Power supply device for snowfall sensor and snowfall sensor system

Abstract

A power supply device for a snowfall sensor and a snowfall sensor system are provided that can suppress deterioration of electrodes and extend the life of the snowfall sensor. The device includes a power supply unit 30 having a positive electrode 30a and a negative electrode 30b, a relay unit 32 having a first relay 33 connected to the positive electrode 30a and a second relay 34 connected to the negative electrode 30b, and a control unit 36 ​​that controls the relay unit 32. The first relay 33 selectively connects either a first electrode 23 or a second electrode 24 to the positive electrode 30a, and the second relay 34 connects the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 to the negative electrode 30b. The power supply device for a snowfall sensor selectively conducts either one of the positive electrode 30a and the second electrode 24, and the control unit 36 ​​switches between a first state in which the first relay 33 conducts electricity between the positive electrode 30a and the first electrode 23 and the second relay 34 conducts electricity between the negative electrode 30b and the second electrode 24, and a second state in which the first relay 33 conducts electricity between the positive electrode 30a and the second electrode 24 and the second relay 34 conducts electricity between the negative electrode 30b and the first electrode 23 at predetermined time intervals.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device for a snow sensor that applies a voltage to electrodes of a moisture detection type snow sensor, and a snow sensor system having the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Snow sensors are used in snowy regions for melting snow on roofs and for road heating. A snow sensor has a pair of interdigitated electrodes arranged on a detection surface, and can sense falling snow by detecting the resistance between the electrodes, which changes when the detection surface becomes wet with falling snow. An example of such a snow sensor is disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3112271 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is known that the electrodes of snow sensors deteriorate over long periods of use, reducing their ability to sense snowfall. This occurs because a weak current flows between the electrodes of the snow sensor for a long period of time, causing one of the electrodes to electrolyze. It is desirable to prevent this and extend the life of snow sensors.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a power supply device for a snow sensor and a snow sensor system that can suppress deterioration of the electrodes and extend the life of the snow sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the power supply device for a snow sensor of the present invention is a power supply device for a snow sensor that applies a voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode of a snow sensor that detects the resistance value between the first electrode and the second electrode arranged close to a detection surface, and is equipped with a power supply unit having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a relay unit having a first relay connected to the positive electrode and a second relay connected to the negative electrode, and a control unit that controls the relay unit, wherein the first relay selectively connects either the first electrode or the second electrode to the positive electrode, and the second relay selectively connects either the first electrode or the second electrode to the negative electrode, and the control unit switches between a first state in which the first relay connects the positive electrode to the first electrode and the second relay connects the negative electrode to the second electrode, and a second state in which the first relay connects the positive electrode to the second electrode and the second relay connects the negative electrode to the first electrode at predetermined intervals.

[0007] Furthermore, in the power supply device for a snowfall sensor according to the present invention, the control unit may switch between the first state and the second state every day to every week.

[0008] Furthermore, the snowfall sensor system according to the present invention is configured so that any one of the snowfall sensor power supply devices includes the snowfall sensor connected to the first electrode and the second electrode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the power supply device for a snowfall sensor and the snowfall sensor system of the present invention, the direction of the current flowing between the first and second electrodes of the snowfall sensor is periodically reversed, thereby suppressing deterioration of the electrode portion compared to when the current continues to flow in only one direction, thereby extending the life of the snowfall sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a snowfall sensor system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a snowfall sensor system. [Figure 3] This is a wiring diagram of the power supply unit, relay unit, and electrode unit in the snowfall sensor system. [Figure 4] 4 is a wiring diagram when the first state in FIG. 3 is switched to the second state. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram showing a state in which the relay unit is not sufficiently switched. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram illustrating a state in which the relay unit is not sufficiently switched when the relay unit is arranged facing in the opposite direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, a snowfall sensor system 10 of this embodiment includes a snowfall sensor 12 that detects snowfall and a snowfall sensor power supply device 13 that applies voltage to the snowfall sensor 12. The snowfall sensor system 10 is used to detect the presence or absence of snowfall in, for example, a road heating device, since the power is turned on only when snow falls.

