JP2003098279A - Remote control unit for equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a burden of a backup electric power source for an equipment main body of a hot-water supplying unit or the like, and to make times of plural remote control units easily conformed. SOLUTION: Two remote controllers of a main remote controller 1 and a sub-remote controller 2 are connected electrically to the hot-water supplying unit 3. The sub-remote controller 2 has no backup electric power source, and a time data is read out from the main remote controller 1 in an ON of the power source (STEP2). The sub-remote controller 2 checks a time difference with respect to the main remote controller 1, to be conformed to a time of the main remote controller 1 after waiting for two seconds (STEP13), when the time difference comes to one minute of a threshold value (YES in STEP6). When the time difference exceeds the threshold value, the time is conformed immediately because the time is set by the main remote controller 1 (STEP13). In the main remote controller 1, consistence of the time by the sub-remote controller 2 is waited by stand-by for 5 seconds, even when time difference reaches to the threshold value. The time is immediately conformed when the time difference exceeds the threshold value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device used for operating equipment such as a water heater for supplying hot water to a bathroom or kitchen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional equipment such as a water heater, time data displayed on a remote controller which is a remote control device is managed by a clock circuit provided in the equipment body. Specifically, a clock circuit is provided as a part of the circuit of the controller that controls the main body of the device, and the operation means provided on the remote control is operated to set the time and the time such as timer operation. It was being appreciated. Such a conventional clock circuit in the device body requires a backup power supply because it holds time data when the device body is powered off.

However, in the conventional equipment, in addition to the time data, various operation control data and the like must be held, so that the backup power source of the equipment body consumes a large amount of power.

[0004]

In order to reduce the load of the backup power source of the equipment body, it is conceivable to provide the remote control device with a timepiece having a backup power source.

However, when there are a plurality of remote control devices, if a clock is provided in each remote control device,
There will be a time difference. In addition, it becomes necessary to set the time with each remote operation device, which makes the time setting troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to improve a remote control device for operating equipment such as a water heater. More specifically, in order to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, the load of the backup power source of the equipment body is reduced and a plurality of remote equipments are provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device that can easily match the time of the control device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a remote control device for a device of the present invention comprises a device main body and a plurality of remote control devices for remotely controlling the device main body. One of the remote control devices is provided with a main clock and a main time setting means for setting the time of the main clock, and the other remote control device is provided with a sub clock and a sub time setting means for setting the time of the sub clock. It is provided. Further, the main time setting means and the sub time setting means both compare the times of the main clock and the sub clock.

The sub time setting means changes the sub time to the time of the main clock when the time difference between the main clock and the sub clock exceeds a predetermined threshold value. To do. On the other hand, when the time difference between the main clock and the sub clock exceeds the threshold value, the main time setting means considers that the time is set in the sub clock and sets the time of the main clock to the sub clock. Make a main adjustment change that changes at the time of.

When the time of the sub clock is set, the sub time setting means changes the time of the sub clock to the set time and then stops the sub adjustment change for a predetermined waiting time. It waits until the time of the main clock is changed to the set time by the main adjustment change. On the other hand, the main time setting means changes the time of the main clock to the set time when the time of the main clock is set, and then stops the main adjustment change for a predetermined waiting time and stops the sub adjustment. It waits until the time of the sub clock is changed to the set time by the change.

According to the remote control device of the present invention, when a difference occurs between the time of the main clock and the time of the sub clock and reaches the threshold value, the sub time setting means sets the time of the sub clock to the main clock. Sub-adjustment changes are made to match the clock time. As a result, the time difference between the main clock and the sub clock gradually increases, and when the time difference reaches the threshold value, the sub clock matches the time of the main clock. The time difference from the clock is kept below the threshold. Further, even when there are a plurality of sub clocks, the plurality of sub clocks match the time of the main clock, so that the time difference between all the sub clocks and the main clock is kept below the threshold value.

On the other hand, as described above, when the time difference between the main clock and the sub clock gradually increases and reaches the threshold value, the sub clock matches the time of the main clock. The time difference between them does not exceed the threshold value. Therefore, when the time difference between the two exceeds the threshold value, it can be considered that the time is set in the main clock or the sub clock.

