JP5249563B2 - Toilet seat temperature controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet seat temperature control apparatus for controlling energization of an AC resistance load for heating and heating a toilet seat surface to control the AC resistance load to a predetermined set temperature.

  Conventionally, in a heated toilet seat in which a heater that heats and heats the toilet seat surface is housed in the toilet seat, when using a high heat amount heater at a low heat amount, phase control by triac is generally performed (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

FIG. 8A shows an example of a circuit structure in which a single heater 12 having a relatively large amount of heat and a triac 5 are connected in series to the commercial AC power source 3, and FIG. 8B shows that the heater 12 has a low amount of heat. shows an example of the phase control by the tRIAC 5 when used, to some extent can be secured heat input to the heater 12 (input watts) by advancing the ignition timing point of the triac 5, triac 5 to be used for phase control Due to its operating characteristics, the inrush current is large and the rise of the heater current is steep. FIG. 9 shows an example of the current waveform transition. In the figure, A indicates the rise time, B indicates the warming time, and C indicates the warming time. In this way, there is a problem that the inrush current becomes large particularly at the time of rising A, thereby causing deterioration of emission (EMI) performance such as noise terminal voltage and power supply harmonics. The emission performance referred to here is a performance that can suppress the electromagnetic field noise generated by the heater 12 to a low level, and the deterioration of the performance causes a failure of the control circuit and peripheral electric devices. Note that the current peak value can be reduced by further delaying the ignition timing of the triac 5 than the ignition timing of FIG. 8B, but in this case, the amount of heat input to the heater 12 decreases as the current peak value decreases. It will end up. In addition, T0 in FIG.8 (b) is a time of receiving the signal from a human body detection sensor, and is a starting point which calculates ignition timing.

  Therefore, by using a coil as a method of relaxing the rising waveform, it is possible to improve the emission performance while ensuring a certain amount of input heat. In this case, the larger the heater 12, the more necessary it is. The greater the amount of heat, the greater the inductance required for the coil, and there were many disadvantages in terms of size and cost.

In addition, when a heater having a large temperature change characteristic such as a halogen heater is used as the heater 12, since the temperature of the halogen heater is low immediately after voltage application, a larger current flows after the temperature rise, and the value is Although depending on the operating temperature range of the halogen heater, when the power source capacity is small, there is a possibility that a bad effect such as a voltage drop may occur. As a method for preventing this, for example, a method of energizing after increasing the temperature of the halogen heater by increasing the temperature of the halogen heater by providing a preliminary heating time by phase control or half-wave energization that partially inputs heat, In order to achieve the above-mentioned emission performance, there is an upper limit to the energization rate at the time of preheating, which makes it difficult to realize a rapid temperature rise of the halogen heater.
JP 2006-305344 A

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and by reducing the current peak value, the inrush current can be reduced, the emission performance can be improved, and the necessary heat quantity can be ensured regardless of the decrease of the inrush current. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toilet seat temperature control device capable of realizing a quick rise while saving power.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a toilet seat temperature control device for phase-controlling the power supplied to an AC resistance load for heating / heating the surface of the toilet seat 1, and a plurality of AC resistance loads accommodated in the toilet seat 1. 2A, 2B, a relay 4 for switching the plurality of AC resistance loads 2A, 2B to either a serial or parallel connection form with respect to the commercial AC power supply 3, and energization of the plurality of AC resistance loads 2A, 2B individually And a control circuit 6 for individually controlling the relay 4 and the triacs 5A and 5B. The control circuit 6 includes the plurality of AC resistance loads 2A and 2B. a series connection form simultaneously energized in series connection, a parallel connection form to energize the plurality of AC resistive load 2A, and 2B connected in parallel to each AC resistive load 2A, alternately 2B, the plurality of a Preventing resistive load 2A, each AC resistive load 2A are connected in parallel to 2B, the conduction mode switching unit 7 for switching set to one of the parallel connection form simultaneously energized to 2B, a reduction in the required amount of heat in the above connection form Therefore, it has a trigger means 8 for adjusting the firing timing of the triacs 5A and 5B for each half cycle of the alternating current.

