JPH07110161A - Wireless receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of switch manipulation every time a person takes a bath by a method wherein a rise and fall in the water level of a bathtub when the bather goes in and out of the bathtub are detected to integrate the number of the bathers, the integrated value is compared with a specified value to decide the completion of bathing, and an indication of operating information is stopped after a specified period of time. CONSTITUTION:The temperature of hot water in a bathtub 28 is detected by a hot water temperature detector 25. When a hot water temperature judging device 34 judges that the hot water temperature is lower than a set temperature of a remote controller, a pump 31 is driven by a pump driving device 34. The water level in the bathtub 28 is detected by a water level sensor 30. A rise in the water level is judged by a water level rise judging device 37 and a fall in the water level is judged by a water level fall judging device 39. The water level fall judgment signal is converted to a bathing time signal by a bathing time converter 40, and the bathing time signal is converted to the number of the bathers and stored by a bather number conversion/ storage device 41 to integrate the number of the bathers. The completion of bathing is judged based on the integrated bather number signal by a bather number comparing/ judging device 42, and a bathing completion signal is output by a bathing completion signal output device 43.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless transmitter / receiver device for transmitting / receiving operation information of a water heater or the like as a wireless signal to / from the water heater or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) as a conventional wireless transmitting / receiving means is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In this figure, 1 is a switch for giving a driving instruction to a water heater (not shown), 2 is a detecting means, 3 is a power source controlling means, 4 is a transmitting / receiving means, 5 is an information judging means, 6 is a timer means, and 7 is a driving instruction. A signal display means 8 is a power supply stop display means. When the switch 1 is operated while the power supply control unit 3 is not supplying power to the transmission / reception unit 4, the detection unit 2 is operated while notifying the power supply control unit 3 that the switch 1 has been operated. The contents of the switch 1 are transmitted to the transmitting / receiving means 4. The power supply control means 3 is the detection means 2
When the signal is further received, power is supplied to the transmitting / receiving means 4.
The transmission / reception unit 4 transmits the information received from the detection unit 2 to the water heater as a wireless signal. When the switch 1 is not operated and the timer means 6 finishes measuring a predetermined time, a signal is applied to the power supply control means 3, and the power supply control means 3 stops the power supply to the transmission / reception means 4 and the display means 7. ,
The power supply stop display means 8 is so displayed that transmission / reception with the water heater is stopped.

With the above configuration and operation, in the conventional wireless receiving apparatus, the power supply to the transmitting means 4 is controlled by the switch 1
And the timer means 6 to control the time, and the power consumption is reduced by stopping the power supply of the power source control means 3 by the battery power source outside the predetermined time.

[0004]

However, in the conventional wireless transmission / reception apparatus, since the predetermined time of the timer means 6 is short, the switch of the remote control is used every time a predetermined number of bathers take a bath, for example, when it is used in a bathroom or the like. Had to press.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of troublesome remote control switch operations.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the means of the wireless transmission / reception device of the present invention comprises a water level sensor for detecting the water level of a bathtub and a water level for reading the water level output of a controller operated by the signal. A rising reading means and a water level falling reading means, a water level rising comparison judging means and a water level falling comparison judging means for judging the water level reading signals of both reading means and a predetermined value, and a water level reading signal of a predetermined value or more of both reading means. And a bathing frequency converting means for receiving the bathing frequency signal, converting the bathing frequency signal into the bathing frequency, storing the bathing frequency signal, and storing the bathing frequency integrated signal, and the bathing frequency A number of bathers comparison determining means for comparing the number integration signal with a predetermined number of bathers to determine completion of bathing, and outputting a bather number integration signal to the bather number conversion storage means, Receiving a fill bath toll integrated signal with a bathing completion output means for converting the instrument drive signal,
Detecting means for detecting a water level reading signal of a water level reading means or more from a remotely installed instrument or a switch operation signal for instructing the instrument to drive, and transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving to / from the instrument as a wireless signal, and a device A power supply control means for supplying power to the device, a timer means for starting time measurement when a signal from the bathing completion output means of the device is received, and outputting a stop signal for power supply to the power supply control means when a predetermined time is counted, Power supply stop display means for receiving the stop signal of the timer means and displaying that power supply from the power supply control means to the transmission / reception means is stopped, and a switch operation instruction signal and operation information from the device within the predetermined time. The operation information display means is provided.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the detecting means detects the water level reading signal or the operation of the switch and transmits it to the power supply controlling means. The power supply control means starts the supply of power to the transmission / reception means in response to the signal from the detection means. The bathing completion output means in the device accurately detects the bather by the signal from the bather number conversion storage means, and determines the bathing completion of the predetermined bather. The timer means determines whether or not predetermined information is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving means, and stops or initializes the clocking. In addition, the time measurement is started when the signal from the bathing completion output means of the device is received, and is transmitted to the power supply control means. The power supply control means stops the power supply to the transmission / reception means in response to the signal from the timer means and displays the fact on the power supply stop display means, so that it is not necessary to press the switch every time a predetermined number of bathers take a bath. .

