JP2789847B2 - Timer device for electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timer device for electric equipment having a timer operation function for starting or stopping operation after a set time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a timer device of a conventional electric device used for an oil fan heater or the like. In the figure, 1 is a time setting means which comprises an increase switch, a decrease switch, etc., and sets the timer time as the remaining time
2 is a set time storage unit for storing the timer time set by the time setting means 1, 3 is a timer unit for loading the timer time stored in the set time storage unit 2 and performing down-counting, and 4 is a timer time remaining. A display means consisting of a two-digit numerical display LED or the like for displaying time is used to start or stop an operation of an electric equipment load group 6 (hereinafter referred to as a load) consisting of a motor, a heater and the like in response to a count-up signal from a timer section 3. And display means 4 until the count up.
A normal operation control unit that controls the load 6 during normal operation;
Is an operation switching means including a switch for switching the operation of the timer operation control unit 5 and the normal operation control unit 7.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when the operation switching unit 8 is operated to switch to the operation of the timer operation control unit 5, the previously set timer time stored in the set time storage unit 2 is loaded into the timer unit 3 to start down counting and , The timer time is displayed on the display means 4 with the remaining time. At this time, for example, if it is desired to set at 11:00 pm and start or stop the operation at 6:00 in the next morning, operate the time setting means 1 to set “7 hours later”. "7 hours" is set, and "7 hours" is also displayed on the display means 4 at the same time.

The timer section 3 continues counting,
The countdown is started from 7 hours, and the remaining time is always displayed on the display means 4. Timer operation control unit 5
Means that the timer section 3 counts up and the remaining time is "0"
Then, the operation of the load 6 is started or stopped, and the display of the display means 4 is changed from the time display to another display (for example, a temperature display) to inform the user of the operation state.

[0005] Next, when it is desired to start the operation at the same time the next morning, for example, as in a rice cooker, the same operation as described above is performed and the previously set timer time is loaded from the set time storage unit 2 into the timer unit 3. "After 7 hours" is automatically set. However, the time to start the operation every morning is the same, but the time to set the timer operation is often different. For example, when setting at 9:00 pm at the same time the next morning (6:00 am), the time is set every time. The time of the timer section 3 had to be changed to "9 hours later" by operating the means 1.

On the other hand, in a configuration without the set time storage section 2, the timer section 3 counts up and the load 6
After the timer operation is performed, when the timer operation time is to be set again next time, the timer unit 3 is stopped at "0". I had to reset it to the required setting time.

FIG. 12 shows a display section of an ignition timer device for a combustor disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-15774, which solves the above-mentioned problem. This timer device has a built-in clock, and once the time is set, the timer operation can be performed at the same time every day. However, both the current time adjustment (clock adjustment) and ignition time adjustment are necessary. Not only that, but a four-digit numerical display LED for displaying the time of the hour and minute was required, and it was very expensive.

[0008]

Since the conventional apparatus is configured as described above, when the timer operation is performed at the same time every day, the time setting means 1 must be operated each time, so that it is easy to use. However, there is a problem that the number of parts increases when trying to improve it, leading to an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to obtain a timer device for an electric device which has improved usability without increasing costs.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a time setting means for setting a timer time by a remaining time, and counting of the timer time set by the time setting means. A timer unit that outputs a signal when the counting of the timer time is completed, a timer operation control unit that starts or stops the operation of the load by an output signal from the timer unit, and performs switching between timer operation and normal operation. Operation switching means, display means for displaying the timer time, and a predetermined time storage unit for storing a predetermined time, the timer unit keeps counting time even when other than timer operation, the timer unit is When the counting of the timer time is completed, the default time stored in the predetermined time storage unit is automatically reset, and the counting is continued. When switching the timer operation by operation changeover means, in which so as to display the upper digit of the timer time display means.

According to a second aspect, in the first aspect,
When the upper digit of the timer time is displayed on the display,
The first operation of the time setting means resets only the lower digit of the timer time which is not displayed on the display means. After the first operation of the time setting means, when the operation is performed again within a predetermined time, the higher order of the timer time is reset. The digits are changed.

[0012] The third invention is the above-mentioned second invention,
The setting of the timer time by the time setting means can be set from the upper limit to the lower limit or from the lower limit to the upper limit by one operation.

According to a fourth aspect, in the second aspect,
The display means displays the lower digits of the timer time for a short time immediately after switching to the timer operation.

According to a fifth aspect, in the second aspect,
Immediately after switching to the timer operation, when the lower digit of the timer time is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the display means changes the display state for a short time and displays the display.

In a sixth aspect based on the second aspect,
The display means changes display contents in response to a display change signal from the timer operation control unit. The display change signal is output when the timer unit finishes counting the timer time or when the operation of the load by the timer operation control unit is disabled. It is designed to output when possible.

