JP6982300B2 - Remote controller for water heater - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a remote controller for a water heater.

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a remote control device used for remote control of a hot water supply device. This remote control device has a decorative frame attached to the surface of the operation panel, an operation button configured to be able to operate a switch provided on the remote control housing in response to a pressing operation by being attached to the decorative frame, and a decorative frame. It is provided with a display unit arranged so as to be exposed from the opening.

Japanese Patent No. 6183149

The remote control device of Patent Document 1 has a bezel configuration in which a display unit is arranged so as to be exposed from an opening provided in the decorative frame, and the decorative frame is widely arranged around a display area of the display unit. Adopting such a bezel configuration gives a strong impression to the user of the decorative frame, which is desirable for the user who prefers the bezel structure. However, it cannot be said that it is desirable in terms of design for a user who prefers a design in which the bezel structure is omitted or reduced as much as possible, and there is a problem in terms of design.

The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a configuration in which a display unit and a bezel portion surrounding an operation button can be omitted or reduced in a remote controller for a water heater. Is to be.

The remote controller for a water heater, which is one of the present inventions, has a display unit for displaying information, an operated member having a plurality of operation buttons for which a pressing operation is performed from the outside, and the display unit and the operated member. A remote controller for a water heater provided with a housing portion to be assembled, wherein the display portion is a non-transparent display plate having a plate shape and one plate surface as the front surface of the remote controller. And one or more light sources for representing at least one of a character, a symbol, and a symbol on the display board, and the operated member has a plurality of the operation buttons arranged in a predetermined arrangement and each of the operated members. The surface of the operation button is configured as the front surface of the remote controller, the display board and the operated member are arranged close to each other, and the outer edges of the display board and the operated member are each of the remote controller. It is configured as the outer edge of the front portion of the above, and when the light source emits light, the light from the light source is transmitted through the display board to represent at least one of the characters, symbols, and symbols.

In the remote controller, the display board constituting the display unit and the operated member provided with a plurality of operation buttons are arranged close to each other, and the outer edges of the display plate and the operated member are on the front surface of the remote controller. Constructed as an outer edge. That is, the bezel structure can be reduced both between the display plate and the operated member and around each of the display plate and the operated member. Therefore, it is extremely desirable in terms of design for users who desire a configuration with a reduced bezel structure, and as a display unit in which the bezel structure can be reduced, light from a light source can be seen through the display board to at least characters, symbols, and patterns. Since a display unit with a high design that represents either of them is used, the design is synergistically enhanced.

It is a front view which illustrates the remote controller for the water heater of Example 1. FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of the remote controller for a water heater of FIG. It is a front view which illustrates the structure which removed the display board from the structure of FIG. It is a front view which illustrates the structure which removed the adhesive layer from the structure of FIG. It is a front view which illustrates the structure which removed the support frame from the structure of FIG. It is a front view which illustrates the structure which excluded the button group from the structure of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. It is sectional drawing schematicly which shows the BB cross section of FIG. 1 schematicly. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along the line CC of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the remote controller for a water heater with the display board removed from the front side, and is the enlarged view which shows the vicinity of the operated member enlarged. FIG. 11A is a view of the display plate viewed from the front surface side, and FIG. 11B is a view of the display plate viewed from the back surface side. FIG. 11C is a view of the display board as viewed from the bottom surface side. FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a display state in which all the light sources are emitted, and FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a display state in which a part of the light sources is emitted.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated below.
In the remote controller for the water heater, the operated member may have one or more hinge portions connected to a plurality of operation buttons individually or collectively. The display board may be arranged so as to cover the front side of the hinge portion and close to the plurality of operation buttons. By doing so, the display board and the plurality of operation buttons can be arranged closer to each other, so that the design can be improved even if the bezel portion between them is omitted or reduced. It will be easier.

In the remote controller for a water heater, the side edges of the left and right ends of the display board may form a part of each side edge of the left and right ends on the front portion of the remote controller, and the upper edge of the display board is the remote controller. The upper edge of the front surface portion may be formed, or the display board and the operated member may be arranged vertically close to each other. Then, the side edges of the left and right ends of the member to be operated may form a part of each side edge of the left and right ends on the front surface portion of the remote controller. In this way, the display board and the operated member are arranged close to each other in the vertical direction, and the side edges of the left and right ends of the display board and the side edges of the left and right ends of the operated member are both left and right ends on the front surface of the remote controller. If each side edge of the above is configured, the design is such that the display plate and the operated member are more related to each other, and the vicinity of the display plate and the operated member has a more unified shape. Moreover, since the bezels around the display board and on the left and right sides of the operated member can be omitted or reduced, the impression of the bezel can be further eliminated, and in particular, the design around the display board is cleaner. It becomes a high shape.

In the remote controller for the water heater, the lower edge of the display plate may extend in the left-right direction and the upper edge of the operated member may extend in the left-right direction. The area between the lower edge of the display plate and the upper edge of the member to be operated may be a region where no component exists. By aligning the direction of the lower edge of the display plate with the direction of the upper edge of the operated member in this way, it becomes easier to bring the display plate and the operated member closer to each other, and moreover, a more related integral is provided between them. Design can be made. Further, if the area between the display plate and the operated member does not exist, the bezel portion can be further reduced, and the vicinity of the display plate and the operated member can be given a cleaner impression.

