JP2004278962A - Bath water heater and remote controller control method of bath water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bath water heater capable of setting only a bathroom remote controller to a power saving mode, when it seems that nobody exists in a bathroom though an appliance is under operation. <P>SOLUTION: A power saving mode management means 54 sets the display of the bathroom remote controller 100 to the power saving mode capable of saving the power in comparison with a regular mode, until a specific bathwater heating condition to determine a state of allowing a person to have a bath, is satisfied, when the switching-on of the automatic operation of the bath is performed by the remote controller 200 mounted outside of the bathroom among a plurality of remote controllers 100, 200 connected with the bath water heater, or when the automatic operation is switched-on on the basis of a timer reservation. The power saving mode is released to perform the regular display when the bathwater heating condition is satisfied. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bath water heater in which a bathroom remote controller installed in a bathroom and one or more remote controllers installed outside the bathroom are connected and a bath can be automatically operated, and a remote controller control method thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a bath water heater capable of switching a display of a remote controller to a power saving mode and a remote controller control method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A plurality of remote controllers such as a bathroom remote controller installed in a bathroom and a kitchen remote controller installed in a kitchen or the like are connected to the main body of the bath water heater. A remote controller installed in a kitchen or a bathroom is provided with various operation switches and a display unit, and can remotely operate the operation state of the bath water heater and check the operation state. A display unit of the remote controller displays a large number of information indicating an operation state, a setting state, and the like of the bath water heater. For example, information indicating a hot water supply set temperature, a bath set temperature, a set water level, a combustion state, and the like are displayed. A display device such as a liquid crystal display device having a backlight, a fluorescent display tube, and an LED is used for the display unit.
[0003]
In addition, since most of the power consumed by the remote controller is spent on the display unit, the display unit is turned off during standby when the operation switch is on but not performing operations involving combustion such as hot water supply. Some devices are designed to switch to a power saving mode. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2-133750
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional bath water heater with a power saving mode, the control of whether or not the display is set to the power saving mode is performed in common without distinguishing all remote controllers installed in the bath or kitchen. When the hot water supply or reheating operation is performed and the state of the standby state is released, the power saving mode is released in all the remote controllers. For this reason, even when it is presumed that there is no person in the bathroom when viewed from the operation state of the bath water heater, when the bathroom remote controller is not in standby, the power saving mode is also released for the bathroom remote controller, and the normal mode is set. The display was done.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. Even when the appliance is in operation, when it is estimated that no person is in the bathroom, only the bathroom remote controller is individually set to the power saving mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bath water heater and a remote controller control method thereof.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The gist of the present invention to achieve this object lies in the inventions in the following items.
[1] In a bath water heater (10) capable of automatically operating a bath based on one of an instruction from a bathroom remote controller (100) installed in a bathroom and an instruction from inside and outside of other appliances.
When the automatic operation of the bath is turned on based on an instruction from inside and outside of the appliance, the bathroom remote controller () until a predetermined bathing condition for determining that a person can take a bath is satisfied. The power saving mode management means (54) sets the operation mode of (100) to a power saving mode in which the display state is not displayed or the power saving mode is lower than usual, and cancels the power saving mode when the bathable condition is satisfied. (10) A bath water heater (10).
[0008]
[2] The operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) is set to the power saving mode from a point in time when a certain grace period has elapsed since the automatic bath operation was turned on by an instruction from inside or outside the appliance. The bath water heater (10) according to [1].
[0009]
[3] The automatic operation of the bath is to automatically turn off after continuing the heat keeping operation until a predetermined heat keeping continuation time elapses after the bathing possible condition is satisfied,
The power saving mode management means (54) sets at least the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) to the power saving mode when the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off [1]. ] Or the bath water heater (10) according to [2].
[0010]
[4] The power saving mode management means (54) sets the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) when the automatic operation of the bathroom is manually turned off before the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off. After that, until a certain time elapses, or until a certain time elapses from the start of heat insulation, or until the heat insulation continuation time elapses, the power saving mode is released, and the constant time or the heat insulation continuation time is set. The bath water heater (10) according to [3], wherein the power saving mode is set when the time has elapsed.