According to a seventh aspect, in the first aspect,
The timer section and the timer operation control section are constituted by a microcomputer. The timer section sets a predetermined timer time by initial reset of the microcomputer and inhibits timer counting until the operation switching means switches to the timer operation. The means operates so as not to count the timer time.

[0017]

According to the timer apparatus of the present invention, when the timer time is set by the time setting means with the remaining time, and the operation is switched to the timer operation by the operation switching means, the value being counted by the timer section is used as the timer. The timer operation is performed using the time, and only the upper digits of the timer time are displayed on the display means.

[0018]

[Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, a time setting unit 1, a timer unit 3, a display unit 4, a timer operation control unit 5, an electric device load group 6, a normal operation control unit 7, and an operation switching unit 8 have the same configuration as the conventional example of FIG. It is. Reference numeral 9 denotes a default time storage unit for storing a predetermined time (24 hours in this embodiment) to be loaded into the timer unit 3 when the timer unit 3 counts up the timer time.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram embodying the configuration diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes an increase switch for increasing the set time of the timer unit 3, and reference numeral 11 denotes a decrease switch for decreasing the set time. 12
Means operation switching means 8 for switching between timer operation and normal operation
Switch 13 as a timer changeover switch
An input circuit for inputting information such as 0, a decrease switch 11, a timer changeover switch 12, a CPU 13b for performing various calculations based on the information, a memory 13c for storing programs and various information, CPU 13b
A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) comprising an output circuit 13d for sending an operation signal to the electric equipment load group 6 in accordance with the command of the above. Means. The timer unit 3, the timer operation control unit 5, the normal operation control unit 7, and the predetermined time storage unit 9 are configured by the microcomputer 13.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the control flowchart of FIG. First, when power is supplied to the microcomputer 13 and operation starts, the memory 1
"8 hours" is initially set in a timer in 3c (step 15). Next, when the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on (step 16), the timer operation control unit 5 operates to process the operation of the increase or decrease switches 10 and 11 (hereinafter, referred to as setting switches) (step 17).
Display processing on display 4 (step 18), timer section 3
Is performed (step 19). When the counting of the timer time is not completed (step 20), the loop is repeated until the operation stop state (step 21) is continued and the counting of the timer time is completed and the display of the display 4 becomes "0". .

"0" after the count of the timer time is completed
Then, "24 hours" is automatically loaded into the timer section 3 from the predetermined time storage section 9 in the memory 13c and set (step 22). At the same time, the load 6 is controlled to start the timer operation. . At this time, the counting process of the timer unit 3 is also performed continuously.

On the other hand, when the timer changeover switch 12 is off, the normal operation control section 7 controls the normal operation (step 2).
4) and display on the display 4 (step 25). Further, the counting process of the timer unit 3 is also performed (step 2).
6) When the remaining time of the timer section 3 has reached "0" (step 27), 24 hours are similarly loaded, and the timer section 3 continues the count processing.

As described above, the timer section 3 performs the counting process even during the normal operation. For example, after the setting switches 10 and 11 are pressed to set the operation time by the timer to "how many hours later", the timer switching switch 12 Is turned off, the timer unit 3 continues the counting process. Therefore, when the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on next to perform the timer operation, the timer unit 3 operates until the previously set operation time. Remaining time is up. Therefore, once the operation time is set by the timer, the operation can be started at the same time as the previously set time, even if the normal operation is performed in the middle and then the operation is switched to the timer operation again. There is no need to press 11 to set the time of the timer unit 3.

When the counting of the timer time is completed, "24 hours" is automatically loaded and the counting is continued. For example, the daily operation start time is fixed at 6:00 am In such a case, when setting at 9:00 pm on the previous day, the timer unit 3 may be set to “9 hours later”. Once set, even if the counting of the timer time is completed and the timer operation is started, "24 hours" is automatically loaded and the counting of the timer is continued. When the timer operation is performed by turning on the switch 12, the timer unit 3
Is "7 hours later", and the operation start time is 6:00 am. In this way, when the timer operation is performed at the same time every day, it is not necessary to reset the setting by using the setting switches 10 and 11 every time when the timer operation is set to "how many hours later".

Further, if the default time stored in the default time storage section 9 is set to "12 hours", it is convenient when the timer is used every day at the same time, for example, 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. is there.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the timer unit 3 and the display contents of the display unit 4. Timer part 3 is "hour""minute"
For example, when "seconds" is set, "8", "00", and "00" are set. Every time the time elapses, “minute” and “second” are incremented to 60 minutes 00
When the second comes, "hour" is decremented to 7:00:00. Since the display is a two-digit 7-segment LED, only "hour" is displayed. For example, when the display is "8", the time is from 7 hours 00 minutes 01 seconds to 8 hours 00 minutes 0
Represents up to 0 seconds.

