JP2012178776A - Remote controller and remote controller system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve in a remote controller used by performing A/D conversion of an analog audio signal, noise reduction processing effective at the time of D/A conversion by detecting a deviation amount of a midpoint potential at the time of A/D conversion for each product.SOLUTION: A remote controller 2 comprises: an A/D conversion part 14 for converting an analog audio signal input from a microphone 13 into digital data; and a D/A conversion part 16 for converting the digital data into the analog audio signal. In the remote controller 2, the input analog audio signal is brought into no signal input state, and an average value of A/D conversion values in the A/D conversion part 14 at the time serves as a midpoint potential, and a deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential is obtained from the maximum value and the minimal value of the A/D conversion values so that the midpoint potential and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential are used as data for noise reduction processing in the D/A conversion part 16 for performing D/A conversion of the digital data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control and a remote control system, and more particularly to a remote control that converts an analog audio signal that is input into digital data and uses the remote control system that transmits and receives data based on the converted digital data.

  Conventionally, hot water supply devices equipped with so-called bath functions such as bathing in a bathtub or retreating a bath are installed as remote control devices in the bathroom remote control installed in the bathroom and in places other than the bathroom such as the kitchen. Remote control outside the bathroom.

  These remote control systems having a bathroom remote control and a remote control outside the bathroom are each connected to a controller (control unit) of a hot water supply device by a communication cable, and a control signal generated by each remote control according to the operation of the remote control is the communication cable. The hot water supply device can be remotely operated by being given to the controller of the hot water supply device via the.

  In this connection, the bathroom remote controller and the bathroom remote controller can communicate with each other via the hot water supply device, and the contents operated by the bathroom remote controller are reflected in the bathroom remote controller (for example, the bathroom remote controller). The hot water set temperature set in is set and displayed as the hot water set temperature also in the remote control outside the bathroom. On the other hand, the contents operated by the remote control outside the bathroom are also reflected in the remote control (for example, set by the remote control outside the bathroom). The hot water supply set temperature is set and displayed as the hot water supply set temperature on the bathroom remote control).

  In recent years, using the communication function of the bathroom remote control and the remote control outside the bathroom, a microphone and a speaker are provided for each remote control so that a voice call can be made between the bathroom remote control and the remote control outside the bathroom, A connection terminal for connecting audio equipment to the remote control outside the bathroom is provided, and a signal such as music input via this connection terminal is sent to the bathroom remote control so that it can be heard by the bathroom remote control. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  All the functions added to these remote controls convert analog audio signals input from a microphone or connection terminal into digital data by an A / D converter in the remote control, modulate the carrier wave with this digital data, and control the other remote control. The other remote controller that has received the carrier wave demodulates the digital signal, extracts the digital data, converts it to an analog audio signal by a D / A converter in the remote controller, and outputs it from the speaker. Yes.

JP 2002-277050 A

  However, the remote control system that uses the analog audio signal input in this way by converting it into digital data by an A / D converter in the remote control has the following problems, and improvement has been desired.

  That is, in a remote control system that employs such a configuration, even if the analog audio signal input from the microphone or the connection terminal is no signal, the power supply voltage ripple of the A / D converter, circuit variations, etc. As a cause, a fluctuation of about several LSB occurs in the output of the A / D converter. Therefore, if such digital data is D / A converted as it is and output from the speaker, it will be heard as noise such as “crisp” and “gritty”. In particular, when the resolution of the A / D converter is low, this noise sound tends to appear prominently.

  Therefore, in such a remote control system, it is desired to take some noise countermeasures (noise reduction processing) for the D / A converter that converts digital data into an analog audio signal. Occurrence is a phenomenon unique to individual remote controllers (individual differences that differ from product to product), and uniform noise reduction processing may not be an effective noise countermeasure.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a midpoint potential at the time of A / D conversion in a remote control that uses analog audio signals after A / D conversion. This is to detect the amount of deviation for each product so that effective noise reduction processing can be executed during D / A conversion.

  In order to achieve the above object, a remote controller according to the present invention is a remote controller having an A / D converter that converts an analog audio signal into digital data and a D / A converter that converts digital data into an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is in a no-signal input state, and the average value of the A / D conversion values in the A / D conversion unit at this time is set as a midpoint potential, and the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion values are The deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential is obtained from the above, and the midpoint potential and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential are used as data for noise reduction processing in the D / A conversion unit of the remote controller.

