JP2002354564A - Wireless remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a wireless remote controller in which the lifetime of a battery is prolonged by controlling the lighting time of a back light without causing any damage on the operability. SOLUTION: The wireless remote controller 1 comprises a section 4 for displaying the operational state of an electric apparatus, a back light 25 for illuminating the display section 4, and a plurality of operating switches 11-20 for the electric apparatus wherein lighting of the back light 25 is interlocked with the operation only of specified operating switches 12, 13 and 18 among the plurality of operating switches 11-20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless remote control device having a backlight on the back of a liquid crystal display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a wireless remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a remote controller) used when operating an electric device has a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, simply referred to as a display), and the visibility of the display is improved. In order to enhance the height, a backlight having a backlight for illuminating the back surface of the display unit is known. For example, when operating an operation switch of a remote controller, the backlight is energized in conjunction with the operation of the switch and is turned on for a certain time.

[0003]

By the way, since the backlight consumes more power than the power consumed by the display unit of the remote controller, if the backlight is turned on for a long time, the batteries stored and used in the remote controller are consumed. There is a problem that it is large and shortens the life of the battery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a wireless remote control device, by controlling the lighting time of the backlight without impairing the operability, the battery life is reduced. The purpose is to extend.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a display unit for displaying an operation state of an electric device, a backlight for illuminating the display unit, In a wireless remote control device including a plurality of operation switches for operating the operation of a device, a backlight is turned on only in response to an operation of a specific operation switch among the plurality of operation switches.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless remote control device according to the first aspect, when the specific operation switch is operated, the backlight is turned on for a predetermined time from the time of operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the wireless remote control device according to the first or second aspect, after operating the specific operation switch, an operation switch other than the specific operation switch is operated within a predetermined time. When operated, the backlight is turned on for a certain period of time from the time of operation other than the specific switch.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless remote control device according to the third aspect, a switch other than the specific operation switch is further provided within a predetermined time after operating an operation switch other than the specific switch. And / or when another operation switch that does not turn on the backlight is operated, the backlight is turned on for a certain period of time from the time of the operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the wireless remote controller according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a switch cap is provided outside the plurality of operation switches, and the switch cap is provided with a fluorescent agent. It is characterized by containing and forming.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the wireless remote controller according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the wireless remote controller controls the operation of the air conditioner.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the wireless remote controller according to the sixth aspect, the specific operation switch is a switch for setting a control temperature of the air conditioner and / or a switch for setting an operation time. It is characterized by being.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a wireless remote control device used for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the wireless remote controller and the air conditioner.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 50 denotes an air conditioner,
Indoor unit 51, outdoor unit 52, and piping 53
And so on. Reference numeral 1 denotes a wireless remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a remote controller). The operation of the remote controller 1 controls the operation of the air conditioner 50.

1 and 2, a remote controller 1 has a remote controller case 2, and a plurality of operation switches for setting and operating an air conditioner 50 (see FIG. 3) are provided on one surface of the remote controller case 2. An operation unit 3 is provided, and a display unit 4 for displaying contents set by these operation switches using an LCD.

The operation unit 3 includes a start / stop switch 11 for operating and stopping the air conditioner, a switch 12 for setting a room temperature, a switch 13 for decreasing the temperature, an operation changeover switch 14 for setting an operation mode, and an air volume control. An air volume switch 15 to be set; a wind direction switch 16 for adjusting the angle of a vertical wind direction adjusting plate (not shown) provided on the air conditioner body;
A timer switch 17 for enabling timer operation (start or stop operation of the air conditioner at a set time);
A time setting switch 18 which is operated when setting the timer time or the current time, and an hour switch 19 and a minute switch 20 which are used together with the time setting switch 18 to set the time are provided.

The operation switch 14 is a switch 1
Each time 4 is pressed, the mode is switched to heating, cooling, and dehumidification in sequence. Each time the switch 15 is pressed, the air volume switch 15 is set so that the air volume is sequentially switched to high, medium, and low.

In these operation switches 11 to 20, a switch cap 24 forming an outer portion thereof is formed to contain a fluorescent agent, and the fluorescent agent emits light even in a dark place, so that the position of the operation switch can be reduced. Can be identified.

