of the present invention is the same as the ion generating device according to aspect 1 or 2 above, and further includes a housing that houses the transformer element, the discharge electrode, the substrate, and the linear conductor, and the housing is filled with resin, and at least a portion of the linear conductor may be sealed in the resin.

The above configuration reduces the possibility of abnormal discharges caused by dust or moisture between the discharge electrode and the wire facing the discharge electrode.

The ion generating device according to aspect 4 of the present invention may be the same as the ion generating device according to aspect 1 or 2 above, further comprising a housing that houses the transformer element, the discharge electrode, the substrate, and the linear conductor, and may be provided with a protrusion for engaging the linear conductor.

According to the above configuration, the wire is secured to the protrusion, so that the wire can be stabilized when it is sealed with resin.

The ion generating device according to aspect 5 of the present invention is any one of aspects 1 to 4 above, in which the linear conductor may be in contact with the substrate at least at one point.

According to the above configuration, the linear conductor is in contact with the substrate at least at one point. This makes it easy to position the linear conductor relative to the substrate.

The electrical device according to aspect 6 of the present invention may include an ion generating device according to any one of aspects 1 to 5 above.

According to the above configuration, by equipping an ion generating device according to any one of the aspects of the present invention, it is possible to realize miniaturization and cost reduction in electrical equipment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ion generating device 11 transformer element 13a, 13b discharge electrode 14 substrate 15 housing 16 protrusion 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 wire (linear conductor)
31a, 31b: arc-shaped portion 111: terminal (one terminal)
112 Terminal (other terminal)
160 Hair dryer (electrical appliance)

Claims (5)

A transformer element that boosts the input voltage;
A discharge electrode connected to one of the secondary terminals of the transformer element;
A substrate on which the discharge electrodes are provided;
a linear conductor connected to the other of the secondary terminals of the transformer element, at least a portion of which is separated from the substrate;
ions are generated by discharging between the discharge electrode and the linear conductor;
An ion generating device further comprising a resin that seals at least a portion or all of the linear conductor between the discharge electrode and the linear conductor facing the discharge electrode on the side of the substrate where the tip of the discharge electrode is located. The ion generating device according to claim 1, wherein the linear conductor has an arc-shaped portion that faces the discharge electrode. a housing that houses the transformer element, the discharge electrode, the substrate, and the linear conductor;
3. The ion generating device according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the housing is provided with a protrusion for engaging the linear conductor. The ion generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the linear conductor is in contact with the substrate at least at one point. An electrical appliance comprising the ion generating device according to claim 1 .

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