[0011]
[5] A remote controller control method for a bath water heater (10) capable of automatically operating a bath based on one of an instruction from a bathroom remote controller (100) installed in a bathroom and an instruction from inside or outside of other appliances. At
When the automatic operation of the bath is turned on based on an instruction from inside and outside the appliance, the bathroom remote controller () until a predetermined bathable condition for determining that a person can take a bath is satisfied. 100) The operation mode of 100) is set to a power saving mode in which the display state is not displayed or the power saving mode is set to a state in which power is saved more than usual, and the power saving mode is canceled when the bathable condition is satisfied. A method of controlling the remote controller of the device (10).
[0012]
[6] The operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) is set to the power saving mode from a point in time when a certain grace period has elapsed since the automatic operation of the bath was turned on by an instruction from inside or outside the appliance. A remote controller control method for the bath water heater (10) according to [5].
[0013]
[7] In the case where the automatic operation of the bath automatically turns off after continuing the heat keeping operation until a predetermined heat keeping continuation time elapses after the bathing possible condition is satisfied,
The bath water heater according to [5] or [6], wherein when the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, at least the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) is set to the power saving mode. (10) The remote controller control method.
[0014]
[8] When the automatic operation of the bathroom is manually turned off before the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) is changed until a certain time elapses, or the temperature is kept warm. Until a predetermined time has elapsed from the start or until the heat retention continuation time has elapsed, the power saving mode is released, and the power saving mode is set when the predetermined time or the heat retention continuation time has elapsed. The remote controller control method for a bath water heater (10) according to [7], wherein
[0015]
Next, the operation of the invention described in each of the above items will be described.
The power saving mode management means (54) turns on automatic operation of the bath by a remote controller (200) installed outside the bathroom among a plurality of remote controllers (100, 200) connected to the bath water heater (10). When the automatic operation of the bath is turned on based on an instruction from inside or outside the appliance other than the bathroom remote controller (100), for example, when the operation to make the timer has been performed or when the timer reservation has timed out, The operation mode of the remote controller (100) installed in the bathroom is changed to a state in which the display state is not displayed or a state in which the power is saved more than usual, until a predetermined bathing enable condition for determining that the bathing is in a bathable state is satisfied. Power saving mode. Then, when the bathing possible condition is satisfied, the power saving mode is canceled and normal display is performed.
[0016]
Instructions from inside and outside the appliance include, in addition to the above, remote control via a telephone line or the Internet. The bathing condition is satisfied when the bath is completely heated, when a predetermined time before the completion of the boiling (for example, 5 minutes before), or when the bath is filled with hot water. It may be.
[0017]
When automatic operation of the bath is turned on by an instruction from inside or outside the appliance, such as operation from the kitchen remote controller (200) installed outside the bathroom or turning on the timer reservation, a person is present in the bathroom at that time. It is presumed that there will be no people in the bathroom until the bathing or boiling up is completed or the completion thereof approaches or the bathing condition for a person is satisfied. On the other hand, when the bathing possible condition is satisfied, the bathing of a person is expected. Therefore, the bathroom remote controller (100) is set to the power saving mode until the bathing possible condition is satisfied, and the power saving mode is released after the bathing possible condition is satisfied. Accordingly, when it is estimated that no person is present in the bathroom, the normal display operation is not performed in the bathroom remote controller (100) uselessly, and a power saving effect can be obtained.
[0018]
After the automatic operation of the bath is turned on by an instruction from inside or outside the appliance such as an instruction from a remote controller (200) installed outside the bathroom, the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) starts after a certain grace period has elapsed. May be set to the power saving mode. For example, if the kitchen remote controller (200) does not have a function of displaying the bath set temperature and the set water level, the operator operates the automatic operation switch to check the bath set temperature and the set water level, and then operates the bathroom remote controller. The user may go to see the display of (100). Therefore, by not entering the power saving mode for a while after the automatic operation of the bath is turned on by the remote controller (200) installed outside the bathroom, it is possible to cope with the above-mentioned confirmation act and save power. The effect can be obtained.
[0019]
In the case where the automatic operation of the bath is to automatically turn off after continuing the heat retaining operation until a predetermined heat retaining continuation time elapses after the bathable condition is satisfied, the power saving mode management means (54) When the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, at least the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller (100) is set to the power saving mode. After the elapse of the heat retention duration, it is estimated that there is almost no bathing of a person, so that power can be saved by automatically switching to the power saving mode.
