JP2008232505A - Remote control device for water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control device for a water heater capable of easily setting priority and reducing a load of a control portion. <P>SOLUTION: A bath-side remote control device 10A comprising a priority setting button 13a capable of setting priority to operate a water heater body 20 in preference to a kitchen-side remote control device 20B, and a display portion 12 for displaying prescribed information, and remote-controlling the water heater body 20, further comprises a control portion 11 for displaying the prescribed information on the display portion 12 and setting the priority on the basis of the length of a time of pressing the priority setting button 13a, when the prescribed information is not displayed on the display portion 12 and the priority can be set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller for a water heater that remotely controls hot water in a bathroom or a kitchen, for example.

  Conventionally, as a remote controller for a hot water heater of this type, a bathroom remote controller provided with a bathroom priority switch, which is usually set so that the hot water temperature setting can be changed in a kitchen remote controller other than the bathroom remote controller Is known in which bathroom priority and priority cancellation are repeated each time the bathroom priority switch is pressed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, the conventional remote controller for water heater is provided with a power button for switching on / off the display unit, or when there is no power button, display is performed by pressing any button provided on the remote controller for water heater. The display was switched from off to on.
JP 2006-336934 A

  However, in the conventional water heater remote control device, in order to obtain the priority of hot water supply when the display is turned off, it is necessary to press the power button to turn on the display and then press the priority button, which is complicated. was there.

  In addition, when the power button is not provided, it is necessary for the control unit of the water heater remote control device to monitor whether or not the buttons are pressed for all buttons when the display is off, and the load on the control unit is heavy. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for a hot water heater in which priority can be easily set and the load on the control unit can be reduced. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a priority setting button capable of setting a priority that can operate the water heater body in preference to other remote control devices, and a display unit that displays predetermined information. In the water heater remote control device for remotely operating the water heater main body, when the predetermined information is not displayed on the display unit and the priority can be set, the length of time the priority setting button is pressed is set. Based on this, a remote controller for a water heater is proposed that includes a control unit that sets priority and displays predetermined information on a display unit.

  According to the remote controller for a water heater, when the predetermined information is not displayed on the display unit and the priority can be set, the priority is determined based on the length of time the priority setting button is pressed. When the priority is set, there is no need to operate only to display the predetermined information on the display unit, and the predetermined information is displayed on the display unit. In order to display, the control unit only needs to monitor the priority setting button.

  According to the present invention, when setting the priority, it is not necessary to perform an operation only for displaying predetermined information on the display unit, so that the number of operations can be reduced and the priority can be easily set. be able to. In addition, in order to display the predetermined information on the display unit, the control unit only needs to monitor the priority setting buttons, so the number of buttons to be monitored can be reduced and the load on the control unit can be reduced. Can do.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hot water supply system, FIG. 2 is a front view of the bath-side remote control device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the bath-side remote control device when information is displayed on the display unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply system is composed of two water heater remote control devices 10A and 10B having the same configuration (hereinafter referred to as a bath side remote control device 10A and a kitchen side remote control 10B) and a water heater main body 20. The bath-side remote control device 10A, the kitchen-side remote control 10B, and the water heater body 20 are connected to each other by wire or wirelessly.

  In the present embodiment, the hot water supply system is provided with two remote control devices for hot water heaters, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided with three or more. In the following description, the description of the kitchen side remote control device 10B will be omitted with the description of the bath side remote control device 10A unless otherwise specified.

  10 A of bath side remote control apparatuses are provided with the control part 11, the display part 12, the operation part 13, the power supply part 14, the communication part 15, and the audio | voice control part 16. FIG.

  The control unit 11 is for controlling the entire bath-side remote control device 10A, and is connected to the display unit 12, the operation unit 13, the communication unit 15, and the audio control unit 16. The control unit 11 is a known computer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and is controlled based on a program stored in its own memory and data input from the operation unit 13 and the communication unit 15. A signal or data is being output.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 12 is provided at the center upper part of the bath-side remote control device 10 </ b> A, and based on the control signal and data input from the control unit 11, the hot water supply temperature, the tank hot water amount, the bath set temperature Predetermined information such as the current time is displayed or deleted. The control unit 11 transmits display-on data to the kitchen-side remote control device 10 </ b> B and the water heater main body 20 while displaying information on the display unit 12. Further, when the information is displayed on the display unit 12, the control unit 11 automatically displays all the information displayed on the display unit 12 when an ON signal is not input from the operation unit 13 to be described later for a predetermined time. It is supposed to be erased.

