JP2021095031A - Air-conditioning control device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air-conditioning control device capable of air-conditioning control using a touch panel and reducing a temperature of an own device even under a high temperature environment.SOLUTION: An air-conditioning control device 100 comprises: an operation screen processing section 110 which creates an operation screen to operate an air conditioner having a cooling function; a display panel 114 which is illuminated with a back light 116 to display the operation screen; a position detection section 124 which detects an operation position on the operation screen using a touch panel 118 superimposed on the screen of the display panel 114; a temperature sensor 128 which detects a temperature of the back light 116; and a control section 130 which turns off the back light 116 when the detected temperature exceeds a reference value and temporarily turns on the back light 116 when the position detection section 124 detects a contact on the touch panel 118.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioning control device that gives an operation instruction to an air conditioning device having a cooling function.

Conventionally, when the temperature around the LCD monitor reaches the set temperature, the power for the backlight of the LCD monitor is turned off, the backlight is turned on again after waiting for the temperature to drop, and the user wants to acquire necessary information. In this case, there is known an in-vehicle display device in which a backlight is turned on for a certain short period of time to display necessary information when a user presses a predetermined operation key (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).

Jikkenhei 6-973

By the way, some recent in-vehicle devices use a touch panel to operate various devices including an air conditioner (air conditioner). In such an in-vehicle device, the touch panel cannot be used when the backlight is turned off, and air conditioning cannot be controlled. Therefore, for example, when the vehicle is parked in the hot sun, the air conditioner cannot be started. there were. This point cannot be solved by the in-vehicle display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above. For example, when a predetermined operation key is realized by the touch panel, the operation key cannot be operated when the backlight is not turned on, so that the trigger for turning on the backlight disappears. Recently, along with the expansion of the area of touch panels and liquid crystal display devices combined with them, they are often used for moving image display, etc., and the resolution is increasing. Many dedicated graphic chips have come to be generally used, but in the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, no countermeasure is taken against heat generation due to such a graphic chip.

The present invention was created in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is an air conditioning control device capable of controlling air conditioning using a touch panel even in a high temperature environment and lowering the temperature of its own device. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the air-conditioning control device of the present invention includes an operation screen processing means for creating an operation screen for operating the air-conditioning device having a cooling function, and a liquid crystal display illuminated by a backlight to display the operation screen. A position detecting means for detecting an operation position in an operation screen using a device and a touch panel arranged on the screen of a liquid crystal display device, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the backlight, and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the backlight. It is provided with a control means for turning off the backlight when the temperature exceeds a reference value and temporarily turning on the backlight when the position detecting means detects contact with the touch panel.

By turning off the backlight in a high temperature environment where the temperature of the backlight exceeds the reference value, it is possible to lower the temperature of the own device. In addition, by temporarily turning on the backlight when contact with the touch panel is detected when the light is turned off, the user can operate the air conditioner (air conditioning control) using the operation screen while suppressing the amount of heat generated by the backlight. It will be possible.

Further, it is desirable that the control means described above repeatedly turns off and on the backlight when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means exceeds the reference value. As a result, the operation that was not completed at the time of temporary lighting can be completed at the time of lighting after the next time.

Further, it is desirable that the control means described above stops the operation of the operation screen processing means when the backlight is turned off. In general, the amount of heat generated by the operation screen processing means that performs the process of creating the operation screen is large. Therefore, by stopping the operation of the operation screen processing means when the backlight is turned off, the temperature of the own device can be further reduced. Can be planned.

Further, the detection operation by the position detecting means described above is performed in cooperation with the operation screen processing means, and when the operation of the operation screen processing means by the control means is stopped, the operation screen processing means cooperates with the detection operation by the position detecting means. It is desirable to further provide a switching means for switching from the control means to the control means. This makes it possible to detect the presence or absence of contact using the touch panel even when the operation screen is hidden when the backlight is turned off.

Further, in the control means described above, it is desirable that the larger the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means and the reference value, the darker the brightness when the backlight is turned on. Further, in the above-mentioned control means, it is desirable that the larger the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means and the reference value, the shorter the lighting time of the backlight. As a result, the higher the temperature, the more the self-heating of the own device can be suppressed, and the effect of temperature reduction can be enhanced.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the air-conditioning control device of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the temperature T at the time of abnormality, and the lighting state of a backlight. It is a flow chart which shows the operation procedure which performs temperature reduction at the time of abnormality. It is a flow chart which shows the operation procedure which performs temperature reduction at the time of abnormality.

