JP2012073922A - Remote operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy-to-operate remote operation device such that a target operation item is quickly reached even in a limited display area when the operation item is selected out of many operation items.SOLUTION: Display means 4 of a remote controller displays, as a menu screen 11, a plurality of menus 121-125 by functions of a first layer among a plurality of layer structures classified by the functions and a history information display part 13 including history items 131-134 as classification items of a second layer to which operation items that a user sets and changes in the past and which is one stage above on the same screen. The user is allowed to make a choice to display the classification items of the second layer belonging to an arbitrary menu and operation items of a third layer by selecting the arbitrary menu out of the plurality of menus or to display operation items belonging to arbitrary history item by selecting the arbitrary history item out of the plurality of history items.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation device for selecting and operating from a large number of operation items, and particularly relates to a technique that can be easily operated by a user even in a limited display area.

  Conventionally, in a remote operation device, a large number of operation items are classified into hierarchies, and target operation items can be displayed by sequentially selecting lower hierarchy items from the upper hierarchy menu displayed first. Has been done.

  In the remote operation device when applied to a navigation device, when a lowermost operation screen is selected from a certain menu and displayed for each layer, the lowest operation screen displayed most recently is displayed. Information associated with items of each hierarchy selected for the purpose is stored as a selection history, and if the selection time for an item in the next menu selection continues for a predetermined time or longer, it is based on the selection history for that item. It has been proposed to skip the display of the selection screen and move directly to the lowermost operation screen (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, when displaying a large number of operation items in the menu format, the display position of each item is displayed so that the most recently selected item or the item with the highest selection frequency is displayed at the position where it can be selected with the highest priority. It is also proposed to change (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-207186 A JP-A-4-163493

  By the way, in a remote control device (for example, a remote controller) for operating the operation of a heat source device having at least one of a hot water supply function, a bath function, and a hot water heating function, there are many operation items whose settings can be changed. Nevertheless, since the display area that can be arranged in the remote control device is extremely small compared to the number of the operation items, the user has to spend a great deal of time to find and display the operation item that the user wants to change the setting. It has the problem that it will take time.

  Even if the large number of operation items are classified by hierarchy, it is considered that it takes time and effort to reach the operation item at the lowest layer where the user wants to change the setting.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow a user to quickly select a large number of operation items even in a limited display area. It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control device that can reach a target operation item and can be easily operated.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, storage means for storing a large number of operation items in a state classified by a hierarchical structure for each function, display means, and display control means for performing display processing on the display means A remote operation device comprising: a selection operation means for performing a selection operation on the operation item displayed on the display means; and a communication control means for transmitting information changed by the selection operation means to a remote operation target. The following specific items were prepared for the target. In other words, as the display control means, history information including one or more history items related to the previous selection operation is displayed on the display means, and one arbitrary operation item is selected and operated from among the many operation items. When the setting is changed, the classification item name of the one level higher hierarchy to which the one operation item related to the latest selection operation belongs is displayed as the history item on the display means, and the history is selected by the selection operation means. By selecting any one history item from one or more history items constituting the information, information corresponding to the history item is displayed on the display means.

  In the case of the present invention, even if there are a large number of operation items, in the remote operation device having the characteristic that the setting change for some operation items is repeated, the history information is displayed on the display means. The memory related to the selection operation performed by the user in the past can be easily recalled, and the operation item to be selected next or the operation item to be selected can be easily grasped based on the history information. In addition, only by selecting and operating a desired history item from two or more history items constituting the history information, information corresponding to the history item is displayed on the display means. It becomes possible to arrive. In other words, the display area of the display means is limited, a large number of operation items cannot be displayed simultaneously, and only a predetermined number of items classified into the hierarchical structure are displayed on the display means. However, compared to the case where the display contents are switched in order according to the classification structure to reach the target operation item, the target operation item can be reached quickly and easily. The history information may be composed of two or more history items.

