JP2012150297A - Level display device and remote controller using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a level display device capable of storing the amount of displayed levels in a small amount of storage capacity and being cost down, and a remote controller using the level display device.SOLUTION: In a level display device, the screen is provided with a level display area for displaying the level of a displayed amount, and the level display area is divided by a plurality of separation lines into slave areas, each of which is switched on or off according to the magnitude of the displayed amount. At the same time, scale lines for indicating boundaries of the slave areas are so arranged as to cover the separation lines in the level display area. In addition, the level display area is shaped into a fan and the scale line is shaped into a segment of a circle. Further, the scale line should be expressed in a color or a density different from that for expressing the displayed amount. Lastly, each of the slave areas should be provided with gradation in which the color changes gradually.

Description

  The present invention relates to a level display device provided with a level display area for displaying a level of a display amount on a screen, and a remote controller using the level display device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) that controls an air conditioner such as an air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as an air conditioner) includes a liquid crystal display unit 101 that displays operation information as shown in FIG. On the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 101 of the remote controller 100, when the “volume” and “strength” such as the air volume and volume are graphically displayed, the black segments shown in the air volume display section 1011 are increased or decreased to be understood. It was easy to display (level display). For example, FIG. 13 shows a graphic display example in the case where the air volume level is displayed by the conventional segment display. In order from the left side of FIG. 13, the air volume is displayed in five levels: silent, light wind, weak wind, strong wind, and automatic air volume.

  As a remote controller that performs this type of display, for example, there is a remote controller used in an air conditioner as shown in Patent Document 1.

JP 2009-139010 A

  In such a conventional technique, one segment is assigned for each level display stage, and the segment is expressed as ON (black) or OFF (extinguished), so that signal lines can be routed. There is an advantage that the shape of the segment is free and the amount of control data can be minimized according to the stage. However, since the segment method has a limited display content and cannot be used as another display, there is a problem that a display space is necessarily limited when various displays are performed within a limited screen size (see FIG. 12).

  Therefore, in the case of a remote control using a dot matrix type liquid crystal in the display unit, as shown in FIG. 14, if an image level display that spreads radially with a smooth curve is displayed in a plurality of stages, the entire image of each stage is displayed. Since the data is stored as one pattern and the image data is called up, there is a problem that a large memory capacity is required. For example, in the case of the level display of FIG. 14, the image size of one pattern is 18304 pixels, and five patterns (five steps) are required, so a memory capacity of 18304 × 5 = 91520 pixels is required. Thus, there is a problem that the cost increases when the memory capacity increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and the level display of the display amount can be stored with a small storage capacity, and the cost can be reduced. In particular, when performing level display of air volume, volume, etc. using the dot matrix method, a low-cost display that can display a pattern that radiates using a smooth curve and that can store pattern data with a small storage capacity. An object of the present invention is to provide a level display apparatus and a remote controller using the level display apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a level display area for displaying the level of the display amount on the screen, and the same level display area is divided into child areas by a plurality of dividing lines. A level display device for turning on and off each of the child areas in accordance with a display amount, wherein a scale line for indicating a boundary of the child area is arranged to cover the dividing line of the level display area It is characterized by that.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the display amount has a sector shape and the scale line has an arc shape.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the scale line is displayed using a display color or display density different from the display amount.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that each child region has a gradation that changes stepwise.

  In addition, a remote controller using any one of the level display devices of the present invention is preferable.

  According to the present invention, the level display area for displaying the level of the display amount is provided on the screen, the same level display area is divided into the child areas by the plurality of dividing lines, and each of the child areas is set to the size of the display quantity. Accordingly, the scale lines for indicating the boundaries of the child areas are arranged so as to cover the dividing lines of the level display areas. For this reason, even when the dot matrix method is used, the level display of the display amount of the image spreading radially using a smooth curve can be stored with a small storage capacity, and the cost can be reduced. The level display device that can be used and the remote controller using the level display device can be obtained.

