JP7832042B2 - electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an electrolytic water generator.

Water is one of the most important substances for human life, and it's no exaggeration to say that the quality of the water consumed in daily life significantly impacts a person's health.

Therefore, regularly consuming water with as few impurities as possible (hereinafter simply referred to as "impurities"), i.e., purified water, is extremely important for maintaining a healthy daily life.

Therefore, water purification systems that introduce water supplied from taps or other sources, purify it, and then discharge it have been widely used in various settings, including ordinary households and restaurants.

Furthermore, water purifiers specifically designed for water purification can remove as many impurities as possible, making the water suitable for daily drinking.

Furthermore, among water purification devices, those that also possess a water electrolysis function and enable the generation of electrolyzed water—that is, electrolyzed water generators—can produce water with even greater functionality by adding components that promote the electrolysis of water (electrolysis auxiliary components) to the purified water, in addition to removing impurities.

Incidentally, in water purification devices equipped with water purification and electrolysis functions, such as water purifiers and electrolytic water generators, the components equivalent to consumables, such as filters, activated carbon, and electrolysis auxiliary components, are generally provided in cartridge form, and these consumable cartridges are typically replaceable at the user level.

Therefore, users will need to replace consumable cartridges as appropriate, based on the degree of deterioration of various filter materials, the rate of depletion of electrolytic auxiliary components, and other consumables, for example, based on notifications from the water purification system.

Of course, to ensure the water purification system performs its intended function properly, it is preferable to use the replacement consumable cartridge recommended by the manufacturer of the water purification system (hereinafter also referred to as the genuine cartridge).

However, in reality, third-party manufacturers supply similar consumable cartridges (hereinafter also referred to as non-genuine cartridges) to the market, claiming them to be compatible. Some of these cartridges have questionable effectiveness in providing the necessary water purification and other functions expected of consumable cartridges, and some are of poor quality.

Therefore, conventional water purification systems are known that construct an RFID system by equipping the main body of the water purification system with a communication unit that communicates with RF tags, while the genuine cartridge is equipped with an RF tag that stores unique information (ID information) that can identify it as a genuine cartridge (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

With this type of water purification system, an attempt is made to acquire ID information from the installed consumable cartridge via an RFID system. If the information is acquired, it is identified as a genuine cartridge and normal operation proceeds. However, if the information cannot be acquired, it is assumed that a non-genuine cartridge is installed, and a warning can be issued to the user via a display or other means to alert them.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-051891

However, in the conventional water purification system described above, the circuit board on which the communication unit is mounted is separate from the circuit board on which the management unit for managing the consumable cartridges is mounted. The use of two separate circuit boards led to increased manufacturing costs.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a water purification device that includes a communication unit and a management unit while suppressing the increase in manufacturing costs resulting from the number of circuit boards.

To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the water purification device according to the present invention (1) in a water purification device that discharges water that has passed through a consumable cartridge, a communication unit that performs wireless communication with an RF tag on the consumable cartridge and a management unit that manages the consumable cartridge based on the information obtained through the communication are mounted on a single circuit board.

Furthermore, the water purification device according to the present invention also has the following features.
(2) The communication unit is located near the edge of the substrate.
(3) The communication unit is located in the corner of the circuit board.
(4) A display unit for displaying management information relating to the consumable cartridge generated by the management unit is arranged on the circuit board.
(5) The circuit board is arranged substantially vertically within the housing of the water purification device, the display unit is located in the upper half of the vertical length of the circuit board, and the communication unit is located in the lower half.
(6) The device is configured to accommodate multiple consumable cartridges, and multiple communication units are provided on the circuit board, corresponding to each of the RF tags on the multiple consumable cartridges.
(7) The circuit board is arranged substantially vertically within the housing of the water purification device, and there are two of the multiple consumable cartridges that can be attached. One communication unit is placed in each of the regions at both ends when the left-right length of the circuit board is divided into quarters, corresponding to the RF tags on each of the two consumable cartridges.
(8) The communication unit is located in the lower half of the vertical length of the substrate, while the power supply unit that supplies power to the management unit and/or the display unit that displays management information regarding the consumable cartridge generated by the management unit are located in the upper half of the substrate.
(9) One of the communication units is located in the lower half of the region of the vertical length of the substrate, and the other communication unit is located in the upper half of the region.
(10) There are three or more attachable consumable cartridges, the circuit board is arranged substantially vertically within the housing of the water purification device, the position of the communication units in the left-right direction is such that one is placed in each of the regions at both ends when the left-right length of the circuit board is divided into four equal parts, the remaining communication units are placed between these communication units so that all communication units are at substantially equal intervals, and the vertical position of each communication unit is such that it is staggered near the upper and lower edges separated by a virtual line extending in the left-right direction that divides the vertical length of the circuit board in half, and corresponds to each of the RF tags on the consumable cartridges.
(11) The consumable cartridges are arranged alternately on the front and back sides of the substrate.

Furthermore, in the electrolytic water generator according to the present invention, (12) the water purification device described in (1) further comprises an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water, and the circuit board is configured to include an electrolytic power conversion unit that converts power to a state suitable for supply to the electrolytic cell, and a display unit that displays management information regarding the consumable cartridge generated by the management unit.

Furthermore, the electrolytic water generator according to the present invention is also characterized in that (13) the electrolytic power conversion unit is located near one corner of the substrate, and the communication unit is located near the corner diagonally opposite to the corner where the electrolytic power conversion unit is located.

Furthermore, in another embodiment of the electrolytic water generator according to the present invention, (14) the water purification device described in (1) further comprises an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water, wherein the substrate is configured as a display unit substrate with a display unit for displaying management information regarding the consumable cartridge generated by the management unit, while an electrolytic power conversion unit for converting power to a state suitable for supply to the electrolytic cell is arranged on a second substrate different from the display unit substrate, and furthermore, the second substrate and the display unit substrate are arranged on top of each other.

Furthermore, the electrolytic water generator according to this other embodiment also has the following features:
(15) The communication unit on the display unit mounting board is positioned so as not to overlap with the second board.
(16) The communication unit on the display unit mounting board is located at the diagonal corner of the electrolytic power conversion unit.
(17) The transformer for voltage conversion of the power supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit is arranged in one half of the internal space of the housing, while the communication unit is arranged in the area of the display unit arrangement board that is located in the other half of the internal space of the housing.
(18) The transformer for voltage conversion of the power supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit is located near the bottom of one half of the space inside the housing.
(19) The power conversion transformer for the control system that supplies power to the display unit mounting board is located in one half of the space inside the housing.
(20) The power conversion transformer for the control system is located in a region of the second circuit board that is located in one half of the space inside the housing.
(21) The cable connection between the display unit mounting board and the second board and/or the cable connection between the second board and the electrolytic cell is made in one half of the space inside the housing.
(22) The housing includes a water passage system arrangement space in which pipes leading the supplied water to the water outlet, the electrolytic cell, and the consumable cartridge are housed, and an electrical system arrangement space in which the display unit arrangement board and the second board are housed, wherein the water passage system arrangement space includes a cartridge housing space in which the installed consumable cartridge is housed and a remaining space in which the remaining parts are housed, the communication unit is provided on the display unit arrangement board in correspondence with the RF tag of the consumable cartridge housed in the cartridge housing space, the electrical system arrangement space and the water passage system arrangement space are separated by a board cover, and the cartridge housing space and the remaining space of the water passage system arrangement space are separated by a rear cover, and the board cover and the rear cover are interposed between the communication unit and the RF tag.

The water purification device according to the present invention provides a water purifier and electrolytic water generator that, while incorporating a communication unit and a management unit, can suppress the increase in manufacturing costs resulting from the number of circuit boards.

