JP2002038735A - Bathroom device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathroom device capable of easily carrying out work for mounting speakers inside of a bathroom and wiring work and, also maintenance work for the speakers. SOLUTION: For the bathroom device having an inspection hole A1a in the ceiling A1 of the bathroom A and having an openable inspection cover A2 for closing the inspection hole A1a, the speakers 4A and 4B are mounted to the inspection cover A2. Audio signals are supplied to the speakers 4A and 4B from a bathroom remote controller 3 for remotely controlling a hot water supply device body 1 through cables 5 and 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bathroom apparatus having an inspection port on a ceiling of a unit bath or the like and having an openable and closable inspection lid for closing the inspection port. The present invention relates to a bathroom device that can provide music in a bathroom using a remote control device for operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an inspection port is provided on a ceiling of a bathroom such as a unit bath, and an inspection lid which can be opened and closed so as to close the inspection port is provided. In order to provide music inside such a bathroom device, a speaker is embedded in a ceiling or a side wall of the bathroom in consideration of a stereo sound effect or the like. When a bathroom is constructed, holes for speakers are formed in the ceiling and side walls at the site, and the work of mounting and wiring the speakers is performed.

On the other hand, a recent hot water supply device of an outdoor installation type for supplying hot and cold water into a bathroom can be remotely controlled by a remote control device installed in an indoor bathroom or kitchen. In addition to this type of remote control device, another device dedicated to listening to music has been added.

[0004]

By the way, the present applicant has proceeded with the development of a bathroom device that allows a user to listen to music in a bathroom by using a remote control device for remotely controlling a hot water supply device main body. Completed it. According to this device, music can be provided in the bathroom using a wiring facility or the like that interconnects the plurality of remote control devices and the water heater main body.

[0005] For example, a user connects a sound source to a remote control device (kitchen remote control) installed in a kitchen, and a remote control device (bath remote control) installed in a bathroom via the kitchen remote control. By operating the bath remote control, music based on the music information can be output to the bathroom. That is,
The audio signal line from the sound source to the bathroom can be constructed using a wiring facility for interconnecting the kitchen remote control and the bath remote control without requiring a dedicated wiring facility.

However, as described above, when the speaker is embedded in the ceiling or the side wall of the bathroom, the remote controller for the bath and the speaker must be connected by an audio signal line. It was pointed out that the wiring work had to be performed outside the bathroom, and it was difficult to work at the construction site, and these works could not be performed in a satisfactory manner. Further, maintenance work when the speaker breaks down is extremely difficult, and it is almost impossible for a user to perform the maintenance work of the speaker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and can easily perform a speaker mounting work and a wiring work in a bathroom and also perform a speaker maintenance work easily. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathroom device capable of performing the above-mentioned operations.

[0008]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bathroom apparatus having an inspection port on a ceiling and having an openable and closable inspection lid for closing the inspection port, wherein a speaker is attached to the inspection lid. A bathroom device is provided, characterized in that:

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the speaker is supplied with an audio signal via a conducting wire from a remote control device for remotely controlling the water heater main body.

According to another preferred embodiment, the speaker is supplied with an audio signal from a reproducing device attached to the inspection lid, and the reproducing device is supplied from a remote control device for remotely controlling the water heater. An audio signal is generated based on music information and control information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bathroom apparatus having a speaker mounted on a ceiling and / or a side wall of a bathroom, wherein music information and music information are stored in a remote control device for remotely controlling a water heater. A transmission device for wirelessly transmitting control information is provided, and a reception device for receiving music information and control information from the transmission device near the speaker, and a speaker based on the music information and control information received by the reception device. A bathroom device is provided, comprising: a playback device that generates an audio signal for driving.

According to a preferred embodiment, a speaker,
The receiving device and the reproducing device are attached to an openable and closable inspection lid that closes an inspection opening formed in the ceiling of the bathroom.

According to the present invention, music can be output from the speaker, and the speaker is attached to the inspection lid. Therefore, when installing a hot water supply facility such as a remote control device or a water heater main body, the speaker is inspected in advance. The speaker can be easily mounted and wired, and the maintenance of the speaker can be easily performed by opening the inspection lid.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an entire bathroom provided with a bathroom device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of the bathroom device. This bathroom device uses a remote control device for remotely controlling a hot water supply device main body 1, and includes a kitchen remote control 2 and a bath remote control 3 as remote control devices, and music directed toward the inside of the bathroom A. And speakers 4A and 4B for outputting. In FIG. 1, the kitchen remote controller 2 is not shown.

