JP2018009299A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arbitrary set the size, number, and arrangement of respective buttons on an operation surface.SOLUTION: A remote control device 1 is used to remotely operate equipment, and comprises a casing 1M, a button group BG for selecting an operation of the equipment, a transmission part for transmitting mechanical energy input through a pushing operation on the button group BG, a power generator 20 generating electric power with the mechanical energy transmitted from a power generation lever 14, and a radio substrate 21 for transmitting a signal to the equipment. The transmission part includes a sphere group SG movable in a close-contact state in a predetermined direction, a pusher 11 having a tip part close to an abutting face between two spheres S corresponding to inner parts of respective buttons B, and a guide member 12 including the power generation lever 14, and restricting a moving direction of the sphere group SG. The remote control device 1 is so configured to input he mechanical energy perpendicularly to an operation surface of a pushed part 18 through interruption to between the spheres S by the pusher 11 accompanying the pushing operation of the button B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery-less remote control device with a high degree of freedom in layout of operation buttons.

  Remote operation of devices and the like with a remote control device is generally performed. In general, power for performing remote operation with the remote control device is supplied from a battery built in the remote control device or a commercial power supply by wire.

  However, when power is supplied by a battery or a cable, there is a problem that battery replacement work and wiring work are required. Since it is desirable to eliminate the need for such battery replacement and wiring work, for example, generation and transmission of a signal using power generated by a button press operation of a user's remote control device are also performed.

  As such a remote control device, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a remote control device for remotely operating a toilet seat device, which has a main button group MB and a sub button group SB, and is pressed and input by a user. A remote control device including a power generation unit that generates electric power using mechanical energy is disclosed.

  More specifically, a central protrusion is provided on the back of each button of the main button group MB and the sub button group SB, and when the button is pressed, the central protrusion is inclined immediately below the button. Abutting on the surface, the slide member slides to transmit mechanical energy to the power generation unit.

JP 2014-190055 A

  However, taking the toilet seat device remote control device as an example, there are a plurality of minor change products with different grades due to differences in general homes, apartment buildings, or public facilities. Generally, low-end models tend to have a small number of buttons and high-end models tend to have a large number of buttons. When trying to create a model with a small number of buttons, a dummy that cannot be pushed in based on a model with a large number of buttons. It is necessary to respond by attaching a button. In the remote control device described in Patent Document 1, the layout of the buttons is defined by the arrangement of the inclined surfaces in the slide member, and there is no degree of freedom in button layout.

  Further, in the remote control device described in Patent Document 1, since the slide member slides in a direction perpendicular to the push-in direction of the button, only a generator operating in the vertical direction can be used, but generally in the same direction as the push-in direction. There were more generators in operation, and the range of generator selection was narrow.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device capable of arbitrarily setting the size, number and arrangement of buttons on the operation surface.

  In order to achieve the above object, a remote control device according to the present invention is a remote control device for remotely operating a device, wherein a housing having an opening on an operation surface opposite to a mounting surface, and the opening A selection unit configured to select the operation of the device by a pressing operation of any one of the buttons; and mechanical energy input by the pressing operation in the selection unit is transmitted. A transmission unit, a generator that is provided inside the housing, has an input unit for inputting the mechanical energy, and generates electric power by the mechanical energy transmitted from the transmission unit; and the generator A transmitter that transmits a signal to the external device using the generated power, and the transmitter is arranged in a line in close contact with each other below the button group inside the housing, Direction A sphere group consisting of a plurality of spheres that can move in close contact with each other, and one end of which is rotatably supported on the inner surface side of each button so as to tilt in the moving direction of the sphere, and the other end is wedge-shaped, A pusher having a wedge-shaped tip portion adjacent to the contact surface of the two spheres corresponding to the inside of each button, and a turning lever that is pressed and rotated by a sphere at the downstream end in the moving direction of the sphere group A guide member that regulates the moving direction of the sphere group inside the housing, and the input unit receives the interruption between the spheres of the pusher when the button is pushed. The mechanical energy is input in a direction perpendicular to the operation surface.

