JP2517190B2 - Wireless remote control water heater - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transmission / reception system which realizes a low power consumption of a receiving device by intermittently waiting for a signal and a receiving device having an extended battery life.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A transmission / reception system of this type is shown in FIGS.
Will be explained. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the case where the transmission / reception system using the radio wave signal is applied to the remote control of the instantaneous gas water heater. The gas water heater 101 is usually installed outdoors or in a machine room. Gas supply pipe 102
The water supplied from the water pipe 103 is heated by burning the gas supplied from the bathroom 105 through the hot water supply pipe 104.
Hot water is supplied to the shower 107 and the faucet 108 of the kitchen 106. Remote controls 109 and 1 in the bathroom 105 and kitchen 106
10 is installed, the operation for adjusting the hot water supply temperature and the operating state of the gas water heater 101 can be monitored. Operation signals from the remote controllers 109 and 110 to the gas water heater 101 and the gas water heater 101 to the remote controller 10
The operation status signals to 9 and 110 are radio wave signals 111 and 112.
Therefore, it is not necessary to wire the signal line between them. Moreover, since a battery is used as the power source, there is an advantage that the installation place is not limited. However, on the other hand, battery replacement is complicated, and low power consumption for reducing the frequency of battery replacement is a very large technical issue. In particular, it is the most important issue to reduce the power consumption required for the signal waiting operation in the transmission / reception system.

Therefore, in the conventional transmission / reception system,
As shown in FIG. 4 (ii), t11 / t10 in the case of continuous standby of power consumption by intermittently waiting for a signal at a constant period t10 which is the receiving apparatus.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4I, the preamble signal 3 having a length t14, which is longer than the intermittent waiting period t10, precedes the signal 32 to be originally transmitted as shown in FIG.
By transmitting with 1 added, reliable reception processing and low power consumption have been realized in the receiving device.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the longer the signal waiting period t10 in order to reduce the power consumption of the receiving device, the longer the length of the preamble part 31 of the transmission signal 30 becomes. It is necessary to increase the length, and although it is possible to reduce the power consumption, the transmission time t13 becomes long and one transmission device occupies a communication channel for a long time, which hinders the communication operation of other systems. A new problem arises. For such a problem, for example, in the case of a specific low power radio wave system or the like, a regulation value of a transmission time limit is provided, and the same transmitting device has a mechanism in which an electric wave signal cannot be output indefinitely. Therefore, since the preamble part 31 cannot be taken long, the intermittent waiting period t10 cannot be necessarily made long, and there is a problem that there is no effect of reducing power consumption. The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transmission / reception system that achieves low power consumption of a receiving device without extending the communication operation of another system and extends battery life. It is what

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the transmission / reception system of the present invention comprises first timer means for cyclically outputting a first timer signal having a constant period T1, and this first timer. First counting means for initializing the counted value again after counting the signal N1 a predetermined number of times, and when transmission is necessary, with reference to the time point when the counted value of the first counting means changes to a predetermined value. Transmitting device for starting the transmission operation by means of the above, a second timer means for cyclically outputting a second timer signal of a constant period T2, and this second timer signal was counted N2 a predetermined number of times. By the way, the second counting means for initializing the counting value again, and the waiting operation of the transmission signal from the transmitting device is performed for a predetermined time with reference to the time when the counting value of the second counting means changes to a predetermined value. At the same time, when there is the transmission signal during the standby operation, reception control means for performing reception processing of the transmission signal, and after a predetermined delay time from the completion of the normal reception operation of the transmission signal, the second timer means The reception device is provided with a timing synchronization means for resetting the next standby operation timing by restarting and updating the count value of the second counting means.

Further, due to the accumulated error of the time accuracy of the first timer means of the transmitter and the second timer means of the receiver, the transmission / reception timing is out of synchronization, and the receiver cannot receive the transmission signal. Before, the transmitting device periodically transmits a polling signal to the receiving device in synchronization with the transmission timing created by the first timer means and the first counting means, and the receiving device receives the polling signal and the transmission / reception timing. Is set again.

[0007]

With the above structure, when the transmitter needs to transmit, the transmitter starts the transmission operation based on the time when the count value of the first counting means changes to the predetermined value. On the other hand, the receiving device intermittently operates the receiving circuit and waits for a transmission signal from the transmitting device based on the time when the count value of the second counting means changes to a predetermined value. A low power consumption standby reception operation is possible in which the power of the reception circuit is turned on only when there is a possibility of transmission.

