JP6366421B2 - Remote control device for water heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller for a hot water supply device installed at a position away from the hot water supply device.

  In particular, in a hot water supply apparatus that uses combustion heat from a gas burner as a heat source, the hot water supply apparatus main body is often installed outdoors due to problems such as discharge of combustion gas. Therefore, a remote control device for controlling the hot water supply device is provided in the room. This remote control device is provided with operation buttons, and particularly for setting the hot water supply temperature. For example, one set is installed in each kitchen and bathroom.

  Each remote control device and the hot water supply device main body are connected via a signal line. As described above, when the hot water supply temperature is set by operating the operation button, a signal corresponding to the set hot water supply temperature is transmitted from the remote control device to the hot water supply device. Further, when the hot water supply device starts a hot water supply operation, a signal is transmitted from the hot water supply device main body to each remote control device.

  The remote control device is provided with a display that displays the set temperature, etc., but if the hot water supply device is not performing hot water supply operation and the remote control device has not been operated for a predetermined time, an energy saving viewpoint Therefore, there is known a device in which the remote control device is shifted to a sleep state and the display is turned off (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this device, for example, when the operation button of the remote control device is pressed during the hibernation state, the remote control device is changed from the hibernation state to the return state and the display unit is lit.

JP 2002-39624 A (paragraphs 0007, 0008)

  In the above-described conventional apparatus, the remote control device shifts to the hibernation state when the remote control is not used for a certain period of time, so that power consumption is reduced compared to the case where the remote control device does not shift to the hibernation state. However, in general, remote control devices for hot water supply devices are often installed at a plurality of locations such as kitchens and bathrooms. In this way, when a plurality of remote control devices are connected to the hot water supply device, if all the remote control devices perform an operation on any one of the remote control devices during the hibernation state, the remote control device that has performed the operation is In addition to the transition from the hibernation state to the return state, the remote controller that has not been operated also shifts from the hibernation state to the return state.

  Then, since the remote controller that has not been operated does not enter the sleep state until the predetermined time has elapsed, there is a problem in that power is wasted in the remote controller that has not been operated.

  Even if only one remote control device is connected to the hot water supply device, for example, when hot water supply is started by opening a faucet, a hot water supply start signal is output from the hot water supply device to the remote control device. Therefore, if the remote control device is in the hibernation state, the hot water supply start signal shifts from the hibernation state to the return state, and the same problem as described above occurs.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the remote control apparatus for hot water supply apparatuses which can reduce the power consumption in the remote control apparatus which is not operated as much as possible in view of said problem.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a remote controller for a hot water supply apparatus according to the present invention is provided with operation buttons connected to the hot water supply apparatus via signal lines and for changing the operation of the hot water supply apparatus. Then, a remote controller for a hot water supply device that transmits a signal to the hot water supply device via the signal line and receives a signal from the hot water supply device via the signal line, and the above-described operation until a predetermined operation duration time elapses. When the operation button is not operated and the signal enters the hibernation state, when a signal from the hot water supply device is received during the hibernation state, the operation proceeds to the temporary return state until a predetermined temporary return duration time elapses, and the temporary return state. If the above operation button is operated while shifting to, the transition is made to the return state, and if the temporary return duration time elapses without operating the operation button while transitioning to the temporary return state Characterized in that it returns to the stopped state.

  If a signal is sent from the hot water supply device to all remote control devices, such as when the set value of the hot water supply temperature is changed by another remote control device, it is necessary to shift to the temporary return state and display the new set temperature However, if the operation button is not operated as it is, power consumption is reduced by shifting to the sleep state again.

  The temporary return state duration is preferably set shorter than the operation duration.

  In addition, for example, the temporary return state may be a state in which the display is blinked so that the temporary return state and the normal return state can be distinguished and recognized.

  As is apparent from the above description, the present invention newly provides a temporary return state, and even if a signal is transmitted from the hot water supply device side and the temporary return state is entered, if the operation button is not operated as it is, it enters a sleep state. By returning, power consumption in the remote control device can be reduced.

The figure which shows the structure of one embodiment of this invention Processing flow diagram in the remote control device

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a hot water supply apparatus to which the present invention is applied, which includes a gas burner therein, heats the water with combustion heat from the gas burner, and supplies hot water to the kitchen K and bathroom B in the house H as hot water. To do. This hot water supply device 1 is attached to the outer wall of the house H, and is connected to a remote control device 2 installed in an indoor kitchen K via a signal line 21, and is also connected to a remote control device 3 installed in a bathroom B. It is connected to the signal line 31.

  Each of the remote control devices 2 and 3 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons. By pressing each operation button, various operations such as setting a hot water supply temperature and starting filling a bathtub in the bathroom B are performed. be able to. When the operation button is pressed as described above, a signal associated with the pressed operation button is transmitted to the hot water supply device 1 via the signal lines 21 and 31. For example, when the hot water supply temperature is changed from the remote controller 2, a signal indicating the changed set temperature is transmitted to the other remote controller 3 via the signal line 31.

  Referring to FIG. 2, if both remote control devices 2 and 3 are not operated for a certain period of time, a transition is made to a sleep state in which the display portion is turned off (S1). If no signal is transmitted from the hot water supply device 1 as the main body during the pause state (S2) and the operation button is not operated (S3), the remote control device continues the pause state (S1).

  When the operation button is operated during the hibernation state, the process proceeds from S3 to S4, and counting by a timer built in the remote control device is started (S4). Subsequently, the state of the remote control device is shifted to the return state (S5). In this return state, lighting of the display unit of the remote control device starts from the off state. And a return state (S5) is continued until the count value by a timer becomes Ta preset as operation continuation time. When the operation button is pressed again during this return state (S7), the timer is reset and counting starts from the beginning (S7 → S4). If the operation button is not operated until the count value of the timer reaches Ta, the process returns to S1 and the remote control device is shifted to the sleep state.

  Next, when a signal is transmitted from the hot water supply device 1 while the remote control device is in the hibernation state (S2), the timer is activated to start counting (S8), and the remote control device is shifted from the hibernation state to the temporary return state. (S9). The temporary return state refers to a state in which the display unit of the remote control device is blinked, but is not particularly limited to this blinking state.

  The temporary return state is continued until the count value of the timer reaches Tb preset as the temporary return duration, but when the operation button is pressed during the temporary return state (S11), the process proceeds to S4. Then, the timer is reset and the state of the remote control device is shifted to the return state (S5).

  If the count value T of the timer reaches Tb without pressing the operation button during the temporary return state, the process returns to S1, and the state of the remote control device is again shifted to the sleep state (S1). By the way, Tb is set to a value smaller than Ta.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described form, You may add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot-water supply apparatus 2 Remote control apparatus 3 Remote control apparatus 21 Signal line 31 Signal line

Claims (3)

  It is connected to a hot water supply device via a signal line, and includes operation buttons for changing the operation of the hot water supply device. When these operation buttons are operated, a signal is transmitted to the hot water supply device via the signal line, and the hot water supply device A remote controller for a hot water supply device that receives a signal from the side via a signal line, and that enters a dormant state when the operation button is not operated until a predetermined operation duration has elapsed. When a signal from the hot water supply device is received during the state, the state shifts to the temporary return state until a predetermined temporary return continuation time elapses, and when the operation button is operated during the transition to the temporary return state, the state returns to the return state. A remote control device for a hot water supply device, wherein the remote control device returns to a pause state when the temporary return duration time elapses without operating the operation button during the transition to the temporary return state.   The remote controller for a hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temporary return state duration is set shorter than the operation duration.   The remote control device for a hot water supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temporary return state is a state of blinking the display.

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