JP2007026693A - Temperature controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow selection between a normal use mode and a setting change mode by input of a predetermined pattern via a single input switch to dispense with a dedicated switch or simultaneous pressing of a plurality of switches. <P>SOLUTION: This temperature controller includes a single input means 11, a heater 16, and a temperature sensor 19 as shown in the figure 5. When an input patter from the input means 11 is an input pattern P1, in which a predetermined period with no signal follows predetermined times of pulses, the setting change mode is selected, and a set temperature is changed according to an input pattern P2 input after the period with no signal. When an input pattern except the input pattern P1 is input, the normal mode is selected, and the heater 16 can be turned on/off according to temperature sensor 19 information. In this way, no switch dedicated for changing setting is required, and a simply constructed temperature controller with multiple functions can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature control apparatus that normally performs heater control so that a specified set temperature is obtained, and allows the set temperature to be adjusted by special setting means.

  Conventionally, special settings in this type of control device have been configured such that in a device having a plurality of operation switches, a transition is made to a special mode by simultaneously pressing the plurality of switches, and then a predetermined setting value is set by another operation. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control of the water heater provided with the conventional temperature control device described in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of the water heater. 7 and 8, the fixed switch 2 includes a plurality of operation switches for instructing operation of the water heater, temperature setting, and the like. The fixed display unit 3 displays operation mode display and set values such as temperature by a display device such as liquid crystal. The controller unit 4 performs various controls based on the control amount setting set in advance in the operated operation mode. Here, by simultaneously pressing the fixed switch 2 with a predetermined operation, for example, any combination of a plurality of operation switches, the controller unit 4 that has received the switch input signal can perform a predetermined program programmed in advance by the combination of the simultaneously pressed switches. The special mode operation is started, and the mode name, the set amount, etc. are displayed numerically on the 7-segment part of the fixed display part 3. When changing or instructing the setting contents, the predetermined fixed switch 2 is operated.
JP 2001-241765 A

  However, the conventional configuration has a problem that it can be applied when the fixed switch 2 is composed of a plurality of operation switches, but cannot be applied when the number of operation switches is one. Also, if the display means is equipped with a liquid crystal or a 7-segment numeric display, the setting result can be displayed, but if not, it cannot be displayed, or even if it can be displayed, a setting-only display is displayed. In order to add, it also had the subject that it became disadvantageous on space, cost, and a design.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to change the setting of the control temperature by switching to the setting change mode by distinguishing the input pattern of a signal from one operation switch. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the temperature control device of the present invention enters the setting change mode by operating the operation switch for turning on and off the heater operation in the normal operation with the specific input pattern P1. After that, it is configured to change the set temperature by operating the input pattern P2, and it can be used for both normal operation and setting change with a single operation switch. A temperature control device with a simple configuration can be provided.

Further, since the temperature control device of the present invention is configured such that the normal mode is not selected within a predetermined time after the start of energization, when operating the switch with the predetermined input pattern P1 to enter the setting change mode. Since it is not possible to distinguish from the normal mode by the first switch operation, it is possible to prevent the heater from being turned on in the normal mode. A control device can be provided.

  In addition, the temperature control device of the present invention is configured not to enter the setting change mode when a predetermined time or more has elapsed after the start of energization, thereby preventing the setting change mode from being inadvertently entered. Therefore, a highly reliable temperature control device can be provided.

  Further, the temperature control device of the present invention is configured to distinguish and display the setting state by changing the blinking pattern of the display device for normal operation display in the setting change mode. Since the state can be displayed, a user-friendly temperature control device can be provided without sacrificing space, cost, or design.

  The temperature control device of the present invention can change the set temperature by specially operating a switch for normal operation, and can be changed by only one operation switch without providing a dedicated switch. It is possible to provide a temperature control device that is good and has high mass productivity.

  The first invention includes an input pattern P1 including one input means, a heater, and a temperature sensor, and an input from the input means is a combination of no signal for a predetermined time following a predetermined number of pulses. In some cases, the setting change mode is selected, the set temperature is changed in accordance with the input pattern P2 input subsequent to the no signal, and when the input pattern is other than the input pattern 1, the normal mode is selected. It is configured to control the heater to be turned on or off according to the selected temperature sensor information, and a single operation switch can be used for both normal operation and setting change, eliminating the need for a dedicated switch for setting change. Therefore, it is possible to provide a temperature control device having a simple structure with multiple functions.