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the wireless transmitting / receiving apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a water heater, which is instructed to operate by a remote controller 10 as a transmitter / receiver. The water heater 9 and the remote controller 10 are respectively provided with a main body transmitter / receiver 11 and a remote controller transmitter / receiver 12 that transmit and receive wireless signals to and from each other.

The water heater 9 is equipped with a water level sensor 30 for detecting the water level in the bathtub. The remote control 10 includes a switch 13 and a switch 13 for input operation for instructing the hot water heater 9 to operate.
Display unit 14 as operation information display means for displaying operation information such as operation instruction display signal, hot water temperature detection signal from water heater 9, total hot water supply amount, etc., as power supply stop display means for indicating that power supply is being saved. The display unit 15 is provided on the front.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the water heater 9. In the figure, 9 is a water heater, and the supplied water is the water amount sensor 1
6 is heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 17 and the water amount control valve 1
One of them is led to a hot water tap 19 of a kitchen or the like via 8. The other is guided to the three-way valve 24 via the hot water supply valve 20, the first check valve 21, the vacuum breaker 22 and the second check valve 23. During automatic hot water supply to the bath, the bath heat exchanger 26 is passed through the hot water temperature detecting means 25 through the arrow a in the figure.
And is led to the bathtub 28 via the outflow pipe 27. The water level sensor 30 provided in the return pipe 29 detects whether or not the bathtub 28 has reached the set water amount.
Further, in the reheating mode, the three-way valve 24 becomes an arrow b, the bath water is heated by the bath heat exchanger 26, and the pump 31 moves the forward pipe 27, the bath 28, the return pipe 29, the pump 31, the three-way valve 24 and the heat exchange. It is circulated in the order of container 26. The controller 32 is electrically connected to the water heater 9 and the like as shown by the broken line in the figure.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the bath control of the controller 32. In the drawing, the hot water temperature of the bathtub 28 is detected by the hot water temperature detecting means 25, and when the hot water temperature determining means 34 determines that the hot water temperature is lower than the hot water temperature set by the remote controller 10, the pump driving means 34 outputs the pump 31 operation. .

Further, the water level in the bathtub 28 is detected by a water level sensor 30.
And sends the water level output to the signal relay conversion means 35. The signal connection conversion means 35 is connected to the signal path A in advance, and the output signal of the water level sensor 30 is received by the water level rise reading means 36 via the signal connection conversion means 35 and the signal path A. Then, when the water level rise comparison / determination means 37 compares the water level rise reading means 36 with a predetermined value and determines that the water level rise reading means 36 is not less than a predetermined value, the water level rise reading means 36 sends a connection conversion signal to the signal connection conversion means 35. The signal connection is switched to the signal B. After that, the water level reading signal of the water level down reading means 38, which receives the output signal of the water level sensor 30 via the signal connecting path converting means 35 and the signal path B, is compared with a predetermined value by the water level down comparing and determining means 39, and a predetermined value is obtained. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value is equal to or larger than the value, the determination signal is sent to the signal connection converting means 35 to switch the signal connection to the signal connection A,
On the other hand, the judgment signal is converted by the bathing frequency conversion means 40 and output as a single bathing frequency signal. Next, the bather number conversion storage means 41 receives the bathing frequency signal of the bathing frequency conversion means 40, divides the bathing frequency signal by a certain number to convert it into a bathing person number, and then stores it and accumulates the bathing person number. The integrated signal is compared with a predetermined number of bathers previously input to the bather number comparison and determination means 42,
When the number of bathers is equal to or exceeds the predetermined number of bathers, it is determined that the bathing is completed, and the bather number conversion storage means 41 outputs a bather number integration signal.

Next, the bathing completion output means 43 receives the bathing person number integration signal, converts it into an appliance driving signal and outputs it, and transmits it from the main body transceiver section 11 to the remote controller transceiver section 12.
When the other control circuit receives this signal, a circuit for adding hot water to maintain the bath 28 at a predetermined water level and the pump driving means 3
Lock 4

By the way, the constant coefficient of the bather number conversion storage means 41 is 2 when the number of bathing of one bather is averaged.
Depending on the bathing tendency of each household, the number of times will be 1.5 to 2.5 times. Therefore, the constant coefficient is provided with an input unit in the remote controller 10 or the like,
It can be changed at any time according to the condition of each household.

