JP3308659B2 - Time switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a time switch incorporated in a distribution board or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a time switch of this type is incorporated in a distribution board or the like, a display unit is mechanically moved relative to the main body of the time switch so that an easy-to-read display can be obtained regardless of whether the main body of the time switch is installed vertically or horizontally. It was configured to be able to rotate. For example, as disclosed in JP-A-58-9287.

[0003]

At the present time, in the above-mentioned technique, although a relatively low-cost and easy-to-view display can be obtained, a twist is generated in the lead wire connecting the display unit side and the main body side due to the rotation operation of the display unit. However, there was also a risk of disconnection. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a time switch capable of providing an easy-to-read display without mechanically rotating the display unit regardless of whether the main body is installed vertically or horizontally in consideration of an actual use state.

[0004]

Means for solving the problems are as described in the claims.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the following operation can be easily obtained by the selecting means regardless of whether the main body is installed vertically or horizontally. Claim
According to the first aspect, it is possible to visually make the overall function allocation mode of each operation unit the same, without causing a sense of incongruity in the operation of each operation unit, and to easily view the function display of each operation unit.
According to the second aspect, the arrangement of the operation points as a whole is visually the same, so that the operation of each operation point does not feel uncomfortable, and the function display of each operation point can be easily viewed.

[0006]

EXAMPLES Next, examples of the present invention will be described. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to only the examples, and the technical scope of the present invention is defined by the items described in the claims or the items thereof. Must be determined based on matters that are substantially equivalent to

[First Embodiment] ... Refer to FIGS. 1 and 5 (A). Main body 1, display sections 2 and 2 'provided on main body 1 and capable of displaying at least time and controlling display sections 2 and 2'. The display unit 2 includes a display control unit 3, and the display units 2 and 2 ′ are formed of a plurality of transmission-type layers in which at least the entire time display is at right angles to each other.
Is a time switch provided with a selection means D for selecting and displaying. Operation units A, B, C, and D (selection means D is also one of the operation units) are provided near the outside of the display units 2 and 2 '. There are function display modes a, b, c, and d that are at right angles to each other and are located near the parts A, B, C, and D. The display units 2 and 2 'are provided on the front side of the main body 1, and are preferably liquid crystal display substrates, and preferably have a point-symmetrical shape such as a substantially square or circular shape. 4 is a timer control means for controlling the original time switch function. The operation units A, B, C, and D are disposed near the outer sides of the corners of the display units 2 and 2 ', and a pressing type such as a rubber type is suitable. The operation unit A,
B, C, and D are the display units 2 near the outside of the display units 2 and 2 '.
It may be provided in the middle part of each side outside 2 '.

Next, whether the main body 1 is installed vertically as shown in FIG. 1A or horizontally as shown in FIG. The reason why a display in an easy-to-view direction can be obtained without mechanically rotating the display will be described. As described above, at least one of the display units 2 and 2 ′ is configured of a plurality of transmission-type layers in which the time display as a whole is perpendicular to each other.
What is necessary is just to operate (for example, press) the selecting means D for selecting and displaying 2 ′. This is because if the display control means 3 can control the display units 2 and 2 ′ so that at least the display mode of the time display as a whole is at right angles to each other, and can control the display modes to a plurality of display modes. Good. This means that such functions required of the display control means 3 may be appropriately programmed. Thus, the time display of FIG. 1A and the time display of FIG. 1B are obtained, respectively. To achieve such a display mode, the user operates the selection unit D to change the display mode while changing the direction. What is necessary is just to display the display mode of the direction which is easy to see among them. Incidentally, FIG. 1A shows a time display when the display unit 2 is selected, and FIG. 1B shows a time display when the display unit 2 'is selected. The main body 1 may be in a horizontal installation state that is upside down from FIG. 1B, or a vertical installation state that is upside down from FIG. 1A. In such a case, the number of layers of the display units 2 and 2 ′ is considered. Should be further increased. Further, as described above, the operation units A, B, C, and D disposed near the outside of the display units 2 and 2 ′.
Function display modes a, b, which are located near the operation units A, B, C, D at right angles to each other.
c and d, the function display modes a, b, c, and
d can be selected at the same time as the time display described above, and the function display can be easily viewed. In this case, such a function required of the display control means 3 may be appropriately programmed. By the way,
FIG. 1A is a function display when the display unit 2 is selected.
FIG. 1B is a function display when the display unit 2 'is selected.

[Embodiment 2] ... See FIGS. 2 and 5 (A). Each of the operation units A, B, C, and D is controlled to a plurality of function allocation modes so that the overall function allocation mode is at right angles to each other. It has a function allocation control means 5, and one of the function allocation modes is selected by the selection means D.
On each of the display units 2, 2 ', function display modes a, which are located in the vicinity of the operation units A, B, C, D and which are at right angles to each other as a whole,
The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in having b, c, and d. That is, in the first embodiment, if the installation direction of the main body 1 is different, the arrangement of the operation units A, B, C, and D is rotated and visually changed, but in the second embodiment, the selection unit D The manner of assigning functions as a whole to each of the operation units A, B, C, and D can be visually the same, and the operation of each of the operation units A, B, C, and D does not cause a sense of incompatibility. The function displays a, b, c, and d of B, C, and D can be easily viewed. In this case, such functions required for the function assignment control means 5 and the display control means 3 may be appropriately programmed. In this way, the function allocation mode / function display mode of each operation unit shown in FIG. 2A and the function allocation mode / function display mode of each operation unit shown in FIG. 2B are obtained. Can be selected simultaneously with the time display.