  As the display control means in the remote operation device of the present invention, as the information corresponding to the history item, the corresponding history item name and one or more operation items belonging to the classification item of the hierarchy one level higher that is the history item The operation items can be selected by the selection operation means and displayed on the display means (claim 2). By doing so, together with the history item selected by the user, the operation item belonging to the classification item that is the history item is displayed on the display means, and the operation item is displayed in a state where it can be selected and operated as it is. Therefore, the user can easily perform the setting change operation intended.

  Further, the display control means in the remote operation device of the present invention is the same as two or more classification item names classified in the highest hierarchy displayed on the display means in a state where selection operation is possible by the selection operation means. The history information can also be displayed on the display screen (claim 3). By doing in this way, it reaches to the target operation item by selecting from two or more classification items classified into the highest hierarchy according to the function, or reaches the target operation item by selecting from the history information. It is possible to leave to the user's choice whether to arrive as described above or to adopt which approach, and the convenience for the user can be greatly improved.

  As described above, according to the remote operation device of the present invention, even if there are a large number of operation items, in the remote operation device having the characteristic that setting changes for some of the operation items are repeated. By displaying the history information on the display means, it is possible to easily recall the memory related to the selection operation performed by the user in the past. What is the operation item to be selected or operated next? Whether or not there is can be easily grasped based on the history information. In addition, since the information corresponding to the history item is displayed on the display means only by selecting the desired history item from two or more history items constituting the history information, the operation item to be changed Can be reached quickly. In other words, the display area of the display means is limited, a large number of operation items cannot be displayed simultaneously, and only a predetermined number of items classified into the hierarchical structure are displayed on the display means. However, compared to the case where the display contents are switched in order according to the classification structure to reach the target operation item, the target operation item can be reached quickly and easily.

  In particular, according to the second aspect, as the information corresponding to the history item, the corresponding history item name and one or more operation items belonging to the classification item of the one level higher hierarchy that is the history item are displayed in this operation. The items are configured to be selectable by the selection operation means and displayed on the display means, and the history items selected by the user and the operation items belonging to the classification item that is the history items are displayed on the display means. In addition to being able to be displayed, the operation items are displayed in a state in which they can be selected and operated as they are, so that the user can easily perform the target setting change operation.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the history information is also displayed on the same display screen as the two or more classification item names classified in the highest hierarchy displayed on the display unit in a state where the selection operation unit can perform the selection operation. By configuring it to be displayed together, it is possible to reach a target operation item by selecting from two or more classification items classified into the highest hierarchy by function, or to select by selecting from history information. It can be left to the user to freely select which approach to reach the operation item as described above, and the convenience for the user can be greatly improved.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the remote control as embodiment of the remote control apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram with a remote controller and the controller incorporated in the remote operation object. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which classified many operation items according to the hierarchy. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a menu screen, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example in which specific history information is displayed on the history display unit of FIG. . It is a flowchart which shows the main routines of display control. FIG. 6A shows four types of category names in the second layer belonging to the first-level bottom menu, and two types of operation items in the third level belonging to “Bathwash” among the second-level category names. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example in which driving among the operation items in the display example of FIG. 6A can be selected. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in which other operation items subsequent to the two types of operation items in the third hierarchy belonging to “bath washing” in FIG. 6B can be selected. FIG. 6B shows another four kinds of classification names different from the four kinds of classification names in the second hierarchy in FIG. 6A and the third hierarchy belonging to “pipe clean” among the classification names in the second hierarchy. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display with these operation items. FIG. 8A is a table of four types of class names of the second layer belonging to the power generation menu of the first layer and operation items of the third layer belonging to “absence stop” among the class names of the second layer. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a display example after the display of the history display unit is changed by selecting (changing setting) an operation item belonging to “piping clean” in the second hierarchy. It is explanatory drawing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a remote controller 1 as a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a hot water supply device 2 having a hot water supply / bathroom / heating / power generation function as a remote control target remotely operated by the remote control 1. An example of the hot water supply device 2 is a cogeneration system that combines heat and electricity. Then, the controller 3 for controlling the operation of the hot water supply device 2 and the remote controller 1 are connected to each other for communication, and a control signal, a setting signal, and the like related to a remote operation from the remote controller 1 are sent to the controller 3. Controls the operation of the hot water supply device 2 based on these control signals and setting signals.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 3 includes a hot water supply control means 31 for controlling the hot water supply function, a bath control means 32 for controlling the bath function, and a heating control means 33 for controlling the heating function. A power generation control means 34 for controlling the operation of the power generation function and a communication control means 35 for controlling communication with the remote controller 1 are provided.

