JP4271556B2 - Remote control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system that includes a plurality of remote controllers that control controlled devices such as water heaters, and each remote controller is provided with a speaker.

  Conventionally, as a remote control system for a water heater, a system in which a water heater is controlled by a plurality of remote controllers installed at a plurality of locations such as a bathroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom is known. In addition, there is also known one in which each remote controller is provided with a speaker, and the user is informed of the setting state and implementation state of the controlled device (water heater) and informed of abnormality by sound output from the speaker. .

  As described above, when a speaker is provided on the remote controller, a speaker volume that does not cause a problem during daytime becomes a volume that resonates to a neighboring neighborhood at night, which may be annoying in the neighborhood.

  By the way, in an air conditioner controlled by a remote controller, when the receiver of the air conditioner receives a signal from the remote controller, the reception confirmation is notified by the buzzer. Is known to be less sound than daytime. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  The technology to reduce the buzzer volume of this air conditioner at night is applied to a remote control system equipped with multiple remote controls that control controlled devices, and each remote control is equipped with a speaker. When entering the sound reduction period, it is conceivable that a sound reduction command is transmitted from the main controller provided in the controlled device to each remote controller, and the speaker volume of all remote controllers is reduced to a predetermined low volume. However, this causes the following problems.

  That is, for example, sound output from a speaker of a remote controller installed in a bathroom is erased by sound using a shower or the like and becomes difficult to hear. Therefore, during the sound reduction period, the remote control installed in the bathroom cannot clearly transmit the audio content output from the remote control speaker to the bathing person, and the audio function can play its original role. The problem of not happening.

Conversely, if the speaker volume during the sound reduction period is reduced only to a level that can be heard even when using a shower, for example, the speaker volume of another remote control installed in the kitchen or washroom will be reduced. It becomes larger than necessary, and the noise prevention effect is not exhibited.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-35398 (page 2-3, FIG. 1)

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control system capable of maintaining the original effect of the voice function while preventing noise caused by speaker sound at night.

The remote control system includes a plurality of remote controls for controlling controlled devices . Each remote control includes a speaker, and the speaker volume of each remote control is reduced from the normal volume during a predetermined sound reduction period. , Setting means capable of individually setting the sound reduction time zone and the volume within the sound reduction time zone for each remote controller can be provided.

  Depending on the installation environment of each remote controller, the wall thickness of the room, the distance to the neighboring neighborhood, and the like differ, so the maximum speaker volume necessary to prevent noise varies. Also, depending on the installation environment of each remote controller, for example, in the bathroom, the surrounding noise is high by using a shower, and conversely, for example, the surrounding noise is low in the kitchen or washroom, so the minimum noise that the user can hear is The speaker volume is different.

  According to the above configuration, the speaker volume in the sound reduction time zone can be set according to the installation environment of each remote control by the setting means. For example, for the remote control installed in the bathroom, in the sound reduction time zone Set the volume of the sound output from the speaker to a higher level compared to other remote controls. For remote controls installed in other locations such as kitchens and washrooms, the sound output from the speakers during the sound reduction time zone The setting volume can be set small. Therefore, it is possible to provide a remote control system that can play the original role of the voice function while maintaining the noise prevention function.

  Also, the time zone in which the user is in the vicinity of the location of each remote control differs depending on the location of each remote control. According to the above configuration, it is possible to individually set the sound reduction time zone for each remote controller in consideration of the time zone when the user is not in the vicinity of the installation location of each remote controller by the setting means, and noise can be further prevented. Furthermore, the power consumption can be reduced by increasing the time period during which the speaker volume is reduced.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote control system including a plurality of remote controls for controlling controlled devices, each remote control including a speaker, and the speaker volume of each remote control is set to a normal time in a predetermined sound reduction period. Each of the remote controllers has a communication means for making a call with another remote controller, a designation means for designating another remote controller by a user operation, and a remote controller designated by the designation means. A sound increasing means is provided for increasing the speaker volume of the designated remote controller over the set sound volume in the sound reduction time zone when the sound reduction time zone is entered .

  According to such a configuration, when it is difficult to hear the speaker sound of the remote control installed in the bathroom, for example, when it is in the sound reduction period, it is installed in the bathroom by the designated means. By designating the remote controller and increasing the speaker volume of the designated bathroom remote controller to a volume that is easy to hear in the bathroom by the sound amplifying means, the original effect of the voice function can be maintained. In this case, since the speaker volume of the other remote controller not designated by the designation means remains reduced, noise can be prevented.