[0012] A support rod 15 is attached to the snow sensor 12, allowing it to be fixed to the wall of a building or the like. A power supply unit 13 for the snow sensor is provided at the middle position of the support rod 15. However, the power supply unit 13 for the snow sensor may be provided at a position other than the support rod 15. For example, the power supply unit 13 for the snow sensor may be provided integrally with the snow sensor 12, or may be provided on the wall side of the building to which the support rod 15 is fixed.

[0013] The snow sensor 12 is a moisture detection type snow sensor that senses snowfall by detecting the moisture content of snow. To this end, the snow sensor 12 has a detection surface 20 for detecting snow. When the snow sensor 12 is installed, the detection surface 20 is positioned so that it faces upward. An electrode section 22 consisting of a first electrode 23 and a second electrode 24, each having a complex shape, is provided on the surface of the detection surface 20. The first electrode 23 is electrically connected to a first electrode terminal 23a exposed on the detection surface 20. The second electrode 24 is electrically connected to a second electrode terminal 24a exposed on the detection surface 20. The first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 are close to each other on the detection surface 20. When snow adheres to the detection surface 20 and melts, the resistance between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 changes. For this reason, a voltage is applied to the electrode portion 22 from a snow sensor power supply unit 13 connected to the snow sensor 12, and the snow sensor 12 continuously detects the resistance value between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24.

[0014] 2, the snow sensor 12 constituting the snow sensor system 10 has an electrode unit 22, and the snow sensor power supply device 13 constituting the snow sensor system 10 has a power supply unit 30, a relay unit 32 provided between the power supply unit 30 and the electrode unit 22, and a control unit 36 ​​that controls the relay unit 32. The power supply unit 30 supplies direct current and has a positive electrode 30a and a negative electrode 30b.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3 , the relay unit 32 includes a first relay 33 and a second relay 34. The first relay 33 has a positive electrode connection terminal 33a connected to the positive electrode 30a of the power supply unit 30, a first electrode connection terminal 33b connected to the first electrode terminal 23a, and a second electrode connection terminal 33c connected to the second electrode terminal 24a. The first relay 33 can switch between a state in which the positive electrode connection terminal 33a and the first electrode connection terminal 33b are electrically connected to each other and a state in which the positive electrode connection terminal 33a and the second electrode connection terminal 33c are electrically connected to each other. That is, the first relay 33 can selectively connect either the first electrode 23 or the second electrode 24 to the positive electrode 30a.

[0016] The second relay 34 has a negative electrode connection terminal 34a connected to the negative electrode 30b of the power supply unit 30, a first electrode connection terminal 34b connected to the first electrode terminal 23a, and a second electrode connection terminal 34c connected to the second electrode terminal 24a. The second relay 34 can switch between a state in which the negative electrode connection terminal 34a and the first electrode connection terminal 34b are electrically connected to each other, and a state in which the negative electrode connection terminal 34a and the second electrode connection terminal 34c are electrically connected to each other. In other words, the second relay 34 can selectively connect either the first electrode 23 or the second electrode 24 to the negative electrode 30b.

[0017] In Fig. 3, the relay unit 32 is in a first state in which the first relay 33 conducts electricity between the positive electrode 30a and the first electrode 23, and the second relay 34 conducts electricity between the negative electrode 30b and the second electrode 24. In Fig. 4, the relay unit 32 is in a second state in which the first relay 33 conducts electricity between the positive electrode 30a and the second electrode 24, and the second relay 34 conducts electricity between the negative electrode 30b and the first electrode 23. The control unit 36 ​​can control the relay unit 32 to switch between the first state and the second state by simultaneously switching the first relay 33 and the second relay 34. The directions of current flowing through the electrode unit 22 are opposite to each other in the first state and the second state.

