JP3760886B2 - Combustion equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combustion apparatus that performs remote control, monitoring, and the like with a remote controller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been devised a maintenance combustion device composed of a combustion device that outputs state information, failure information, and the like of a combustion device for the purpose of maintaining the combustion device and a personal computer for maintaining the combustion device. A conventional example is shown in FIG. First, the configuration of the conventional example of FIG. 5 will be described. In FIG. 5, 1, 8, 10, and 12 are combustion devices, 1 is a parent device, 8, 10, and 12 are child devices, and by controlling the parent device 1, the child devices 8, 10, and 12 are controlled. 2, 3, 4 are the slave unit connection terminals of the master unit 1, 5 is the personal computer connection terminal of the master unit 1, 6 is a main body function unit of the master unit 1, for example, when the master unit 1 is a water heater, And so on. Reference numeral 7 denotes a device control means composed of the CPU of the base unit 1. Reference numerals 9, 11, and 13 denote master unit connection terminals of the slave units 8, 10, and 12. 14 is a personal computer as a maintenance combustion device, 15 is a device connection terminal of the personal computer 14, and 16 is a CPU of the personal computer 14.
[0003]
Next, the operation of the conventional example of FIG. 5 will be described. The personal computer 14 generates an operation state request signal of the parent device 1 and the child devices 8, 10, 12 by the CPU 12 and transmits the operation state request signal from the device connection terminal 15 to the personal computer connection terminal 5 of the parent device 1. The signal received at the personal computer connection terminal 15 is interpreted by the parent device control means 7, and the slave device connection terminals 2, 3, 4, The data is transmitted via the machine connection terminals 9, 11 and 13. On the other hand, the master unit main body function unit 6 or the slave units 8, 10, 12 return the respective operation states to the master unit control means 4. The base unit control means 4 returns the requested operation state information to the CPU 16 via the personal computer connection terminal 5 and the device connection terminal 15.
[0004]
Through the above operation, the personal computer 14 can know the operating state of the combustion devices 1, 8, 10, and 12, and can maintain the combustion devices 1, 8, 10, and 12 using this information.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional example, the communication between the personal computer and the combustion equipment, that is, the communication between the personal computer connection terminal 5 and the equipment connection terminal 15 is for maintenance of the combustion equipment 1, 8, 10, 12 from the personal computer 14. Yes, there was no idea of using this for a remote control system. This maintenance connection terminal and its communication specifications are often the same regardless of the type and part number of the combustion equipment, and the remote control system using this can build a common remote control across the walls of different combustion equipment. Is possible. In addition, equipment such as water heaters often defines maintenance connection terminals and their communication specifications throughout the industry, and remote control systems that use them can build a common remote control beyond the manufacturer. .
[0006]
However, since these use the specifications for maintenance, they do not have a timer operation function. In other words, when the remote control system is constructed using the connection terminal for maintenance and its communication specifications, it does not have a function for realizing the timer operation of the combustion devices 1, 8, 10, 12 and is used among women who work recently. It is extremely effective to realize the timer operation of the combustion equipment using the communication function already installed in the combustion equipment. .
[0007]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to realize a relay device or a remote control system that can perform a timer operation of a combustion device using a maintenance signal input / output from the combustion device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a combustion device that is remotely operated by a remote controller, and receives and stores the operation signal of the device input from the remote controller, and when the set time approaches, the operation signal is input to a maintenance control signal input terminal of the device. The combustion apparatus is provided with signal generating means for outputting and performing a timer operation of the apparatus.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention described in claim 1 includes a combustion device main body, a remote controller, and a relay device, and the relay device stores time until the combustion device main body is operated after receiving a control signal from the remote controller. A control command storage means, and when the control signal from the remote control is received, the timer of the timer means is started and the control command included in the control signal is stored in the control command storage means, After the time until the main body is operated is measured by the timer means, it is possible to realize a combustion device that transmits and controls the control command stored in the control command storage means to the combustion device main body.
[0010]
The invention described in claim 2 includes a combustion device main body, a remote controller and a relay device, and the relay device stores a time for operating the combustion device main body after receiving a control signal from the remote controller, and a control. Command storage means, and when the control signal from the remote control is received, the control command included in the control signal is stored in the control command storage means, and the time when the combustion device body is operated is counted by the timer means Then, it is possible to realize a combustion device that transmits and controls the control command stored in the control command storage means to the combustion device body.
[0011]
The invention described in claim 3 can realize a combustion device in which the signal generating means is inserted as a separate housing between the combustion device and the remote controller so that the timer operation can be changed.