  On the other hand, the remote controller 1 includes a display unit 4 (see also FIG. 1) configured by, for example, a dot matrix liquid crystal, a selection operation unit 5 configured by, for example, various push button switches, a storage unit 6, and a display. Control means 7, history acquisition control means 8, sound output control means 9 for controlling sound output from the speaker 91, and communication control means for controlling communication with the controller 3 together with the communication control means 35 of the controller 3. 10.

  As the selection operation means 5, in addition to the menu switch 50 (see FIG. 1), the return switch 51, the hot water supply switch 52, the call switch 53, the follow-up switch 54, the automatic bath switch 55, etc. Up / down movement switches 561, 562, left / right movement switches 563, 564 and a confirmation switch 57 are provided.

  The storage unit 6 includes a display item storage unit 61 in which all display items displayed on the display unit 4 are stored and set, a setting information storage unit 62 for updating and storing setting information set in each operation item, A history storage unit 63 is provided for updating and storing history information regarding past selection operations (setting changes) for operation items in chronological order.

  In the display item storage unit 61, all the operation items are classified and associated with each of the multi-level hierarchies, and stored and set in advance together with the classification names for the respective hierarchies. An example of the classification status for each hierarchy will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, a large number of operation items are set to the third layer of the lowest layer, a small classification of the operation items is set to the second layer, and a classification of the classification name of the second layer is further classified as the first layer of the highest layer. . Specifically, it is classified according to the functions of the hot water supply device to be operated remotely, and this is classified as “hot water menu”, “furo menu”, “heating menu”, “power generation menu” as the first hierarchy, -Five classification names including "Other" are set. Next, as the second layer, for each classification item of the first layer, subclassify the functions that they have qualitatively or quantitatively can be set, for example, for the “floor menu” of the first layer, As the second level, “bath washing”, “drain plug”, “bath reservation”, “reservation time”, “bathing timer”, “pipe clean”, “half body bath”, “bath temperature”, “bath hot water amount”, “ The classification name "Furoauto" is set. Then, in the third level, for example, if the second level is “bath cleaning”, “start / stop of operation”, “saving / standard / strong as cleaning course”, “bath cleaning start time”, etc. In addition, setting change items are specifically set as operation items for each classification item in the second hierarchy.

  The display control means 7 includes a menu screen display processing unit 71, a history information display processing unit 72, a menu selection display processing unit 73, and a history selection display processing unit 74.

  The menu screen display processing unit 71 is started when the user turns on the menu switch 50 of the remote controller 1 (see FIG. 1), and the menu screen 11 illustrated in FIG. Is displayed. In this menu screen 11, five menu display parts 121 to 125 having the same number as the classification name of the first hierarchy are set in the vertical direction in the left and right side (left side in the example), and these menu display parts 121 to 125 are set. 5 classification names ("hot water menu", "furo menu", "heating menu", "power generation menu", "sound / others") in the first hierarchy are displayed, and the other side (right side in the example) The history information display unit 13 having a predetermined number (four in the illustrated example) of history item display units 131 to 134 is set as a region. The “most recent item” is fixedly displayed at the uppermost position of the history information display section 13 so that it can be understood as history information.

