CN106488337B - Operation terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an operation terminator capable of improving the degree of freedom of installation. The operation terminal device (2) is provided with a housing (20), a plurality of switches, a circuit module, a central board (25), and a plurality of operation sections (211-218). The circuit module is housed in a housing (20), and transmits an operation signal corresponding to the on/off of each of the plurality of switches to the base unit via a signal line. A center plate (25) is provided at the center of the front surface (201) of the housing (20). The plurality of operation parts (211-218) are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of switches. A plurality of operation parts (211-218) are arranged on the front surface (201) of the shell (20) and surround the central plate (25), and the corresponding switch of the plurality of switches is switched on and off by pressing operation.

Description

Operation terminal device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an operation terminator.

Background

Conventionally, there is provided a remote control system in which an operation switch (operation terminal) that receives an operation by a user, a transmission unit that performs transmission control of a signal, and an output relay terminal that outputs a contact signal to a load device are connected via a multiplexed transmission line (see, for example, patent document 1).

The operation switch includes a plurality of operation units operated by a user using the load device, and a transmission/reception unit that receives address data transmitted from the optical address setting unit, and sets an individual address for each operation unit.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2008-294834

Disclosure of Invention

In the operation terminal device described in patent document 1, the plurality of operation portions are arranged in a row in one direction, for example, the direction in which the plurality of operation portions are arranged is set to a vertical direction (vertical direction), and the installation direction of the operation terminal device may be limited by the direction in which the plurality of operation portions are arranged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an operation terminator capable of improving the degree of freedom of installation.

An operation terminal device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: the electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of switches, a circuit module, a central board, and a plurality of operating portions. The circuit module is accommodated in the housing, and transmits an operation signal corresponding to on/off of each of the plurality of switches to the base unit via a signal line. The center plate is provided at a center portion of a front surface of the housing. The plurality of operation portions are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of switches, are arranged on the front surface of the housing so as to surround the center plate, and switch on and off of the corresponding switch among the plurality of switches by a pressing operation.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the structure of an operation terminator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the operation terminator according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operation terminator according to embodiment 1, as viewed obliquely from the front.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the operation terminator according to embodiment 1, as viewed obliquely from the rear.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring control system using the operation terminal device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an address setting operation of the operation terminal device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a front view showing the structure of the operation terminator according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring control system using the operation terminal device according to embodiment 2.

Description of the reference symbols

1. 1A transfer unit (master); 2. 2A, operating the terminal device; 5. 5A lighting fixture (load); 6 address setter (setter); 7. a 7A signal line; 20. a 20A housing; 21. 21A, 211-218, 211A-216A operation part; 22. 221-228 switches; 23 a circuit module; 24. 24A, 241-248, 241A-244A display part; 25. a 25A center plate; 101A, 102A operation part group; 201. 201A front surface; 232. a 232A communication unit; 233 a central processing unit; axis of symmetry A1

Detailed Description

The following embodiments relate to an operation terminal, and more particularly, to an operation terminal including a plurality of switches.

(embodiment mode 1)

(1) Summary of the invention

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the operation terminal device 2 of the present embodiment includes: a housing 20, a plurality of switches 221 to 228, a circuit module 23, a center plate 25, and a plurality of operation parts 211 to 218.

The circuit module 23 is housed in the housing 20, and transmits an operation signal corresponding to on/off of each of the plurality of switches 221 to 228 to the transmission unit (master) 1 (see fig. 5) via the signal line 7 (see fig. 5). The center plate 25 is disposed at a center portion of the front surface 201 of the housing 20. The plurality of operation parts 211 to 218 are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of switches 221 to 228. The plurality of operation units 211-218 are disposed on the front surface 201 of the housing 20 so as to surround the center plate 25, and are switched on and off by pressing operation of corresponding switches among the plurality of switches 221-228.

Hereinafter, the switches 221 to 228 are each referred to as "switch 22" without particularly distinguishing the switches 221 to 228. In addition, when the plurality of operation units 211 to 218 are not particularly distinguished, the plurality of operation units 211 to 218 are all referred to as "operation unit 21".

(2) Detailed description of the invention

The following configuration is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Therefore, various modifications can be made in accordance with design and the like without departing from the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than the embodiment. In the following description, a direction perpendicular to the front surface 201 of the housing 20 is referred to as a front-rear direction, and the front surface 201 is assumed to face forward, but this direction is not intended to limit the use form of the operation terminal 2. That is, it is not essential that the front surface 201 of the housing 20 faces forward, and the operation terminal device 2 may be mounted on a ceiling or the like, for example, and used in a state where the front surface 201 faces downward.

(2.1) monitor control System

A monitoring control system 10 using the operation terminal device 2 of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in fig. 5, the monitoring and control system 10 includes a transmission unit 1 as a master unit and a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) operation terminals 2 as slave units. The monitoring control system 10 of the present embodiment further includes a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) control terminals 3. The transmission unit 1, the operation terminal 2, and the control terminal 3 are electrically connected to each other through a 2-wire signal line 7.