  The remote control system according to the present invention also includes a first remote controller having an A / D converter that converts an analog audio signal into digital data, and a second remote controller that has a D / A converter that converts digital data into an analog audio signal. In the remote control system in which the remote controller is connected for communication, the analog audio signal input to the first remote controller is set to the no-signal input state, and the A / D conversion in the A / D converter of the first remote controller at this time The average value is set as the midpoint potential, and the amount of deviation with respect to the midpoint potential is obtained from the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion values. Transmitting to the second remote controller, and using the transmitted data as data for noise reduction processing in the D / A converter of the second remote controller To do.

  That is, the remote control and the remote control system according to the present invention have a configuration common to both, and the analog audio signal input to the A / D conversion unit provided in the remote control is set to the no-signal input state, and the above A / D at this time The average value of the A / D conversion values in the conversion unit is set as the midpoint potential, and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential is obtained from the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion values. The deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential is used as data for noise reduction processing in the D / A converter. That is, the present invention intentionally creates a situation in which the analog audio signal input to the A / D converter is in a no-signal input state, and regards the average value of the A / D conversion values at that time as the midpoint potential. Further, the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion value at this time indicate the fluctuation width at the time of the A / D conversion, and thus are regarded as a deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential. As a result, the midpoint potential and the amount of deviation with respect to the midpoint potential can be obtained based on the fluctuation of the A / D conversion caused by the product-specific cause, and by performing noise reduction processing in the D / A conversion unit based on these, Appropriate noise reduction processing can be performed according to individual differences of individual products.

  According to the present invention, the midpoint potential of the A / D conversion unit and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential are obtained based on the no-signal input state to the A / D conversion unit that has been created artificially, and the data is obtained as D Since it is basic data for noise reduction processing during A / D conversion, optimal noise reduction processing can be performed taking into account individual differences during A / D conversion by the A / D converter, and uniform noise reduction Compared with the case where processing is performed, noise reduction processing with higher accuracy can be performed. As a result, the remote control and remote control system according to the present invention can reduce noise during D / A conversion.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of schematic structure of the remote control system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of one Embodiment of the remote control outside a bathroom in the same remote control system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The remote control system according to the present invention is configured to have a plurality of remote controls used for remote operation of a hot water supply device having a bath function. In this embodiment, the remote control system is installed in a bathroom as shown in FIG. The main part is composed of a bathroom remote controller 1, a remote controller 2 outside the bathroom installed in a place other than the bathroom (for example, a kitchen), and a hot water supply device 3 controlled by these remote controllers 1 and 2.

First, the hot water supply device 3 that is the control target of the remote controllers 1 and 2 will be described.
The hot water supply device 3 is constituted by a hot water supply device having a bath function as described above. Here, the bath function is a general term for a function of filling a bathtub (not shown) into a bathtub (pouring into a bathtub), a function of reheating hot water stretched on a bathtub (or adding hot water to a bathtub), etc. The hot-water supply device 3 shown in FIG. 1 is constituted by a hot-water supply device having at least one function among these hot water filling and chasing functions.

  The hot water supply device 3 includes a controller (a control unit for the hot water supply device) 4 for controlling the hot water supply function and the bath function in the hot water supply device 3, and the bathroom remote control 1 and the remote control outside the bathroom 2 are connected to the communication cable 5. The controller 4 is configured to control the operation of each part of the hot water supply device 3 based on the control signals supplied from the remote controllers 1 and 2. In addition, in a hot water supply apparatus having a bath function, a basic configuration for realizing a hot water supply function and a bath function (for example, a configuration of a heat exchanger for heating hot water and a combustion unit for heating the heat exchanger). Since these are well known, description of their basic configuration is omitted here.