This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a water purifier according to the first embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram showing the layout of piping and circuit boards centered around the cartridge. This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the cartridge and the control board. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a water purifier according to the second embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram showing the layout of piping and circuit boards centered around the cartridge. This is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the cartridge and the control board. This is an explanatory diagram showing the control board of a water purifier according to the third embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram showing the control board of a water purifier according to the fourth embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a water purifier according to the fifth embodiment. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electrolytic water generator according to the sixth embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of an electrolytic water generator. This is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the cartridge. This is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an electrolytic water generator. This is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of an electrolytic water generator. This is a cross-sectional view of an electrolytic water generator. This is a block diagram showing the main electrical components of an electrolytic water generator. This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an electrolytic water generator. This is an explanatory diagram showing the various components of the cartridge. This is an explanatory diagram showing the various components of the cartridge.

This invention provides a water purification system that discharges water that has passed through a cartridge containing consumable materials such as filter media and electrolytic additives. The system includes a communication unit that performs wireless communication with RF tags on the consumable cartridges, and a management unit that manages the consumable cartridges based on the information obtained through communication, while simultaneously suppressing the increase in manufacturing costs resulting from the number of circuit boards.

A water purification system refers to a device equipped with the function of purifying supplied water and discharging it. It may also have other functions, such as electrolysis of water or dissolving specific components in water. In other words, a water purification system includes both a water purifier (which may also have other functions) and an electrolytic water generator (which may have a mode for discharging purified water without electrolysis).

A consumable cartridge is a cartridge containing consumables for a water purification system. While "consumables" primarily refers to the filtration materials necessary for water purification, the concept of a consumable cartridge also includes other consumables necessary to realize the aforementioned ancillary functions of the water purification system, such as electrolysis accelerators, pH adjusters, and cylinders used to increase the concentration of specific gases dissolved in water, as in the case of hydrogen water.

Furthermore, it should be added that while consumables are necessary for the use of water purification systems, their functionality can weaken or deteriorate over time, or in some cases, even become so enhanced that they are unsuitable for use. In other words, they can be understood as changing from their initial state to an unsuitable state as time passes and the water purification system is used.

The water purification system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
The water purification system according to this first embodiment is a water purifier A1 specialized for water purification, and Figure 1 is a block diagram showing its configuration.

As shown in Figure 1, the internal structure of water purifier A1 is broadly divided into a water passage system structure 11 that processes the supplied water while passing it through, and an electrical system structure 12 that performs the necessary electrical control and management for water passage and processing in the water passage system structure 11. These are housed and arranged within a roughly box-shaped enclosure 13.

The water supply system structure 11 is constructed by connecting water supply pipes 16 from the water inlet 14 to the water discharge pipe connection port 15. A hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and a flow sensor 18 are interposed in the middle of the water supply pipes 16.

The water inlet 14 is the receiving port for water (raw water), which is the raw material for producing purified water. For example, tap water is supplied. In this embodiment, raw water is supplied from the water pipe 20 via the faucet 21. A branch valve 22 is installed on the faucet 21, and one end of the water supply hose 23 is connected to this branch valve 22, while the other end of the water supply hose 33 is connected to the water inlet 14. The raw water supplied through the water inlet 14 is then supplied to the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 via the raw water supply pipe 24.

The hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is a consumable cartridge for producing filtered water by filtering raw water with a hollow fiber membrane, which is a consumable filter material, installed inside. Raw water supplied through the raw water supply pipe 24 is introduced through the inlet 17a, filtered by the hollow fiber membrane to become filtered water, and then discharged through the outlet 17b.

Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is a consumable cartridge that can be replaced by the user of the water purifier A1, and replacement genuine or non-genuine hollow fiber membrane cartridges are commercially available.

Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 installed in the water-conducting structure 11 in Figure 1 is a genuine cartridge and is equipped with an RF tag 17c. The RF tag 17c stores unique information (ID information) that identifies it as a genuine cartridge, and communicates wirelessly with the communication unit (described later) to perform actions depending on whether the installed cartridge is genuine or not. Note that this operation is the same as that of the sixth embodiment, which will be described later, so the explanation is omitted here.

The filtered water flowing out from the outlet 17b is supplied to the flow sensor 18 via the filtered water supply pipe 25. The flow sensor 18 is configured to measure the flow rate; for example, a propeller is provided in the center of the flow sensor 18, and the flow rate is measured by the rotation speed of this propeller. The flow sensor 18 is electrically connected to the electrical system structure 12 and outputs an electrical signal (flow rate signal) corresponding to the flow rate of the filtered water. The electrical system structure 12 calculates the flow rate of the filtered water, particularly the amount of water that has flowed through the consumable cartridge interposed in the water passage system structure 11 (in this first embodiment, the amount of water that has flowed through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17), based on this electrical signal.

The filtered water, after passing through the flow sensor 18, further reaches the discharge pipe connection port 15 via the filtered water supply pipe 25. The discharge pipe 26 is connected to the discharge pipe connection port 15, and the filtered water is discharged as purified water.

The electrical system structure 12 is the part that performs the necessary electrical control and management for water flow and treatment in the water flow system structure 11, and operates using power supplied from the commercial power supply via a power cable.

The electrical system unit 12 includes a control unit 30 that performs overall control of the water purifier A1. For example, the control unit 30 calculates the water flow rate through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 based on the flow rate signal output from the flow sensor 18, manages the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 based on the water flow rate, and displays various information about the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 to the user (such as cumulative water flow rate information and replacement timing information). In other words, the circuit board on which this control unit 30 is mounted also includes a management unit for managing the cartridge and a display unit for displaying various information.

Furthermore, the electrical structure unit 12 is equipped with a communication unit 31. This communication unit 31, together with the RF tag 17c provided on the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, constitutes the RFID system. It reads the ID information stored on the RF tag 17c via wireless communication and writes various information to the RF tag 17c. Although Figure 1 shows the communication unit 31 at a location separate from the control unit 30, as will be explained later, in this embodiment, the communication unit 31 is mounted on the same circuit board as the control unit 30.

Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of piping and substrates centered around the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, which is housed within the casing 13 of water purifier A1. As shown in Figure 2(a), the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is suspended downward from the piping casing 35, which houses the raw water supply pipe 24 and the filtered water supply pipe 25, and the substrate casing 36 is located close to the side of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(b), a circuit board (control board 37) on which the aforementioned control unit 30 and communication unit 31 are mounted is disposed within the circuit board casing 36.

To further explain the positional relationship between the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the control board 37, as shown by the hatching in Figure 3(a), the RF tag 17c is positioned on the side of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3(b), the control board 37 includes a communication unit 31 that performs wireless communication with the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, a management unit 38 that is part of the control unit 30 that manages the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 based on the information obtained through the communication, and a display unit 39 that displays and notifies the user of predetermined information. Both are mounted on the control board 37.

Furthermore, Figure 3(c) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the control board 37, omitting the illustrations of the piping casing 35 and substrate casing 36 shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b). As shown in Figure 3(c), the communication unit 31, mounted on the control board 37 together with the management unit 38, is positioned opposite the RF tag 17c, enabling communication between the communication unit 31 and the RF tag 17c.

Therefore, since communication (hereinafter also referred to as RF communication) can be performed with the RF tag 17c installed on the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 without the need to provide a separate circuit board dedicated to the communication unit, the manufacturing cost of the water purifier A1 can be reduced.

Furthermore, the communication unit 31 is positioned near the edge of the control board 37, and in this embodiment in particular, it is located in a corner of the control board 37 (near the lower left corner in Figure 3(c)).

Therefore, even if a component that generates noise that interferes with RF communication (hereinafter simply referred to as a noise source) exists on the same control board 37, RF communication can be performed while minimizing the influence of the noise source.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c), the communication unit 31 is located on the control board 37 together with a display unit 39 that displays management information related to the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 generated by the management unit 38, such as the replacement time and water flow rate of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, to the user.

Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate, independent circuit board equipped with the communication unit 31, and the increase in manufacturing costs due to the number of circuit boards can be suppressed as much as possible.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(b), the control board 37 is positioned approximately vertically within the housing 13 of the water purifier A1. As shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c), the display unit 39 is positioned in the center of the vertical length of the control board 37, i.e., within the upper half of the area above the dashed-dotted line H in the figures, while the communication unit 31 is positioned within the lower half.

Therefore, even if, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like is used in the display unit 39 and could become a noise source, the communication unit 31 can be positioned away from the display unit 39, thereby minimizing the impact of noise on RF communication. In this first embodiment, the display unit 39 is mounted on the control board 37, but this is not limited to this configuration. It may also be mounted on a separate board positioned in a location that provides good visibility to the user, as long as it does not contradict the objective. The same applies to the embodiments described later.

[Second Embodiment]
The water purification device according to the second embodiment is also a water purifier A2 that specializes in water purification, similar to the water purifier A1 shown in the first embodiment, but differs in that the number of consumable cartridges has increased to two, and the corresponding communication units have also increased to two. In the following description, components similar to those described above may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted.

In other words, compared to water purifier A1, which was explained with reference to Figure 1, water purifier A2, as shown in Figure 4, is configured to have an activated carbon cartridge 41 at the downstream end of the filtered water supply pipe 25, which constitutes the downstream flow path of the flow sensor 18, and to discharge activated carbon-treated water treated by the activated carbon cartridge 41 as purified water.

The activated carbon cartridge 41, like the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, is a consumable cartridge for producing activated carbon-treated water by treating filtered water with activated carbon, which is disposed inside as a consumable filter material. Filtered water supplied through the filtered water supply pipe 25 is introduced from the inlet 41a, treated with activated carbon to adsorb impurities and contaminants, and then discharged from the outlet 41b.

Furthermore, the activated carbon cartridge 41, along with the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, is a consumable cartridge that can be replaced by the user of the water purifier A2. Replacement genuine or non-genuine activated carbon cartridges are commercially available.

Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and activated carbon cartridge 41, both installed in the water-conducting structure 11 in Figure 4, are genuine cartridges and are equipped with RF tags 17c and 41c. The RF tags 17c and 41c store unique information (ID information) that identifies them as genuine cartridges. Wireless communication is performed with the communication unit (described later) to ensure that the system operates according to whether the installed cartridge is genuine or not. Note that this operation is the same as that of the sixth embodiment, which will be described later, and therefore will not be explained here.

The activated carbon-treated water flowing out from outlet 41b reaches the discharge pipe connection port 15 via the activated carbon-treated water supply pipe 27. A discharge pipe 26 is connected to the discharge pipe connection port 15, and the activated carbon-treated water is discharged as purified water.

Furthermore, the electrical system structure 12 differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a first communication unit 31a and a second communication unit 31b.

The first communication unit 31a establishes an RFID system with the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, and the second communication unit 31b establishes an RFID system with the RF tag 41c of the activated carbon cartridge 41, allowing for the writing and reading of various types of information.

Furthermore, the control unit 30 is equipped with a display unit 39 that calculates the water flow rate through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the activated carbon cartridge 41 based on the flow rate signal output from the flow sensor 18, manages each cartridge based on the water flow rate, and displays various information about each cartridge (such as cumulative water flow rate and replacement timing) to the user.

Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of piping and circuit boards centered around each cartridge within the housing 13 of water purifier A2. As shown in Figure 5(a), the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and activated carbon cartridge 41 are suspended downwards from the piping casing 35, which houses the raw water supply pipe 24, filtered water supply pipe 25, and activated carbon treated water supply pipe 27. A control board 37 is housed in a circuit board casing 36 located to the side of each cartridge, as shown in Figure 5(b).

To further explain the positional relationship between each cartridge and the control board 37, the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the activated carbon cartridge 41 have RF tags 17c and 41c positioned on their sides, as indicated by the hatching in Figure 6(a).

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 6(b), the control board 37 includes a first communication unit 31a that performs wireless communication with the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, a second communication unit 31b that performs wireless communication with the RF tag 41c of the activated carbon cartridge 41, a management unit 38 that manages the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the activated carbon cartridge 41 based on the information obtained from these RF communications, and a display unit 39 that displays and notifies the user of predetermined information. All of these are mounted on the control board 37.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(c), the first communication unit 31a is positioned opposite the RF tag 17c, and the second communication unit 31b is positioned opposite the RF tag 41c, thereby enabling communication between each communication unit 31 and the RF tags 17c and 41c.

Therefore, since two cartridges can be managed with a single circuit board, and RF communication can be performed without the need for multiple separate circuit boards dedicated to the communication unit, the increase in manufacturing costs for water purifier A2, which increases with the number of circuit boards, can be suppressed. Similarly, even when there are three or more cartridges, multiple cartridges can be managed with a single circuit board, further suppressing cost increases.

Furthermore, although this second embodiment uses two cartridges, in this case, as shown in Figures 6(b) and 6(c), when the left-right length of the control board 37 is divided into four quarters, one communication unit 31 (first communication unit 31a, second communication unit 31b) is placed in each of the regions at both ends. Specifically, within the left-right length divided by virtual lines V1, V2, and V3 extending vertically from the board, one communication unit is placed in the left-end region from the left edge to virtual line V1, and the other in the right-end region from virtual line V3 to the right edge. These correspond to the RF tags of the two consumable cartridges, the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the activated carbon cartridge 41, namely RF tag 17c and RF tag 41c.

Therefore, by ensuring as much distance as possible between the first communication unit 31a and the second communication unit 31b on the control board 37, interference between the RF communication between the first communication unit 31a and the RF tag 17c and the RF communication between the second communication unit 31b and the RF tag 41c can be prevented.

Furthermore, preventing such interference minimizes adverse effects on transmission and reception in each RFID system, and prevents the activation carbon cartridge 41 from being installed in the mounting position of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 from being installed in the mounting position of the activated carbon cartridge 41, i.e., prevents the cartridges from being installed in reverse.

Regarding the latter point in particular, if the arrangement is such that the RF tag of the cartridge to communicate with the second communication unit 31b may be located within the communication area of the first communication unit 31a, then the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, which is positioned in the reversed mounting position, may return a predetermined signal in response to the preamble signal from the communication unit 31a. This could lead to a failure to detect the mounting position error (it may be mistakenly identified as being mounted in the correct position). However, by adopting the aforementioned configuration, mutual interference between transmission and reception in each RFID system can be prevented, allowing for a reliable determination of whether the RF tags positioned in the corresponding locations of each communication unit 31 are appropriate, that is, whether the wrong type of consumable cartridge is installed or whether a genuine cartridge is installed.

Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the communication unit 31 (first communication unit 31a and second communication unit 31b) is located in the lower half of the control board 37, specifically in the central part of its vertical length, below the dashed-dotted line H shown in Figures 6(b) and 6(c). Meanwhile, the power supply unit 42, which supplies power to the management unit 38, and the display unit 39, which displays management information for each cartridge generated by the management unit 38, are located in the upper half of the control board 37.

Therefore, the communication unit 31 can be positioned away from noise sources such as the liquid crystal display in the display unit 39, or the switching elements and transformers in the power supply unit 42, thereby minimizing the impact of noise on RF communication.

Furthermore, the placement of the RF tags relative to the communication unit 31 does not necessarily need to be directly facing each other; any arrangement where appropriate RF tags are placed within the communication range of each communication unit 31 is acceptable.

For example, in this second embodiment, as shown in Figure 6(c), the projection position of each RF tag on the control board 37 is such that its entirety is not included within the arrangement of the communication unit 31 (first communication unit 31a and second communication unit 31b), as indicated by the hatched area.