The display unit 4 displays the operation mode, air volume, on timer, and off timer in accordance with the contents set by the operation switches, the set room temperature, the current temperature, the timer time when the timer operation is enabled, and the timer time. When the timer operation is disabled, a numerical display of the current time and a graphic display showing the angle of the wind direction are displayed on a liquid crystal display.

In FIG. 2, in the remote control case 2,
A backlight 25 for illuminating the display unit 4 from the back so that it is easy to see, and a control board 2 on which the backlight 25 is mounted.
7 and a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 28 provided on the control board 27. In the remote control case 2, two dry batteries 31 are stored as power supplies for the microcomputer 28, the display unit 4, and the like.

The control board 27 is provided with a circuit for transmitting switch operation contents of the remote controller 1 to the display unit 4 and a transmission unit 26 for transmitting operation contents to the air conditioner body.

The microcomputer 28 controls the operation of the display unit 3, the backlight 25, and the transmission unit 26 according to the operation of the operation switch. The microcomputer 28 turns on the backlight 25 when operating the switch 12 for increasing the set temperature, the switch 13 for decreasing the set temperature, and the time setting switch 18 which are required to check the display contents of the display unit 4 among the plurality of operation switches. Backlight 25 for a certain time (for example, 5 seconds)
It is controlled to light up. These three operation switches 12, 13, and 18 are specific operation switches (lighting switches) also serving as lighting switches of the backlight 25,
Other than these specific operation switches 12, 13, 18 are operation switches (non-lighting switches) that do not turn on the backlight 25.

The microcomputer 28 includes the lighting switch 12,
Within a predetermined time (for example, 4 seconds) after the operation of 13, 18
Operation switches (non-lighting switches) other than the lighting switches 12, 13, 18 (non-lighting switches) 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19,
When the button 20 is operated, the lighting time is updated (5 seconds) from that point, and the backlight 25 is controlled to be turned on.

For example, the timer switch 17, the hour switch 19, and the minute switch 20 are often operated after the time setting switch 18 is operated, and a predetermined time (for example, 4 seconds) after the time setting switch (lighting switch) 18 is operated. ), These switches (non-lighting switches) 17, 19, 2
When 0 is operated, the microcomputer 28 updates the lighting time (5 seconds) and controls the backlight 25 to light.

Next, the operation of the backlight when operating the remote controller will be described.

The operation of the cooling operation will be described. First, when the operation changeover switch 14 is pressed, the operation content is transmitted to the microcomputer 28, and the microcomputer 28 causes the display unit 4 to display the operation mode. Each time the operation switch 14 is pressed, the characters of cooling, heating, and dehumidification are sequentially switched and displayed. Next, when the start / stop switch 11 is pressed, the signal is sent to the air conditioner main body via the transmission unit 26, and the air conditioner starts the cooling operation.
Since the numerical value of the set temperature is displayed on the display unit 4, the switch (lighting switch) 12 and the switch (lighting switch) 13 of the temperature setting switch are pressed to set the set temperature. At this time, the microcomputer 28
To turn on the backlight 25 for a certain time (5 seconds). Next, the air volume switch 15 is pressed, and the setting is made while looking at the characters indicating the air volume. The wind direction switch 16 is pressed, and the wind direction is set while looking at the figure indicating the wind direction angle displayed on the display unit 4. At this time, in the main body of the air conditioner, the angle of the vertical wind direction adjusting plate (not shown) is changed, and as a result, the direction of the air blown into the room is changed. If the non-lighting switches (air volume switch 15, wind direction switch 16) are operated within a predetermined time after the operation of the lighting switches (temperature setting switches 12, 13), the lighting time of the backlight 25 is updated. In a series of switch operations, the backlight 25 is continuously turned on, and operation in a dark place can be easily performed.

Next, the operation for setting the current time and the timer time will be described. Time setting switch 18
When the switch 18 is pressed, the operation of the switch 18 turns on the backlight 25, and each time the switch 18 is pressed, the display of the current time, the ON timer, and the OFF timer is sequentially switched and displayed on the display unit 4.