  The operation unit 13 is connected to a priority setting button 13a and other various buttons provided below the display unit 11, and outputs an ON signal to the control unit 11 when each button is pressed. . Further, the operation unit 13 sets a priority right by setting a priority right on the priority right setting lamp 13b composed of an LED or the like provided in the upper center of the priority right setting button 12a based on the control signal input from the control unit 11. Turns on when on and off when priority is not set. This makes it easy to distinguish whether or not priority is set.

  The power supply unit 14 supplies power to the entire bath-side remote control device 10A from a power source (not shown) outside the bath-side remote control device 10A.

  The communication unit 15 is for communicating with the kitchen-side remote control device 10B or the water heater body 20, and based on the control signal input from the control unit 11, data is transmitted to the kitchen-side remote control device 10B or the water heater body 20. While transmitting, data is received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B or the water heater body 20 and output to the control unit 11.

  The voice control unit 16 is for making a call with the kitchen-side remote control device 10B via the microphone 16a and the speaker 16b. Based on the control signal input from the control unit 11, the voice control unit 16 converts the voice input from the microphone 16a. The voice data based on the voice data input from the kitchen side remote control device 10B is output to the speaker 16b.

  The hot water heater main body 20 transmits hot water supply data to the bath side remote control device 10A and the kitchen side remote control device 10B when hot water is supplied from a hot water storage tank (not shown).

  Whether or not the bath-side remote control device 10A displays information on the display unit 12 when setting or canceling the priority to operate the water heater body 20 in preference to the kitchen-side remote control device 10B Depending on the operation.

  That is, when no information is displayed on the display unit 12, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 determines whether or not an ON signal of the priority setting button 13a is input from the operation unit 13 (step S1). S11), the process of step S11 is repeated until the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input. Thereby, in order to display information on the display unit 12, the control unit 11 only needs to monitor the priority setting button 13a.

  When the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the time during which the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input is equal to or less than a predetermined time (step S12).

  When the ON time of the priority right setting button 13a is input for a certain time or less, that is, when the length of time the priority right setting button 13a is pressed is equal to or less than a certain time (hereinafter referred to as a short press), The control unit 11 searches the priority setting data of its own memory and determines whether or not the priority is set (step S13).

  When priority is not set, that is, when priority setting data exists in its own memory, the control unit 11 communicates with the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and the water heater main body 20 via the communication unit 15, It is determined whether priority can be set based on the display-on data received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and the hot water supply data received from the water heater body 20 (step S14).

  When priority can be set, that is, when display-on data is not received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and hot water supply data is not received from the water heater body 20, the control unit 11 displays predetermined information on the display unit 12. At the same time, the priority right setting lamp 13b is turned on via the operation unit 13 to set the priority, and a message “Priority is given” is displayed on the display unit 12 (step S15). This eliminates the need for an operation only for displaying information on the display unit 12 when setting the priority.

  At this time, the control unit 11 stores the priority right setting data in its own memory, and transmits the priority right cancellation data to the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and the water heater main body 20 via the communication unit 15. The controller 11 of the kitchen-side remote control device 10B that has received the priority release data erases the priority setting data when the priority setting data is stored in its own memory. Thereby, priority shifts from the kitchen side remote control device 10B to the bath side remote control device 10A.

  As a result of the determination in step S12, when the time during which the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input is longer than a certain time, that is, the length of time that the priority right setting button 13a is pressed is longer than the certain time (hereinafter, In the case of long press), the control unit 11 displays predetermined information on the display unit 12 (step S16). As a result, information is displayed without setting priority.

  If the priority is set as a result of the determination in step S13, for example, after the priority is set, the information on the display unit 12 is automatically deleted after a predetermined time without operating the button. The control unit 11 displays predetermined information on the display unit 12 (step S17).

