JP6862855B2 - Installation device in the bathroom - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-bathroom installation device such as a remote controller or a bathroom television installed in the bathroom, and more particularly to a case in which a housing is configured in a closed type and a temperature sensor is provided inside.

Conventionally, in the bathroom installation device installed facing the space in the bathroom, a closed type housing is adopted in order to avoid adverse effects on the electronic devices installed inside the device, and the intrusion of water and moisture is prevented. It is configured as follows. Then, in order to grasp the ambient temperature in the bathroom, a temperature sensor may be provided inside the sealed housing. However, since the temperature sensor is provided in the closed type housing, it may be affected by temperature fluctuations in the closed space.

Patent Document 1 describes a non-contact thermopile type temperature sensor and temperature information by the temperature sensor as a method of detecting the surface temperature of the object to be heated outside the case by a temperature sensor provided in the sealed case. It is disclosed that a temperature sensor of a type in which the electric resistance value changes with a temperature change is provided in the case for correction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-28721

However, if the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, it is considered that the configuration becomes complicated and the cost increases, and it is simpler in terms of the balance with the practical value of the control executed based on the temperature detection. Moreover, a method that can guarantee a certain degree of accuracy is required.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bathroom installation device having a closed housing and a temperature sensor inside the housing. An object of the present invention is to provide an in-bathroom installation device capable of easily and accurately detecting an atmospheric temperature in a bathroom based on a sensor reading of a temperature sensor.

In the present invention, a housing configured in a closed-type, the temperature sensor provided inside the housing, e Bei and a microcomputer for controlling the operation, is placed to face the space of the bath room It was decided to take the following technical measures for the equipment installed in the bathroom. That is, the microcomputer is configured to acquire the ambient temperature in the bathroom by adding a predetermined additional value to the sensor reading value related to the temperature output from the temperature sensor , and the bathroom. The configuration is such that the operating status of the internally installed device is determined and the additional value is changed according to the determined operating status (claim 1).

In the case of the present invention, even if a temperature sensor provided in the closed housing is used, the influence of the temperature rise is applied to the sensor reading value in which the influence of the temperature rise of the internal temperature of the housing is added. Since the calculation of adding the additional value for deduction is performed, it is possible to easily and more accurately acquire the ambient temperature (bathroom temperature) in the bathroom. As a result, when the bathroom temperature is excessively low and it is too cold to enter the bathroom for bathing, it is possible to more accurately perform a predetermined response control. Here, the closed type housing is not only a completely closed structure that requires a means for absorbing internal pressure fluctuations, but also a closed type having minute air holes (breathing holes) for absorbing internal pressure fluctuations. The purpose is to include. Further, the temperature sensor can be provided on a circuit board provided in the housing.

In the case of bathroom installation apparatus of the present invention, in particular, for a microcomputer, determines the operating status of the bathroom installation apparatus has a configuration for changing the additional value according to the determined operating conditions, housing Even if the internal temperature of the housing rises due to the heat generated by the circuit board provided inside the body, which affects the sensor reading of the temperature sensor, the ambient temperature in the bathroom It is possible to obtain it accurately.

In the device installed in the bathroom of the present invention, as a microcomputer, the additional value can be changed based on the temperature information from the outside air temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature (claim 2 ). By doing so, even if the installation device in the bathroom is installed on the wall surface constituting the bathroom and the degree of temperature rise in the housing changes due to the influence of the radiant heat from the wall surface, the fluctuation amount is taken into consideration. Since the added value is changed, it is possible to accurately obtain the ambient temperature in the bathroom.

Alternatively, the in-bathroom installation device of the present invention may be provided with a calendar function as a microcomputer, and the additional value may be changed based on the information obtained by the calendar function at the present time (claim 3 ). .. By doing so, it is possible to estimate the average outside temperature fluctuation based on the seasonal fluctuation, etc. by calculating the current season, etc. from the information related to the current time without detecting the outside temperature, and based on this, it is possible to estimate the outside temperature fluctuation. It is possible to take into account temperature fluctuations. As a result, it is possible to accurately obtain the ambient temperature in the bathroom.