When the current time is displayed, the display unit 4
Shows a clock, and while watching the displayed time,
By operating the hour switch 19 and the minute switch 20, the current time is set. After the time setting switch 18 is operated, the backlight 25 is turned on. If the hour switch 19 and the minute switch 20 are operated within a predetermined time, the lighting time of the backlight 25 is updated. The backlight 25 is continuously lit, and the time in a dark place can be easily set.

When the ON timer or the OFF timer is displayed, the timer time is displayed on the display unit 4. The timer time is set by operating the hour switch 19 and the minute switch 20 while watching the displayed time. After the time setting switch 18 is operated, the backlight 25 is turned on. If the hour switch 19 and the minute switch 20 are operated within a predetermined time, the lighting time of the backlight 25 is updated.
The backlight 25 is continuously turned on, and the time in a dark place can be easily set.

As described above, the backlight 25, which consumes a large amount of power, is turned on when necessary, without impairing the visibility of the display unit 4 and minimizing the lighting time. , And user convenience can be improved.

Although the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

Although the present embodiment has been described using the wireless remote control device 1 for an air conditioner, the present invention is not limited to the air conditioner, but may be a wireless remote control device for other electric equipment.

In the present embodiment, the lighting switch of the backlight 25 is changed to the switch 12 for increasing the set temperature.
Switch 13 for lowering the set temperature and time setting switch 1
Although only eight switches are provided, the lighting switches may be provided on operation switches other than the above-mentioned operation switches, and the number thereof is not limited.

In this embodiment, the switch cap 24 made of a fluorescent material is attached to all the operation switches 11 to 20 of the remote controller 1. However, any one of the operation switches 11 to 20 is used. It may be attached to only limited.

[0034]

As described above, the wireless remote controller for electric equipment according to the present invention has a backlight on the back of the display unit, and switches for turning on the backlight are limited among a plurality of operation switches. The backlight is lit for a certain period of time when the switch is operated, so that the lighting time can be minimized. Can be improved.

Further, the switch cap provided outside the operation switch is formed to contain a fluorescent agent.
Along with the backlight, the operability in dark places is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wireless remote controller used for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the wireless remote controller shown in FIG. 1 and an air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless remote control device 4 Display part 11 Run / stop switch (non-lighting switch) 12 Switch which raises set temperature (specific operation switch,
Lighting switch) 13 Switch that lowers the set temperature (specific operation switch,
Lighting switch) 14 Operation changeover switch 15 Air volume switch 16 Wind direction switch 17 Timer switch 18 Time setting switch (specific operation switch, lighting switch) 19:00 switch 20 minute switch 24 Switch cap 25 Backlight 50 Air conditioner

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Matsumoto 1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Takumasa Sato 1 Otsuki-cho, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3L061 BB01 5K048 AA16 BA08 DC01 EB02 EB06 FB15 FB18 HA04 HA06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A wireless remote control device comprising: a display unit for displaying an operation state of an electric device; a backlight for illuminating the display unit; and a plurality of operation switches for operating the electric device. The backlight is turned on only in response to the operation of a specific one of the operation switches. 2. The wireless remote control device according to claim 1, wherein when the specific operation switch is operated, the backlight is turned on for a predetermined time from the time of operation. 3. After operating the specific operation switch,
The backlight according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when an operation switch other than the specific operation switch is operated within a predetermined time, the backlight is turned on for a predetermined time from an operation point other than the specific switch. Wireless remote control device. 4. When a switch other than the specific operation switch and / or another operation switch that does not turn on the backlight is further operated within a predetermined time after operating the operation switch other than the specific switch. The wireless remote control device according to claim 3, wherein the backlight is turned on for a predetermined time from the time of the operation. 5. A switch cap provided outside the plurality of operation switches, wherein the switch cap contains a fluorescent agent.
5. The wireless remote control device according to any one of items 1 to 4. 6. The wireless remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the wireless remote controller controls operation of the air conditioner. 7. The switch according to claim 6, wherein the specific operation switch is a switch for setting a control temperature of the air conditioner and / or a switch for setting an operation time.
A wireless remote control device according to item 1.