As shown in fig. 5, a plurality of (4 in the present embodiment) relays 4 are electrically connected to each control terminal 3 via a connection line 8. Each relay 4 is electrically connected between the corresponding lighting fixture 5 and the power supply. Each relay 4 switches between a state of supplying power to the corresponding lighting fixture 5 and a state of stopping supplying power to the corresponding lighting fixture 5 in accordance with an output from the control terminal 3. That is, the control terminal 3 controls the relay 4 to control the energization state of the load (lighting fixture 5 in the present embodiment) electrically connected to the relay 4. In fig. 5, the relay 4 and the lighting fixture 5 electrically connected to the left control terminal 3 are not shown.

Unique addresses are set for each operation terminal 2 and each control terminal 3, and the transfer unit 1 identifies each operation terminal 2 and each control terminal 3 individually using these addresses. Here, when the plurality of switches 22 are provided in 1 operation terminator 2, unique addresses are set to the plurality of switches 22, respectively. Similarly, when a plurality of relays 4 are connected to 1 control terminal device 3, unique addresses are set for the plurality of relays 4, respectively.

In the monitoring and control system 10, data is transmitted and received by a transmission signal formed of a bipolar (± 24V) time-division multiplexed signal, for example. The transmission unit 1 periodically transmits a transmission signal including address data that is cyclically changed to the signal line 7. On the other hand, if the address data included in the transmission signal matches the own address, the operation terminal 2 and the control terminal 3 acquire the control data included in the transmission signal. The operation terminal 2 and the control terminal 3 return the monitoring data as a current mode signal during a signal return period of the transmission signal.

For example, the operation terminal device 2 returns the operation states of the switches 221 to 228 provided therein as monitoring data. The control terminal 3 returns the control state of the corresponding lighting fixture 5 (on/off of the relay 4) as monitoring data. The current mode signal is a signal represented by a change in current caused by switching between a state in which the signal lines 7 are open between lines and a state in which a low impedance is connected between the signal lines 7.

According to the monitoring and control system 10 configured as described above, if the switch 22 is operated in the operation terminal device 2, the operation signal is transmitted from the operation terminal device 2 to the master (transmission unit 1) via the signal line 7. The operation signal described here is a signal generated in the operation terminal device 2 in response to the on/off of the switch 22, and is a current mode signal transmitted from the operation terminal device 2 to the transmission unit 1.

The transmission unit 1 that receives the operation signal from the operation terminal 2 transmits a control signal for controlling the relay 4 whose address corresponds to the operated switch 22 to the control terminal 3 via the signal line 7. The control signal is a signal for turning on/off the relay 4 and is a signal transmitted from the transmission unit 1 to the control terminal device 3.

In the operation terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the address setting device 6 is used for the above-described address setting operation. That is, the operation terminal device 2 has a function of communicating with the address setter 6, and inputs the addresses of the switches 22 using the address setter 6. In the present embodiment, the communication method between the operation terminal device 2 and the address setter 6 is optical communication using infrared rays as a communication medium. For example, in FIG. 6, "2-1" is entered in the address input field of the switch 221, "2-2" is entered in the address input field of the switch 222, "2-3" is entered in the address input field of the switch 223, and "2-4" is entered in the address input field of the switch 224.

(2.2) operation terminator

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the operation terminator 2 of the present embodiment includes a housing 20 formed in a square shape when viewed from the front. A center plate 25 is provided at a center portion of the front surface 201 of the housing 20. Further, a plurality of (8 in the present embodiment) operation sections 211 to 218 are provided around the center plate 25 on the front surface 201 of the housing 20 so as to surround the center plate 25. Hereinafter, the up, down, left, and right in fig. 1 will be described as the up, down, left, and right of the operation terminal device 2, but these directions are not intended to limit the usage form of the operation terminal device 2.

The central plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are formed in substantially square shapes when viewed from the front, in the central plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21. Here, on the front surface 201 of the housing 20, the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are arranged in a matrix of N × N (N is an odd number of 3 or more, N is 3 in the present embodiment). As described above, the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21, which are square in front view, are arranged in an N × N matrix, and the substantially entire surface of the square front surface 201 is covered with the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21. At this time, in front view, the length L1 of one side of front surface 201 is about N times (3 times in the present embodiment) the length L2 of one side of each of center plate 25 and plurality of operation portions 21.

In this configuration, the plurality of operation portions 21 are symmetrical in the vertical direction, and are also called in the left-right direction. Therefore, the plurality of operation portions 21 are 4-times rotationally symmetric about a symmetry axis a1 (refer to fig. 2) orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20 and passing through the center of the front surface 201 of the housing 20. In other words, the plurality of operation portions 21 are rotationally symmetric about the symmetry axis a1 at 4 rotational positions of 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees.

In the present embodiment, more specifically, the length L2 of one side of each of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 is set to be slightly shorter than one third of the length L1 of one side of the front surface 201 of the housing 20 in front view. Therefore, in the front surface 201, a fine gap is provided between the central plate 25 and each of the plurality of operation portions 21, and between two adjacent operation portions 21. By this gap, interference of the operation portions 21 between the central plate 25 and each of the plurality of operation portions 21 and between two adjacent operation portions 21 at the time of operation is avoided.

Here, the central plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are made of electrically insulating synthetic resin. Further, in the present embodiment, the central board 25 has a transmittance to light (infrared light) used as a communication medium between the operation terminal device 2 and the address setter 6.

