JPH0351918B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of controlling an electric fan using a microcomputer or the like, and particularly aims to improve the reliability of switch operation by an operation switch.

In recent years, microcomputers in particular have been widely used in home appliances, and many products have been created that take advantage of their characteristics, and the way they operate switches has become one of their characteristics.

Conventional electric fan switches are mainly piano switches and rotary switches, and the force required to operate them is relatively large, weighing several hundred grams for a piano switch. This is an unavoidable result of the fact that these switches must be able to directly turn on and off the load current, as well as have a holding function. However, when using a microcomputer, the operating switch itself rarely turns the load on or off directly; the operating switch is simply a signal source. Furthermore, since the signal input to the microcomputer does not have to be held and stored by the operating switch itself, no holding function is required, and the smoothness of operation is improved. In other words, due to these conditions, conventional piano switches have been replaced with touch switches or push-on switches that have low capacity and low load, and are naturally easy to operate, and in extreme cases can be operated with just a touch.

However, these features also have unexpected drawbacks.
Especially in the case of an electric fan, it means that you place it directly on the floor, so you don't have to consciously operate it; for example, if you temporarily put something on top of the switch or an animal gets on it, it will start moving. is quite conceivable. Conventional piano switches require a load to be applied and a stroke, so it is unlikely that the switch will start moving even if an animal momentarily steps on it.

Also, even if it moves, it will stop if the load is removed unless the holding function is activated. FIG. 1 is a front view of the stand portion where the operating section of the electric fan is provided, and a piano switch 101 and a timer setting knob 102 are provided. The standard operating stroke of the piano switch 101 is generally 3 to 4 mm, and it is unlikely that it will start moving naturally even if something is placed on it or if it is accidentally touched. In addition, the timer setting knob 102
The rotary switch, which is often used in place of the Piano Switch 101, is also unreliable since it is much less likely that it will rotate even if accidentally touched, compared to a push-type switch such as the Piano Switch 101. expensive. In comparison, touch-type and low-load push-on type switches have an operating stroke of 0~
0.5mm, the load varies, but it is generally lighter than a piano switch. Furthermore, a holding function is often provided in software inside the microcomputer, and if a signal is accepted, one push will always result in continuous operation, which is a poor condition. It was a big challenge.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and embodiments thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

Figure 2 is a flowchart of the microcomputer, where 1 is a confirmation circuit that checks whether one of the various switches is on, and 2 is a confirmation circuit that checks whether the switch has been on for more than 5 seconds. If the conditions confirmed by the confirmation circuits 1 and 2 above are met, the main functions of the electric fan (fan motor drive, timer, oscillation, etc.) are reset to a stopped state.

FIG. 3 shows a timer time setting operation unit for forward only, where 3 is a display lamp and 4 is a timer set button. And for each push of set button 4, the timer setting changes from 0 → 20 → 40 → 60 → 80 → 120 → 180.
→0→20... However, if the number of sequential stages is large as shown in this figure, setting becomes troublesome, so a method is often used in which internal software automatically transfers the settings by continuously pressing the set button 4. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a condition that the time at one location is longer than a specified time such as 5 seconds. However, even in this case, if you keep pressing set button 4, the number will change from 0 to 20.
→ 40 → 60 → 80 → 120 → 180 → 0. Once you release the set button, it will not move to the next → 20 → 40... unless you press it again. If you hold down the button for more than 5 seconds at 0, all reset will occur. This can be dealt with through software measures such as

The lighter and smarter the operation switch means that it can be difficult for small children to operate it, or
Unlike traditional switches, there are no protruding parts, which makes it easier to place things on, increasing the chances of misuse. The present invention is a method that can be fully adapted to such future products.

In addition, in the explanation, the maximum time that one switch can be pressed continuously is expressed as 5 seconds, but if you want to prevent mischief from children etc., it should be shorter than this, and from a general usability perspective, it should be a little longer. It might be better. In short, it is sufficient to consider the time limit depending on the purpose. Furthermore, although the present invention is particularly effective for floor-standing electric fans, it can also be used with other devices, such as low-profile top-operated hot-air heaters, on which people sit or place objects. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained in cases where there is a possibility of

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention that incorporates the above, in which numeral 11 is a power supply, and numeral 12 is a control circuit including a microcomputer and the like. The control circuit 12 includes a push-off switch 13 that operates a fan motor 14 of the electric fan, a switch 15 that operates a motor 16 that changes the direction of the electric fan, and a timer forward switch 1 that sets the operating time of the electric fan.
7 is connected as a signal input element, and also includes a display lamp array 18 that displays the time of the timer, an electromagnetic relay coil 19 that operates the circuit contacts 19' of the fan motor 14 of the electric fan, and an electromagnetic relay coil 19 that changes the wind direction of the electric fan. An electromagnetic relay coil 20 for actuating contacts 20' of the circuit of the motor 16 is connected as an output element.

In the above configuration, there are provisions for operating switches such as a push-on switch that operates the fan motor 14 of the electric fan, a switch that operates the motor 16 that changes the wind direction of the electric fan, and a timer forward switch that sets the operation time of the electric fan. Through the above continuous push operation, the display lamp row that displays the timer time as the output, the electromagnetic relay coil 19 of the contact 19' that operates the fan motor 14 of the electric fan, and the motor 1 that changes the direction of the fan's wind.
All the electromagnetic relay coils 20 of the contacts 20' that operate the contacts 6 are reset.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to construct a highly reliable electric fan by taking advantage of the operability characteristics obtained by making the electric fan controlled by a microcomputer or the like a touch switch, a soft touch, etc. It is effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the stand of a conventional electric fan equipped with a piano switch, Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a microcomputer, etc. in an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is an explanation of the operation section of a multi-stage sequential feed timer. 4 are switch control circuit diagrams of the electric fan of the present invention. 12...Control circuit, 13...Push-on switch, 14...Fan motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The operating conditions of various motors and other functional parts of electric fans driven by semiconductor switch elements or electromagnetic contacts, control circuits that control the opening and closing of these semiconductor switch elements or electromagnetic contacts, various motors of electric fans, and other functional parts. In a fan configured with a touch switch or push-on switch to be set, it is detected that the touch switch or push-on switch has been pressed for a specified time or more, and the various motors and other functional parts of the fan are all reset to their initial states. A method for controlling an electric fan.