On the other hand, when viewing the positional relationship between each cartridge and the control board 37 from above, as shown in Figure 6(d), the RF tag 17c is located within the communicationable area 43a of the first communication unit 31a, and the RF tag 41c is located within the communicationable area 43b of the second communication unit 31b. In the following description, an RF tag's placement position (excluding positions that overlap with the communicationable area of another communication unit) where the entire projection area of the RF tag on the board is not included within the placement area of the corresponding communication unit, but is still within the communicationable area, is also referred to as an offset position.

Furthermore, with this configuration, it is possible to maximize the distance between the first communication unit 31a and the second communication unit 31b, which are to be arranged on the control board 37, while still enabling stable RF communication. In other words, by deliberately placing the RF tags in offset positions to maximize the distance between multiple communication units, it is possible to configure the system to enable stable RF communication. However, if there is sufficient design flexibility in the board, it is also possible to configure some or all of the RF tags to be positioned directly opposite each communication unit.

[Third Embodiment]
The water purification device according to the third embodiment is also a water purifier A3 that specializes in water purification, similar to water purifiers A1 and A2 described above. In particular, like water purifier A2, it has two consumable cartridges, but the arrangement of the two corresponding communication units on the circuit board is different.

Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the control board 37 of water purifier A3. Similar to the control board 37 of water purifier A2, which was explained earlier with reference to Figure 6(b), the control board 37 of water purifier A3 also comprises a control unit 30, a first communication unit 31a corresponding to the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, and a second communication unit 31b corresponding to the RF tag 41c of the activated carbon cartridge 41. The first communication unit 31a is located in the lower half of the region below the virtual line H, while the second communication unit 31b is located in the upper half of the region.

Furthermore, with this configuration, the distance between the first communication unit 31a and the second communication unit 31b can be increased in the roughly rectangular control board 37, thereby minimizing the risk of interference.

Furthermore, in this third embodiment, the control unit 30 is positioned approximately in the center of the control board 37 when viewed from the front, that is, approximately in the center of the area occupied by the control unit 30, near the intersection of virtual lines V2 and H. By positioning the communication unit away from noise sources, the influence of noise on RF communication is reduced as much as possible.

Therefore, according to the water purifier A3 of this third embodiment, more stable RF communication is achieved.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The water purification device according to the fourth embodiment is also a water purifier A4 that specializes in water purification, similar to the water purifiers A1 to A3 described so far. In particular, it is similar to water purifier A3 in that the two communication units (first communication unit 31a, second communication unit 31b) are positioned near diagonal corners on the circuit board. However, it differs in that the consumable cartridge corresponding to one communication unit is placed on one side of the circuit board, and the consumable cartridge corresponding to the other communication unit is placed on the other side of the circuit board.

Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the control board 37 of water purifier A4, and Figure 8(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between each cartridge and the control board 37, viewed from above.

As shown in Figure 8(a), the control board 37 of water purifier A4 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the control board 37 of water purifier A3 shown in Figure 7. However, the first communication unit 31a is mounted on the far side of the page, flanking the control board 37, while the second communication unit 31b is mounted on the near side of the page.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(b), the positional relationship between each communication unit and each consumable cartridge is as follows: For the first communication unit 31a, located on one side of the control board 37 (the upper side of the paper), the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is positioned within the communication-enabled area 43a on the same side (the side opposite the first side). For the second communication unit 31b, located on the other side of the control board 37 (the lower side of the paper), the activated carbon cartridge 41 is positioned within the communication-enabled area 43b on the other side (the side opposite the second side). Thus, the consumable cartridges are arranged alternately on one side and the other side of the control board 37.

Therefore, mutual interference between transmission and reception in each RFID system can be prevented, and a reliable judgment can be made as to whether the RF tags placed at the corresponding positions of each communication unit 31 are appropriate, that is, whether the wrong type of consumable cartridge is installed or whether the genuine cartridge is installed.

[Fifth Embodiment]
The water purification device according to the fifth embodiment is also a water purifier A5 that specializes in water purification, similar to water purifiers A1 to A4 described so far. In particular, it is similar to water purifier A3 in that it has multiple communication units, but while water purifier A3 has two communication units, water purifier A5 differs in its configuration in that it has even more communication units, specifically three communication units as one example.

In other words, compared to water purifier A2, which was explained with reference to Figure 4, water purifier A5, as shown in Figure 9(a), is configured to have a calcined coral cartridge 43 at the downstream end of the activated carbon treated water supply pipe 27, which constitutes the downstream flow path of the activated carbon cartridge 41, and to discharge the calcined coral treated water treated by the calcined coral cartridge 43 as purified water.

The calcined coral cartridge 43 is a cartridge for producing calcined coral-treated water by treating activated carbon-treated water with calcined coral, which is placed inside as a consumable component additive. Like the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the activated carbon cartridge 41, it is a consumable cartridge. Filtered water supplied through the activated carbon-treated water supply pipe 27 is introduced from the inlet 43a, becomes calcined coral-treated water due to the natural calcium components leached from the calcined coral, and is then discharged from the outlet 43b.

Furthermore, the calcined coral cartridge 43, along with the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the activated carbon cartridge 41, is a consumable cartridge that can be replaced by the user of the water purifier A5. Both genuine and non-genuine calcined coral cartridges are commercially available for replacement.

Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, activated carbon cartridge 41, and calcined coral cartridge 43, which are arranged in the water-conducting structure 11 in Figure 9(a), are all genuine cartridges and are equipped with RF tags 17c, 41c, and 43c. RF tags 17c, 41c, and 43c store unique information (ID information) that identifies them as genuine cartridges, and they communicate wirelessly with the communication unit (described later) to perform actions according to whether the installed cartridge is genuine or not. Note that this operation is the same as that of the sixth embodiment, which will be described later, so the explanation is omitted here.

The activated carbon treated water flowing out from outlet 43b reaches the discharge pipe connection port 15 via the calcined coral treated water supply pipe 28. A discharge pipe 26 is connected to the discharge pipe connection port 15, and the calcined coral treated water is discharged as purified water.

Furthermore, the electrical system structure 12 differs from the second embodiment in that, in addition to the first communication unit 31a and the second communication unit 31b, it also includes a third communication unit 31c.

The first communication unit 31a connects to the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, the second communication unit 31b connects to the RF tag 41c of the activated carbon cartridge 41, and the third communication unit 31c connects to the RF tag 43c of the calcined coral cartridge 43, thus establishing an RFID system for writing and reading various types of information.

Furthermore, the control unit 30 is equipped with a display unit 39 that calculates the water flow rate through the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, activated carbon cartridge 41, and calcined coral cartridge 43 based on the flow rate signal output from the flow sensor 18, manages each cartridge based on the water flow rate, and displays various information about each cartridge (such as cumulative water flow rate and replacement timing) to the user.

Figure 9(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the control board 37 of water purifier A5. The control board 37 of water purifier A5 is positioned approximately vertically within the housing of the water purification device, and three communication units 31a to 31c are arranged on the board.

Furthermore, regarding the arrangement of the first to third communication units 31a to 31c, the position of each communication unit in the left-right direction is within the regions at both ends when the left-right length of the control board 37 is divided into four quarters. Specifically, one communication unit 31 (first communication unit 31a, third communication unit 31c) is placed in the left-end region from the left edge to virtual line V1, and one in the right-end region from virtual line V3 to the right edge, within the left-right length divided by virtual lines V1, V2, and V3. All remaining communication units are arranged between the first communication unit 31a and the third communication unit 31c, such that in this fifth embodiment, the second communication unit 31b is positioned at approximately equal intervals.

Furthermore, the vertical (up and down) positions of each communication unit are arranged in a staggered pattern near the upper and lower edges, separated by the dashed-dotted imaginary line H, and correspond to the RF tags on each cartridge.

