JPS6040574B2 - Filter clogging time notification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a filter clogging time notification device for an air conditioner, an air cleaner, etc., which automatically notifies filter cleaning time at regular intervals.

In general, if the filter of an air conditioner becomes clogged, the cooling, heating, and dust removal abilities of the air conditioner will be affected, so it is necessary to remove the filter and clean it before any problems occur. It is difficult to judge the appropriate time to clean, and in reality, devices are used for long periods of time without cleaning.

Therefore, the following methods of issuing some kind of warning signal when the filter becomes clogged have been considered, but these methods have the following drawbacks. First, in the case of a method that detects changes in the wind pressure passing through the filter and issues a warning signal, changes in wind pressure are not only caused by the amount of clogging of the filter;
It is also caused by variations in the blower itself, differences in the rotation speed of the blower motor, and changes in the blower rotation speed due to voltage fluctuations, making it difficult to distinguish the amount of filter clogging from other factors.

In addition, in the case of a method that detects changes in the light transmittance of the filter section and issues a warning signal, it is necessary to install a light emitting device and a light receiving device with the filter in between, and both of these parts are touchable parts. Therefore, it was difficult to create a structure that would prevent the live parts from being exposed. On the other hand, since the amount of filter clogging has much more to do with the amount of time the air conditioner is being operated than the amount of time the air conditioner is left unused, a method of accumulating the amount of time the air conditioner is being operated may also be considered.

However, even though it is called integration of operating time, it is necessary to integrate about 10 cycles (i.e., some kind of signal is output every time the air conditioner is operated for total log time), so it is difficult to obtain the integration time using a synchronous motor. It also requires multiple reduction stages, and since it takes too long for the output stage to rotate once, it is difficult to check its operation before shipping.Furthermore, depending on the conditions of the room in which the air conditioner is installed, the filter may The time at which clogging occurs is different, and the user is forced to correct the time to some extent, but in the case of a synchronous motor, there are problems such as it is difficult to change the time for one cycle. The present invention provides a completely new filter clogging time notification device that solves all of the above-mentioned problems in the method of accumulating operating time, and in particular, the operation is controlled by a digital control circuit such as a microcomputer or digital IC. This provides a device suitable for air conditioners and the like.

Note that air conditioners whose operations are controlled by digital control circuits have the following characteristics: the control unit is four-type, the ability to easily set complex conditions, and the ease of input instructions from the outside. Recently, it has become rapidly popular,
Instead of conventional slide switches and lock-type switches, diaphragm switches and snap-action switches are used to indicate various conditions such as timer settings and automatic operation, and switches that allow input with just a light operation, such as those used in calculators, are used. Key switch (Press to turn on,
A key switch that performs an operation such as turning off when released is used, and in many cases, all of the key switches are collected in the same remote control box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a filter clogging time notification device that totals the operating time using a digital counter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter clogging time notification device that allows the count contents of the digital counter to be cleared by removing the filter from the air conditioner.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to notify the time of a clogged filter so that unless the digital counter reaches a predetermined count number (clogged notification time), the contents of the count cannot be cleared even if the clearing key switch is operated. The goal is to provide equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter clogging time notification device that allows an operator to easily change the clogging notification time.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the examples.

An embodiment of the present invention constructed in accordance with the above object will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment described below, the control circuit is constructed by loosely combining digital ICs, but a similar control circuit can also be constructed using a microcomputer. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of an air conditioner remote control box implementing the filter clogging time notification device of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a key switch for instructing to stop the operation of the air conditioner, and 2 is a key switch for instructing to start operation of the air conditioner, which is also used as a timer reset switch.

3 is a key switch for instructing automatic operation to instruct a specific operation.

4 is a timer setting key switch for instructing timer operation.

5 is a light emitting diode (LED) for notifying that the filter clogging time has been reached, and five light emitting diodes PDI to PD5 are arranged in parallel.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a clearing key switch that returns a digital counter (to be described later) that accumulates the operating time of the air conditioner to its original state (clear state) after cleaning the filter.

The light emitting diode 5 is turned off when the digital counter is cleared by operating the clear key switch 6. Note that the clear key switch 6 is not necessarily required. This is because, as will be described later, the clear key switch 6 is easily operated erroneously. 7 is a slide switch for setting the timer time and can be set in the range of 0 to 6 hours.