  The remote control system preferably includes return means for returning the speaker volume of the remote control increased by the sound increase means to the set volume in the sound reduction period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sound was increased.

  As a result, even if the user forgets to reduce the volume while the speaker volume of the remote control designated by the designation unit is kept large, the restoration unit can automatically return to the original volume setting in the sound reduction time zone. Therefore, noise can be further prevented and power consumption can be reduced.

  In addition, the remote control system includes notification means for notifying the occurrence of abnormality, and the notification means increases the speaker volume of the remote control from the set volume in the sound reduction time period when notifying the occurrence of abnormality in the sound reduction time period. It is preferable to notify by sound.

  In the sound reduction time zone, the speaker volume is reduced, so that the user may miss the speaker sound for notifying the occurrence of the abnormality. According to the above configuration, since the anomaly is notified by increasing the speaker volume by the notification means, the range in which the user can hear the notification is expanded. For this reason, it becomes easy to notify the occurrence of abnormality to the user, and it becomes easy to deal with it quickly.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a remote controller, and FIG. 3 shows control of speaker volume of each remote controller when it is in a sound reduction time zone and when it is not in a sound reduction time zone. 4 is a flowchart showing control for setting the sound reduction time zone and speaker volume of each remote controller, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control for increasing the speaker volume of the remote control in the sound reduction time zone, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a change in volume when the speaker volume of the remote control is increased in the sound time zone, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control for increasing the speaker volume when an abnormality occurs in the sound reduction time zone.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a remote control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a water heater 2 as a controlled device, a kitchen remote control 31 installed in the kitchen, a bathroom remote control 32 installed in the bathroom, and a toilet. And a toilet remote control 33 installed in the bathroom. The water heater 2 includes a main controller 21. Each of the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 incorporates a microcomputer (not shown), and is connected so as to be able to control communication between the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 and the main controller 21. The hot water heater 2 is controlled by the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 via the main controller 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 includes a liquid crystal screen 3a, a menu button 3b, a switch / decision button 3c, an UP button 3d, a DOWN button 3e, an emergency button 3f, and a speaker 3g. And a microphone 3h.

  When the menu button 3b is pressed, a menu list including various items such as hot water temperature, bath temperature, bath water volume, and speaker volume is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and a predetermined item is selected and switched by the UP button 3d and the DOWN button 3e. When the / OK button 3c is pressed, a setting screen for the corresponding item is displayed. Then, by operating the UP button 3d and the DOWN button 3e on the setting screen, the corresponding items can be set and changed.

  In addition, the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 according to the present embodiment notify the user of the setting state and implementation state of the water heater 2 and the notification of an abnormality by the sound output from the speaker 3g. Furthermore, each remote controller 31, 32, 33 is configured to be able to talk between the remote controllers by a speaker 3g, a microphone 3h, and an operation button (not shown). This call method may be a two-way call method or a switched call method.

  In addition, the remote control system 1 according to the present embodiment reduces the sound by reducing the speaker volume (set volume) set for each remote controller during the sound reduction time period set for each remote controller by pressing the switch / decision button 3c. It is possible to switch between a mode and a normal mode that provides a normal speaker volume for 24 hours.

  Next, a method for controlling the speaker volume of each remote controller 31, 32, 33 of the remote control system 1 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the main controller 21 confirms that the sound reduction mode is set in STEP 1, the main controller 21 proceeds to STEP 2, and determines whether or not the kitchen remote controller 31 is in the current sound reduction time zone. When it is the sound reduction time zone, the process proceeds to STEP 3 and the main controller 21 reduces the speaker volume of the kitchen remote controller 31 to the speaker volume (set volume) of the set sound reduction time zone. If it is not the sound reduction period, the process proceeds to STEP 4 and the main controller 21 sets the speaker volume of the kitchen remote controller 31 to the set normal speaker volume.

  Similarly, in STEP5 to STEP10, the speaker volume of the bathroom remote controller 32 and the toilet remote controller 33 is set.

  In STEP 1, when the main controller 21 confirms that the normal mode is selected instead of the sound reduction mode, the process proceeds to STEP 11, and the main controller 21 sets the speaker volume of each remote controller 31, 32, 33 to each The normal speaker volume set in the remote control 31, 32, 33 is set. In the present embodiment, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is executed with a predetermined cycle time.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the control for setting the sound reduction time zone and the speaker volume (set sound volume) of the sound reduction time zone of each remote controller 31, 32, 33 will be described.

