Equipment, heating equipment, humidifiers and desiccant dehumidifiers

Abstract

To provide a device that can control a load such as a heater by stopping or reducing its output earlier and more safely in a state in which there is little danger.SOLUTION: A device according to the present disclosure includes a heat generation portion, and a control portion that controls the heat generation portion, and the control portion varies the stop temperature of the heat generating portion on the basis of a method of commanding a driving operation that involves operation of the heat generating portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device , heating equipment, humidifiers and desiccant dehumidifiers More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for controlling the stopping or reduction of output of a load such as a heater. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, air conditioning equipment such as air purifiers have been equipped with devices that detect overheating using thermistors, etc., to ensure product safety. Such a function is effective when the product experiences "blocked air intake causing the interior to become hot," "damaged cooling components causing the interior to become hot," or "objects that come into contact with the product catch fire and become hot, causing the temperature to rise."

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fire alarm system that stops operation based on a fire signal, and stops the device when a high temperature is detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6410848 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when the product is operated remotely, the operator is often not near the product, making it difficult to notice the problem by sight or touch before the detection device detects it.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure aims to provide a device that stops or reduces the output of a load such as a heater in advance, more quickly and safely, and controls the load in a state where risk is low. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided that includes a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, and the control unit is characterized in that the stop temperature of the heat generating unit is varied based on a method of commanding an operation of an operation that involves operation of the heat generating unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an apparatus that stops or reduces the output of a load such as a heater in advance, more quickly and safely, in a state where risk is low. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a control method for an apparatus according to the present disclosure, and is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not unduly limit the content of the present disclosure described in the claims, and not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential as means for solving the problems of the present disclosure.

[0011] The device according to the present disclosure includes a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit. Examples of such devices include heating devices such as ceramic heaters, gas heaters, and kerosene fan heaters, as well as air conditioners, humidifiers, air conditioners, hybrid humidifiers, and desiccant dehumidifiers.

[0012] The heat generating portion is a heater or the like that generates a load.

[0013] The control unit is, for example, a control device including a microcomputer, etc. The control unit is characterized in that it varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on the command method for the operation operation involving the operation of the heat generating unit.

[0014] The threshold for determining that the device is in a high (dangerous) temperature state is set to a lower (safe) temperature when the device is operated by wireless communication, the device's attached remote controller, or other remote control than when the device is operated by main unit operation. This will be explained in detail below.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a control method for a device according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, first, the device is powered on (S10). At this time, the stop temperature of the heat-generating unit is varied depending on the method of commanding an operation involving the operation of the heat-generating unit, i.e., direct operation based on operation of the device itself (S11), operation start by wireless communication based on infrared communication using a remote control attached to the device (S12), or operation start by wireless communication based on radio waves other than infrared communication, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (S13). Note that wireless communication operation in which an instruction is sent to the remote control via radio waves, such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth, and the remote control operates the device via infrared, is designated as S13.

[0016] The direct operation in S11 is an operation to perform operation by pressing an operation start button on an operation panel provided on the device body, and is an operation performed from a location where the entire device body can be directly seen.

[0017] The wireless communication operation (non-direct operation) of S12 is an operation to start operation by wireless communication based on infrared communication using the device's attached remote control, etc., rather than by pressing the operation start button, and is an operation that is performed from a location where the entire device body can be seen or is difficult to see.

[0018] The wireless communication operation (indirect operation) of S13 is an operation to start operation not by pressing the operation start button but by wireless communication operation based on radio waves (excluding infrared communication) such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth using a mobile terminal or the like, or wireless communication operation in which instructions are sent to a remote control via radio waves and the remote control operates the device via infrared, and is an operation from a location where the device itself is completely out of sight. For example, the operation of S13 is when the device is installed indoors and is operated from outdoors.

[0019] The attached remote control is a remote control that comes with the device. Examples of wireless communication and other remote control include operation via the cloud, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or so-called learning remote control or infrared remote control using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet.