  By adopting such a configuration, a plurality of AC resistance loads 2A and 2B are switched to either serial or parallel by the conduction mode switching means 7, so that the resistance can be reduced as compared with the case where a conventional single heater is used. Since the value increases, the current peak value of the rising waveform that deteriorates the emission performance can be reduced, and accordingly, the inrush current can be reduced and power can be saved. Further, at this time, by adjusting the ignition timing of the triacs 5A and 5B by the trigger means 8, it becomes possible to secure the necessary heat amount regardless of the decrease of the inrush current.

The conduction mode switching means 7 preferably switches and sets the plurality of AC resistance loads 2A and 2B to the serial connection mode at the start of load energization. In this case, the high output series connection mode is executed at the start of load energization. As a result, a high output can be obtained and a quick rise is possible, and even when an AC resistance load with a large temperature change characteristic is used at this time, the current peak value decreases in proportion to the increase in resistance value. Can be reduced.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of AC resistance loads can be switched in series and parallel, so that the resistance value can be increased as compared with the case of using a conventional single heater, and the inrush current is reduced accordingly. It is possible to improve the emission performance, and at the same time, by adjusting the triac firing timing for each half cycle of AC to prevent the required heat amount from decreasing, the necessary heat amount can be secured regardless of the inrush current decrease, It is possible to sufficiently cope with the use of an AC resistance load having a high heat quantity.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when an AC resistance load having a large temperature change characteristic is used, a quick rise can be realized while greatly reducing the inrush current at the start of load energization.

  Hereinafter, an example of the circuit structure of the toilet seat temperature control apparatus 20 of the present invention is shown.

  The toilet seat temperature control device 20 of this example includes two heaters 12A and 12B (radiation-type heating elements) as a plurality of AC resistance loads 2A and 2B for heating and heating the toilet seat 1, and each of the heaters 12A and 12B The seating surface with which the buttock comes into contact with the heat radiation can be heated in a short time.

  An example of the heating toilet seat is shown in FIGS. The toilet seat 1 that is rotatably attached to the seat-type toilet 16 is O-shaped, and two U-shaped heaters 12A and 12B having a length corresponding to about a half circumference of the toilet seat 1 are provided in the toilet seat 1. The hollow portion is accommodated so as to make one round. The two heaters 12A and 12B each have a heat amount of about 1/2 with respect to the input heat amount (input wattage) required at the time of high output, and the rear end portion of the heater 12A disposed on the front side, It is installed so that the front end portion of the heater 12B arranged at the rear overlaps each other, and the temperature of the entire toilet seat 1 is made substantially uniform by preventing temperature drop at the heater end portion having a low temperature. We try to improve the feeling. In FIG. 6, 13 is a thermostat for preventing the toilet seat 1 from rising too high, 14 is a holding member for the heaters 12A and 12B, 17 in FIG. 7 is a toilet lid, 18 is a low tank, and 19 is a local washing device.

Here, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a relay 4 is provided between the commercial AC power supply 3 and the heaters 12A and 12B in order to perform energization control of the two heaters 12A and 12B. And a triac 5A, 5B, and a control circuit 6 shown in FIG. 3 for controlling the operation of the relay 4 and the triacs 5A, 5B . 1A shows an example of a serial connection configuration in which two heaters 12A and 12B are connected in series and energized at the same time, and FIG. 1B is a triac when the two heaters 12A and 12B are simultaneously turned on. FIG. 2 (a) shows an example of a parallel connection configuration in which two heaters 12A and 12B are connected in parallel and the heaters 12A and 12B are energized simultaneously or alternately. (B) shows the firing timing of the triacs 5A, 5B when the two heaters 12A, 12B are alternately turned on.

  The triacs 5A and 5B of this example individually control ON / OFF of energization of the two heaters 12A and 12B, and between the commercial AC power source 3 and one heater 12A and between the commercial AC power source 3 and the other heater. 12B, respectively.