1-1 is a plan view showing a display screen during a driving operation of the remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 1-2 is a plan view showing a display screen during the air volume level display of the remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the LCD unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a memory configuration diagram showing an example of image data stored in the memory shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pattern example of each stage of the air volume level display displayed on the LCD unit of FIG. 1-2. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the data amount when the air volume level display at each stage shown in FIG. 5 is divided into rectangular areas of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the air volume level display at different stages is performed by changing the combination of the rectangular areas divided in FIG. FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining the characteristics of the level display device according to the present invention. FIG. 8-2 is a diagram for explaining the characteristics of the level display device according to the present invention. FIGS. 8-3 is a figure explaining the characteristic of the level display apparatus concerning this invention. FIGS. 8-4 is a figure explaining the characteristic of the level display apparatus concerning this invention. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of one halftone pixel used for the scale display scale line according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of one pixel of the pseudo curve portion showing the display amount of the level display according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the level display device according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view of a conventional remote controller that performs air volume display by segment display. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of air volume display at each stage by the segment display of FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the data amount necessary for the air volume level display of a remote controller using a conventional dot matrix type liquid crystal. FIG. 15A is a diagram for explaining a comparative example when the air volume level display at each stage is divided into rectangular regions different from the present invention. FIG. 15-2 is a diagram for explaining a comparative example when the air volume level display at each stage is divided into rectangular areas different from the present invention. FIG. 15C is a diagram for explaining a comparative example when the air volume level display at each stage is divided into rectangular areas different from the present invention. FIG. 15D is a diagram for explaining a comparative example when the air volume level display at each stage is divided into rectangular areas different from the present invention.

  Embodiments of a level display device according to the present invention and a remote controller using the level display device will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

[Remote controller configuration]
1-1 is a plan view showing a display screen during a driving operation of the remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1-2 is an air volume level display of the remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the LCD unit shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram, and FIG. 4 is a memory configuration diagram showing an example of image data stored in the memory shown in FIG.

  The remote controller (remote controller) according to the present embodiment remotely operates an air conditioner (air conditioner) (not shown) and performs various settings using bidirectional wireless communication by an RF module, and also operates the air conditioner and various settings. Driving information and the like can be acquired and used for driving operations and management. The remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 1-1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an LCD unit 2 using a dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel on one side having the largest area, and keys for operating the air conditioner. The operation unit 3 is arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction. The operator operates the key operation unit 3 with a finger while holding the lower part of the remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 1-1 with his / her hand and viewing the operation information and driving information displayed on the LCD unit 2.

  When the air volume key 3a in FIG. 1-1 is pressed, the air condition state of the air conditioner is displayed as shown in the LCD unit 2 in FIG. 1-2. Each time the air conditioner is pressed, “strong wind → weak wind → slight wind → silent → automatic → strong wind” ... and change the air volume of the air conditioner cyclically. With this air flow control, the level display of the air flow displayed on the LCD unit 2 of the remote controller 1 changes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 1 includes an LCD unit 2 that displays operation information of the remote controller 1, air conditioner operation information, and the like, a key operation unit 3 that operates an operation target device by a command, and a dedicated timekeeping mounted on a motherboard. RF module 6 including an RTC (Real Time Clock) 4 that is an IC of the above, a battery 5 that supplies power to each part of the remote controller 1, a transceiver and an antenna for performing two-way wireless communication with an air conditioner The IRLED 7 that controls a humidifier other than an air conditioner by infrared communication using an infrared (IR) diode, the personal computer (PC) that performs information management, the USB socket 8 for performing USB connection, and the operation of each unit by the remote controller 1 Controls operation information such as operation history received from the air conditioner and various parameters. And a MPU board 9 or the like equipped with a MPU (microprocessor unit) that includes a memory for.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the LCD unit 2 of FIG. 2 includes a memory 21, a horizontal driver 22, a vertical driver 23, a timing control unit 24, a dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25, and the like.

  The memory 21 stores display pattern data displayed on the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25. As will be described later, the display pattern data stored in the memory 21 is stored in the memory 21 as a plurality of pattern data obtained by dividing the air volume level display into predetermined rectangular regions characteristic of the present invention.

  The horizontal driver 22 samples and holds the pattern data selectively read from the memory 21, and outputs the pattern data to the signal electrode group of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 at a predetermined timing.

  The vertical driver 23 outputs a scanning signal to the scanning electrode group of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 at a predetermined timing, and sequentially displays the pattern data output from the horizontal driver 22 for each scanning line.

  The timing control unit 24 selectively reads display pattern data from the memory 21 and causes the horizontal driver 22 to sample and hold the pattern data. The pattern data is transferred to the signal electrode group of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 at a predetermined timing. In addition to the output, the vertical driver 23 is controlled to output a scanning signal to the scanning electrode group of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 at a predetermined timing.

  Further, in the memory 21 of FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the pattern data obtained by dividing the air volume level display into a plurality of rectangular areas corresponds to image 1 data 211 to image 8 data 218 described later. Stored.