Therefore, by ensuring as much distance as possible between the three or more communication units on the control board 37, interference between RF communications between each communication unit and the RF tag can be prevented. It goes without saying that, as a modification of this fifth embodiment, similar to the fourth embodiment described above, the consumable cartridges may be arranged alternately on one side and the other side of the control board 37.

[Sixth Embodiment]
The water purification apparatus according to the sixth embodiment is a continuous electrolytic water generator A6 that continuously performs electrolytic treatment on raw water flowing in through a water supply or the like, and discharges electrolytic water such as alkaline water obtained. The electrolytic water generator A6 has a hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 in the water passage structure 11, and performs electrolytic treatment on filtered water (purified water) filtered by this hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 to produce electrolytic water, and is one embodiment of the water purification apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 10, the electrolytic water generator A6 according to this sixth embodiment receives raw water supplied from the water pipe 20 via a faucet 21 and branch valve 22 through the water inlet 14, performs water purification and electrolysis treatments on the water passing through the water passage pipe 16, and discharges electrolytic water from the discharge pipe 26.

The housing 13 of the electrolytic water generator A6 contains a hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, a flow sensor 18 for measuring the flow rate of filtered water (purified water) filtered by the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, a salt addition cylinder 44a for adding salt to the filtered water, a calcium addition cylinder 44b for adding calcium to the filtered water, a flow path switching unit 45 for switching whether the water that has passed through the flow sensor 18 goes to the salt addition cylinder 44a or the calcium addition cylinder 44b, an electrolytic cell 46 having multiple plate-shaped electrode sections 46a, 46b, and 46c for electrolyzing the water that has passed through the salt addition cylinder 44a or the calcium addition cylinder 44b, an electrolytic water flow path 47a for flowing electrolytic water to be used, and a discharge flow path 47b for discharging water that is not to be used. The electrolytic water that reaches the electrolytic water flow path 47a is discharged as purified water via the discharge pipe 26 connected to the discharge pipe connection port 15.

Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the electrolytic water generator A6. Figure 11(a) shows the front of the electrolytic water generator A6 viewed from the upper right, and Figure 11(b) shows the rear of the electrolytic water generator A6 viewed from the upper right. Note that in Figure 11(b), the cartridge cover 48 shown in Figure 11(a) has been removed to show the installed state of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17.

As shown in Figure 11(a), the front of the electrolytic water generator A6 is equipped with a display unit 39 that provides information on the electrolytic water being discharged, the operating status of each part of the device, and in particular, the cumulative amount of water flowing to the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and the replacement timing. It also has an operation unit 47 that receives user input by having multiple switches to instruct the start and stop of the electrolytic water generator A6 and the generation of various types of electrolytic water.

Furthermore, a removable cartridge cover 48 is provided as a component of the housing 13 of the electrolytic water generator A6, extending from the right side to the right rear. This cartridge cover 48 is a cover for the cartridge housing space S1 shown in Figure 11(b), and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is housed in the cartridge housing space S1, allowing for its installation.

Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17. As shown in Figure 12, an RF tag 17c is positioned at a predetermined location on the body of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, enabling RF communication with the communication unit 31 on the circuit board built into the electrolytic water generator A6.

Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the electrolytic water generator A6. Figure 13(a) shows the rear of the electrolytic water generator A6 viewed from the upper left, and Figure 13(b) is an exploded perspective view showing the main components of the electrolytic water generator A6 other than the water flow system structure 11. As shown in Figure 13, the electrolytic water generator A6 comprises an operation panel 50, a front panel 51, a display unit mounting board 52, an electrolytic board 53, a board cover 54, a rear cover 55, and a cartridge cover 48, extending from the front to the rear.

Furthermore, a bottom case 57 is provided at the bottom of the electrolytic water generator A6, and an electrolytic transformer 58, which is a transformer for voltage conversion of the power supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit described later, is mounted on the bottom case 57.

Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the electrolytic water generator A6 as seen from the rear side after removing the cartridge cover 48, rear cover 55, and circuit board cover 54. In particular, it shows the arrangement of the display unit layout board 52 and electrolytic board 53, as well as the arrangement of mounted circuit components.

As shown in Figure 14, the display unit mounting board 52 and the electrolytic circuit board 53 are arranged on the inner surface of the front panel 51 with a portion of them overlapping in the front-to-back direction.

The front panel 51 is the front of the housing 13, that is, the front of the electrolytic water generator A6. As shown in Figure 11(a), an exposure hole 39a is formed at the upper part of the center in the left-right direction of the panel, allowing the display unit 39 to be visible to the user.

The display unit mounting substrate 52 is a roughly rectangular substrate with a partial cutout. It is a substrate equipped with a control unit 30 primarily for the overall control of the electrolytic water generator A6. It includes a communication unit 31 for wireless communication with the RF tag 17c on the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, and a management unit 38 for managing the RF tag 17c based on the information obtained through communication. In addition, a display unit 39 is mounted on the substrate 52 to display management information related to the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 generated by the management unit. This display unit 39 is mounted on the side of the display unit mounting substrate 52 facing the front panel 51, allowing the user to visually access the management information through the aforementioned exposed hole 39a. The spiral pattern formed on the communication unit 31 is an antenna pattern for RF communication.

The electrolytic substrate 53, as shown in Figure 14, is roughly rectangular in shape, although the area near the upper left corner of the electrolytic substrate 53 is notched, and the area near the upper right corner is formed to protrude upward. It is a substrate for generating power from a commercial power source or the like for electrolysis and for operating the control unit 30.

The electrolytic substrate 53 is equipped with an electrolytic power conversion unit 60 and a power conversion transformer 61 for the control system.

The electrolytic power conversion unit 60 is responsible for rectifying, transforming, and adjusting the current of power obtained from a commercial power source, etc., to convert it into a state suitable for supply to the electrolytic cell 46. In this sixth embodiment, voltage transformation is performed using a switching method, which is highly efficient and compact, but also a source of high-frequency noise.

The control system power conversion transformer 61 is a transformer that converts (transforms) the power supplied to the display unit layout board 52, which is equipped with various control system circuits. This control system power conversion transformer 61 is also one of the noise sources present within the electrolytic water generator A6.

Furthermore, multiple cables 62 are connected to the electrolytic substrate 53. These cables are used for receiving power from the commercial power supply, or for supplying power to the electrolytic cell 46, the display unit layout board 52, and the electrolytic transformer 58. The connection ends of these cables 62 on the electrolytic substrate 53 are all connected on the left half of the space (the left side of the internal space S2 when viewed from the front of the electrolytic water generator A6) that is partitioned by the imaginary line V4 (shown as a dashed line in Figure 14), i.e., the imaginary line V4 (imaginary plane) that divides the space inside the housing 13 of the electrolytic water generator A6 (internal space S2) into left and right sections.

Furthermore, within the internal space S2 of the electrolytic water generator A6, an electrolytic transformer 58 is installed on the bottom case 57, on the side of the internal space S2L. This electrolytic transformer 58 is a voltage conversion transformer for the power supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit 60, and, like the control system power conversion transformer 61 mentioned earlier, is also one of the noise sources present within the electrolytic water generator A6.

Furthermore, the electrolytic water generator A6, which has the above configuration, has the following features. Specifically, in the electrolytic water generator A6, which is one embodiment of a water purification device comprising a display unit layout board 52 on which a communication unit 31 and a management unit 38 are mounted, and an electrolytic cell 46, the display unit 39 is arranged on the display unit layout board 52, while the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 is arranged on a separate second board, the electrolytic board 53. Moreover, as shown in Figure 14, the display unit layout board 52 and the electrolytic board 53 are superimposed, allowing the electrolytic water generator A6 itself to be made compact.