[0008] The transmitter transmits a regular polling signal to the receiver in addition to the irregular information signal when it is necessary to transmit, and the receiver also receives the irregular information signal and the periodic polling signal. When the signal bucket of the polling signal is normally received, the timing synchronizing means restarts the second timer means and updates the count value of the second counting means after a predetermined delay time from the reception completion time. As a result, since the next standby operation timing is determined, it is possible to prevent out-of-sync of transmission and reception due to the accumulated error of the time accuracy of the first timer signal and the second timer signal.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A shows a transmitting device, and FIG. 1B shows a receiving device. In FIG. 1 (a), a transmitter 1 cyclically outputs a first timer signal 2a having a constant period T1, first timer means 2 and the first timer signal 2a.
The first count having a configuration in which the transmission timing signal 3a is output when the count value reaches a predetermined value, and the count value is initialized by the next counting operation after the count value reaches the maximum value. Means 3, a signal generating means 4 for outputting an information signal 4a such as sensor information and key input information, an information signal 4a from this signal generating means 4 is inputted and the necessity of transmission is judged from the contents, and the necessity of transmission Occurs and the polling request signal 10a described later is input, the transmission determination means 5 outputs the transmission request signal 5a and the data signal 5b to be transmitted, and the transmission timing signal 3a when this transmission request signal 5a is input. The transmission operation is started on the basis of, and the transmission signal 6a and the transmission power control signal 6b in which the preamble signal and the transmission error check code are added to the data signal 5b The transmission control means 6 that applies power, the transmission circuit 7 that converts the transmission signal 6a into a radio wave signal 7a and sends it out from the transmission antenna 9, and the power supply control signal 6b from the transmission control means 6 supplies power to the transmission circuit 7a. And a polling control means 10 for periodically outputting a polling request signal 10a to the transmission determination means 5 and transmitting the polling signal to the transmitter.

In FIG. 1B, the receiving device 11 includes a second timer means 12 for generating a second timer signal 12a having a constant period T2, and the second timer signal 12a.
Is counted and the standby timing signal 13a is output when the count value reaches a predetermined value, and after the count value reaches the maximum value N2, the count value is initialized by the next counting operation. Counting means 13, standby timing signal 1
3a as a reference, a reception power control signal 16b for supplying power 18a to the reception circuit 17 and a reception control means 16 for performing standby processing of the reception signal 16a from the reception circuit 17, a reception power control means 18, When the reception antenna 19 for catching the radio wave signal 7a sent from the transmitter 1 and the reception control means 16 correctly receive the reception completion signal 15a and the reception data 15b from the reception control means 16, the reception antenna 19 receives the reception completion signal 15a and the reception data 15b. A control signal generator 15 for outputting a control signal 14a for driving the control device 14, also starts timing at the same time as the reception completion signal 15a is input, and initializes the second timer means 12 after a predetermined time t9. And second counting means 13
The timing synchronization means 20 outputs a timing synchronization signal 20a for updating the count value of 1 by 1.

In such a configuration, the first timer signal cycle T1, the maximum count value N1 of the first counting means 3, the second timer signal cycle T2 and the maximum count value N2 of the second counting means 13 are used. The relationship satisfies the following equation.

T1 × N1 = K × T2 × N2 (1) However, K is a natural number Next, FIG. 2 (a) and FIG.
This will be described with reference to (b), FIG. 2 (c) and FIG. Figure 2
(A) shows the signal timing of the transmitter 1, and (i) in the figure shows the first timer signal 2 of a constant period T1.
a and (ii) show the transition of the count value in the first counting means 3, and the maximum count value N1 in this case is 4.
That is, the count value increases to 1, 2, 3, 4 and then returns to 1 in the next counting operation, and the numerical values 1 to 4 appear cyclically. (Iii) is the transmission timing signal 3a
In this case, it is output at the timing when the count value changes from 4 to 1. (Iv) is the transmission signal 6a output from the transmission control means 6, and when the necessity of transmission arises, the transmission operation is started based on the transmission timing signal of (iii).