  In particular, the second aspect of the invention provides a restriction on the operation in the normal mode of the temperature control device of the first aspect of the invention, in order to prevent the normal mode from being temporarily entered during the input of the input pattern P1. By setting the configuration so that the normal mode is not determined within a predetermined time from the start of energization, it is possible to prevent the heater from entering once while entering the setting change mode. A control device can be provided.

  In the third invention, in particular, the temperature control device according to the first or second invention limits the timing of entering the setting change mode. Even when the input pattern P1 is input, a predetermined time or more has passed since the start of energization. If it has elapsed, the setting change mode is not selected, and it is possible to prevent the setting change mode from being entered carelessly. Therefore, a highly reliable temperature control device can be provided.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the setting change mode of the temperature control device of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the setting state is distinguished by changing the blinking pattern of the display device for normal operation. Since it is a configuration to display, it is possible to display the setting state without increasing the number of display devices, and thus to provide a temperature control device that is easy to use and has high mass productivity without sacrificing space, cost, or design. I can do it.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a timing chart of the temperature control device in the first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of the apparatus.

  1 and 2, the input means 11 is composed of a switch 12 and a pull-down resistor 13 and is connected to a power source 14. When the switch 12 is pressed, a Hi level is input to the input IN1 of the microcomputer 15. In other cases, the Lo level is input. The heater 16 is a heating means and is controlled by the transistor 18. When the output OUT1 of the microcomputer 15 outputs Hi, the base current of the transistor 18 flows through the resistor 17 to turn on the transistor 18, and the current flows to the heater 16 to perform the heater heating operation. When the output OUT1 of the microcomputer 15 outputs Lo, the base current does not flow through the transistor 18, so that the transistor 18 is turned OFF, no current flows through the heater 16, and the heater is not heated. The heating temperature is detected by a temperature sensor 19, converted into a voltage by a voltage dividing circuit composed of a resistor 20, and input to an input IN 2 of the microcomputer 15. The microcomputer 15 AD converts the input voltage to obtain temperature data. When the temperature of the temperature sensor is higher than the set temperature, the heater 16 is turned off. When the temperature sensor is lower than the set temperature, the heater 16 is turned on to maintain the set temperature.

  About the temperature control apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, when energization from the power source 14 to the microcomputer 15 is started, the standby mode is entered and the input signal from the input IN1 is waited. At this time, the output OUT1 is Lo, the transistor 18 is OFF, and the heater 16 is not energized.

  If the switch 12 is pressed three times and then the switch 12 is not operated for a time equal to or longer than t1, the microcomputer 15 enters the setting change mode. Next, when the switch 12 is pressed twice, the microcomputer 15 raises the set temperature by 2 ° C., and the setting change mode ends. The relationship between the input pattern P2 and the setting change is programmed in advance. For example, when the switch is operated three times, the temperature is lowered by 2 ° C., and when the switch is operated four times, the temperature is increased by 4 ° C. A wide range of settings is possible according to your preference.

  To use in the normal operation mode, if the switch 12 is operated only once, the input pattern is different from P1, so the setting change mode is not entered, the normal operation mode is entered, and heating of the heater 16 starts. Is done. When the switch 12 is operated again, the heater 16 is turned off and the normal operation mode is changed to the standby mode.

  As described above, the normal heating operation can be turned on and off with only one switch 12, and a setting change mode for changing the set temperature by an operation in a predetermined pattern is also possible. Without adding a dedicated operation switch, it is possible to adjust the temperature according to the user's preference without adding parts.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a timing chart of the temperature control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same part as the 1st Embodiment of this invention attaches | subjects the same number, and uses description.

  In FIG. 3, immediately after the start of energization of the temperature control device, the microcomputer 15 activates the internal timer 2 so as not to enter the normal mode until time t2. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the heater 16 from being turned on once by the first operation when the switch 12 is operated three times in order to enter the setting change mode. I can do it. That is, the normal operation mode is not determined from the start of energization to the temperature control device until time t2, and it is determined whether the setting change mode is set, and the operation of the switch 12 is different from the input pattern P1. Only in the case, it operates quickly as a normal operation mode.