In the remote controller for the water heater, a plurality of light sources may be configured to irradiate the light transmitted through the display plate from the back surface side to the front surface side of the display plate. Even if the display board is composed of a light transmitting region in which light is transmitted from the back surface side to the front surface side and a light blocking region in which the degree of light transmission from the back surface side to the front surface side is suppressed more than the light transmitting region. good. By doing so, it is possible to realize a simpler and more compact display in which the light from the light source is seen through the display board and at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols is displayed.

In the remote controller for the water heater, the display plate may have a configuration in which a light-shielding layer is laminated on the back surface side of the translucent plate-shaped member. Then, in the plate-shaped member, the region whose back surface side is covered with the light-shielding layer may function as a light-shielding region, and the region whose back surface side is not covered with the light-shielding layer may function as a light transmission region. By doing so, it is possible to realize a simpler and more compact display in which the light from the light source is seen through the display board and at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols is displayed. Moreover, since the light-shielding layer is laminated on the back surface side of the translucent plate-shaped member, the shape of the light-shielding layer becomes difficult to see from the front side, and the design is deteriorated due to the fact that the light-shielding layer is clearly visible. Can be suppressed.

The operated member may have one or more hinge portions that are individually or collectively connected to a plurality of operation buttons. Then, a portion in which the plate-shaped member and the light-shielding layer are laminated may cover the front side of the hinge portion. By doing so, the hinge part and the display board are moved back and forth while forming a display part capable of displaying at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols through the display board through the light from the light source. It is possible to make it compact by arranging it in the above, and it is also possible to make it difficult for the hinge portion to be seen through the display plate.

The hinge portion of the member to be operated may be configured in a shaft shape and may have a structure integrally connected to a plurality of operation buttons. With such a configuration, it is possible to simplify the process of assembling a plurality of operation buttons, and it is possible to prevent the assembly of a plurality of operation buttons from being assembled in an erroneous order. Moreover, since the portion connecting the plurality of operation buttons (hinge portion) is configured in a shaft shape, at least the hinge portion is displaced or elastically deformed when the operation button is pushed backward. It is possible to suppress excessive concentration of force on the connecting portion (the portion connecting the hinge portion and the operation button) when pressing the operation button, and the operation button can be satisfactorily displaced.

<Example 1>
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
The remote controller 1 for a water heater shown in FIG. 1 or the like (hereinafter, also referred to as a remote controller 1) is configured as a remote controller for remotely controlling a water heater (not shown), and is configured as a remote controller at a predetermined mounting location (for example, a wall surface) in a kitchen or the like. ) Is fixed. The remote controller 1 has an appearance as shown in FIG. 1, and is mainly composed of parts and the like as shown in FIG.

In the present specification, the thickness direction of the remote controller 1 is the front-rear direction, and specifically, the plate thickness direction of the display plate 12, which will be described later, is the front-rear direction. The direction in which the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, and 53 are lined up is the horizontal direction, and the front-back direction and the direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction are the vertical direction. In the example of FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front is the vertical direction, and the lateral direction is the lateral direction. The horizontal direction is also referred to as the left-right direction. In the following example, the horizontal direction corresponds to an example of the first direction, and the vertical direction corresponds to an example of the second direction.

The remote controller 1 includes an operated member 8 which is a member operated by a user, a display unit 10 configured as a device for displaying information, and a housing unit 4 to which a display unit 10, a button group 50, and the like are assembled. Be prepared.
The housing portion 4 includes a front side case body 4A and a rear side lid 4B arranged on the rear side of the front side case body 4A and fixed to the front side case body 4A, and these case bodies are, for example, It is composed of resin material and the like. The housing portion 4 has a box-like shape including a front wall portion 5A, a side wall portion 5B, 5C, an upper wall portion 5D, a bottom wall portion 5E, and a rear wall portion 5F, and is composed of these wall portions. The substrate portion 40 and the like are housed in the internal space, and the operated member 8 and the display board 12 and the like are held on the front wall portion 5A side.

The operated member 8 is configured as shown in FIG. 10, and has a button group 50, a shaft portion 80, and connecting portions 71A, 71B, 72A, 72B, 73A, 73B. The button group 50 is a portion composed of a plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 arranged in a predetermined arrangement, and the shaft portion 80 serves as a hinge portion when operating the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53. It is a functioning part. The connecting portions 71A, 71B, 72A, 72B, 73A, and 73B are portions that connect the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 and the shaft portion 80.

The three operation buttons 51, 52, and 53 constituting the button group 50 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and each operation button is a portion that receives a pressing operation from the outside, and is configured as an individual operation button. .. The operation buttons 51, 52, and 53 all have a plate-like shape and are configured as a plate-shaped portion in which one plate surface is exposed to the outside, and one plate surface is configured as an operation surface that receives a pressing operation. To. The operation button 51 is configured as a plate-shaped portion 61 having a plate-like shape and one side (front side) of the plate surface is exposed to the outside, and the front surface of the plate-shaped portion 61 is configured as an operation surface 61A to receive a pressing operation. To. The connecting portions 71A and 71B connect the plate-shaped portion 61 and the shaft portion 80. Similarly, the operation button 52 is configured as a plate-shaped portion 62 having a plate-like shape and the plate surface on one side (front side) is exposed to the outside, and the front surface of the plate-shaped portion 62 is subjected to a pressing operation. It is configured as. The connecting portions 72A and 72B connect the plate-shaped portion 62 and the shaft portion 80. Similarly, the operation button 53 is configured as a plate-shaped portion 63 having a plate-like shape and the plate surface on one side (front side) is exposed to the outside, and the front surface of the plate-shaped portion 63 receives a pressing operation. It is configured as. The connecting portions 73A and 73B connect the plate-shaped portion 63 and the shaft portion 80.