  First, in STEP 21, the user presses the menu button 3b to display the menu screen on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and selects “sound reduction setting” from the list displayed in the menu screen. Then, a sound reduction setting screen (see FIG. 2) is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and a list of remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 is displayed in this screen. In STEP 22, when the user presses the UP button 3d or the DOWN button 3e to select the remote control to be set from the sound reduction setting screen, the process proceeds to STEP 23, and the start time of the sound reduction time zone of the selected remote control can be set. When the start time of the sound reduction time zone is set, the process proceeds to STEP 24 and the user can set the end time of the sound reduction time zone.

  When the end time of the sound reduction time zone is set, the process proceeds to STEP 25, and the user can set the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone. When the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone is set, the process proceeds to STEP 26, and the main controller 21 displays a selection screen of two options “set” and “not set” for the other remote control on the liquid crystal screen 3a. Display. When the user selects “SET”, the process returns to STEP 22 and other remote controllers can be set. When the user selects “not set”, the sound reduction setting is terminated. In the present embodiment, STEP 21 to STEP 26 shown in FIG. 4 correspond to setting means.

  The normal speaker volume that is a time zone other than the sound reduction time zone is set as follows. That is, the menu button 3b is pressed to display the menu screen on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and by selecting “volume setting” from the list displayed in the menu screen, the normal speaker volume is set for each remote controller.

  Next, a control for increasing the speaker volume of the remote controller in the sound reduction time zone will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, description will be made assuming that the sound reduction mode for reducing the sound volume to the speaker volume (set sound volume) set for each remote controller is selected in the sound reduction time zone set for each remote controller.

  First, in STEP 31, the user presses the menu button 3b to display the menu screen on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and selects “change volume” from the list displayed in the menu screen. Then, a volume change screen is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and a list of the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 is displayed in the volume change screen. Next, proceeding to STEP 32, the user selects a remote control whose volume is to be changed with the UP button 3d and the DOWN button 3e.

  Next, proceeding to STEP 33, the main controller 21 determines whether or not the selected remote controller is in the current sound reduction time zone. If the selected remote controller is not in the current sound reduction time zone, the main controller 21 displays “The selected remote controller is not currently sound-inhibited” on the liquid crystal screen 3a and ends the current process. .

  When the selected remote controller is in the current sound reduction time zone, the process proceeds to STEP 34, and the main controller 21 displays a sound increase setting screen on the liquid crystal screen 3a. Here, the speaker volume of the selected remote controller is increased by setting the speaker volume desired by the user. Note that the speaker volume may not be increased beyond the normal speaker volume so that the speaker volume is not increased excessively. Further, STEP 34 is omitted, and the speaker volume of the selected remote controller may be increased to a predetermined volume, for example, a volume increased by a certain amount from the set volume in the sound reduction time zone, or a normal volume. Good.

  Next, proceeding to STEP 35, the main controller 21 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) has elapsed since the speaker volume of the selected remote controller is increased. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to STEP 36, and the main controller 21 returns the speaker volume of the selected remote controller to the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone. And this process is complete | finished. In the present embodiment, STEP 31 to STEP 32 correspond to designation means, STEP 33 to STEP 34 correspond to sound increase means, and STEP 35 to STEP 36 correspond to return means.

  Next, the speaker volume increase control in the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described in detail with an example. Here, in the present embodiment, the speaker volume can be set in six levels of levels 0 to 5, with level 0 indicating mute and level 5 indicating the maximum volume.

  First, as shown in the liquid crystal screen 3a shown in FIG. 2, the start time of the sound reduction time zone of the kitchen remote controller 31 is 20:00, the end time is 8:00, and the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone. Is set to level 3, and the speaker volume at normal time is set to level 4. The start time of the sound reduction time zone of the bathroom remote control 32 is 20:00, the end time is 9:00, the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone is set to level 4, and the speaker volume in the normal time is set to level 5. ing. Moreover, the start time of the sound reduction time zone of the toilet remote control 33 is 20:00, the end time is 8:00, the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone is set to level 2, and the speaker volume in the normal time is set to level 3. Has been. In the present embodiment, since it is determined that the user is unlikely to be in the bathroom until 9:00 in the morning, the end time of the sound reduction period of the bathroom remote control 32 is compared with the other kitchen remote control 31 and the toilet remote control 33. And it is set to 9 o'clock, which is 1 hour longer.