Hereinafter, an air conditioning control device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioning control device according to an embodiment. The air-conditioning control device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is installed at a predetermined position of a vehicle, and a user gives various operation instructions to an air-conditioning device (air conditioner) having a cooling function, and displays a predetermined operation screen. In addition to displaying, the operation content is specified by detecting the position on the operation screen with the touch panel.

The air conditioning control device 100 includes an operation screen processing unit 110, a display driver 112, a display panel 114, a backlight 116, a touch panel 118, a PWM signal generation unit 120, a backlight driver 122, a position detection unit 124, a switching unit 126, and a temperature sensor 128. , The control unit 130 is included.

The operation screen processing unit 110 creates an operation screen in which the user gives various operation instructions to the air conditioner, and determines the operation content when the operation button included in the operation screen is pressed by the user. Perform the processing to be performed. The operation screen processing unit 110 is realized by using a dedicated graphic chip. Generally, such a graphic chip generates a large amount of heat as compared with the control unit 130 and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen. The user can give various operation instructions to the air conditioner by pointing (pressing) various operation buttons included in the operation screen.

The display driver 112 drives the display panel 114 based on the video signal output from the operation screen processing unit 110, and displays an image of the operation screen indicated by the video signal. The display panel 114 is, for example, a color liquid crystal panel, and is assembled in a state of facing the backlight 116 illuminated from the back surface. The backlight 116 is formed of, for example, an LED.

The touch panel 118 is arranged so as to overlap the surface of the display panel 114, and detects the position on the screen where the user's finger or the like touches. As the touch panel 118, for example, a capacitance type touch panel is used, but a touch panel of another type (resistive film type or the like) may be used.

The PWM signal generation unit 120 generates a PWM signal for adjusting the brightness (brightness) of the backlight 116 by controlling the driving voltage of the backlight 116 by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). The backlight driver 122 drives the backlight 116 with the duty indicated by the PWM signal generated by the PWM signal generation unit 120. The backlight 116 turns on brightest when the duty is 100%, becomes darker as the duty decreases, and turns off when the duty is 0%.

The position detection unit 124 is connected to the touch panel 118 and performs a process for detecting the position on the screen where the user's finger or the like touches. For example, in the case of the capacitance type touch panel 118, the position detection unit 124 detects a change in capacitance between a plurality of electrodes orthogonal to each other, so that the user's finger or the like touches the screen. The position can be specified.

The switching unit 126 switches the connection destination that is the master of the position detection unit 124. During normal operation (when the user gives an operation instruction to the air conditioner using the displayed operation screen), the operation screen processing unit 110 gives various instructions to the position detection unit 124 and the position detection unit. The position information on the screen detected by 124 is received. As a result, the operation screen processing unit 110 can determine which button included in the operation screen generated by itself is pressed (operation instruction content). In this normal state, the position detection unit 124 is connected to the operation screen processing unit 110 via the switching unit 126. On the other hand, when the temperature of the backlight 116 configured by the LED becomes excessive beyond the permissible range, the position detection unit 124 is connected to the control unit 130 via the switching unit 126. Since the operation screen processing unit 110 (graphic chip) that performs processing such as creating an operation screen generates a larger amount of heat than the control unit 130 and the like, in the present embodiment, when an abnormality occurs, the operation screen processing unit 110 together with the backlight 116 By temporarily stopping the operation of, the excessive temperature is lowered.

The temperature sensor 128 is arranged around the backlight 116, and detects the temperature of the backlight 116 (or the temperature around the backlight 116, which is linked to the temperature of the backlight 116).

The control unit 130 controls the entire air conditioning control device 100. The control unit 130 is connected to an air conditioner (not shown) via a communication terminal C, and the operation instruction content determined by the operation screen processing unit 110, for example, by communication according to the CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol. Is sent to the air conditioner. Further, the control unit 130 instructs the duty of the PWM signal generated by the PWM signal generation unit 120. Further, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the user is in contact with the touch panel 118 when the position detection unit 124 is connected via the switching unit 126. At the time of this determination, since the operation screen processing unit 110 has stopped operating, nothing is displayed on the display panel 114.

The operation screen processing unit 110 described above is used as the operation screen processing means, the display panel 114 is used as the liquid crystal display device, the position detecting unit 124 is used as the position detecting means, the temperature sensor 128 is used as the temperature detecting means, and the control unit 130 is used as the control means. Correspond.

The air conditioning control device 100 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, and the operation thereof will be described next.