[0012]
The invention described in claim 4 is a program for executing at least a part of the functions of the combustion equipment by a computer.
[0013]
And since it is a program, a part or all of the electric equipment of this invention can be easily implement | achieved using the computer etc. which exist at home. Further, the program can be easily distributed by recording it on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.
[0014]
【Example】
Examples of the present invention will be described below.
[0015]
Example 1
First, the configuration of a remote control system provided with the combustion device of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of a remote control system provided with a combustion device of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 20 is a combustion device (hereinafter referred to as device) of this embodiment, 21 is a parent device, and 40, 50, 60 are child devices. In this embodiment, the master unit 21 is a gas combustion device that makes hot water with gas and supplies water to a bath, kitchen, washroom, and the like. Further, the slave unit 40 is a hot water floor heating device that functions using hot water generated by the master unit 21, the slave unit 50 is a hot water bathroom drying device that functions using warm water generated by 21, and the slave unit 60 is an operation of the master unit 21. The operation apparatus which has a part and installs in a bathroom etc. is shown. The hot water floor heater is a floor heater that functions by circulating the hot water boiled in the combustion equipment. It is a drying device having a function to perform. In addition to these, although not described in the present embodiment, a hot water air conditioner that functions using the amount of heat of hot water, a fan eater that functions using the amount of heat of hot water, or the like can be used as the slave unit.
[0016]
Of course, the device 20 may be a water heater such as a gas water heater, an oil water heater, an electric water heater, or a heat pump water heater that uses electricity for control.
[0017]
Reference numeral 70 denotes a remote controller that performs remote control and status monitoring of the device 20, and 80 denotes a relay device that is installed between the device 20 and the remote controller 70 and converts both signals. 22, 23, 24 are means for connecting to the parent device 21 connected to the child devices 40, 50, 60, 25 is a means for connecting the relay device to the parent device 21 connected to the relay device 80, and 41, 51, 61 are the parent devices The parent | base_unit connection means of the subunit | mobile_unit 40, 50, 60 connected with the apparatus 21 is shown. Reference numeral 71 denotes a display unit of the remote controller 70, 72, 73, 74, and 75 denote operation switches of the remote controller 70, and 76 denotes a relay device connection means of the remote controller 70 connected to the relay device 80. Reference numeral 81 is a connection means to the parent device of the relay device connected to the parent device 21, 82, 83 and 84 are connection means to the remote control of the relay device 80 connected to the remote controller 70, and 85 is a maintenance terminal of the relay device 80.
[0018]
2 is a detailed block diagram of the device 20 of the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the remote controller 70 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the relay device 80 of the present embodiment.
[0019]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 26 denotes a main body function unit having functions of the main body 21 such as a kettle and a hot water, 27 a parent device control means including a CPU of the parent device 21, and 28 an operation state of the parent device 21. A master unit information storage unit for storing failure information and the like, 29 is a slave unit control unit for controlling the slave units 40, 50, and 60, and 30 is a transmission / reception unit for transmitting and receiving with the remote controller 70. 42, 52, and 62 are slave unit control means constituted by the CPUs of the slave units 40, 50, and 60, and 43, 53, and 63 are slave unit main body functions having the respective main unit functions of the slave units 40, 50, and 60. Indicates the part.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a detailed block diagram of the remote controller 70. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 77 denotes a remote control means constituted by the CPU of the remote controller 70, 78 denotes a timer setting means, and 79 denotes a transmission / reception means for performing transmission / reception with the relay device.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows a detailed block diagram of the relay device 80. In FIG. 4, 86 is a relay device control means constituted by the CPU of the relay device 80, 87, 88, 89 are signal conversion means, 90, 91, 92 are transmission / reception means for transmission / reception with the remote control 70, and 93 is transmission / reception with the master unit 21. Transmitting and receiving means, 94 timer means, 95 and 96 priority setting means A, priority setting means B and 97 selection means, and 98 a control command storage means.
[0022]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When controlling the main unit (combustion device) 21 such as on / off, temperature setting, water volume setting, automatic bathing, bath unit (hot water floor heating device) 40 and child unit (hot water bathroom dryer) 50 When on / off control, temperature setting, etc. are performed, remote control is performed from a remote controller 70 that is not necessarily installed in the vicinity of the master unit 21 and the slave units 40 and 50. For example, when controlling on / off of the master unit, the operation switch 72 is operated. When setting the temperature of the hot water, the operation switch 73 is operated. In order to control on / off of the slave unit (warm water heater) 40, the operation switch 74 is operated. Although detailed functions will be described later, the operation switch 75 is operated to set the timer operation of the parent device 21 and the child devices 40 and 50. When performing other functions, control is performed by operating an operation switch not described. In addition, the operation state, setting state, failure state, and history of the master unit 21 and the slave units 40 and 50 and their history are remotely monitored by the remote controller 70 that is not necessarily installed in the vicinity of the master unit 21 and the slave units 40 and 50. At this time, the display means 71 is used for guidance for performing operations such as on / off and timer operation.