The operation terminal device 2 further includes a plurality of (8 in the present embodiment) display units 241 to 248 provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of operation units 211 to 218 and indicating the control state of the load (lighting fixture 5 in the present embodiment) of the operation signal. Hereinafter, the plurality of display units 241 to 248 are all referred to as "display unit 24" without particularly distinguishing the plurality of display units 241 to 248. Each of the plurality of display units 24 is configured using an led (light Emitting diode)249 (see fig. 3), and the lighting state changes according to the control state of the load. That is, the control state of the load corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 21 corresponding to the display unit 24 is displayed by the lighting state of the display unit 24. The lighting state described here includes, for example, a blinking pattern in addition to the emission color (for example, red or green) of the display unit 24, and the on/off and blinking of the display unit 24.

As shown in fig. 1, each of the plurality of display portions 24 is provided on the corresponding operation portion 21 and arranged so as to surround the center plate 25. Here, each of the plurality of display portions 24 is disposed on the center plate 25 side of the center position of the corresponding operation portion 21 among the plurality of operation portions 21 in a plane along the front surface 201 of the housing 20. That is, each of the plurality of display portions 24 is disposed between the center position of the operation portion 21 and the center plate 25 on the front surface of the corresponding operation portion 21. In the present embodiment, the plurality of display portions 24 are arranged along the outer peripheral edge of the central plate 25 such that the distances from the respective display portions 24 to the central plate 25 are substantially the same among the plurality of display portions 24.

That is, the display portion 241 corresponding to the operation portion 211 is disposed at the lower right corner of the operation portion 211, and the display portion 243 corresponding to the operation portion 213 is disposed at the upper right corner of the operation portion 213. The display unit 245 corresponding to the operation unit 215 is disposed at the upper left corner of the operation unit 215, and the display unit 247 corresponding to the operation unit 217 is disposed at the lower left corner of the operation unit 217. Further, display unit 242 corresponding to operation unit 212 is disposed at the midpoint position of the line segment connecting display unit 241 and display unit 243, and display unit 244 corresponding to operation unit 214 is disposed at the midpoint position of the line segment connecting display unit 243 and display unit 245. The display unit 246 corresponding to the operation unit 216 is disposed at the midpoint position of the line segment connecting the display unit 245 and the display unit 247, and the display unit 248 corresponding to the operation unit 218 is disposed at the midpoint position of the line segment connecting the display unit 241 and the display unit 247.

With this arrangement, the plurality of display portions 24 are symmetrical in the vertical direction and also symmetrical in the left-right direction. Therefore, the plurality of display portions 24 are 4-times rotationally symmetric about a symmetry axis a1 (refer to fig. 2) orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20 and passing through the center of the front surface 201 of the housing 20. In other words, the plurality of display units 24 are rotationally symmetric about the axis of symmetry a1 at 4 rotational positions of 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees.

Further, according to the above-described configuration in which the plurality of operation portions 21 and the plurality of display portions 2 are both rotationally symmetric 4 times around the symmetry axis a1 that is orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20 and passes through the center of the front surface 201 of the housing 20, the components can be shared. In the present embodiment, the operation portions 211, 213, 215, and 217 positioned at the 4-corner of the front surface 201 among the plurality of operation portions 211 to 218 use common parts. Similarly, the operation sections 212, 214, 216, 218 of the plurality of operation sections 211 to 218 use common parts. Therefore, the plurality of operation sections 211 to 218 are composed of two kinds of parts.

In the present embodiment, corners are chamfered on the front surface 201 of the housing 20 and each of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21. However, the chamfer is not an essential structure for the operation terminator 2 and may be omitted as appropriate.

Hereinafter, a more specific configuration including the internal configuration of the operation terminator 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 3 and 4. In fig. 3 and 4, the main part of the operation terminal device 2 is illustrated, and the detailed part is appropriately omitted.

The housing 20 has a main body 26 and a cover 27. The cover 27 is detachably attached to the main body 26 from the front, and the housing 20 is configured in a state where the cover 27 is attached to the main body 26. Both the main body 26 and the cover 27 are made of electrically insulating synthetic resin.

The main body 26 is formed with an accommodating recess 261 opened forward. A plurality of (4 in the present embodiment) fixing holes 262 are formed around the accommodation recess 261 on the main body 26. The fixing hole 262 is a hole used for fixing the operation terminator 2 to the insertion box, and the main body 26 is fixed to the insertion box by screwing a fixing bolt to the insertion box through the fixing hole 262.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of fixing holes 262 are formed near the center of each of the upper, lower, left, and right sides on the front surface of the main body 26. In this structure, the plurality of fixing holes 262 are symmetrical in the up-down direction, and also symmetrical in the left-right direction. Accordingly, even in the fitting box provided with only a pair of screw holes aligned in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, the operation terminator 2 can be mounted by replacing the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction (horizontal direction) of the operation terminator 2. The accommodation recess 261 is formed in a shape protruding toward the outer peripheral edge of the front surface of the main body 26 in addition to the vicinity of each fixing hole 262. In other words, the opening of the accommodating recess 261 is formed in a shape recessed inward of the accommodating recess 261 in the vicinity of the center portion of each of the upper, lower, left, and right sides.

