JP2005201521A - Refrigerator with clock function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator with a clock function with no time lag in the refrigerator having the clock function. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator with the clock function comprises a receiving part 2f composed of a receiving means for receiving time data from an external apparatus 2h having a time server function installed outside, by cable connection with a signal conductor 2g; a display part 2b making a display of various operating states of the refrigerator and a clock display; an operating part 2c comprising an operating means for operating the various operating states of the refrigerator and carrying out setting of contents to be displayed on the receiving part and setting of the clock function; and a control part 2a provided with the receiving part 2f, the display part 2b and the operating part 2c to control the operation of the refrigerator and having the clock function. Time data is acquired every preset fixed time from the external apparatus 2h with the time server function to automatically correct the time of the clock function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a clock function, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a function of automatically correcting time adjustment of a clock.

Conventionally, refrigerators are intended to store food, beverages, etc. at the required temperature and are always energized, and the operation unit and display unit have only the function of setting and displaying the operating state exclusively. Had. In recent years, some refrigerators are provided with an operation unit and a display unit on the entire surface of the door, and have a clock function using a characteristic that is always energized. (For example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2)
Some have a function of connecting to the outside and controlling external devices. (For example, see Patent Document 3)
Hereinafter, the conventional refrigerator with a clock function will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a principal block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional refrigerator with a clock function. A refrigerator 1 with a clock function includes a microcomputer 1d that controls the operation control function and clock function of the refrigerator, a control unit 1a having an oscillator 1e, a display unit 1b that displays a signal output from the control unit 1a, and a control unit It is comprised with the operation part 1c which outputs a signal to 1a.

  About the conventional refrigerator with a clock function comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement is demonstrated below.

  The operation unit 1c is operated to set the operating state, set the contents to be displayed on the display unit 1b, or set the clock time. A signal is output from the operation unit 1c, and the control unit 1a selects a signal to be output to the display unit 1b. The display unit 1b performs display set by the operation unit 1c in response to a signal from the control unit 1a. Each control of the control part 1a, the display part 1b, and the operation part 1c is controlled by the microcomputer 1d in the control part 1a.

For the timekeeping of the clock function, time reference data is created on the software of the microcomputer 1d, and the time reference data is counted and accumulated. The accuracy is determined by the oscillator 1e that generates the clock of the microcomputer.
JP 2001-201234 A JP 2002-31455 A JP 2001-285963 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the time data used as a reference is influenced by the accuracy of the oscillator that generates the reference clock of the microcomputer in the time determination of the clock function. There was a drawback that time data deviations were accumulated and errors occurred in time measurement. Even if it is left without adjusting the time, it is convenient if the clock function can be adjusted periodically.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problem and to provide a refrigerator with a clock function having a function of automatically correcting the time of the clock function.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a receiving unit comprising receiving means for receiving time data from an external device having a time server function installed outside by wired connection, a display of various operating states of a refrigerator, and a clock A display unit that performs display, an operation unit that includes operations of various operating states of the refrigerator, setting of contents to be displayed on the reception unit, and setting of a clock function, the reception unit, and the display unit, The operation unit is provided and includes a control unit that controls the operation of the refrigerator and a clock function, and automatically corrects the time of the clock function by acquiring time data from the device having the time server function.

  According to the present invention, by measuring time of a refrigerator with a clock function from an external device having a time server function, accurate time measurement that is not affected by the accuracy of components used in the control unit can be obtained. It can be realized and time correction can be automated. Thereby, the refrigerator with a clock function without time lag can be provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving unit comprising a receiving means for receiving time data from an external device having a time server function installed outside by wired connection, a display for displaying various operating states of the refrigerator and a clock display. An operation unit configured to perform operation of various operating states of the refrigerator, setting of contents to be displayed on the reception unit, and setting of a clock function, the reception unit, the display unit, and the operation unit, Is provided and includes a control unit having a refrigerator operation control and a clock function, and automatically acquiring the time data from the device having the time server function, thereby automatically correcting the time of the clock function.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure as the past, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a principal block diagram showing the overall configuration of a refrigerator with a clock function according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 2 with a clock function has a function described later. The control unit 2a is connected to the display unit 2b and the operation unit 2c, and controls each functional block of the refrigerator 2 with a clock function. The control unit 2a includes a microcomputer 2d and an oscillator 2e. The receiving unit 2f is wired to the external device 2h having a time server function through a signal line 2g, and is connected to the control unit 2a. The form of the display unit 2b is preferably configured by LED display or liquid crystal display. It is desirable that the operation unit 2c is configured by a mechanical switch or a touch panel. In order to reduce the control processing burden of the microcomputer 2d, it is desirable that the receiving unit 2f is configured by a microcomputer having a communication function with an external device or a dedicated communication IC conforming to a communication standard with the external device. .