Next, the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 will be described.
Both the bathroom remote control 1 and the bathroom remote control 2 are operation devices provided for remotely operating the hot water supply device 3, and the bathroom remote control 1 and the bathroom remote control 2 are provided with the communication cable 5 as described above. Are connected to the controller 4 of the hot water supply device 3, and can communicate between the hot water supply device 3 and the remote controllers 1 and 2. That is, the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 are connected to each other via the hot water supply device 3. Note that the communication connection between the bathroom remote controller 1 and the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom via the hot water supply device 3 is performed via the controller 4 of the hot water supply device 3 and a terminal block for communication connection (specifically, the hot water supply device 3). Is provided with a terminal block connected to the controller 4 via a communication cable, and the controller 4 and all remote controllers connected to the terminal block are connected via the terminal block (that is, via the controller 4). Without remote control), but any method may be used for communication connection.

  Since the bathroom remote controller 1 and the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom are thus connected to each other, for example, when a remote operation is performed on the hot water supply device 3 with the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom, the remote controller 2 generates the remote controller 2 according to the operation. The control signal thus given is given to both the controller 4 and the bathroom remote controller 1 of the hot water supply device 3 via the communication cable 5, and the contents of the control signal are reflected on both the controller 4 and the bathroom remote controller 1.

  Specifically, for example, when an operation for changing the hot water supply set temperature is performed with the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom, a control signal (a control signal instructing change of the hot water supply set temperature) generated in response to the operation is supplied to the hot water supply device 3. The data provided to the controller 4 and the bathroom remote controller 1 and held in the controller 4 and the bathroom remote controller 1 as the hot water supply set temperature are changed. For this reason, the controller 4 of the hot water supply device 3 performs hot water supply control using the changed data as the new hot water supply target temperature. In the bathroom remote controller 1, the changed data is displayed as a new hot water supply set temperature, and the subsequent change operation of the hot water set temperature (the operation of raising or lowering the hot water set temperature) Acceptance processing is started as a reference.

  In addition, when the remote control for the hot water supply device 3 is performed in the bathroom remote controller 1, the control generated by the bathroom remote control 1 by the operation is performed in the same manner as when the remote control for the hot water supply device 3 is performed by the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom. The signal is reflected on both the controller 4 and the remote control 2 outside the bathroom.

  In the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 shown in the present embodiment, the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 are connected to each other for communication between the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2. Voice calls can be made.

  Specifically, in order to realize this voice call function, each of the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 shown in the present embodiment has a microphone for inputting voice as a circuit for voice transmission, An A / D converter that converts an electrical signal (analog audio signal) obtained by a microphone into digital data, and a modulation circuit that modulates a carrier wave for transmission with the digital data obtained by the A / D converter are provided As a voice receiving circuit, a demodulating circuit for demodulating a carrier wave received from another remote controller via the hot water supply device 3 and a D / A conversion for converting digital data obtained by the demodulating circuit into an analog voice signal And an amplifier circuit that amplifies the analog audio signal obtained by the D / A converter, and a speaker that outputs the analog audio signal amplified by the amplifier circuit to the outside It is provided.

  Therefore, for example, when an operation for starting a voice call is performed with the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom, and sound is input to the microphone of the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom in this state, the sound is converted into an analog audio signal by the microphone. The carrier wave converted to digital data by the A / D converter and then modulated by the modulation circuit is transmitted to the bathroom remote controller 1. That is, the digital data generated by the A / D converter of the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom is transmitted to the bathroom remote controller 1 via the hot water supply device 3.

  On the other hand, in the bathroom remote control 1, the carrier wave received via the communication cable 5 is demodulated by the demodulation circuit and the digital data is extracted, and the extracted digital data is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter. Further, it is amplified by an amplifier circuit and output from a speaker as a sound that can be heard by a person. This voice call function is performed in the same procedure as described above even when a call is made from the bathroom remote controller 1 side. That is, the sound input to the microphone of the bathroom remote controller 1 is converted into an analog sound signal by the microphone provided in the bathroom remote controller 1 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter and then passed through the modulation circuit. Sent to remote control 2 outside the bathroom.