Furthermore, the communication unit 31 mounted on the display unit substrate 52 is positioned so as shown in Figure 14 that it does not overlap with the electrolytic substrate 53 when viewed from the front to the back of the electrolytic water generator A6. This minimizes the interference of RF communication caused by the electrolytic substrate 53, which has many noise sources.

Furthermore, since the communication unit 31 on the display unit mounting board 52 is positioned at the diagonal corner of the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 in the projected shape when viewed from the front to the back of the two superimposed boards, the influence of switching noise originating from the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 can be reduced.

Furthermore, although the switching elements in the electrolytic power conversion unit 60, which employs a switching method, generate a relatively large amount of heat, the RF communication control IC (not shown) located in the communication unit 31 is positioned as far away from the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 as possible. Therefore, malfunctions of the RF communication control IC due to temperature changes are prevented, enabling more stable RF communication.

Furthermore, the electrolytic transformer 58 is positioned in one half of the internal enclosure space S2 (internal enclosure space S2L), while the communication unit 31 is positioned in the area of the display unit placement board 52 that is located in the other half of the internal enclosure space S2 (internal enclosure space S2R).

Therefore, the influence of noise originating from the electrolytic transformer 58 on RF communication can be suppressed as much as possible, and malfunctions of the RF communication control IC caused by heat generation from the electrolytic transformer 58 can be prevented, resulting in more stable RF communication.

Furthermore, the electrolytic transformer 58 is positioned near the bottom of one half of the internal space S2 (internal space S2L), and in this embodiment, it is located on the bottom case 57. Therefore, the center of gravity of the electrolytic water generator A6 can be made as low as possible, making it less likely to tip over, and improving the product's stability against tipping.

Furthermore, the power conversion transformer 61 for the control system is located in one half of the internal space S2 of the enclosure (internal space S2L). Therefore, the influence of noise originating from the power conversion transformer 61 on RF communication can be suppressed as much as possible, and malfunctions of the RF communication control IC caused by heat generation from the power conversion transformer 61 can be prevented, resulting in more stable RF communication.

Furthermore, the power conversion transformer 61 for the control system is mounted on the electrolytic substrate 53 in a region located in one half of the internal space of the housing (internal space S2L). Therefore, the wiring connecting the electrolytic substrate 53 and the power conversion transformer 61 can be shortened, suppressing noise generated from the wiring connecting the two, and allowing for a more compact product.

Furthermore, the cable connections between the display unit mounting board 52 and the electrolytic circuit board 53, and between the electrolytic circuit board 53 and the electrolytic cell 46, are performed within one half of the internal enclosure space S2 (internal enclosure space S2L). Therefore, the impact of noise originating from the cable 62 on RF communication can be suppressed as much as possible.

Furthermore, a feature of the electrolytic water generator A6 according to this sixth embodiment is that the RF communication between the communication unit 31 and the RF tag 17c arranged on the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is performed through multiple covers.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the mounting position of the communication unit 31 of the electrolytic water generator A6, cut across a plane that includes the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction.

In the electrolytic water generator A6, the internal space S2 was previously described as being divided into two spaces, S2L and S2R, on the left and right sides. However, if we consider another way of dividing it, focusing on the function of the components and other elements placed in each space, the internal space S2 can be broadly divided into the water flow system space S3a and the electrical system space S3b.

These two spaces, the water-conducting system space S3a and the electrical system space S3b, are separated by the substrate cover 54, as shown in Figure 15(a). The water-conducting system space S3a primarily houses water-conducting components such as the water pipes 16, electrolytic cell 46, and hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, while the electrical system space S3b primarily houses electrical components such as the display unit substrate 52 and electrolytic substrate 53. It should be noted that the components placed in these spaces are not strictly distinguished; for example, electrically driven components such as electromagnetic valves may be placed in the water-conducting system space S3a.

Furthermore, the water passage system arrangement space S3a is broadly divided into the cartridge housing space S1 and the remaining space S4.

These cartridge housing spaces S1 and the remaining space S4 are separated by the rear cover 55. The cartridge housing space S1 is the space for housing and installing the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, while the remaining space S4 is the space for housing other water-conducting components.

Furthermore, in the electrolytic water generator A6 having this configuration, the communication unit 31 is further provided on the display unit mounting substrate 52, corresponding to the RF tag 17c on the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 housed in the cartridge housing space S1, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 15(b). The electrical system mounting space S3b and the water flow system mounting space S3a are separated by the substrate cover 54, and the cartridge housing space S1 and the remaining space S4 within the water flow system mounting space S3a are separated by the rear cover 55. Thus, the substrate cover 54 and the rear cover 55 are interposed between the communication unit 31 and the RF tag 17c.

Therefore, even if water leaks from the electrolytic cell 46, water passage 16, hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, etc., water is less likely to come into contact with the communication unit 31, thus minimizing the risk of malfunction.

Next, we will further explain the electrical configuration of electrolytic water generator A6. Figure 16 is a block diagram showing the main components of the electrical configuration of electrolytic water generator A6.

The electrolytic water generator A6 comprises an electrolytic transformer 58, an electrolytic circuit board 53, an electrolytic cell 46, and a display unit layout board 52. The electrolytic circuit board 53 includes an electrolytic power conversion unit 60 and a control system power conversion transformer 61, while the display unit layout board 52 includes a communication unit 31 and a display unit 39.

The electrolytic transformer 58 is a transformer used to step down the AC voltage input from, for example, the commercial power supply 65 to approximately AC 30-40V. The power stepped down by the electrolytic transformer 58 is supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit 60.

The electrolytic power conversion unit 60 performs full-wave rectification and further converts the power to a state suitable for supply to the electrolytic cell 46 through switching. The electrolytic power conversion unit 60 is connected to the electrolytic cell 46 and supplies power to each of them.

The electrolytic cell 46 has multiple plate-shaped electrode sections 46a, 46b, and 46c, and is the part that electrolyzes water that has passed through the salt-adding cylinder 44a or the calcium-adding cylinder 44b. The water electrolyzed by the electrolytic cell 46 is discharged as purified electrolyzed water via the discharge pipe 26. The electrolytic cell 46 is also electrically connected to the display unit mounting board 52, and can transmit signals regarding the current value flowing during electrolysis to the display unit mounting board 52.

The control system power conversion transformer 61 is a transformer that steps down the AC voltage input from, for example, the commercial power supply 65 to approximately AC 12V. The electrolytic circuit board 53 then full-wave rectifies and smooths the power transformed by the control system power conversion transformer 61 to supply power for driving ICs, solenoid valves, etc., on the display unit mounting board 52.

The communication unit 31 and display unit 39 mounted on the display unit mounting board 52 are as described above, so their explanation will be omitted. Note that the electrolytic transformer 58 and the power conversion transformer 61 for the control system are not limited to the transformers shown in Figure 14, but also include switching transformers directly mounted on the board used for the switching power supply.

Next, we will explain the operation realized by the control unit 30 located on the display unit mounting board 52 of the electrolytic water generator A6. Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the electrolytic water generator A6. The control unit 30 is equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and the CPU executes a predetermined program while referring to the ROM and RAM, thereby realizing the management processing for the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 described below. Note that this cartridge management processing is performed as part of the overall control processing of the electrolytic water generator A6 performed by the control unit 30, but the explanation is omitted here.

In the cartridge management process, the control unit 30 first performs an immersion determination process for the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 installed in the cartridge storage space S1 (step S11). Specifically, it performs RF communication with the RF tag 17c of the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 and reads information unique to the genuine product from the RF tag 17c.

Next, the control unit 30 determines whether the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is genuine or not, that is, whether information specific to a genuine product can be read via RF communication (step S12). If information specific to a genuine product cannot be read (step S12: No), the control unit 30 moves the process to step S13.