FIG. 2 (b) shows the signal timing of the receiving device 11, in which (i) shows the second timer signal 12a having a constant period T2, and (ii) shows the second counting means 1.
3 shows the transition of the count value, and the maximum count value N2 in this case is also 4. That is, the count value is 1 to 4
After it has increased to 1, it returns to 1 again in the next counting operation.
The numbers 1 to 4 appear cyclically. (Iii) is the standby timing signal 13a, which is output at the timing when the count value changes from 4 to 1.
(Iv) is the reception power supply control signal 16a output from the reception control means 16, and is the standby timing signal 1 of (iii).
3A shows the timing of supplying power to the receiving circuit 17 based on 3a and performing a standby operation.

FIG. 2 (c) shows the signal timing of the entire transmission / reception system according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows the case where K = 1 in the above equation (1).

In the figure, (i) shows one signal in the information signal 4a from the signal generating means 4 and shows that the state changes from the L level to the H level at the point A.

(Ii) is a transmission timing signal 3a output from the first counting means 3 and is cyclically input to the transmission control means 6 at a cycle T.

(Iii) shows the timing of the transmission signal 6a output from the transmission control means 6, and the information signal 4a at point A
The transmission timing signal 3a is used as a reference to start the transmission in response to the change. t5 is a transmission timing signal 3
The time from the output of a to the output of the transmission signal 6a, t6 is the time length of the transmission signal 6a, and t7 is the time from the completion of transmission of the transmission signal 6a to the output of the next transmission timing signal 3a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission signal 6a is composed of a preamble signal section 21 used when the receiving apparatus 11 catches a signal and an information signal section 22 to be originally transmitted. Further, the information signal section 22 includes a frame synchronization code for indicating the beginning of the signal, an ID code for distinguishing the transmission source and the transmission partner of the signal, a data section carrying information to be transmitted, and whether or not the transmitted signal is incorrect. It is composed of a transmission error check code for detecting whether or not.

(Iv) is the second counting means 1 of the receiving device 11.
3 shows the standby timing signal 13a output from the signal No. 3, which is cyclically output at the same cycle T as the transmission timing signal 3a. However, two timing signals 3
Nominal values of a and 13a are the same, but there is always a tolerance, so they deviate. Therefore, the cycle of the standby timing signal 13a is expressed as T '.

(V) An intermittent reception power control signal 16b output from the reception control means 16 is shown. Power-on of the reception circuit 17 by the reception power control signal 16b is started in synchronization with the standby timing signal 13a, but when there is no signal from the transmission device 1, automatic operation is performed after a fixed time (t1) as in 16b (1). Power off. On the other hand, when a signal is transmitted from the transmitter 1, the signal is received as in 16b (3), so that the power is kept on during that period.

The phase difference t2 between the transmission timing signal 3a and the standby timing signal 13a gradually shifts due to the difference in time accuracy between the two timing signals. For example, the ideal state of the phase difference between the two timing signals is the case of the standby timing signal 13a (1) with respect to the transmission timing signal 3a (1), and the virtually shown start of the transmission signal 6a 'is intermittent. This is the case when the meeting 16b (1) is just at the center position.

However, when the two timing signals deviate in time, the transmission is performed with the center of the t1 portion of the intermittent standby 16b (3) as in the case of the standby timing signal 13a (3) for the transmission timing signal 3a (3). A deviation t8 from the beginning of the signal 6a occurs. This t8 is t1 / 2
When the above is completed, the receiving device 11 is in a state of being unable to receive the transmission signal from the transmission signal 1.

Therefore, the receiver 11 adjusts the standby timing signal 13a before such a state occurs.
That is, when the reception control unit 16 normally receives the transmission signal from the transmission device 1, when the reception completion signal 15a is input to the timing synchronization unit 20, a predetermined fixed value t9 time is measured, and the timing synchronization signal is obtained. 20a is output to the second timer means 12 and the second counting means 13. The second synchronization means 20a is initialized by the timing synchronization signal 20a, and the count value of the second counting means 13 is forcibly set to "2" to transmit the next standby timing signal 13a (4). The phase difference from the timing signal 3a (4) is again calculated as ideal t2.
Can be returned to.

Since t7 can be obtained by (T-t5-t6) and t2 is a design value, t9 is a value uniquely determined from (t7-t2).

