JP3438385B2 - Water heater control device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water heater controller having a wireless remote controller as a remote controller that communicates with an appliance body by radio waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been no water heater provided with a plurality of wireless remote controllers in one appliance.

Further, when there is only one wireless remote controller, it can be used without any trouble even if the transmission / reception timing is changed (hereinafter referred to as synchronization change). Further, if another wired remote controller is provided, that remote controller can be used as usual. I was able to operate.

[0004]

However, when a plurality of wireless remote controllers are used for the water heater, the transmission / reception timing (such as when the remote controller is set to a high temperature (for example, 75 ° C.) after the synchronization is changed). Since it is not possible to display in synchronization with the remote control where the remote control is out of sync, it is not possible to check the temperature and there is a possibility that it may be used without notice. was there.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. When at least any one remote controller changes the synchronization, the hot water supply temperature of the high temperature setting is changed to the low temperature setting until all the remote controllers are synchronized. A first object is to improve safety in a place where a remote controller is out of synchronization.

The second purpose is that, when at least any one remote controller changes the synchronization, it becomes impossible to set the high temperature with the remote controllers having the same synchronization until all the remote controllers have the same synchronization. , It is to ensure the safety in the place where the remote control which is out of sync was used.

A third object is to let the user recognize that the device is not in abnormal operation by displaying or audibly notifying the state of the remote controller that cannot be set to a high temperature.

[0008] A fourth object is to make it easy to recognize out-of-synchronization information by notifying which remote control is out of synchronization to the remote control in synchronization with the remote control. It is to promote danger prevention.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the first means of the controller of the water heater according to the present invention is a power source for supplying power and an operation for inputting an instruction signal to the appliance. parts and setting of the instrument state, the radio of converting a notification unit for reporting operating conditions and operation content, or sending <br/> signal by converting electric signals in the radio signal, a radio signal received into an electric signal Receives input / output operations of the transmission / reception unit and the operation unit as signals
A plurality of wireless remote control configured in IC, the signals from the wireless transceiver output to the instrument main body control unit, a predetermined between the signal communication unit that will be directed to the wireless transceiver from the instrument main body control unit Water heater that transmits and receives at the transmission and reception timing
In the communication device, when at least one of the wireless remote controllers changes the synchronization and the notification unit of the other remote controller cannot notify , the hot water supply temperature setting is set to a high temperature.
Together to output a signal for changing to Luo cold to the instrument main body control section prohibits the high-temperature setting at other remote control, its
After that, the synchronization with the wireless remote
When it is confirmed that the high temperature setting is canceled,
It is configured to do .

The second means of the present invention is a communication unit when at least one of the wireless remote controllers changes synchronization.
Temperature from the operation unit due to the synchronization change information sent from
The input signal to the communication unit is restricted and
The input restriction by the synchronization confirmation information sent from
It is configured to be released .

The third means of the present invention is such that the notification section can display that the input operation of the operation section is restricted.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the wireless remote controller changes synchronization, the communication unit that has received the synchronization change signal is out of synchronization with the wireless remote controller that is in synchronization. Send remote control information,
The wireless remote controller that has received the signal from the communication unit and has the same synchronization has a function of notifying the information of the remote controller that is out of synchronization by the notifying unit.

[0013]

According to the above first means, the control device for a water heater of the present invention, when at least one wireless remote controller changes the synchronization while the hot water temperature is set to a high temperature, until all the remote controllers are synchronized. By changing the setting to the low temperature when the high temperature is set, it is possible to improve the safety in a place where the remote controller is out of synchronization.

In the second means, when at least one remote controller changes synchronization, it goes without saying that until all the remote controllers have the same synchronization, not only the remote controllers having the same synchronization have a high temperature. By disabling the settings, it is possible to ensure safety in a hot water supply place with a remote controller that is out of synchronization.

Further, in the above-mentioned third means, it is possible to let the user recognize that there is no abnormal operation of the equipment by displaying or notifying the state of the remote controller in which the high temperature cannot be set.