To operate at the same time every day, it is only necessary to turn on the timer changeover switch 12 and switch to the timer operation. At this time, the "hour" digit of the timer section 3 being counted is displayed on the display. Is done. Therefore, the previous set time can be reconfirmed, and even if the set time has been changed by another person, it can be seen at a glance.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 5 shows a detailed example of step 17 in the flowchart of FIG. A switch operation timer (not shown) is provided in the memory 13c.
Until 0 and 11 are pressed, a count-up process is performed with the passage of time (step 29).

Next, when the setting switches 10 and 11 are depressed, it is confirmed whether or not the switch operation timer has reached 8 seconds or more (step 30). Jump, "minute""second"
Only clear and clear the switch operation timer. On the other hand, when the setting switches 10 and 11 are operated again, the switch operation timer is 8 seconds or less.
The digit of "hour" is incremented or decremented (step 31).

In this way, the setting switches 10, 1
When "1" is pressed once, the "minute" and "second" digits are cleared, and the value of the displayed "hour" can be set. By operating again within 8 seconds of this operation,
The "hour" digit can be changed by one hour unit, and at the same time, the "minute" and "second" digits are cleared. By doing so, the first operation of the setting switches 10 and 11 clears only the lower digits of "minutes" and "seconds" without changing the digits of "hour". When setting to the exact value of “hour”, the setting switches 10 and 1
One need only be operated once.

Embodiment 3 FIG. FIG. 6 is another embodiment of step 17 in the flowchart of FIG. When the increase switch 10 is pressed (step 34), it is determined whether or not the "hour" of the timer unit 3 is the upper limit value "24" of the set time (step 35). The lower limit value changes to "1" (step 36).

The timer section 3 of the first embodiment automatically loads "24" after the end of the counting of the timer time. Therefore, regardless of the previous set value, when the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on, for example, , Timer is 23 hours 30
If it is minutes, “24” is set on the display 4.
At this time, for example, when it is desired to set “6 hours” as the timer time, conventionally, it is set to 6 hours by subtracting one hour from 24 hours. However, in the case of the third embodiment, “24”,
Since "1", "2",..., "6" can be set, the number of operations of the setting switches 10 and 11 can be reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of steps 17 and 18 in the flowchart of FIG. When the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on to switch to the timer operation, "hour" → "minute" → "hour" is displayed at intervals of 3 seconds. As a result, the "minute" of the timer is displayed for 3 seconds immediately after switching to the timer operation, so the display 4 displays the set time of the timer until what time and how many minutes later even though the display 4 has two digits. And inform the user.

Embodiment 5 FIG. FIG. 8 shows step 18 in the flowchart of FIG.
One embodiment is described. When the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on and the operation is switched to the timer operation, when the "minute" digit of the timer time is 30 minutes or less (step 4).
In 3), the "hour" display of the timer time is kept lit (step 45), and if it is 30 minutes or more, the "hour" display of the timer time is blinked for 3 seconds (step 4).
4), it is changed to lighting.

In this way, when the timer time is set, only the "hour" digit is displayed, so that the "minute"
When the digit of is larger, the timer operation is started in a time shorter by the elapsed time of "minute" than the displayed time of "hour". In order to notify the user of this, when the time lag is large, for example, when the time lag is 30 minutes or more, the "hour" display blinks for a short time. Therefore, mistakes in setting the timer time can be reduced.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 9 is a modification of the flowchart of FIG.
7, 48 and 49 are added. When the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on and the operation is switched to the timer operation, the display unit 4 displays "hour" of the timer time. When the timer time reaches "0", a display change signal (not shown) is output from the timer operation control unit 5, and the display on the display 4 is changed from the "hour" display of the timer time to the room temperature display (step 49). . This is because, if the "hour" display is left as it is, "24" is displayed on the display device 4, and the user is distrusted.

When the countdown is in progress until the timer time reaches "0", whether the load group 6 is in an operable state is constantly detected (step 47). Similarly, a display change signal is output, and the display on the display unit 4 is changed to the room temperature display even during the down-counting (step 48). This means that although the timer operation is not possible, the timer time “hour” is displayed on the display 4 and when the time display decreases with the lapse of time, the user is kept until the timer time becomes “0”. I do not realize that timer operation is impossible. Therefore,
By changing to the room temperature display by the display 4, it is possible to inform the user that the timer operation is not possible.

Embodiment 7 FIG. FIG. 10 is obtained by modifying the flowchart of FIG. 3 and adding steps 50, 51, 52, and 53. By the initial reset of the microcomputer 13, "8 hours" is automatically set as an initial setting value in the timer section 3, and a count prohibition flag is set in the memory 13c of the microcomputer 13 (step 50).

During normal operation, if the count prohibition flag is set, the timer section 3 does not perform the timer count process, so that the timer time does not change from the initial set value of "8 hours" (steps 51 and 52). ). When the timer switch 12 is turned on, the timer count prohibition flag is reset (step 53).
The timer unit 3 starts counting. Once the timer count inhibition flag is reset, the microcomputer 13
It is not set until an initial reset is applied to.