  In the remote control system shown in the present embodiment, such a voice call function between the bathroom remote controller 1 and the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom (specifically, a modulation circuit, a demodulation circuit, etc. provided in each of the remote controllers 1 and 2) is used. Then, an audio device such as a digital audio player is connected to the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom, and music (analog audio signal) output from the audio device is transmitted to the bathroom remote controller 1 using the communication function between the remote controllers 1 and 2. The bathroom remote controller 1 can be used for listening.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the remote control 2 outside the bathroom related to such a function.
As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom of the present embodiment includes a control unit 10 having a microcomputer that controls each unit of the remote controller 2 and various operation switches for inputting a remote operation instruction to the hot water supply device 3. An operation unit 11 configured by the above, a display unit 12 configured by a display device for displaying the state of the hot water supply device 3, a microphone 13 used for the voice call function described above, and an analog input from the microphone 13. An A / D conversion unit 14 that converts an audio signal into digital data, a modulation / demodulation circuit 15 including the modulation circuit and the demodulation circuit, and a D / D that converts digital data demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 15 into an analog audio signal. A converter 16, an amplifier circuit 17 for amplifying the analog audio signal output from the D / A converter 16, and the amplifier circuit 17 A speaker 18 for outputting the amplified analog audio signal to the outside, a connection terminal 7 for connecting the audio device 6, and an analog audio signal input from the connection terminal 7 for converting into digital data And an A / D converter 8. In the present embodiment, the A / D conversion units 8 and 14 and the D / A conversion unit 16 described above are provided in an integrated digital control device 19.

  Here, as the analog audio signal output from the audio device 6, for example, an analog audio signal whose output level can be adjusted (volume adjustment) on the audio device 6 side, such as a headphone output provided in the audio device 6, is available. Used. Therefore, a terminal (for example, a stereo mini jack) that can be connected to the headphone output of the audio device 6 is employed as the connection terminal 7.

  When listening to music or the like output from the audio device 6 with the bathroom remote controller 1, the connection terminal 7 and the headphone output of the audio device 6 are connected by the cable 9, and the audio device 6 is reproduced in this state. As a result, the analog audio signal output from the headphone output of the acoustic device 6 is supplied to the A / D conversion unit 8 via the connection terminal 7, converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit 8, and then the modulation / demodulation circuit 15. Is transmitted to the bathroom remote controller 1. On the other hand, the bathroom remote controller 1 demodulates, D / A converts and amplifies the received carrier wave in the same procedure as the voice call and outputs it from the speaker so that the bathroom remote controller 1 can listen to music and the like. It has become.

  The configuration of the bathroom remote control 1 is not particularly shown, but it does not include the connection terminal 7 and the A / D conversion unit 8 that A / D converts the analog audio signal input from the connection terminal 7. The other configurations are the same as the remote control 2 outside the bathroom.

  Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the bathroom remote controller 1 and the bathroom remote controller 2 configured as described above have an A / D conversion value generated in the A / D converter due to power supply voltage ripples, circuit variations, and the like. In order to suppress noise generated during D / A conversion due to the fluctuation of the A / D converter, the midpoint potential of the A / D converter and the amount of deviation with respect to this midpoint potential are obtained by the following procedure.

Hereinafter, this point will be described by taking the A / D conversion unit 14 for voice calls as an example.
When determining the midpoint potential of the A / D conversion unit 14 and the amount of deviation thereof, the control unit 10 of the remote controller 2 outside the bathroom first determines that the analog audio signal input to the A / D conversion unit 14 is in a no-signal input state. To be.

  Specifically, for example, the display unit 12 is displayed to the effect of “Please do not make a sound”, and the microphone 13 is alerted so as to maintain a quiet state in which no sound is picked up. So that no signal is input. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, a mute circuit 20 is provided on the input line of the analog audio signal from the microphone 13 to the A / D conversion unit 14, and the mute circuit 20 is operated under the control of the control unit 10, The input to the A / D conversion unit 14 is cut off and forced into a no-signal input state.

  In this way, when the A / D conversion unit 14 enters the no-signal input state, the control unit 10 obtains an A / D conversion value in the A / D conversion unit 14 in this state. Specifically, the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion value within a predetermined time and the average value between them are obtained in a state where the no-signal input state continues.

  When the control unit 10 obtains each of these values, the average value is set as the midpoint potential at the time of A / D conversion, and the range between the maximum value and the minimum value is set as the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential. The midpoint potential and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential are used as data used for noise reduction processing during D / A conversion.

