JP3711807B2 - Remote control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote control device, and more particularly to a remote control device for remotely operating a heater such as a water heater, a bath tub, or a hot air heater, which displays clock information and temperature information on a display unit. It relates to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various remote control devices for remotely operating a water heater have been proposed. However, such remote control devices usually perform at least various functions of the heater in addition to an operation switch for controlling operation and stop of the heater. Various operation switches for operation and a display unit for displaying various information such as the operation status of these heaters and the operation status of the operation switches are provided.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a remote control device, for example, the temperature of a hot water supply to be supplied or the temperature of a room to be heated is set by an operation switch for setting a temperature. A temperature indicator is used to check the temperature set at the time of setting. Is required. On the other hand, a reserved operation of the heater is often performed, and clock information is required to perform the reserved operation. For this reason, if a new display device for displaying clock information is provided, a space for installing the display device is required, which increases the size of the remote control device, and increases the cost by providing a new display device. Become. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-12089 solves this problem by alternately displaying temperature information and clock information on a single display as time passes.
[0004]
However, in the remote control device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-12089, an increase in the size and cost of the remote control device can be avoided, but temperature information and clock information are alternately displayed as time elapses. Therefore, the recognizability of the temperature information and the clock information is a problem, and the user can not meet the requirement for only one information, and there is room for improvement in the usability as a remote control device. .
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device for a heater that combines a temperature information display and a clock information display. Prevents increase in size and cost, further improves convenience by allowing the user to arbitrarily select information to be displayed, and prioritizes display of temperature information essential for the user when operating the heater. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device with improved safety and usability.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a remote control device of the present invention includes an operation switch for controlling operation and stop of a heater, an operation switch for performing remote operation of the heater, an operation status of the heater, and the operation switch. and a display unit for displaying various information such as the operation status of, in the remote control device provided with a display for displaying shared with temperature information and clock information of the heater on the display unit, the display mode of the display unit The temperature display mode for displaying the set temperature, the clock display mode for displaying the clock information, and the clock setting mode are set, and a display changeover switch for selecting these display modes is provided. When the heater is in operation or at a high temperature setting state, the display mode changing operation by the display changeover switch is invalidated and the display is heated. Characterized in that it is configured to preferentially displayed information.
[0007]
That is, in the remote control device according to the present invention, the user can arbitrarily select whether the information to be displayed on the display is the temperature information of the heater or the clock information by operating the display changeover switch.
[0009]
And even if the user needs the clock information and chooses to display the clock information on the display, the user is alerted about the operating condition of the heater during operation and the specific operating condition (high temperature setting) of the heater. Inadvertent use of the heater under unexpected conditions can be prevented, and the heater can be used safely.
[0010]
Furthermore, in the remote control device of the present invention, when the operation switch is turned on, temperature information is preferentially displayed for at least a predetermined time from the time when the operation switch is turned on.
[0011]
That is, even when the user needs the clock information and chooses to display the clock information on the display unit, when the operation switch of the remote control device is turned on to put the heater in the operation standby state, at least a predetermined time Will display the set temperature of the heater to the user, so that the user can check the set temperature of the heater set without any special operation, improving usability and safety. Get higher.
[0012]
In the remote control device of the present invention, when the operation switch is turned off, the display unit is turned off, and the clock information is displayed on the display by a specific operation of the operation switch.
[0013]
That is, in the remote control device according to the present invention, when the operation switch is turned off, the power consumption of the remote control device can be reduced by turning off the display unit, but only when the user performs a specific operation requiring the clock information. so as to display the information, thereby improving the usability as well as achieve the effect of reducing power consumption.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a hot water supply system to which a remote control device 1 according to the present invention is applied as an example. In the hot water supply system shown in FIG. 1, two remote control devices 1 a and 1 b are used as the remote control device 1. Each of these remote control devices 1a and 1b is a remote controller for remotely operating a water heater main body (water heater) 3. In the illustrated example, these remote control devices 1a and 1b are two-core transmission lines (two-core cables). By being connected to the water heater main body 3 via 2, the water heater main body 3 can be remotely operated.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a hot water supply pipe, and a shower 5 and a curan (not shown) are connected to the tip of the hot water supply pipe 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a pouring pipe to the bathtub 7, and the hot water can be supplied from the water heater body 3 to the bathtub 7 through the pouring pipe 6.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows an appearance of a remote control device 1a used in the hot water supply system. In FIG. 1, the remote control device 1a is a remote control device (kitchen remote control) mainly installed in a room other than the bathroom such as a kitchen, and the remote control device 1b is a remote control device (bathroom remote control) mainly installed in the bathroom.