[Image division of air volume level display]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pattern example of each step of the air flow level display displayed on the LCD unit of FIG. 1-2. FIG. 6 shows the air flow level display of each step shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of displaying the air volume level at different stages by changing the combination of the rectangular areas divided in FIG. 6, and FIG. FIGS. 8-4 is a figure explaining the characteristic of the level display apparatus concerning this invention, FIG. 9 is the figure which expanded one pixel of the halftone used for the scale line of the level display concerning this invention, FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of one pixel of the pseudo curve portion showing the display amount of the level display according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the air volume level display in the present embodiment can be displayed in five levels according to the length of the band extending radially from a point on the display screen at a predetermined angle. As shown in the five-stage display of FIG. 5, the level display structure is composed of a plurality of scale lines 31, 32, 33, having a certain width concentrically extending from a certain point on the display surface at predetermined intervals. 34 and 35 are provided, and the standard of the air flow level is shown. Between the scale lines 31 and 32, as shown in the four-stage display of FIG. 5, a display band 36 indicating the display amount that fills the space between the adjacent scale lines is arranged. A display band 37 is arranged between the two lines (see the three-stage display in FIG. 5), and a display band 38 is arranged between the scale lines 33 and 34 (see the two-stage display in FIG. 5). A display band 39 is arranged between the scale lines 34 and 35 (see the one-step display in FIG. 5).

  In the display example of the air flow level display shown in FIG. 5, the density of the scale lines 31 to 35 is displayed in gray 50% in which the lit pixels and the non-lit pixels are displayed in a checkered pattern, and the display band 36 is 100% lit pixels. The display band 37 is 90% lit pixel, the display band 38 is lit pixel 80%, the display band 39 is lit pixel 70%, and the display density is gradually reduced to give gradation. It is possible to express the image of the wind emitted from the air conditioner spreading and spreading. In addition, since the curve portion of the level display adopts a dot matrix method on the display screen of the remote controller, as shown in FIG. 10, a smooth curve can be expressed by making the contour portion pixels pseudo-curve. Can do.

  Subsequently, when the air volume level display shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, it is divided into rectangular area images as shown in FIG. 6 and stored in the memory 21 of the LCD unit 2 as each pattern data (FIGS. 3 and 3). 4). A desired level display can be performed by combining the pattern data according to the display level. First, as shown in the one-level level display of FIG. 6, the rectangular area to be divided is a band extending radially from one point at a predetermined angle for each scale line (32, 33, 34) and the scale line (32 , 33, 34), which are divided in parallel by vertical lines of a dot matrix type display screen passing through, and a rectangular area necessary for level display is cut out by horizontal lines orthogonal to the vertical lines.

  That is, the one-level display in FIG. 6 can be divided into image 1, image 2, image 3, and image 4. One grid in the matrix form shown in FIG. 6 represents one pixel, and one pixel is composed of 8 × 8 dots (see FIG. 8-4). Therefore, the image 1 is composed of 5 × 6 pixels = 40 × 48 dots = 1920 dots (pixels). Similarly, image 2 is composed of 8 × 5 pixels = 64 × 40 dots = 2560 dots (pixels), and image 3 is composed of 10 × 5 pixels = 80 × 40 dots = 3200 dots (pixels). 4 includes 13 × 6 pixels = 104 × 48 dots = 4992 dots (pixels). The amount of data to be stored in the memory is determined by the number of pixels.

  Further, the five-level display in FIG. 6 can be divided into image 5, image 6, image 7, and image 8. Since the number of pixels of the images 5 to 8 is the same rectangular area, the number of pixels is the same as that of the images 1 to 4. That is, the image 5 is composed of 1920 dots (pixels), the image 6 is composed of 2560 dots (pixels), the image 7 is composed of 3200 dots (pixels), and the image 8 is 4992 dots (pixels). It consists of Thus, the total number of pixels from image 1 to image 8 is 25344 pixels. This is about 24% compared with the 91,520 pixels necessary for the conventional level display described with reference to FIG. 14, and the calculation requires a storage capacity of 1/4 or less.

  The level display dividing method and the combination method thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. FIG. That is, the timing control unit 24 of the LCD unit 2 can perform the three-level level display of FIG. 5 by reading the image 1 data 211 and the image 2 data 212 from the memory 21 and combining them (explanation). Is described in part of the level display for simplicity.) Further, the timing control unit 24 of the LCD unit 2 can perform the four-level level display of FIG. 5 by reading the image 1 data 211 and the image 6 data 216 from the memory 21 and combining them. When the display is divided for each stage (display band), the display may not be divided at any position. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the dividing line is divided through the graduation line located between the display bands as shown in FIG. 7, so that the level can be displayed with a small data storage capacity. it can.

  Features of the level display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8-1 to 8-4 and FIGS. 15-1 to 15-4 which are comparative examples. 8A to 8D are diagrams in which an image is divided by the level display device according to the present invention (the level display shown in FIGS. 8-1 to 8-4 is a principle explanatory diagram, and FIG. The level display is partly different in shape). In FIGS. 8A to 8D, the boundary lines for division always pass through the scale lines 32, 33, and 34, and the display bands 36, 37, and 38 are not divided. For this reason, the pattern data necessary for displaying the weak wind of FIG. 8-1, the breeze of FIG. 8-2, the silence of FIG. 8-3, and the automatic of FIG. , 7 (1920 + 2560 + 3200 + 2560 + 3200 = 1340 pixels).