8 is an LED that displays the set timer time, and the LED reaches the position corresponding to the knob of the slide switch 7 above.
D lights up.

9 is a thermosetting slide switch, and 10 is a suitability indicator ED that notifies that the set temperature has been reached.

1 1 is a slide switch for swing instruction, 12 is a slide switch for switching between air blowing and cooling, and 13 is a slide switch for switching the fan into three stages: high, medium, and low.

14 and 15 are LEDs that light up when the corresponding key switches 2 and 3 are operated. Providing the LED 5 for notifying the clogging time and the key switch 6 for clearing on the remote control box in this way is extremely convenient for operation, but on the other hand, there is a possibility that the key switch 6 for clearing may be accidentally used when operating other switches. This creates an inconvenience in that the digital counter is cleared even though the clogging notification time has not yet reached as there are many opportunities to touch the digital counter. The present invention solves these inconveniences by preventing the clearing key switch 6 from issuing a specified instruction unless the operating time exceeds a specified time, and also allows the digital counter to be automatically cleared by removing the filter. In this way, operability has been improved.

Note that predetermined instructions can be given by simply pressing the other key switches 1, 2, 3, and 4. Next, FIG. 2 shows the main circuitry of the filter clogging time notification device of the present invention which accomplishes the above operation.

In the figure, 16 is an outlet connected to an AC power source;
17 is a power supply circuit that obtains a DC voltage of about 5V from an AC power supply. The SWI is a switch that is turned on by operating the key switch 2 and turned off by operating the key switch 2, and corresponds to starting and stopping the air conditioner. This clogging time notification circuit can be roughly divided into a pulse generating section 18 that generates a clock pulse P for counting, and a counter section 19 that counts this pulse P and adds up the filter clogging time. A predetermined DC voltage is always applied to the counter section 19 as long as the outlet 16 is connected to the power source.
8 is configured such that a DC voltage is applied and released only when the switch SWI is turned on. In addition, the comparator ICI and digital counter C in each of the above sections 18 and 19
2 operates as a timer that measures the operating time of the air conditioner. The comparator ICI repeatedly generates a high level signal and a low level signal at a constant period, and is composed of a comparator IC, and uses the output of the IC as a clock signal P for time measurement.

Resistors R and R2 are used to set the voltage input to the ten terminals of the above-mentioned comparator IC, and resistor 3, variable resistor VR, and capacitor C are used to set the voltage input to one terminal of the above-mentioned IC. be. The on/off repetition period of the above ICI is therefore the resistance R3, VR and capacitor C.
, is determined by the value of . IC2 is a binary counter in which, for example, 14 stages of T-type flip-flops are connected. In other words, this IC2 has terminals such as GND, VDD, CLEAR,
Each time the clock signal P is introduced into the clock input terminal CLOCK, the contents thereof are counted up. The above counter IC2 is 1
Since four stages of flip-flops are connected in cascade, it is possible to count up to 2 to the 14th power.
In this embodiment, the time-up signal tp is generated when the 1 dollar cheaper flip-flop among the 14 stages of flip-flops becomes "1", that is, when it counts "4096". 2-12 above,
The contents of the 13th and 14th stage flip-flops are output via IC terminals Q, 2 to Q, 4, but each terminal Q, 2 to Q
, 4 and the count number are as shown in the time chart of FIG. The outputs of the above terminals Q, 2 to Q, 4 are AND gates AGI to AG3 and OR gates OGI.
It is supplied via resistors to the bases of transistors Tr and -Tr5 via -OG3. The above transistor Tr
, -Tr5 control the light emission of the light emitting diodes PDI-PD5 connected in series, respectively, and cause them to emit light when the signal supplied to the base is "H". Here Q,
The relationship between the outputs of 2 to Q and 4 and the light emitting states of the light emitting diodes PDI to PD5 is shown in the table below.

It is assumed that one period of the clock signal P has four cycles. Therefore, by looking at the number of light emitting diodes PDI to PD5 lit, it is possible to know the extent of the filter clogging time (integrated time).

The pulse period of the clock signal P can be adjusted by changing the resistance value of the variable resistor VR by rotating a variable knob (for example, provided on the front panel) of the variable resistor VR. Note that an auto-clear device is added to the digital counter IC2 so that the digital counter IC2 automatically enters a clear state (all flip-flops are reset) when the power is turned on.