In the fourth means, the remote control with which the synchronization is out is notified by another remote control with which the synchronization is out of sync, so that the out-of-sync information is out of sync. It can be known and easily recognized at any hot water supply location, and can help prevent danger when hot water comes out.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a water heater controller according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a water heater controller as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control device of the present invention includes a wireless remote controller A1, a wireless remote controller B2, and a wireless remote controller C3.
And a communication unit 5 (the wireless remote controller
The communication unit 5 is attached to the instrument 4 and is connected to the main body control unit 6 that controls the operation of the instrument 4 in the instrument main body. Also, the wireless remote control A
1, the wireless remote control B2, the wireless remote control C3, respectively, operation units 7, 8 for inputting an instruction signal to the instrument 4;
9, display units 10, 11, 12 for displaying the setting state, operating state and operation contents of the instrument, and acoustic output units 13, 14, 15 for outputting signals as sound waves.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless remote controller A1, the wireless remote controller B2, and the wireless remote controller C3 have the same circuit configuration. IC16 that controls the operation of the remote control,
It has batteries 17 and 18 and uses batteries 19, 20 and 21 as power sources. The ICs 16, 17 and 18 are wireless transmission / reception units 22, 23 and 24 which are converters of electric signals and radio signals.
To receive signals from the operation units 7, 8 and 9 and output the signals to the display units 10, 11 and 12. Further, the communication unit 5 has an IC 25 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the main body control unit 6 and a wireless transmission / reception unit 26 (the same as those built in the wireless remote control A1, the wireless remote control B2 and the wireless remote control C3), and the IC 25 is a wireless transmission / reception unit. Control 26.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. Wireless remote controller A1, wireless remote controller B2 and wireless remote controller C
Transmission and reception of a radio signal between the communication unit 3 and the communication unit 5 have a high-precision timer function for the purpose of prescribing the Radio Law and extending the battery life, and the transmission and reception are repeated intermittently.

The timing of this intermittent is remote control A1,
Random timing generated from individual unique numbers of B2, C3 and communication unit 5 is used, so it is very rare that it becomes the same as other systems, but timing should match. If it happens, unless the transmission / reception timing is changed (synchronization change), normal transmission / reception cannot be performed.

Here, when the wireless remote controller A1 tries to transmit / receive to / from the communication unit 5 and cannot communicate unless the synchronization is changed due to the influence of another system, the wireless remote controller A1 changes the synchronization. At this time, since the wireless remote controllers B2 and C3 do not know that the wireless remote controller A1 has changed the synchronization, the wireless remote controllers B2 and C3 are out of synchronization and the states of the device 4 and the wireless remote controller A1 are changed to the wireless remote controllers B2 and C3.
3 cannot be displayed or notified, and it is expected that the hot water supply hot water temperature will be set high.

Specifically, when the built-in IC 16 of the wireless remote controller A1 detects the necessity of synchronization change, the IC 16 sends a synchronization change signal to the communication unit 5 via the wireless transmission / reception section 22, and the built-in IC 25 of the communication unit 5 is sent. Receives this signal via the wireless transmission / reception unit 26, and the transmission / reception timing with the wireless remote controller A1 is performed at the newly changed synchronization timing. At this time, if the temperature setting of the appliance 4 is a high temperature setting (for example, 75 ° C.), the IC 25 outputs a temperature change signal to a low temperature (for example, 60 ° C. or lower) to the main body control unit 6, and the main body that receives this signal The control unit 6 controls the appliance 4 to change the hot water supply temperature to a low temperature.

Further, the IC 25 which receives the synchronization change signal
Attempts to transmit the synchronization change information via the wireless transmission / reception unit 26 to the wireless remote controller having the same synchronization.

Here, when the operation unit 8 of the wireless remote controller B2 is operated, the IC 17 transmits the contents to the communication unit 5 via the wireless transmission / reception unit 23, so that the wireless remote controller B2 and the communication unit 5 are synchronized. And the wireless remote controller B2 accepts the synchronization change information. The IC 17 which receives this via the wireless transmission / reception unit 23 cannot accept the subsequent high temperature setting from the operation unit 8.

Further, the IC 16 that has performed the synchronization change and the IC 17 that has received the synchronization change information indicate that the setting of the high temperature from the operation units 7 and 8 is no longer accepted.
It is displayed on 0 and 11 or is notified by a buzzer sound or voice synthesis using the sound output units 13 and 14. Of course L
You may use ED etc. When the wireless remote controller A1 transmits the synchronization change signal, the wireless remote controller B2 receives the information via the communication unit 5 by simultaneously transmitting the recognition signal (data or number) which is unique to the remote controller. 11 also displays that the wireless remote controller A1 is out of synchronization.