[0020] S11 is operation pattern 0 (S14), S12 is operation pattern 1 (S15), and S13 is operation pattern 2 (S16). Operation pattern 0 is direct operation, and operation patterns 1 and 2 are wireless communication operations.

[0021] Next, in the case of the above operation pattern 0 (S20), the temperature at which operation is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped is set to, for example, 95°C (judgment value B = 95°C, S22). On the other hand, in the case of the above operation pattern 1 (S21), the temperature at which operation is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped is set to, for example, 92°C (judgment value B = 92°C, S23). On the other hand, in the case of the above operation pattern 2, the temperature at which operation is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped is set to, for example, 90°C (judgment value B = 90°C, S24).

[0022] In this way, the temperature at which the heat generating unit is turned off by wireless communication operation is set to a lower determination value than that by direct operation. The temperature of the determination value is in the order of operation pattern 2<operation pattern 1<operation pattern 0.

[0023] Therefore, based on the command method using the operation pattern, when a judgment value is set and temperature A is detected (S30), if the detected temperature A is equal to or higher than the judgment value B (S31), the operation of the device is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped. The temperature may be detected by a temperature sensor provided in the device body.

[0024] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, if the detected temperature A is not equal to or greater than the judgment value B and the operation is changed by direct operation of the device body (S32), the temperature at which the operation of the device is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped is set to the judgment value for operation pattern 0 (e.g., 95°C) (S35).

[0025] On the other hand, if the detected temperature A is not equal to or greater than the judgment value B and the operation is changed by wireless communication or the remote control attached to the device (S33), the temperature at which the operation of the device is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped is set to the judgment value of operation pattern 1 (e.g., 92°C) (S36).

[0026] On the other hand, if the detected temperature A is not equal to or greater than the judgment value B and the operation is changed by wireless communication or other remote control (S34), the temperature at which the operation of the device is stopped or the heat generating part of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped is set to the judgment value for operation pattern 2 (S37).

[0027] In this way, when wireless communication operation is performed after direct operation, the stop temperature of the heating element is based on the command method used by wireless communication operation. For example, in Figure 1, if operation is started by operation on the main unit (S11) and then operation is started by wireless communication operation or the remote control attached to the device (S33), or operation is started by wireless communication operation or other remote control, the stop temperature will be the corresponding judgment value of 92°C or 90°C.

[0028] On the other hand, if direct operation is performed after wireless communication operation, the stop temperature of the heating element is based on the command method used by direct operation. For example, in Figure 1, if operation is started by wireless communication operation or the device's attached remote control (S12), or by wireless communication operation or other remote control (S13), and then operation is started by operating the main unit (S11), the stop temperature will be the judgment value of 95°C.

[0029] Furthermore, if a wireless communication operation is performed after a direct operation, the stop temperature of the heat generating unit can be based on the command method by the direct operation. Furthermore, if a predetermined time, for example, one hour or more, has elapsed since the direct operation, the command method based on time may be changed, such as based on the command method by wireless communication operation.

[0030] When the operation of the device is stopped or the heat generating portion of the load (heater, etc.) is stopped, the device itself can display this information, and a notification can also be sent to a mobile terminal or the like.

[0031] The control unit may automatically stop the heating unit after a predetermined time has elapsed, and may perform control such that the predetermined time varies depending on the operating method.

[0032] For example, the predetermined time for wireless communication operation may be shorter than that for direct operation. The predetermined time for starting operation by wireless communication operation or by the device's attached remote control, or by wireless communication operation or other remote control, may also be shorter than that for starting operation by operating the main unit. For example, the predetermined time for starting operation by wireless communication operation or by the device's attached remote control, or by wireless communication operation or other remote control, may be three hours, and the predetermined time for starting operation by operating the main unit may be eight hours.

[0033] In this way, it is possible to prevent forgetting to turn off the power to the device, and it is possible to stop or reduce the output of a load such as a heater more quickly and safely in advance when the risk is small.