[0020]
Also, if the automatic operation of the bath is manually turned off before the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, then until a certain time elapses, or until a certain time elapses from the start of heat retention, or the heat retention duration Until elapses, the state in which the power saving mode is canceled (normal display operation) is maintained, and when a predetermined time or the heat retention continuation time has elapsed, the power saving mode is set. Even if the automatic operation is turned off, the temperature of the bathtub water does not drop immediately, so that the automatic operation may be manually turned off before the end of bathing from the viewpoint of saving. Therefore, even if the power is manually turned off, the state in which the power saving mode has been released is maintained until a certain time (for example, 30 minutes) or the heat retention continuation time elapses, thereby displaying the bathroom remote controller. The inconvenience of disappearing can be eliminated. If the heat retention continuation time elapses before the predetermined time elapses, the mode may shift to the power saving mode when the heat retention continuation time has elapsed, or until the predetermined time elapses even after the heat retention continuation time has passed. A configuration in which the power saving mode is released may be maintained.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The bath water heater 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a function of supplying hot water to a faucet or a shower head or pouring water into a bathtub, and a function of reheating water in the bathtub. It also has a bath automatic operation function by combining the pouring function and the reheating function. In the automatic operation of a bath, hot water of a bath set temperature is filled to a set water level in a bathtub. Thereafter, until a predetermined heat retention duration (for example, 4 hours) elapses, a heat retention operation of maintaining the bath set temperature and the set water level is performed, and when the heat retention duration elapses, the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off. It has become.
[0022]
The bath water heater 10 includes an appliance main body 20, a bathroom remote controller 100 and a kitchen remote controller 200 connected to the appliance main body 20. The bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200 are connected to the appliance body 20 via a two-core cable, respectively, so that various types of information can be transmitted to and received from the appliance body 20.
[0023]
Specifically, communication between the appliance main body 20 and the bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200 is repeatedly performed, for example, every 100 ms. During one cycle, transmission of display information and the like from the appliance main body 20 to the bathroom remote controller 100, transmission of display information and the like from the appliance main body 20 to the kitchen remote controller 200, and transmission from the bathroom remote controller 100 to the appliance main body 20 Transmission of information related to the switch operation and transmission of information related to the switch operation from the kitchen remote controller 200 to the appliance main body 20 are performed. The display information transmitted from the appliance main body 20 to the remote controllers 100 and 200 instructs on and off of all display items in each remote controller each time.
[0024]
The appliance main body 20 includes a burner 21 disposed below a combustion chamber (not shown), and a heat exchanger 22 disposed downstream of the burner 21 (upward in the figure). The heat exchanger 22 is a so-called one-can-two-channel heat exchanger in which both the hot water supply pipe 30 and the reheating water pipe 40 that are heat receiving pipes pass through the common fin 23. One end of a hot water supply pipe 30 passing through the heat exchanger 22 is connected to a water supply pipe 31 leading to a water supply source, and the other end is connected to a hot water supply pipe 32 leading to a tap for tapping out of hot water. In the middle of the water supply pipe 31, a water amount sensor 33 for detecting a water flow amount is arranged. When the water amount sensor 33 detects the flow of water in the hot water supply pipe 30 due to the opening of the faucet or the like, the burner 21 is ignited and burned, and the burned amount of the burner 21 is controlled so that hot water at the set temperature comes out. You.
[0025]
One end of the reheating water pipe 40 passing through the heat exchanger 22 is connected to a return pipe 41 for returning water in the bathtub 5 to the heat exchanger 22, and the other end is provided with water heated by the heat exchanger 22. An outgoing pipe 42 for feeding into the bath 5 is connected. In the middle of the bath return pipe 41, in addition to the bath pump 43, a water level sensor, a bath water flow switch, and a bath thermistor (not shown) are provided. By driving the bath pump 43, the water in the bathtub 5 circulates through the bath return tube 41, the reheating water tube 40 of the heat exchanger 22, and the bath forward tube 42, and simultaneously burns the burner 21 to form a bath. Reheating operation is performed.
[0026]
Hot water supply pipe 32 and bath return pipe 41 are connected by pouring connection pipe 45. An electromagnetic valve 46 is provided in the middle of the pouring connection pipe 45. Normally, the solenoid valve 46 is closed.
When performing the operation of pouring water into bathtub 5, electromagnetic valve 46 is opened and burner 21 is burned.
Thereby, the water from the water supply source is heated when passing through the hot water supply pipe 30 of the heat exchanger 22 to become hot water, which flows into the bathtub 5 via the pouring connection pipe 45, the return pipe 41, and the supply pipe 42. It has become.