FIG. 4 shows an explanatory view of a person taking a bath. Assuming that the water level in the bathtub 28 after boiling is h ₀ , a person
The water level after bathing in is indicated by h ₁ . For example, vertical 60
cm, width 70 cm, depth 60 cm set water level h ₀
When a person with a weight of about 65 kg takes a bath to the place where it is boiling, the water level rises rapidly in a short time and then about 18 cm.
The water level rises. That is, h ₁ −h _{0 is} about 18 cm. The output of the water level sensor 30 shows this is the water level sensor output change characteristic diagram of FIG.
That is, when a person bathes in the bathtub 28, the output of the water level sensor is V
It indicates that the value increases from _{0 to} V ₁ .

Here, the case where a person takes a bath in the bathtub 28 will be described in more detail. For example, assuming that the microcomputer reads the output of the water level sensor 30 every 1.6 seconds, it is assumed that the output of the water level sensor is 1 bit = 2.5 mmH ₂ O.
When a person takes a bath here, the change in water level rise of 18 cm is 72
Equivalent to a bit. If data is read four times in succession, it will take 1.6 seconds × 4 = 6.4 seconds. That is, when the predetermined time is set to 6.4 seconds, for example, when the water level rises by 36 bits = 9 cm or more is taken as a person's bathing, the water level detection can be detected with double safety factor and less malfunction. . On the other hand, when a person takes a bath in the bathtub 28, if the comparison is made as the output of the water level sensor 30, the turbulence of the water surface becomes the turbulence of the water level as it is. Is possible. For example, the data is read every 1.6 seconds, but the 4th data is the same as the previous 3
The data for the second time is added, and the result obtained by dividing by 4 is compared as the water level output of this moving average.

FIG. 6 is a water level theory when a person leaves the bathtub 28.
It is a clear view. The water level when a person is bathing h ₁And then the person bathtub
The water level when coming out of 28 is h₀Indicated by. Similarly FIG.
Is a water level sensor output change feature when a person leaves the bathtub 28.
FIG. At this time, compared to when entering the bathtub 28
The water level sensor 30 outputs exactly the opposite water level change.

According to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, the bathing of a person in the bathtub 28 is performed by the water level sensor 30 during bathing.
Uses the sudden rise in water level as an output signal, and the signal connection conversion means 3
5 and the signal path A to the water level rise reading means 36. Then, the 72-bit water level rise signal received by the water level rise reading means 36 is supplied to the water level rise comparing and judging means 37.
Is compared with a predetermined 36-bit signal corresponding to a water level rise or higher, and the water level rise reading means 36 sends a route conversion signal to the signal connecting path converting means 35 to switch the signal connecting path to the signal path B. Thereafter, a person exits the bathtub 28 and a water level drop signal corresponding to 72 bits is received by the water level drop reading means 38, and the water level drop comparison / determination means 39 makes a comparison judgment with a signal corresponding to the water level drop corresponding to 36 bits or more, and the water level drop reading means. The reference numeral 38 is adapted to send a determination signal to the signal connection conversion means 35.

As another example, it is assumed that the water level sensor 30 has three water level detection contacts of upper, middle, and lower, and the middle contact has a predetermined water level, and the upper and lower contacts are 9 cm from the middle contact.
It may be provided at a loose position and read by the water rise reading means 36 and the water level fall reading means 38 within a predetermined short time.

Further, as an example, until the bathing completion determination is made, the bather number integrated signal of the bather number conversion storage means 41 is given to the display section installed at an appropriate location to display the number of bathers, and the bathing is performed. It is possible to simplify management.

Further, since the predetermined bathing person may change transiently and the bathing completion judgment signal is not output if the bathing schedule is partially lacking, an operation for inputting the bathing completion signal is provided near the display section. After the completion of bathing, a signal equivalent to that of the output means 43 can be provided to the controller 32 and the remote controller transmission / reception unit 12, the operation of the water heater can be stopped, and the display of the remote controller can be stopped after a predetermined time.

On the contrary, when the number of bathing increases more than usual, such as at the time of visitor, it is possible to provide an operation unit for locking the bathing completion output means 43 to prevent the bathing completion signal from being transmitted.