  As a result of the determination in step S14, when priority cannot be set, that is, when display-on data is received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B or hot water supply data is received from the water heater body 20, the control unit 11 displays The predetermined information is displayed on the unit 12 (step S18).

  In the present embodiment, when the priority setting button 13a is short-pressed, information is displayed on the display unit 12 and priority is set, and when the priority setting button 13a is long-pressed, the priority is not set. The information is displayed on the unit 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. Information is displayed on the display unit 12 without setting priority in the case of a short press, and information is displayed on the display unit 12 in the case of a long press. In addition, priority may be set.

  On the other hand, when the information is displayed on the display unit 12, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 determines whether or not an ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input from the operation unit 13 (step S1). S21), the process of step S21 is repeated until the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input.

  When the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the time during which the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input is equal to or less than a predetermined time (step S22).

  When the ON time of the priority right setting button 13a is inputted for a predetermined time or less, that is, when the button is pressed for a short time, the control unit 11 searches for priority setting data in its own memory and sets the priority. It is determined whether or not (step S23).

  When priority is not set, that is, when priority setting data exists in its own memory, the control unit 11 communicates with the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and the water heater main body 20 via the communication unit 15, It is determined whether priority can be set based on the display-on data received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and the hot water supply data received from the water heater body 20 (step S24).

  When priority can be set, that is, when display-on data is not received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and hot water supply data is not received from the water heater body 20, the control unit 13 lights the priority setting lamp 13b. Then, the priority is set, and a message “Priority has been given” is displayed on the display unit 12 (step S25). As a result, only the priority is set without changing the state of the display unit 12.

  At this time, the control unit 11 stores the priority right setting data in its own memory, and transmits the priority right cancellation data to the kitchen-side remote control device 10B and the water heater main body 20 via the communication unit 15. The controller 11 of the kitchen-side remote control device 10B that has received the priority release data erases the priority setting data when the priority setting data is stored in its own memory. Thereby, priority shifts from the kitchen side remote control device 10B to the bath side remote control device 10A.

  As a result of the determination in step S22, when the time for which the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input is longer than a certain time, that is, in the case of long pressing, the control unit 11 searches for the priority right setting data in its own memory. It is then determined whether priority is set (step S26).

  If priority is not set, that is, if there is no priority setting data in its own memory, the control unit 11 erases all information displayed on the display unit 12 (step S27).

  When priority is set, that is, when priority setting data exists in its own memory, the control unit 11 erases all the information displayed on the display unit 12 and prioritizes its own memory. The right setting data is erased, and the priority right setting lamp 13b is turned off via the operation unit 13 to cancel the priority right (step S28). Thus, when canceling the priority, there is no need to perform an operation only for erasing the information on the display unit 12.

  If the priority is set as a result of the determination in step S23, that is, if there is priority setting data in its own memory, the control unit 11 erases the priority setting data in its own memory and operates The priority setting lamp 13b is turned off via the unit 13 to cancel the priority, and a message “priority has been canceled” is displayed on the display unit 12 (step S29). Thereby, only the priority is canceled without changing the state of the display unit 12.

  As a result of the determination in step S24, when priority cannot be set, that is, when display-on data is received from the kitchen-side remote control device 10B or hot water supply data is received from the water heater body 20, the control unit 11 displays A message “Priority cannot be set” is displayed in the section 12 (step S30). Note that the control unit 11 may output voice or electronic sound from the speaker 16b via the voice control unit 16 instead of or together with the message.

  In the present embodiment, the priority right is canceled or set when the priority right setting button 13a is pressed briefly, and the information on the display unit 12 is deleted and the priority right is released when the priority right setting button 13a is long pressed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the information on the display unit 12 may be erased and the priority right may be canceled in the case of a short press, and the priority right may be canceled or set in the case of a long press. Moreover, in step S14 and step S24, the control part 11 determines whether a priority can be set based on the display ON data received from the kitchen side remote control apparatus 10B, and the hot water supply data received from the water heater main body 20. FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control unit 11 may determine whether the priority can be set based on other data or a program stored in its own memory. For example, if the priority is not set as a result of the determinations in step S13 and step S23, that is, if there is priority setting data in its own memory, the kitchen side remote control device 10B displays information on the display unit 12. Regardless of whether or not the water heater body 20 supplies hot water from a hot water storage tank (not shown), the control unit 11 determines that priority can be set based on the priority right setting data. It may be.