The shaft portion 80 is a portion corresponding to an example of the hinge portion, and as shown in FIG. 5, one side (specifically, the upper side) of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 in the second direction (vertical direction). It has an axial shape extending along the first direction (horizontal direction). The shaft portion 80 is connected to one end side of the button group 50 in the second direction (vertical direction), and is integrally configured with the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53. The shaft portion 80 is provided with a plurality of thick portions 81, 82, 83, a plurality of thin wall portions 85, 86, and a boss portion 88, 89.

When the front-rear direction is the thickness direction, the thickness of the thick portions 81, 82, 83 is larger than the thickness of the thin portions 85, 86. Further, when the vertical direction is the width direction, the widths of the thick portions 81, 82, 83 are about the same as the widths of the thin portions 85, 86. It is larger than the thickness. Due to such a configuration, the thin portions 85 and 86 are more easily deformed than the thick portions 81, 82 and 83. The plurality of thick portions 81, 82, 83 are provided corresponding to the respective operation buttons 51, 52, 53, and are arranged at intervals in the lateral direction. The thin portion 85, 86 is provided between the plurality of thick portions 81, 82, 83, and the thin portion 85 is provided so as to connect the thick portions 81, 82 in the lateral direction, and the thin portion 86 is provided. Is provided so as to connect the thick portions 82 and 83 in the lateral direction.

In the shaft portion 80, each of the thick portions 81, 82, and 83 corresponds to an example of the individual hinge portions, and becomes the center of rotation of each operation button when each operation button is pressed. The thick portion 81 is provided corresponding to the operation button 51 and is connected to the connecting portions 71A and 71B. When the operation surface 61A of the operation button 51 is pushed to the rear side, the operation button 51 rotates. Become the center. Similarly, the thick portion 82 is provided corresponding to the operation button 52 and is connected to the connecting portions 72A and 72B, and when the operation surface 62A of the operation button 52 is pushed to the rear side, the operation button 52 It becomes the center of rotation. Similarly, the thick portion 83 is provided corresponding to the operation button 53 and is connected to the connecting portions 73A and 73B, and when the operation surface 63A of the operation button 53 is pushed to the rear side, the operation button 53 It becomes the center of rotation.

In the shaft portion 80, the thick portion 81 and the boss portion 88 are integrally connected. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the boss portion is adjacent to the front side of the hole portion 98 formed in the front surface portion of the housing portion 4 and adjacent to the front side of the hole portion 48 formed in the substrate portion 40. The boss portion 88 is fixed to the housing portion 4 and the substrate portion 40 by the configuration in which the 88 is located and fastened together with the screws 100. That is, in this configuration, the positions of the boss portions 88 and 89 are fixed to the front surface of the housing portion 4 and the substrate portion 40, and the positions of the boss portions 88 and 89 are the positions of the housing portion 4 and the substrate. It is configured so as not to be displaced with respect to the portion 40.

The shaft portion 80 is elastically deformed so that a portion of the thin portion 85 near the connecting portion 71B is twisted when a pressing operation of pushing the operation button 51 (plate-shaped portion 61) to the rear side is performed. When the operation button 52 (plate-shaped portion 62) is pressed backward against the operation surface 62A, the thin portions 85 and 86 are elastically deformed so that the portions near the connecting portions 72A and 72B are twisted. When the operation button 53 (plate-shaped portion 63) is pressed backward against the operation surface 63A, the portion of the thin portion 86 near the connecting portion 73A is elastically deformed so as to be twisted. .. For example, in the example of FIG. 9, when the operation surface 63A of the operation button 53 is pressed, the protrusion 63B provided so as to project rearward on the back surface side of the plate-shaped portion 63 is displaced rearward. It acts to contact and push the front surface of the switch 47 mounted on the board portion 40. The switch 47 may generate a predetermined on signal when the front surface is pressed and a predetermined off signal when the front surface is not pressed. Various known switches can be used as the switch 47, and for example, the switch 47 may be configured to be switched on and off each time the front surface is pressed. The operation buttons 51 and 52 and the rear side thereof also have the same configuration as in FIG. In this configuration, the thin portion 84 is provided between the thick portion 81 and the thick portion 82, and when the operation button 51 is pressed, the thin portion 84 is easily elastically deformed and the thick portion 82 is elastically deformed. It's getting harder to do. Therefore, even if the operation button 51 and the operation button 52 are integrally configured, it is possible to prevent the operation button 52 from being interlocked and displaced when the operation button 51 is pressed. Moreover, since the boss portion 88 connected to the nearest portion of the thick portion 81 is fixed to the substrate portion 40, the thick portion 81 and the thin portion 84 rotate or become too large when the operation button 51 is pressed. Too much twisting is unlikely to occur, and in this respect as well, the effect of suppressing the interlocking of the operation buttons 52 can be obtained. Similarly, the thin portion 85 is provided between the thick portion 82 and the thick portion 83, and when the operation button 53 is pressed, the thin portion 85 is easily elastically deformed and the thick portion 82 is elastically deformed. It's getting harder. Therefore, even if the operation button 52 and the operation button 53 are integrally configured, it is possible to prevent the operation button 52 from being interlocked and displaced when the operation button 53 is pressed. Since the boss portion 89 connected to the nearest portion of the thick portion 83 is fixed to the substrate portion 40, the thick portion 83 and the thin portion 85 rotate or become too large when the operation button 53 is pressed. Too much twisting is unlikely to occur, and in this respect as well, the effect of suppressing the interlocking of the operation buttons 52 can be obtained. Further, in addition to the configuration in which each of the thick portions 81 and 83 is thickened, the boss portion 88 connected immediately to the thick portion 81 is fixed to the substrate portion 40 and connected to the immediate vicinity of the thick portion 83. Since the boss portion 89 is fixed to the substrate portion 40, the thick portions 81 and 83 are elastically deformed so that the thin portions 84 and 85 are twisted in response to the pressing operation of the operation button 52. Extremely difficult to displace. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the operation buttons 51 and 53 from being displaced in conjunction with each other when the operation button 52 is pressed.