The communication unit 5 includes a wireless remote controller C3.
Also, the wireless remote controller A1 transmits that it is out of synchronization. Further, depending on whether the operation unit 9 of the wireless remote controller C3 is operated or the synchronization confirmation signal is transmitted, the wireless remote controller C
When the synchronization of 3 is the same, the synchronization of all wireless remote controllers is the same, so the communication unit 5 sends the information to each remote controller and the special mode is released.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when one of the wireless remote controllers changes the synchronization, the hot water supply temperature can be changed to the low temperature setting if it is the high temperature setting. Prohibit high temperature setting with the wireless remote control of
The user can be notified of the state. Further, it is possible to display which wireless remote controller is out of synchronization. Then, if any one of the remote controllers is synchronously changed, the inconvenience that the high temperature cannot be set is forced, but the safety during that time is secured.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, in the controller of the water heater according to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication unit that receives the synchronization change signal from the wireless remote controller when the wireless remote controller changes the synchronization. By changing the hot water supply temperature from the high temperature setting to the low temperature, it is possible to confirm the safety in the state where the display cannot be confirmed at the place where the remote controller is used out of synchronization.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by prohibiting the high temperature setting with the remote controller which is not out of synchronization, the safety without hot water supply in a place where the display of the hot water supply temperature setting is not normal using the out of sync remote controller is ensured. Can be secured.

Further, in claim 3, by displaying or audibly notifying the state of the remote controller in which the high temperature cannot be set,
The user can recognize that the reason why the high temperature cannot be set is not the abnormal operation of the device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by displaying which remote controller is out of synchronization on another remote controller, the out-of-synchronization information can be easily recognized and the prevention of danger at the time of high temperature hot water discharge can be promoted. Can be expected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a configuration diagram of a wireless remote controller A of a water heater controller according to an embodiment of the present invention (b) is a configuration diagram of a wireless remote control B of the same device (c) is a configuration diagram of a wireless remote control C of the same device ( D) Configuration diagram of the equipment in which the device is installed

FIG. 2 (a) Internal block diagram of the wireless remote controller A of the same device (b) Internal block diagram of the wireless remote controller B of the same device (c) Internal block diagram of the wireless remote controller C of the same device (d) Equipment of the same device Internal block diagram of

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Wireless remote control A 2 Wireless remote control B 3 Wireless remote control C 4 appliances 5 Communication unit 6 Main body control unit 7,8,9 operation part 10, 11, 12 Display 13,14,15 Sound output section 16, 17, 18 (Built-in remote controller) IC 19,20,21 batteries 22, 23, 24 (Built-in remote controller) Wireless transceiver 25 (Built-in communication unit) IC 26 (Built-in communication unit) Wireless transceiver

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Ueda 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-6-343192 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 9/00-9/16 H03J 9/00-9/06 F24H 1/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A power supply unit for supplying power, an operation unit for inputting and operating an instruction signal to an instrument, an informing unit for informing the setting state, operating state and operation content of the instrument, and an electric signal as a radio signal. A plurality of wireless remote controllers composed of a wireless transmission / reception unit for converting and transmitting or converting a received radio wave signal into an electric signal, and an IC for receiving an input operation of the operation unit as a signal
If, it outputs a signal from the wireless transceiver to the equipment main body control unit, at a predetermined reception timing between the communication unit you output a signal from the instrument main body control unit to the radio transceiver
A controller of a water heater for transmitting and receiving, comprising:
At least one of the wireless remote controls will change synchronization ,
When the notification section of another remote controller becomes inoperable, a signal for changing the hot water supply temperature setting from high temperature to low temperature is output to the appliance main body control section, and a high
Prohibit temperature setting, and then
When it is confirmed that all the syncs match, the high
A water heater control device that removes the prohibition of temperature setting . When wherein a minimum one wireless remote controller has changed synchronization, to limit the execution of the input signal to the high temperature of from <br/> operation unit by synchronous change information transmitted from the communication unit Tomo
The synchronization confirmation information transmitted from the communication unit.
The control device for the water heater according to claim 1 , wherein the input restriction is released . Wherein informing by the informing unit that the input operation of the operation unit is limited according to claim 1 or 2 water heater control apparatus according. 4. When the wireless remote controller changes the synchronization , the transmitting unit is synchronized with another wireless remote controller that is in synchronization with the other remote controller .
Transmitting information of the remote control in which the synchronous change, the <br/> wireless remote controller which has received the claim 1, which notifies the information of the wireless remote <br/> Con changing the synchronization by the notification unit Control device for the water heater described.