JP4234332B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a warm air heater or a rice cooker including a control unit capable of exhibiting a timer function when energized and an operation unit whose operation function is controlled by the control unit when energized.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As one of the electronic devices, there is a hot air heater including a control unit and an operation unit including a burner, a fan, and the like. In such a warm air heater, when the operation switch is turned ON from the “standby state” in which the control unit is energized and the burner and the fan are stopped, the control unit is energized and the burn amount of the burner is The operation is switched to the “operating state” in which the hot air heating operation is performed by controlling the rotation speed of the fan. Thereafter, when the operation switch is turned off, the operation state is switched to the standby state again. However, since the control unit is energized in the standby state, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of power saving.
[0003]
Therefore, there is proposed a hot air heater that can be switched to a “stop state” in which the burner combustion and the fan operation are stopped and the control unit is also de-energized when the operation switch is turned OFF in the operation state. (For example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-316019).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since a so-called timer function such as automatically starting the hot air heating operation after a predetermined time can be exhibited by energizing the control unit, the timer function cannot be used in such a stopped state.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can appropriately use a timer function while consuming power during operation stop.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electronic device of the present invention for solving the above-described problems is an operation state in which the control unit and the operation unit are energized, the operation state in which the operation function is exhibited by the operation unit, and the energization to the control unit and the operation unit is stopped. Switching means capable of switching between a stop state in which the operation function of the operation unit is stopped and a standby state in which the operation unit is de-energized while the operation unit is de-energized and the operation unit is stopped. Notification means for informing whether the state, the stop state or the standby state, the switching means comprises one push switch type changeover switch , according to the pressing time or the number of times of pressing of the changeover switch , Switching from the stopped state to the operating state or the standby state, switching from the standby state to the operating state or the stopped state, And performing the switching to the machine state.
[0007]
According to the present invention, the switching unit switches between these three states while the user recognizes whether the electronic device is in the “running state”, “stopped state”, or “standby state” by the notification unit. Can do. According to the present invention, the user can switch from the stopped state to the operating state or the standby state and the standby state to the operating state or the stopped state according to the pressing time or the number of times of pressing of one push switch type changeover switch. And switching from the operating state to the stopped state or the standby state can be performed.
[0008]
Therefore, the timer function exhibited by the control unit can be used by switching to the “standby state” as appropriate while switching the electronic device to the “stop state” to save power by energizing the control unit.
[0009]
In the electronic device, the pressing time or the number of operations of pressing the selector switch at the time of switching from the stop state or the standby state to the operation state, when switching when switching from a stopped state to the standby state or from the standby state to the stopped state It is preferable that the time is set shorter than the pressing time of the changeover switch or the number of times of pressing is small.
[0010]
According to the present invention, in the stop state or the standby state, the user can select which state the electronic apparatus is switched to by making a difference in the pressing time or the number of times of pressing of the changeover switch.
[0011]
In addition, the user switches the electronic device to the “running state” by pressing the switch for a relatively short time in the “stop state” or by pressing the switch for a smaller number of times than when switching to the “standby state”. Can do. Similarly, in the “standby state”, the user presses the changeover switch for a relatively shorter time than when switching to the “stop state” or presses the changeover switch for a smaller number of times to switch the electronic device to the “running state”. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to give satisfaction to a user who wants to quickly switch from the “stop state” or “standby state” to the “operation state”, that is, to quickly start the operation by the operation unit.
[0016]
In the electronic device, the pressing time also pressing the number of the selector switch at the time of switching from the stop state to the standby state is longer than the pressing time of the changeover switch when switched from the standby state to the stop state, or than the pressing times It is preferable that many are set.
[0017]
According to the present invention, it is not possible to switch from the “stop state” to the “standby state” unless the changeover switch is pressed longer or more than when switching from the “standby state” to the “stop state”. Accordingly, it is possible to strongly impress the user that the electronic device has been switched to the standby state, and to avoid a situation in which only energization of the control unit is continued without using the timer function in spite of the standby state.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of an electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a hot air heater as an electronic apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a functional explanatory diagram of the hot air heater.