  The relay 4 is for switching the connection relationship of the two heaters 12A and 12B between the commercial AC power supply 3 between series connection and parallel connection. In this example, the COM terminal of the relay 4 is used as the NC terminal. By turning on only one TRIAC 5A (or 5B), the two heaters 12A and 12B are connected in series, while the COM terminal of the relay 4 is in contact with the NO terminal. By turning both the two triacs 5A and 5B ON, the two heaters 12A and 12B are switched to a parallel connection configuration.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the control circuit 6. The control circuit 6 of this example is composed of a microcomputer that individually controls the relay 4 and the triacs 5A and 5B based on a signal from a human body detection sensor, an operation signal from an operating device, a signal from a thermostat, and the like. , A conduction mode switching means 7 and a trigger means 8 are provided. The control circuit 6 of this example switches the two heaters 12A and 12B to the serial connection mode by the conduction mode switching means 7 at the start of energization of the heaters 12A and 12B, and triacs by the trigger means 8 every AC half cycle T (T ′). The required heat amount is prevented from being lowered by phase-controlling the 5A and 5B firing timing (timing for outputting the trigger pulse) in a direction that is advanced every AC half cycle.

  Here, the conduction mode switching means 7 connects the two heaters 12A and 12B in series and supplies electricity at the same time and the two heaters 12A and 12B in parallel or simultaneously or alternately according to the required heat quantity. Is switched to one of the parallel connection modes for energizing the current.

  Further, the trigger means 8 reduces the inrush current by increasing the energization time by increasing the firing timing of the triacs 5A and 5B for each AC half cycle T (T ′) in each of the above connection modes. This is to prevent a decrease in the necessary heat amount. That is, the triac 5A, 5B energization time is calculated according to the required heat quantity, and the triac is obtained after a predetermined time has elapsed from the zero cross of the commercial AC power supply 3 so that the energization time applied to the heaters 12A, 12B becomes the calculated value. A trigger pulse is output to 5A and 5B. At this time, the triacs 5A and 5B continue energizing the heaters 12A and 12B until the next zero cross.

  Next, an example of operation | movement of this toilet seat temperature control apparatus 20 is demonstrated.

  When the user enters the toilet room, the human body detection sensor detects the user's entry. Thereby, a signal indicating the user's entry is sent to the control circuit 6. When receiving a signal from the human body detection sensor, the control circuit 6 starts energization control of the heaters 12A and 12B via the conduction mode switching unit 7 and the trigger unit 8.

  First, at the start of energization of the heaters 12A and 12B, two relays 12A and 12B are connected in series by the relay 4 and only one triac 5A (or 5B) is turned on to energize each heater 12A and 12B simultaneously. And Then, after the temperature rises to some extent, the heat is kept by switching to the parallel connection mode and energizing alternately. Thereafter, when a high output for heating is to be obtained, the two triacs 5A and 5B are both turned on in a parallel connection form and the heaters 12A and 12B are energized simultaneously.

Here, in the case of the conventional single heater 12 (FIG. 6A), when the heat quantity is W, the resistance value is
V x V / W (Ω)
It becomes. In this case, since the current peak value is large, the inrush current also increases.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, the circuit structure is such that two heaters 12A and 12B each having a heat quantity of about ½ of the heat quantity of the single heater 12 can be switched in series and parallel, and the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. In the state of series connection in which current flows through and the triacs 5A and 5B in FIG. 2 (a) are simultaneously turned on, the currents are simultaneously supplied to the two heaters 12A and 12B in the directions indicated by arrows B and C, or The triacs 5A and 5B are alternately turned ON, and the two heaters 12A and 12B can be switched to either a parallel connection configuration in which current flows alternately in the directions indicated by arrows B and C.

Here, in the series connection form shown in FIG.
4V x V / W (Ω)
Thus, the current peak value of the rising waveform is reduced to about ¼ compared with the case of the single heater 12 (FIG. 8B), so the inrush current is 1 / It is reduced to about 4.

Thereafter, in the parallel connection configuration shown in FIG.
V × V / (W / 2) (Ω) = 2V × V / W (Ω)
Thus, the current peak value of the rising waveform is reduced to about ½ compared to the case of the single heater 12 (FIG. 8B), so the inrush current is ½ compared to the case of the single heater 12. Reduced to a degree.

  As a result, in the present invention, a large inrush current does not flow in both cases of series and parallel as compared with the case of the conventional single heater 12, so that emission (EMI) such as noise terminal voltage and power supply harmonics. In addition to improving the performance and saving power, it is not necessary to use a coil or the like for loosening the voltage waveform, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost.