Therefore, when the time difference between the main clock and the sub clock exceeds the threshold value, the main time setting means makes a main adjustment change so that the time of the main clock coincides with the time of the sub clock. Thus, when the time is set in the sub clock, the time of the main clock matches the time of the sub clock in which the time is set, so that the user sets the time of the sub clock to set the time of the main clock. You can also set the time.

When the time is set in the main clock and the set time is equal to or more than the time of the sub clock and the threshold value, the sub time setting means sets the time of the sub clock to the main clock. Match the time of day. For this reason, the user can set all the times of the main clock and the sub-clock simply by setting the times of the main clock and the sub-clock, and it is not necessary to set the times of the respective clocks.

Here, the reason why the predetermined standby time main adjustment change is stopped when the time is set in the main timepiece is that the sub time setting means performs the sub adjustment change during this standby time. This is because the time of the sub clock is changed to the time of the main clock. On the other hand, even when the time is set in the sub timepiece, the main time setting means similarly causes the main adjustment change to be performed, so that the sub adjustment change is stopped for a predetermined waiting time.

When there are a plurality of sub-clocks, the time of the sub-clock is made to coincide with the time of the main clock by the sub-time setting means in the other sub-clocks for which the time has not been set. The time will be the same. Therefore, the user can change the time of the other clocks to the set time by setting the time of one sub clock, so that it is not necessary to set the time of each clock.

Further, according to the remote control device of the present invention, since each remote control device is provided with a clock, it is not necessary to provide a clock on the equipment main body. Further, since each remote control device only needs to hold the time data of each clock, the load of the backup power source is small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load of the backup power supply for the device body and each remote control device.

In the remote control device of the present invention, the main timepiece has a backup power source for maintaining time data when the power source is turned off, and the sub time setting means has the main clock when the power source is turned on. It is preferable that the time of the clock is the time of the sub clock. According to this, the backup power supply can be provided only to the main clock, and the backup power supply can be omitted for the sub clock, so that the burden of the backup power supply in the remote control device having the sub clock can be removed. it can.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an example of an embodiment of a remote control device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a remote control device and a water heater as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of time setting in a sub remote controller, and FIG. 3 is an operation of time setting in a main remote controller. It is a flowchart.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote control device of this embodiment comprises two remote controllers, a main remote controller 1 and a sub remote controller 2, each of which is electrically connected to a water heater (apparatus body) 3. . In this embodiment, the main remote controller 1 is a bathroom remote controller installed in the bathroom, and the sub remote controller 2 is a kitchen remote controller installed in the kitchen.

The main remote controller 1 has a main clock circuit 4, a main display means 5 for displaying the time, and a main backup power source 6 for holding time data of the main clock circuit 4 when the power of the main remote controller 1 is turned off. And a main time setting means 7 for setting the time, and a main communication means 8 for communicating time data and other data with the water heater 3, the sub remote controller 2.

The sub remote controller 2 has a sub clock circuit 9, a sub display means 10 for displaying the time, a sub time setting means 11 for setting the time, a water heater 3, a main remote controller 1, time data and other data. And a sub-communication means 12 for performing the communication. In the present embodiment, the sub remote controller 2
No sub-backup power supply is provided to protect the time data of the sub-clock circuit 9 when the power is turned off.

The water heater 3 is a communication means 13 for communicating operation control data and the like with the main remote controller 1 and the sub remote controller 2.
And a drive control means 14 for controlling a burner machine such as a burner (not shown) according to drive instruction data transmitted from the main remote control 1 or the sub remote control 2. In the present embodiment, the water heater 3 is not provided with a clock circuit. Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide a clock circuit in the water heater 3, the load of the backup power source for other circuits is reduced. In the main remote controller 1,
Since only the main clock circuit 4 is backed up, the load is small. As described above, in the present embodiment, the load of the backup power source is distributed to the water heater 3 and the main remote controller 1, and the backup power source is not provided in the sub remote controller 2, thereby reducing the respective loads.