  Thus, according to the present invention, when the predetermined information is not displayed on the display unit 12 and the priority can be set, the length of time that the setting button 13a is pressed is equal to or less than a predetermined time. In this case, since the predetermined information is displayed on the display unit 12 and the priority setting lamp 13b is turned on to set the priority, the operation is performed only for displaying the predetermined information on the display unit 12 when setting the priority. Therefore, the number of operations can be reduced, and priority can be set easily. In addition, since it is determined whether or not the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input from the operation unit 13 and is repeated until the ON signal of the priority right setting button 13a is input, in order to display predetermined information on the display unit 12 In addition, since the control unit 11 only needs to monitor the priority setting button 13a, the number of buttons to be monitored can be reduced, and the load on the control unit 11 can be reduced.

  Further, when the predetermined information is displayed on the display unit 12 and the priority is set, if the length of time that the setting button 13a is pressed is longer than a predetermined time, the display unit 12 displays Since the priority right setting lamp 13b is extinguished and the priority right is cancelled, it is necessary to perform an operation only for deleting the information on the display unit 12 when canceling the priority right. Therefore, the number of operations can be reduced, information can be easily deleted, and priority can be released.

  In addition, when the predetermined information is not displayed on the display unit 12 and the length of time for which the priority setting button 13a is pressed is longer than a certain time, the predetermined information is displayed on the display unit 12. Since the information is displayed without setting, it is not necessary to provide a button only for displaying information, and the load on the control unit 11 can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, when the priority is set, if the length of time that the setting button 13a is pressed is equal to or less than a predetermined time, the priority setting lamp 13b is turned off to cancel the priority. Since the priority is only canceled without changing the state, it is not necessary to provide a button only for displaying or deleting information, and the load on the control unit 11 can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, when the priority can be set and the length of time that the setting button 13a is pressed is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, the priority setting lamp 13b is turned on to set the priority. Since only the priority is set without changing the state, there is no need to provide a button only for displaying or deleting information, and the load on the control unit 11 can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, since the priority setting lamp 13b is turned on when the priority is set and the priority setting lamp 13b is turned off when the priority is not set, whether or not the priority is set. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations such as setting priority when the priority is set, and it is possible to easily set or cancel the priority.

  In addition, the structure of this invention is not limited only to the said embodiment, You may add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

Schematic configuration diagram of hot water supply system Front view of the bath-side remote control device shown in FIG. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the bath side remote control apparatus when information is not displayed on a display part The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the bath side remote control device when displaying information on a display part

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10A ... Bath side remote control device, 10B ... Kitchen side remote control device, 20 ... Hot water heater main body, 12 ... Display part, 13a ... Priority setting button, 13b ... Priority setting lamp.

Claims (6)

A remote controller for a water heater that remotely controls the water heater main body, including a priority setting button that can set a priority that can operate the water heater main body in preference to other remote control devices, and a display unit that displays predetermined information. In the device
When the predetermined information is not displayed on the display unit and the priority right can be set, the predetermined right is displayed on the display unit and the priority right based on the length of time the priority right setting button is pressed. A remote controller for a water heater, comprising: a control unit that sets the temperature. When the predetermined information is displayed on the display unit and the priority is set, the predetermined information on the display unit is deleted based on the length of time the priority setting button is pressed. The remote controller for a hot water heater according to claim 1, wherein the controller has means for canceling the priority. The control unit includes means for displaying the predetermined information on the display unit based on the length of time the priority setting button is pressed when the predetermined information is not displayed on the display unit. A remote controller for a water heater according to 1 or 2. The control unit includes means for only canceling the priority based on the length of time that the priority setting button is pressed when the priority is set. A remote controller for a water heater according to any one of the above. 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the priority can be set, the control unit has means for only setting the priority based on the length of time the priority setting button is pressed. A remote controller for a water heater according to any one of the above. The remote controller for a hot water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a priority setting display unit that displays whether or not the priority is set.

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