In other words, resistors R6, R7 and capacitor C3 are a circuit that generates a clear signal CLI using a transient phenomenon when the power is turned on, and the clear IC terminal CLEA of counter IC2
It is connected to R and generates a clear signal CLI only when the power is turned on to clear the contents of the digital counter IC2.
Next, two circuits for manually clearing the contents of the digital counter IC2 will be explained.

In the same circuit 20', 6 is a clear key switch, and SW is a micro switch linked to the filter, both of which generate a clear signal CL2, and are connected in parallel to one input terminal of the AND gate AG. It is connected. The AND gate AG has another input terminal supplied with a time-up signal tp via a resistor R15, and controls supply of the clear signal CL2 to the clear terminal CLEAR.

That is, the AND gate AG is turned on only when the time-up signal tp and the clear signal CL2 are present at the same time, and prevents the count contents from being cleared by the clear signal CL2 before the counter IC2 measures the clogging notification time. It is something to do. The micro switch SW is turned on and off in conjunction with the insertion and removal of a filter, and as shown in FIG. It is provided at the attachment part of the filter 20.

The switch SW has a protrusion 21 and a bar 22 as shown in FIG. 5, and is configured to be turned off when the protrusion 21 is pushed in via the lever 22. Therefore, when the filter 20 is attached to the Hishitaka 19, the lever 22 is pressed down by the periphery of the filter and the protrusion 21 is pushed in, so the switch SW is turned off, and the filter 2
Automatically turns on when 0 is removed. Note that instead of the microswitch SW, a reed switch 23 is provided on the device 19 side as shown in FIG. 6, and a magnet 24 is provided at the end of the filter 20 so that the reed switch 23 detects insertion and removal of the filter 20. It's okay. or,
Insertion and removal of the filter 20 may be detected using a photocoupler. Furthermore, in the circuit 20, the AND gate AG and the clear key switch 6 are omitted, and the switch SW is used instead.
may be connected to the CLEAR terminal directly or via a diode.

In this case, if the clock signal CL2 is generated, the counter IC
2 is cleared regardless of the contents of the count, but since there is no clear key switch 6, there is no clearing due to erroneous operation. Next, the clogging time notification operation will be briefly explained. When the outlet 16 of the air conditioner is plugged into an alternating current power source, a predetermined direct current voltage is applied to the counter section 19, and the auto clear device operates to clear the counter IC2. In this state, the main body of the harmonizer remains completely stopped, power is not supplied to the pulse generator 18, and the clock signal P for counting is not generated. Therefore, the counter IC2 continues to count "0" and the light emitting diode 5 also turns off, reaching the filter clogging time.
Notify that there is no such thing. When the operation start instruction key switch 2 on the remote control box is operated, power is supplied to the harmonizer and operation starts under the set conditions. Once the fan is started, it will rotate constantly, which will cause dust and other particles in the air to adhere to the filter. On the other hand, in the jam time notification circuit, the switch SWI is turned on in response to the operation of the key switch 2, and power is supplied to the pulse generator 18, so that a count signal is generated and applied to the counter IC2.

As described above, this counter IC2 sequentially counts this signal P and continues to add up the operating time as long as the harmonizer is operating. When the air conditioner no longer needs to be operated and key switch 1 on the remote control box is operated, the air conditioner stops operating and the switch SWI is turned off, cutting off the power supply to the pulse generator and turning off the clock. Generation of signal P stops. Therefore, the counter IC2 stops the counting operation and holds the count contents up to that point as they are. In this way, the Kalinta IC 2 continues to count the clock signal P during each operation of the air conditioner.

Then, when the counter 2 counts "4096" (that is, when the operating time is accumulated by 4 hours), the output Q,3 becomes "H" level, and the transistor Tr is turned on via the OR gate OGI to emit light. Diode P
The DI emits light to notify the filter clogging time. The light emitted from the light emitting diode PDI continues regardless of whether the air conditioner is in operation or stopped, and notifies the user of the dirty state of the filter 20. ORGATE OGI above
Since the output of is also supplied to the AND gate AG as a time-up signal tp, the operation of the clear key switch 6 or the microswitch SW becomes effective.

If the user wishes to clean the filter 20 at this point, he or she may remove the filter 20 from the device 19 and clean it.