Next, the management of time data between the remote controllers in this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the main remote controller 1 and the sub remote controller 2 transmit and receive time data to and from each other at intervals of several times per second by the main communication means 8 and the sub communication means 12, respectively. In addition, the main remote controller 1 or the sub remote controller 2
When the operation switch (not shown) is turned on, the power is turned on in all the remote controls, and when the operation switch is turned off in any one of the remote controls when the water heater is not operating, all the remote controls are turned on. At, the power is turned off.

First, the management of time data in the sub remote controller 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In the sub remote controller 2, when the power is turned on by the ON operation of the operation switch (not shown) (STEP 1), all the remote controllers including the main remote controller 1 are turned on. At this time, the sub time setting means 11 reads the time data of the main clock circuit 4 in the main remote controller 1 received by the sub communication means 12 and uses it as the time data of the sub clock circuit 9 (STE).
P2). Then, the time data is displayed on the sub display means 10 (STEP 3). Here, the sub time setting means 11
Checks whether or not the time has been set by the user (STEP 4).

If the time has not been set by the user (NO in STEP 4), the sub time setting means 1
1 compares the time data of the main clock circuit 4 of the main remote controller 1 received by the sub communication means 12 with the time data of the sub clock circuit 9 of the sub remote controller 2. Then, it is checked whether or not the time data in the main remote controller 1 and the time data in the sub remote controller 2 exceed the threshold value of 1 minute (STEP 5). As a result, the time is set by the main remote controller 1, and it is checked whether or not the time data of both exceeds the threshold value.

When the difference between the time data of the both is less than or equal to the threshold value of 1 minute (NO in STEP 5), the sub time setting means 11 further determines whether the difference between the time data of the both is 1 minute as the threshold value. Check whether or not (STEP6). When the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute which is the threshold value (S
(YES in TEP6), in principle, the sub-adjustment change is performed in which the time data in the sub remote controller 2 is rewritten to the time data in the main remote controller 1.

Specifically, from the time when the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute to 2 seconds (NO in STEP 7).
In addition, the difference between the time data of both is not less than 1 minute (STE
(NO in P8), and if the user does not set the time (NO in STEP 9), after 2 seconds (YE in STEP 7)
In S), the sub time setting means 11 transmits the time data in the main remote controller 1 received by the sub communication means 12 to the sub clock circuit 9 to be the time data in the sub remote controller 2 (STEP 13). Then, the changed time data is displayed on the sub display means 10 (STEP 3).

On the other hand, the time data is corrected in the main remote controller 1 from the state where the time data difference between the two becomes 1 minute to 2 seconds (NO in STEP 7), and the time data difference between the two is other than 1 minute. In the case of (STEP
If the difference between the time data of both is less than 1 minute, the sub time setting means 11 does not change the time data of the sub clock circuit 9 (loop of STEPs 3 to 6). Also, when the difference between the time data of both is other than 1 minute (STEP
If the difference between both time data exceeds 1 minute (YES in STEP 5), the time data in the main remote controller 1 is transmitted to the sub clock circuit 9 as the time data in the sub remote controller 2 as described later. (STEP1
3).

Alternatively, when the time is set in the sub remote controller 2 from the state where the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute to 2 seconds (NO in STEP 7) (ST).
(YES in EP9), the sub-time setting means 11 sets the time as described later without changing the sub-adjustment (STEP 10,
11, 12).

When the time is set in the sub remote controller 2 (YES in STEP 4), the time is set by the operation of the sub time setting means 11 by the user, and the time data in the sub clock circuit 9 is rewritten (STEP 1).
0). Then, after the operation of the sub time setting means 11 by the user is completed, the sub adjustment change is prohibited for 5 seconds (NO in STEP 11). Here, the reason why the sub-adjustment change is prohibited for 5 seconds is that the main remote controller 1 makes a main adjustment change described later in the 5 seconds, and the time data of the main clock circuit 4 of the main remote controller 1 is rewritten to the time data set at this time. In order to be able to do so (STEP24
Then, YES, STEP 32). In addition, when the operation for setting the time is performed in the sub remote controller 2 within these 5 seconds (YES in STEP 12), the time data of the sub remote controller 2 is changed to the changed time data (STEP 12).
10), and again wait for 5 seconds (STEP 11, 1
2 is NO).