[0019]
A hot air heater x shown in FIG. 1 includes an operation panel 1, an energization control unit 2, a control unit (control unit) 3, and an operation unit 4.
[0020]
The operation panel 1 includes an operation switch 11, a status display lamp 12, a timer switch 13, a setting switch 14, and a display panel 15. The operation switch 11 is a push switch type “changeover switch”, and is switched between three states of the hot air heater x, that is, “operation state”, “stop state”, and “standby state” through the pressing operation. The status display lamp 12 lights up in red, turns off, and lights up in green when the hot air heater x is “operating state”, “stopped state”, and “standby state” as “notification means” of the present invention. . The timer switch 13 selects the timer function type of the control unit 3 through the pressing operation. Through the operation of the setting switch 14, the heating temperature, the timer time, etc. are set. The display panel 15 displays the heating temperature, timer time, etc. set through the setting switch 14.
[0021]
The energization control unit 2 controls the supply of power obtained from a power outlet 21 connected to a power source (not shown) to the control unit 3 and the operation unit 4 in accordance with the pressing operation of the operation switch 11. Further, the energization control unit 2 switches the three states of the hot air heater x as “switching means” of the present invention by such energization control.
[0022]
The control unit 3 includes an operation control unit 31 that controls the operation of the operation unit 4 by energization, a timer function unit 32 that exhibits a timer function, and the hot air heater x is “stopped” immediately before switching to the previous “operational state”. A storage means 33 is provided for storing the state "or" standby state "while sequentially updating it.
[0023]
The operation unit 4 includes a burner 41 and a fan 42 that takes in indoor air and sends out warm air generated by combustion of the burner 41. The burner 41 combusts the gas supplied through the gas pipe 45 provided with the gas solenoid valve 43 and the gas flow rate control valve 44. The opening and closing of the gas solenoid valve 43, the adjustment of the gas supply amount by the gas flow rate adjustment valve 44, the combustion of the burner 41, and the operation of the fan 42 are performed by power supply by the energization control unit 2.
[0024]
The function of the hot air heater x configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
[0025]
First, in the initial stage when the power outlet 21 is connected to the power source, the hot air heater x is in a “stopped state” (s1). At this time, the energization control unit 2 stops energization of the control unit 3 and the operation unit 4, the timer function exhibited by the control unit 3 cannot be used, and the hot air heating operation by the operation unit 4 is stopped. Further, the status display lamp 12 is turned off.
[0026]
When the operation switch 11 is pressed in the “stop state” (YES in s2) and the pressing time is 2 seconds or longer (YES in s3), the hot air heater x is switched to the “standby state” (s4). At this time, the energization control unit 2 energizes the control unit 3, the energization to the operation unit 4 is stopped, the timer function exhibited by the control unit 3 is available, and the hot air heating operation by the operation unit 4 is stopped. ing. In addition, the status display lamp 12 lights up in green.
[0027]
On the other hand, in the “stop state”, when the pressing time of the operation switch 11 is less than 2 seconds (YES in s2, NO in s3), the warm air heater x is switched to the “operation state” (s9). At this time, the control unit 3 and the operation unit 4 are energized by the energization control unit 11, and the warm air heating operation is performed by the operation unit 4 under the control of the control unit 3. In addition, the status display lamp 12 is lit red. Further, the storage means 33 stores that the warm air heater x was in the “stop state” immediately before switching to the previous “operation state”.
[0028]
In the “standby state”, when the operation switch 11 is pressed (YES in s5) and the pressing time is 2 seconds or more (YES in s6), the energization control unit 2 energizes the control unit 3 and the operation unit 4. The hot air heater x is stopped and switched to the “stop state” (s1).
[0029]
On the other hand, when the pressing time of the operation switch 11 is less than 2 seconds (NO in s6), the operation unit 4 is also energized by the energization control unit 2, and the hot air heater x is switched to the “operation state” (s9). At this time, the storage means 33 stores that the warm air heater x was in the “standby state” immediately before switching to the previous “operating state” (s10).