The cover 27 has a square holding plate 271 in front view and a frame-shaped peripheral wall 272 formed to surround the outer periphery of the holding plate 271. The holding plate 271 holds the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21. Here, the claws 273 provided on the back surfaces of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are hooked on the holding plate 271, and the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are held by the holding plate 271. In a state where the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are held by the holding plate 271, the front surfaces of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 correspond to the front surface 201 of the housing 20. In the present embodiment, the front surfaces of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are substantially flush with the front end edge of the peripheral wall 272 in a state where the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are held by the holding plate 271.

A square window hole 274 is formed in the center portion of the holding plate 271, that is, at a position covered with the center plate 25. Ribs 275 projecting forward are provided on the periphery of the window hole 274. The rib 275 contacts the back surface of the center plate 25, and thereby the rearward movement of the center plate 25 is restricted. Therefore, the center plate 25 is held by the holding plate 271 in a state in which the movement in the front-rear direction is prohibited.

On the other hand, the plurality of operation portions 21 are held by the holding plate 271 in a state in which rearward movement is allowed so as to be able to be pressed. Specifically, a spring piece 276 that protrudes obliquely forward from the front surface of the holding plate 271 is provided around the rib 275 on the holding plate 271 and at a position corresponding to each operation portion 21. The spring pieces 276 are provided for 4 pieces each for 1 operation portion 21. The 4 spring pieces 276 corresponding to the 1 operation portion 21 are arranged so that the tip portions thereof are in contact with four corners on the back surface of the operation portion 21. Therefore, if each of the operation portions 21 receives a pressing force on the front surface due to the pressing operation, the corresponding 4 spring pieces 276 move rearward while being elastically deformed. Then, if there is no pressing force on each operation portion 21, each operation portion 21 returns to the state before the pressing operation by the elastic force of the corresponding 4 spring pieces 276.

In this structure, the plurality of operation portions 21 are respectively held on the housing 20 movably in a direction orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20. That is, since the four corners of the back surface of each of the plurality of operation portions 21 are supported by the 4 spring pieces 276, the front surface can be moved straight rearward (moved straight forward) without being inclined at the time of pressing operation.

The operation terminal device 2 is provided with a circuit module 23 housed in the housing 20. The circuit module 23 is accommodated in the accommodating recess 261 of the main body 26. The circuit module 23 is configured by mounting electronic components on the printed circuit board 231, and has at least a function of communicating with the transmission unit (base unit) 1 via the signal line 7.

The circuit module 23 includes a communication Unit 232 and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 233. The circuit block 23 is further provided with a storage unit for storing addresses, and the like. The communication unit 232 is mounted on the front surface of the printed substrate 231. The central processing unit 233 is mounted on the back surface of the printed board 231. Both the communication unit 232 and the central processing unit 233 are disposed at a position corresponding to the central board 25 on the printed board 231, that is, at a position corresponding to the central portion of the housing 20.

The communication unit 232 has a function of communicating with an address setter (setter) 6 for setting an address of the operation terminal device 2 and the like. In the present embodiment, since the communication method between the operation terminal device 2 and the address setting device 6 is optical communication using infrared rays as a communication medium, the communication unit 232 includes a light receiving element for receiving a wave of an infrared ray signal and a light emitting element for transmitting a wave. The communication unit 232 outputs address data included in the infrared signal received by the light receiving element to the central processing unit 233, and the central processing unit 233 stores the switches 22 in the storage unit in association with the corresponding addresses based on the received address data.

The central processing unit 233 has at least a function of transmitting an operation signal corresponding to on/off of each of the plurality of switches 22 to the transmission unit (master) 1 via the signal line 7. Further, the central processing unit 233 has a function of setting the addresses of the switches 22 and controlling the display units 24.

Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of switches 221 to 228 corresponding to the plurality of operation portions 211 to 218 one by one are mounted on the printed board 231. Here, each switch 22 is a push switch that is switched on and off by a pressing operation of the corresponding operation unit 21. A plurality of switches 22 are mounted on the front surface of the printed substrate 231, and are accommodated in the housing 20 together with the circuit module 23. In the present embodiment, each switch 22 is a momentary push-button switch that is turned on only during the period in which the corresponding operation unit 21 is pressed, and is turned off when the pressing operation of the operation unit 21 is completed.

A plurality of LEDs 249 constituting the plurality of display units 24 are also mounted on the printed board 231. The LEDs 249 are mounted on the front surface of the printed board 231 in a one-to-one correspondence with the switches 22, and are accommodated in the housing 20 together with the circuit module 23.

The operation terminal device 2 of the present embodiment further includes an inner cover 28 detachably attached to the main body 26. The inner cover 28 is formed to match the shape of the opening of the receiving recess 261, and is attached to the main body 26 so as to close the opening of the receiving recess 261 in a state where the circuit module 23 is received in the receiving recess 261. The inner cover 28 is made of a synthetic resin having electrical insulation.

Here, a protrusion 210 protruding rearward is provided on the rear surface of each operation portion 21. In the cover 27, an operation hole 278 is formed at a position corresponding to the protrusion 210. In the inner cover 28, a1 st hole 281 is formed at a position corresponding to the protrusion 210. In a state where the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are held by the holding plate 271, the protrusion 210 passes through the operation hole 278 and the 1 st hole 281 to pass through the cover 27 and the inner cover 28, and the tip end portion thereof contacts the switch 22. Thus, by pressing operation unit 21, switch 22 corresponding to operation unit 21 is switched on and off.