On the other hand, the sub remote controller 2 and the main remote controller 1
If the difference in the time data in 1 exceeds the threshold value of 1 minute (YES in STEP 5), it means that the time is set in the main remote controller 1, and the sub time setting means 11 performs the sub adjustment change. Specifically, the sub communication means 1
The time data in the main remote controller 1 received by 2 is transmitted to the sub clock circuit 9 and used as the time data in the sub remote controller 2 (STEP 13). And the sub display means 1
The time data of the sub clock circuit 9 changed by 0 is displayed (STEP 3).

Next, management of time data in the main remote controller 1 will be described. On the main remote controller 1, as shown in FIG. 3, an operation switch (not shown) is turned on.
When the power is turned on by the operation (STEP 21), the time data of the main clock circuit 4 held by the main backup power supply 6 is displayed on the main display means 5 (STEP 2).
2). Here, the main time setting means 7 checks whether or not the time is set by the user (STEP 2).
3).

If the user has not set the time (NO in STEP 23), the main time setting means 7 receives the time data of the sub clock circuit 9 in the sub remote controller 2 received by the main communication means 8 and the main time. The time data of the main clock circuit 4 in the remote controller 1 is compared. At this time, it is checked whether or not the time data in the sub remote controller 2 and the time data in the main remote controller 1 exceed the threshold value of 1 minute (STEP 24). This allows
The time is set by the sub remote controller 2, and it is checked whether the time data of both exceeds a threshold value.

When the difference between the time data of the both is less than or equal to the threshold value of 1 minute (NO in STEP 24), the main time setting means 7 further determines whether the difference between the time data of the both is 1 minute as the threshold value. Check whether or not (STEP 25). Here, even when the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute which is the threshold value (YES in STEP 25), the time data in the main remote controller 1 is basically the sub remote controller 2
The time data in the sub remote controller 2 is rewritten into the time data in the main remote controller 1 without rewriting it into the time data in 2.

Specifically, the time data in the main remote controller 1 is not rewritten with the time data in the sub remote controller 2 for 5 seconds after the difference between the time data of the both becomes 1 minute which is the threshold value of (step 26). NO). Then, as described above, in the sub remote controller 2, the time data is updated to the time data in the main remote controller 1 when 2 seconds elapse after the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute (STEP 7, 13). , The difference between the time data of both is less than 1 minute (YES in STEP 27). In this way, in principle, the time data in the main remote controller 1 cannot be rewritten with the time data in the sub remote controller 2.

Exceptionally, the time is set in the sub remote controller 2 within 5 seconds after the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute (STEPs 10 and 11), and the difference between the time data of both is 1. There may be a minute (N in STEP 27
O). In this case, further, if the time is not set on the main remote controller 1 (STEP 28
No), the main time setting means 7 receives the time data in the sub remote controller 2 received by the main communication means 8 from the main clock circuit 4.
To the time data in the main remote controller 1 (STEP 32). Then, the main display means 5 displays the time data of the main clock circuit 4 (STEP 22). Alternatively, if the difference between the time data of both is 1 minute, 5
Even when the time is set in the main remote controller 1 within seconds (YES in STEP 28), the main time setting means 7 does not change the time data of the main clock circuit 4 to the time data of the sub remote controller 2 and sets the time as described later. Is performed (STEP 29, 30, 31).

When the time is set in the main remote controller 1 (YES in STEP 23), the time is set by the operation of the main time setting means 7 by the user, and the time data in the main clock circuit 4 is rewritten (STEP 2).
9). Then, after the operation of the main time setting means 7 by the user is completed, the main adjustment change described later is prohibited for 5 seconds (NO in STEPs 30 and 31). Where 5
The reason why the main adjustment change is prohibited for a second is to wait for a sub adjustment change to be made by the sub remote controller 2 during the 5 seconds (YES in STEP 5, YES in STEP 13). Also,
If an operation for setting the time is performed on the main remote controller 1 within these 5 seconds (YES in STEP 31).
S), the time data of the main remote controller 1 is changed to the changed time data (STEP 29), and the standby state is again set for 5 seconds (NO in STEPs 30 and 31).