[0027]
In addition, the appliance body 20 includes various thermistors for detecting the temperature of hot water and the temperature of bathtub water to be reheated, a combustion fan for supplying and exhausting air to and from the burner 21, and a gas supply for supplying combustion gas to the burner 21. A pipe, a gas solenoid valve for turning on and off the supply of combustion gas to the burner 21, a gas proportional valve for adjusting the amount of gas to be supplied, and the like are provided. The appliance body 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that plays a central role in various controls, a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing programs and various fixed data, and a temporary memory for executing the programs. The control unit 50 includes a RAM for storing necessary data and the like as a main unit. The control unit 50 is electrically connected to the above-mentioned water amount sensor 33, the electromagnetic valve 46, the bath pump 43, various electromagnetic valves, a thermistor, and the like. Further, a bathroom remote controller 100 installed in the bathroom and a kitchen remote controller 200 installed in the kitchen are connected to the control unit 50 via two-core cables.
[0028]
The control unit 50 includes a combustion control unit 51 for controlling the combustion of the burner 21, a bath automatic operation management unit 52 for managing the automatic operation of the bath, a timer 53 for measuring the heat retention duration, and a bathroom remote control during standby. The power saving mode management means 54 for saving power by, for example, hiding the controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200, and the communication means 55 for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200, respectively. Plays a function.
[0029]
The bathroom remote controller 100 includes a plurality of switches 111 to 126 for receiving human operations, a plurality of display units 131 to 149 for displaying information, lamps 151 to 154 built in the switches, and an operation lamp 155. And a speaker 101 that also has a microphone function, and a control unit 160 that controls the operation of the bathroom remote controller 100. The control unit 160 is configured by a circuit mainly including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The control unit 160 controls the operation of the bathroom remote controller 100, and controls the operation management unit 161 that receives the operations of the switches 111 to 126, the display contents of the display units 131 to 149, and the lighting of the lamps 151 to 155. The display control section 162 for controlling and the communication means 163 for performing communication between the appliance main body 20 are provided.
[0030]
FIG. 2 shows the exterior of the bathroom remote controller 100 from the front. As shown in FIG. 2, the switches included in the remote controller 100 include a call switch 111, a priority switch 112, a cooking switch 113, and an automatic switch 114. For detailed settings, there are a hot water supply up switch 115, a hot water supply down switch 116, a hot water amount up switch 117, a hot water amount down switch 118, a bath temperature up switch 119, and a bath temperature down switch 120. In addition, there are a fluctuation shower switch 121, a hot water switch 122, a lukewarm switch 123, a heat retention time switch 124, an operation switch 125, and a volume switch 126. These are usually covered with an openable lid (not shown).
[0031]
The call switch 111 is a switch for enabling an interphone function between the bathroom and another remote controller installed in another place such as the kitchen remote controller 200 and calling the other party. The priority switch 112 is a switch for giving priority to the hot water supply set temperature set by the bathroom remote controller 100 over a remote controller installed in another place such as the kitchen remote controller 200. The simmer switch 113 is a switch for starting or stopping the reheating operation of the bath.
[0032]
The automatic switch 114 is a switch for starting and stopping the automatic operation of the bath. When the automatic operation of the bath is turned on, hot water of the set temperature is automatically filled in the bathtub 5 up to the set water level, and the temperature and the water level are set to the set heat retention duration (for example, 4 hours). The instrument main body 20 operates so as to maintain the above.
[0033]
Hot water supply up switch 115 is a switch for increasing the hot water supply set temperature, and hot water supply down switch 116 is a switch for decreasing the hot water supply set temperature. The hot water volume up switch 117 is a switch for increasing the bathtub set water level, and the water volume down switch 118 is a switch for lowering the bathtub set water level. The bath temperature up switch 119 is a switch for increasing the set temperature for keeping the bath warm and the set temperature for reheating, and the bath temperature down switch 120 is a switch for lowering the bath temperature.
[0034]
The fluctuation shower switch 121 is a switch for changing the temperature or the momentum of the shower with a fluctuation of 1 / F which is considered to be comfortable for a person. The hot water switch 122 is a switch for adding hot water to the bathtub. The lukewarm switch 123 is a switch for putting water in a bathtub to lower the temperature of hot water. The heat retention time switch 124 is a switch for changing the heat retention duration during the automatic operation. The operation switch 125 is a main switch for turning on and off the operation of the appliance body 20. The volume switch 126 is a switch for changing the volume of the voice from the other party when the interphone function described above is operated. On the left side of the volume switch 126, a speaker that also functions as a microphone is built.
