JP2004190942A - Operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating device for a water heater, suitably usable as an information terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The operating device comprises a control unit 10 and a man/machine interface unit 20, which are connected to each other via a cable 30 in the state of being stored in individual casings 10a, 20a. The control unit 10 has a water heater communication connection part 11, a power supply connection part 12, an antenna connection part 13 having receiving function, a network connection part 14 and a control part 15 for executing predetermined processing in accordance with water heater relative data input from these connection parts, electric power, TV waves and various external input/output signals. The man/machine interface unit 20 has a display part 21, an input operation part 22, a voice input part 23 and a voice output part 24, which are all connected to the control part 15 of the control unit 10 via the cable 30 and whose operations are controlled by the control part 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating device installed in a kitchen or a bathroom for operating a predetermined device such as a water heater, and more particularly to an operating device suitable for multifunctionalization.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 2, an operation remote controller installed in a kitchen, a bathroom, or the like as an operation device of the water heater is communicably connected to a water heater controller 61 mounted on a water heater 60 via a communication line 54. A remote control controller 51 that controls the water heater 60 in general while cooperating with the water heater controller 61, and a man-machine interface 52 having a display unit 52a, a sound output unit 52b, an operation unit 52c, and the like. And they are housed in the same casing 53.
[0003]
By the way, in recent years, it has been desired to use the above-described operation remote controller 50 not only as a simple operation device of the water heater 60 but also as an information terminal device such as a television receiver or a network connection device. When the operation remote controller 50 is used as such an information terminal device, a signal processing function such as a TV tuner and a decoder is added to the remote controller 51 described above, and an antenna line and a LAN are connected as shown by a dashed line in FIG. It is necessary to connect external input / output signal lines such as cables.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 9-27992 A [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if various signal processing functions are given to the remote controller 51 or various external input / output signal lines are connected, the control unit of the remote controller 51 becomes large and the external input / output signal lines are controlled. Since a connecting portion for connecting the remote controller must be provided, there is a problem that the size of the remote controller 51 itself increases, and accordingly, the size of the entire operation remote controller 50 increases.
[0006]
Further, in the case of the operation remote controller 50 installed in the bathroom, it is necessary to perform a waterproof treatment so as to prevent moisture and water from entering the casing 53. However, as described above, the comparison remote control connected to the water heater 60 is required. In an operation remote controller in which a plurality of relatively thick external input / output signal lines other than the thin communication line 54 are drawn out of the casing 53, the communication line 54 and the external input / output signal lines are pulled out of the casing 53 in a bundled state. However, there is a problem in that a complicated waterproof treatment must be performed in which a gap formed in the drawer portion is sealed by filling it with a caulking agent or the like.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a water heater operation device suitable for use as an information terminal device in view of the above-mentioned problems.
[0008]
Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects
In order to solve the above problems, an invention according to claim 1 is an operation device for remotely operating a predetermined device, comprising: a man-machine interface unit; and a control unit connected to the predetermined device via a communication line. And an operation device characterized in that the man-machine interface unit and the control unit are connected to each other via communication means. The “communication means” here may be wired or wireless.
[0009]
As described above, since this operating device is separated into a man-machine interface unit and a control unit, for example, in a place where a predetermined device is to be operated, if only the man-machine interface unit is installed, Often, the control unit can be concealed by installing it in another place, such as the ceiling, so that the operation unit for operating a predetermined device can be compared with the conventional operation device in which both are integrated. In this case, the installation space for the operation device can be reduced.
[0010]
In particular, as in the operation device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the case where the control unit includes a connection portion for connecting an external device other than the predetermined device, various types of operation device are provided. Even when various external devices are connected to provide functions, the man-machine interface unit does not increase in size, so that the operation device is occupied at an operation place where a predetermined device is to be operated. The space can be minimized, and a compact installation state can be ensured as in the case where an operation device having only the operation function of a predetermined device is installed.