[0034] Also, at least one selectable operation mode may differ depending on the command method. For example, if an operation mode that detects the temperature and automatically controls it to an appropriate temperature (assuming the safety function is working) and an operation mode that does not control the temperature are installed, the operation mode that does not control the temperature cannot be selected by wireless communication operation, the remote control attached to the device, wireless communication operation, or other remote control.

[0035] Furthermore, the selectable operation modes may be further varied depending on whether operation is started by wireless communication operation or a remote controller attached to the device, or whether operation is started by wireless communication operation or other remote control.

[0036] As described above, the device according to the present disclosure can control a heater or the like by stopping or reducing the output of a load such as a heater more quickly and safely in advance when the risk is low.

[0037] Although each embodiment and each example of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without substantially departing from the novel features and effects of the present disclosure. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] For example, a term described at least once in the specification or drawings together with a different term having a broader or similar meaning can be replaced with that different term anywhere in the specification or drawings. Furthermore, the configuration and operation of the device are not limited to those described in each embodiment and each example of the present disclosure, and various modifications are possible.

Claims

1. A device comprising a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, The control unit varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on a command method for an operation involving operation of the heat generating unit, the instruction method includes directly operating the device and wirelessly operating the device; a stop temperature of the heat generating unit due to the wireless communication operation is lower than a stop temperature of the heat generating unit due to the direct operation, The device is characterized in that, when the wireless communication operation is performed after the direct operation, the stop temperature of the heat generating unit is based on the command method by the direct operation.

2. The control unit automatically stops the heat generating unit after a predetermined time has elapsed, and performs control such that the predetermined time varies depending on the operating method, The device according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time period based on the wireless communication operation is shorter than the predetermined time period based on the direct operation.

3. A device comprising a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, The control unit varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on a command method for an operation involving operation of the heat generating unit, the instruction method includes directly operating the device and wirelessly operating the device; a stop temperature of the heat generating unit due to the wireless communication operation is lower than a stop temperature of the heat generating unit due to the direct operation, The device, wherein the number of driving modes selectable by the wireless communication operation is smaller than the number of driving modes selectable by the direct operation.

4. The device described in Claim 3, characterized in that when the direct operation is performed after the wireless communication operation, the stop temperature of the heat-generating part is based on the command method by the direct operation.

5. An apparatus comprising a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, The control unit varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on a command method for an operation involving operation of the heat generating unit, the instruction method includes wirelessly operating the device; the wireless communication operation includes a first wireless communication operation based on infrared communication and a second wireless communication operation based on radio waves other than the infrared communication; The device is characterized in that the stop temperature of the heat generating unit due to the second wireless communication operation is lower than the stop temperature of the heat generating unit due to the first wireless communication operation.

6. The instruction method further includes directly operating the device; The device according to claim 5 , wherein the stop temperature of the heat generating unit caused by the first wireless communication operation is lower than the stop temperature of the heat generating unit caused by the direct operation.

7. A heating device comprising a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, The control unit varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on a command method for an operation involving operation of the heat generating unit, the command method includes directly operating the heating device and wirelessly operating the heating device; A heating device characterized in that the temperature at which the heat generating unit is turned off by the wireless communication operation is lower than the temperature at which the heat generating unit is turned off by the direct operation.

8. A humidifier comprising a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, The control unit varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on a command method for an operation involving operation of the heat generating unit, the command method includes directly operating the humidifier device and wirelessly operating the humidifier device; A humidifier, characterized in that the stop temperature of the heat generating unit by the wireless communication operation is lower than the stop temperature of the heat generating unit by the direct operation.

9. A desiccant dehumidifier comprising a heat generating unit and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit, The control unit varies the stop temperature of the heat generating unit based on a command method for an operation involving operation of the heat generating unit, the command method includes directly operating the desiccant dehumidifier and wirelessly operating the desiccant dehumidifier; A desiccant dehumidifier, characterized in that the stop temperature of the heating unit by the wireless communication operation is lower than the stop temperature of the heating unit by the direct operation.

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