The bathroom A is composed of, for example, a unit bath. The ceiling A1 of the bathroom A has a rectangular inspection opening A1a formed therein, and an inspection lid A2 that can be opened and closed so as to close the inspection opening A1a in a closed state. The inspection lid A2 can be attached / removed from the interior of the bathroom A. Further, speakers 4A and 4B are embedded and fixed in the inspection lid A2 with waterproofing and drip-proofing.
On the other hand, a bath remote control 3 is installed at a predetermined position on the side wall A3 of the bathroom A. Cables 5 and 5 as audio signal lines are laid from the bath remote controller 3 to the vicinity of the back side of the inspection port A1a through the outside of the bathroom A, and a speaker 4 is connected via a connector 5A shown in FIG.
A and 4B are connected to cables 5 and 5, respectively. Thus, the bath remote controller 3 and the speakers 4A and 4B are electrically connected. The bath remote controller 3 is generally installed when the bathroom A is constructed, but the speakers 4A, 4
B can be attached to the inspection lid A2 at the stage of shipping the unit bath before the bathroom A is constructed.

The water heater main body 1 is installed outdoors. Of course, the water heater main body 1 may be installed at a predetermined indoor location.

The kitchen remote controller 2 is installed in the kitchen, and includes a microcomputer 21 and an audio decoder 2.
2, a digital / analog converter 23, audio amplifiers 24a and 24b, speakers 25a and 25b, a slot 26, and a communication unit 27. Slot 2
6 is configured such that a portable storage medium 28 as a sound source can be inserted and removed from outside the kitchen remote controller 2.

The microcomputer 21 controls the entire kitchen remote controller 2. Microcomputer 2
1 reads out audio data as compressed music information from the storage medium 28 and supplies it to the audio decoder 22 or the communication unit 27.

The audio decoder 22 restores the compressed audio data read by the microcomputer 21 to the audio data before compression and supplies it to the digital / analog converter 23.

The digital / analog converter 23 comprises:
The audio data restored by the audio decoder 22 is converted into analog audio signals of both left and right channels, and supplied to the audio amplifiers 24a and 24b, respectively.

The audio amplifiers 24a and 24b amplify the left and right channel audio signals converted by the digital / analog converter 23 separately.

The speakers 25a and 25b are individually driven by the left and right channel audio signals amplified by the audio amplifiers 24a and 24b, and output music and the like.

The slot 26 electrically connects the removable storage medium 28 and the microcomputer 21 to each other.

The communication section 27 executes various kinds of communication including transmission of operation signals between the kitchen remote controller 2 and the water heater main body 1. Further, the communication unit 27 transmits and receives compressed audio data to and from the bath remote controller 3.

The storage medium 28 is a card having a built-in flash memory, and various sizes and storage capacities are commercially available. This storage medium 28 stores compressed audio data as music information, and the storage medium 28 is used as a sound source. As a compression format, for example, MP3, TWIN-VQ, AAC, ATR
AC (registered trademark) is conceivable.

The bath remote controller 3 is installed in the bathroom A and includes a microcomputer 31, an audio decoder 32, a digital / analog converter 33, audio amplifiers 34a and 34b, slots 36, and a communication unit 37. The slot 36 is configured such that a portable storage medium 38 can be inserted and removed from outside the bath remote controller 3.

The microcomputer 31 controls the entire bath remote controller 3. In addition, microcomputer 3
1 reads out the compressed audio data from the storage medium 38 and outputs the audio data to the audio decoder 32 or the communication unit 37.
To supply.

The audio decoder 32 restores the compressed audio data read by the microcomputer 31 to audio data before compression, and supplies it to the digital / analog converter 33.

The digital / analog converter 33 is
The audio data restored by the audio decoder 32 is converted into analog audio signals of both left and right channels, and supplied to the audio amplifiers 34a and 34b, respectively.

The audio amplifiers 34a and 34b amplify the left and right channel audio signals converted by the digital / analog converter 33 separately. These audio amplifiers 34a and 34b supply audio signals to speakers 4A and 4B attached to the inspection lid A2 via cables 5 and 5, respectively.

The slot 36 electrically connects a portable storage medium 38 and the microcomputer 31.