[0035]
Among the many display units provided in the bathroom remote controller 100, as a display unit of a display item related to hot water supply, it is “priority” that a state is given priority over other remote controllers such as the kitchen remote controller 200 in setting a hot water supply set temperature. , A fluctuation display unit 132 that displays that the temperature or momentum of the shower is set to fluctuate, and a fluctuation pattern of the flame, and burning on the hot water supply side by changing the pattern of the flame. And a hot water supply set temperature display unit 134 that displays the hot water supply set temperature numerically.
[0036]
The display section for displaying the display items relating to the bath includes a reservation display section 141 for displaying that the automatic driving is being reserved with the word “reserved”, a time display section 142 for displaying the current time or the reserved time, a flame display section, There is a bath combustion display section 143 for notifying the bath-side combustion by changing the pattern of the bath, and a bath set temperature display section 144 for displaying the set temperature of the bath. Further, a water level display section 145 for displaying the set water level of the bathtub, a main display section 146 for displaying that the bath is being kept warm by the letters "warm", and a case where water or hot water is being poured or refired in the bathtub. An arrow display section 147 for displaying that there is a blinking arrow, a water display section 148 for displaying that the water is being filled with “water”, and a character of “hot” for being filled with hot water. Is provided with a hot water display section 149 for displaying the hot water.
[0037]
Each of these display units is constituted by an independent fluorescent display tube, and can be turned on and off independently. Further, the call switch 111, the priority switch 112, the litter switch 113, and the automatic switch 114 have individual lamps 151 to 154, respectively. The operation lamp 155 indicates that the bath water heater 10 is in an operation-on state.
[0038]
The kitchen remote controller 200 includes a plurality of switches 211 to 216, a plurality of display units 221 to 223, lamps 241 and 242 built in the switches, an operation lamp 243, a speaker 201 having a microphone function, A control unit 260 that controls the operation of the remote controller 200. The control unit 260 is configured by a circuit having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM as main components. The control unit 260 controls the overall operation of the kitchen remote controller 200, and includes an operation management unit 261, a display control unit 262, and a communication unit 263, like the control unit 160.
[0039]
The switches include a call switch 211, an automatic switch 212, a hot water supply up switch 213, a hot water supply down switch 214, an operation switch 215, and a volume switch 216. The display unit includes a priority display unit 221, a hot water supply set temperature display unit 222, and a hot water supply combustion display unit 223. These have the same functions as the switches and display units having the same names in the bathroom remote controller 100, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0040]
The power saving mode management means 54 included in the control unit 50 of the appliance body 20 switches the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200 between a normal mode in which display is performed normally and a power saving mode in which display is not performed. Has a function. The power saving mode management unit 54 sets both the bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200 to the power saving mode while the appliance is on and the combustion operation based on tapping is not performed. I do. If any switch operation is performed during the power saving mode, the operation mode is controlled so as to temporarily return to the normal mode (for example, three minutes) and then return to the power saving mode. When tapping starts during standby, the mode returns to the normal mode. Thereafter, when a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) elapses after the hot water is stopped and returned to the standby state, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode again.
[0041]
In the power saving mode, the bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200 are not displayed except for the operation lamps 155 and 243. In the normal mode, the hot water supply set temperature display units 134 and 222, the bath set temperature display unit 144, and the water level display unit 145 are always on, and other display items are on as needed. For example, when a priority state is set by operating the priority switch 112, the priority display unit 131 is turned on, and a lamp built in the priority switch 112 is turned on.
[0042]
When the operation switch 215 of the kitchen remote controller 200 is operated and the automatic operation of the bath is turned on, the power saving mode management unit 54 sets the bathroom remote controller 100 to the power saving mode until the bath is heated. Function. In order to fulfill the function, the power saving mode management unit 54 has the functions of a transmission source determination unit 61, a boiling determination unit 62, and an operation mode control unit 63.
[0043]
When the communication means 55 receives, from one of the remote controllers 100 and 200, information indicating that an operation to turn on the automatic bath operation has been performed, the transmission source determination means 61 It is determined whether or not it is other than the remote controller 100. It also has a function of determining whether or not the automatic operation of the bath has been turned on by the arrival of the timer reserved time.