[0017]
By the way, although the remote control devices 1a and 1b are different in the specific location of the operation switch 8 and the display unit 9 in relation to the different installation locations as described above, the basic configuration and basic functions as the remote control device are different. Since it is the same, in the following description, the remote controller 1a which is a kitchen remote controller will be described.
[0018]
The remote control device 1a includes a plurality of operation switches 8 (81 to 86 in the illustrated example), the operation status of the operation switch 8, the operation status of the water heater main body 3, and the like for performing the remote operation of the water heater main body 3 described above. The display unit 9 for displaying the various information is provided as a main part.
[0019]
More specifically, in the remote controller 1a, as the operation switch 8, an operation switch that enables the operation of the water heater main body 3 by at least turning it on and stops the operation of the water heater main body 3 by turning it off. 81 and other operation switches 82 to 86 for specifically setting a remote operation command or the like to the water heater main body 3 (for example, “flow automatic switch 84 for instructing automatic hot water filling”, instructing to raise or lower the hot water temperature. "Up switch 82" and "down switch 83" to perform, "floor reservation switch 85" to set the reserved operation of the bath, "clock display switch 86" to function as a display changeover switch described later) The content operated by the switch 8 is processed by a controller (not shown) built in the remote control device 1a. Te, is configured to be provided as a remote operation command to the water heater.
[0020]
On the other hand, the display unit 9 includes a display 91 that displays preset specific information by turning on / off the lamp, and a display 92 that displays both set temperature information and clock information. .
[0021]
The indicator 91 turns on / off characters and symbols indicating predetermined items set in advance by turning on / off a light emitting element such as a built-in light emitting diode. In the kitchen remote controller 1a shown in FIG. Each item such as “priority”, “burning”, and “reservation” can be displayed.
[0022]
On the other hand, the display 92 is composed of a 7-segment light-emitting display unit (7-segment light-emitting diode or 7-segment fluorescent display tube) that is expressed by numbers or symbols divided into 7 segments. The display unit 92 can display numbers on the display unit 92 by appropriately turning on / off each of the light emitting display units arranged and arranged based on a command from a controller (not shown).
[0023]
More specifically, the set temperature and the clock are displayed on this screen. For example, “12:39” is displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 2 on the clock display, and “42” is displayed on the temperature display as shown in FIG. The In the clock display, “AM” or “PM” is simultaneously lit on the left side of the display “12:39”, and in the temperature display, “° C.” is displayed on the lower right side of the display “42”. Lights up at the same time.
[0024]
The “clock display switch 86” changes the display mode of the display 92 depending on the length of the pressing time, and the display mode is set to the initial “temperature display mode” when the hot water supply system is turned on. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the “temperature display mode”, a “clock adjustment mode” and a “clock display mode” are set as display modes. The “clock display mode” is further set to “clock display mode 1”. And “clock display mode 2”. To change from the “temperature display mode” and the “clock display mode” to the “clock adjustment mode”, the “clock display switch 86” may be pressed continuously for 2 seconds. In order to change to, the “clock display switch 86” may be pressed once. The change from the “temperature display mode” to the “clock display mode” and vice versa can be performed by single-pressing the “clock display switch 86”. Next, switching between “clock display mode 1” and “clock display mode 2” within the “clock display mode” can be performed by pressing the “clock display switch 86” for 5 seconds.
[0025]
Next, each mode set by the “clock display switch 86” will be specifically described. In the “temperature display mode”, the set temperature is always displayed on the display unit 92. When changing to another mode during setting to this mode, the hot water heater is in operation during the change operation and the high temperature setting state. In this case, the change operation is invalid.
[0026]
In the “clock display mode 1” of the “clock display mode”, the clock information is displayed on the display unit 92. However, when the water heater is in operation and in the high temperature setting state, the display unit 92 displays the clock information. The set temperature is displayed with priority.