  With this configuration, the remote control device according to the present invention includes a plurality of pushers provided on the inner surface side of the button by the push operation of the selection unit between the spheres and arranged in a row under the button. The sphere group consisting of the spheres moves in a close contact state along the guide member in a predetermined direction, thereby transmitting mechanical energy to the generator. Therefore, the size, number and arrangement of each button on the operation surface can be arbitrarily changed by changing the position of the pusher on the inner surface side of the button.

  In the remote control device having the configuration described above, the button groups are arranged in different rows on the operation surface, and the spheres at the downstream end of the sphere groups arranged below the buttons located in the first row, A second rotating lever may be provided between the sphere group arranged below the buttons located in the second row next to the first row and the sphere at the upstream end. .

  With this configuration, the remote control device can transmit mechanical energy between the two sphere rows by providing the second rotating lever, so that two sphere rows can be provided. Therefore, the number of buttons, the size, and the degree of freedom in arrangement can be improved as compared with the case of one sphere row.

  In the remote control device having the above-described configuration, the button group includes a main button and a plurality of sub buttons smaller than the main button, and the size of the main button is an integer number of the sub buttons along the width direction. It may be made to correspond to the size arranged. With this configuration, the remote control device can be divided into a main button group that is used frequently and a sub button group that is used less frequently, thereby improving user convenience.

  In the remote control device having the above-described configuration, a spring for biasing a force in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the sphere is provided in the sphere at the downstream end of the sphere group in the housing via the rotating lever. It may be. With this configuration, the remote control device can quickly return the button to the position before the pressing after the pressing of the button is stopped by providing the spring that biases the force in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sphere.

  In the remote control device configured as described above, the sphere group may be formed of resin. With this configuration, since the sphere group is made of a resin having a relatively small weight, the remote control device is hardly damaged even if it falls on the floor.

  In the remote control device having the above-described configuration, the sphere group may be formed of a metal having magnetism, and an induction magnet that generates a magnetic force acting in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the sphere group may be provided inside the housing. . With this configuration, in the remote control device, since the sphere group is formed of a metal having magnetism and an induction magnet is provided inside the housing, the button can be quickly returned to the position before pressing after the button pressing is stopped. .

  In the remote control device having the above-described configuration, the generator has a piezoelectric element, and generates electric power by converting a force transmitted to the input unit which is one pressing surface of the piezoelectric element into electric power. Also good.

  In the remote control device having the configuration described above, the generator includes a magnet and a coil that generates an induced power when the magnet moves relative to the magnet, and the input unit moves the magnet relative to the coil. The power may be generated by electromagnetic induction by rotating the magnet in the vicinity of the coil by the force transmitted from the transmission unit.

  In the remote control device having the above-described configuration, the device is a toilet seat device having a nozzle for discharging water toward a human body local area, and as the main button, a water discharging button for discharging water from the nozzle, and water discharging from the nozzle And a state change button for changing the state of water discharged from the nozzle as the sub button group.

  According to the present invention, the size, number, and arrangement of each button on the operation surface of the remote control device can be arbitrarily set.

It is a perspective view which shows the remote control apparatus and toilet seat apparatus which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the remote control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the main button of the remote control device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view as viewed from obliquely below. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the sub button of the remote control device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the remote button as viewed from obliquely below. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the operation surface before the button press of the remote control device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the guide member of the remote control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the operation surface and the guide member before the button press of the remote control device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification which changed the size, arrangement | positioning, and number of buttons of the remote control device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing before the button press of the remote control device which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the electric power generation lever and generator of the remote control apparatus which concern on this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the mechanical structure and electrical structure of the remote control apparatus which concern on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view at the time of button press of the remote control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the operation surface at the time of the button press of the remote control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the operation surface at the time of button press of the remote control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a guide member. It is principal part sectional drawing at the time of button press of the remote control device which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram explaining the movement of the pusher and the sphere when the button of the remote control device according to the present embodiment is pressed.

Hereinafter, remote control device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example in which the remote control device according to the present embodiment is used in a toilet seat device. In the present embodiment, the object of remote operation of the remote control device is the toilet seat device, but other device devices may be the operation target.