  Specifically, when digital data converted by the A / D conversion unit 14 is converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A conversion unit 16 of the remote control outside the bathroom (first remote control) 2, these data are converted. It is used as data used for noise reduction processing in the D / A converter 16. On the other hand, when the digital data converted by the A / D conversion unit 14 is converted to an analog audio signal by the D / A conversion unit (not shown) of the bathroom remote control (second remote control) 1, the control unit 10 These data are transmitted to the bathroom remote controller 1. In this case, a control unit (not shown) of the bathroom remote control 1 uses the data as data used for noise reduction processing in the D / A conversion unit of the bathroom remote control 1.

  Here, as the noise reduction processing at the time of D / A conversion, for example, when digital data is converted into an analog audio signal in the D / A conversion unit, the data within the range of the midpoint potential and the displacement amount thereof is Processing such as handling the same digital data is performed.

  Note that the analog audio signal input from the acoustic device 6 is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit 8 as well as the processing in the A / D conversion unit 14 described above, that is, the A / D at the time of no signal input. The maximum value, the minimum value, and the average value of the D conversion value are obtained, and the average value is set as a midpoint potential at the time of A / D conversion, and the maximum value and the minimum value are set as a deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential. When the digital data generated by the A / D converter 8 is D / A converted, this midpoint potential and the amount of deviation are used for noise reduction processing at the time of D / A conversion. This also applies to the A / D converter (not shown) of the bathroom remote controller 1.

  Thus, in the remote control system shown in the present embodiment, a situation in which the analog audio signal input to the A / D conversion unit is in a no-signal input state is created intentionally, and the average of the A / D conversion values at that time Since the value is regarded as the midpoint potential, and the maximum and minimum values of the A / D conversion value at this time are regarded as deviation amounts with respect to the midpoint potential, the A / D conversion caused by the product-specific cause Taking the fluctuation into consideration, the midpoint potential and the amount of deviation with respect to it can be obtained. Then, by performing noise reduction processing in the D / A converter based on these data, appropriate noise reduction processing can be performed according to individual differences in the A / D converter, and D / A conversion can be performed. The noise at the time can be reduced.

  The above-described embodiments show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mute circuits 20 and 20 that forcibly block analog audio signals between the connection terminal 7 and the A / D converter 8 and between the microphone 13 and the A / D converter 14 are provided. Although the case where the mute circuit 20 is provided is shown, the mute circuit 20 may be configured by omitting one or both of them.

  In addition, the above-described measurement of the midpoint potential of the A / D converter in the no-signal input state can be performed in advance during the production process of the remote control or the trial operation when constructing the remote control. It is possible to update the data of the midpoint potential and the amount of displacement as appropriate, such as by being operated by a user operation, or by being programmed to be automatically executed by satisfying certain conditions, etc. The implementation time can be arbitrarily designed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathroom remote control 2 Bathroom remote control 3 Hot-water supply apparatus 4 Controller 5 Communication cable 6 Audio equipment 7 Connection terminal 8 A / D conversion part 10 Control part 11 Operation part 12 Display part 14 A / D conversion part 15 Modulation / demodulation circuit 16 D / A conversion Part 18 Speaker 20 Mute circuit

Claims (2)

In a remote control having an A / D converter that converts analog audio signals into digital data and a D / A converter that converts digital data into analog audio signals,
The analog audio signal is in a no-signal input state, and the average value of the A / D conversion values in the A / D conversion unit at this time is set as a midpoint potential, and the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion values are A remote control characterized in that a deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential is obtained from the data, and these midpoint potential and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential are used as data for noise reduction processing in the D / A converter of the remote control. A remote control system in which a first remote controller having an A / D converter for converting an analog audio signal into digital data and a second remote controller having a D / A converter for converting digital data into an analog audio signal are connected in communication. In
An analog audio signal input to the first remote control is set to a no-signal input state, and an average value of A / D conversion values in the A / D conversion unit of the first remote control at this time is set to a midpoint potential. A deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential is obtained from the maximum value and the minimum value of the A / D conversion value, and the midpoint potential and the deviation amount with respect to the midpoint potential are transmitted to the second remote controller, and these transmissions are transmitted. A remote control system characterized in that the processed data is used as data for noise reduction processing in the D / A converter of the second remote controller.

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