  Here, the user in the kitchen tried to talk with the family while taking a bath using the remote control system 1 at 22:00. The speaker sound of the bathroom remote control 32 was erased by the sound of the shower, and the family who was taking a bath I didn't reach my ear and I didn't get a reply. The user selects the bathroom remote controller 32 in STEP 32 according to the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and in STEP 34, the speaker volume of the bathroom remote controller 32 is increased to level 5 as shown in FIG. This time, the speaker sound of the bathroom remote control 32 reached the ears of the family who was taking a bath, and a reply was returned. At this time, the speaker volumes of the kitchen remote controller 31 and the toilet remote controller 33 remain at level 3 and level 2, which are speaker volumes (set volumes) in the sound reduction time zone. Thereafter, even if the user forgets to return the speaker volume of the bathroom remote control 32 to level 4 which is the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone, after the set time has elapsed according to STEP 35 in FIG. The speaker volume of the bathroom remote control 32 automatically returns to level 4.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the control for increasing the speaker volume when an abnormality occurs in the sound reduction time zone will be described. In FIG. 7, description will be made assuming that the sound reduction mode for reducing the sound volume to the speaker volume (set sound volume) set for each remote controller is selected during the sound reduction time period set for each remote controller.

  First, in STEP 41, the main controller 21 determines whether or not the abnormal operation of the water heater 2 is detected by the abnormal operation detection means (not shown) of the water heater 2, and whether or not the emergency button 3f is pressed by the user. To do. If the abnormal operation of the water heater 2 is not detected and the emergency button 3f is not pressed, the current process is terminated.

  When the abnormal operation of the water heater 2 is detected, or when the emergency button 3f is pressed, the process proceeds to STEP 42 to notify the occurrence of the abnormality. At this time, if there is a remote controller that is currently in the sound reduction period, the main controller 21 increases the speaker volume of the remote controller that is in the sound reduction period (for example, increases the speaker volume to the normal time). ), The occurrence of abnormality is notified.

  Next, the process proceeds to STEP 43, and the main controller 21 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of notification of the occurrence of abnormality, that the water heater 2 has returned to normal operation by an abnormal operation detection means (not shown), or that the user operates. When it is confirmed that the notification by the emergency button 3f has been canceled, the process proceeds to STEP 44, and the speaker volume of the remote controller whose sound is increased is returned to the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction period. And this process is complete | finished. In the present embodiment, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is executed with a predetermined cycle time. Moreover, in this embodiment, STEP41-STEP44 correspond to an alerting | reporting means.

  According to the remote control system 1 of the present embodiment, the speaker volume (set volume) within the sound reduction time zone can be set by the setting means in accordance with the installation environment of each remote controller 31, 32, 33. For the bathroom remote control 32 where it is difficult to hear the speaker sound due to the shower sound, the speaker volume (setting volume) in the sound reduction time zone is set to be larger than that of the other kitchen remote control 31 and the washroom remote control 33. As for the remote controller 33, the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone can be set small.

  Further, the time zone in which the user is in the vicinity of the installation location of each remote control 31, 32, 33 differs depending on the installation location of each remote control 31, 32, 33. However, according to the remote control system 1 of the present embodiment, the sound reduction time zone can be individually set for each remote controller in consideration of the time zone in which the user is not near the installation location of each remote controller 31, 32, 33 by the setting means. .

  Also, when the remote control is in the sound reduction period, for example, if the speaker sound of the bathroom remote control 32 is erased by the sound of a shower or the like and is difficult to hear, the bathroom remote control 32 is specified by the user's operation by the specifying means. By doing so, the speaker volume of the bathroom remote control 32 can be increased to a volume that is easy to hear in the bathroom by the sound increase means. In this case, the speaker volume of the other kitchen remote controller 31 and the toilet remote controller 33 remains reduced to the speaker volume (set volume) in the sound reduction time zone.

  In addition, even if the user forgets to reduce the volume while increasing the speaker volume of the specified remote controller, the return volume automatically sets the speaker volume (set volume) to the original sound reduction time zone. Can be returned.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent noise and reduce power consumption while maintaining the original effect of the voice function.