[0023]
As these installation locations, for example, the master unit 21 can be installed on a pipe shaft or an outdoor wall of an apartment. The slave unit 40 (hot water floor heater) may be installed in the living room, bedroom, children's room, study, etc., the slave unit 50 (hot water bathroom dryer) may be installed in the bathroom, and the slave unit (operation device) 60 may be installed in the bathroom. Conceivable. The remote controller 70 may be installed in a kitchen, living room, hallway, or the like.
[0024]
The detailed operation of the present embodiment will be described below. Maintenance information, operation state information, setting information, failure information, and history information of the slave unit (warm water heater) 40 are transmitted from the slave unit control unit 42 via the parent unit connection unit 41 and the pair unit connection unit 22. The information is stored in the handset information storage means 31. Further, maintenance information, operation state information, setting information, failure information, and history information of the parent device are stored in the parent device information storage means 28. Here, the maintenance information is information indicating the state of the parent device or the child device, such as the combustion temperature of the heater, the rotational speed of the fan, the amount of water that can be made hot water, the amount of flowing water in the pipes in the equipment, or the like. Also, the operation status information and information such as whether the parent device or the child device is currently in an on state, an off state, or a standby state. The setting information is the setting information of the parent device and the child device such as the temperature setting value of the boiling hot water, the heating flow rate setting value, and the automatic hot water filling setting state. Further, the failure information is information on a component that is currently broken down. The history information is information indicating a history of various information described so far. The master unit 20 transmits information stored in the slave unit information storage unit 31 and the master unit information storage unit 28 from the transmission / reception unit 30 and is received by the transmission / reception unit 93 via the relay device connection unit and the parent unit connection unit 81. Then, it is transmitted to the relay device control means 86.
[0025]
In this embodiment, it is assumed that communication between the transmission / reception means 30 and the transmission / reception means 93 is performed by unbalanced serial communication. The relay device control means 86 transmits the signal transmitted to the relay device 80 to the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89, and the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89 convert the unbalanced serial communication signal and various communication signals. In the unbalanced serial communication, for example, in the RS232C system, the communicable distance is about 10 m, and there is a limit to the place where it is used, but by converting it into various communication signals, communication of about several hundred meters is possible.
[0026]
In this embodiment, the signal conversion means 87 converts an unbalanced serial communication signal and a balanced serial communication signal such as RS422 or RS485. The signal converter 88 converts the unbalanced serial communication signal and the specific low power wireless communication signal. The signal conversion unit 89 converts the unbalanced serial communication signal and the Ethernet communication signal. In addition, although not described in this embodiment, it is conceivable to convert an unbalanced serial communication signal, a power line carrier communication signal, a Bluetooth communication signal, an echo net communication signal, and the like.
[0027]
Further, in this embodiment, the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89 and the relay apparatus control means are each connected by a dedicated path, but the structure in which the relay apparatus control means is connected to a plurality of signal conversion means by a common path. It is good. In this case, the signal transmission from the relay device control means 86 to the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89 divides the signal into appropriate packets, and the first packet is transmitted to the signal conversion means 87 first, not at the same time. To the signal conversion means 88 and then to the signal conversion means 89. Next, the second packet is transmitted to the signal converting unit 87, then transmitted to the signal converting unit 88, and then transmitted to the signal converting unit 89. From the relay device control unit 86 to the signal converting units 87, 88, There is a method of transmitting signals to 89 in time series. In addition, there is a method in which the signal conversion unit to be used by the selection unit 97 is selected, and the relay device control unit transmits the signal only to the selected signal conversion unit. There is also a method of automatically selecting a signal conversion means to be used. There is a method in which the transmission / reception means of the relay apparatus 80 that can receive the signal transmitted from the remote controller 70 is detected, and the relay apparatus control means 86 transmits the signal only to the signal conversion means connected to the transmission / reception means.