[0027]
In the other “clock display mode” of the “clock display mode”, the clock information is displayed on the display 92 in the same manner as the “clock display mode 1”, but unlike the “clock display mode 1”, Clock information is displayed on the display 92 even when the water heater is in operation and in a high temperature setting state.
[0028]
In the “time adjustment mode”, the time can be adjusted by the “up switch 82” and the “down switch 83”.
[0029]
In the “temperature display mode”, the change operation of the set temperature is performed by appropriately operating the “up switch 82” and the “down switch 83” in that state, while in the “clock display mode”, the operation is performed in that state. The “up switch 82” or the “down switch 83” is turned on to display the set temperature on the display 92, and then the “up switch 82” and the “down switch 83” are appropriately operated. The “clock display mode” is restored after a predetermined time (10 seconds) after the last operation of the switch 82 ”or“ down switch 83 ”.
[0030]
Furthermore, the mode set by the “clock display switch 86” is not initialized even when the operation switch 81 is turned off, and the set temperature is maintained until a predetermined time (10 seconds) elapses after the operation switch 81 is turned on again. Is displayed, and then it is displayed in the mode that has already been set.
[0031]
When the water heater is stopped by turning off the operation switch 81, the display 9 including the indicator 92 is turned off. By turning on the “clock display switch 86” while the water heater is stopped, A clock is displayed on the display 92.
[0032]
In addition, you may provide the function in which the user arbitrarily adjusts the brightness | luminance of the display part 9 including the indicator 92 by specific operation of an operation switch. In addition, the hot water heater operation recognition means for displaying temperature information with priority during operation may be the detection output of the minimum operating flow rate of the flow rate detector built in the water heater, and the ignition of the combustor built in the water heater. A detection output may be used, and a detection output of a hot water temperature detector built in the water heater may be used.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the remote control device of the present invention, the remote control device of the heater serves as both the temperature information display and the clock information display, so that the remote control device can be increased in size and cost. Needless to say, the user can arbitrarily select the information to be displayed on the display unit, so that convenience can be improved. Further, since the well-temperature set at the time of operation of the heater was set to be displayed on the display device in favor of temperature information, that the user to operate the heater Recognizing the vital temperature information necessary Usage Therefore, safety and usability are improved. In addition, when the operation switch is turned on, the temperature information is preferentially displayed for at least a predetermined time from the time when the operation is turned on. Therefore, when the operation switch of the remote control device is turned on , at least the predetermined time is displayed by the user. Therefore, since the user always recognizes the set temperature of the heater, the user does not need a special operation for recognizing the set temperature, and the usability is improved. Further, when the operation switch is turned off, the display unit is turned off, the power consumption of the remote control device is reduced, and the clock information can be displayed by a specific operation as necessary, so that the usability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water supply system to which a remote control device according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram of the remote control device.
FIG. 3 is an external configuration diagram showing different display states of the display of the remote control device.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for changing a display mode of the remote control device according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1a, 1b Remote control device 2 Two-core transmission line 3 Hot water supply body 4 Hot water supply pipe 5 Shower 6 Pouring pipe 7 Bathtub 8 Operation switch 9 Display unit 91 Display unit 92 Display unit 81 Operation switch 86 Clock display switch (display switch) )

Claims (4)

An operation switch including an operation switch for controlling the operation and stoppage of the heater, and a remote display for displaying various information such as the operation status of the heater and the operation status of the operation switch; In the remote control device comprising a display that displays both the temperature information and the clock information of the heater on the display unit,
As the display mode of the display, a temperature display mode for displaying a set temperature, a clock display mode for displaying clock information, and a clock setting mode are set, and a display changeover switch for selecting these display modes is provided. And
In the temperature display mode, when the heater is in operation and in a high temperature setting state, the display mode change operation by the display changeover switch is invalidated, and temperature information is preferentially displayed on the display. remote control device according to claim <br/> that are configured. The clock display mode includes a first clock display mode in which the set temperature is preferentially displayed on the display when the heater is in operation and in a high temperature setting state, and when the heater is in operation. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the display device includes a second clock display mode for displaying clock information even in a high temperature setting state .   3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein when the operation switch is turned on, temperature information is preferentially displayed for a predetermined time from the time when the operation switch is turned on. 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein when the operation switch is turned off, the display unit is turned off, and clock information is displayed on the display unit by a specific operation of the operation switch. A remote control device characterized by that.

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