[0030]
Further, in the “standby state”, the timer switch 13 is pressed to select the type of the timer function, and then the timer setting is set to “start warm air heating operation at 28 ° C. after 3 hours” through the setting switch 14 (YES in s7). ) When 3 hours elapse from the timer setting and the timer time is reached (YES in s8), the operation unit 4 is energized by the energization control unit 2, and the hot air heater x is switched to the “operation state” ( s9). At this time, the storage means 33 stores that the warm air heater x was in the “standby state” immediately before switching to the previous “operating state” (s10).
[0031]
When the operation switch 11 is pressed in the “operating state” (YES in s11), the hot air heater x is switched to the state stored in the storage means 33 (s12). That is, when the “stop state” is stored in the storage unit 33, the energization control unit 2 stops energization to the control unit 3 and the operation unit 4. Thereby, the warm air heater x is switched to the “stop state” (A in s12). Further, when the “standby state” is stored in the storage unit 33, the energization control unit 2 stops energizing only the operation unit 4 and continues energizing the control unit 3. Thereby, the warm air heater x is switched to the “standby state” (B in s12).
[0032]
According to the hot air heater x of the present embodiment, the state display lamp 12 allows the user to recognize whether the hot air heater x is in the “running state”, “stop state”, or “standby state”. However, these three states can be switched by the operation switch 11 and the energization control unit 2.
[0033]
Accordingly, the hot air heater x is switched to the “stop state” to save power by energizing the control unit 3, and the timer function exhibited by the control unit 3 is appropriately switched to the “standby state”. Can do.
[0034]
Further, in the “stop state” or “standby state”, the user can select which state the hot air heater x is switched to by changing the pressing time of the changeover switch (see s3 and s6 in FIG. 2). .
[0035]
Furthermore, the user can switch the warm air heater x to the “operating state” by pressing the operation switch 11 for a relatively shorter time in the “stop state” than when switching to the “standby state” (s3 in FIG. 2). NO). Similarly, the user can switch the hot air heater x to the “operating state” by pressing the operation switch 11 in the “standby state” for a relatively shorter time than when switching to the “stop state” (FIG. 5). NO at 2s6). Therefore, it is possible to give satisfaction to a user who wants to quickly switch from the “stop state” or “standby state” to the “operation state”, that is, to quickly start the warm air heating operation by the operation unit 4.
[0036]
Further, the user switches the “operating state” to the “stop state” or the “standby state” by pressing the operation switch 11 for a relatively shorter time than when switching between the “stop state” and the “standby state”. (See s11). Therefore, it is possible to give a great satisfaction to a user who wants to quickly switch from the “operating state” to the “stopped state” or “standby state”, that is, to quickly stop the hot air heating operation by the operating unit 4.
[0037]
Further, when the hot air heater x is switched from the “standby state” to the “operating state” and the operation switch 11 is pressed in the “operating state”, the state immediately before that, that is, the “standby state” is automatically set. (B in FIG. 2 s12). A user who switches the hot air heater x to the “operating state” after setting it to the “standby state” has a high probability of frequently using the timer function. Therefore, after the hot air heating operation of the operation unit 4 is stopped by switching from the “operation state”, a user who uses the timer function at a short time does not need to perform state switching every time, and usability is improved.
[0038]
Further, when the hot air heater x is switched from the “stop state” to the “operation state” and the operation switch 11 is pressed in the “operation state”, the state immediately before that, that is, the “stop state” is automatically set. (A in FIG. 2 s12). A user who switches the hot air heater x from the “stop state” to the “operation state” has a high probability of not using the timer function much. Therefore, after the operation of the operation unit 4 is stopped by switching from the “operation state”, the power supply to the control unit 3 can be stopped to save power unless the user desires to use the timer function.