In the present embodiment, the case where the temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 128 is less than 100 ° C (reference value) is normal (when the user gives an operation instruction to the air conditioner using the displayed operation screen). , 100 ° C or higher is regarded as an abnormal time, and in the case of an abnormal condition, measures for temperature reduction such as turning off the backlight 116 and stopping the operation of the operation screen processing unit 110 are taken.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the temperature T and the lighting state of the backlight 116 at the time of abnormality. As shown in FIG. 3, the backlight 116 is always lit at a normal time of less than 100 ° C., and its brightness is not particularly limited.

On the other hand, when the temperature T becomes 100 ° C. or higher, the degree of restriction increases in proportion to the degree of exceeding the temperature T. In particular,
100 ° C ≤ T <110 ° C: Lighting time t is unlimited, PWM duty is 50%
110 ° C ≤ T <115 ° C: Lighting time t is 60 seconds, PWM duty is 30%
115 ° C ≤ T <120 ° C: Lighting time t is 10 seconds, PWM duty is 20%
120 ° C ≦ T: Lighting time t is 3 seconds, PWM duty is 10%
The lighting time and brightness (PWM duty) are limited.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing an operation procedure for reducing the temperature when an abnormality occurs. In parallel with the operation screen display operation (step 100) by the operation screen processing unit 110, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the temperature T of the backlight 116 detected by the temperature sensor 128 is less than 100 ° C (step). 102). If the temperature is less than 100 ° C, an affirmative determination is made, the process returns to step 100, and the operation screen display operation is continued.

Further, when the temperature T is 100 ° C. or higher, a negative determination is made in the determination in step 102. Next, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the PWM signal generation unit 120 to set the duty of the PWM signal to 0% and turns off the backlight 116 (step 104), and also sends an instruction to the operation screen processing unit 110 to turn off the backlight 116. The operation is stopped (step 106). Further, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the switching unit 126 to switch the connection destination of the position detection unit 124 from the operation screen processing unit 110 to the control unit 130 (step 108). By the operations of steps 104 and 106, the operations of the backlight 116 and the operation screen processing unit 110, which generate a large amount of heat, are stopped, and the temperature rise due to the self-heating of the air conditioning control device 100 itself is suppressed.

Next, the control unit 130 monitors the position detection unit 124 and determines whether or not the contact of the user's finger with the touch panel 118 is detected (step 110). If there is no contact, a negative decision is made. Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the temperature T has become less than 100 ° C (step 112). When the state of 100 ° C. or higher is maintained, a negative determination is made, and the process returns to step 110 to repeat the contact determination of the user's finger.

Further, when the temperature T drops to less than 100 ° C. as the operation of the backlight 116 and the operation screen processing unit 110 is stopped, a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 112. In this case, in order to return from the abnormal state to the normal state, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the PWM signal generation unit 120 to turn on the backlight 116 (step 114), and the operation screen processing unit 110. Is instructed to enable the operation (step 116). Further, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the switching unit 126 to switch the connection destination of the position detection unit 124 from the control unit 130 to the operation screen processing unit 110 (step 118). After that, the process returns to step 100 and the display operation of the operation screen is restarted.

Further, if the contact of the user's finger with the touch panel 118 is detected when the operation of the backlight 116 and the operation screen processing unit 110 is stopped, a positive judgment is made in the determination in step 110. Next, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the PWM signal generation unit 120 to turn on the backlight 116 with the PWM duty (FIG. 3) corresponding to the temperature T at that time (step 120), and the operation screen processing unit 110. Is instructed to enable the operation (step 122). Further, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the switching unit 126 to switch the connection destination of the position detection unit 124 from the control unit 130 to the operation screen processing unit 110 (step 124). By these operations, the display operation of the operation screen is restarted (step 126). The user can instruct the activation of the air conditioner, the temperature control, and the like by using the displayed operation screen (FIG. 2).

Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not the lighting time t (FIG. 3) of the backlight 116 corresponding to the temperature T has elapsed since the display operation of the operation screen was restarted (step 128). If it has not passed, a negative determination is made, and the process returns to step 126 to continue the display operation of the operation screen.

Further, when the lighting time t of the backlight 116 elapses, an affirmative judgment is made in the determination in step 128. Next, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the PWM signal generation unit 120 to set the duty of the PWM signal to 0% and turns off the backlight 116 (step 130), and also sends an instruction to the operation screen processing unit 110 to turn off the backlight 116. The operation is stopped (step 132). Further, the control unit 130 sends an instruction to the switching unit 126 to switch the connection destination of the position detection unit 124 from the operation screen processing unit 110 to the control unit 130 (step 134). By the operations of steps 130 and 132, the operations of the backlight 116 and the operation screen processing unit 110, which generate a large amount of heat, are stopped again.