The communication section 37 executes various kinds of communication including transmission of operation signals between the bath remote controller 3 and the water heater main body 1. Further, the communication unit 37 transmits and receives compressed audio data to and from the kitchen remote controller 2.

The storage medium 38 is a card having a built-in flash memory, and various sizes and storage capacities are commercially available. The storage medium 38 stores compressed audio data as music information, and the storage medium 38 is used as a sound source. As a compression format, for example, MP3, TWIN-VQ, AAC, ATR
AC or the like is conceivable.

The speaker 4 attached to the inspection cover A2
A and 4B are audio amplifiers 34 of remote controller 3 for bath.
A and 34b are separately driven by the left and right channel audio signals amplified by a and b, and output music toward the interior of the bathroom A.

The water heater main unit 1, the communication section 27 of the kitchen remote controller 2, and the communication section 37 of the bath remote controller 3 are connected to each other by two-core communication cables 6, 7.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the kitchen remote controller 2. The kitchen remote controller 2 includes, for example, a fluorescent tube display in which a large number of phosphors are arranged in a dot matrix, and various characters and symbols. Is displayed, and various operation switches 42, which are composed of, for example, a plurality of key switches and are operated by a user, are provided. Although the display unit 41 and the operation switch 42 are connected to the microcomputer 21 via an interface circuit, in order to simplify the drawing and facilitate understanding, FIG.
Are omitted from the description. The storage medium 28 can be inserted into and removed from the slot 26 through a slit formed on the side wall of the kitchen remote controller 2. Of course, the slit may be formed at a place other than the side wall.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the bath remote controller 3. The bath remote controller 3 has a waterproof structure. The bath remote controller 3 includes, for example, a fluorescent tube display in which a large number of phosphors are arranged in a dot matrix, and includes a display unit 51 for displaying various characters and symbols, and a plurality of key switches, for example. Are provided with various operation switches 52 operated by the user. Although the display unit 51 and the operation switch 52 are connected to the microcomputer 31 via an interface circuit, in order to simplify the drawing and facilitate understanding, FIG.
Are omitted from the description. The storage medium 38 is formed on the side wall of the bath remote controller 3 and can be inserted into and removed from the slot 36 through a waterproof slit. Of course, waterproof slits may be formed at locations other than the side walls.

When the user wants to listen to the music stored in the storage medium 28 in the bathroom using the bathroom apparatus having the above configuration, the user performs a predetermined operation on the operation switch 52 of the bath remote controller 3. Thus, the microcomputer 31 supplies a predetermined command to the communication unit 37. This command is supplied from the communication unit 37 to the microcomputer 21 via the communication cables 7 and 6 and the communication unit 27 of the kitchen remote controller 2. Thereby, the microcomputer 21 reads a predetermined area of the storage medium 28 and supplies data corresponding to the title of the music stored in the storage medium 28 to the communication unit 27. This data is transmitted to the communication unit 27.
Is supplied to the microcomputer 31 via the communication cables 6 and 7 and the communication section 37 of the bath remote controller 3 and is displayed on the display section 51.

When the user performs a desired music selection operation on the operation switch 52, the microcomputer 31
Supplies a command to that effect to the communication unit 37. This command is supplied from the communication unit 37 to the microcomputer 21 via the communication cables 7 and 6 and the communication unit 27 of the kitchen remote controller 2. As a result, the microcomputer 21 reads out the music information of the selected music, that is, digital audio data compressed in a predetermined format from the storage medium 28, and sequentially supplies the digital audio data to the communication unit 27. This audio data is transmitted from the communication unit 27 to the communication cable 6,
7 and the communication unit 37 are supplied to the microcomputer 31 of the bath remote controller 3. Thereby, the microcomputer 31 sequentially supplies the audio data from the communication unit 37 to the audio decoder 32. Thus, the audio decoder 32 restores the compressed audio data to a state before the compression, and supplies the restored data to the digital / analog converter 33. Thus, the digital / analog converter 33 converts the digital audio data into an analog audio signal and supplies the analog audio signal to the audio amplifiers 34a and 34b. Thus, the audio amplifiers 34a and 34b amplify the analog audio signal and supply the amplified audio signal to the speakers 4A and 4B of the inspection lid A2 via the cables 5 and 5. At this time, the audio amplifiers 34a and 34b amplify the audio signal at an amplification factor according to the volume setting operation on the operation switch 52 by the user. Specifically, the volume set by the user is stored by the microcomputer 31 and the microcomputer 31
Controls the audio amplifiers 34a and 34b. Thus, the music desired by the user is output from the speakers 4A and 4B of the inspection lid A2, and the user corresponds to the music information stored in the storage medium 28 set in the slot 26 of the kitchen remote controller 2. Music can be heard inside bathroom A.