[0039]
In addition, although the electronic device was the warm air heater x in this embodiment, the control function which can exhibit a timer function by electricity supply, such as a rice cooker, as another embodiment, and the operation function are controlled by the control unit It may be an electronic device.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the state of the hot air heater x is visually informed by the state display lamp 12, but as another embodiment, through the hearing by a sounding means such as a buzzer or by the state display lamp 12 and the sounding means. The state of the hot air heater x may be notified through.
[0041]
Moreover, in this embodiment, although the state switched according to whether the pushing time of the operation switch 11 is 2 second or more was distinguished (refer FIG. 2 s3, s6), as another embodiment, the frequency | count of pushing of the operation switch 11 is distinguished. Furthermore, the state to be switched may be distinguished by a combination of the pressing time and the number of pressings. For example, when the operation switch 11 is pressed once in the “stop state”, it is switched to “operation state”, and when the operation switch 11 is pressed twice within 2 seconds, it is switched to “standby state”. It may be configured as follows.
[0042]
Further, in this embodiment, switching from the “operation state” to the “stop state” or “standby state” is determined according to the state stored in the storage unit 33, but as another embodiment of the operation switch 11. It may be determined depending on whether the pressing time is 2 seconds or more, whether it is twice or more, and the like.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, whether the operation is switched from the “stop state” to the “operation state” or the “standby state” and whether the operation is switched from the “standby state” to the “operation state” or the “stop state” is performed. Although it is determined according to whether the pressing time of the switch 11 is 2 seconds or more (see s3 and s6 in FIG. 2), the state immediately before switching to the previous “stop state” or “standby state” is another embodiment. The storage means 33 may store, and a state to be switched next time may be determined based on this storage.
[0044]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, when switching between the “stop state” and the “standby state”, the pressing time of the operation switch 11 is set to 2 seconds or more in common (see FIGS. 2 s3 and s6). As another embodiment, the pressing time when switching from the “stop state” to the “standby state” may be set longer than the pressing time when switching from the “standby state” to the “stop state”. Further, the pressing time of the operation switch 11 may be set differently from the pressing frequency.
[0045]
In this case, it is not possible to switch from the “stop state” to the “standby state” unless the operation switch 11 is pressed longer or more than when switching from the “standby state” to the “stop state”. Therefore, the user is strongly impressed that the hot air heater x has been switched to the “standby state”, and the situation where only the power supply to the control unit 3 is continued without using the timer function in spite of the standby state is suppressed. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a hot air heater as an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of functions of the hot air heater.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation panel, 2 ... Current supply control unit (switching means), 3 ... Control unit, 4 ... Operation unit, 11 ... Operation switch (changeover switch), 12 ... Status display lamp (notification means), 33 ... Memory | storage means, x ... Hot air heater (electronic equipment)

Claims (3)

An electronic device comprising a control unit capable of exhibiting a timer function when energized, and an operation unit whose operation function is controlled by the control unit when energized,
To the control unit, the operation state in which the control unit and the operation unit are energized and the operation function is exhibited by the operation unit, the energization to the control unit and the operation unit is stopped, and the operation function of the operation unit is stopped. Switching means capable of switching to a standby state in which energization to the operation unit is stopped while the operation function of the operation unit is stopped while being energized;
An informing means for informing whether the operation state, the stop state, or the standby state,
The switching means includes one push switch type changeover switch, and switches from the stop state to the operation state or the standby state, and from the standby state to the operation state or the stop state, depending on the pressing time or the number of times of pressing of the changeover switch. And an electronic device characterized in that it can be switched from an operating state to a stopped state or a standby state .   The pressing time or the number of times of pressing of the changeover switch at the time of switching from the stop state or the standby state to the operation state is the press of the changeover switch at the time of switching from the stop state to the standby state, or at the time of switching from the standby state to the stop state. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is set to be shorter than the time or less pressed. The pressing time or the number of times of pressing of the changeover switch at the time of switching from the stop state to the standby state is set longer than the pressing time of the changeover switch at the time of switching from the standby state to the stop state or more than the number of times of pressing. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

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