Next, the control unit 130 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the operations of the backlight 116 and the operation screen processing unit 110 are stopped (step 136). This predetermined time may be the same as the lighting time t (FIG. 3) of the backlight 116 corresponding to the temperature T, or may be a constant time not related to the temperature T. If it has not passed, a negative judgment is made and this judgment is repeated. Further, when the predetermined time has elapsed, an affirmative judgment is made in the determination in step 136. In this case, the process returns to step 110 and the contact determination of the user's finger is repeated.

As described above, in the air conditioning control device 100 of the present embodiment, the temperature of the own device can be lowered by turning off the backlight 116 in a high temperature environment in which the temperature of the backlight 116 exceeds the reference value. Further, by temporarily turning on the backlight 116 when contact with the touch panel 118 is detected when the light is turned off, the user can operate the air conditioner using the operation screen while suppressing the amount of heat generated by the backlight 116 (air conditioning). Control) is possible.

Further, when the detected temperature exceeds the reference value, the backlight 116 is repeatedly turned off and on, so that the operation that was not completed at the time of temporary lighting can be completed at the time of the next and subsequent lighting.

Further, when the backlight 116 is turned off, the operation of the operation screen processing unit 110 is also stopped. In general, the operation screen processing unit 110 that performs the process of creating the operation screen generates a large amount of heat. Therefore, by stopping the operation of the operation screen processing unit 110 in accordance with the extinguishing of the backlight 116, the own device can be further operated. The temperature can be reduced.

Further, the detection operation by the position detection unit 124 is performed in cooperation with the operation screen processing unit 110 (under the control of the operation screen processing unit 110), and when the operation of the operation screen processing unit 110 is stopped, the position detection unit 124 performs the detection operation. The cooperation destination of the detection operation is switched from the operation screen processing unit 110 to the control unit 130. As a result, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of contact using the touch panel 118 even when the operation screen is hidden when the backlight 116 is turned off.

Further, the larger the difference between the temperature T of the backlight 116 and the reference value, the darker the brightness at the time of lighting the backlight 116 (reducing the PWM duty) and the shorter the lighting time of the backlight 116. The higher the temperature T, the more the self-heating of the own device can be suppressed, and the more effective the temperature reduction can be.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation of the backlight 116 and the operation screen processing unit 110 is stopped, but the backlight 116, which generates more heat, may be turned off. Further, when the backlight 116 is turned on when the temperature T exceeds the reference value, the lighting time t and the brightness (PWM duty) are changed at the same time according to the temperature T, but only one of them should be changed. You may.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the air-conditioning control device 100 for controlling the air-conditioning device mounted on the vehicle has been described, but the present invention is also applied to the case of controlling an air-conditioning device used indoors or outdoors other than in-vehicle. be able to.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to lower the temperature of the own device by turning off the backlight in a high temperature environment where the temperature of the backlight exceeds the reference value. In addition, by temporarily turning on the backlight when contact with the touch panel is detected when the light is turned off, the user can operate the air conditioner (air conditioning control) using the operation screen while suppressing the amount of heat generated by the backlight. It will be possible.

100 Air-conditioning controller 110 Operation screen processing unit 112 Display driver 114 Display panel 116 Backlight 118 Touch panel 120 PWM signal generation unit 122 Backlight driver 124 Position detection unit 126 Switching unit 128 Temperature sensor 130 Control unit

Claims (6)

An operation screen processing means for creating an operation screen for operating an air conditioner having a cooling function,
A liquid crystal display device that is illuminated by a backlight and displays the operation screen,
A position detecting means for detecting an operation position in the operation screen using a touch panel arranged so as to be superimposed on the screen of the liquid crystal display device, and a position detecting means.
A temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the backlight and
When the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means exceeds the reference value, the backlight is turned off, and when the position detecting means detects contact with the touch panel, the backlight is temporarily turned on. Control means to be performed and
An air conditioning controller characterized by being equipped with. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means repeatedly turns off and on the backlight when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means exceeds a reference value. The air conditioning control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means stops the operation of the operation screen processing means when the backlight is turned off. The detection operation by the position detecting means is performed in cooperation with the operation screen processing means.
3. The third aspect of the present invention is further provided with a switching means for switching the cooperation destination of the detection operation by the position detecting means from the operation screen processing means to the control means when the operation of the operation screen processing means by the control means is stopped. The air conditioning controller described. Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means darkens the brightness when the backlight is turned on as the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means and the reference value increases. The air conditioning controller described in the section. The control means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the larger the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means and the reference value, the shorter the lighting time of the backlight. Air conditioning controller.

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