  About the refrigerator with a timepiece function comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement of this embodiment which consists of the said structure below is demonstrated. FIG. 2 shows a schematic flowchart of the operation of the refrigerator 2 with a clock function executed by the microcomputer 2d.

  First, the operation immediately after the power is turned on will be described.

  After turning on the power of the refrigerator 2 with a clock function, the microcomputer 2d executes steps 100 to 106 in FIG. First, in step 100, an initial setting process regarding various control operations of the refrigerator 2 with a clock function is executed. Next, the microcomputer 2d inputs data from the receiving unit 2f in step 101. Next, in step 102, it is determined whether or not time data can be normally acquired from the external device 2h having a time server function. If the time data can be normally acquired from the receiving unit 2f in step 101, the process proceeds to step 103. In step 103, the acquired time data is set as the current time, and at the same time, the clock timing process is started. In step 104, the microcomputer 2d outputs a signal for displaying the current time data to the display unit 2b. If the time data cannot be acquired normally from the receiving unit 2f, the process proceeds to step 105, and the time is manually set. The operation of each component when the time is manually set will be described in the operation at the time of manual setting described later. When the manual setting of the time is finished, in step 106, a signal for displaying the manually set time is output from the microcomputer 2d to the display unit 2b, and at the same time, the clock timing process is started.

  Next, the operation when manually setting the time will be described.

  The control unit 2a outputs a signal for displaying a screen for setting the time of the clock to the display unit 2b. When the time setting screen is displayed on the display unit 2b, the operation unit 2c is operated to set an arbitrary time display. When the control unit 2a detects a change in the state of the operation unit 2c, the control unit 2a outputs a signal for changing the time display to the display unit 2b. When an arbitrary time is displayed on the display unit 2b, the operation unit 2c is operated to finish the time setting. When detecting a change in the state of the operation unit 2c, the control unit 2a outputs a signal for ending the time setting display to the display unit 2b.

  Next, normal operation control will be described.

  When the processing from step 100 to step 106 after power-on is completed, the microcomputer 2d controls normal operation and repeatedly executes step 107 to step 114. The normal operation control includes an operation of selecting the display content on the display unit 2b. The display content of the display unit 2b can be selected by selecting the display of the current time or other than that by operating the operation unit 2c. In order to automatically set the time of the clock, it is necessary to periodically acquire time data transmitted from the external device 2h having a time server function. It is assumed that the time for obtaining the time data periodically is set as a time confirmation time for the time data.

  First, in step 107, control processing of each component of the refrigerator 2 with a clock function is performed. Next, in step 108, it is determined whether the time confirmation time for the time data has elapsed. If the time confirmation time of the time data has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 109, and if not, the process proceeds to step 112. In step 109, the microcomputer 2d inputs data from the receiving unit 2f. Next, in step 110, it is determined whether or not time data can be normally acquired from the external device 2h having a time server function. If the time data can be normally acquired from the receiving unit 2e, the process proceeds to step 111. If the time data cannot be normally acquired, the process proceeds to step 112. In step 111, the acquired time data is set as the current time, and at the same time, the clock timing process is continued.

  Therefore, the current time is updated with time data from an external device having a time server function, and automatic time correction can be realized.

  Next, in step 112, the display content of the display unit 2b is determined. When the current time is displayed on the display unit 2b, the process proceeds to step 113. In step 113, the microcomputer 2d outputs a signal for displaying the current time to the display unit 2b, and returns to step 107. When displaying other than the current time on the display unit 2b, the process proceeds to step 114. In step 114, the microcomputer 2d outputs a signal that causes the display unit 2b to display other than the current time, and returns to step 107.

  As described above, the refrigerator with a clock function according to the present embodiment includes the control unit 2a including the microcomputer 2d and the oscillator 2e, the display unit 2b, the operation unit 2c, the reception unit 2f, and the signal line 2g. Since the time data from the external device 2h having the time server function can be acquired via the signal line 2g and the receiving unit 2f, the current time setting can be automatically updated in the timekeeping processing of the clock processed by the microcomputer 2d.

  As described above, the present invention can provide a refrigerator with a clock function without time lag, and is useful as an additional function for similar devices as well as the refrigerator.

Main block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional refrigerator with a clock function The principal part block diagram which shows the whole structure of the refrigerator with a clock function by this invention The flowchart which shows the process of the automatic time setting method of the refrigerator with a clock function by this invention

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Refrigerator with clock function 1a, 2a Control unit 1b, 2b Display unit 1c, 2c Operation unit 2f Reception unit 2h External device with time server function

Claims (1)

A receiving unit comprising a receiving means for receiving time data from an external device having a time server function installed outside by wired connection, a display unit for displaying various operation states and clocks of the refrigerator, and various operations of the refrigerator Cooling of a refrigerator is provided with an operation unit comprising operation means for performing state operation, setting of contents displayed on the reception unit and setting of a clock function, the reception unit, the display unit, and the operation unit. A refrigerator with a clock function, characterized by comprising a control unit having an operation control and a clock function.

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