JP2996217B2 - 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. 5 is a configuration diagram of a timer device of a conventional electric device used for an oil fan heater or the like.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a time setting means comprising an increase switch, a decrease switch, etc., for setting the timer time as the remaining time, 2 a set time storage unit for storing the timer time set by the time setting means 1, and 3 a set time storage. A clock unit that loads the timer time stored in the unit 2 and counts down;
Is a 2-digit number display L that displays the remaining time of the timer
A display means 5 composed of an ED or the like starts or stops the operation of an electric equipment load group 6 (hereinafter referred to as a load) composed of a motor, a heater, and the like in response to a count-up signal from a clock section 3, and a display means 4 until the count-up. , A timer operation control unit for displaying a timer time, a normal operation control unit 7 for controlling the load 6 during normal operation, and an operation switching unit 8 including a switch for switching between timer operation and normal operation. .

Next, the operation will be described. First, when the operation switching means 8 is operated to switch to the timer operation, the previously set timer time stored in the set time storage unit 2 is loaded into the clock unit 3 to start counting down, and the timer time remains. The time is displayed on the display means 4. At this time, for example, set at 11:00 pm and
When the user wants to start or stop the operation from the time, when the time setting means 1 is operated and set to “after 7 hours”, “7 hours” is set in the set time storage section 2 and the clock section 3 and simultaneously the display means 4 "7 hours" is also displayed.

The clock section 3 keeps counting, counting down from 7 hours, and the remaining time is always displayed on the display means 4. When the clock unit 3 counts up and the remaining time becomes “0”, the timer operation control unit 5 receives the count-up signal from the clock unit 3 and loads the load 6.
Is started or stopped, and the display on 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.

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 above is performed. And "7 hours later" is set automatically.

[0006]

However, although the time to start the operation every morning is the same, the time to set the time for the timer operation is often different. For example, at 9:00 pm, the same time the next morning (6:00 am ), The time setting means 1 is operated to set the time of the clock section 3 to "9".
After hours had to change.

Since the conventional apparatus is configured as described above, even if the timer operation is performed at the same time every day, if the set time is different, the time setting means 1 must be operated each time. It is inconvenient to use and trying to improve it increases the number of parts, leading to increased costs.

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.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a time setting means for setting a timer time as a remaining time, a timer for down counting the timer time set by the time setting means, A clock section that outputs a signal when the time count is completed, a timer operation control section that starts or stops the operation of the load according to an output signal from the clock section, and operation switching means that switches between timer operation and normal operation. Display means for displaying the timer time set by the time setting means, and when the clock unit finishes counting the timer time, the clock unit automatically resets 24 hours and continues down counting. The display means is configured to change the display content from the timer time display to the temperature display when the electric device load group is in an inoperable state. That.

When the load group of the electric equipment is inoperable, the display means changes the timer time display to the temperature display to notify the user that the load group cannot be operated by the timer operation.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, time setting means 1, clock section 3, display means 4, timer operation control section 5, electric equipment load group 6,
The normal operation control unit 7 and the operation switching means 8 have the same configuration as the conventional technology of FIG. Reference numeral 9 denotes a default time storage unit for storing a default time of 24 hours to be loaded into the clock unit 3 when the clock 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 clock unit 3, and reference numeral 11 denotes a decrease switch for decreasing the set time.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a timer switch as operation switching means 8 for switching between timer operation and normal operation.
Is an input circuit for inputting information such as an increase switch 10, a decrease switch 11, a timer changeover switch 12, a CPU 13b for performing various calculations based on the information, and a memory 13c for storing programs and various information. ,
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 a command from the CPU 13b, and a crystal oscillator 14 for producing a reference time for operation of the microcomputer 13 and a reference time for a timer. Clock generation means. Clock section 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, and the increase or decrease switches 10 and 11 are operated.
Operation processing (hereinafter referred to as setting switch) (Step 1)
7), display processing on the display unit 4 (step 18), and down count processing of the clock unit 3 (step 19). When the down count of the timer time is not completed (Step 2
0) continues the operation stop state (step 21) and constantly detects whether the electric equipment load group 6 is in the operable state (step 47). When the electric equipment load group 6 is operable, the down count of the timer time ends. The loop is repeated until the display on the display 4 becomes "0".

When the countdown of the timer time is completed and the count becomes "0", "24 hours" is automatically loaded into the clock section 3 from the predetermined time storage section 9 in the memory 13c and set (step 22). ) At the same time, 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). As a result, there is no fear that the reset “24” is displayed on the display 4 and the user is distrusted. Then, the electric device load group 6 is controlled to start the timer operation (step 23). At this time, the down count process of the clock unit 3 is also continuously performed.