On the other hand, the main remote controller 1 and the sub remote controller 2
If the difference in the time data in 1 exceeds the threshold value of 1 minute (YES in STEP 24), it means that the time is set in the sub remote controller 2, so the main remote controller 1
The main adjustment change is performed so that the time data of 1 is matched with the time data of the sub remote controller 2. Specifically, the main time setting means 7 transmits the time data in the sub remote controller 2 received by the main communication means 8 to the main clock circuit 4 to be the time data in the main remote controller 1 (STEP 32). Then, the time data of the main clock circuit 4 changed by the main display means 5 is displayed (STEP 22).

In the remote control device of the present embodiment, since each remote controller performs the control as described above, the difference in the time data is widened without setting the time in each remote controller, and the difference in the time data is the threshold value 1. In case of minutes,
In principle, the sub remote controller 2 makes a sub adjustment change to match the time data of the main remote controller 1. Therefore, even when the time is not set in each remote controller, the time data in each remote controller is in the same state.

Further, when the time is set in the main remote controller 1 or the sub remote controller 2 and the difference between the time data of the two exceeds a threshold value, the remote controller for which the time is not set becomes the time data of the remote controller for which the time is set. Match. Therefore, the user can set the time data of all the remote controllers to the newly set time data by simply setting the time on any one of the remote controls.

In the above embodiment, the case where one sub remote controller 2 is provided in addition to the main remote controller 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of sub remote controllers 2 may be provided. When there are a plurality of sub remote controllers 2, if the time is set in the main remote controller 1, the time data is matched in all the sub remote controllers 2 as described above. Further, when the time is set in one sub remote controller 2, the main remote controller 1 matches the time data, so that the other sub remote controllers 2 also match the time data of the main remote controller 1. Therefore, the user only needs to set the time on the main remote controller 1 or one sub remote controller 2 to make all the time data of the other remote controllers the same.

In the above embodiment, the main remote controller 1 is provided with the main time setting means 7, and the sub remote controller 2 is provided with the sub time setting means 11. Therefore, these means are used as the water heater. It can also be used when programming a reserved operation or the like in the operation control means 14 provided in FIG. According to this, the reserved operation of the water heater 3 can be performed not only by the main remote controller 1 but also by the sub remote controller 2, so that the usability for the user is improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sub remote controller 2 is not provided with the backup power source, but the sub remote controller 2 is also provided with the backup power source, and when the power source is turned on by the operation switch (not shown), the sub remote controller 2 is turned on. In, the time data stored by the sub display unit 10 may be displayed.

In the above embodiment, the water heater 3
However, the present invention can be appropriately applied to other devices as long as it is a device including a plurality of remote controllers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a remote control device and a water heater as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a time setting operation of the sub remote controller.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a time setting operation in the main remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main remote control (remote operation device), 2 ... Sub remote control (remote operation device), 3 ... Water heater (device main body), 4 ... Main clock circuit, 7 ... Main time setting means, 9 ... Sub clock circuit, 11
... Sub time setting means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A main unit and a main time setting means for setting a main clock and a time of the main clock in one of the remote operating units, the main unit including a main unit and a plurality of remote operating units for remotely controlling the main unit. Is provided, and a sub clock and sub time setting means for setting the time of the sub clock are provided in the other remote control device, and the main time setting means and the sub time setting means are both the main clock and the sub time. Comparing the time with the sub clock, the sub time setting means changes the time of the sub clock to the time of the main clock when the time difference between the main clock and the sub clock exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Sub-adjustment is changed, and the main time setting means considers that the time setting has been performed in the sub-clock when the time difference between the main clock and the sub-clock exceeds the threshold value. Main adjustment change to change the time of the sub clock to The sub-time setting means changes the time of the sub-clock to the set time when the time of the sub-clock is set, and then stops the sub-adjustment for a predetermined waiting time and stops the sub-adjustment. Waiting for the time of the main clock to be changed to the set time, the main time setting means changing the time of the main clock to the set time when the time of the main clock is set. A remote control device for an apparatus, characterized in that the main adjustment change is stopped for a predetermined waiting time and the sub adjustment time is changed to a set time by the sub adjustment change. 2. The main clock includes a backup power supply that maintains time data when the power is turned off, and the sub time setting means sets the time of the main clock to the time when the power is turned on. The remote control device for equipment according to claim 1, wherein