  In the history item display sections 131 to 134, the names of the classification items in the second hierarchy, which is the hierarchy one level above which the operation item selected and operated by the user in the past, are displayed. Such display processing is performed by the history information display processing unit 72 based on the contents stored and set in the history storage unit 63. Here, the above-mentioned “selection operation” means that the user has selected an operation item and changed the setting contents, and simply selecting and displaying the operation item allows the setting contents to be changed. Since it is not accompanied, it is not called a “selection operation” (the same applies in the claims). When the user performs a selection operation on any of the operation items in the third hierarchy, that is, when the confirmation switch 57 (see FIG. 1) is turned on (pressed) for the setting change, the setting change information is stored in the setting information storage unit 62. The control signal relating to the updated setting change is sent to the controller 3 by the communication control means 10 (see FIG. 2). At the same time, the history acquisition control means 8 updates and stores the information related to the selection operation as the latest history information in the history storage unit 63, while the history information (the second hierarchy classification to which the selected operation item belongs). Item name) is displayed by the history information display processing unit 72 on the history item display unit 131 at the top. The history information that has been displayed in the history item display units 131 to 133 until then is displayed one step lower in the history item display units 132 to 134, and the oldest history information that has been displayed in the lowest level. Will be erased. Further, when there is no history information yet in the initial setting of the remote operation target by the remote operation device, or when there are less than four history items to be displayed as history information, all of the history item display sections 131 to 134 are displayed. Alternatively, the corresponding part is not displayed and is displayed blank.

  FIG. 4B shows an example in which specific history items are displayed on the history item display units 131 to 134 of the history information display unit 13. In the example of FIG. 4B, “Issue power generation” of the classification item of the second layer above which the operation item (third layer) selected and operated latest by the user on the history item display unit 131 at the uppermost level belongs. ”Is displayed as history information, and“ floor heating 2 ”is sequentially displayed as history information on the history item display unit 132,“ absence stop ”is displayed on the history item display unit 133, and“ floor heating 1 ”is displayed on the history item display unit 134, respectively. Has been. The above-mentioned “Immediate power generation” is one of the classification items of the second hierarchy that the first hierarchy belongs to the large classification “power generation menu”. The user is informed that the user has made a selection operation for “operation” or “power generation time” belonging to the above.

  The details of the display control will be described below by describing the contents of the main routine of the display control with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is monitored whether or not the menu switch 50 (see FIG. 1) is turned on (NO in step S1). If the menu switch 50 is turned on, menu screen display processing by the menu screen display processing unit 71 is executed (in step S1). YES, step S2). By this menu screen display processing, the menu screen 11 (see FIG. 4A or 4B) is displayed on the display means 4 of the remote controller 1.

  Next, it is monitored whether the user selects any of the menu display units 121 to 125 in the menu screen 11 or selects any of the history item display units 131 to 134 of the history information display unit 13. . If neither is selected (NO in step S3), the process returns to step S2 to continue displaying the menu screen 11. If any of the menu display parts 121 to 125 is selected, a menu selection display process by the menu selection display processing part 73 is executed (YES in step S3, “menu selection”, step S4). The selection in this case is performed as follows. In other words, the menu display unit 121 at the top of the menu display units 121 to 125 is initially set to be displayed in reverse video, and this reverse display is pressed by pressing the up / down movement switches 561 and 562 once. It moves one step at a time in the operated direction. Accordingly, the up / down movement switches 561 and 562 are pushed and operated so that the menu to be selected among the menus of the menu display units 121 to 125 is highlighted, and then the selection of the highlighted menu is confirmed. The switch 57 is pressed and confirmed. Thus, menu selection is performed from each menu item in the first hierarchy.