In step S13, the control unit 30 displays a message on the display unit 39 prompting the user to use a genuine cartridge, such as "Please use a genuine cartridge," and returns the process to the routine before the branch. At this time, the control unit 30 may control the electrolytic water generator A6 to a state where electrolytic water (purified water) can be generated, or it may control it to a state where generation is impossible.

On the other hand, if information specific to the genuine product is read in step S12 (step S12: Yes), that is, if it is confirmed that the installed hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 is a genuine product, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the control unit 30 reads various historical information from the RF tag 17c, such as the cumulative water flow rate and cumulative water flow time.

Next, the control unit 30 performs a process to compare the various history information read out with predetermined values stored in RAM or ROM beforehand, i.e., threshold values that serve as a guideline for cartridge replacement (step S15).

Next, the control unit 30 determines whether the values of the various history information exceed predetermined values based on the comparison results (step S16). If it determines that the values have exceeded predetermined values (step S16: Yes), the control unit 30 proceeds to step S17.

In step S17, the control unit 30 displays a message on the display unit 39 prompting the user to replace the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17, for example, "Please replace the cartridge," and returns the process to the routine before the branch. At this time, the control unit 30 may control the electrolytic water generator A6 to a state where electrolytic water (purified water) can be generated, or it may control it to a state where generation is impossible.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the predetermined value has not been exceeded (step S16: No), the control unit 30 moves the process to step S18.

In step S18, the control unit 30 counts the water flow time and water flow amount based on the flow rate signal transmitted from the flow rate sensor 18 in response to the user's water flow and electrolysis of the electrolytic water generator A6.

Next, when the user stops the water flow or electrolysis of the electrolyzed water generator A6, the control unit 30 performs RF communication with the RF tag 17c to write various history information, such as the cumulative water flow amount and cumulative water flow time, stored in the RF tag 17c, and updates this information (step S19). After completing step S19, the control unit 30 returns the process to the routine before the branch.

Furthermore, with the A6 electrolytic water generator equipped with this configuration, the authenticity of genuine parts can be verified, allowing for the detection of non-genuine cartridges supplied to the market by third parties under the guise of compatible parts. This enables warnings and warnings to users regarding the use of non-genuine cartridges that may have questionable effects on water purification or other required properties, or that may be of poor quality.

Furthermore, these processes may appropriately incorporate technologies for so-called IoT (Internet of Things). For example, the electrolytic water generator A6 can be configured to connect to the internet, allowing users to order specific cartridges via a touch panel on the display unit 39.

Furthermore, the system could be configured to allow for smartphone integration (communication). For example, an application installed on the smartphone could allow users to check current usage volume and usage time, and monitor usage trends. It could also enable users to be prompted to purchase a new cartridge or to order a cartridge via their smartphone before reaching a predetermined replacement threshold.

Furthermore, the information that the electrolytic water generator A6 writes to the RF tag 17c can include additional information beyond the history information mentioned above. For example, it can store cumulative electrolysis time, product error information, or, if equipped with a water conductivity sensor or pH sensor, measurement results such as conductivity and pH.

Furthermore, the A6 electrolytic water generator can be equipped with a means to pinpoint its installation location, such as a GPS (Global Positioning System). For example, based on the location information obtained from the GPS, it can perform treatment tailored to the water properties and pH characteristics of that region.

Furthermore, by storing various types of information on the RF tags of consumable cartridges, for example, water purification system and cartridge vendors can retrieve the stored data when collecting used cartridges for recycling. This allows them to obtain information about user usage, even while the product is installed in the user's home, which can be used for future product development and improving existing product defects.

[Seventh Embodiment]
The seventh embodiment relates to a cartridge attached to a water purification device according to the first to sixth embodiments, and more particularly to a protective structure for an RF tag. Figure 18 is an explanatory diagram showing various configurations of an ionized water cartridge, which is one form of a consumable cartridge.

The ionized water cartridge 71 shown in Figure 18(a) is a typical cylindrical cartridge with an inlet 71a and an outlet 71b on its bottom. An RF tag 71c is also mounted on the body of the ionized water cartridge 71. This RF tag 71c is positioned within a recess 71d formed in the body, and is located radially lower than the overall curved surface of the body.

Furthermore, the ionized water cartridge 72 shown in Figure 18(b) differs in configuration from the ionized water cartridge 71 in that it has an inlet 72a on the bottom and an outlet 72b on the top, but it has the same configuration in that the RF tag 72c is disposed within the recess 72d.

Furthermore, with these ionized water cartridges 71 and 72, as shown in Figure 18(c), even when placed on a flat surface such as a table with the body in contact, the RF tags 71c and 72c do not come into contact with the surface, thus preventing damage to the RF tags.

In particular, RF tags contain built-in ICs and require careful handling. However, cartridges are often cylindrical and prone to rolling. When RF tags are mounted on the body of the device, there is a risk of damage due to contact with the floor. This configuration, however, effectively protects the built-in ICs.

Furthermore, such recesses may be provided not only on the body but also on the top surface. That is, as shown in Figure 18(d), it is possible to provide an inlet 73a and an outlet 73b on one surface (in this case, the bottom surface), and form a recess 73d on the other surface (in this case, the top surface) to accommodate the RF tag 73c. With a configuration like this ionized water cartridge 73, compared to ionized water cartridges 71 and 72, the RF tag 73c is provided on a surface different from the rolling surface, thus further preventing damage to the RF tag.

Furthermore, the ionized water cartridges 71, 72, and 73 mentioned above are merely examples, and the same principles apply to all consumable cartridges described above.

[Eighth Embodiment]
The eighth embodiment relates to an RF tag protection structure, similar to the seventh embodiment. Figure 19 is an explanatory diagram showing various configurations of the RF tag protection structure in a composite cartridge, which is an ionized water cartridge, one form of a consumable cartridge, and is configured to use two divided cartridges, for example, a hollow fiber membrane divided cartridge and an activated carbon divided cartridge, in combination.

Figure 19(a) shows a composite cartridge 80 configured to use a hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81 and an activated carbon splitting cartridge 82 in combination. An inlet 80a is formed on the bottom surface of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81, and an outlet 80b is formed on the top surface of the activated carbon splitting cartridge 82. Furthermore, a watertight joint structure is provided between the top surface of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81 and the bottom surface of the activated carbon splitting cartridge 82, allowing the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81 and the activated carbon splitting cartridge 82 to be separated and joined.

Furthermore, a joint flange portion 80e is formed at the joint between the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81 and the activated carbon splitting cartridge 82, projecting radially outward in a circumferential manner compared to the circumferential surface of the body of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81 and the activated carbon splitting cartridge 82.

Furthermore, an RF tag 81c is disposed in a recess 81d on the body of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 81. The position of this recess 81d on the body surface in the axial direction is closer to the joint flange portion 80e than to the bottom surface.

Furthermore, with a composite cartridge 80 having this configuration, the joint flange portion 80e has high strength, allowing for stable RF communication without being affected by deformation or swelling of the composite cartridge 80 due to water pressure during water flow.

Figure 19(b) shows a composite cartridge 83 with a configuration substantially similar to that of the composite cartridge 80. It is configured to use a combination of a hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 84 and an activated carbon splitting cartridge 85. It includes an inlet 83a, an outlet 83b, and a joint flange portion 83e. An RF tag 84c is provided on the body of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 84, but a marker 81f is provided instead of a recess 81d.

Furthermore, with this configuration, when the RF tag 84c is attached by adhesive, the worker during cartridge manufacturing can easily recognize the attachment position, thereby improving work efficiency.

Figure 19(c) shows a composite cartridge 86 with a configuration substantially similar to that of the composite cartridge 80. It is configured to use a combination of a hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 87 and an activated carbon splitting cartridge 88. It includes an inlet 86a, an outlet 86b, and a joint flange portion 86e. An RF tag 87c is disposed on the body of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 87. However, as shown in the lower diagram of Figure 19(c), instead of a recess 81d, a portion of the circumferential curved surface of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 87 is made into a flat surface 87g, and the RF tag 87c is disposed on this flat surface 87g.