  The toilet seat device WA is placed on the rim CBa of the toilet CB, and includes a main body WAa, a toilet seat WAb, and a cover WAc. The main body WAa incorporates electrical components, a water supply mechanism, and the like, and has a nozzle N2 that can move forward and backward with respect to the bowl CBb of the toilet CB. The cylindrical nozzle N2 has a nozzle hole N2a formed on the upper surface thereof, and receives water from the water supply mechanism in a state where the nozzle hole N2a has advanced into the bowl portion CBb, so that the nozzle hole N2a is directed toward the user's body part. Water is discharged as a jet JW. The toilet seat WAb on which the user is seated during the toilet is pivotally supported with respect to the main body WAa. When the toilet seat WAb is not used, the toilet seat WAb is covered from above by a cover WAc that is pivotally supported with respect to the main body WAa.

  The remote control device 1 is fixed to the wall surface of the toilet booth where the toilet bowl CB and the toilet seat device WA are installed. This remote control device 1 is provided with its operation surface RCP facing the toilet seat device WA, and the user selects an operation to be performed by the toilet seat device WA on the operation surface RCP, and remotely operates the toilet seat device WA. Specifically, the remote control device 1 generates a high-frequency signal based on the content selected by the user on the operation surface RCP and wirelessly transmits it to the toilet seat device WA. The toilet seat device WA receives this high-frequency signal at a receiving unit built in the main body WAa, and based on the content of the signal, adjusts the water discharge or water stop from the nozzle N2, the water flow of the water discharge, and the change of the position of the nozzle N2. Etc.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the remote control device 1, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the remote control device 1 with the operation surface including the button group BG removed.

  The remote control device 1 includes a housing 1M, a button group BG, a sphere group SG, a pusher 11, a power generation lever 14, a guide member 12, a generator 20, and a wireless board 21. The housing 1M has an opening in the operation surface on the side shown in FIG. 2, and a button group BG composed of a plurality of buttons B is accommodated in the opening. The surface opposite to the operation surface of the housing 1M is a surface to be attached, and is attached to the wall surface of the toilet booth. The button group BG constitutes a selection unit according to the present invention, and the power generation lever 14 constitutes a turning lever.

  The button group BG is configured to select the operation of the toilet seat device WA by pressing one of the buttons B. The button B is composed of an upper row main button MB and a lower row sub button SB on the operation surface. In this embodiment, the button B is composed of four main buttons MB1 to MB4 and six sub buttons SB1 to SB6. ing. The upper row constitutes the first row according to the present invention, and the lower row constitutes the second row according to the present invention.

  The main button MB is a button that is operated with a relatively high frequency, and includes, for example, a water discharge button for discharging water from the nozzle N2 and a water stop button for stopping water discharge from the nozzle N2. . The sub button SB includes, for example, a state change button that changes the state of water discharged from the nozzle N2. Characters such as “Stop”, “Bidet”, “Dry”, “Strong”, “Weak” or marks indicating these on the surface of the main button MB and the sub button SB so that the user can recognize these functions. (Not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the main button MB has an attachment part MBa attached to the housing 1M and a push part MBb pressed by the user. When the pressing part MBb is pressed, the main button MB rotates about the rotation axis of the attachment part MBa. As shown in FIG. 3B, a pusher 11 is provided on the inner side of the push part MBb. One end of the pusher 11 is attached to the inner surface side of the main button MB and is rotatably supported so as to tilt in a moving direction of a sphere S described later. The other end of the pusher 11 is wedge-shaped, and the wedge-shaped tip is close to the contact surface between two spheres corresponding to the inside of the main button MB described later.

  Similarly to the main button MB, the sub button SB has a mounting portion SBa and a pressing portion SBb as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and a pressing element 11 on the inner surface side of the sub button SB. . The main button MB is longer in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2) than the sub button SB. In this embodiment, the main button MB has two sub buttons SB in the width direction. It corresponds to the size arranged along.

  The number of main buttons MB and the number of sub buttons SB are not necessarily limited to the above example, and may be a combination of different numbers depending on the application. Further, the size in the width direction of the main button MB may be set to a size in the width direction of an integral number such as three or four sub buttons SB, for example.