The operated member 8 configured in this way has the positions of the operation surfaces 61A, 62A, 63A constituting the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the operation surfaces 61A, 62A, and 63A are located on a predetermined plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and the operation surfaces are flush with each other so as to be located on the predetermined plane. The predetermined plane is a virtual plane that is parallel to the vertical direction and parallel to the horizontal direction, and a part or all of the operation surfaces 61A, 62A, and 63A are the predetermined planes. It is located on a plane.

The display unit 10 has a function of displaying information about a water heater (not shown) which is a device operated by the remote controller 1. The "information about the water heater" displayed on the display unit 10 may be the temperature of the hot water discharged from the hot water outlet provided in the water heater (hot water supply temperature), and the function that the target water heater supplies hot water to the bathtub. The bathtub temperature (bath temperature) may be used as long as it is a bath water heater having the above. Alternatively, it may be information for specifying whether or not the water heater is in the process of supplying hot water, and whether or not the remote controller 1 is set to give priority to the operation of the water heater. It may be information to be specified. In addition to these information, various types of information used in known water heaters can be displayed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 3 and the like, the display unit 10 includes a display plate 12, an adhesive layer 14, a support frame 20, a substrate unit 40, and a plurality of light sources 42.
The display plate 12 is formed in a plate shape by a non-transparent plate material (specifically, a translucent plate material capable of transmitting light), and has the configuration as shown in FIG. FIG. 11A is a view of the display plate 12 viewed from the front surface side (front side), and FIG. 11B is a view of the display plate 12 viewed from the back surface side (rear side). The "non-transparent plate material" referred to here has a structure that allows light to pass through at least in a part in the thickness direction, but the region through which the light passes is not transparent, and the region through which the light passes is viewed in the thickness direction. It is a plate material that does not look transparent when it is used. FIG. 11C is a view of the display board 12 as viewed from the bottom surface side. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 to 9, the display board 12 has an upper side of a plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 so that one plate surface (front surface) is configured as the front surface of the remote controller 1. Placed in. The display plate 12 includes a light transmitting region in which light is transmitted from the back surface side to the front surface side, and a light-shielding region in which the degree of light transmission from the back surface side to the front surface side is suppressed more than the light transmitting region. The display plate 12 has a plate-shaped member 12A which is white and translucent when viewed from the front side as shown in FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (C) and is arranged on the front side. A light-shielding layer 12B configured as a layer that blocks light (for example, a light-shielding resin layer or a metal layer) is laminated on the back surface side of the member 12A. In FIG. 11A, the portion represented by gray color is actually a portion that exhibits white color when viewed from the front side. In FIG. 12B, the portion represented by gray color is the region where the light-shielding layer 12B is arranged, and the portion represented by white is the portion where the light-shielding layer 12B is not arranged (plate-shaped member 12A). The portion on the back surface that is not covered by the light-shielding layer 12B). In the display plate 12, the region where the light-shielding layer 12B is formed (the region covered by the light-shielding layer 12B in the plate-shaped member 12A) is the light-shielding region, and the region where the light-shielding layer 12B is not formed (in the plate-shaped member 12A). The region not covered by the light-shielding layer 12B) is the light transmission region. In FIG. 11B, the part represented by gray color (the area with the pattern) is the light-shielding area, and the part represented by white (the white area without the pattern) is light transmission. It is an area.

The substrate portion 40 is a plate-shaped member constituting a circuit board, and as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, it is accommodated in the housing portion 4 in a configuration fixed to the front side case body 4A and the rear side lid body 4B. Will be done. The plurality of light sources 42 are light sources for expressing at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols on the display board 12, and are on one side (front surface) side of the substrate portion 40 as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. It has been implemented. The plurality of light sources 42 are arranged on the rear side of the display plate 12, and function to irradiate the light transmitted through the display plate 12 from the back surface (rear surface) side to the front surface (front surface) side of the display plate 12.

The support frame 20 is a plate-shaped frame member arranged between the substrate portion 40 and the display plate 12 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the support frame 20 is formed with a plurality of holes 24 for guiding the light emitted from the light source 42 to the front side. As shown in FIG. 4, each light source 42 is arranged so as to fit in the rear end side of each of the plurality of holes 24 formed in the support frame 20, and the light from each light source 42 passes through the corresponding hole 24. The light is incident on the light transmission region of the display plate 12 (specifically, an individual region corresponding to each light source 42).