[0044]
The boiling determination means 62 determines whether or not a predetermined boiling condition for determining that a person can take a bath after the automatic bath operation management unit 52 starts the automatic bath operation is satisfied. It has the function of determining. Here, the boiling condition is established a predetermined time before the completion of boiling (for example, 5 minutes before). In addition, it may be configured to be established when the boiling is completed or to be established when the temperature of the bath water rises to a temperature lower than the bath set temperature by a predetermined temperature. The condition is not limited to these, and includes a condition in which boiling is completed only by pouring water (without additional heating), and may be any condition that can determine that a person is almost ready to take a bath.
[0045]
The operation mode control unit 63 performs the automatic bath operation when it is determined that the operation of automatically turning on the bath is performed by a remote controller other than the bathroom remote controller 100, or when it is determined that the bath is turned on by the arrival of the reservation time. The operation mode of the bathroom remote controller 100 is set to a power saving mode in which the display state is either non-display or a state in which power is saved more than usual, from when the power is turned on until the previous boiling condition is satisfied. In addition, when the boiling condition is satisfied, the power saving mode is released.
[0046]
FIG. 4 shows a flow of the operation of the bath water heater 10 in the power saving mode when the automatic bath operation is turned on. As described above, during standby, the bathroom remote controller 100 and the kitchen remote controller 200 are in the power saving mode. When the automatic bath operation is turned on, the appliance body 20 starts the automatic bath operation (step S401), and switches the bathroom remote controller 100 to the normal mode (step S402). In the kitchen remote controller 200, the power saving mode is canceled based on the fact that a switch operation has been performed or the use of hot water. Therefore, if there is no operation such as tapping, after a lapse of a predetermined time such as 10 minutes, the mode automatically shifts to the power saving mode.
[0047]
Next, it is checked whether or not the current switch operation has been performed by the bathroom remote controller 100 (step S403). If the switch operation has been performed by a device other than the bathroom remote controller 100 (step S403: Y), 5 minutes After the elapse (step S404), the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode (step S405). In the present embodiment, items related to the bath, such as the bath set temperature and the set water level, are not displayed on the kitchen remote controller 200. For this reason, the person who turned on the automatic bath operation with the kitchen remote controller 200 may come to the bathroom after that and check the bath set temperature and the water level with the bathroom remote controller 100. To cope with such a situation, the bathroom remote controller 100 is set to the normal mode for 5 minutes after the automatic operation is turned on, and the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode after 5 minutes. When the automatic operation of the bath is turned on by a switch operation from the bathroom remote controller 100 (step S403; N), the power saving mode is automatically set after a predetermined time such as 10 minutes from the last switch operation. The process proceeds (step S405).
[0048]
From the time when the automatic operation of the bath is turned on to the time when the person boils up to a state where the person can take a bath (step S406; N), it is presumed that there is no person in the bathroom, so the bathroom remote controller 100 until the boiling condition is satisfied. Is switched to the power saving mode. This prevents the bathroom remote controller 100 from being uselessly displayed in a bathroom where no one is present, and can achieve a power saving effect.
[0049]
When the boiling condition is satisfied (step S406: Y), since the bathing of the person is estimated, the power saving mode of the bathroom remote controller 100 is released and the mode is switched to the normal mode (step S407). Thereafter, if the automatic operation of the bath is turned off by a manual switch operation before the heat retention continuation time elapses (step S408: Y), after the operation, a certain time elapses or the heat retention continuation time elapses. Until (Step S410; N), the display in the normal mode is continued, and when the fixed time or the heat retention duration has elapsed (Step S410; Y), the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode again.
[0050]
If it is not manually turned off (step S408; N), the display in the normal mode is continued until it is automatically turned off after the elapse of the heat retention duration (step S409: N). When the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off due to the elapse of the heat retention duration (step S409: Y), the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode again.