[0028]
The transmission / reception means 90, 91, and 92 transmit the signals whose communication methods have been converted by the signal conversion means 87, 88, and 89 to the relay device connection means 76 of the remote controller 70 via the remote control connection means 82, 83, and 84. In this embodiment, there are three sets of signal conversion means, transmission / reception means, and remote control connection means of the relay device 80, but it goes without saying that one set may be used, and it is needless to say that more may be used. . Needless to say, the transmission / reception means and the remote control connection means may be shared by a plurality of signal conversion means. Information that reaches the remote control 70 is received by the transmission / reception means 79 and reaches the remote control control means 77. The remote control control unit 77 displays information on the display unit 71, so that the information on the device 20 can be monitored by the remote control 70 not necessarily installed in the vicinity of the device 20.
[0029]
For example, when the operation switch 74 is operated and the remote control unit 77 transmits a control command for turning on the slave unit 40 from the transmission / reception unit 79 by balanced serial communication (for example, RS485), the transmission / reception unit 91 is connected to the relay device connection unit 76. The control command for the slave unit 40 is received via the remote control connection means 83. The signal conversion unit 88 converts the control command of the slave unit 40 received by the transmission / reception unit 91 by balanced serial communication into unbalanced serial communication (for example, RS232C), and the transmission / reception unit 93 via the relay device control unit 86 performs unbalanced serial communication. Send. The transmission / reception means 30 receives the control command of the slave unit 40 via the base unit connection unit 81 and the relay device connection unit 25, and the slave unit control unit 29 receives the control command of the slave unit 40 via the master unit control unit. The slave unit main body function unit is turned on by the slave unit control unit 42 via the master unit connection unit 23 and the master unit connection unit 41. On / off control of the parent device 21 and other child devices 50 and setting control such as temperature setting can be performed in the same manner.
[0030]
The maintenance terminal 85 has a function of outputting a maintenance signal of the device received by the relay device 80 from the device 20. By connecting a personal computer or the like to the maintenance terminal 85, information for maintaining the device 20 is monitored. can do. In addition, the device 20 can be controlled from a personal computer connected to the maintenance terminal 85. The maintenance signal includes maintenance information, operation state information, setting information, failure information, and history information of the parent device 21 and the child devices 40 and 50. Originally, this signal is a signal output from the paired relay device connecting means 25 of the base unit 21. By connecting a personal computer to the paired relay device connecting means 25, status information of the base unit 21 and the handset units 40, 50 can be obtained. The relay device 80 of the present embodiment is configured to output a maintenance signal from the maintenance terminal 85, and can be connected to the relay device connection means 25. Even when the parent device connection means 81 is connected, the maintenance of the device can be performed by connecting a personal computer to the maintenance terminal 85.
[0031]
Further, when using the remote control connection means 82, 83, 84 and the maintenance terminal 85 at the same time, when set by the priority setting means A95, the output from the maintenance remote terminal 85 rather than the output from the remote control connection means 82, 83, 84. It has a function to prioritize signals. Further, it has a function of not outputting a signal from the remote control connection means 82, 83, 84 when the priority setting means B is set.
[0032]
Further, when an arbitrary time t is set by the timer means 94, a control signal is sent to the equipment 20 after the time set by the timer means 94 has elapsed since the time when the relay device 80 received a control command for the equipment 20 from the remote controller 70. It has a function to transmit. That is, when the timer operation of the device 20 is set by operating the operation switch 75 in accordance with the display on the display unit 71, the control command of the device 20 is transmitted from the remote controller control unit 77 to the transmission / reception unit 79, the relay device connection unit 76, When the relay device control means 86 reaches the relay device control means 86 via the remote control connection means 83, the transmission / reception means 91, and the signal conversion means 88, the relay device control means 86 stores the control command in the control command storage means 98. Thereafter, when the time t set in the timer means 94 has elapsed, the relay device control means 86 transmits the control command for the device 20 stored in the control command storage means from the transmission / reception means, and the device 20 that has received this transmits the control command according to the control command. Operate. That is, the timer operation can be realized. At this time, the time set in the timer means 94 may be set from the timer setting means 78 of the remote controller 70.
[0033]
Needless to say, the time set in the timer means 94 of this embodiment may be the time. For example, when 8:00 is set in the timer means 94, the instruction stored in the control instruction storage means 98 may be transmitted when it becomes 8:00. Further, when a predetermined time is required until the operation is completed, the control command may be transmitted by performing a reverse calculation assuming a completion time. For example, in the case of a water heater, when 10 minutes are required for hot water to bath, if the time set in the timer means 94 is 8:00, the instruction stored in the control instruction storage means at 7:50 10 minutes before Send. Thus, a timer operation can be realized in which hot water filling in the bath is completed at 8:00 after 10 minutes, that is, at the time set in the timer means 94.