Further, a lens 240 constituting the display unit 24 is attached to each operation unit 21. In the cover 27, a display hole 279 is formed at a position corresponding to the lens 240. In the inner cover 28, a 2 nd hole 282 is formed at a position corresponding to the lens 240. In a state where the central plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 are held by the holding plate 271, the lens 240 passes through the display hole 279 and the 2 nd hole 282 to penetrate the cover 27 and the inner cover 28. Thus, the light of the LED249 mounted on the printed circuit board 231 is guided toward the front surface of the operation unit 21 through the lens 240.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inner cover 28 has transparency to light (infrared light) used as a communication medium between the operation terminal device 2 and the address setter 6, similarly to the central plate 25. Therefore, light (infrared rays) used as a communication medium between the operation terminator 2 and the address setter 6 can be transmitted through the inner cover 28 and the central plate 25. Therefore, the communication unit 232 mounted on the printed board 231 can receive and transmit infrared signals to and from the address setter 6 through the window hole 274 of the cover 27.

However, the central plate 25 is not limited to the transmissive structure, and the central plate 25 may have a light-shielding property. In this case, the address is set in a state where the handle module including the cover 27, the center plate 25, and the plurality of operation portions 21 is detached from the main body 26. That is, in a state where the handle module including the center plate 25 is detached from the main body 26, light (infrared rays) is transmitted and received to and from the infrared ray signal between the address setting device 6 and the communication unit 232 without being blocked by the center plate 25.

The operation terminal device 2 of the present embodiment further includes a terminal block 29 to which the signal line 7 is connected. The terminal module 29 includes a base 291 made of electrically insulating synthetic resin, a pair of terminal plates 292 held by the base 291, and a pair of terminal studs 293. The terminal module 29 having such a structure is a screw terminal in which the signal line 7 is sandwiched between the terminal stud 293 and the terminal plate 292 to electrically connect the terminal plate 292 and the signal line 7. The terminal module 29 is integrated with the main body 26 by attaching the mount 291 to a terminal hole 263 formed in the center portion of the main body 26 from the rear.

(3) Effect

In the operation terminal 2 of the present embodiment described above, the plurality of operation portions 21 are disposed on the front surface 201 of the housing 20 so as to surround the center plate 25. According to this configuration, since the plurality of operation units 21 are arranged in a ring shape so as to surround the center plate 25, the installation direction of the operation terminator 2 is less likely to be restricted by the direction in which the plurality of operation units 21 are arranged, as compared with a configuration in which the plurality of operation units 21 are arranged in a row in one direction. As a result, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom of the installation of the operation terminator 2 can be improved. Further, the design of the operation terminator 2 can be improved by the appearance that the center plate 25 is surrounded by the plurality of operation units 21.

As in the present embodiment, the operation terminal device 2 preferably further includes a communication unit 232, and the communication unit 232 is provided at a position corresponding to the center board 25 and communicates with the setting device (address setting device 6). With this configuration, a dead space surrounded by the plurality of operation units 21 can be effectively used. Further, when optical communication is used as the communication method between the operation terminal device 2 and the address setting device 6 as in the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the user can easily recognize the position (the position of the communication unit 232) to which the address setting device 6 should be directed. Further, even if the central board 25 is large, the design of the operation terminal unit 2 is not impaired, and therefore, a device having a size sufficient for performing optical communication, for example, can be used as the communication unit 232 without impairing the design of the operation terminal unit 2. The communication unit 232 in the present embodiment is not necessarily required for operating the terminal device 2, and the communication unit 232 may be omitted as appropriate.

Further, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that each of the plurality of operation portions 21 is held by the housing 20 so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20. With this configuration, each of the plurality of operation portions 21 can be pushed straight backward without inclining the front surface. Therefore, regardless of the position on the front surface of the operation unit 21, which is pressed, the corresponding switch 22 can be switched on and off, and the operability of the operation unit 21 is improved. Further, there is an advantage that the installation direction of the operation terminal 2 is not easily restricted by the operation direction of the operation unit 21, as compared with the case where the operation unit (handle) of the piano key switch or the seesaw switch is used as the operation unit 21. The above-described configuration of the operation unit 21 is not essential for operating the terminal unit 2, and an operation unit (handle) of a piano key switch or a seesaw switch may be used as the operation unit 21.

As in the present embodiment, the circuit module 23 preferably includes a central processing unit 233 at a position corresponding to the central board 25. With this configuration, the blind spot surrounded by the plurality of operation units 21 can be effectively used. Further, by disposing the central processing unit 233 in the space surrounded by the plurality of switches 22, it is possible to suppress variation in the wiring length to the central processing unit 233 as much as possible in the plurality of switches 22. The central processing unit 233 in the present embodiment is not an essential component for operating the terminal unit 2, and the central processing unit 233 may be omitted as appropriate.