  In addition, the control circuit 6 calculates the ignition timing every AC half cycle T (T ′) from the time T0 (FIG. 4) when receiving the signal from the human body detection sensor, and outputs the trigger pulse at each ignition timing. To do. In this example, when the ignition timing of the conventional single heater 12 is t1 (t1 ′) in FIG. 8B, the ignition timing in the parallel connection configuration is earlier than that of the single heater 12 in FIG. ) T2 (t2 ′), and the ignition timing in the serial connection mode is t3 (t3 ′) in FIG. As a result, in the present invention, the energization time can be extended by the amount that the current peak value is lower than in the case of a single heater in both cases of series and parallel. That is, as the energization time during the AC100V1 period becomes longer, the amount of heat input increases, so that the necessary amount of heat can be ensured regardless of the drop in inrush current, and rapid temperature rise is possible. Furthermore, after the temperature has risen to some extent, switching to parallel connection and performing alternate energization can keep heat while saving power. Further, during heating, the heaters 12A and 12B are fully energized in parallel connection form. High output can be obtained. FIG. 4 shows the time transition of the rising waveform of the present invention. In the figure, A is a series connection, B is a parallel connection and alternately energized, and C is a parallel connection and a full energization period. FIG. 5 shows a temporal transition of the resistance values of the heaters 12A and 12B according to the present invention, and shows a case where the resistance value increases as the temperature of the heaters 12A and 12B rises.

  As a result of FIG. 4, in the present invention, it is possible to secure the necessary input heat amount while suppressing the inrush current in both series and parallel. In particular, the inrush current at the time of series connection A at the start-up (FIG. 4). Therefore, even when a high-heat AC resistance load such as a halogen heater is used, rapid temperature rise can be realized while keeping the inrush current small.

  In the above-described embodiment, the two heaters 12A and 12B, which are radiant heating elements, are used as the AC resistance loads 2A and 2B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a high-temperature sheathed heater or a quartz tube heater is used. May be.

  The circuit structure of the toilet seat temperature control device 20 of the present invention can be widely applied to the field of, for example, a water heater using an AC resistance load as a heat source.

1A and 1B show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a circuit diagram in a case where two heaters are connected in series, and FIG. 2B is a time for explaining the firing timing of a triac when two heaters are simultaneously turned on. It is a chart. (A) is a circuit diagram when the two heaters are connected in parallel and are connected in parallel or alternately energized, and (b) is a triac firing timing when the two heaters are alternately turned on. It is a time chart explaining. It is a block diagram relevant to the control circuit same as the above. It is a graph which shows the time transition of a rising waveform same as the above. It is a graph which shows the time transition of the resistance value of a heater same as the above. It is a bottom view of the toilet seat incorporating the same heater. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the heating toilet seat apparatus provided with the toilet seat incorporating the heater same as the above. (A) is a circuit diagram for phase control of a conventional single heater by triac, (b) is a time chart at the time of phase control of the conventional triac. It is a graph which shows the time transition of the rising waveform of the conventional single heater.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toilet seat 2A, 2B AC resistance load 3 Commercial AC power supply 4 Relay 5A, 5B Triac 6 Control circuit 7 Conduction mode switching means 8 Trigger means 12A, 12B Heater 20 Toilet seat temperature control device

Claims (2)

In a toilet seat temperature control device for phase-controlling power supplied to an AC resistance load for heating and heating the toilet seat surface, a plurality of AC resistance loads housed inside the toilet seat and the plurality of AC resistance loads as commercial AC power supplies On the other hand, a relay that switches to either a serial or parallel connection form, a plurality of triacs that individually control ON / OFF of the energization of the plurality of AC resistance loads, and a control circuit that individually controls the relay and the triac Prepared,
The control circuit includes a series connection configuration in which the plurality of AC resistance loads are connected in series and energized at the same time, a parallel connection configuration in which the plurality of AC resistance loads are connected in parallel to alternately energize each AC resistance load, and In order to prevent a decrease in the amount of heat required in each of the connection modes, a conduction mode switching means for switching and setting to any one of the parallel connection modes in which a plurality of AC resistance loads are connected in parallel and each AC resistance load is energized simultaneously . A toilet seat temperature control device comprising trigger means for adjusting the ignition timing for each half cycle of the alternating current.   The toilet seat temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the conduction mode switching means switches and sets a plurality of AC resistance loads to a serial connection mode at the start of load energization.

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