  Corresponding detection switches MS and SS (see FIG. 11) are connected to the main button MB and the sub button SB, respectively. These detection switches MS and SS are switches for detecting that corresponding buttons are pressed by the user.

  The spherical group SG, the pusher 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and the power generation lever 14 constitute a transmission unit according to the present invention, and transmit mechanical energy input by the pressing operation of the button group BG to the generator 20. . FIG. 7 shows a state in which a guide member 12 (to be described later) is removed from the remote control device 1 in the state of FIG. The sphere group SG is composed of a plurality of spheres S, and is arranged in a row in close contact with each other on the lower side of the button B inside the housing 1M, and is movable in close contact in a predetermined direction. The sphere group SG moves when the button B is pressed. The movement of the sphere group SG will be described later.

  The material of the sphere S is made of, for example, a resin or a metal having magnetism. When the sphere S is made of resin, the remote control device 1 can be reduced in weight compared to the case of a metal, and the risk of damage such as when the remote control device 1 is accidentally dropped can be suppressed.

  The size of the sphere S constituting the sphere group SG can be changed according to the size of the button B. Specifically, when the interval between the pushers 11 of the adjacent button group BG is small, the size of the sphere S is also reduced. FIG. 8 shows a modification of the size, number and layout of the button B. In the example of FIG. 8A, four large buttons B are provided in the upper row, and three large buttons B are provided in the lower row. In the example of FIG. Three large buttons B, two small buttons, two large buttons B in the lower row, and two small buttons are provided.

  When changing the size, number and layout of the button B as in the above example, the position of the pusher 11 provided on the button B is close to the contact surface between the spheres S immediately below the button B. Therefore, the remote control device 1 has an advantage that the degree of freedom in changing the size, number and layout of the buttons B is high.

  In the vicinity of the sphere S at the rightmost downstream end in the sphere group SG in the upper row, a spring (not shown) that urges a force in the direction opposite to the moving direction (right direction) of the sphere S when the button B is pressed. It is provided in contact with the sphere S. When the user stops pressing the button B, the spring provides a force for the spherical group SG to return to the initial position before the button B is pressed, so that the dent of the button B can be quickly returned to the state before the button B is pressed. Similarly, in the sphere group SG in the lower row, a spring that biases a force in the direction opposite to the moving direction (left direction) of the sphere S when the button B is pressed is applied to the sphere S in the vicinity of the leftmost downstream sphere S. It is provided in contact.

  When the sphere group SG is made of a metal having magnetism, a force for returning the sphere group SG to the initial position after pressing the button B may be applied using an induction magnet instead of the above-described spring. That is, an induction magnet is provided in the vicinity of the leftmost upstream end sphere S of the sphere group SG in the upper row, and a magnetic force for guiding the sphere group SG in the left direction is applied. Similarly, an induction magnet is provided in the vicinity of the rightmost upstream sphere S for the lower sphere group SG, and a magnetic force for guiding the sphere group SG in the right direction is applied.

  The guide member 12 is provided inside the housing 1M and regulates the moving direction of the sphere S. In the present embodiment, two guide members 12 are used, one that restricts the movement direction of the upper-row sphere group SG, one that restricts the movement direction of the lower-row sphere group SG, and the like. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide member 12 has a semi-cylindrical shape and is provided with a plurality of openings 12A at the top. The opening 12A is provided to allow the pusher 11 to be interrupted between two spheres S adjacent from above by pressing the button B.

  The second rotating lever 13 is provided between the sphere S at the downstream end of the sphere group SG in the upper row and the sphere at the inner upstream end of the sphere group SG in the lower row. The force applied to the sphere group SG is transmitted to the sphere group SG in the lower row. The second rotation lever 13 has a second rotation lever main body 13M, a spherical body contact portion 13A, and a rotation shaft 13B. The spherical contact portion 13A is in contact with the upper row of spheres S and the lower row of spheres S. When a rightward force is applied to the upper row of sphere groups SG by pressing the button B, the upper sphere contact portion 13A is in contact. It is displaced to the right and rotates about the rotation shaft 13B. Accordingly, the lower sphere contact portion 13A is displaced leftward and transmits a leftward force to the lower sphere group SG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the power generation lever 14 has a lever main body 14M, a sphere contact portion 14A, a rotation shaft 14B, and a link connection portion 14C, and is moved leftward by the sphere S at the downstream end in the movement direction of the sphere group SG. Pressed and rotated. The power generation lever 14 converts the leftward force received from the sphere S into a force that pulls the rotary link 15 rightward by the lever principle.