  On the other hand, FIGS. 15A to 15D show the case where the light wind, the light wind, the silent sound, and the automatic are displayed in the same manner, but the boundary line when dividing is the scale lines 42, 43, 44. This is a case where a part of the display bands 46, 47, and 48 is divided. For this reason, pattern data necessary for displaying four levels of display of light wind, light breeze, silence, and automatic is seven image data of images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (1920 + 2560 + 3200 + 2560 + 3200 + 1920 + 2560 = 17920). Pixel). That is, in the case of the present invention, compared to the comparative example, the level can be displayed with a memory capacity of 75%, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

  Operations in the case of level display using the level display device as described above and a remote controller using the level display device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIG. First, in the memory 2 of the LCD unit 2 of the remote controller 1, the image data is divided into image data of image 1 to image 8 consisting of eight types of rectangular areas that enable the display of five levels of airflow levels as shown in FIGS. They are stored in the memory 21 of the LCD unit 2 of FIG.

  In this state, when the air volume key 3a of the key operation unit 3 of the remote controller 1 of FIG. 1-1 is pressed, the air volume control is performed. When the instruction air volume is determined by the key operation from the key operation unit 3 shown in FIG. 2, the MPU board 9 is instructed to display a level to be displayed on the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 of the LCD unit 2 (in step S50). Yes), display pattern data corresponding to the level display stage is read from the memory 21 (step S51). The timing control unit 24 shown in FIG. 3 causes the horizontal driver 22 to sample and hold the pattern data read from the memory 21 and output it to the signal electrodes of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 at a predetermined timing. Further, the timing control unit 24 displays the synthesized image data on the liquid crystal panel by outputting a scanning signal to the scanning lines of the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 so as to scan the vertical driver 23 at a predetermined timing. Then (step S52), the process returns to step S50. If there is no level display instruction in step S50 (No in step S50), the process proceeds to step S53. If the level display is completed, the process ends (Yes in step S53), and the level display is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S50 (No in step S53).

  As described above, according to the level display device of this embodiment and the remote controller using the level display device, the wind volume level display instructed on the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel 25 of the remote controller 1 is diffused radially. Can be displayed on any image. The level display apparatus according to the present embodiment can be realized with an extremely small amount of data as compared with the prior art, and the memory capacity to be mounted can be reduced, so that the apparatus cost can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the air volume display is described as an example of the level display. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be generally used for graphic display capable of level display with a radially diffusing image. For example, volume display can be performed in the same manner.

  In the above embodiment, the example using the dot matrix type liquid crystal display panel has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display method using the dot matrix method can be generally applied. For example, it can be carried out using an electroluminescence (EL) display or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the density of the display band is changed stepwise and displayed with gradation. However, the display band may be displayed with different colors or without changing the density or color. good.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the density | concentration of the scale line was displayed with the density | concentration different from a display belt | band | zone, you may display using a different color, or you may display using the same density | concentration and the same color. .

  As described above, the level display device according to the present invention and the remote controller using the level display device are useful for level display of air volume and volume on a display such as an air conditioner or an audio device. It is suitable for a level display device for display on a display unit such as a remote controller and a remote controller using the level display device.

1 Remote controller (remote control)
2 LCD unit 21 Memory 211 Image 1 data 212 Image 2 data 213 Image 3 data 214 Image 4 data 215 Image 5 data 216 Image 6 data 217 Image 7 data 218 Image 8 data 22 Horizontal driver 23 Vertical driver 24 Timing control unit 25 Dot matrix LCD panel 3 Key operation section 3a Air volume key 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Scale line 36, 37, 38, 39 Display band 4 RTC (real time clock)
5 Battery 6 RF module (wireless communication module)
7 IRLED (Infrared light emitting diode)
8 USB socket

Claims (5)

A level display area is provided on the screen to display the display level.
Divide the same level display area into child areas with multiple dividing lines,
A level display device that turns on and off each child area according to the size of a display amount,
A level display device, wherein a scale line for indicating a boundary of the child area is arranged so as to cover the dividing line of the level display area.   The level display device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the display amount is a fan shape, and a shape of the scale line is an arc.   The level display device according to claim 1, wherein the scale line is displayed using a display color or display density different from the display amount.   2. The level display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the child regions is provided with a gradation that changes stepwise.   A remote controller using the level display device according to claim 1.

Images