JP2002277050A - Remote control system for bath - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply permit the enjoy of music or the like in a bathroom. SOLUTION: A hot-water supply remote controller R1 is provided with an audio jack 28 and an external audio instrument 30 such as a radio or the like can be connected to the audio jack 28 through a cable 31. An audio signal, outputted from the external audio instrument 30, is modulated into a sound carrier by the FM modulating circuit 24 of the hot-water supply remote controller R1 and is transmitted to the side of a bath remote controller R2, then, is demodulated into an audio signal by the FM demodulating circuit 25 of the bath remote controller R2 to output the same from a speaker 27. In this case, the volume of voice can be regulated by an operating switch 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bath in which a bath remote controller provided in a bathroom and a hot water remote controller provided outside a bathroom are connected to a controller of a bath apparatus, and a hot water supply can be controlled by operating each remote controller. Remote control system for

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a bath apparatus with a water heater, for example, a bath remote controller provided in a bathroom and a hot water remote controller provided in a kitchen or the like are connected to a controller provided in the water heater, and the controller is remotely operated by operating each remote controller. A remote control system for a bath that is controlled to enable hot water supply, additional cooking, and the like is configured. Further, in such a bath remote control system, there is known a remote control system in which a microphone and a speaker are provided in each remote control to provide an interphone function for enabling a telephone call inside and outside a bathroom in order to improve user's convenience.

[0003]

When a user listens to music or the like in a bathroom, it is common practice to bring a waterproof radio or the like into the bathroom.
There is a risk of damage due to falling or a decrease in the waterproof function. Therefore, there is a case where a radio is provided integrally with a bath remote controller, but this also leads to an increase in cost due to a special specification of the bath remote controller.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control system for a bath which can enjoy music and the like in a bathroom with a simple configuration at low cost.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an external audio device is connected to a bath remote controller or a hot water heater remote controller via a cable, so that the external audio device receives the signal. An intercom function that enables audio signals to be input to the bath remote control or hot water supply remote control, and enables switching between the bath remote control and the hot water supply remote control to enable a call between the two remote controls. And the audio function to output
When the audio function is selected, the output level of music or the like can be adjusted on at least one of the bath remote control and the hot water supply remote control.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first aspect, in order to easily adjust the output level, at the time of adjusting the output level, the bath remote controller or the hot water supply remote controller outputs the numerical value of the output level. Can be displayed. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first or second aspect, in order to improve the usability relating to the output level adjustment, the initial value at the time of adjusting the output level is set to the output level after the previous adjustment. It was done. The invention according to claim 4 is
In addition to the object of any one of the first to third aspects, in order to enable selection of each function without erroneous operation, a notifying means for notifying a selection state of an intercom function and an audio function is provided. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of any one of the first to fourth aspects, in order to easily connect the external audio equipment, the external audio equipment can be suspended by a bath remote control or a hot water supply remote control. A hook portion is provided.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bath remote control system 1 applied to a bath apparatus with a water heater (hereinafter, referred to as a “bath apparatus”). Reference numeral 2 denotes a controller for the bath apparatus, and the microcomputer 3 controls a hot water supply control for burning a burner (not shown) provided in the bath apparatus to supply hot water to a kitchen or a bathtub, and a reheating control for circulating and heating the hot water in the bathtub. And so on. A data communication unit 4 performs data communication with remote controllers R1 and R2 described later.
A carrier generation circuit 5 for digitally amplitude-shift-modulating a 200 kHz carrier (communication carrier) with the transmission serial data transmitted from the remote controller, and a communication carrier transmitted from the remote controllers R1 and R2 are detected. And a carrier detection circuit 6 that converts the data into data and supplies the data to the microcomputer 3. 7 is a power supply circuit.