[0034]
In the case of the above-mentioned water heater, the control command storage means 98 stores the time of 10 minutes necessary for filling the bath. Since this time varies depending on the hot water supply capacity of the water heater, even if the relay device of the present invention is common to various water heaters, this time must be set in the relay device according to the connected water heater. Therefore, the time information necessary for such a timer operation is input and set using a remote controller after connecting the relay device, or downloaded using a recording medium such as an IC card or a communication network. Alternatively, time information necessary for the timer operation may be input and set when the relay device is manufactured or sold. Information on the time required for such a timer operation, that is, the time from the start to the completion of the operation is not limited to the water heater, but is information on the operation time of the device according to the device to which the relay device is connected. . For example, the cooking time in a rice cooker.
[0035]
Further, the time t2 is separately set in the timer means 94, and the relay device control means 86 transmits a confirmation signal to the device 20 via the transmission / reception means 93 every time t2 set in the timer means 94 elapses. The transmission / reception means 93 receives the confirmation reception signal from the transmission / reception means 30 of the device 20 so that the relay device control means detects that the communication between the relay device 80 and the device 20 is normal. When the confirmation reception signal from the 20 transmission / reception means 30 cannot be received, it is detected that the communication between the relay device 80 and the device 20 is abnormal or the device 20 is abnormal, and this is notified to the remote controller 70. Send. Thereby, the user can recognize that there is an abnormality from the information displayed on the display means of the remote controller 70. For example, when t2 is 1 minute, the stability of communication can be confirmed every minute. Therefore, at worst, the time during which communication abnormality occurs is as short as 1 minute, and an extremely stable system can be realized. Also, the time may be set as t2. For example, when t2 is 12:00, a confirmation signal is transmitted every time 12:00. Even in this case, the same effect can be obtained.
It goes without saying that by connecting to the web from the remote control, the device 20 can be controlled from the outdoor PDA, mobile phone, personal computer, etc. via the remote control 70, or information on the device 20 can be monitored by an outdoor PDA, mobile phone, personal computer, etc. Yes. In this embodiment, the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89 are mounted on the relay device 80 and mounted in a separate housing from the device 20, but the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89 are connected to the device 20. Needless to say, an integrated configuration may be used, and the signal conversion means 87, 88, 89 or the relay device 80 may be built in the housing of the device 20. Needless to say, the device 20 may have only a parent device without a child device, and the remote controller 70 may be a personal computer.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the conventional example, the communication between the personal computer and the combustion equipment, that is, the communication between the personal computer connection terminal and the equipment connection terminal is for maintenance of the combustion equipment from the personal computer, and the maintenance connection terminal. And when the remote control system is constructed using the communication specifications, it does not have the function to realize the timer operation of the combustion equipment, and the timer operation of the combustion equipment that has been increasing in demand among women working in recent years cannot be realized However, according to the present invention, the signal output from the combustion device can be realized by the signal conversion means by using the communication function already installed in the combustion device, which is extremely effective. It is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control system provided with a combustion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a combustion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device including a signal conversion means of a combustion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional example.
20 Equipment (combustion equipment)
21 Master unit (combustion equipment)
40 Handset (hot water floor heater)
50 handset (hot water bathroom dryer)
60 Slave unit (operating device)
70 Remote controller 71 Display means 72, 73, 74, 75 Operation switch 77 Remote control means 78 Timer setting means 80 Relay device 86 Relay device control means 94 Timer means 98 Control command storage means

Claims (4)

Combustion equipment main body, remote control and relay device, the relay device has a timer means for storing the time until the combustion equipment main body is operated after receiving a control signal from the remote control, and a control command storage means When the control signal from the remote control is received, the timer of the timer means is started and the control command included in the control signal is stored in the control command storage means, and the time until the combustion device body is operated is Combustion equipment which controls after sending the control command stored in the control command storage means to the combustion equipment body after measuring by the timer means. Combustion equipment main body, a remote control and a relay device, the relay device has a timer means for storing the time to operate the combustion equipment main body after receiving a control signal from the remote control, and a control command storage means, When receiving a control signal from a remote controller, the control command included in the control signal is stored in the control command storage means, and the time when the combustion device main body is operated is counted by the timer means, and then stored in the control command storage means A combustion device that transmits and controls the stored control command to the combustion device body. The combustion apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the time setting or time setting of the timer means is performed by operating the remote controller and transmitting a timer setting signal from the remote controller to the relay device. .   A program for executing a part or all of the equipment included in the combustion equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3 by a computer.

Images