If it is determined in step 47 that the electric equipment load group 6 is in an inoperable state, step 49
Similarly, the display change signal 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 48). For example, in a case where the fuel cannot be burned due to no kerosene by an oil fan heater or the like, when the timer changeover switch 12 is pressed to switch to the timer operation, the display unit 4 displays the "hour" of the timer time.
Is displayed, and when the time display decreases with the passage of time, the user operates as if the timer operation was set normally,
It is assumed that the fuel burns after the set time has elapsed, and the user does not notice that the timer operation is impossible until the timer time reaches “0”.

Therefore, when the load group 6 is in a state in which the operation is impossible, the time is not displayed on the display 4 even if the timer changeover switch 12 is pressed even though the clock section 3 is always down counting. Keep it. This way,
The user can see at a glance that timer operation is impossible,
The timer set does not end in default, and it is possible to reset it after taking appropriate measures.

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). Also, the counting process of the clock unit 3 is performed (step 26), and when the remaining time of the clock unit 3 reaches “0” (step 2).
7) Similarly, 24 hours are loaded, and the clock unit 3 continues the down-counting process.

As described above, even during the normal operation, the clock section 3 performs the down-counting process, for example, by pressing the setting switches 10 and 11 to set the operation time by the timer to "how many hours later" and then switching the timer. Even when the switch 12 is turned off and the normal operation is performed, the timer unit 3 continues the down-counting process.
Is turned on and the timer operation is performed, the clock section 3 has the remaining time until the previously set operation time.

Therefore, once the operation time is set by the setting switches 10 and 11 and the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on, even if the operation is returned to the normal operation and switched to the timer operation again halfway, the same time as the previously set time is obtained. Since the operation can be started immediately, there is no need to press the setting switches 10 and 11 to adjust the time of the clock unit 3 each time.

When the down counting of the timer time is completed, "24 hours" is automatically loaded and the down counting is continued. For example, the daily operation start time is fixed at 6:00 am In such a case, the clock section 3 may be set to “9 hours later” when setting at 9:00 pm on the previous day. Once set, even if the countdown of the timer time ends and the timer operation is started, "24 hours" is automatically loaded and the countdown of the timer is continued.
Even when the timer changeover switch 12 is turned on sometimes and the timer operation is performed, the time of the clock section 3 is "7 hours later" and the operation start time is 6:00 am. In this way, if the timer operation is to be performed at the same time every day, it is necessary to set “How many hours later” once, and the setting switch 1
There is no need to reset the values at 0 and 11.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the clock unit 3 and the display contents of the display unit 4. The clock unit 3 is composed of “hour”, “minute”, and “second”. For example, when “8 hours later” is set, “8” is set.
“00” and “00” are set. Every time the time elapses, “minute” and “second” are incremented, and when 60 minutes and 00 seconds are reached, “hour” is decremented to 7:00:00. Since the display is a two-digit 7-segment LED,
Only "hour" is displayed. For example, the display is "8"
Represents the time from 7 hours 00 minutes 01 seconds to 8 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds.

[0023]

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 down-counted, and the timer time is down-counted. When finished,
A clock section for outputting a signal, a timer operation control section for starting or stopping the operation of the electric device load group by an output signal from the clock section, operation switching means for switching between timer operation and normal operation, and the time setting Display means for displaying the timer time set by the means, wherein the clock section automatically switches to 2 when the countdown of the timer time ends.
It is assumed that the countdown is continued by resetting 4 hours, and the display means changes the display content from the timer time display to the temperature display when the electric device load group is in an inoperable state, Once the timer time is set, operation can be started or stopped at the same time by simply switching to timer operation by the operation switching means thereafter, and operation can be started or stopped at the same time every day, and operation can be started at the same time every day. When starting or stopping, it is not necessary to set the time each time, and the usability is greatly improved.

Further, when the operation of the electric equipment load group is impossible, the display contents of the display means are changed from the timer time to the temperature display, so that the user cannot operate the electric equipment load group. Can be known in advance simply by looking at the display contents of the display means, and is convenient.

[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 the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Time setting means 3 Clock 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

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01H 43/04 F23N 5/20 G04F 3/00 G04G 15/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A time setting means for setting a timer time with a remaining time, a clock section for down-counting the timer time set by the time setting means, and outputting a signal when the counting of the timer time ends. A timer operation control unit that starts or stops the operation of the electric device load group based on an output signal from the clock unit, an operation switching unit that switches between timer operation and normal operation, and a timer time set by the time setting unit. Display means for displaying, when the clock section finishes the down-counting of the timer time set by the time setting means, the clock section automatically resets 24 hours to continue the down-counting. Changing the display content from a timer time display to a temperature display when the electric device load group is in an inoperable state. Vessel timer device.