As described above, according to the bathroom installation device of the present invention, even if the temperature sensor provided in the closed housing is used, the influence of the temperature rise of the internal temperature of the housing is added. Since the calculation is performed to add an additional value to the sensor reading value to deduct the influence of the temperature rise, the ambient temperature (bathroom temperature) in the bathroom can be obtained easily and more accurately. As a result, when the bathroom temperature is excessively low and it is too cold to enter the bathroom for bathing, a predetermined response control can be performed more accurately . In particular, even if the internal temperature of the housing rises due to the heat generated by the circuit board provided in the housing starting to operate, and as a result, the sensor reading of the temperature sensor is also affected, the inside of the bathroom It is possible to accurately obtain the ambient temperature.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the installation apparatus in a bathroom which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of a remote controller as an in-bathroom installation device on the AA line of FIG. It is a back view of the remote controller. It is a flowchart which shows the example of correspondence control based on the atmosphere temperature detection in a bathroom. It is a flowchart which shows the setting example of an additional value. It is a flowchart which shows the correction example of the additional value based on the operating condition of a remote controller. It is a flowchart which shows the correction example of the additional value based on the temperature information which concerns on the outside air temperature. It is a flowchart which shows the correction example of the additional value based on the season.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram using a bathroom remote controller 3 as an example of an in-bathroom installation device according to the present invention.

A bathtub 2 is installed in the bathroom 1, and a bathroom remote controller 3 is installed at an appropriate position on the wall surface 11 constituting the bathroom 1. A water heater 4 is installed outside the bathroom 1, and the water heater 4 is configured to pour or supply hot water used for bathing in the bathtub 2 or hot water used in a hot water tap in a kitchen (not shown). Has been done. A bathroom remote controller 3 and a kitchen remote controller 42 are communicably connected to the controller 41 that controls the operation of the water heater 4, and operation signals and the like from the remote controllers 3 and 42 and conversely display signals or operations from the controller 41 are connected. Signals and the like can be sent.

The water heater 4 may, for example, pass the supplied water through a heat exchanger, heat exchange heat with the combustion heat of the combustion burner when passing through the water heater, and pour hot water heated to a predetermined temperature into the bath 2. It is configured to supply hot water to a hot water tap (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional explanatory view of the bathroom remote controller 3. The bathroom remote controller 3 is configured such that a circuit board 32, a liquid crystal display unit 33, and the like are housed inside a sealed housing 31. Various electronic components for control and the like are mounted on the circuit board 32. In addition, the circuit board 32 is provided with a temperature sensor 5 composed of a thermistor.

As an example, the housing 31 is assembled so that the inside can be maintained in a sealed state by heat-welding the joint surfaces of both the front case 311 and the rear case 312. The heat-welded portion 313 is arranged so as to extend endlessly along the peripheral edge position of the housing 31 while bypassing the mounting screw holes 314 and 314 (see FIG. 3) to the wall surface 11.

As a method of heat welding, a metal wire for welding can be placed between the joint surfaces and energized to generate heat so that the joint surfaces can be heat welded to each other. In addition, for example, one can be a synthetic resin having higher laser light transmission than the other, and the other can be a synthetic resin having laser light absorption, and laser welding can be performed between the bonding surfaces of each other. Of course, in addition to the welding method, a closed type can be constructed by using a method such as adhesion.

An insulating cover plate 315 is attached to the front surface of the front case 311 and the upper and lower surfaces and left and right side surfaces of the housing 31 by means of adhesion or heat welding to the housing 31 so as to cover them. Further, the liquid crystal display unit 33 is arranged so as to face the display surface position of the insulating cover plate 315, and a transparent display unit cover plate 316 provided with a display window is provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display unit 33. It is assembled to the display surface position of the above by means such as adhesion or welding. Further, at the lower position of the liquid crystal display unit 33, for example, a plurality of pressing type operation switches 34 are provided.

L-shaped convex portions 317, 317, ... Protruding rearward from the back surface are formed at the four corners of the rear surface case 312, and these convex portions 317, 317, ... Are wall surfaces when the housing 31 is installed on the wall surface 11. It is designed to come into contact with 11. Further, the center position of the rear case 312 is formed a through hole for guiding the electric wires 321 to the outside of the housing 31 from the circuit board 32, grayed grommet 318 is fitted through the electric wiring 321 to the through hole ing. Then, the mounting cylinder portion 319 is formed so as to surround the grommet 318 so as to project rearward, and the housing 31 is fixed in a state where the mounting cylinder portion 319 is internally fitted in the through hole 111 formed in the wall surface 11. It has become.

Further, in the rear surface case 312, for example, an air hole 320 having a small diameter is formed through the rear surface case 312 at a position on the outer peripheral side of the grommet 318 and at a position on the inner peripheral side of the mounting cylinder portion 319. The air holes 320 are formed to release the increase in internal pressure inside the sealed housing 31 to the outside and balance the internal and external pressures.