When the filter 20 is removed, the switch SW is turned on as described above, and the clear signal CL2 is generated via the AND gate AG, and the contents of the counter IC2 are automatically cleared.
By this clearing operation, the time-up signal tp disappears, the light emitting diode PDI is also turned off, and the counter IC2 again adds up the operating time of the air conditioner. If the filter 20 is not cleaned at the above-mentioned time, the IC2
continues to count the clock signal P.

When the counter IC2 counts "6144", both the terminals Q12 and Q13 become "H", turning on the transistors Tr, Tr2 and turning on the light emitting diodes PD1, P.
Make D2 emit light at the same time. If the filter 20 is not cleaned at this point, the IC2 will be “8192” →
"10240" → "1228" counts up as →, and the light emitting diodes PD3, PD4, and PD5 are sequentially turned on. Therefore, by looking at the number of light emitted from the light emitting diodes PDI to PD5, the total operating time of the device 19, that is, the degree of dirt on the filter 20 can be determined. Since the time-up signal tp is generated throughout this period via the OR gate OGI, the clear key switch 6 and the microswitch SW remain effective throughout this time.

As in the above embodiment, a key switch 1 for indicating operating conditions;
If the clear key switch 6 is provided on the remote control box where keys 2, 3, 4, etc.
Switch 6 is often operated incorrectly.

Therefore, if a switch such as a key switch whose input is performed by an extremely light operation is used as the clear key switch 6, there will be an inconvenience that the contents of 2 will be cleared in the counter every time an erroneous operation is performed. However, if the supply of the clear signal CL2 is cut off until the counter IC2 generates the time-up signal tp as in the present invention, it is possible to ensure that the contents of the counter IC2 are not clogged and cleared by the notification time. This eliminates the above-mentioned inconvenience.
Also, if the clear key switch 6 is omitted and only the micro switch SW is used, the I
The content of C2 is not cleared and the accumulated time is cleared when a key is operated on the click control box.Not only is there no dust, but there is no need to forget to clean the filter 20. Furthermore, since the IC2 is automatically cleared when the filter 20 is removed for cleaning, there is no need to perform a manual clearing operation each time. Further, the optimum time for clogging notification time varies depending on the installation location of the air conditioner, but according to the present invention, the clogging notification time can be easily corrected by simply changing the value of variable resistor VR. I can do it.

Since the filter clogging time notification device according to the present invention uses a digital counter instead of a mechanical motor such as a timer motor, it not only has a very simple configuration, but also has accurate time measurement. It is possible to accurately notify the jam time.

Furthermore, since the clogging time can be easily corrected, the clogging notification time can be easily set according to the installation conditions. In addition, the counter IC2 for counting the clogging time can only be cleared by removing the filter from the air conditioner, so as long as the device is used under normal conditions, the count contents will not be cleared by any manipulation. There is no blind screen. Furthermore, since the contents of IC2 are automatically cleared when the filter is removed for cleaning, there is no need to go to the trouble of clearing IC2.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a plan view of an IJ control box for an air conditioner in which the filter clogging time notification device of the present invention is implemented;
The figure is a circuit diagram of the main part, Figure 3 is a time chart for explaining the operation of IC2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the outline of the air conditioning rhombus, and Figures 5 and 6 are for explaining the operation of the present invention. FIG. Code, SW...Micro switch, 5...
Clogging alarm LED, IC1, IC3... Comparator
Evening, IC2... Counter, R, ~R, 5...
・Resistor, C, ~C3...Capacitor, tp・"...Time up signal, AG, AGI~AG3...And gate, OGI~OG3...OR gate, CL1, CL
2... Clear signal, 20... Filter.
11g Tsutomu Figure 4 Figure 5 Sardine Figure 3 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an air conditioner in which a filter is installed in a detachable manner, a pulse generating means for generating clock pulses for time measurement during operation of the air conditioner main body, a digital counter for accumulating operating time for counting the clock pulses, and this digital counter. filter clogging notification means for notifying that the count content of the counter has reached a predetermined value;
A detection means for detecting that the filter has been removed from the air conditioner main body; and a clear signal generation means for generating a clear signal for clearing the contents of the digital counter based on the detection output of the detection means. A filter clogging time notification device is configured to clear the contents of the digital counter by removing the filter.