Further, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the plurality of operation portions 21 have 4-order rotational symmetry about a symmetry axis a1 that is orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20 and passes through the center of the front surface 201 of the housing 20. According to this configuration, since the plurality of operation units 21 are symmetrical in the vertical direction and also symmetrical in the left-right direction, the degree of freedom in installation of the operation terminator 2 can be further improved. For example, when the operation terminal device 2 is installed on a wall, the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction (horizontal direction) of the operation terminal device 2 can be replaced without changing the external appearance of the plurality of operation portions 21. The above-described configuration of the operation unit 21 is not essential for operating the terminal unit 2, and the plurality of operation units 21 may not be rotationally symmetrical.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the operation terminal device 2 preferably further includes a plurality of display units 24, and the plurality of display units 24 are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of operation units 21, and display the control state of the load (lighting fixture 5) indicated by the operation signal. With this configuration, the display unit 24 can recognize the control state of the load (the lighting fixture 5). Further, the display unit 24 is lit, so that the position of the operation terminal 2 can be easily known even in a dark place. The display unit 24 in the present embodiment is not necessarily required for operating the terminal unit 2, and the display unit 24 may be omitted as appropriate.

Further, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the plurality of display portions 24 be 4-fold rotational symmetry about a symmetry axis a1 that is orthogonal to the front surface 201 of the housing 20 and passes through the center of the front surface 201 of the housing 20. According to this configuration, since the plurality of display units 24 are symmetrical in the vertical direction and also symmetrical in the horizontal direction, the degree of freedom in installation of the operation terminal device 2 can be further improved. For example, when the operation terminal 2 is installed on a wall, the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction (horizontal direction) of the operation terminal 2 can be replaced without changing the external appearance of the plurality of display units 24. The above-described configuration of the display unit 24 is not essential for the operation of the terminal unit 2, and the plurality of display units 24 may not be rotationally symmetrical.

As in the present embodiment, each of the plurality of display units 24 is preferably disposed on the center plate 25 side of the center position of the corresponding operation unit 21 among the plurality of operation units 21 in a plane along the front surface 201 of the housing 20. According to this configuration, since the plurality of display portions 24 are arranged along the outer peripheral edge of the center plate 25, the user can easily recognize the position of the center plate 25 through the plurality of display portions 24. This makes it easy to avoid the center plate 25 from being pressed by mistake. Further, when the user presses the operation portions 21, the display portion 24 can guide the user to press the position close to the center plate 25 on the front surface of each operation portion 21. The above-described configuration of the display unit 24 is not essential for the operation terminal device 2, and the plurality of display units 24 may be arranged on the outer peripheral side of the front surface 201 with respect to the center position of the corresponding operation unit 21 among the plurality of operation units 21.

(4) Modification example

In embodiment 1, the shape of the housing 20 as viewed from the front is a square shape, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the housing 20 may be formed into a circular shape as viewed from the front, for example. Similarly, the shape of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 when viewed from the front is not limited to a square shape, and may be a circular shape. The shapes of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation portions 21 may be different from each other in front view.

Further, the plurality of operation units 21 may be disposed so as to surround the center plate 25 on the front surface 201 of the housing 20, and the arrangement of the center plate 25 and the plurality of operation units 21 in an N × N matrix is not essential. For example, a plurality of operation portions 21 may be arranged in a circular ring around the center plate 25.

In embodiment 1, the front surface of the center plate 25 and the front surfaces of the plurality of operation units 21 are arranged substantially flush with each other, but this structure is not essential for operating the terminal unit 2. That is, for example, the front surface of the center plate 25 may be located rearward of the front surfaces of the plurality of operation portions 21, and conversely, the front surface of the center plate 25 may be located forward of the front surfaces of the plurality of operation portions 21.

In embodiment 1, the case where the monitoring control system 10 includes two operation terminals 2 and two control terminals 3 is illustrated, but the monitoring control system 10 may include 1 or 3 or more operation terminals 2 and 3, respectively. The number of operation terminals 2 and the number of control terminals 3 may be the same as or different from that in embodiment 1.

In embodiment 1, the case where 4 relays 4 electrically connected to the control terminal device 3 are illustrated, but the number of relays 4 may be 1, 2, or 3, or may be 5 or more.

In embodiment 1, optical communication using infrared light as a communication medium is used as a communication method between the operation terminal device 2 and the address setter 6, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a communication method using visible light or radio waves as a communication medium may be used. Further, the address setter 6 may be electrically connected to the operation terminal device 2 by a wire, and may transmit address data to the operation terminal device 2 via the wire. That is, the operation terminal 2 and the address setter 6 may be configured to perform wired communication.

The load controlled by turning on/off the relay 4 by controlling the terminal 3 is not limited to the lighting fixture 5, and may be a load of a ventilation fan, an air conditioner, or the like, for example.

In embodiment 1, the plurality of Display units 24 are each formed by a plurality of LEDs 249, but the Display units 24 may be formed by, for example, a 7-Segment Display (Seven-Segment Display) or a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

(embodiment mode 2)

As shown in fig. 7, the operation terminal device 2A of the present embodiment is different from the operation terminal device 2 of embodiment 1 mainly in the arrangement of the plurality of operation units 211A to 216A. In the present embodiment, the same or corresponding components as those in embodiment 1 are assigned with the reference numerals "a" added to the reference numerals used in embodiment 1, and the description thereof is appropriately omitted.