  In addition, since the speaker volume is reduced during the sound reduction period, the user may miss the speaker sound for notifying the occurrence of an abnormality. However, according to the present embodiment, the notification means notifies the occurrence of an abnormality by increasing the speaker volume of the remote control within the sound reduction time period (for example, increasing the speaker volume at the normal time). The range where you can hear is expanded. For this reason, it becomes easy to notify the occurrence of abnormality to the user, and it becomes easy to deal with it quickly.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although the remote control system 1 which controls the water heater 2 as a controlled apparatus is demonstrated, a controlled apparatus is not restricted to a water heater, Other things may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, as a method for increasing the speaker volume of the remote controller during the sound reduction period, it has been described in STEP 34 shown in FIG. 5 that the speaker volume can be increased to a user's desired speaker volume. The sound may be increased to a normal speaker volume that is a time zone other than the time zone.

  In this embodiment, as shown in STEP 31 of FIG. 5, the menu button 3b is pressed to select the item “change volume” from the list displayed on the liquid crystal screen 3a, and the speaker volume in the sound reduction time zone. Although the method of increasing the (set volume) is described, separately from this, for example, a “volume return button” is provided on each of the remote controllers 31, 32, 33, and the button is pressed by pressing this button. The loudspeaker volume of the remote controller may be increased to a predetermined volume, for example, a volume increased by a certain amount from the set volume during the sound reduction period, or a normal volume. In this case, the control for increasing the sound by pressing the sound return button corresponds to the specifying means and the sound increasing means.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the main controller 21 determines whether or not it is a sound reduction time zone for each of the remote controllers 31, 32, 33, and each of the remote controllers 31, 32, 33. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and control from STEP 2 to STEP 4 in FIG. 3 is performed by a microcomputer (not shown) of the kitchen remote control 31, and control from STEP 5 to STEP 7 is not shown in the bathroom remote control 32. The control from STEP 8 to STEP 10 by the microcomputer may be performed by a microcomputer (not shown) of the toilet remote controller 33. In this case, the main controller 21 that has confirmed that the sound reduction mode is selected in STEP 1 instructs the remote controllers 31, 32, and 33 to perform the respective controls.

  Further, in this embodiment, the remote controller to be increased is designated in STEP 31 to STEP 32 shown in FIG. 5, and the designated remote controller is increased. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When a call switch is provided that enables a call by designating a remote controller, only the speaker volume of the designated remote controller may be increased by pressing the call switch. In this case, the call switch corresponds to the designation means.

The schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows a remote control. The flowchart which shows control of the speaker volume of each remote control when it is not a sound reduction time slot | zone when it is a sound reduction time slot | zone. The flowchart which showed the control which sets the sound reduction time zone and speaker volume of each remote control. The flowchart which shows the control which increases the speaker volume of a remote control in a sound reduction time slot | zone. Explanatory drawing which showed an example of the volume change at the time of increasing the speaker volume of the remote control in a sound reduction time zone. The flowchart which shows the control which increases the speaker volume at the time of abnormality generation | occurrence | production in a sound reduction time slot | zone.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote control system, 2 ... Water heater, 21 ... Main controller, 31 ... Kitchen remote control, 32 ... Bathroom remote control, 33 ... Toilet remote control, 3a ... Liquid crystal screen, 3b ... Menu button, 3c ... Switch / decision button, 3d ... UP button, 3e ... DOWN button, 3f ... emergency button, 3g ... speaker, 3h ... microphone.

Claims (3)

A remote control system comprising a plurality of remote controls for controlling controlled devices,
Each remote control is equipped with a speaker, and the speaker volume of each remote control is lower than the normal volume during a specified sound reduction period,
Each remote control
Call means for making calls with other remote controllers,
A designation means that can designate another remote control by the user's operation,
And a sound-increasing means for increasing the speaker volume of the designated remote controller from the set sound volume in the sound-reducing time zone when the remote control designated by the designation means is in the sound reduction time zone. system. 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising return means for returning the loudspeaker volume of the remote control increased by the sound increase means to a set volume in a sound reduction period after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sound was increased. . Provided with an informing means for informing the occurrence of an abnormality,
Informing means, when notifying the abnormality in the down sound time period, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the notifying by Zoon than the preset volume of the speaker volume of the remote controller sound reduction in the time zone The remote control system described in.

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