Further, R1 is a remote controller for hot water supply provided outside the bathroom such as a kitchen, and R2 is a remote controller for bath provided in the bathroom, which is connected to the controller 2 by two transmission lines 8 and 9, respectively. Since the basic configuration of each remote control is the same, a specific description will be given by taking the hot water supply remote control R1 as an example.
The hot water heater remote control R1 is provided with a microcomputer 10, a data communication unit 11 for transmitting and receiving control data, an interphone transmitting circuit 14 for transmitting an audio signal, and an interphone receiving circuit 15 for receiving an audio signal. I have. 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes an operation switch for setting tap water temperature, etc., 17 denotes a call switch which is pressed during a telephone call, 18 denotes an electronic sound generating circuit, 19 denotes a display unit for setting temperature, etc., 20 denotes an LED lamp,
A power supply circuit 21 generates a constant voltage power supply for remote control operation from a power supply supplied from the controller 2 via the transmission lines 8 and 9.

Data communication section 1 in hot water supply remote control R1
1, the transmission serial data transmitted from the microcomputer 10 is 200 k in the same manner as the data communication unit 4 of the controller 2.
Hz carrier wave (communication carrier) is digitally amplitude-shift-modulated and transmitted, and a carrier carrier transmitted from the controller 2 or the bath remote controller R2 is detected, and the detected carrier is converted into received serial data. 10 and a carrier detection circuit 13 for sending the signal to the carrier detection circuit 10.

On the other hand, voice transmission and reception between the remote controllers is performed by frequency modulation (Frequency Modula
(FM) method is adopted. That is, in the intercom transmission circuit 14, the audio signal obtained from the microphone 22 is amplified by the amplifier 23, and this is amplified by the FM modulation circuit 24.
The carrier (voice carrier) of 130 kHz is FM-modulated and transmitted, and in the interphone receiving circuit 15, the voice carrier transmitted from the bath remote controller R2 is demodulated into a voice signal by the FM demodulation circuit 25, and this is amplified by the amplifier 26. Then, the sound is converted by the speaker 27 into sound.

An audio jack 28 connected to the input side of the FM modulation circuit 24 of the intercom transmission circuit 14 is provided on the lower surface of the hot water supply remote controller R1, and as shown in FIG. A hook 29 is formed as a hook that can hang the device 30. An external audio device 30 hung from the hook 29 can be connected to the audio jack 28 by a cable 31. Therefore, the transmission of the audio signal from the hot water supply remote control R1 to the bath remote control R2 is also performed by FM-modulating the audio signal obtained from the external audio device 30 with a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of the audio signal of the intercom by the FM modulation circuit 24 to the bath remote control R2. In the bath remote control R2, the intercom receiving circuit 15 converts the carrier wave transmitted from the hot water supply remote control R1 into the FM demodulation circuit 2.
5, demodulates into an audio signal, and converts it into music or the like by the speaker 27. In the FM modulation circuit 24, the frequency modulation when transmitting the audio signal to the remote controller of the other party is set to be higher than that in the case of transmitting and receiving the audio signal of the intercom.

In the bath remote control system 1 configured as described above, for example, when the operation switch 16 is operated by the hot water supply remote control R1, the microcomputer 10 having obtained the operation signal sends the operation data to the data communication unit 11. Then, the data communication unit 11 sends out a communication carrier from the carrier generation circuit 12. In the controller 2, the communication carrier is detected by the carrier detection circuit 6 of the data communication unit 4, and the microcomputer 3 obtains operation data. Therefore, the microcomputer 3 controls the opening degree of the gas proportional valve of the burner according to the operation data. This is the same when operated by the bath remote control R2. Conversely, when the operation state changes on the water heater side, the microcomputer 3 on the controller 2 sends out the control data as a communication carrier via the carrier generation circuit 5, so that the remote control R1, R2 uses the carrier detection circuit 13 The control data is received by the microcomputer 10 via the.