[0018] The control unit 36 ​​switches the relay unit 32 between the first state and the second state at predetermined time intervals. The interval at which the control unit 36 ​​switches the relay unit 32 between the first state and the second state can be set arbitrarily, for example, once a day. The interval at which the relay unit 32 switches between the first state and the second state may also be longer, for example, longer than one day but not longer than one week. This periodically reverses the direction of the current flowing between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 on the detection surface 20 of the snow sensor 12. This suppresses deterioration of the electrode unit 22 due to electrolysis compared to when current flows continuously in only one direction, thereby extending the life of the snow sensor 12. The interval at which the relay unit 32 switches between the first state and the second state does not have to be constant. For example, when connecting the power supply device 13 for a snowfall sensor of this embodiment to a snowfall sensor 12 that has already been used for a long period of time (for example, about two years), it is possible that either the first electrode 23 or the second electrode 24 has already deteriorated to a certain extent, so that initially either the first state or the second state of the relay unit 32 is selected so that the current flows in the opposite direction to the original current direction, and the sensor is used in this state for about one to two years, after which the relay unit 32 can be switched between the first state and the second state every day.

[0019] As described above, the control unit 36 ​​switches the relay unit 32 between the first state and the second state, but there may be a slight time difference between the switching of the first relay 33 and the second relay 34. For example, when switching from the first state of FIG. 3 to the second state of FIG. 4, for a very short time, as shown in FIG. 5, the second relay 34 may maintain electrical continuity between the negative electrode 30b and the second electrode 24, while the first relay 33 switches to a state where electrical continuity between the positive electrode 30a and the second electrode 24 occurs. In this case, the first electrode 23 is not connected to anything, and the resistance between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 detected by the snowfall sensor 12 becomes infinite. In the relay unit 32 of this embodiment, the first relay 33 and the second relay 34 are arranged so as to connect either the first electrode 23 or the second electrode 24 to the positive electrode 30a or the negative electrode 30b, so that even if there is a momentary delay in switching one of the relays when switching the relay unit 32, the resistance value between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 can be prevented from becoming zero.

[0020] In contrast, if the connection direction in the relay unit 32 is reversed, that is, if the first relay 33 and the second relay 34 are arranged so that either the positive electrode 30a or the negative electrode 30b is electrically connected to the first electrode 23 or the second electrode 24 as shown in Fig. 6, if there is a momentary delay in switching one of the relays when the relay unit 32 is switched, both the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 will be connected to the positive electrode 30a or the negative electrode 30b, and the resistance between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 will momentarily become zero. If the resistance between the first electrode 23 and the second electrode 24 becomes zero, the snow sensor 12 will recognize this as an abnormality, which may cause the road heating device to which the snow sensor 12 is connected to stop operating. By arranging the first relay 33 and the second relay 34 in the relay unit 32 so as to connect either the first electrode 23 or the second electrode 24 to the positive electrode 30a or the negative electrode 30b as shown in Figures 3 to 5, it is possible to structurally prevent the occurrence of such errors.

[0021] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the application of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the present invention can be applied in various ways within the scope of its technical concept. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 10 Snowfall Sensor System 12 Snowfall sensor 13 Power supply for snow sensor 15 Support rod 20 Detection surface 22 Electrode section 23 1st electrode 23a 1st electrode terminal 24 2nd electrode 24a 2nd electrode terminal 30 Power supply section 30a positive electrode 30b negative electrode 32 Relay Section 33 First Relay 33a Positive connection terminal 33b First electrode connection terminal 33c Second electrode connection terminal 34 Second Relay 34a Negative connection terminal 34b First electrode connection terminal 34c Second electrode connection terminal 36 Control Unit

Claims

1. A power supply device for a snow sensor that applies a voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode of a snow sensor that detects a resistance value between the first electrode and the second electrode arranged close to a detection surface, a power supply unit having a positive electrode and a negative electrode; a relay unit including a first relay connected to the positive electrode and a second relay connected to the negative electrode; a control unit that controls the relay unit, the first relay selectively connects either the first electrode or the second electrode to the positive electrode; the second relay selectively connects either the first electrode or the second electrode to the negative electrode; The control unit of the power supply device for a snowfall sensor switches between a first state in which the first relay conducts the positive electrode and the first electrode and the second relay conducts the negative electrode and the second electrode, and a second state in which the first relay conducts the positive electrode and the second electrode and the second relay conducts the negative electrode and the first electrode at predetermined intervals.

2. 2. The power supply device for a snowfall sensor according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches between the first state and the second state every day to every week.

3. 3. A snow sensor system including the snow sensor, wherein the power supply device for a snow sensor according to claim 1 or 2 is connected to the first electrode and the second electrode.

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