(Vi) is one of the control signals 14a given to the controlled device 14, which is outputted from the control signal generating means 15 after the reception signal 16a is judged to be a correct signal by the reception control means 16. At point B, the content of the information signal 4a of the transmitter 1 (change from L level to H level) is transmitted.

In the embodiment, the nominal values of the cycle of the transmission timing signal 3a and the cycle of the standby timing signal 13a are made the same, but in general, the standby timing signal 13 is used.
It is apparent that transmission and reception can be synchronized by setting the cycle of a to be an integral multiple of the cycle of the transmission timing signal 3a.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the transmission signal 6a
It is possible to reliably receive the preamble signal section t3 without lengthening the preamble signal section t3, and it is possible to solve the conventional problems. Further, the present invention provides a practical method for preventing out-of-synchronization of transmission and reception due to a difference in time accuracy of two timing signals output from two independent timer means which are indispensable for the configuration of the present invention.

[0028]

As described above, the transmission / reception system of the present invention includes a timer means and a counting means for outputting a cyclic timing signal whose cycle is an integral multiple of each other to both the transmitter and the receiver. Are provided and the transmission and reception are performed with the timing of each other, the following effects are obtained.

(1) Since the receiving side only has to turn on the power at the timing when a signal is likely to come from the transmitting side, it is possible to minimize the power consumption required for standby. Therefore, when applied to a battery-powered remote controller or the like, it takes a long time to replace the battery, which is very convenient.

(2) Since the transmitting side and the receiving side are always synchronized by the timer, it is not necessary to increase the length of the preamble signal portion. Therefore, since the transmission time of the entire signal is shortened, the communication channel occupation time per transmission is reduced, and a transmission / reception system with less signal interference problems with other systems can be realized.

(3) The receiving device receives a periodic polling signal from the transmitting device, and the phase difference between the timing signal of the receiving device and the timing signal of the transmitting device is reset based on the received signal. Therefore, the phase shift due to the difference in the time accuracy of the two timing signals can be automatically restored.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a transmitter of a transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a receiver of the same system.

FIG. 2 (a) is a partial signal timing diagram of the transmitter of the same system. (B) is a partial signal timing diagram of the receiver of the same system. (C) is a partial signal timing diagram of the same system.

FIG. 3 is a signal configuration diagram of the system.

FIG. 4 is a signal timing diagram of a conventional transmission / reception system.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing the installation situation when the system is used for a gas water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 transmitter 2 1st timer means 3 1st counting means 5 transmission control means 6 transmission control means 7 transmission circuit 8 transmission power supply control means 10 polling control means 11 receiving device 12 second timer means 13 second counting means 16 reception control means 17 reception circuit 18 reception power supply control means 20 timing synchronization means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Yamamoto 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-4-132397 (JP, A) JP-A-3- 99598 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first timer means for cyclically outputting a first timer signal having a constant period T1, and a first timer means for initializing the count value again when the first timer signal is counted a predetermined number of times N1. A transmission device having a counting means, a transmission control means for starting a transmission operation based on the time when the count value of the first counting means changes to a predetermined value when transmission is necessary, and a fixed period. Second timer means for cyclically outputting the second timer signal of T2, second counting means for initializing the count value again when the second timer signal is counted a predetermined number of times N2, and the second counting means. The standby operation of the transmission signal from the transmission device is performed for a certain period of time based on the time point when the count value of the counting means changes to a predetermined value, and if there is the transmission signal during this standby operation, Reception control means for carrying out signal processing, and by restarting the second timer means and updating the count value of the second counting means after a predetermined delay time from the completion of the normal reception operation of the transmission signal. , A timing synchronization means for resetting the next standby operation timing , the first timer signal period T1, the first counting means
Maximum count value N1 of the second timer signal period T2 and
The relationship of the maximum count value N2 of the second counting means is T1 × N1 =
A transmitter / receiver composed of a receiver of K × T2 × N2 (K is a natural number), and a transmitter / receiver having one of the transmitter and receiver.
A wireless remote control device and a transmitter / receiver device for the other
A wireless remote control water heater combined with a water heater . 2. A transmitting device periodically loses synchronization of transmission / reception timing due to a cumulative error of time accuracy of the first timer means and the second timer means, and periodically before the receiving device cannot receive a transmission signal. The wireless remote control water heater according to claim 1, wherein the polling signal is transmitted to the receiving device in synchronization with a transmission timing generated by the first timer means and the first counting means.