Next, the intercom function and the audio function of the bath remote control system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Since the switching between hot water remote control R1 and bath remote control R2 is the same, hot water remote control R
A description will be given of the control as viewed from one side. First, when the call switch 17 is turned on in S2 or the call switch 17 on the bath remote control R2 is turned on from the OFF state of S1, an electronic sound is generated by the electronic sound generation circuit 18 in S3, and the intercom function is performed. Turns on (here, the LED lamp 20 is turned on). Therefore, when speaking into the microphone 22 of the bath remote control R2, the audio signal from the microphone 22 is amplified by the amplifier 23, modulated into an audio carrier by the FM modulation circuit 24, and transmitted to the hot water supply remote control R1. In the hot water supply remote control R1, the audio carrier is demodulated into an audio signal by the FM demodulation circuit 25, and further amplified by the amplifier 26 to be amplified by the speaker
7 to output audio. This is the same when the hot water supply remote control R1 transmits and the bath remote control R2 receives, but there is no electronic sound and the LED lamp 20 flashes once.

When shifting to the audio function, when the call switch 17 is short-clicked on the hot water remote control R1 or the bath remote control R2 in S4, the process proceeds to S4.
5, the presence or absence of an audio plug is confirmed, that is, an external audio device 30 such as a radio is connected to the audio jack 28.
It is confirmed whether or not the cable 31 is connected.
If the audio plug is not confirmed here, O
Return to FF state, but if the audio plug is confirmed,
At S6, an electronic sound is generated in a mode different from the intercom function, and the audio function is turned on (at this time, the LED lamp 20 blinks twice). Therefore, an audio signal input from the external audio device 30 such as a radio to the hot water supply remote control R1 is modulated into a voice carrier by the FM modulation circuit 24 and transmitted to the bath remote control R2. Bath remote control R
In 2, the audio carrier is demodulated into an audio signal by the FM demodulation circuit 25 and output from the speaker 27. Therefore, music from a radio or the like can be heard in the bathroom.

If the audio function is to be terminated, the process goes to S7.
If the call switch 17 is pressed for 0.5 seconds or more on the hot water remote control R1 or the bath remote control R2, the process returns to S3 and switches to the intercom function, and the call switch 17 on the hot water remote control R1 or the bath remote control R2 is set at 0.5 in S8.
If a short click is performed within seconds, the state shifts to the OFF state in S1 and both functions are turned off. In the audio function or the intercom function, when the hot water supply switch 32 provided on the remote controller is pressed, the operation switch 16 for UP / DOWN of the tap water temperature is switched to a volume adjustment switch. At this time, the display unit 19 turns off the set temperature displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (A) and becomes non-displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (B). Therefore, when one of UP and DOWN is pressed, The current output level (or the output level after the previous volume adjustment was performed) is displayed as shown in FIG. Therefore, by pressing either UP or DOWN, the output level can be adjusted to an arbitrary level as shown in FIG. Some time after the adjustment, the display after the adjustment is turned off and returns to the non-display state shown in FIG. 9B, and when the hot water supply switch 32 is pressed again, the initial set temperature is displayed as shown in FIG. Is done.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the external audio equipment 3 is connected to the hot water supply remote control R1 via the cable 31.
0 can be connected, and the intercom function and the audio function can be selected by a switching operation using the hot water remote control R1 or the bath remote control R2.
The user can listen to music and the like in the bathroom using the external audio device 30 connected to the device. Particularly, since the output level of the sound volume can be adjusted, the usability is excellent. When adjusting the output level, the numerical value of the output level can be displayed on the bath remote controller R2, so that the output level can be easily adjusted. In particular, since the initial value at the time of adjusting the output level is set to the output level after the previous adjustment, improvement in usability related to the output level adjustment can be expected. Further, a notifying unit (L) for notifying the selection state of the intercom function and the audio function
Since the ED lamp 20 and the electronic sound) are provided, the selected state can be confirmed and the device can be used without erroneous operation. In addition, since the hook 29 capable of suspending the external audio device 30 is provided on the hot water supply remote control R1, the connection of the external audio device 30 can be easily performed.

