JPH0433333B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a water supply control device that automatically controls the water supply to a water washer such as a toilet bowl or a washbasin based on the detection of the use of the water washer by a sensing section. , in detail, a water washer, a sensing part that senses the use of the water washer, a control part that outputs an opening/closing signal to the water supply part based on a sensing signal from the sensing part, and a valve that is operated by the opening/closing signal from the control part. This device includes a water supply section that opens and closes, and a pilot lamp that electrically communicates with a control section.

<Prior art> Conventionally, this type of water supply control device has a light emitting circuit that is activated when the control section is energized, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-126831 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-15373. The infrared rays are output to the sensing section and emitted infrared rays, which are reflected when they hit the user of the toilet and are received by the light receiving circuit via the sensing section, which outputs them to the amplification circuit and lights up the pilot lamp. With,
Some systems operate the delay circuit, differential circuit, single shot circuit, and output circuit in sequence to open the water supply section, and when the light receiving circuit no longer receives light, the output of the light receiving circuit disappears and the pilot lamp goes out.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in such conventional water supply control devices, even if a difference occurs in the operation of the control section, it is difficult to easily determine where the abnormality has occurred. Therefore, there is a problem in that repair is extremely troublesome.

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-142436, for example, it has been decided to provide a plurality of display lamps that flash in accordance with the operating state of the control section, and to have the plurality of display lamps flash simultaneously when an abnormality occurs in the control section. Therefore, it is conceivable to display an abnormality in the control section, or to detect a location where an abnormality has occurred in the control section and blink only the corresponding indicator lamp.

However, in this case, it is necessary to provide the same number of lamps as the number of abnormal operation points to be detected, which not only increases the cost, but also increases the installation space of the indicator lamps, making the entire device larger. There's a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the conventional situation, it is an object of the present invention to display detection signals from different abnormal operation locations on one lamp in a distinguishable manner.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The technical means taken by the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide the control section with an abnormal operation detection section that detects abnormal operation points and outputs the detected abnormal operation points to the pilot lamp,
The abnormal operation detection section is characterized in that different types of flashing signals are outputted to the same pilot lamp for each abnormal operation location.

<Function> According to the above-mentioned technical means, the present invention detects the abnormal operation location by the abnormal operation detection section when an abnormality occurs in the operation of the control section, and outputs the detected abnormal operation point to the same pilot lamp. The pilot lamp flashes differently depending on the abnormally operating location than other abnormally operating locations.

<Example> An example of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the water washer 1 is a urinal 1a, and above the urinal 1a,
To be more precise, the sensing part 2 is embedded in the wall W at a height corresponding to the height of the user's chest when the user is standing in front of the urinal 1a, and the latching that constitutes the water supply part 4 is installed. A solenoid 4a and a flush valve 4b are installed in an embedded manner.

The sensing part 2 is a light emitting element 2 made of a light emitting diode.
It is a diffuse reflection type infrared sensor including a light receiving element 2b made of a phototransistor and a light receiving element 2b, and is connected to a battery 5 as a drive power source via a control unit 3.

The light emitting element 2a emits infrared light based on a light emitting signal output from a sensor circuit 3a of the control unit 3, which will be described later.
When a part of this reflected light is received by the light receiving element 2b, it outputs a light reception signal to the sensor circuit 3a.

The control section 3 can be roughly divided into a sensor circuit 3a that communicates with the light emitting element 2a and light receiving element 2b of the sensing section 2 and generates a sensing signal, and a control circuit 3b that operates based on this sensing signal and generates a drive signal. , a drive circuit 3c that operates based on the drive signal to generate an output signal that configures the latching solenoid 4a, an abnormal operation detection section 3d, and a display circuit 3e.

The sensor circuit 3a includes a light emitting drive (not shown) that communicates with the light emitting element 2a and outputs a light emitting signal, and a light receiving amplifier (not shown) that communicates with the light receiving element 2b and inputs a light receiving signal. , a one shot with reflected light (not shown), and a one shot without reflected light (not shown), and the light projection drive continuously transmits a light projection signal at a predetermined period.

When the light-receiving amplifier emits infrared light from the light-emitting element 2a, if it inputs a light-receiving signal even once and detects the presence of a user, it outputs a sensing signal from the reflected light one shot to the control circuit 3b. If no light reception signal is input even if light is emitted, a clear signal is output to the control circuit 3b from the one shot without reflected light.

The control circuit 3b is constructed using a microcomputer, and when it receives the sensing signal from the one shot with reflected light, it outputs a lighting signal to the display circuit 3e and counts only this sensing signal.
When the count number exceeds the set number, the drive circuit 3c
A driving signal is outputted to the display circuit 3e for a predetermined period of time, and when a clear signal is inputted from the one shot without reflected light during this counting, the outputting of the lighting signal to the display circuit 3e is stopped and the count number is returned to zero.

The drive circuit 3c electrically controls the operation of the water supply section 4 by outputting a valve opening signal or a valve closing signal to the water supply section 4 by inputting the drive signal output from the control circuit 3b. In the case of the embodiment, a valve opening signal is output at the same time as a drive signal is input, and the operating coil of the latching solenoid 4a is energized to open the valve, and as soon as the drive signal is no longer input, a valve closing signal is output. The valve section is closed by energizing the return coil of the latching solenoid 4a, and the current waveform generated when the operating coil or return coil is energized is detected, and when the minimum value of the current waveform is detected, a valve opening signal or a closing signal is generated. Stop outputting the valve signal.

In other words, when the latching solenoid, which will be described later, starts energizing the operating coil or return coil, the current increases due to the current applied to the coil, and then, after a predetermined period of time, the current decreases once due to the generation of a counter electromotive force as the plunger moves. However, since the back electromotive force becomes 0 when the valve is opened or closed, the current has a time vs. current characteristic in which the current continues to rise after that, and the drive circuit 3c has a current waveform that is minimal when the plunger moves. Utilizing the characteristic that follows, when the minimum value is detected, the energization to the operating coil or the return coil is stopped.

The abnormal operation detection section 3d is a sensor abnormality detection circuit 3.
_d1 , a drive abnormality detection circuit _3d2 , and a voltage abnormality detection circuit _3d3 .

The sensor abnormality detection circuit _3d1 detects malfunction of the sensor circuit 3a. For example, even if a light projection signal is output from the light projection drive of the sensor circuit 3a to the light projection element 2a, the reflected light will not be detected in response to this. When neither a sensing signal nor a clear signal is output to the control circuit 3b from the one shot with reflected light or the one shot without reflected light, a sensor abnormality signal is output to the control circuit 3b.

When this sensor abnormality signal is input to the control circuit 3b, the control circuit 3b first sends a closing signal to the drive circuit 3c for a set time as shown in the time chart shown in FIG.
The valve is closed by outputting tc and energizing the return coil of the latching solenoid 4a.Following this, a pulse signal is output to the display circuit 3e, for example, three times in succession within the set time _t1 . The output is repeated at a predetermined period _t0 including the time when the light is turned off after output.

The drive abnormality detection circuit _3d2 detects malfunction of the drive circuit 3c, and utilizes the characteristic of the latching solenoid that when the latching solenoid operates normally, the plunger moves within a predetermined time and the current waveform becomes minimum. By doing so, if the minimum value cannot be detected even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of energization, it can be determined that the latching solenoid is not operating normally, and at this time, the drive abnormality signal is sent to the control circuit 3b.
Output to.

When this drive abnormality signal is input to the control circuit 3b, the control circuit 3b first outputs a closing signal for a time tc to the drive circuit 3c to close the valve portion of the latching solenoid 4a, as shown in the time chart shown in FIG. let me,
Subsequently, a pulse signal is output to the display circuit 3e, for example, twice in succession within time _t1 , and after this output, the pulse signal is repeatedly output at _f0 cycles including the time when the light is turned off.

The voltage abnormality detection circuit _3d3 detects a voltage drop in the battery 5, and outputs a voltage drop signal to the control circuit 3b when the voltage drops below a set value due to power consumption.

When this voltage drop signal is input to the control circuit 3b, the control circuit 3b first outputs a closing signal to the drive circuit 3c for a set time tc to close the valve portion of the latching solenoid 4a, as shown in the time chart shown in FIG. Then, a pulse signal is sent to the display circuit 3e _.
The output is repeated, for example, once every cycle.

When the display circuit 3e receives the pulse signal outputted from the control circuit 3b and the lighting signal, it energizes the pilot lamp 6 to turn it on each time, and stops energizing the pilot lamp 6 when the signal is no longer input. and turn off the light.