[0011]
Specifically, as in the invention according to claim 3, the present invention can be applied to an operating device for operating a water heater.
[0012]
In this case, the man-machine interface unit is installed in the bathroom and the control unit is installed outside the bathroom, as in the operation device of the invention according to claim 4, or according to claim 5. Like the operating device of the invention, the man-machine interface unit is installed in the bathroom, and the control unit is installed in the interior space of the bathtub unit separated from the washing area by an apron concealing the side surface of the bathtub body. In this case, only the cable connecting the man-machine interface unit and the control unit needs to be waterproofed from the man-machine interface unit, and the control unit is completely waterproofed. Need not be applied or installation ring Since good extent performing simple waterproof treatment in accordance with, as compared with the conventional operation device in which a man-machine interface unit and the control unit are integrated, the effect is obtained that waterproofing is facilitated. Here, the “bathroom” means a space where a bather can enter to take a bath, and does not include the internal space of the bathtub unit as described above.
[0013]
Further, like the operating device of the invention according to claim 6, the man-machine interface unit installed in the bathroom is similar to the conventional operating device installed in the bathroom such as a bathroom operation remote controller. It must be waterproofed.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hot water heating terminal device such as a floor heating floor or a bathroom heating / drying machine, in addition to a hot water supply function for a shower or a caran, etc. 1 illustrates a bathroom operation remote controller 1 as an operation device of a water heater with a bath reheating function (hereinafter, referred to as a water heater) 2 having a heating function of circulating and supplying hot water.
[0015]
As shown in the figure, the bathroom operation remote controller 1 includes a control unit 10 and a man-machine interface unit 20, and both are housed in individual casings 10a and 20a, respectively, and a cable 30 is provided. Are interconnected by
[0016]
The control unit 10 is connected to a water heater communication connector 11 to which a controller 2a of the water heater 2 is connected via a two-core communication line 3, and is connected to a commercial power supply, for example, a DC conversion function for converting 100 VAC to 15 VDC. , A power supply connection unit 12 having an antenna connection such as a VHF, UHF, BS, or CS via an antenna line such as a coaxial cable, and a personal computer or home server. A network connection unit 14 to which an external network such as a home network or the Internet is connected, and hot water supply input / output from / to these water heater communication connection unit 11, power supply connection unit 12, antenna connection unit 13 and network connection unit 14. Based on device-related data, power, TV signals, And a control unit 15 for executing the processing, the control unit 15 is primarily while in cooperation controller 2a and each other and become the water heater 2 to be remotely controlled.
[0017]
The man-machine interface unit 20 includes a display unit 21 including a light emitting diode (LED), a fluorescent display tube (FLD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), and an input operation including a switch, a touch panel, a mouse pad, an infrared light receiving unit, and the like. And a sound input unit 23 such as a microphone, and a sound output unit 24 such as a speaker. The display unit 21, the input operation unit 22, the sound input unit 23, and the sound output unit 24 The control unit 15 of the control unit 10 is connected to the control unit 15 via a cable 30, and the control unit 15 controls each operation.
[0018]
In the bathroom operation remote controller 1 configured as described above, for example, the hot water heater related information such as the hot water set temperature is set and input by the input operation unit 22, displayed on the display unit 21, and set with the hot water heater related information. In addition to notifying the change or the like by audio using the audio output unit 24, the television broadcast received by the antenna is broadcast using the display unit 21 and the audio output unit 24, and the display unit 21 and the input operation unit 22 are displayed. Send and receive e-mails, browse browsers, etc., and store them in an external server or home server via a network using the display unit 21, the input operation unit 22, the voice input unit 23, and the voice output unit 24. Game software and karaoke software, and play music software.
[0019]
As described above, the bathroom operation remote controller 1 is separated into the control unit 10 and the man-machine interface unit 20, so that only the man-machine interface unit 20 needs to be installed in the bathroom. The remote control 10 can be concealed by being installed in the back of the ceiling of a bathroom or a dressing room, so that the remote control 1 for installing a bathroom in a bathroom can be installed compared to a conventional remote control for a bathroom in which both are integrated. Space can be reduced.