  The sphere contact portion 14A is in contact with the most downstream sphere S of the sphere group SG in the lower row, and rotates to the left by the leftward force received from the sphere group SG in the lower row when the button B is pressed. The rotation shaft 14B is the rotation center of the power generation lever 14, and in the present embodiment, the distance from the rotation shaft 14B to the spherical contact portion 14A and the distance from the rotation shaft 14B to the link connection portion 14C are substantially equal. However, by changing this distance, the force input from the sphere S may be output as a larger force to the rotary link 15, or vice versa.

  The rotary link 15 includes a pressing roller 16 that presses a pressed portion 18 of a wedge member 17 described later in the vertical direction and transmits mechanical energy. The generator 20 has a pressed portion 18 for inputting mechanical energy transmitted through the power generation lever. When the lever main body 14M is pulled in the right direction by the force received from the spherical body group SG, the rotary link 15 comes into contact with the inclined surface 18a of the pressed portion 18 and thus the downward force in the vertical direction with respect to the pressed portion 18. Work. By receiving this force, the wedge member 17 is bent in the vertical direction, and the power is generated by the mechanical energy transmitted by the generator 20. The pressed part 18 constitutes an input part according to the present invention.

  In this way, the downward force in the vertical direction that is the same as the direction in which the button B is pressed is applied to the pressed portion 18. In general, there are more generators that operate and generate electricity in the same direction as the direction in which the button B is pressed. This is because the range of generator selection in the remote control device 1 is widened.

  A piezoelectric element is provided inside the generator 20. When the force is applied to the piezoelectric element by the vertical movement of the wedge member 17, the generator 20 generates electric power. The electric power generated by the generator 20 is supplied to the capacitor 22 and charged. A radio board 21 is connected to the output terminal of the capacitor 22, and a signal is transmitted from the signal output unit of the radio board 21 to the toilet seat device WA. The wireless substrate 21 constitutes a transmission unit according to the present invention.

  In this embodiment, a piezoelectric element is used as the generator 20, but electric power may be generated using electromagnetic induction by a magnet and a coil. In this case, the generator 20 includes a magnet, a coil that generates an induced electric power when the magnet moves relative to the magnet, and a mechanism that rotates the magnet with respect to the coil via the power generation lever 14 and is transmitted from the power generation lever 14. The magnet rotates the magnet in the vicinity of the coil to generate electric power.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the remote control device 1 as viewed from the side. The pusher 11 is rotatably supported so that one end thereof is tilted in the movement direction of the sphere S on the inner surface side of each button B, the other end is wedge-shaped, and the wedge-shaped tip is inward of each button B. Is close to the contact surface between the two spheres S corresponding to. In this embodiment, since the movement direction of the upper sphere S and the lower sphere S when the button B is pressed is reversed, the wedge-shaped directions of the pushers 11 corresponding to the upper row and the lower row are reversed. It becomes.

  Next, the mechanical configuration and electrical configuration of the remote control device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the remote control device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  When one of the main button MB and the sub button SB is pressed by the user, the force is transmitted to the ball group SG via the pusher 11. Each detection switch MS, SS detects which button B is pressed and transmits it to the wireless board 21. The sphere group SG transmits the force to the generator 20 via the second rotation lever 13 and the power generation lever 14. The generator 20 generates electric power with the applied force, charges the capacitor 22 with electric power, and the wireless board 21 transmits a signal to the toilet seat device WA with the electric power stored in the capacitor 22.

  The operation of the remote control device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 shows a state where the third button B (main button MB3) from the left in the upper row on the operation surface is pressed. When the button B is pressed, the pusher 11 inside the button B pushes and moves the spherical body S, and inputs mechanical energy to the power generation lever 14 which is an input unit.