The adhesive layer 14 has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, and is a layer that adheres to each of the display plate 12 and the support frame 20 and fixes the display plate 12 to the front surface of the support frame 20. The adhesive layer 14 is composed of, for example, a sheet material and an adhesive medium applied or arranged on both sides of the sheet material, and has a function as a double-sided tape or a function similar to that of a double-sided tape. One side (rear side) of the adhesive layer 14 is adhered to the front surface of the support frame 20 or a part of the front surface of the housing portion 4, and the other side (front surface side) is adhered to the back surface of the display plate 12. The display board 12 is fixed to the front surface of the support frame 20 and a part of the front surface of the housing portion 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the remote controller 1, the display board 12 and the button group 50 (plural operation buttons 51, 52, 53) are arranged in close proximity to each other in the vertical direction. In the display board 12, one end side edge (specifically, the lower edge 12C) in the vertical direction extends in the lateral direction (horizontal direction). The upper edges 61D, 62D, 63D of each operation button 51, 52, 53 (each plate-shaped portion 61, 62, 63) in the button group 50 also extend in the left-right direction, and each upper edge of the operation buttons 51, 52, 53. The 61D, 62D, 63D and the lower edge 12C of the display board 12 are vertically close to each other. The area between the lower edge 12C of the display board 12 and the upper edges 61D, 62D, 63D of the operation buttons 51, 52, 53 is a region where no component exists.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 to 9, in the remote controller 1, the outer edges of the display board 12 and the operated member 8 are configured as the outer edges of the front surface portion of the remote controller 1. Specifically, the upper edge 12D of the display board 12 constitutes the upper edge on the front surface portion of the remote controller 1, and the side edges 12E and 12F on the left and right ends of the display board 12 form the left and right ends on the front surface portion of the remote controller 1. Each part of each side edge of. The side edges of the left and right ends of the operated member 8 (specifically, the side edges 61E of the operation button 51 and the side edges 63F of the operation button 53) are part of the left and right side edges of the front surface of the remote controller 1. Are configured respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the operation surfaces 61A, 62A, 63A of the operation buttons 51, 52, 53 are configured as the front surface of the remote controller 1. Further, in the front-rear direction, the remote controller 1 has each position of each front surface (each operation surface 61A, 62A, 63A) of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 and the front surface of the display board 12 (one plate surface). The positions of are aligned, and the operation surfaces 61A, 62A, 63A and the front surface of the display board 12 are flush with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the front side of the shaft portion 80 is covered with a part of the display plate 12. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the lower end portion of the support frame 20 and the shaft portion 80 are arranged adjacent to each other, and as shown in FIG. 3, the adhesive layer 14 is the support frame 20 and the shaft portion. It is arranged so as to straddle a part of 80 and functions to adhere the display plate 12 to the support frame 20 and the shaft portion 80. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a part of the support frame 20 is arranged on the front side of the thin portions 85 and 86, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one of the adhesive layers 14 The portion is arranged so as to straddle the thin portion covering portions 22A, 22B and the thick portions 81, 82, 83, which are the portions arranged on the front side of the thin portions 85, 86 in the support frame 20, and the display plate 12 is arranged. It is configured to be adhered to the thin-walled portion covering portions 22A and 22B and the thick-walled portion 81, 82 and 83.

In the display unit 10 configured in this way, when any of the light sources 42 emits light, the light from the light source 42 corresponds to the hole portion 24 (any of the plurality of hole portions 24 formed in the support frame 20). The light from the light source 42 is irradiated to the back surface side of the display plate 12 through a hole portion configured as a corresponding lead-out hole that guides the light to the display plate 12, and is irradiated from the back surface side to the front surface side in the display plate 12. Light is transmitted. By irradiating with such light, at least one of a character, a symbol, and a design is shown through the display board 12.

On the display board 12, the light transmitting region on which the light-shielding layer 12B is not formed functions to represent at least one of a character, a symbol, and a symbol. Specifically, a region in which the light-shielding layer 12B is not formed (a light transmission region, which is a white region in FIG. 11B) is divided into a plurality of individual regions, and holes correspond to each individual region. A unit 24 and a light source 42 are provided. In the example of FIG. 11B, the area representing the "first figure 12X (flame figure)", the area representing the character "high temperature", the area representing the character "priority", and the area representing the character "buro". , The area representing the character "° C", the area representing the "second figure 12Y", and each area representing each segment of the two 7-segment figures are configured as individual areas, and these individual areas can be illuminated individually. As described above, the hole 24 and the light source 42 are provided corresponding to each. Each of the divided light transmission regions (each individual region) functions so as to shine in a predetermined color (for example, white) when viewed from the front side when the corresponding light source 42 emits light. In this configuration, when all the light sources 42 emit light, they are displayed as shown in FIG. 12 (A), and by variously changing the emission patterns of the plurality of light sources 42, for example, FIG. 12 (B). Characters, symbols, patterns, etc. can be displayed in various ways in the light transmission region. In the example of FIG. 12, "flame figures" and "high temperature letters" can be displayed in warm colors (for example, red and orange), and other letters and figures are displayed. Symbols and the like can be displayed in cool colors (for example, white, blue, etc.).