[0051]
When the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, the subsequent bathing is not estimated, so the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode. On the other hand, even if the bath automatic operation is turned off, the bathtub water temperature drops for a while and it is possible to take a bath, so for saving, some people manually turn off the bath automatic operation shortly before actually finishing the bath I have. In consideration of this, when the automatic operation of the bath is manually turned off, the display of the bathroom remote controller 100 is kept in the normal mode until a certain time (for example, 30 minutes) elapses thereafter. Note that the normal mode may be maintained until the heat retention continuation time elapses instead of the fixed time. Also, when the heat retention continuation time has arrived before the elapse of the certain time, the mode is shifted to the power saving mode at the elapse of the heat retention continuation time, or the power saving mode is canceled until the certain time elapses even after the heat retention continuation time has passed. The state may be maintained.
[0052]
When the automatic bath operation is turned on by the timer reservation, the operation is performed in the same manner as when the automatic bath operation is turned on by a remote controller other than the bathroom remote controller 100.
[0053]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this, and changes and additions may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0054]
For example, in the embodiment, when the automatic operation of the bath is turned on by a remote controller other than the bathroom remote controller 100, the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode after waiting for 5 minutes. After the operation, the mode may be switched to the power saving mode immediately (the power saving mode is maintained as it is if it is in a standby state before that). In particular, when the bath set temperature or the like is displayed on the kitchen remote controller 200, it is not necessary to wait for five minutes.
[0055]
Also, in the embodiment, even when automatic bath operation is on, kitchen remote controller 200 is maintained in the power saving mode unless a tapping operation or switch operation is performed. May be set to the normal mode. In particular, when the bath remote temperature can be displayed on the kitchen remote controller 200, the kitchen remote controller 200 may be set to the normal mode during the automatic bath operation. In this case, when the bathroom remote controller 100 is switched to the power saving mode based on the automatic off or manual off of the automatic operation of the bath, the kitchen remote controller 200 may be simultaneously switched to the power saving mode.
[0056]
Display items in the power saving mode are not limited to those illustrated in the embodiment as long as they can save power as compared with the normal mode. In addition, the operation in the power saving mode not only turns off the fluorescent tube display, etc., but also dims the light, in the case of the liquid crystal display, dims and turns off only the backlight, illuminates switches and other LEDs and lamps, etc. Anything may be used as long as it contributes to power saving in the remote controller, such as dimming / turning off the light or eliminating voice guidance sound.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
According to the bath water heater and the remote control method for the bath water heater according to the present invention, the bath water heater is controlled based on instructions from inside and outside the appliance other than the bathroom remote controller, such as a remote controller installed outside the bathroom and time-up of timer reservation. When the automatic operation is turned on, the display of the bathroom remote controller is set to the power saving mode until a person can take a bath, and when the bath becomes available, the power saving mode is canceled and the normal display is displayed. Therefore, when it is presumed that no person is present in the bathroom, a normal display operation is not performed uselessly by the bathroom remote controller, and a power saving effect can be obtained.
[0058]
If the bath remote controller is switched to the power saving mode after a certain grace period has elapsed after the automatic operation of the bath is turned on based on an instruction from inside or outside the appliance other than the bathroom remote controller, the operated remote controller Even if there is no display function such as bath set temperature, it is possible to check the bath set temperature etc. with the bathroom remote controller for a while after the operation, and it is possible to obtain a power saving effect without impairing convenience .
[0059]
When the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, if the bathroom remote controller is set to the power saving mode, it is estimated that there is almost no human bathing after the elapse of the heat retention time, so the power saving mode is set. By switching, power can be saved automatically.
[0060]
When the automatic bath operation is manually turned off, the normal mode is maintained until a certain period of time has elapsed, or until a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of heat insulation, or until the heat insulation continuation time has elapsed. In the case of switching to the power saving mode, there is no inconvenience to the user who saves by manually turning off the power before the end of bathing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a bath water heater according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a bathroom remote controller according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the kitchen remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the bath water heater according to one embodiment of the present invention when automatic bath operation is turned on.
