JP2009174731A - Controller device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller device capable of obtaining a product for 1-channel and a product for 2-channel while combining reduction of costs and improvement of operability. <P>SOLUTION: An operation panel portion 17 is provided with a group of operation keys A capable of changing allocation of operating functions between 2-channel of which control targets are both of a first control target apparatus 2b and a second control target apparatus 2a, and one-channel of which a control target is only the first control target apparatus 2b. With respect to the allocation of the operating functions, the group of operation keys are allocated to be composed of the first operation key for executing the main operation including at least one of the driving operation to the first control target apparatus and the second control target apparatus, a temperature setting operation and a timer driving operation by pressing a single operation key, and the second operation key for executing the operations excluding the main operation by pressing two or more operation keys in a case of 2-channel, and the group of operation keys is allocated to be composed of a third operation key for executing the operation to the first control target apparatus by pressing a prescribed operation key. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller device that operates a first control target device and a second control target device.

In the floor heating system that warms the floor in the room, a heating element is installed under the floor of one room and controlled by a controller device, or each heating element is installed in two adjacent rooms, and these are independently controlled by a single controller device. It has been done to control.
Thus, if the form of floor heating differs, the dedicated controller apparatus corresponding to it will be needed. Specifically, when controlling a heating element in one room, a controller device for one channel is required to be controlled, and when the heating elements in two rooms are controlled independently by one controller apparatus, Therefore, a controller device for two channels to be controlled is required.

In order to use one channel and two channels separately, conventionally, the controller device for 1 channel and the controller device for 2 channel have been designed and manufactured by independently designing the operation key arrangements according to their functions. .
However, the operation structures of these two types of controller devices often cannot be handled unless an input device suitable for one-channel operation is used or an input device suitable for two-channel operation is used. For this reason, it is difficult to make common, and cost burden is likely to be imposed.

Therefore, in the controller device for floor heating, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an operation system for controlling the operation of one heating element and an operation of the heating element are selected on the operation surface portion of the controller body. There is proposed a controller device that employs a structure provided with a changeover switch, so that the operation from one heating element to a plurality of heating elements can be performed by one operation by the changeover operation of the changeover switch.
JP-A-4-251130

By the way, in the controller device for floor heating, the operation operation for turning on / off the floor heating operation, the temperature setting operation for changing the setting of the floor temperature, and the timer operation operation for turning on the timer operation are usually performed more frequently than the other operations. Used for.
It is desirable that such frequently used operations can be performed with one action so that anyone from children to elderly people can easily perform the operations.

  Since the controller device as in Patent Document 1 can surely control a plurality of heating elements with a single controller device, the production cost can be reduced by sharing. However, on the other hand, since an operation of selecting a heating element to be controlled is forced, a desired operation cannot be performed unless a selection operation is performed each time a plurality of heating elements are operated. For this reason, there exists a problem which makes troublesome operation frequently used.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a controller device capable of obtaining a product for one channel and a product for two channels that achieve both cost reduction and improvement in operability.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides the operation surface portion of the controller main body, when both the first control target device and the second control target device are two channels to be controlled, An operation key group is provided that allows the assignment of operation functions to be changed when only the first control target device is the one channel to be controlled. When the operation function assignment is two channels, the first control target device is provided. And a main operation including at least one of a driving operation, a temperature setting operation, a timer driving operation, that is, a frequently used operation on the second control target device, is executed by pressing a single operation key. A group of operation keys such that one operation key and an operation other than the main operation, that is, an operation determined to be less frequently used, includes a second operation key executed by pressing two or more operation keys. Vs. In the case of 1 channel, the operation key group is assigned so that the operation on the first control target device becomes a third operation key executed by pressing a predetermined operation key. To be done.

  According to this configuration, a controller device dedicated to two channels and a controller device dedicated to one channel are configured using the operation key group as a common component. Moreover, both the 2-channel controller device and the 1-channel controller device can perform frequently used operations with a single action of pressing a single operation key. Even if there is, there is an advantage that it is easy to handle. In practice, what kind of operation should be treated as having a high frequency of use may be appropriately determined at the time of design.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to make it easier to use the controller device configured for one channel, the operation key arranged on the right side of the operation key group of the operation surface portion is set to the driving operation and the temperature setting. At least one of the operations and the timer driving operation, that is, a frequently used operation was assigned to correspond to a general right-handed person.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in order to improve the operability of the controller device for two channels or one channel, the operation surface portion is provided with first and second operation keys assigned for two channels, or one channel. A top sheet was provided that represented only the third operation key assigned for the purpose on the surface of the operation surface portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the controller device for one channel can be derived from the controller device for two channels using the operation key group as a common component. Moreover, the controller device for two channels or one channel is easy to handle with either one channel or two channels because the frequently used operation can be performed with one action by pressing a single operation key.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain a two-channel controller device and a one-channel controller device that reduce costs and improve operability.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the controller device for one channel derived from the two-channel device can be easily used by many users.
According to the invention of claim 3, the operation functions of the first and second operation keys assigned for the two channels and the third operation key assigned for the one channel are clearly indicated to the user by the surface sheet. Since the operation keys that have not been used can be recognized or hidden, the operability of both controller devices can be further improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a two-channel type floor heating apparatus that separately heats two rooms of a house (each room is called a zone) such as a living room α and a dining room β adjacent to the living room α. In the figure, 2a and 2b are two panel heaters installed under the floors of the living room α and the dining room β (heating elements: corresponding to the first and second controlled devices of the present application), and 3 is a control A controller device for two channels for operating two target panel heaters 2a and 2b by one unit is shown. The controller device 3 for two channels is installed on, for example, a wall portion 4 that is a boundary between the two rooms α and β, and is connected to the power cable 9a and the heater cable 9b. As a result, the power from the power cable 9a is supplied to the panel heater 2a or 2b via the panel heater energization unit 8 built in the controller device 3, thereby generating heat in the panel heater 2a or 2b. α and β are heated.

  FIG. 2 shows a one-channel type floor heating apparatus that heats only one room of a house different from the above, for example, the dining room β. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2 b denotes a single room installed under the floor of the dining room β. A panel heater (heating element: corresponding to one of the first control devices of the present application), 6 indicates a one-channel controller device (one unit) that operates only one panel heater 2b to be controlled. . The controller device 6 for 1 channel is installed, for example, on the wall 7 of the dining room β and connected to the power cable 14a and the heater cable 14b. As a result, the power from the power cable 9a is supplied to the panel heater 2b via the panel heater energizing section 8 built in the controller device 6, so that the panel heater 2b generates heat and the dining room β is warmed. I am doing so.

The controller device 3 for these two channels (two control objects) and the controller device 6 for the above-mentioned one channel (one control object) exclude the panel heater energizing section 8 as shown in FIG. In addition, a structure in which most parts are common is used.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the controller devices 3 and 6 for two channels and one channel.

The structure of the controller devices 3 and 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a casing.
The casing 10 includes, for example, a box-shaped housing portion 11 (portions embedded in the wall portions 4 and 7) and a flange portion 11 a (wall surfaces of the wall portions 3 and 7) formed at the opening end outside the wall of the housing portion 11. And a surface panel portion 12 (a portion disposed on the wall surfaces of the wall portions 4 and 7 together with the flange portion 11a) that fits with the outer peripheral end of the flange portion 11a. It is.

  Among these, in the housing part 11, the electricity supply board for each channel is stored. Specifically, in the case of two channels, a power supply terminal (not shown), a heater terminal (not shown) of two systems (living room α and dining room β), and an energization board 13a mounted with an energization circuit are accommodated. For one channel, an energization board 13b equipped with a single power supply terminal (not shown), a heater terminal (not shown), and an energization circuit is housed to constitute a panel heater energization unit 8 for each channel.

A controller main body 13 having a structure common to the two-channel and the one-channel is formed from the front-side casing portion including the front panel portion 12.
Explaining this common structure portion, the front panel portion 12 constituting the controller body 13 has a display window 12a formed on the upper side of the front wall, and a flat operation surface portion 17 on the lower front wall portion of the display window 12a. It has a formed structure. Inside the front panel unit 12, for example, a control circuit unit 18a with a clock function, a room temperature sensor 18b, a liquid crystal display type display module unit 18c, and a large number of, for example, ten key module units 19a to 19j Is mounted. The key module sections 19a to 19j have convex key on / off sections 20a to 20j, and various operation information is input to the control circuit section 18a from these key on / off sections. The display board 20 is connected to the energization board 13a and the energization board 13b. More specifically, the display module unit 18c is arranged on the upper side of the display board 20, and the operation key on / off units 20a to 20j are arranged in a straight line by five pieces at equal intervals in the lateral direction on the lower side of the display module unit 18c. Arranged in a row. Note that the entire front surface of the display board 20 is covered with a protective cover 22 formed of a see-through member.

  Among these, the liquid crystal display unit 18d formed on the front surface of the display module unit 18c faces the display window 12a of the display panel unit 12 through the protective cover 22, and displays the temperature setting level display and time on the upper side of the operation surface unit 17. A display unit 25 is formed to display information such as display, heater energization display, and timer operation display. A large number of operation key on / off portions 20 a to 20 j are inserted into the through holes 26 a to 26 j formed in the operation surface portion 17 through the through holes 22 a formed in the front wall of the protective cover 22. Many operation keys required for the operation of the floor heating operation, that is, the operation key group A is configured.

  In this operation key group A, the assignment of operation functions can be changed between “2 channel” and “1 channel”. Here, the assignment of the operation function refers to defining what processing the controller devices 3 and 6 perform when a predetermined one of the operation key on / off units 20a to 20j is operated. In this structure, for example, two types are initially set for the control circuit unit 18a, that is, an operation function assigned to “2 channels” and an operation function assigned to “1 channel”. The display board 20 is provided with a selection switch (not shown) for selecting which of the two types of operation functions is applied, and “2 channel” or “1 channel” is operated by operating the selection switch. A structure for selecting the assignment of functions is used. Of course, the control circuit unit 18a is also based on the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 18b according to the set temperature (floor temperature) of “2 channels” or “1 channel” set by the assigned operation keys. Functions such as controlling the heater panels 2a and 2b (2 channels) and the heater panel 2b (1 channel) and displaying the contents of the control are also set.

The operation key group A is assigned the operation function for two channels as shown in FIG. 1 or the operation function for one channel as shown in FIG. 2 by using this assignment changing structure.
By assigning these operation functions, it is possible to use the limited number of operation key on / off units 20a to 20j effectively and make it easy to use.

  That is, in the “2-channel” floor heating operation shown in FIG. 1, as an operation necessary for floor heating of the living room α, an operation operation for turning on / off the floor heating operation of the living room α, There are a temperature setting operation for adjusting the floor temperature and a timer operation operation for turning on and off the timer floor heating operation. As operations necessary for floor heating of the dining room β, an operation for turning on / off the floor heating operation of the dining room β, a temperature setting operation for adjusting the floor temperature of the dining room β, and also turning on / off the timer floor heating operation. There is a timer operation. In addition, there are a timer setting operation for setting a timer time for floor heating in the living room α and the dining room β, a clock operation for adjusting the current time, and the like.

Among these operations, main operations such as driving operation, temperature setting operation, and timer operation have a high daily usage frequency, and other timer setting operations and clock operations have a relatively low usage frequency.
All the operation functions of “2 channels” cannot be assigned to the limited number of operation key on / off units 20a to 20j. Therefore, the main operation that is frequently used is defined as an operation key that is executed by pressing one key, and the other operation that is not used frequently is defined as an operation that uses two or more operation keys. The assignment of operation functions to be used is used.

Next, specific examples of assigning operation functions will be shown.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the case of “two channels”, in the operation key group A, the upper and lower two operation key on / off portions 20a and 20b arranged on the leftmost side and the upper and lower two arranged on the rightmost side. By operating the operation key on / off portions 20i and 20j, it is defined that the temperature setting operation for adjusting the floor temperature in each of the two zones (living room α / dining room β) is performed (the first of the present application). Equivalent to operation keys). These operation key on / off portions correspond to the temperature setting operation keys 30 and 40, respectively, when the controller device is assembled. Similarly, with respect to the two operation key on / off portions 20d and 20h provided inside and below the operation key on / off portions, operation operation keys 31 and 41 for floor heating operation in two zones, respectively. It is defined as (corresponding to the first operation key of the present application), and the timer operation operation keys 32 and 42 for timer operation operation in two zones respectively for the upper two operation key on / off portions 20c and 20g. The setting defined as (corresponding to the first operation key of the present application) is made. That is, the frequently used main operation key (first operation key) is set to be assigned as an operation key for executing a predetermined operation with a single pressing operation. In order to make it easy to determine in which zone the floor heating is to be operated for these frequently used operation keys, it is more preferable to perform key assignments on both the left and right sides (sides corresponding to the zones). .

  The remaining operation key on / off unit 20e arranged at the center upper side is defined as a timer setting operation key 36 (corresponding to the second operation key of the present application) shared in each zone, and further arranged at the center lower side. The key on / off unit 20f is defined as a clock operation key 38 (corresponding to the second operation key of the present application). At this time, when the timer setting operation key 36 is pressed, the timer operation operation keys 32 and 42 function as zone selection keys, and the temperature setting operation keys 30 and 40 serve as adjustment keys for setting the floor temperature. Become functional. The clock operation key 38 functions as an operation key for the temperature setting operation keys 30 and 40 to function as adjustment keys for adjusting “hour” and “minute” when pressed. Thus, the timer setting operation key 36 and the clock operation key 38 become operation keys that are executed when an operation key other than the main operation key presses two or more operation keys. That is, the timer setting operation key 36 and the clock operation key 38 (second operation key; an operation key with low usage frequency) are operated by using these operation keys and then using other predetermined operation keys together. This is an operation key for executing a function different from the function conventionally defined for the predetermined operation key.

  Next, the assignment of the operation function for “1 channel” shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In the case of “1 channel” floor heating operation, unlike “2 channel”, the operation is required for dining. There is only one room, room β. For this reason, during the “one channel” floor heating operation, the operation for turning on / off the floor heating operation of the dining room β, the temperature setting operation for adjusting the floor temperature, and the timer operation operation for similarly turning on / off the timer floor heating operation are performed. In addition, an operation function for each operation key on / off unit may be defined so that a timer setting operation for setting the timer time and a clock operation for adjusting the current time can be performed.

As in the case of “2-channel”, these operations are frequently used for the operation operation, the temperature setting operation, and the timer operation, and the other timer setting operations and clock operations are relatively less frequently used.
For the assignment of operation functions in “1 channel”, the assignment in consideration of the use frequency is used after sharing the assignment of “2 channels”.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when “1 channel” is selected, the upper and lower two operation key on / off units 20i and 20j arranged on the rightmost side of the operation key group A are used for adjusting the floor temperature. It is defined as a temperature setting operation key 50 (corresponding to the third operation key of the present application), and an operation key on / off section 20h inside the operation key on / off section 20j is replaced with an operation operation key 51 for floor heating operation (the third operation key of the present application). Similarly, the upper operation key on / off portion 20g is defined as a timer operation key 52 for timer operation (corresponding to the third operation key of the present application). Thus, a main operation that is frequently used is defined as an operation key that is executed by pressing one predetermined operation key.

  The operation key on / off unit 20e arranged at the center upper side is defined as a timer setting operation key 56 (fourth operation key), and the operation key on / off unit 20f arranged at the center lower side is a clock operation key 58 (first operation key). 4 operation keys). At this time, the timer setting operation key 56 is pressed to switch on / off of the timer operation, and the upper and lower two operation key on / off units 20a, 20b arranged on the leftmost side adjust the “hour”. 57, and the temperature setting operation key 50 functions as a minute adjustment key for adjusting “minute”. Similarly, when the clock operation key 58 is pressed, the left operation key on / off portions 20a and 20b function as an adjustment key 57 for adjusting “hour”, and the temperature setting operation key 50 adjusts “minute”. Functions as a minute adjustment key. That is, the assignment of the “1-channel” operation key is determined to be changed from the assignment of the “2-channel” operation key to the assignment excluding the function on one side, here, the operation function of the living room α.

By such assignment, operation keys with high use frequency are assigned to points on the right side of the operation surface portion 17, and other operation keys with relatively low use frequency are arranged on the left side thereof.
Then, in the case of a “2-channel” product, the controller body 13 for “2-channel” is configured by selecting the key assignment setting for “2-channel” by selecting the selection switch 20 (not shown). it can. In the case of a “1-channel” product, a “1-channel” controller main body 13 can be configured by selecting a key assignment setting for “1-channel” by selecting a selection switch (not shown).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a “2-channel” topsheet 60 displaying the operation functions of the assigned operation keys can be pasted on the operation surface portion 17 of the “2-channel” controller main body 13. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an operation key required for controlling the "2 channel" floor heating operation is clearly indicated on the operation surface unit 17, and the controller for floor heating for "2 channel" having a good appearance is provided. Three products are completed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a “1-channel” topsheet 62 displaying the operation functions of various assigned operation keys is pasted on the operation surface portion 17 of the “1-channel” controller main body 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the unnecessary part is decorated as a blank part, and only the operation keys required for controlling the floor heating operation of “1 channel” are clearly shown. Similarly, “1 channel” having a good appearance The product of the controller device 6 for floor heating for "is completed.

  Therefore, by using the operation key group A that can change the operation function assignment and adopting a structure that changes the operation function assignment between “2 channel” and “1 channel”, most of the parts are kept in common. In other words, a controller device suitable for the above-mentioned, that is, a controller device 3 for “2 channels” and a controller device 6 for “1 channel” can be configured. In particular, when changing the key assignment for “2-channel” to the key assignment for “1-channel”, it is only necessary to delete the assignment of one operation function (derived from “2-channel”). Assignment to is easy and reliable. In addition, since the operation functions are assigned in such a manner that frequently used operations can be performed with one action by simply pressing a predetermined operation key, daily operations with a high use frequency can be “2 channels” or “1 channel”. "But it's easy to handle without any cumbersome operations."

  Therefore, it is possible to obtain a product for each channel that achieves both cost reduction and improvement in operability, that is, the controller device 3 for “2 channels” and the controller device 6 for “1 channel”. In particular, this is effective for the controller devices 3 and 6 for floor heating, for which separate use for “1 channel” or “2 channels” is desired. In addition, in consideration of “one channel”, the operation key arranged on the right side of the operation key group A is assigned as an operation for performing particularly frequently used control, for example, a temperature setting key for floor temperature adjustment. It is easy to handle many users because it can handle many right-handed people in general.

In addition, when the surface sheets 60 and 62 are provided on the operation surface portion 17, the assigned operation function can be clearly recognized by the user, or the operation keys that have not been used can be hidden. The operability of the controller devices 3 and 6 for “channel” can be improved.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the controller device for two channels of one embodiment, an example is given in which all of the driving operation, the temperature setting operation, and the timer driving operation are performed by pressing a single operation key. The main operation including at least one of the operation, the temperature setting device, and the timer operation may be executed by pressing the single operation key. For the controller device of 1 channel, an example in which all of the operation operation, the temperature setting operation, and the timer operation operation are assigned to the operation keys arranged on the right side of the operation surface portion is not limited to this. At least one operation of the temperature setting device and the timer operation may be assigned. In one embodiment, the setting of the operation function assignment for “2-channel” and the operation function assignment for “1-channel” is stored in the control circuit unit in advance, and either one is selected and the operation key is selected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation key assignment for “2-channel” or the operation key assignment for “1-channel” is set through the communication section provided in the control circuit section. It may be configured so that either “2 channel” or “1 channel” operation function is assigned and the operation function assignment is changed by the selection switch as described above. Any structure may be used. Further, the number of panel heaters connected from one heater cable is not limited to one. For example, a plurality of small panel heaters are installed in one zone, and the plurality of panel heaters are connected to one heater cable. It is not limited to electric floor heating using a panel heater, and may be another form such as hot water type floor heating in which piping for flowing warm water under the floor is used and the room is heated by the heat of hot water. . Further, in one embodiment, the present invention is applied to a controller device for floor heating, but the present invention is also applied to a controller device of a control target device that is required to be separately used for “1 channel” and “2 channel”. You may apply.

The perspective view which shows the controller apparatus for "2 channels" concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention with a floor heating apparatus part. The perspective view which similarly shows the controller apparatus for "1 channel" with a floor heating apparatus part. The exploded perspective view for demonstrating that the controller apparatus for "2 channels" and the controller apparatus for "1 channel" are comprised with many common components.

Explanation of symbols

2a, 2b Panel heater (control target equipment)
3 Controller device for floor heating for 2 channels 6 Controller device for floor heating for 1 channel 13 Controller body 17 Operation surface section 30, 31, 32, 40, 41, 42 Temperature setting operation key, operation operation key, timer operation operation key (First operation key)
36, 38 Timer setting operation key, clock operation key (second operation key)
50, 51, 52 Temperature setting operation key, operation operation key, timer operation operation key (third operation key)
A Operation keys

Claims (3)

A controller main body capable of operating the first control target device and the second control target device;
An operation surface provided in the controller body;
2 channels provided on the operation surface unit and controlling both the first control target device and the second control target device, and one channel targeting only the first control target device And a group of operation keys that can change the assignment of operation functions.
The assignment of the operation function is as follows:
In the case of the two channels, a main operation including at least one of a driving operation, a temperature setting operation, and a timer driving operation for the first control target device and the second control target device presses a single operation key. The operation key group includes a first operation key that is executed by an operation and a second operation key that is an operation other than the main operation that is executed by pressing two or more operation keys. Is assigned to
In the case of the first channel, the operation key group is assigned so that the operation on the first control target device becomes a third operation key executed by pressing a predetermined operation key. A controller device characterized by being a thing.   In the third operation key, at least one of a driving operation, a temperature setting operation, and a timer driving operation is assigned to an operation key arranged on the right side of the operation key group of the operation surface portion. The controller device according to claim 1.   The operation surface portion is provided with a surface sheet representing only the first and second operation keys in the case of the 2 channel, and a surface sheet representing only the third operation key in the case of the 1 channel. The controller device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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