In the display board 12, the light-shielding region is represented by a white color (for example, white) when viewed from the front side, and the display in the light transmission region is white (for example, the brightness or density is higher than that of white in the light-shielding region). It is represented by a slightly different white color). Further, the front surface portion of the operated member 8 (specifically, the area other than the display figure on the front surface portions of the operation buttons 51, 52, 53) is also represented by a white system (for example, white), and the front surface of the housing portion 4 is represented. Areas other than the display board 12 and the operation buttons 51, 52, and 53 are also represented by a white system (for example, white). The support frame 20, which is a partition member for partitioning the space on the back surface side of the display plate 12, the frame portion 4Z arranged so as to surround the periphery of the support frame 20 in the housing portion 4, and the peripheral portion of each light source 42 in the substrate portion 40. All of them are composed of a white color (for example, white). Since the inner peripheral portion of each hole 24 in the support frame 20 is represented by a white system (for example, white), the white color can be further emphasized when the light source emits light.

Here, the effect of this configuration will be illustrated.
The remote controller 1 has a configuration in which a plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 are arranged in a first direction (horizontal direction), and a shaft portion 80 extends in the first direction. The plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 and the shaft portion 80 are integrally connected by the plurality of connecting portions 71A, 71B, 72A, 72B, 73A, 73B. Therefore, the process of assembling the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 can be simplified, and it is possible to prevent the assembly of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 from being assembled in the wrong order. .. Moreover, the portion connecting the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 is configured as the shaft portion 80, and at least the shaft portion 80 is displaced or elastically deformed when the operation button is pushed backward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive concentration of force on the connecting portions 71A, 71B, 72A, 72B, 73A, 73B when the operation button is pressed, and the operation button can be satisfactorily displaced. Become.

Further, since the remote controller 1 has a design in which the positions of the front surfaces (positions of the respective operation surfaces) of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, and 53 are aligned, it is possible to give the user an excellent impression in terms of design. .. Further, in the configuration in which the front positions of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 are aligned in this way, a manufacturing method in which processing such as printing is performed on the front surfaces of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 at one time. It is an advantageous configuration for applying. If such a manufacturing method is applied to the above configuration, the process can be completed in a small number of times and in a short time when a symbol, a pattern, or the like is attached to the operation buttons 51, 52, 53, which is advantageous in terms of manufacturing. become.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9, the shaft portion 80 is a portion (specifically, the front side) arranged on the rear side of the shaft portion 80 in the component (board portion 40) assembled to the housing portion. It is configured to be fixed to a portion on the rear side of the shaft portion 80 in the case body 4A and a portion on the rear side of the shaft portion 80 in the substrate portion 40 by a screw 100 corresponding to an example of a connecting member. A part of the display unit 10 (specifically, the display plate 12) is fixed to the front side of the shaft portion 80 and the connecting member (screw 100) by an adhesive structure. If a part of the display unit 10 is adhered to the front side of the shaft unit 80, the display unit 10 and the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 can be easily brought close to each other, and the display unit 10 and the plurality of operation buttons 51, It becomes easy to omit or reduce the bezel portion between 52 and 53. Moreover, a configuration is adopted in which the shaft portion 80 is fixed to the portion arranged on the rear side of the shaft portion 80 by using a connecting member (screw 100), and the shaft portion 80 is attached before the display portion 10 is adhered. It can be firmly fixed. Therefore, when the display unit 10 is adhered, the state of the shaft portion 80 does not become unstable or the shaft portion 80 does not come off, and the shaft portion 80 can be assembled smoothly, so that workability is improved. .. For example, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, the operating member must be fixed to the front case (decorative frame) in advance, and the operating member is detached when the front case is assembled to the main body. However, in the configuration of the present specification, since the shaft portion 80 can be firmly fixed from the front side by the connecting member (screw 100) in advance, the operation member is fixed to the back side of the case on the front side. The concept of keeping can be eliminated and such problems do not occur. Moreover, after the shaft portion 80 is fixed by the connecting member (screw 100), a part of the display portion (display plate 12) may be fixed to the front side thereof with an adhesive structure, so that the workability is further improved. The connecting member is not limited to the screw, and may be a known fastening member such as a bolt or a rivet.

In the remote controller 1, the display board 12 constituting the display unit 10 and the operated member 8 provided with the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 are arranged in close proximity to each other, and the display board 12 and the operated member 8 are arranged. Each outer edge is configured as the outer edge of the front surface portion of the remote controller 1. That is, the bezel structure can be reduced both between the display plate 12 and the operated member 8 and around each of the display plate 12 and the operated member 8. Therefore, it is extremely desirable in terms of design for users who desire a configuration with a reduced bezel structure, and as a display unit in which the bezel structure can be reduced, light from a light source can be seen through the display board to at least characters, symbols, and patterns. Since the display unit 10 having a high design property that represents any of them is used, the design property is synergistically enhanced.

The operated member 8 has a hinge portion (shaft portion 80) that is collectively connected to a plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53, and the display plate 12 is on the front side of the hinge portion (shaft portion 80). It covers and is arranged close to a plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53. Therefore, the display board 12 and the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, and 53 can be arranged closer to each other, and it is easy to realize a configuration in which the design is enhanced even if the bezel portion between them is omitted. Become.