Of course, when the user sets the storage medium 38 in the slot 36 of the bath remote controller 3, the user operates the operation switch 52 of the bath remote controller 3 to play music corresponding to the music information stored in the storage medium 38. And check lid A
The user can listen to music through the speakers 4A and 4B provided on the kitchen remote controller 2 by operating the operation switch 42 of the kitchen remote controller 2.

On the other hand, when the speakers 4A and 4B fail, the user removes the inspection cover A2 from the inspection opening A1a inside the bathroom A, and connects the connector 5A and the speaker 4A.
After the connection with the speakers 4A and 4B is released, the maintenance work can be easily performed while checking the back side of the speakers 4A and 4B.

The communication units 27 and 37 and the water heater main body 1
The communication between the main unit 1 and the hot water supply apparatus 1 is performed by multiplex two-way communication such as frequency multiplexing or time division multiplexing, and according to various operations of the operation switches 42 and 52 by the user.
Are remotely controlled, but since these operations are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, the description is omitted.

As described above, the bathroom device is provided with the hot water supply device main body 1.
Remote control 2 for kitchen and remote control 3 for bath, and speakers 25A, 25b for outputting music based on music information taken from storage media 28, 38 via these remote controls 2, 3. , 4A and 4B. In particular, speakers 4A and 4B provided in bathroom A
Before installation of the bathroom A, it can be attached in advance to the openable inspection lid A2 which closes the inspection opening A1a of the ceiling A1, so that the installation work can be easily performed. Also,
With the inspection lid A2 opened from the interior of the bathroom A, the bath remote controller 3 and the speaker 4A can be easily connected via the cables 5 and 5, and wiring work of the speakers 4A and 4B can be easily performed. Can be. Also, speakers 4A,
The maintenance work of 4B can also be easily performed by removing the inspection lid A2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an entire bathroom provided with a bathroom device according to another embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of the bathroom device shown in FIG. In the bathroom apparatus shown in these figures, a reproducing apparatus main body having a microcomputer 81, an audio decoder 82, a digital / analog converter 83, and a communication section 87 as a device for generating an audio signal separately from the bath remote controller 3 The playback device body 8 is attached to the back side of the inspection lid A2, and the audio amplifiers 84a and 84b are also attached to the back side of the inspection lid A2. The playback device body 8 and the audio amplifier 8
4a and 84b constitute a reproducing apparatus. The bath remote controller 3 and the playback device main body 8 are connected via the communication cable 9 while passing through the hot water supply device main body 1. In addition,
Microcomputer 81, audio decoder 82,
The digital / analog converter 83, the communication section 87, and the audio amplifiers 84a and 84b have functions similar to those of the bath remote controller 3 in the above embodiment. By doing so, not only the speakers 4A and 4B, but also the playback device main body 8 and the audio amplifier 84
a, 84b are also inspected in the factory before the bathroom A is constructed.
To perform wiring work around the playback device body 8 and the audio amplifiers 84a and 84b. Also, the playback device main body 8 and the audio amplifier 84
The maintenance work of a and 84b can also be easily performed by removing the inspection lid A2.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining an entire bathroom provided with a bathroom device according to another embodiment, and FIG.
It is a circuit block diagram of the principal part of the bathroom apparatus shown in FIG. In the bathroom apparatus shown in these figures, a reproduction apparatus main body 8 attached to the inspection lid A2 and a wireless transmission section 39 as a transmission apparatus for transmitting audio data wirelessly are provided in the bath remote controller 3, while the reproduction apparatus main body is provided. 8 is provided with a wireless receiving unit 89 as a receiving device that receives audio data from the wireless transmitting unit 39 wirelessly. As a wireless system, optical communication using infrared rays or the like or a system using radio waves of a specific frequency can be considered. By doing so, it is not necessary to lay cables from the bath remote controller 3 to the vicinity of the inspection port A1a where the speakers 4A and 4B are located, so that troublesome wiring work is not required. Also, the attachment work and the maintenance work of the playback device main body 8 and the audio amplifiers 84a and 84b can be easily performed by removing the inspection cover A2.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, the bathroom A is not limited to a unit bath, but may have a structure integrated as house equipment.