  FIG. 13 shows a top view of the remote controller 1 with the operation surface including the button group BG removed with the button B pressed. As shown in FIG. 13, the spheres S in the upper row are pressed by the pusher 11 and moved in a close contact state in the right direction. Of the spheres S in the upper row, the sphere S on the most downstream side presses the second rotating lever 13 in the right direction. The second rotation lever 13 rotates about the rotation shaft 13B, presses the most upstream sphere S of the lower spheres S in the left direction, and transmits mechanical energy.

  FIG. 14 shows the movement of the sphere group SG in an easy-to-understand manner by showing a state in which the guide member 12 is removed from the remote control device 1 in a state where the main button MB3 of the button B in FIG. 2 is pressed. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 14 with FIG. 7 before the button B is pressed, the pusher 11 provided on the main button MB3 interrupts the sphere S immediately below, and the sixth sphere from the right in the upper row in FIG. S is moved along the guide member 12 in the right direction, and the downstream spheres S are also moved in the right direction in close contact with each other. FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the state in which the pusher 11 provided on the main button MB3 is interrupted between the spheres S.

  The most downstream sphere S in the sphere group SG in the upper row presses the upper end of the second rotation lever 13 and displaces it in the right direction. At this time, since the second rotation lever 13 rotates about the rotation shaft 13B, the lower end of the second rotation lever 13 is displaced leftward, and is the most upstream of the sphere group SG in the lower row. The side sphere S is pressed in the left direction and moved. When the most upstream sphere S in the lower sphere group SG is pressed, the more downstream sphere S moves to the left in a close contact state, and the most downstream sphere S presses the power generation lever 14 to the left. Displace to.

  Since the power generation lever 14 rotates about the rotation shaft 14B, the link connecting portion 14C is displaced rightward to displace the rotation link 15 rightward. When the rotary link 15 is displaced in the right direction, the pressing roller 16 comes into contact with the inclined surface 18a shown in FIG. 10 of the pressed portion 18, and a downward force is applied to the wedge member 17 in the vertical direction. Displace downward. The wedge member 17 displaced downward in the vertical direction presses a piezoelectric element provided inside the generator 20 to generate electric power.

  The electric power generated by the generator 20 is supplied to the wireless board 21 via the capacitor 22, various signals are transmitted from the wireless board 21 to the toilet seat device WA, and the toilet seat device WA is remotely operated.

  When the user stops pressing the button B, the sphere group SG returns to the position before the button B is pressed by the biasing force of the spring against the sphere S at the downstream end, and the pusher 11 of the pressed button B is the sphere group. SG is pushed up and raised, and button B returns to the initial position before pressing.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the pusher 11 and the sphere S when the button B is pressed. FIG. 16A shows a state before the button B is pressed, and the spheres S1 to S6 are stationary at the initial position. FIG. 16B shows a case where the leftmost button B is pressed. At this time, the sphere S2 in which the inclined surface of the button B is close is pressed and moved in the right direction in FIG. Due to the movement of the sphere S2, the spheres S3 to S6 that are in close contact with the right side also move to the right in a close state. With the movement of the spheres S3 to S6, the pusher 11 of the button B that is not pressed also tilts in the moving direction of the sphere S in the state of being close to the contact surfaces of the spheres S.

  FIG. 16C shows a case where the second button B from the left is pressed. At this time, the spheres S1 and S2 and the first button from the left remain stationary, but the spheres S3 to S6 move in close contact in the right direction as in the case of FIG. 16B, and the pusher 11 is also the same. Tilt to. FIG. 16D shows an example in which one of the buttons B is a wide button B and the button B is pressed. When the width in the left-right direction is wide as in the case of the button B (a width corresponding to a plurality of spheres), the wedge-shaped tip of the pusher 11 is in the state of any two adjacent spheres before the button B is pressed. If the pusher 11 is arranged so as to be close to the contact surface of S, the sphere S on the right side of the pusher 11 is pushed by pressing the button B as in the case of FIGS. 16 (b) and 16 (c). It can be moved to the right.