[Explanation of symbols]
5 ... bathtub
10. Bath water heater
20: Instrument body
21 ... Burner
22 ... Heat exchanger
23 ... fin
30 ... Hot water pipe
31 ... water pipe
32 ... Hot water pipe
33 ... Water amount sensor
40 ... additional water pipe
41 ... bath return pipe
42 ... Bath outgoing pipe
43 ... Bath pump
45 ... Pouring pipe
46 ... Solenoid valve
50 ... Control unit
51 ... combustion control means
52 ... Automatic bath operation management section
53 ... Timer
54 ... Power saving mode management means
55 ... communication means
61: Source determination means
62 ... Boiling determination means
63 ... Operation mode control means
100 ... bathroom remote controller
101 ... speaker
111 ... Call switch
112 ... priority switch
113 ... switch
114 ... Automatic switch
115 ... Hot water supply up switch
116… Hot water supply down switch
117… Hot water volume up switch
118… Hot water down switch
119 ... Bath temperature up switch
120 ... Bath temperature down switch
121: Fluctuation shower switch
122 ... hot water switch
123 ... Lubricated water switch
124 ... heat retention time switch
125… Operation switch
126 ... Volume switch
131: priority display section
132: fluctuation display section
133: Hot water supply combustion display
134 hot water supply set temperature display
141: reservation display section
142: time display section
143 ... bath combustion display
144: Bath set temperature display
145: water level display
146 ... Book display
147 ... Arrow display section
148 ... Water display section
149: Hot water display
151-154 ... lamp
155… Operation lamp
160 ... Control unit
161: Operation management unit
162: display control unit
163 ... communication means
200 ... Kitchen remote controller
201 ... speaker
211 ... Call switch
212 ... Automatic switch
213 hot water supply up switch
214 ... Hot water supply down switch
215… Operation switch
216 ... Volume switch
221: priority display section
222: Hot water supply set temperature display
223 hot water combustion display
241, 242 ... lamp
243… Operation lamp
260 ... Control unit
261: Operation management unit
262 ... Display control unit
263 communication means

Claims (8)

In a bath water heater capable of automatically operating a bath based on either an instruction from a bathroom remote controller installed in a bathroom or an instruction from inside or outside the appliance, an automatic bath heater based on instructions from inside or outside the appliance. When the driving is turned on, the display mode of the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller is not displayed or set to a value lower than normal until a predetermined bathing enable condition for determining that a person is ready to take a bath is satisfied. A bath water heater comprising: a power saving mode management unit that sets a power saving mode in which power is saved, and cancels the power saving mode when the bathable condition is satisfied. The operation mode of the bathroom remote controller is set to the power saving mode from a point in time when a certain grace period has elapsed since the automatic operation of the bath was turned on by an instruction from inside or outside the appliance. The bath water heater described. The automatic operation of the bath is to automatically turn off after continuing the heat retaining operation until a predetermined heat retaining continuation time has elapsed since the bathable condition was satisfied,
3. The power saving mode management unit according to claim 1, wherein when the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, at least an operation mode of the bathroom remote controller is set to the power saving mode. 4. Bath water heater. The power saving mode management means, when the automatic operation of the bath is manually turned off before the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller, until a certain time has elapsed thereafter, Or until a certain time has elapsed since the start of heat retention, or until the heat retention continuation time has elapsed, the power saving mode is released, and the power saving mode is set when the certain time or the heat retention continuation time has elapsed. The bath water heater according to claim 3, wherein the water heater is used. In a remote controller control method of a bath water heater capable of automatically operating a bath based on one of an instruction from a bathroom remote controller installed in the bathroom and an instruction from inside and outside the appliance,
When the automatic operation of the bath is turned on based on an instruction from inside and outside the appliance, after that, until a predetermined bathing possible condition for determining that a person can take a bath is established, the bathroom remote controller A remote operation of the bath water heater, wherein the operation mode is set to a power saving mode in which a display state is not displayed or a state in which power is saved more than usual, and the power saving mode is canceled when the bathable condition is satisfied. Controller control method. The operation mode of the bathroom remote controller is set to the power saving mode from a point in time when a certain grace period has elapsed since the automatic operation of the bath was turned on by an instruction from inside and outside the appliance. A remote controller control method for the bath water heater according to the above description. In the case where the automatic operation of the bath continues the heat retaining operation until a predetermined heat retaining duration elapses after the bathable condition is satisfied, and then automatically turns off,
The remote controller control method for a bath water heater according to claim 5 or 6, wherein when the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, at least the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller is set to the power saving mode. . When the automatic operation of the bath is manually turned off before the automatic operation of the bath is automatically turned off, the operation mode of the bathroom remote controller is changed until a certain time has elapsed thereafter, or a certain time has elapsed since the start of heat retention. The power saving mode is set to a state in which the power saving mode is released until the power saving mode continues, or until the heat keeping duration time elapses, and the power saving mode is set when the predetermined time or the heat keeping duration time elapses. A remote controller control method for a bath water heater according to claim 7.

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