As the sound source, the storage media 28 and 38 storing audio data were used.
An audio input terminal, an audio encoder, etc. are provided on the remote controller 2 for the kitchen.
To supply audio data from a CD player or the like to the bath remote controller 3. In that case, a remote control device having the same configuration as the kitchen remote controller 2 may be installed in a living room or the like.

The kitchen remote controller 2 does not necessarily include the audio decoder 22 and the digital / analog converter 2.
3, audio amplifiers 24a, 24b, speaker 25
It is not necessary to provide the audio data as analog amplified audio signals.
The bath remote controller 3 may have a function as a playback device that can be supplied to A and 4B, or may have a playback device separately from the bath remote controller 3. Further, if the bath remote controller 3 can independently take in audio data from the storage medium 38 or the like as a sound source, the kitchen remote controller 2 may be omitted.

Separately from the bath remote controller 3, the playback device main body 8
When the audio amplifiers 84a and 84b are provided, the attachment points thereof are preferably on the back side of the inspection lid A2 closest to the speakers 4A and 4B.
May be on the outside.

The speakers 4A and 4B are provided with two channels in order to obtain a stereo sound effect. However, the number of channels may be larger depending on the number of channels. It is good also as a structure attached to A2.

Of course, the music referred to in the present embodiment is not limited to a music composition, but also includes a call of a person and a sound by broadcasting.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, music can be output from a speaker, and the speaker is attached to the inspection lid, so that a hot water supply facility such as a remote control device or a hot water supply device main body is installed. At this time, by attaching the speaker to the inspection lid in advance, the speaker mounting work and the wiring work can be easily performed, and the maintenance work of the speaker can be easily performed by opening the inspection lid.

Also, since the reproducing device for driving the speaker is attached to the inspection lid, and the reproducing device and the remote control device are connected by radio, it should be laid from the remote control device to the vicinity of the inspection opening where the inspection lid is located. No cable is required, and the speaker and the remote control device can be easily connected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an entire bathroom including a bathroom device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of the bathroom device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the kitchen remote controller.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a bath remote controller.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing an entire bathroom including a bathroom device according to another embodiment.

6 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of the bathroom device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for describing an entire bathroom including a bathroom device according to another embodiment.

8 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of the bathroom device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot-water supply main body 2 Remote control for kitchen 3 Remote control for bath 5 Cable 6, 7, 9 Communication cable 8 Reproducer main body 21, 31, 81 Microcomputer 22, 32, 82 Audio decoder 23, 33, 83 Digital / analog converter 24a, 24b, 34a, 34b, 84a, 84b Audio amplifier 25a, 25b, 4A, 4B Speaker 26, 36 Slot 27, 37, 87 Communication unit 28, 38 Storage medium 41, 51 Display unit 42, 52 Operation switch 39 Wireless transmission unit 89 Wireless receiver A Bathroom A1 Ceiling A1a Inspection opening A2 Inspection lid

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Nishijima 93 Edo-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Noritz Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2E025 BA02 BC04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bathroom apparatus having an inspection port on a ceiling and having an openable and closable inspection lid for closing the inspection port, wherein a speaker is attached to the inspection lid.
Bathroom equipment. 2. The bathroom device according to claim 1, wherein the speaker is supplied with an audio signal via a conducting wire from a remote control device for remotely controlling a water heater main body. 3. The speaker is supplied with an audio signal from a reproducing device attached to the inspection lid, and the reproducing device controls music information and control supplied from a remote control device for remotely controlling a water heater main body. The bathroom device according to claim 1, wherein the bathroom device generates the audio signal based on information. 4. A bathroom device in which a speaker is attached to a ceiling and / or a side wall of a bathroom, wherein the transmission device wirelessly transmits music information and control information to a remote operation device for remotely operating a water heater main body. A receiving device that receives music information and control information from the transmitting device near the speaker, and an audio signal for driving the speaker based on the music information and control information received by the receiving device. A bathroom device, comprising: a regenerating device for generating the image. 5. The bathroom device according to claim 4, wherein the speaker, the reception device, and the playback device are attached to an openable and closable inspection lid that closes an inspection opening formed in a ceiling of the bathroom.