Further, a sealing packing 35 having a predetermined thickness is attached to the rear case 312 in advance so as to surround the mounting cylinder portion 319. The packing 35 is formed of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber or foamed resin, and is formed to be thicker than the protruding dimension of the convex portion 317 by a predetermined amount. That is, in a state of being sandwiched between the rear surface case 312 and the wall surface 11, the housing 31 is tightened to the wall surface 11 by a mounting screw (not shown), and each convex portion 317 is installed in a state of being in contact with the wall surface 11. In this state, the packing 35 is compressed and deformed by the amount formed to be thicker than the protruding dimension of each convex portion 317, and a higher sealing property is exhibited.

Reference numeral 36 in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 is a relief groove. The relief groove 36 collects the dew condensation water generated between the rear surface case 312 and the wall surface 11 and guides it to the lower center position 361 to drop it.

The bathroom remote controller 3 described above is communicably connected to the controller 41 by electrical wiring 321. Then, the controller 41 controls the operation of the water heater 4 and the operation control such as display / notification of the remote controllers 3 and 42 based on various detection signals and operation signals, or other devices (for example, the bathroom dryer 12 or the bathroom dryer 12 or the like. The operation control of the lid opening / closing device 13 and the like) is executed. The controller 41 constitutes a "microcomputer", includes an MPU and a rewritable memory, and executes the above-mentioned various operation controls based on a program and various data stored in the memory.

Hereinafter, the ambient temperature in the bathroom 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “bathroom temperature”) is acquired (detected) based on the sensor reading value from the temperature sensor 5 provided inside the bathroom remote control 3, and the detected ambient temperature is obtained. The bathroom temperature correspondence control, which executes the corresponding operation control based on the above, will be described with reference to FIG. Such bathroom temperature correspondence control is executed by the bathroom temperature correspondence control unit of the controller 41. First, the controller 41 detects the bathroom temperature Y by adding an additional value Yd as shown in the equation (1) to the sensor reading value Yr related to the temperature output from the temperature sensor 5 (step S1).
Y = Yr + Yd ... Equation (1)
Then, if the bathroom temperature Y is a low temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value Yw (YES in step S2), the corresponding control is executed (step S3). As the threshold value Yw, a temperature value that is considered to be too cold for the bather to enter the bathroom 1 naked can be set.

As a response control, a display processing command is issued to the bathroom remote controller 3 and / or the kitchen remote controller 42, and for example, a guidance display with text characters such as "Be careful when taking a bath because the bathroom is cold." Is displayed to the user. On the other hand, it is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 33 to call attention. Alternatively, a guide regarding countermeasures can be additionally displayed, such as "Before taking a bath, open the lid of the bathtub in advance to warm the inside of the bathroom." Of course, in addition to or instead of the guidance display by these text characters, voice guidance can be performed.

When the bathroom dryer 12 (see FIG. 1) is installed in the bathroom 1, the bathroom dryer 12 is operated so that the bathroom temperature Y rises to at least a temperature exceeding the threshold value Yw as a corresponding control. Can be done. When controlling the operation of the bathroom dryer 12 in this way, in addition to the above-mentioned guidance display for calling attention, for example, "The bathroom dryer is operated to heat the inside of the bathroom." A guidance display about the operating status can be added.

Further, when the lid opening / closing device 13 is provided in the bathtub 2, the closed lid can be forcibly driven to the open state as a corresponding control. When controlling the operation of the lid opening / closing device 13 in this way, in addition to the above-mentioned guidance display for calling attention, for example, "the lid of the bathtub is opened to heat the inside of the bathroom." As such, a guidance display about the operating status can be added.

The additional value Yd is a value for correcting the sensor reading value of the temperature sensor 5 so as to be close to the original bathroom temperature, and usually a negative value (for example, -2 ° C.) is set as a fixed value. Will be done. That is, the sensor reading value of the temperature sensor 5 tends to be higher than the original bathroom temperature because it is provided in the closed type housing 31. That is, since the internal temperature of the housing 31 is a closed type, it tends to rise, and the sensor reading value of the temperature sensor 5 also shows a higher value than the original bathroom temperature due to the influence of this temperature rise. .. Therefore, in order to obtain the original detected value of the bathroom temperature, it is necessary to deduct the temperature rise from the sensor reading value of the temperature sensor 5 (that is, add a negative value added value). Regarding what kind of temperature value is set as the additional value Yd, an appropriate value can be determined by testing in advance in a bathroom model.