In the operation terminal device 2A of the present embodiment, the plurality of operation units 211A to 216A includes two operation unit groups 101A and 102A in which 1 group of two or more operation units 21A are arranged in the 1 st direction (in the up-down direction in the present embodiment) along the front surface 201A of the housing 20A. Here, 6 operation units 211A to 216A are provided. The 3 operation units 211A to 213A are arranged in 1 row in the vertical direction to constitute a1 st operation unit group 101A. The remaining 3 operation units 214A to 216A are arranged in 1 row in the vertical direction to constitute the 2 nd operation unit group 102A.

The two operation unit groups 101A and 102A are arranged at a predetermined interval in a 2 nd direction (in the present embodiment, the left-right direction) orthogonal to the 1 st direction in a plane along the front surface 201A of the housing 20A. In other words, the 6 operation units 211A to 216A are arranged in two parallel rows with a predetermined interval therebetween in the left-right direction.

The plurality of operation units 211A to 216A are disposed so as to surround the center plate 25A by sandwiching the center plate 25A between the two operation unit groups 101A and 102A in the left-right direction. For example, as shown in fig. 7, the 1 st group of operating units 101A is located on the left side of the center plate 25A, and the 2 nd group of operating units 102A is located on the right side of the center plate 25A. Thus, the plurality of operation portions 211A to 216A surround the center plate 25A in a state where both sides of the center plate 25A in the vertical direction are left vacant.

Further, in the present embodiment, two dummy plates 251A, 252A are provided on the front surface 201A of the housing 20A at a position other than the operation portion 21A in the periphery of the central plate 25A. The dummy board 251A is disposed above the central board 25A, and the dummy board 252A is disposed below the central board 25A. Both the dummy boards 251A and 252A are dummy operation units having no function of switching the switch 22A on and off by a pressing operation.

Here, the two dummy plates 251A and 252A are formed in substantially the same square shape as the central plate 25A and the plurality of operation portions 21A in front view. The two dummy plates 251A and 252A are made of electrically insulating synthetic resin, as in the case of the plurality of operation portions 21A. The plurality of operation units 211A to 216A and the 2 dummy boards 251A and 252A are arranged so as to surround the center board 25A over the entire circumference. In other words, the operation terminal device 2A of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the operation units 218 and 214 of the operation terminal device 2 of embodiment 1 are replaced with dummy boards 251A and 252A, respectively. Therefore, the appearance (look and feel) of the operation terminal device 2A according to the present embodiment can be unified with the operation terminal device 2 according to embodiment 1.

Here, since both the dummy plates 251A and 252A are dummy operation portions, they are held by the holding plate 271A in a state where the movement in the front-rear direction is prohibited, similarly to the center plate 25A. In addition, the two dummy boards 251A and 252A may be omitted from the corresponding switches 22A and display unit 24A, respectively.

The switch 22A and the LED249A may be mounted on the printed circuit board 231A at positions corresponding to the two dummy boards 251A and 252A, respectively. In this case, the operation terminal device 2A according to the present embodiment and the operation terminal device 2 according to embodiment 1 can share a circuit block.

Further, in the operation terminal device 2A of the present embodiment, 3 operation units 214A to 216A belonging to the 2 nd operation unit group 102A among the plurality of operation units 211A to 216A are used for the operation of the common lighting fixture 5A. Here, the operation unit 214A is used for switching on and off of the lighting fixture 5A, and the operation units 215A and 216A are used for dimming control of the lighting fixture 5A. The operation unit 216A is an operation unit for increasing (brightening) the light control level, and the operation unit 216A is marked with an upward triangular mark. The operation unit 215A is an operation unit for lowering (dimming) the light control level, and a downward triangular mark is marked on the operation unit 215A.

Specifically, the operation terminal device 2A of the present embodiment is used in the monitoring control system 10A having the configuration shown in fig. 8. In the monitoring and control system 10A, a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) dimming terminals 3A are provided instead of the plurality of control terminals 3 of the monitoring and control system 10 (see fig. 5) of embodiment 1. That is, in the monitoring and control system 10A, the transmission unit 1A, the operation terminal device 2A, and the dimming terminal device 3A are electrically connected to each other through the 2-wire signal line 7A.

Each of the dimming terminals 3A is electrically connected to a corresponding lighting fixture 5A via a connection line 8A. Here, each of the dimming terminals 3A is electrically connected between the corresponding lighting fixture 5A and the power supply. Each of the light control terminals 3A incorporates a relay, and switches between a state of supplying power to the corresponding lighting fixture 5A and a state of stopping supplying power to the corresponding lighting fixture 5A by turning on or off the relay. Further, each of the dimming terminals 3A controls a voltage waveform applied to the lighting fixture 5A by, for example, phase angle control, and performs dimming control for changing the brightness of the corresponding lighting fixture 5A. The relay may be provided separately from the dimming terminal 3A and electrically connected to the dimming terminal 3A.

According to the monitoring and control system 10A configured as described above, if the switch 22A is operated in the operation terminal device 2A, the operation terminal device 2A transmits an operation signal to the master (transmission unit 1A) via the signal line 7A. The transmission unit 1A that receives the operation signal from the operation terminal 2A transmits a control signal for controlling the dimming terminal 3A to the dimming terminal 3A via the signal line 7A. The control signal described here is a signal for turning on and off the relay of the dimmer terminator 3A when the operation unit 214A is operated. On the other hand, when the operation unit 215A is operated, the operation signal is a signal for lowering the dimming level. In addition, when the operation portion 216A is operated, the operation signal is a signal for raising the dimming level.