[Embodiment 3] ... Refer to FIGS. 3 and 5 (A). An embodiment in which the operation units A, B, C and D are arranged on the main body 1 near the outside of the display units 2 and 2 '. Different from 1 and 2. The functional block diagram is the same as FIG. 5A except for the function assignment control unit 5. Also in this embodiment, the display units 2 and 2 ′ are formed of a plurality of transmission-type layers in which at least the entire time display is formed at right angles to each other. The selection means D for selecting and displaying the display units 2 and 2 'may be simply operated (for example, a pressing operation). Each of the display units 2, 2 'has function display modes a, b, c, and d which are located near the operation units A, B, C, and D at right angles to each other. The function display mode shown in FIG. 3A or the function display mode shown in FIG.

[Embodiment 4]... See FIGS. 4 and 5 (B). That is, the display unit 2,
An operation plate (for example, an XY matrix type touch switch substrate) 6 which can be seen through is provided on the front surface of the 2 ′, and the operation points A ′, B ′, C ′, and D ′ on the operation plate 6 are arranged as a whole. It has an arrangement control means 7 for controlling the arrangement to a plurality of arrangement forms so that the forms are at right angles to each other, and any one of the arrangement forms is selected by the selection means D '.
Each of the operation points A ', B', C ', D' on the operation plate 6
Have function display modes a, b, c, and d that are at right angles to each other as a whole located immediately below or in the vicinity thereof.

According to the fourth embodiment, similarly to the first to third embodiments, it is possible to obtain an easily viewable time display by operating the selecting means D 'without mechanically rotating the display units 2 and 2'. Needless to say, the overall arrangement of the operation points A ', B', C ', and D' becomes visually the same simultaneously by the operation of the selection means D ', and the operation points A' and B ' , C ', D'
Operation does not cause discomfort, and furthermore, each operation point A ′,
The function displays a, b, c, and d of B ', C', and D 'can be easily viewed. For these, such functions required for the display control means 3 and the arrangement control means 7 may be appropriately programmed. In this way, the arrangement mode and function display mode of each operation point shown in FIG. 4A, or the arrangement mode and function display mode of each operation point shown in FIG. 4B are obtained. Of course, since the arrangement mode itself cannot be visually recognized, the selection is performed while observing the function display mode. However, since the time display is also changed at the same time, the selection may be performed while observing the large time display. It should be noted that the arrangement of each of the operation points A ′, B ′, C ′, and D ′ is fixed on the operation plate 6 without the arrangement control means 7 for controlling the arrangement to a plurality of arrangements. The mode may be visually different depending on the installation direction of the main body 1. However, even in this case, the operation panels A and B ', C' and D 'can be simultaneously displayed by the operation of the selection means D' so that the display of each of the display sections 2 and 2 'can be easily performed. 6, the function display modes a, which are located immediately below or near each of the operation points A ', B', C ', D'
It is preferable to have b, c, and d.

In the above embodiment, the selecting means D
Alternatively, without independently providing D ′, for example, the operation units A,
By simultaneously operating B or operating points A 'and B' at the same time, the function becomes equivalent to the operation of the selecting means D or D ', and the number of operating units or operating points is reduced. Is also good.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, regardless of whether the main body is installed vertically or horizontally, a display that is easily viewable without mechanically rotating the display unit can be obtained, and further, the operation is uncomfortable. An effect that does not occur can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 (A) is a front view showing a first embodiment, in which a main body is installed vertically. (B) A front view showing a state in which the main body is installed horizontally. (C) A cross-sectional view of the display unit.

FIG. 2 (A) is a front view of a state in which the main body is installed vertically, showing Example 2, (B) a front view of a state in which the main body is installed horizontally, and (C) a cross-sectional view of the display unit.

FIG. 3 (A) is a front view of a state in which a main body is installed vertically, showing Example 3; (B) is a front view of a state in which the main body is installed horizontally. (C) is a cross-sectional view of the display unit.

FIG. 4 (A) is a front view of a state where the main body is installed vertically, showing Example 4; (B) is a front view of a state where the main body is installed horizontally.

5A is a functional block diagram related to the first to third embodiments, and FIG. 5B is a functional block diagram related to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2, 2 'display part 3 Display control means D selection means A, B, C, D Operation part a, b, c, d Function display mode 5 Function allocation control means 6 Operation plate D' selection means A ', B ', C', D 'Operating point 7 Arrangement control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G04G 9/00 G04G 15/00 H01H 43/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display device comprising: a main body; a display unit provided on the main body and capable of displaying at least time; and display control means for controlling the display unit. A time switch comprising a selection unit for selecting and displaying any one of the display units, the time switch comprising :
Equipped with a plurality of operation units arranged near the outside, each operation unit
Make sure that the overall function allocation forms are at right angles to each other
Allocation control to control multiple function allocation modes
Means and any of the function allocation modes by the selection means
Is selected, and furthermore, each display section is located near each operation section.
Function display modes that are at right angles to each other as a whole
Time switch to do. 2. A body and at least a time provided on the body.
A display unit capable of displaying, and display control means for controlling the display unit
The display unit includes at least a time display as a whole.
Display mode is a multi-layer transmission type that forms a right angle with each other
Is configured to select and display one of the display units
A time switch provided with selection means of
Equipped with an operation plate that can be seen through the front, and each operation on the operation plate
Duplicate the points so that their overall arrangement is at right angles to each other.
Selecting means having arrangement control means for controlling the number of arrangement modes
Select one of the layout modes by
The part is located directly under or near each operation point on the operation plate.
Function display modes that are at right angles to each other as a whole
Time switch to do.