The side edges of the left and right ends of the display board 12 form a part of each side edge of the left and right ends on the front surface of the remote controller 1, and the upper edge of the display board 12 forms the upper edge of the front surface of the remote controller 1. The display board 12 and the operated member 8 are arranged in close proximity to each other in the vertical direction. The side edges of the left and right ends of the member 8 to be operated form a part of each side edge of the left and right ends of the front surface portion of the remote controller 1. In this way, the display board 12 and the operated member 8 are arranged close to each other in the vertical direction, and the side edges of the left and right ends of the display board 12 and the side edges of the left and right ends of the operated member 8 are both of the remote controller 1. If the left and right end edges of the front portion are configured, the display plate 12 and the operated member 8 will be more closely related to each other, and the vicinity of the display plate 12 and the operated member 8 will have a more unified feeling. It becomes a certain shape. Moreover, since the bezel portions around the display board 12 and the left and right bezel portions of the operated member 8 can be omitted, the impression of the bezel portion can be further eliminated, and in particular, the design around the display plate 12 is cleaner. It has a high-quality shape.

The lower edge of the display plate 12 extends in the left-right direction and the upper edge of the operated member 8 extends in the left-right direction. The area between the lower edge of the display plate 12 and the upper edge of the operated member 8 is a region where no component exists. By aligning the direction of the lower edge of the display plate 12 with the direction of the upper edge of the operated member 8 in this way, it becomes easier to bring the display plate 12 and the operated member 8 closer to each other, and moreover, the space between them is further increased. It can be a related and integrated design. Further, if the area between the display plate 12 and the operated member 8 is a region where no component exists, the bezel portion can be further reduced, and the vicinity of the display plate 12 and the operated member 8 is given a cleaner impression. be able to.
The plurality of light sources 42 are configured to irradiate the light transmitted through the display plate 12 from the back surface side to the front surface side of the display plate 12. The display plate 12 includes a light transmitting region in which light is transmitted from the back surface side to the front surface side, and a light-shielding region in which the degree of light transmission from the back surface side to the front surface side is suppressed more than the light transmitting region. .. By doing so, it is possible to realize a simpler and more compact display in which the light from the light source 42 is seen through the display board 12 and at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols is displayed.

The display plate 12 has a structure in which a light-shielding layer 12B is laminated on the back surface side of the translucent plate-shaped member 12A. Then, in the plate-shaped member 12A, the region whose back surface side is covered by the light-shielding layer 12B functions as a light-shielding region, and the region whose back surface side is not covered by the light-shielding layer 12B functions as a light transmission region. By doing so, it is possible to realize a simpler and more compact display in which the light from the light source 42 is seen through the display board 12 and at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols is displayed. Moreover, since the light-shielding layer 12B is laminated on the back surface side of the translucent plate-shaped member 12A, the shape of the light-shielding layer 12B is difficult to see from the front side, and the light-shielding layer 12B is clearly visible. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of design.

The operated member 8 has a hinge portion (shaft portion 80) that is collectively connected to a plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53, and a portion in which the plate-shaped member 12A and the light-shielding layer 12B are laminated is a hinge. It covers the front side of the portion (shaft portion 80). By doing so, the hinge portion (shaft portion) can be configured so that the light from the light source 42 can be seen through the display board 12 to display at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols. The 80) and the display board 12 can be arranged in the front-rear direction for compactness, and moreover, it is possible to make it difficult for the hinge portion (shaft portion 80) to be seen through the display board 12. ..

<Other Examples>
The present invention is not limited to the examples described in the above description and drawings, and for example, the following examples are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, as an example of a plurality of operation buttons, a configuration in which three operation buttons are arranged is exemplified, but a configuration in which two operation buttons are arranged may be used, and a configuration in which four or more operation buttons are arranged are arranged. May be.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the first direction is the horizontal direction and the operation buttons are arranged in the horizontal direction is exemplified, but the first direction may be the vertical direction and the operation buttons may be arranged in the vertical direction. In this case, the shaft portion may have an axial shape extending along the vertical direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the shaft portion 80 is fixed to a portion of the component (board portion 40) assembled to the housing portion 4 on the rear side of the shaft portion 80 by a connecting member (screw 100). Although it was configured, a portion arranged on the rear side of the shaft portion 80 is provided in the front side case body 4A constituting the housing portion 4, and the shaft portion 80 is fixed to this portion by a connecting member (screw or the like). You may.

In the above-described embodiment, the hinge portions (shaft portions 80) that are collectively connected to the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 are provided, but the plurality of hinge portions are each of the operation buttons 51, 52, 53. It may be provided individually corresponding to. For example, the operated member may be composed of three members having a structure in which the thin portions 85 and 86 are divided.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the shaft portion 80 is arranged on the upper side of the plurality of operation buttons 51, 52, 53 is shown, but the shaft portion is arranged on the lower side of the plurality of operation buttons, and the plurality of operation buttons are arranged. They may be integrally connected.

The connecting portions 71A, 71B, 72A, 72B, 73A, and 73B may have a configuration in which elastic bending deformation is likely to occur, or may be a configuration in which elastic bending deformation is unlikely to occur.

In the above-described embodiment, the boss portion 88 provided in the thick portion 81 and the boss portion 89 provided in the thick portion 83 are connected to the front side case body 4A and the substrate portion 40 by a connecting member (screw 100). Although the configuration is illustrated, a similar boss portion may be provided on the thick portion 82, and this boss portion may be connected to the front side case body 4A and the substrate portion 40 by a connecting member such as a screw.