  As described above, the remote control device 1 according to the present embodiment is a remote control device for remotely operating the toilet seat device WA, and includes a housing 1M having an opening on the operation surface opposite to the attached surface, A button group BG that is accommodated in the opening and selects the operation of the toilet seat device WA by pressing one of the buttons B, and a pusher 11 and a ball group that transmit mechanical energy input by the pressing operation in the button group BG. SG and a power generation lever 14, a generator 20 that is provided inside the housing 1M, has a pressed portion 18 for inputting mechanical energy, and generates electric power by mechanical energy transmitted from the power generation lever 14. And a wireless board 21 that transmits a signal to the toilet seat device WA by the electric power generated by the generator 20, and the transmission unit is arranged in a row in close contact with each other under the button B inside the housing 1M. A sphere group SG composed of a plurality of spheres S arranged and movable in close contact with each other in a predetermined direction, one end of which is rotatably supported on the inner surface side of each button B so as to tilt in the moving direction of the sphere S, and the other end Has a wedge shape, and a wedge 11 having a wedge-shaped tip portion close to the contact surface between the two spheres S corresponding to the inside of each button B, and the sphere S at the downstream end in the moving direction of the sphere group SG. Includes a power generation lever 14 that is pressed and rotated by the guide member 12, and includes a guide member 12 that regulates the moving direction of the spherical group SG inside the housing 1 </ b> M. Through this interruption, mechanical energy is input to the pressed portion 18 in the direction perpendicular to the operation surface.

  In addition, the remote control device 1 is configured such that the button groups BG are arranged in different rows on the operation surface, and the sphere S at the downstream end among the spheres S arranged on the lower side of the buttons B located in the upper row, and the next to the upper row. Among the spheres S arranged on the lower side of the buttons B located in the lower row, the second rotating lever 13 is provided between the spheres S at the upstream end.

  In the remote control device 1, the button group BG includes a main button MB and a plurality of sub buttons SB smaller than the main button MB. The size of the main button MB is the two sub buttons SB in the width direction. It corresponds to the size arranged along.

  In addition, the remote control device 1 is provided with a spring that biases a force in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sphere S on the sphere S at the downstream end of the sphere group SG inside the housing 1M via the power generation lever 14. .

  The remote control device 1 also includes a water discharge button for discharging water from the nozzle N2 as a main button MB, and a water stop button for stopping water discharge from the nozzle N2, and a nozzle as a sub button SB. A state change button for changing the state of water discharge from N2 is included.

  With the above configuration, the remote control device 1 has a plurality of pushers 11 provided on the inner surface side of the button B by the pressing operation of the button B, interrupted between the spheres S, and arranged in a row under the button B. The sphere group SG made of the sphere S moves in a predetermined direction along the guide member 12 in a close contact state, thereby transmitting mechanical energy to the generator 20. Therefore, the size, number and arrangement of the buttons B on the operation surface can be arbitrarily changed within a range in which the pusher 11 can be brought close to the contact surfaces of the spheres S.

  Further, since the remote control device 1 includes the guide member 12 that regulates the moving direction of the sphere group SG, the mechanical energy can be reliably transmitted between the adjacent spheres S to generate electric power.

  Further, since the remote control device 1 can transmit mechanical energy between two sphere rows by providing the second rotating lever 13, it is possible to provide two sphere rows. Therefore, the number of buttons B, the size, and the degree of freedom in arrangement can be improved as compared with the case of one sphere row.

  In addition, the remote control device 1 can be configured to be divided into a main button MB that is frequently used and a sub button SB that is less frequently used, thereby improving user convenience.

  In addition, the remote control device 1 can return the button B to the position before pressing quickly after stopping the pressing of the button B by providing a spring that biases the force in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sphere S.

In addition, the remote control device 1 may be configured to form the sphere group SG with resin. Thereby, since the sphere group SG is made of a resin having a relatively small weight, the remote control device 1 is not easily damaged even if it is dropped on the floor.

  Further, in the remote control device 1, the sphere group SG may be formed of a metal having magnetism, and an induction magnet that generates a magnetic force acting in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the sphere group SG may be provided inside the housing 1M. Thereby, in the remote control device 1, since the sphere group SG is formed of a metal having magnetism and an induction magnet is provided inside the housing 1M, the button B is quickly moved to a position before pressing after the button B is stopped pressing. Can be returned.