Incidentally, the volume control can be performed by separately preparing a remote controller 33 for controlling the volume, which is separate from the hot water remote controller R1 or the bath remote controller R2 as shown in FIG. That is, the volume control remote controller 33 connects the microcomputer 34 having the power supply circuit 35 with the infrared light emitting section 36, the volume up switch 37 and the volume down switch 38, respectively. It is sufficient to provide an infrared light receiving unit 39 connected to the camera. Therefore, the volume up switch 37 of the volume control remote controller 33
Alternatively, by pressing one of the volume down switches 38, the volume can be adjusted in both the audio function and the intercom function as in FIG. Especially, since the volume can be adjusted even from a place remote from the remote controller in the bathtub, the usability is excellent.

In the above embodiment, the current mode is notified by using both the electronic sound and the LED lamp in each of the intercom function and the audio function. However, either one may be used. Further, although the volume control remote control allows the volume control in each of the intercom function and the audio function, it may be limited to only the audio function. In addition, the volume control remote control can be detachable from the bath remote control.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the invention, an external audio device is connected to the bath remote control or the hot water supply remote control, and the intercom function and the audio function can be selected by the switching operation with the bath remote control or the hot water supply remote control. Thus, music or the like can be listened to in the bathroom using the connected external audio device. Particularly, since the output level of the sound volume can be adjusted, the usability is excellent. According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, when adjusting the output level, the value of the output level can be displayed on the bath remote controller or the hot water remote controller, so that the output level can be easily adjusted. Become. According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect, by setting the initial value at the time of adjusting the output level to the output level after the previous adjustment,
An improvement in usability related to output level adjustment can be expected. According to the invention set forth in claim 4, in addition to the effect of any one of claims 1 to 3, the notifying means for notifying the selection state of the intercom function and the audio function is provided, so that the selection state can be confirmed. It can be used without any misoperation. According to the invention set forth in claim 5, in addition to the effect of any one of claims 1 to 4, the hook remote unit or the hot water supply remote control is provided with a hook that can hang an external audio device, so that the external audio device can be hung. Equipment can be easily connected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bath remote control system.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting state of a hot water supply remote controller.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an intercom function and an audio function.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a bath remote controller before volume control. (B) It is a front view of the bath remote control before volume control. (C) It is a front view of the bath remote control of a volume adjustment mode. (D) It is a front view of the bath remote control of a volume adjustment mode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bath remote control system using a volume control remote control.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Remote control system for bath 2. Controller
· 3,10,34 · · · microcomputer, 4,11 · · · data communication unit, 5,12 · · · carrier generation circuit, 6,13 · · · carrier detection circuit, 14 · · · interphone transmission circuit,
.Interphone receiving circuit, 17. Call switch, 24
..FM modulation circuit, 25.FM demodulation circuit, 28.Audio jack, 30.External audio equipment, 33
・ ・ Remote control for volume control.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A controller of a bath apparatus, a bath remote controller provided in a bathroom, and a hot water remote controller provided outside the bathroom are connected, and the bath remote controller and the hot water remote controller each include a microphone and a speaker, A bath remote control system that enables a call between the two remote controls, wherein an external audio device is connected to the bath remote control or the hot water supply remote control via a cable, and an audio signal from the external audio device is transmitted to the bath remote control. Or, it is possible to input to the hot water supply remote control, and by the switching operation with the bath remote control or the hot water supply remote control, an interphone function that enables communication between the two remote controls, and at least music from the external audio device from the bath remote control. While the audio function to be output can be selected,
A remote control system for a bath, wherein at least one of the bath remote control and the hot water supply remote control can adjust an output level of music or the like when the audio function is selected. 2. The remote control system for a bath according to claim 1, wherein the numerical value of the output level can be displayed on a bath remote controller or a hot water supply remote controller when adjusting the output level. 3. The remote control system for a bath according to claim 1, wherein the initial value at the time of adjusting the output level is the output level after the previous adjustment. 4. The remote control system for a bath according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying a selection state of the intercom function and the audio function. 5. The remote control system for a bath according to claim 1, wherein the bath remote control or the hot water supply remote control is provided with a hook capable of suspending an external audio device.