[0020]
In addition, since the bathroom operation remote controller 1 connects the water heater 2, the power supply, the antenna, the network, and the like to the control unit 10 separated from the man-machine interface unit 20, it is necessary to connect these. Even if the control unit 10 becomes large, the man-machine interface unit 20 does not become large, and the space occupied by the operating device in the bathroom can be minimized. This makes it possible to ensure a compact installation state, similarly to the bathroom operation remote controller having only the operation function of the water heater 2.
[0021]
When connecting a new external device or the like, a connection portion is added to the control unit 10 installed above the ceiling while the man-machine interface unit 20 installed in the bathroom is left as it is. In addition, since it is only necessary to replace the control unit 10 itself, it is possible to easily increase the functionality of the bathroom remote controller at low cost.
[0022]
Further, as described above, when the man-machine interface unit 20 is installed in the bathroom and the control unit 10 is installed in the back of the ceiling of the bathroom or the dressing room, only the part where the cable 30 in the man-machine interface unit 20 is drawn out. The control unit 10 does not need to be waterproofed, so that it is easier to waterproof than the conventional bathroom remote control in which the man-machine interface and the controller are integrated. Is obtained.
[0023]
However, when the control unit 10 is installed in the inner space of the bathtub unit, the water heater 2, the outdoor, or the like separated from the washing area by the apron that covers the side surface of the bathtub body, the control unit 10 needs to be waterproofed. However, in such a case, it is sufficient to employ a casing 10a having a simple waterproof structure that does not enter the interior even if it is exposed to water. Even if it is formed, it does not matter, so that the waterproof treatment is not particularly complicated unlike the conventional bathroom operation remote controller in which the man-machine interface portion and the controller portion are integrated.
[0024]
In the above-described embodiment, the bathroom operation remote controller installed in the bathroom has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a kitchen operation remote controller installed in a kitchen. It is needless to say that the same effect as the above-described bathroom operation remote controller 1 can be obtained except for the effect that the waterproofing process is facilitated.
[0025]
In the above-described embodiment, the bathroom operation remote controller is separated into the man-machine interface unit 20 and the control unit 10, and the power is connected to the control unit 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. And a DC power supply unit for converting AC100V to DC15V, which is separate from the control unit, is provided independently. The DC power supply unit supplies power to the control unit and the man-machine interface unit. Power may be supplied to the control unit or the man-machine interface unit via the core communication line 3.
[0026]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the bathroom operation remote controller 1 as the operation device of the water heater 2 has been described. However, for example, the invention can be applied to an operation device such as a guide plate installed outdoors. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a bathroom operation remote which is an embodiment of an operation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conventional operation remote controller installed in a kitchen, a bathroom, or the like as an operation device of the water heater.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Bathroom remote control (operating device)
2 Water heater with bath reheating function (water heater)
2a controller 3 2-core communication line 10 control unit 10a casing 11 water heater communication connection section 12 power supply connection section 13 antenna connection section 14 network connection section 15 control section 20 man / machine interface unit 20a casing 21 display section 22 input operation section 23 voice Input unit 24 Audio output unit 30 Cable

Claims (6)

In an operating device for remotely operating a predetermined device,
Separated into a man-machine interface unit and a control unit connected to the predetermined device via a communication line,
An operating device, wherein the man-machine interface unit and the control unit are mutually connected via communication means. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a connection unit for connecting an external device other than the predetermined device. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is a water heater. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the man-machine interface unit is installed in a bathroom, and the control unit is installed outside the bathroom. 4. The man-machine interface unit according to claim 3, wherein the man-machine interface unit is installed in a bathroom, and the control unit is installed in an interior space of the bathtub unit separated from a washing place by an apron concealing a side surface of the bathtub body. Operating device. The operating device according to claim 4, wherein the man-machine interface unit is subjected to a waterproof process.

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