  When a predetermined input pattern is input after the elapse of time t2 from the start of energization, the heater 16 operates once accepting the normal mode, but can enter the setting change mode. It is possible to change the set temperature in the same manner as in FIG.

  As described above, by limiting the operation in the normal mode and not selecting the normal mode within a predetermined time from the start of energization, the first operation of the switch 12 during the setting of the input pattern P1 is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the heater 16 from being in the ON mode in the normal mode because it cannot be distinguished from the normal mode. Therefore, it is possible to provide a temperature control device that is easy to use even when the setting is changed. .

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the temperature control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same part as the 1st Embodiment of this invention attaches | subjects the same number, and uses description.

  In FIG. 4, immediately after the start of energization of the temperature control device, the microcomputer 1 operates the internal timer 3 so that the setting change mode can be entered only until time t3. Therefore, if the time t3 or more has elapsed after the start of energization, even if the switch 12 is operated with a predetermined input pattern, the setting change mode cannot be entered.

  As described above, the transition condition to the setting change mode is limited so that the setting change mode can be changed only within a predetermined time from the start of energization and only when a predetermined input pattern is input. Thus, the setting change mode is not inadvertently entered, and a highly reliable temperature control device can be provided.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a temperature control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a timing chart of output means of the temperature control device.

  The configuration of FIG. 5 is obtained by adding display means 21 to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, Embodiment 2 of the present invention, or Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  The display means 21 uses an LED and is connected to the output OUT2 of the microcomputer 15 via a resistor 22. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

  The display means 21 lights up in the normal operation mode and displays that the heater 16 is being heated. In the standby mode, it is turned off.

  The operation of the switch 12 is operated in a predetermined pattern to shift to the setting change mode, and the number of times of the switch operation of the input pattern continuously operated is displayed on the display means 21 by the number of blinks. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, turning off and flashing are repeated a predetermined number of times at a short time t4. Note that when the setting change mode is entered, the display means 21 may be blinked once to display the current setting state.

  As described above, the display means 21 used in the normal operation can be used as it is, the display means 21 can be blinked in the setting change mode, and the set value can be displayed by the blinking pattern, so that space, cost, and design can be displayed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a temperature control device that is easy to use and has high mass productivity.

  As described above, the temperature control device according to the present invention operates a single operation switch for turning the heater on and off in a normal operation mode in a specific pattern, so that the setting of the temperature or the like can be made according to preference. Since the setting can be changed, it is possible to provide a temperature control device that can be easily operated and finely set according to the user's preference without providing a dedicated switch or operating a plurality of switches simultaneously. .

Timing chart of temperature control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Circuit diagram of temperature control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Timing chart of temperature control device in embodiment 2 of the present invention Timing chart of temperature control device in embodiment 3 of the present invention Circuit diagram of temperature controller in embodiment 4 of the present invention Timing chart of output means of temperature controller in embodiment 4 of the present invention Block diagram showing the control of a water heater equipped with a conventional temperature control device Control flow chart of a water heater equipped with a conventional temperature control device

Explanation of symbols

11 Input means 16 Heater 19 Temperature sensor 21 Display means

Claims (4)

When one input means, a heater, and a temperature sensor are provided, and the input pattern from the input means is an input pattern P1 that is a combination of no signal for a predetermined time following a predetermined number of pulses, When the setting change mode is selected, the set temperature is changed in accordance with the input pattern P2 input following the no signal. When the input pattern is other than the input pattern P1, the normal mode is selected and the temperature is changed. A temperature control device configured to perform control to turn on or off the heater according to sensor information. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the normal mode is not selected within a predetermined time from the start of energization so that the normal mode is not determined once during the setting of the input pattern P1. 3. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein even if the input pattern P <b> 1 is input, the setting change mode is not selected when a predetermined time or more has elapsed since the start of energization. 4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display an operation in the normal mode, wherein the control temperature setting information in the setting change mode is displayed by a blinking pattern of the display unit. The temperature control apparatus described in 1.

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