Factors that affect the internal temperature because the inside of the housing 31 is a closed type can be considered from various factors as follows. That is, it is conceivable that the heat generated by the circuit board 32 or the like based on the operating condition of the bathroom remote controller 3 and the influence of the radiant heat from the wall surface 11 depending on the outside air temperature. It is possible to grasp the outside air temperature not only by the outside air temperature itself, but also by the season or the current month, and in addition, the degree of their influence greatly depends on the installation area. Will be done.

Specifically, after the bathroom remote controller 3 enters the operable state by turning on the operation switch, when the operation (for example, display operation, call operation by intercom, etc.) is started by the operation control from the controller 41, the circuit board 32 The above various devices (for example, regulators, fluorescent tube display devices, etc.) generate heat, which causes a higher temperature rise in the housing 31. Further, due to the influence of heat conduction from the wall surface 11 to which the housing 31 is fixed, the internal temperature inside the housing 31 tends to be lowered or raised. For example, even if the internal temperature of the housing 31 rises, the wall surface 11 is cooled in winter, so that the internal temperature of the housing 31 is easily cooled, while the wall surface 11 is heated in summer, so that the internal temperature of the housing 31 is also high. Not only does it make it harder to get cold, but it also causes it to rise further.

In consideration of the above, the value of the additional value Yd can be changed by the user himself or can be changed for each of various factors. The method is as follows.

First, in the process of changing the settings by the user himself / herself, as shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not there is a setting request from the user (step S11), and if there is (YES in step S11), the setting operation is performed. The additional value Yd is changed according to the input value (step S12). Such setting processing is performed by the setting processing unit of the controller 41. In order for the user to perform the setting operation, the menu screen may be displayed by operating the operation switch 34 of the bathroom remote controller 3, and for example, "bathroom temperature setting" may be selected from the various setting buttons displayed there. To set a specific value directly, select "Numeric value setting" and use the temperature adjustment button (for example, the button with the upward triangle mark for ascending and the button with the downward triangle mark for descending) to set the desired temperature. Just set the value.

To set the area where it is installed, select "Region setting" and select your own area from the displayed area-specific names (for example, "Kinki", "Hokuriku", "Kyushu", etc.). Just do it. When the region is set by the user, the setting processing unit reads the additional value corresponding to the corresponding region from the table of the additional value for each region that is stored and set in advance, and sets this as the additional value Yd. As a table of additional values by region, a negative value that is larger than the basic additional value (for example, -2 ° C) is set in the southern region, and conversely, the basic additional value is set in the northern region. An additional value is set that is obtained by greatly subtracting the additional value on the-side. For example, in the case of Tohoku, the value obtained by adding + 1 ° C to the basic additional value (for example, -2 ° C) is set as the additional value Yd.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bathroom remote controller 3 performs various operations (ON of the operation switch, intercom call, etc.) in the process of changing the additional value (correction of the basic additional value) depending on the operating condition of the bathroom remote controller 3. It is determined whether or not it has started (step S21), and if there is an operation start (YES in step S21), the operation type is determined (step S22). Such processing and processing related to the change described below are performed by the change processing unit of the controller 41. Then, the additional value corresponding to the corresponding operation is read from the table of additional values for each operation, and this is set as the additional value Yd (step S23). For example, when the operation switch is ON, an additional value of a value obtained by further adding -1 ° C to the basic additional value (for example, -2 ° C) is set. Further, in the case of the intercom call operation, the degree of heat generation is further increased, so that an additional value of a value further added by -2 ° C. is set to the basic additional value. In the case of an intercom call, the amount of heat generated increases rapidly as the communication frequency increases. Therefore, not only the start of the intercom call but also the communication frequency may be determined to increase or decrease the additional value with respect to the basic additional value. ..

As shown in FIG. 7, in the process of changing the added value (correction of the basic added value) depending on the outside air temperature, first, the outside air temperature information is acquired (step S31), and the information related to the acquired outside air temperature is used. Based on this, the additional value corresponding to the corresponding outside air temperature is read from the table of additional values for each outside air temperature, and this is set as the additional value Yd (step S32). For example, as a table of additional values for each outside air temperature, a table in which additional values are set in advance for each predetermined outside air temperature range can be used. In this case, it is set so that the basic additional value (for example, -2 ° C.) is reduced as the outside air temperature is in the lower range. For example, if the outside air temperature is a low temperature of 5 ° C. or lower, the value obtained by adding + 1 ° C. to the basic additional value (for example, -2 ° C.) is set as the additional value Yd. For the acquisition of the outside air temperature information, for example, the detection information from the outside air temperature sensor (F point thermistor) provided in the water heater 4 can be used.

