WATER LEAKAGE DETECTION CIRCUIT AND WASHING MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH WATER LEAKAGE DETECTION CIRCUIT

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water leakage detection circuit which comprises a digital circuit, eliminates the need for a power transformer required in a conventional water leakage detection circuit comprising an analog circuit, and contributes to simplification and weight saving. SOLUTION: The water leakage detection circuit A comprises: a signal generation circuit 24 which outputs a drive signal; a bridge circuit 22 which comprises a plurality of transistors, to which electric power from a direct-current power source 21 is supplied, and which receives the drive signal from the signal generation circuit 24; a water leakage sensor section 26 comprising a detection conductor which, when there is no water leakage, has a voltage with a constant peak value extending from positive to negative, by an output of the bridge circuit 22 on the basis of the drive signal from the signal generation circuit 24, and outputs a constant current to the bridge circuit 22; and a voltage-level determination circuit 33 which determines water leakage on the basis of a change in an output voltage of the bridge circuit 22 caused by a change in an output current from the water leakage sensor section 26, when the water leakage sensor section 26 becomes covered with fluid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI