JP2011257104A - Remote control system for water heaters - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system for water heaters, which can select an arbitrary one among a plurality of remote controllers and can improve the operability of the selected remote controller.SOLUTION: This remote control system for water heaters is a remote control system for water heaters, which has a water heater controller 11, which controls a water heater, and a plurality of remote controllers (21, 31, and 41), which are connected capably of communication with the water heater controller 11. It is equipped with a priority fixed remote controller setting means, which can set an arbitrary one among a plurality of remote controllers (21, 31, and 41) as a priority fixed remote controller in which the priority level in communication with the water heater controller 11 is set with top priority. The water heater controller 11 performs communication, giving the highest priority to the communication with the priority fixed remote controller that is set by the priority fixed remote controller setting means when communicating with the plurality of remote controllers (21, 31, and 41).

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system for a water heater.

  2. Description of the Related Art A system in which a remote controller (remote controller) device for a water heater is installed in a plurality of places such as a kitchen and a bathroom and the water heater can be remotely operated from the plurality of places is widely used. In such a remote control system for a water heater, it is common that a controller for the water heater and a plurality of remote control devices communicate by a method called polling. That is, the water heater control device as the main device performs polling for sequentially inquiring in a predetermined order whether there is data to be transmitted to each of the plurality of remote control devices as the slave devices. If there is a response to polling, the remote control device is given a transmission right to transmit data. In the case of such a communication method, even if there is data to be transmitted, the remote control device needs to wait until polling, so that a time lag occurs. For this reason, in the remote control device in which the polling order is lower, the time lag becomes longer and the operability is lowered.

  Patent Document 1 below is a remote operation device including a hot water supply body and a plurality of remote controllers for remotely operating the water heater main body, and is a slot provided on the main body side for storing communication priorities for the plurality of remote controllers. Disclosed is a remote control device including rank storage means and slot rank conversion means that, when receiving a signal from a remote controller, places the slot rank of the received remote controller as the highest priority.

JP-A-8-79846

  According to the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when power is turned on or a specific or arbitrary signal is received from any remote control device, the communication priority is set so that the remote control device has the highest priority. Be changed. For this reason, even when a specific remote control device (for example, the remote control device with the highest use frequency) is mainly used, priority is given to the communication of the remote control device to be used mainly every time another remote control device is operated. There is a problem that the ranking is lowered and the operability of the remote control device used mainly decreases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and can select any one of a plurality of remote control devices and improve the operability of the selected remote control device. An object is to provide a remote control system.

  A remote control system for a water heater according to the present invention is a remote control system for a water heater having a water heater control device that controls the water heater and a plurality of remote control devices that are communicably connected to the water heater control device. A priority fixed remote control setting means capable of setting any one of the plurality of remote control devices as a priority fixed remote control in which the priority in communication with the water heater control device is fixed to the highest priority, When performing communication with a plurality of remote control devices, the machine control device performs communication with the priority fixed remote control set by the priority fixed remote control setting means with the highest priority.

  According to the present invention, by selecting any one of a plurality of remote control devices and setting it as a priority fixed remote control, the communication order of the set priority fixed remote control can be fixed to the highest priority. . For this reason, by selecting a remote control device to be mainly used and setting the remote control device as a priority fixed remote control, even when another remote control device is operated, the communication order of the remote control device to be used mainly Can be fixed with the highest priority, so that the operability of the remote control device used mainly can be improved.

It is a block diagram of the heat pump hot water supply system provided with Embodiment 1 of the remote control system of the hot water heater of this invention. It is a perspective view of the remote control device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a circuit block diagram in Embodiment 1 of the remote control system of the water heater of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow in the case of setting a priority fixed remote control by operation of a priority selection switch. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow in the case of setting a priority fixed remote control by operation of the priority fixed remote control selection menu in any remote control.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element which is common in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a heat pump hot water supply system including Embodiment 1 of a remote control system for a hot water heater of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat pump hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes a tank unit 1 and a heat pump unit 2. The tank unit 1 includes a hot water storage tank 7 and a hot water supply controller (control board) 11. A water inlet side pipe 8 for introducing city water into the hot water storage tank 7 is connected to the lower part of the hot water storage tank 7. The hot water storage tank 7 is connected to a heat pump unit 2 that is a heat source via a city water going-out pipe 4 and a hot water return pipe 3. A hot water supply side pipe 9 for supplying high temperature water stored in the hot water storage tank 7 to the outside is connected to the upper part of the hot water storage tank 7. The water heater controller 11 is connected to the heat pump unit 2 via the communication line 5. A plurality of remote control devices can be connected to the water heater control device 11 via the communication line 6. In the present embodiment, there are three remote control devices including a bathroom remote control 21 installed in the bathroom, a kitchen remote control 31 installed in the kitchen, and an additional remote control 41 installed in the second kitchen of a two-family house, for example. It is connected to the hot water supply controller 11 through the communication line 6.

  The city water stored in the hot water storage tank 7 is sent to the heat pump unit 2 through the city water delivery pipe 4. In the heat pump unit 2, the city water is heated by the heat exchanger omitted in the figure to become high-temperature water. The hot water is returned to the hot water storage tank 7 through the hot water return pipe 3. In such a heating operation, the water heater controller 11 transmits the heat pump unit 2 through the communication line 5 based on an instruction transmitted from the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, or the additional remote controller 41 to the water heater controller 11 through the communication line 6. To control.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the remote control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Here, the bathroom remote controller 21 will be described as a representative, but the same applies to the kitchen remote controller 31 and the additional remote controller 41. As shown in FIG. 2, the bathroom remote control 21 is installed on the wall of the bathroom. The bathroom remote controller 21 is provided with a display unit 22 and an operation unit 23. The display unit 22 displays, for example, a hot water supply temperature, a bath temperature, an internal temperature of the hot water storage tank 7, a remaining hot water amount, and the like. Further, by operating the operation unit 23, it is possible to change the boiling target temperature of the hot water storage tank 7, change the display content of the display unit 22, and the like.

  The water heater control device 11, the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41 communicate by a polling method. That is, the water heater controller 11 polls the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41 in order as to whether or not there is data to be transmitted. Send data. In the present embodiment, any one of the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41 is fixed to the priority (polling order) in communication with the water heater controller 11 with the highest priority. Can be set as a remote control. That is, when communicating with the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41, the water heater controller 11 polls each remote controller with the order of the remote controllers set as the priority fixed remote controller being the first.

  FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram in Embodiment 1 of the remote control system for a water heater according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the water heater control device 11 includes a communication unit 12, a control unit 13, a priority selection changeover switch 14, and a determination unit 15. The priority selection changeover switch 14 is a switch that can be operated manually, and can be freely operated by, for example, an installation engineer who installs a water heater. The priority selection changeover switch 14 is provided with four switching positions (in the following description, “fixed bathroom priority”, “fixed kitchen priority”, “fixed extension priority”, and “select operation from remote control”). , One of the switching positions can be selected. In the priority selection changeover switch 14, a signal having a different voltage is selected according to the switching position, and the signal having the selected voltage is applied to the determination unit 15.

  The determination unit 15 determines which one of the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41 is selected as the priority fixed remote controller according to the voltage of the signal applied from the priority selection changeover switch 14, The determination result is returned to the control unit 13. When the control unit 13 transmits and receives communication signals to and from the bathroom remote control 21, kitchen remote control 31, and additional remote control 41 through the communication unit 12, the control unit 13 communicates with the priority fixed remote control determined by the determination unit 15 with the highest priority, and then others Communicate with the remote control.

  The bathroom remote controller 21 includes a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, a control unit 24, and a communication unit 25. Similarly, the kitchen remote control 31 includes a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, a control unit 34, and a communication unit 35, and the additional remote control 41 includes a display unit 42, an operation unit 43, a control unit 44, and a communication unit 45. have. Since the kitchen remote controller 31 and the extension remote controller 41 have the same configuration as the bathroom remote controller 21, the bathroom remote controller 21 will be described below as a representative. The user operates the control unit 24 through the operation unit 23. Further, the control unit 24 displays information such as the internal temperature of the hot water storage tank 7 on the display unit 22. In addition, the control unit 24 performs communication signal transmission / reception with the water heater control device 11, the kitchen remote control 31, and the additional remote control 41 through the communication unit 25.

  Next, an operation flow performed by the control unit 13 when the priority fixed remote controller is set by operating the priority selection changeover switch 14 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation flow. In step S1, it is determined whether or not “bathroom priority fixed” is selected by the priority selection changeover switch 14, and if “bathroom priority fixed” is selected, the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, when “Bathroom priority fixing” is not selected, the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S2, the communication response of the bathroom remote controller 21 is confirmed. If there is a communication response, the process proceeds to step S3, the bathroom remote controller 21 is set as a priority fixed remote controller, and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is no communication response from the bathroom remote controller 21 in step S2, the priority fixed remote controller is not set (step S14), and communication with each remote controller other than the bathroom remote controller 21 is started (step S15). ).

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not “Kitchen priority fixed” is selected by the priority selection changeover switch 14. If “Kitchen priority fixed” is selected, the process proceeds to Step S5. On the other hand, when “Kitchen priority fixing” is not selected, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S5, the communication response of the kitchen remote controller 31 is confirmed. If there is a communication response, the process proceeds to step S6, the kitchen remote controller 31 is set as a priority fixed remote controller, and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is no communication response from the kitchen remote controller 31 in step S5, it is assumed that the priority fixed remote controller is not set (step S14), and communication with each remote controller other than the kitchen remote controller 31 is started (step S15). ).

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not “priority extension fixed” is selected by the priority selection changeover switch 14. If “priority extension priority” is selected, the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if “addition priority fixing” is not selected, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S8, the communication response of the additional remote controller 41 is confirmed. If there is a communication response, the process proceeds to step S9, the additional remote controller 41 is set as a priority fixed remote controller, and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is no communication response from the additional remote controller 41 in step S8, it is assumed that the priority fixed remote controller is not set (step S14), and communication with each remote controller other than the additional remote controller 41 is started (step S15). ).

  In step S10, it is determined whether or not “selection operation from the remote control” is selected by the priority selection changeover switch 14. If “selection operation from the remote control” is selected, the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, when “selection operation from remote control” is not selected, it is assumed that the priority fixed remote control is not set (step S14), and communication with each remote control is started (step S15).

  In step S11, it is determined whether a priority fixed remote control is selected by operating a priority fixed remote control selection menu in any of the remote controllers (for example, kitchen remote control 31), and the priority fixed remote control is selected by operating the priority fixed remote control selection menu. If so, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the communication response of the remote controller (for example, bathroom remote controller 21) selected by the operation of the priority fixed remote controller selection menu is confirmed. If there is a communication response, the process proceeds to step S13, and the selected remote controller is fixed in priority. Set as a remote controller and end the process. On the other hand, when the priority fixed remote control is not selected by the operation of the priority fixed remote control selection menu in step S11, or when there is no communication response from the remote control selected by the operation of the priority fixed remote control selection menu in step S12. Suppose that no priority fixed remote controller is set (step S14), and communication with each remote controller is started (step S15).

  Next, the operation flow in the case of setting the priority fixed remote controller by operating the priority fixed remote control selection menu from any of the remote controllers will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation flow.

  First, in step S20, the user operates the operation unit 33 of any remote controller (here, the kitchen remote controller 31 is the same as the case of the bathroom remote controller 21 or the extension remote controller 41), and the priority fixed remote controller selection menu is selected. Is activated, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the setting of the priority fixed remote controller so far is canceled (reset), and the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, the user designates one of the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41 as the priority fixed remote controller in the priority fixed remote controller selection menu displayed on the display unit 32 of the kitchen remote controller 31. As described above, an input operation is performed on the operation unit 33, and the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S23, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the bathroom remote controller 21 is designated as the priority fixed remote controller in step S22. If the bathroom remote controller 21 is designated as the priority fixed remote controller, the process proceeds to step 24, where the bathroom remote controller 21 is designated. Is set as a priority fixed remote controller, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the control unit 13 determines in step S23 that the bathroom remote controller 21 is not designated as the priority fixed remote controller, the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S25, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the kitchen remote controller 31 is designated as the priority fixed remote controller in step S22. If the kitchen remote controller 31 is designated as the priority fixed remote controller, the process proceeds to step S26 and the kitchen remote controller 31 is reached. Is set as a priority fixed remote controller, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the control unit 13 determines in step S25 that the kitchen remote controller 31 is not designated as the priority fixed remote controller, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the additional remote controller 41 is designated as the priority fixed remote controller in step S22. If the additional remote controller 41 is designated as the priority fixed remote controller, the process proceeds to step S28 and the additional remote controller 41 is reached. Is set as a priority fixed remote controller, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the control unit 13 determines in step S27 that the additional remote controller 41 is not designated as the priority fixed remote controller, the process proceeds to step S29, where it is determined that the priority fixed remote controller is not set, and the priority fixed remote controller is set. Is cleared and the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, any one of the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31, and the additional remote controller 41 can be set as a priority fixed remote controller. The remote control set as the priority fixed remote control is fixed with the highest priority in the communication with the water heater controller 11, so that the communication time lag is short and the operability is good. For this reason, by setting an arbitrary remote control (for example, a remote control that is most frequently used) among the bathroom remote control 21, the kitchen remote control 31, and the additional remote control 41 by the user as a priority fixed remote control, Operability can be improved.

  Moreover, the following effects are acquired in the process which manufactures the remote control system of a water heater. That is, when performing a test by connecting each remote controller in an electrical inspection such as a production line, the communication completion time of the remote controller to be inspected is shortened by setting the remote controller required for the inspection as a priority fixed remote controller and performing communication. Therefore, the inspection can be performed efficiently.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, not only the priority fixed remote controller can be arbitrarily set by operating the priority selection changeover switch 14 provided in the water heater controller 11 built in the tank unit 1, but also the bathroom remote controller 21, the kitchen remote controller 31. It is also possible to arbitrarily select and set the priority fixed remote control by operating the priority fixed remote control selection menu from either of the 31 and the additional remote control 41. For this reason, the user can set the priority fixed remote control at any time, which improves usability.

  In the present invention, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the remote control set as the priority fixed remote control is connected to the water heater controller 11, and if it is determined that the remote control set as the priority fixed remote control is not connected, The setting may be canceled. With this configuration, when a remote controller that is not connected is erroneously set as a priority fixed remote controller, it is possible to avoid lowering the communication priority of other remote controllers.

  Further, the present invention is configured such that the control unit 13 can automatically cancel the setting of the priority fixed remote control when a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) has elapsed after setting the priority fixed remote control. Also good. For example, an inspection mode in which the setting of the priority fixed remote controller is automatically canceled after a predetermined time is prepared as a control mode of the water heater controller 11, and the inspection mode is set to the inspection mode in the line inspection in the manufacturing process. To do. In this way, the communication completion time of the remote controller to be inspected can be shortened and the inspection can be performed efficiently, and even if the product is forgotten to return from the inspection mode and shipped as a product, it is automatically inspected. Since the mode can be returned to the normal state, it is possible to improve convenience and prevent mistakes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank unit 2 Heat pump unit 7 Hot water storage tank 11 Water heater controller 14 Priority selection changeover switch 21 Bathroom remote control 31 Kitchen remote control 41 Additional remote control

Claims (5)

A water heater remote control system having a water heater control device for controlling a water heater and a plurality of remote control devices communicably connected to the water heater control device,
Priority fixed remote control setting means capable of setting any one of the plurality of remote control devices as a priority fixed remote control in which priority in communication with the water heater control device is fixed to the highest priority,
The hot water heater control device performs communication with the priority fixed remote control set by the priority fixed remote control setting means with the highest priority when performing communication with the plurality of remote control devices. Remote control system.   The priority fixed remote control setting means includes a switch that can be switched to a plurality of switching positions, and sets one of the plurality of remote control devices as the priority fixed remote control according to the switching position of the switch. The remote control system for a water heater according to claim 1.   An operation of selecting any one of the plurality of remote control devices as the priority fixed remote control can be performed by operating any one of the plurality of remote control devices. The remote control system for a hot water heater according to claim 1 or 2.   2. The priority fixed remote control setting unit, when a remote control device set as the priority fixed remote control is not connected to the water heater control device, cancels the setting of the priority fixed remote control. The remote control system of the hot water heater of any one of thru | or 3.   5. The priority fixed remote control setting unit can automatically cancel the setting of the priority fixed remote control when a predetermined time has elapsed after the priority fixed remote control is set. A remote control system for a water heater according to any one of the preceding claims.

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