  In the menu selection display process, as shown in FIG. 6A, a menu selection display screen 14 is displayed on the display means 4. On the menu selection display screen 14, the first layer category name (menu name) selected from the menu is displayed on the uppermost first layer category display unit 15, and a predetermined number set in the lower left region is displayed. In the second hierarchy classification display sections 161 to 164 (four in the example), the classification item names of the second hierarchy belonging to the menu of the first hierarchy are displayed, respectively, and the second hierarchy classification at the top in the initial setting state The classification item name on the display unit 161 is highlighted. In addition, one or more third-level operation items belonging to the second-level classification item highlighted on the operation item display unit 17 in the right area are displayed. The display example of FIG. 6A shows an example in which “Buro menu” is selected as the first level menu, and “Bath cleaning” and “Drainage” are the four classification items of the second level belonging to this “Buro menu”. “Operation” is selected as an operation item belonging to “Bath washing” displayed on the second level display portions 161 to 164 and highlighted on the operation item display portion 17. “Cleaning course” is displayed. In the figure, reference numeral 165 is a downward triangle symbol display indicating that the next classification item is continued downward, and 171 is a right triangle symbol display indicating that the next operation item is continued leftward. . Since the history selection display screen described later has the same screen configuration as the menu selection display screen 14, the same reference numeral 14 is used as the history selection display screen.

  Then, on this menu selection display screen 14, when the right movement switch 564 of the left / right movement switches 563, 564 is pressed, the reverse display is changed from the “bath washing” in FIG. 6A to the right operation item display unit 17. The frame 172 surrounding the first operation item “RUN” (start / stop switching display portion) is switched to the reverse display (see FIG. 6B), and further, the right movement switch 564 is pressed and operated in order. The reverse display moves to the next operation item (in the display example of FIG. 6B, the “cleaning course” on the right). In the case of the display example of FIG. 6B, by further pressing the right movement switch 564, as shown in the display example of FIG. The reverse display will move. On the other hand, by pressing the down movement switch 562 four times from the display example of FIG. 6A, the reverse display moves the second level display portions 161 to 164 downward one step at a time, and finally displayed at the bottom level. The four new second layer category item names including the next category item name (“Plumbing Clean”) after the selected category item name (“Bathing Timer”) are displayed on the second layer display sections 161-164. (See FIG. 7B).

  Then, a setting operation is performed in a state where a certain operation item is highlighted, and then the confirmation switch 57 is pressed to select the operation item. For example, in the display example of FIG. 7B, the operation item “manual operation” that belongs to the “piping clean” in the reverse display state is pressed and operated to change the setting from “start” to “stop”. By pressing the confirmation switch 57 in the state, the change setting is confirmed, that is, a selection operation is performed. Therefore, in this case, since there has been an operation item selection operation in step S5 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 (YES in step S5), the processing in the next step S6 is executed. That is, the operation information related to the selection operation is updated and stored in the setting information storage unit 62, and the control signal related to the changed setting information is transmitted to the controller 3 by the communication control unit 10, and the operation item selected and operated And the classification item name of the second hierarchy to which this belongs is updated and stored in the history storage unit 63 as history information, and the classification item name of the second hierarchy of the history information is the uppermost history item of the history information display unit 13. It is displayed on the display unit 131 (step S6). For example, when the operation item “manual operation” of the third hierarchy belonging to “pipe clean” of the second hierarchy is selected and operated in the above example, the history information is displayed on the menu screen 11 as shown in FIG. “Piping clean” is displayed in the uppermost history item display unit 131 of the history information display unit 13, and the history items displayed up to that point are moved down one by one.