In such a water supply control device, the pilot lamp 6 normally lights up when the sensing section 2 senses a user, and turns off when the user leaves, but the sensor circuit 3a is activated regardless of this. If an abnormality occurs in the sensor abnormality detection circuit 3d ₁
The pilot lamp 6 flashes repeatedly three times each time due to the operation of , and if an abnormality occurs in the operation of the drive circuit 3c, the pilot lamp 6 repeatedly flashes twice each time due to the operation of the drive abnormality detection circuit _3d2 . Furthermore, when the voltage of the battery 5 decreases, the voltage abnormality detection circuit _3d3 is activated to cause the light to blink once at a time.

Note that the number of pulse signals output by the operation of the sensor abnormality detection circuit 3d ₁ , the drive abnormality detection circuit 3d ₂ and the voltage abnormality detection circuit 3d ₃ is not limited to the above-mentioned ones, and it depends on which abnormality detection circuit is activated. The number of times is arbitrary as long as it can be easily understood.

On the other hand, the water supply section 4 is connected to a latching solenoid 4a.
and a flush valve 4b that opens and closes when the latching solenoid 4a operates. At the same time, a latching solenoid 4a is disposed in a branch flow path (not shown) that communicates a pressure chamber defined within the flush valve 4b with the secondary side of the flush valve.

The latching solenoid 4a opens and closes the valve section by moving the plunger up and down by energizing the operation coil and the return coil, and after the valve section is operated, maintains the valve state even if the energization to these coils is stopped. It has a conventionally well-known structure, and in this embodiment, when the valve part opens, the flash valve 4
When the water in the pressure chamber b is discharged to the secondary side of the flash valve 4b via the branch flow path and the valve portion is closed, the outflow of water from the pressure chamber of the flash valve 4b is stopped. .

The flush valve 4b has a conventionally well-known structure, and defines a pressure chamber behind a main valve body movably disposed inside the flush valve 4b. When the water in the pressure chamber decreases, the main valve body moves toward the pressure chamber side. Gradually move and open the valve,
Washing water from the water supply source is supplied to the urinal 1a through the water supply channel 7, and when the outflow of water in the pressure chamber is stopped, water is gradually introduced into the pressure chamber from a small passage opened in the main valve body. water begins to flow in, and the main valve body moves little by little in the direction of closing the valve, eventually closing the valve and stopping the water supply to the urinal 1a.

Next, FIG. 5 shows another embodiment in which the water washer 1 is a hand wash 1b, and the user who approaches the hand wash 1b to wash his/her hands is When the sensing unit ₂ installed in
When the user leaves the hand wash basin 1b after washing his hands, the water supply is stopped.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the sensing section 2 is embedded in the wall surface W, but the mounting structure of the sensing section 2 is not limited to that shown in the drawings and may be any arbitrary structure.

<Effects of the Invention> Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following advantages.

When an abnormality occurs in the operation of the control section, the abnormal operation detection section detects the abnormal operation location and outputs it to the same pilot lamp.
Since this pilot lamp blinks in a manner different from other abnormally operating locations in correspondence with the abnormally operating location, detection signals from different abnormally operating locations can be displayed on one lamp in a distinguishable manner.

Therefore, compared to the case where it is necessary to provide the same number of lamps as the number of abnormal operation points to be detected, only one lamp is required even if there are multiple abnormal operation points to be detected.
Since the number of lamps is reduced, the cost can be reduced by the reduction in the number of lamps, and the installation space for the lamps is narrowed, so that the entire device can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a water supply control device showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the sensor abnormality detection circuit, and Fig. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the drive abnormality detection circuit. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the voltage abnormality detection circuit, and FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view of a water supply control device showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Water washer, 2... Sensing section, 3... Control section,
3d... Abnormal operation detection section, 4... Water supply section, 6...
pilot lamp.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A water washer, a sensing part that detects the use of the water washer, a control part that outputs an opening/closing signal to the water supply part based on a sensing signal from the sensing part, and a valve that opens and closes based on the opening/closing signal from the control part. In a water supply control device that includes a water supply section and a pilot lamp electrically connected to a control section, the control section includes an abnormal operation detection section that detects abnormal operation points and outputs the detected abnormal operation points to the pilot lamp. A water supply control device characterized in that a different type of flashing signal is outputted from the unit to the same pilot lamp for each abnormally operating location.