Ion eluting unit, device provided therewith, and washing machine

• US 20070175833A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ikemizu, Mugihei, Ikeboh, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/229.400
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4606 for producing oligodynamic substances to disinfect the water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4613 Inversing polarity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/05 Conductivity or salinity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/055 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/003 using electrochemical cells

Abstract

A metal ion eluting unit according to the present invention includes: a plurality of electrodes 102 and 103; a drive circuit (not shown) that applies a voltage between the electrodes; and a control circuit (not shown) that controls the drive circuit so that the drive circuit periodically reverses the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes, operates, from every time the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes is reversed until a predetermined period elapses, in a first current mode in which the value of a current flowing between the electrodes equals a first value, and operates, thereafter, in a second current mode in which the value of the current flowing between the electrodes equals a second current value different from the first current value. According to this configuration, metal ions can be efficiently and stably eluted for a prolonged period of time.

Claims

1. A metal ion eluting unit including:

a plurality of electrodes; and

a drive circuit that applies a voltage between the electrodes,

the metal ion eluting unit eluting metal ions from one of the electrodes serving as a positive electrode by applying the voltage between the electrodes,

wherein the metal ion eluting unit further comprises;

a control circuit that controls the drive circuit so that the drive circuit periodically reverses a polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes, and

in a period from one voltage polarity reversal to a next voltage polarity reversal, operates, from when the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrode is reversed until a predetermined period elapses, in a first current mode in which a value of a current flowing between the electrodes equals a first value and operates thereafter in a second current mode in which a value of the current flowing between the electrodes equals a second current value which is smaller than the first current value.

2. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1,

wherein a period of the first current mode is shorter than a period of the second current mode.

3. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1,

wherein the drive circuit performs constant-voltage driving during the period of the first current mode and constant-current driving during the period of the second current mode.

4. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1,

wherein the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes is periodically reversed with a voltage application rest time inserted during every reversal.

5. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1,

wherein transfer from the first current mode to the second current mode occurs with a voltage application rest time inserted therebetween.

6. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 4,

wherein a short-circuit is made between the electrodes during the voltage application rest time.

7. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 5,

wherein a short-circuit is made between the electrodes during the voltage application rest time.

8. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1, further comprising

a water quality detection portion which detects water quality of water existing between the electrodes,

wherein the control circuit changes at least one of the first current value and the second current value in accordance with the water quality detected by the water quality detection portion.

9. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1, further comprising

a water detection portion which detects water quality of water mediating between the electrodes

wherein the control circuit changes at least one of a time ratio of a period of the first current mode to a period of the second current mode and a polarity reversal period of the voltage applied between the electrodes in accordance with the water quality detected by the water quality detection portion.

10. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 8,

wherein the water quality detection portion detects at least one of water hardness, water electric conductivity, and water chloride ion concentration.

11. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 9

wherein the water quality detection portion detects at least one of water hardness, water electric conductivity, and water chloride ion concentration.

12. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 8,

wherein the water detection portion detects the water quality by detecting at least one of the voltage between the electrodes and the current flowing between the electrodes.

13. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 9,

wherein the water detection portion detects the water quality by detecting at least one of the voltage between the electrodes and the current flowing between the electrodes.

14. The metal ion eluting unit according to claim 1,

wherein part or all of the metal ions eluted are any of silver ions, copper ions, and zinc ions.

15. An apparatus comprising the metal ion eluting unit according to any of claims 1 to 14.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein the apparatus is a washing machine.

17. (canceled)