Therefore, when the user turns on the timer switch 12 for the first time after turning on the power, "8 hours" is always set, and a random time is not displayed. Absent.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the time setting means for setting the timer time with the remaining time, the timer time set by the time setting means is counted, and the counting of the timer time is terminated. A timer unit that outputs a signal, a timer operation control unit that starts or stops the operation of the load by an output signal from the timer unit, an operation switching unit that switches between timer operation and normal operation, and a timer time. Display means for displaying, and a predetermined time storage unit for storing a predetermined time, wherein the timer unit keeps counting even when the timer operation is not performed, and automatically when the timer unit finishes counting the timer time. The preset time stored in the preset time storage unit is reset to continue counting, and the operation switching means switches to timer operation. Since the upper digit of the timer time is displayed on the display means, when starting or stopping the operation at the same time, it is not necessary to set the time each time, and the operation is not performed by mistakenly setting the time. The effect that the usability is improved is obtained.

According to the second invention, when the time setting means is operated once, only the lower digit of the timer face which is not displayed on the display means for displaying the upper digit of the timer time is reset. Therefore, the operability when setting the time exactly is good.

According to the third aspect, the setting of the timer time by the time setting means can be changed from the upper limit value to the lower limit value or from the lower limit value to the upper limit value by a single operation. Very few.

According to the fourth invention, immediately after switching to the timer operation, the lower digits of the timer time are displayed for a short time, so that the user can be inexpensively informed of the details of the timer time. Can be.

According to the fifth aspect, immediately after switching to the timer operation, when the lower digit of the timer time is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the display state is changed for a short time.
A mistake in setting the timer time can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect, when the timer section counts up the timer time or when the load cannot be operated, the display content of the display is changed to another display. In addition, the reset predetermined time is displayed so that the user is not distrusted, and when the timer operation is impossible, the user can be notified in advance.

Further, according to the seventh aspect of the invention, after the microcomputer is reset, the timer section is automatically set to the initial setting value of the timer time, and the timer count is inhibited until the operation switching means switches to the timer operation. Since the means is operated, a random time is not displayed when the user first operates the timer changeover switch, so that the user is not distrusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a timer and a display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is an example of a display of a conventional timer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Time setting means 3 Timer part 4 Display means 5 Timer operation control part 6 Electric equipment load group 7 Normal operation control part 8 Operation switching means 9 Default time storage part 13 Microcomputer

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A time setting means for setting a timer time as a remaining time, a timer section for counting the timer time set by the time setting means and outputting a signal when the counting of the timer time is completed, A timer operation control unit that starts or stops the operation of the electric device load group based on an output signal from the timer unit, an operation switching unit that switches between the timer operation and the normal operation, and the timer time.
And a predetermined time storage unit for storing a predetermined time, wherein the timer unit keeps counting the time even when the timer operation is not performed, and automatically ends the predetermined time when the counting of the timer time is completed. reconfigure the default time stored in the storage unit while continuing to count, the luck
Displayed when switching to timer operation by
A timer device for an electric device , wherein upper means of the timer time is displayed on a means. 2. An upper digit of a timer time is displayed on said display means.
When the time is displayed, the first operation of the time setting means
Of the lower digit of the timer time not displayed on the display means of
Only after the first operation of this time setting means.
When the operation is performed again within the fixed time, the timer
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the upper digit of the
Timer device for air equipment. 3. The timer setting device according to claim 1, wherein
The setting can be set between the upper limit and the lower limit at predetermined time intervals.
From the upper limit to the lower limit, or from the lower limit to the upper limit
To be settable by one operation
Item 3. A timer device for an electric device according to Item 2. 4. The display means switches to timer operation.
Display the lower digit of the timer time for a short time immediately after
3. The electric device according to claim 2, wherein
Timer device. 5. The display means switches to a timer operation.
Immediately after that, when the lower order of the timer time is a predetermined value or more,
It is special that the display state is changed by the time and displayed.
The timer of an electric device according to claim 2 or 4, wherein
-Device. 6. The timer operation control unit according to claim 6, wherein the display unit is a timer operation control unit.
Display contents are changed by the display change signal from
The display change signal is output from the timer unit to the timer time.
When the count of the timer is completed, or timer operation control
Output when the operation of the electrical equipment load group by the
3. The electricity according to claim 1, wherein
Equipment timer device. 7. The timer section and the timer operation control.
Section is constituted by a microcomputer,
For the initial reset of the microcomputer
Therefore, a predetermined timer time set in advance is set.
And the timer switching by the operation switching means.
Until the timer is switched to
Work and do not count the timer time
The timer of an electric device according to claim 1, wherein
apparatus.