Further, instead of using the outside air temperature information, the additional value can be changed for each season showing the change tendency of the outside air temperature or for each month within the year, month and day. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the information related to the current time is acquired (step S41), and the additional value corresponding to the season to which the current time belongs is read from the seasonal additional value table stored in advance based on the information. Is set as the additional value Yd (step S42). In the seasonal additional value table, a value obtained by subtracting the basic additional value (for example, -2 ° C.) is set as the additional value Yd as the season is considered to be colder. For example, in the hottest summer, a value obtained by adding -1 ° C to the basic additional value is set, and in the coldest winter, a value obtained by adding + 1 ° C to the basic additional value is set as the additional value Yd.

Information related to the current time can be acquired by using the calendar function (date data) provided in the controller 41, and if the current date acquired from the calendar function belongs to the range of, for example, December to February, It is determined that the current season is winter. Instead of seasonal, you can change the value based on information about what month the current time belongs to.

However, the above is the case where the temperature sensor 5 is provided in the bathroom space side (front side) in the bathroom remote controller 3 as in the example shown in FIG. 2, but the temperature sensor 5 is provided in the bathroom space in the bathroom remote controller 3, for example. When it is provided on the portion on the wall surface 11 side (back side) opposite to the above side, the following correction can be further added. That is, in such a case, it is considered that the influence of the radiant heat received from the wall surface 11 becomes larger depending on the outside air temperature, so the additional value Yd is changed (correction of the basic additional value) depending on the above-mentioned outside air temperature. Compared to the case where the temperature sensor 5 is provided on the front side of the bathroom remote control 3 in the processing, the processing of changing the added value Yd for each season indicating the change tendency of the outside air temperature, or the processing for changing the added value Yd for each month within the date. The amount of correction should be larger when it is provided on the back side. For example, the above-mentioned table of additional values for each outside air temperature can be set as such.

In the case of the above embodiment, even if the temperature sensor 5 provided in the closed type housing 31 is used, the influence of the temperature rise of the internal temperature of the housing 31 can be eliminated, and the influence of the temperature rise in the housing 1 can be eliminated, and the inside of the bathroom 1 can be eliminated. Atmospheric temperature (bathroom temperature) can be detected easily and more accurately. As a result, it becomes possible to more accurately perform a predetermined correspondence control depending on the bathroom temperature. Further, when the temperature sensor 5 is provided on the back side portion of the bathroom remote controller 3, the additional value Yd is changed so as to have a larger correction amount than when the temperature sensor 5 is provided on the front side portion, so that the atmosphere in the bathroom 1 is increased. Simple and accurate detection of temperature (bathroom temperature) can be performed more effectively.

<Other Embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various embodiments. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the one having the air hole 319 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the one having a completely sealed housing without air holes and having a temperature sensor inside the housing is used. The present invention can be applied to this. In the case of such a completely sealed housing, a means for absorbing internal pressure fluctuations may be attached to the housing.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the bathroom remote controller 3 is targeted as the bathroom installation device has been described. However, in addition to the bathroom remote controller 3, for example, the bathroom television 14 (see FIG. 1) is used as the bathroom installation device according to the present invention. Can be applied.

Further, an example in which a microcomputer including a bathroom-compatible control unit and a setting processing unit is provided on the controller 41 of the water heater 4 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the microcomputer is mounted on the circuit board 32 of the bathroom remote controller 3. can do.

1 Bathroom 3 Bathroom remote control (installation device in the bathroom)
5 Temperature sensor 14 Bathroom TV (installation device in the bathroom)
31 Housing 41 Controller (microcomputer)

Claims (3)

A housing configured in a closed-type, the temperature sensor provided inside the housing, e Bei and a microcomputer for controlling the operation, bathroom installed device installed to face the space of the bath room And
The microcomputer is configured to acquire the ambient temperature in the bathroom by adding a predetermined additional value to the sensor reading value related to the temperature output from the temperature sensor , and the bathroom. It is configured to determine the operating status of the internally installed device and change the additional value according to the determined operating status .
An installation device in the bathroom that is characterized by this. The device installed in the bathroom according to claim 1.
The microcomputer is an in-bathroom installation device configured to change the additional value based on temperature information from an outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature. The device installed in the bathroom according to claim 1.
The microcomputer is an in-bathroom installation device having a calendar function and configured to change the additional value based on the current information obtained by the calendar function.

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