As described above, the plurality of operation units 211A to 216A of the present embodiment includes two operation unit groups 101A and 102A having 1 group of two or more operation units 211A to 213A (214A to 216A) arranged in the 1 st direction along the front surface 201A of the housing 20A. The plurality of operation units 211A to 216A are disposed so as to surround the center plate 25A by sandwiching the center plate 25A between the two operation unit groups 101A and 102A in the 2 nd direction orthogonal to the 1 st direction in a plane along the front surface 201A of the housing 20A. That is, the plurality of operation portions 211A to 216A are not arranged so as to surround the entire circumference of the center plate 25A, but are arranged so as to surround the center plate 25A with both sides of the center plate 25A in the 1 st direction being left open. As described above, the plurality of operation portions 211A to 216A may be disposed on the front surface 201A of the housing 20A so as to surround the central plate 25A, or may be disposed so as not to surround the entire periphery of the central plate 25A.

In this configuration, since the two operation unit groups 101A and 102A are separated from each other by the center plate 25A, the user can easily recognize the boundary between the 1 st operation unit group 101A and the 2 nd operation unit group 102A. Therefore, even when, for example, different functions (for example, dimming control) are assigned to the 1 st operation unit group 101A and the 2 nd operation unit group 102A, the user can easily recognize the respective functions.

In embodiment 2, dummy boards 251A and 252A are provided on front surface 201A of case 20A at locations other than operation unit 21A around central board 25A, but dummy boards 251A and 252A are not essential for operation of terminal unit 2A. The dummy boards 251A and 252A may be integrated with the central board 25A.

Note that the 3 operation units 214A to 216A belonging to the 2 nd operation unit group 102A are not necessarily configured to operate the terminal device 2A in order to use the common lighting fixture 5A for operation (operation for switching on/off and dimming control). For example, the 3 operation units 214A to 216A belonging to the 2 nd operation unit group 102A may be used for the operation of the individual common lighting fixture 5A.

In embodiment 2, the plurality of operation units 211A to 216A are constituted by two operation unit groups 101A and 102A of 1 group of 3 operation units 211A to 213A (214A to 216A) arranged in the 1 st direction, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the group of operation units may include 1 group of two or 4 or more operation units arranged in the 1 st direction. Further, the operation unit group may be provided with 3 or more sets.

The 1 st operating unit group 101A may be positioned on the right side of the center plate 25A, and the 2 nd operating unit group 102A may be positioned on the left side of the center plate 25A. Further, the left-right direction may be the 1 st direction, and the up-down direction may be the 2 nd direction, in which case, for example, the 1 st operation unit group 101A is located above the center plate 25A, and the 2 nd operation unit group 102A is located below the center plate 25A.

In addition, as a modification of embodiment 2, the dummy plates 251A and 252A are not limited to the above-described positions, and may be provided at appropriate positions around the central plate 25A. For example, dummy plates 251A and 252A may be provided at least one position of 4 corners (positions of operation portions 211A, 213A, 214A, and 216A) of front surface 201A.

The configuration of embodiment 2 (including the modifications) can also be used in appropriate combination with embodiment 1 (including the modifications).

Claims (9)

1. An operation terminal device used as a slave device in a monitoring control system including a master device, a slave device, and a control terminal device, wherein the master device that receives an operation signal from the slave device transmits a control signal to the control terminal device via a signal line, the operation terminal device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of switches;

a circuit module housed in the housing, the circuit module transmitting the operation signal corresponding to on/off of each of the plurality of switches to the base unit via a signal line;

a center plate provided at a center portion of a front surface of the housing; and

and a plurality of operation portions provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of switches, arranged on a front surface of the housing so as to surround the center plate, and configured to switch on and off of a corresponding switch among the plurality of switches by a pressing operation.

2. The operational termination of claim 1,

the communication unit is provided at a position corresponding to the center plate and communicates with the setting device.

3. Operation termination according to claim 1 or 2,

the plurality of operation portions are held by the housing so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a front surface of the housing.

4. Operation termination according to claim 1 or 2,

the circuit module has a central processing unit at a position corresponding to the central board.

5. Operation termination according to claim 1 or 2,

the plurality of operation portions include two operation portion groups having 1 group of two or more operation portions arranged in a1 st direction along a front surface of the housing, and the center plate is disposed so as to be surrounded by the center plate by sandwiching the center plate between the two operation portion groups in a 2 nd direction orthogonal to the 1 st direction in a plane along the front surface of the housing.

6. Operation termination according to claim 1 or 2,

the plurality of operation portions are rotationally symmetric 4 times about a symmetry axis that is orthogonal to the front surface of the housing and passes through the center of the front surface of the housing.

7. Operation termination according to claim 1 or 2,

the control device further includes a plurality of display units that are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of operation units and that display a control state of a load based on the operation signal.

8. The operational termination of claim 7,

the plurality of display portions are 4-fold rotationally symmetric about a symmetry axis that is orthogonal to the front surface of the housing and passes through the center of the front surface of the housing.

9. The operational termination of claim 7,

the plurality of display units are respectively arranged closer to the center plate side than the center position of the corresponding operation unit among the plurality of operation units in a plane along the front surface of the housing.