  On the other hand, when the user selects history information in Step S3 ("History selection" is YES in Step S3), the history selection time display processing unit 74 executes the history selection time display processing and the history selection time display screen 14 Is displayed (step S7). That is, when any one of the history item display units 131 to 134 of the history information display unit 13 (see FIG. 4) is selected and operated, the history selection display screen 14 is displayed as the classification item of the second hierarchy selected and operated. The name is displayed in a state of being highlighted on the second level display section 161 at the top, and the operation item belonging to the highlighted classification item is displayed on the operation item display section 17. In addition, the other three classification item names subsequent to the classification item displayed in the second hierarchy display section 161 are displayed in the second hierarchy display sections 162 to 164. For example, in the display example of FIG. 4B, pressing the right movement switch 564 moves the reverse display to “immediate power generation” (second level classification item), and further presses the lower movement switch 532. Then, when the highlighted item is moved to “absence stop” and the history item is selected by pressing the confirmation switch 57 in the highlighted state, the history selection in the display example of FIG. As shown in the time display screen 14, “absence stop” belonging to the power generation menu is displayed in reverse display on the uppermost first layer display unit 161, and the operation item display unit 17 includes “absence stop” as an operation item belonging to “absence stop”. “Yes / No” and “Stop period setting” are displayed. In addition, since the initial setting state of “absence stop” is displayed with “Yes” selected, display related to “absence stop period setting” is also displayed, but “not” is selected as “absence stop” Then, the display related to “absence stop period setting” is deleted.

  Then, in the same manner as described above, the highlighted display is moved from “absence stop” to the operation item “stop / do not exist” on the right side, and further moved from “yes” to “do not” with the down movement switch 562 and then confirmed. By pressing the switch 57, the selection operation is completed. As a result, the user can operate and memorize the operation items that the user wants to operate based on the history information, as compared to the case where the display is switched in order according to a predetermined display order based on the original menu selection display process. By simply selecting the history item name remaining in the list, the operation items belonging to the history item are displayed on the next screen, and the target operation item can be displayed quickly and easily.

  Also in this case, since the selection operation has been performed, there has been an operation item selection operation in step S8 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 (YES in step S8), and the processing in step S6 is the same as described above. Execute. That is, the classification item name “absence stop” in the second hierarchy is displayed in the topmost history item display unit 131, and the history items up to that point are moved down one step at a time. However, although the selected operation item and the classification item name of the second hierarchy to which it belongs are updated and stored in the history storage unit 63 as history information, the uppermost history item display unit displayed so far If the display content 131 is the same as the classification item name of the second hierarchy related to the latest history information this time, the display up to that point is continued without changing the display (step S6). ). That is, even if the operation item that is the target of the current selection operation is different from the operation item displayed on the history item display unit 131 as the history information, the classification item in the second hierarchy above that belongs to the operation item. If the names are the same, the same classification item name is displayed as history information as it is. As a result, the classification item names in the second hierarchy classified by function rather than the names of many operation items themselves can be easily associated with the setting change that the user wants to perform, It becomes possible for the user to easily reach the target operation item, compared with the case where the name is displayed as history information.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Various other embodiments are included. That is, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the remote controller of the hot water supply device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to a remote control device that is configured by an information monitor or the like that needs to change settings in a timely manner while displaying the status of each and the like.

1 Remote control (remote control device)
3 Controller (remote operation target)
4 Display means 5 Selection operation means 6 Storage means 7 Display control means 13 History information display section

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing a large number of operation items classified in a hierarchical structure for each function, display means, display control means for performing display processing on the display means, and operation items displayed on the display means A remote operation device comprising a selection operation means for performing a selection operation, and a communication control means for transmitting information changed by the selection operation means to a remote operation object,
The display control unit displays history information including one or more history items related to a previous selection operation on the display unit, and an arbitrary one operation item is selected and set from among the plurality of operation items. When changed, the classification item name of the one level higher hierarchy to which the one operation item related to the latest selection operation belongs is displayed on the display unit as the history item, and the history information is displayed by the selection operation unit. By selecting any one history item from one or more history items to be configured, information corresponding to the history item is configured to be displayed on the display means.
A remote control device characterized by that. The remote control device according to claim 1,
The display control means includes, as information corresponding to the history item, a corresponding history item name, and one or more operation items belonging to the classification item of the one level higher hierarchy as the history item. Is configured to be displayed on the display unit in a state where it can be selected and operated by the selection operation unit. The remote control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The display control unit is configured to display the history information on the same display screen as two or more classification item names classified in the highest hierarchy displayed on the display unit in a state in which the selection operation unit can perform a selection operation. A remote control device configured to display together.

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