In the above-described embodiment, "a display unit capable of displaying at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols on a display board" is exemplified, but at least any of characters, symbols, and symbols can be displayed on a plate-shaped or sheet-shaped member. As long as it is a display device capable of indicating the above, various known display devices can be adopted.

1 ... Remote controller for water heater, 4 ... Housing, 8 ... Displayed member, 10 ... Display, 12 ... Display board, 12A ... Plate-shaped member, 12B ... Light-shielding layer, 14 ... Adhesive layer, 20 ... Support frame , 22A, 22B ... Thin part covering part, 24 ... Hole part, 40 ... Board part, 42 ... Light source, 51, 52, 53 ... Operation buttons, 71A, 71B, 72A, 72B, 73A, 73B ... Connecting part, 80 ... Shaft part (hinge part), 81, 82, 83 ... thick part, 85, 86 ... thin part, 100 ... screw (connecting member)

Claims (8)

A remote controller for a water heater including a display unit for displaying information, an operated member having a plurality of operation buttons for which a pressing operation is performed from the outside, and a housing unit to which the display unit and the operated member are assembled. It ’s a controller,
The display unit is a non-transparent display plate having a plate shape and one plate surface as the front surface of the remote controller, and a display plate for displaying at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols. With one or more light sources,
In the operated member, a plurality of the operation buttons are arranged in a predetermined arrangement, and the surface of each of the operation buttons is configured as the front surface of the remote controller.
The display board and the operated member are arranged close to each other.
Each outer edge of the display board and the operated member is configured as an outer edge of the front surface portion of the remote controller.
When the light source emits light, the light from the light source is transparent from the display board to represent at least one of the characters, symbols, and symbols.
The side edges of the left and right ends of the display board form a part of each side edge of the left and right ends of the front surface of the remote controller.
The upper edge of the display board constitutes the upper edge of the front portion of the remote controller.
The display board and the operated member are arranged vertically close to each other.
A remote controller for a water heater in which the side edges of the left and right ends of the member to be operated form a part of each side edge of the left and right ends on the front surface of the remote controller. The operated member has one or more hinge portions connected to the plurality of operation buttons individually or collectively.
The remote controller for a water heater according to claim 1, wherein the display board covers the front side of the hinge portion and is arranged close to the plurality of operation buttons. The lower edge of the display plate extends in the left-right direction.
The upper edge of the operated member extends in the left-right direction.
The remote controller for a water heater according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area between the lower edge of the display plate and the upper edge of the operated member is an area in which no component exists. The plurality of light sources are configured to irradiate the light transmitted through the display plate from the back surface side to the front surface side of the display plate.
The display board is composed of a light transmitting region through which light is transmitted from the back surface side to the front surface side and a light blocking region in which the degree of light transmission from the back surface side to the front surface side is suppressed as compared with the light transmitting region. The remote controller for a water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The display plate is formed by laminating a light-shielding layer on the back surface side of a translucent plate-shaped member.
The water heater according to claim 4, wherein in the plate-shaped member, a region whose back surface side is covered with the light-shielding layer is the light-shielding region, and a region whose back surface side is not covered with the light-shielding layer is the light transmission region. Remote controller. The operated member has one or more hinge portions connected to the plurality of operation buttons individually or collectively.
The remote controller for a water heater according to claim 5, wherein a portion in which the plate-shaped member and the light-shielding layer are laminated covers the front side of the hinge portion. A remote controller for a water heater including a display unit for displaying information, an operated member having a plurality of operation buttons for which a pressing operation is performed from the outside, and a housing unit to which the display unit and the operated member are assembled. It ’s a controller,
The display unit is a non-transparent display plate having a plate shape and one plate surface as the front surface of the remote controller, and a display plate for displaying at least one of characters, symbols, and symbols. With one or more light sources,
In the operated member, a plurality of the operation buttons are arranged in a predetermined arrangement, and the surface of each of the operation buttons is configured as the front surface of the remote controller.
The display board and the operated member are arranged close to each other.
Each outer edge of the display board and the operated member is configured as an outer edge of the front surface portion of the remote controller.
When the light source emits light, the light from the light source is transparent from the display board to represent at least one of the characters, symbols, and symbols.
The plurality of light sources are configured to irradiate the light transmitted through the display plate from the back surface side to the front surface side of the display plate.
The display plate is composed of a light transmitting region through which light is transmitted from the back surface side to the front surface side and a light blocking region in which the degree of light transmission from the back surface side to the front surface side is suppressed as compared with the light transmitting region.
The display plate is formed by laminating a light-shielding layer on the back surface side of a translucent plate-shaped member.
In the plate-shaped member, a region whose back surface side is covered by the light-shielding layer is the light-shielding region, and a region whose back surface side is not covered by the light-shielding layer is the light transmission region.
The operated member has one or more hinge portions connected to the plurality of operation buttons individually or collectively.
A remote controller for a water heater in which a portion in which the plate-shaped member and the light-shielding layer are laminated covers the front side of the hinge portion. The hinge portion of the member to be operated has a structure configured in a shaft shape and integrally connected to the plurality of operation buttons, and at least when an operation of pushing the operation button to the rear side is performed. water heater remote controller according to any one of claims 2, 6, 7, wherein the hinge is displaced or elastically deformed.

Images