JP-7855662-B1 - Control method for gas detectors and gas sensors

JP7855662B1JP 7855662 B1JP7855662 B1JP 7855662B1JP-7855662-B1

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a gas detector that can have a longer lifespan by extending the lifespan of the gas sensor itself. [Solution] This gas detector 100 is a gas detector 100 that detects a target gas, and comprises a first gas sensor 1 that detects the target gas, a second gas sensor 2 that detects the target gas, and a control unit 3 that controls the first gas sensor 1 and the second gas sensor 2. The control unit 3 controls whether or not to drive the second gas sensor 2 based on a first detection result 30 of the first gas sensor 1, and when the second gas sensor 2 is driven, it determines the concentration of the target gas based on a second detection result 31 of the second gas sensor 2. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

安部健
竹内和之
末廣陽
能美耕太郎

Assignees

新コスモス電機株式会社

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241107

Claims (7)

A gas detector that detects the target gas, A first gas sensor for detecting the target gas, A second gas sensor for detecting the target gas, The system comprises a control unit that controls the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor, The control unit controls whether or not to drive the second gas sensor based on the first detection result of the first gas sensor, and when the second gas sensor is driven, it determines the concentration of the target gas based on the second detection result of the second gas sensor . A gas detector in which the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor are provided on the same chip .
The gas detector according to claim 1, wherein the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor are gas sensors of the same type.
The control unit, Either control the first gas sensor to operate continuously, or control it to operate intermittently. The gas detector according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to drive the second gas sensor when the first detection result indicates the presence of the gas to be detected.
The gas detector according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses the first detection result to determine the presence or absence of the target gas, and uses the second detection result to determine the concentration of the target gas.
The gas detector according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to identify and notify which of the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor is currently operating.
A gas detector that detects the target gas, A first gas sensor for detecting the target gas, A second gas sensor for detecting the target gas, The system comprises a control unit that controls the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor, The control unit controls whether or not to drive the second gas sensor based on the first detection result of the first gas sensor, and when the second gas sensor is driven, it determines the concentration of the target gas based on the second detection result of the second gas sensor. The control unit controls the second gas sensor to be driven at predetermined time intervals, regardless of the first detection result, in this gas detector.
A step of obtaining a first detection result of the gas to be detected using a first gas sensor, Based on the first detection result, a step is to determine whether or not to activate the second gas sensor that detects the target gas, When the second gas sensor is driven, the second gas sensor is used to obtain a second detection result of the gas to be detected. The method includes the step of determining the concentration of the gas to be detected using the second detection result, without using the first detection result, In the step of determining whether or not to drive the second gas sensor, the presence or absence of the target gas is determined using the first detection result without using the second detection result, and the decision is made whether or not to drive the second gas sensor . A method for controlling gas sensors , wherein the first gas sensor and the second gas sensor are provided on the same chip .

Description

This invention relates to a control method for gas detectors and gas sensors. Conventional gas detectors are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a gas detector comprising a first gas detection unit, a second gas detection unit, and a control means. In this gas detector, the detection of the gas to be detected is initiated by energizing the first and second gas detection units. Furthermore, the control means is configured to protect the second gas detection unit by stopping the power supply to the second gas detection unit when the concentration of the gas detected by the first gas detection unit exceeds a preset threshold. Patent No. 7555834 This is a block diagram showing the controllable configuration of a gas detector according to the first embodiment.These are circuit diagrams (A) and (B) showing an example configuration of the first gas sensor and second gas sensor of the gas detector according to the first embodiment.This is a schematic plan view showing an example of the configuration of the gas sensor of a gas detector according to the first embodiment.This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the gas sensor of a gas detector according to the first embodiment.This is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration in which the control unit of a gas detector according to the first embodiment drives a second gas sensor based on a first detection result.This is a flowchart illustrating the method for controlling a gas sensor using a gas detector according to the first embodiment.This is a block diagram showing the controllable configuration of a gas detector according to the second embodiment.This is a flowchart illustrating the control method of a gas sensor using a gas detector according to the second embodiment.This is a block diagram showing a controllable configuration of a gas detector with modified examples.This is a flowchart illustrating how to control a gas sensor using a gas detector with modified examples. The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] The configuration of the gas detector 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. (Gas detector configuration) The gas detector 100 of the first embodiment is a gas detector that detects a target gas. Furthermore, when the gas detector 100 detects the target gas, it outputs an alarm to notify the user of a gas leak or other incident. The target gas is the gas that the gas detector 100 should detect. For example, the target gas is fuel gas (city gas) that mainly contains methane. As shown in Figure 1, the gas detector 100 comprises a first gas sensor 1, a second gas sensor 2, a control unit 3, a notification unit 4, a storage unit 5, multiple amplifiers 6, and a communication unit 7. The first gas sensor 1, the control unit 3, the notification unit 4, and the communication unit 7 are housed within the casing of the gas detector 100. The gas detector 100 operates using power supplied from a commercial power source or from a battery (not shown). The first gas sensor 1 detects the target gas. The first gas sensor 1 includes a sensing element 1a and a heating element 1b that heats the sensing element 1a to a predetermined temperature. The first detection result 30 of the first gas sensor 1 is input to the corresponding amplifier 6. Furthermore, the first gas sensor 1 is a MEMS-type gas sensor. That is, the first gas sensor 1 is formed using MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, which forms a mechanical structure in a semiconductor substrate using a semiconductor manufacturing process. For example, the first gas sensor 1 has a size of approximately 0.1 mm on each side. The first gas sensor 1 includes a measurement circuit as shown in Figure 2(A). The measurement circuit of the first gas sensor 1 comprises a sensor element 10a, opposite-side resistors R1 and R2, and a load resistor R3. Voltage is applied from the power supply E to the sensor element 10a, the opposite side resistors R1 and R2, and the load resistor R3. Furthermore, the first detection result 30 (see Figure 1) is output from terminal A1 connected between the sensor element 10a and the load resistor R3, and from terminal A2 connected between the opposite side resistors R1 and R2. The second gas sensor 2 detects the target gas. The second gas sensor 2 includes a sensing element 2a and a heating element 2b that heats the sensing element 2a to a predetermined temperature. The second detection result 31 of the second gas sensor 2 is input to the corresponding amplifier 6. Furthermore, the second gas sensor 2 is a MEMS-type gas sensor. That is, the second gas sensor 2 is formed using MEMS technology, which forms a mechanical structure in a semiconductor substrate using a semiconductor manufacturing process. For example, the second gas sensor 2 has a size of approximately 0.1 mm on each