Furthermore, an inlet flange 86f is formed at the bottom peripheral edge of the curved body surface of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 87, projecting radially outward relative to the body surface. Similarly, an outlet flange 86g is formed at the top peripheral edge of the curved body surface of the activated carbon splitting cartridge 88, projecting radially outward relative to the body surface.

Furthermore, with this configuration, when the RF tag 87c is attached by adhesive, the worker during cartridge manufacturing can easily recognize the attachment position, thereby improving work efficiency. Also, because the RF tag 87c can be attached to a flat surface, the load on the RF tag 87c due to bending can be reduced compared to when it is attached to a curved surface. Additionally, because the inlet flange 86f and outlet flange 86g create a relative concave shape on the body of the hollow fiber membrane split cartridge 81 and the activated carbon split cartridge 82, the RF tag 87c does not come into contact with the surface even when the composite cartridge 86 is laid flat on a table or other flat surface, thus minimizing damage to the RF tag 87c.

Figure 19(d) shows a composite cartridge 89 with a configuration substantially similar to that of the composite cartridge 86. This composite cartridge 89 uses a combination of a hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 90 and an activated carbon splitting cartridge 91. It includes an inlet 89a, an outlet 89b, and a joint flange 89e. The body of the hollow fiber membrane splitting cartridge 90 has an RF tag 90c positioned on a flat surface 90g. It also includes an inlet-side flange 89f and an outlet-side flange 89g. Furthermore, a portion of the curved surface around the activated carbon splitting cartridge 91 is flattened to a flat surface 91g, and an RF tag 91c is positioned on this flat surface 91g.

Furthermore, with this configuration, since RF tags are provided on both segmented cartridges, the consumables for each segmented cartridge are different, allowing for separate management even when replacing them individually. In this case, each RF tag should be positioned so that the RF communication radio waves do not interfere with each other. Additionally, while each composite cartridge in this eighth embodiment had an inlet formed on one end face and an outlet formed on the other end face, it is also possible to provide both an inlet and an outlet on one or the other end face, as shown in Figure 18(a).

As described above, according to the water purification device of this embodiment, in a water purification device that discharges water that has passed through a consumable cartridge, a communication unit that performs wireless communication with an RF tag on the consumable cartridge and a management unit that manages the consumable cartridge based on the information obtained through the communication are mounted on a single circuit board. Therefore, it is possible to provide a water purifier or electrolytic water generator that has both a communication unit and a management unit while suppressing the increase in manufacturing costs due to the number of circuit boards.

Finally, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Therefore, it goes without saying that various modifications are possible depending on the design, etc., even in embodiments other than those described above, as long as they do not depart from the technical spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the electrolytic water generator A6 described in the sixth embodiment, the display unit mounting board 52 and the electrolytic board 53 are separate boards, but they may also be constructed on a single board.

In other words, in an electrolytic water generator, which is one embodiment of a water purification device comprising a circuit board on which a communication unit 31 and a management unit 38 are mounted, and an electrolytic cell 46, the circuit board can also be configured to include an electrolytic power conversion unit 60 that converts power into a state suitable for supply to the electrolytic cell 46, and a display unit 39 that displays management information regarding the hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17 generated by the management unit 38.

Furthermore, in this case, by positioning the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 near one corner of the substrate, and positioning the communication unit 31 near the corner diagonally opposite to the corner where the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 is located, the influence of switching noise originating from the electrolytic power conversion unit 60 can be reduced.

Furthermore, the water purification device is not limited to those that perform the functions of a water purifier or electrolytic water generator as described in the above embodiments. Any device that introduces supplied water, purifies it, and then discharges it is included in the water purification device according to the present invention. However, this does not preclude the applicant from limiting the form of the water purification device when seeking patent rights for this application.

Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on the number of communication units and consumable cartridges that can be installed in water purification devices such as water purifiers and electrolytic water generators. One unit is sufficient, but two, three, or even four or more units are also acceptable.

Furthermore, the water purification system according to the present invention can contribute to Goal 6 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Clean Water and Sanitation for All.

17 Hollow fiber membrane cartridge 17c RF tag 18 Flow sensor 31 Communication unit 37 Control board 38 Management unit 39 Display unit 41 Activated carbon cartridge 42 Power supply unit 43 Calcined coral cartridge 46 Electrolytic cell 47 Operation unit 52 Display unit layout board 53 Electrolytic board 54 Board cover 55 Rear cover 57 Bottom case 58 Electrolytic transformer 60 Electrolytic power conversion unit 61 Control system power conversion transformer 62 Cable A1-A5 Water purifier A6 Electrolytic water generator S1 Cartridge storage space S2 Enclosure space S2L Enclosure space S2R Enclosure space S3a Water flow system layout space S3b Electrical system layout space S4 Remaining space

Claims (9)

In an electrolytic water generator that discharges water that has passed through a consumable cartridge,
The system comprises a communication unit that performs wireless communication with an RF tag on the consumable cartridge, a management unit that manages the consumable cartridge based on the information obtained through the communication , and an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes water.
The communication unit and the management unit are mounted on a single circuit board.
The aforementioned substrate is configured as a display unit substrate by arranging a display unit on the substrate to display management information related to the consumable cartridge generated by the management unit,
An electrolytic water generator characterized in that an electrolytic power conversion unit for converting power into a state suitable for supply to the electrolytic cell is arranged on a second substrate different from the display unit substrate, and furthermore, the second substrate and the display unit substrate are arranged on top of each other . The electrolytic water generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit on the display unit mounting substrate is positioned in a location that does not overlap with the second substrate . The electrolytic water generator according to claim 2, characterized in that the communication unit on the display unit mounting substrate is located at the diagonal corner of the electrolytic power conversion unit . The electrolytic water generator according to claim 3, characterized in that a transformer for voltage conversion of power supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit is arranged in one half of the internal space of the housing, while the communication unit is arranged in an area of the display unit arrangement board that is located in the other half of the internal space of the housing . The electrolytic water generator according to claim 4, characterized in that the transformer for voltage conversion of the power supplied to the electrolytic power conversion unit is located near the bottom of one half of the space inside the housing. The electrolytic water generator according to claim 5 , characterized in that the power converter for the control system that supplies power to the display unit mounting board is located in one half of the space inside the housing . The electrolytic water generator according to claim 6, characterized in that the power conversion transformer for the control system is located in a region of the second substrate that is located in one half of the space inside the housing. The electrolytic water generator according to claim 7, characterized in that the cable connection between the display unit mounting board and the second board and/or the cable connection between the second board and the electrolytic cell is performed in one half of the space inside the housing. In an electrolytic water generator that discharges water that has passed through a consumable cartridge,
The system comprises a communication unit that performs wireless communication with an RF tag on the consumable cartridge, a management unit that manages the consumable cartridge based on the information obtained through the communication, and an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes water.
The communication unit and the management unit are mounted on a single circuit board.
The housing includes a water supply system layout space that houses piping that guides the supplied water to the outlet, the electrolytic cell, and the consumable cartridge, and an electrical system layout space where the circuit board is located.
The water passage system arrangement space comprises a cartridge storage space in which the installed consumable cartridge is housed, and a remaining space in which the other parts are housed.
The communication unit is provided on the substrate in correspondence with the RF tag on the consumable cartridge housed in the cartridge storage space.
An electrolytic water generator characterized in that the electrical system layout space and the water passage system layout space are separated by a substrate cover, and the cartridge housing space and the remaining space within the water passage system layout space are separated by a rear cover, with the substrate cover and the rear cover interposed between the communication unit and the RF tag.