  Moreover, the generator 20 of the remote control device 1 may include a piezoelectric element, and generate electric power by converting the force transmitted to the pressed portion 18 that is one pressing surface of the piezoelectric element into electric power. .

  Moreover, the generator 20 of the remote control device 1 has a coil that generates an induced power when the magnet moves relative to the magnet, and the pressed portion 18 has a mechanism that moves the magnet relative to the coil. The power may be generated by electromagnetic induction by rotating the magnet near the coil by the force transmitted from the power generation lever 14.

  The technical scope of the remote control device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modifications of each component described in the claims.

  As described above, the remote control device according to the present invention has an effect that the size, number and arrangement of each button on the operation surface can be arbitrarily set, and is useful for all remote control devices.

1 Remote control device 1M Housing WA Toilet seat device N2 Nozzle BG Button group (selection unit)
B button (selection part)
MB1, MB2, MB3, MB4 Main button (selection part)
SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4, SB5, SB6 Sub button (selection unit)
SG Sphere Group (Transmitter)
S Sphere (Transmitter)
11 Pusher (Transmitter)
12 Guide member 13 2nd rotation lever 14 Power generation lever (rotation lever, transmission part)
18 Pressed part (input part)
20 Generator 21 Wireless board (transmitter)

Claims (9)

A remote control device for remotely controlling a device,
A housing having an opening in the operation surface opposite to the mounted surface;
A selection unit having a button group including a plurality of buttons accommodated in the opening, and selecting an operation of the device by a pressing operation of any one of the buttons;
A transmission unit for transmitting mechanical energy input by a pressing operation in the selection unit;
A generator provided inside the housing, having an input unit for inputting the mechanical energy, and generating electric power by the mechanical energy transmitted from the transmission unit;
A transmitter for transmitting a signal to the external device by the power generated by the generator,
The transmission unit is
A sphere group consisting of a plurality of spheres arranged in a row in close contact with each other below the button group inside the housing and movable in close contact in a predetermined direction;
One end is rotatably supported on the inner surface side of each button so as to tilt in the moving direction of the sphere, the other end has a wedge shape, and the wedge-shaped tip portion corresponds to the inside of each button. A pusher close to a contact surface between the spheres;
A rotation lever that is pressed and rotated by a sphere at the downstream end in the moving direction of the sphere group,
A guide member that regulates the moving direction of the sphere group inside the housing,
The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical energy is input to the input unit in a direction perpendicular to the operation surface through an interruption between the spheres of the pusher accompanying the pressing operation of the button.   The button group is arranged in a different row on the operation surface, and the sphere at the downstream end of the sphere group arranged below the button located in the first row, and the next of the first row 2. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein a second rotating lever is provided between the sphere group arranged below the buttons located in the second row and the sphere at the upstream end. apparatus.   The button group includes a main button and a plurality of sub buttons smaller than the main button, and the size of the main button corresponds to a size in which an integer number of the sub buttons are arranged along the width direction. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device is provided.   2. A spring for biasing a force in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the sphere is provided in a sphere at a downstream end of the sphere group in the housing via the rotating lever. The remote control device according to any one of claims 3 to 4.   The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sphere is formed of a resin. The sphere is formed of a magnetic metal,
5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein an induction magnet that generates a magnetic force acting in a direction opposite to a moving direction of the sphere group is provided in the housing.   2. The generator according to claim 1, wherein the generator includes a piezoelectric element, and generates electric power by converting a force transmitted to the input unit which is one pressing surface of the piezoelectric element into electric power. The remote control device according to any one of 6.   The generator includes a magnet and a coil that generates an induced power when the magnet moves relative to the magnet, and the input unit includes a mechanism that moves the magnet relative to the coil. 8. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein electric power is generated by electromagnetic induction by rotating the magnet in the vicinity of the coil by a transmitted force. 9. The device is a toilet seat device having a nozzle for discharging water toward a local body part,
The main button includes a water discharge button for discharging water from the nozzle, and a water stop button for stopping water discharge from the nozzle,
9. The remote control device according to claim 3, wherein the sub-button includes a state change button that changes a state of water discharged from the nozzle.

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