FIG. 8 shows a control block diagram of the remote controller 10. The remote controller transmitter / receiver 12 receives a driving instruction signal input by the switch 13 or a signal from the water level sensor 30 of the water heater 9, and the detector 44 detects the signal. To detect.
The power supply control means 45 receives the detection signal from the detection means 44 and supplies power to the remote controller transmission / reception unit 12 and the like. The timer means 46 is an information judging means 47 for judging a signal that the remote controller transmitting / receiving section 12 has received a driving instruction signal from the bathing completion output means 43 of the water heater 9, and a predetermined time from the time when the judgment signal is received from the information judging means 47. It consists of a timer 48 for measuring. When the timer 48 counts up the predetermined time, it is transmitted to the power supply control means 45 as a clock signal.

The power supply control means 45 instructs the display unit 14 to display the operation instruction signal of the switch 13 from the time of input operation, and also instructs the display unit 14 to display the operation information. Further, the display signal is switched from the display unit 14 to the display unit 15 when the time signal is received. Although not shown, an electronic controller such as the detecting means 44 is built in the remote controller 10. The electronic control unit 45 employs a battery (not shown) in place of the power supply by the AC power supply in order to simplify the wiring work with the water heater 9 by making the remote controller 10 wireless.

Based on the above configuration, an outline of the operation will be described first. The detection means 44 which has received the operation instruction signal by the input operation of the switch 13 or the signal from the water level sensor 30 of the water heater 9 notifies the power supply control means 45 that the operation of the switch 13 or the water level sensor 30 has been operated, Send information. When the main body transmitter / receiver 11 receives the operation state information, the water heater 9 starts operating and enters the operating state. When in the operating state, the main body transmitting / receiving unit 11 transmits the operating state information to the remote control transmitting / receiving unit 11. Upon receiving the driving condition information, the remote controller transmitting / receiving unit 12 transmits the driving condition information to the display unit 14. The display unit 14 displays the operating state of the water heater 9. The remote control transmitter / receiver 48 receives the signal from the bathing completion output means 43 of the water heater 9, and the information determination means 47 determines the received signal. The information judging means 47 sends the judged signal to the timer means 46, and the timer 48 measures time. After the predetermined time of the timer 48 has elapsed, the remote controller 1
To reduce the power consumption to 0, the power supply to the remote controller 10 is stopped. At this time, the display unit 14 stops the display in the auto-off state, and the display unit 15 displays instead to that effect.

As described above, the power supply control means 45 stops the useless power supply to the remote control transmission / reception unit 12 when the remote control transmission / reception unit 12 does not need wireless communication with the water heater 9 to drain the battery. be able to. Further, since the display unit 14 is displayed until the bathing of the predetermined bather is completed, the bather can grasp the operation status of the appliance without operating the switch 13.

[0028]

As described above, in the wireless transmitter-receiver of the present invention, when the bather operates the switch or enters the bathtub, the driving information display means relating to the operation information of the appliance is displayed, and the bather is placed in the bathtub in the appliance. When the change in two water levels coming in and out is detected and the number of bathers is integrated, and it is judged that the bathing is completed by comparing and judging with a predetermined bather, and the timer means measures a predetermined time from then on, the display of the operation information display means By stopping, it becomes unnecessary for a predetermined number of bathers to press the switch each time they take a bath.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a household gas water heater of a wireless transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a gas water heater of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a controller of the gas water heater of the same device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the device when a person takes a bath.

FIG. 5: Water level sensor output change characteristic diagram of the device

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the water level when a person using the same device leaves the bathtub.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of water level sensor output change when a person using the same device leaves the bathtub.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of a remote controller of the same device.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Water heater 10 Remote control 12 Remote control transmission / reception section 13 Switch 14, 15 Display section 28 Bathtub 30 Water level sensor 32 Controller 36 Water level rise reading means 37 Water level rise comparison / determination means 38 Water level fall reading / determining means 39 Water level fall comparison / determination means 40 Bathing frequency conversion Means 41 Bath number conversion storage means 42 Bath number comparison determination means 43 Bath completion output means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takechi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water level sensor for detecting the water level of a bathtub, a water level rising reading means and a water level falling reading means for reading the water level output of a controller operated by the signal, and a water level reading signal of both reading means having a predetermined value. Water level rise comparison and determination means and water level fall comparison and determination means, bathing frequency converting means for receiving a water level reading signal of a predetermined value or more from both reading means and converting it into a bathing frequency signal, and receiving the bathing frequency signal. The number of bathers conversion storage means for converting into the number of bathers and storing and storing a bather totalization signal, and comparing the accumulated number of bathers with a predetermined number of bathers to determine the completion of bathing and converting the number of bathers The storage means is provided with a bather number comparison / determination means for outputting a bather number integrated signal, and a bathing completion output means for receiving the bather number integrated signal and converting the signal into an appliance driving signal for output. A detecting means for detecting a water level reading signal of a water level reading means of a remotely installed instrument or a predetermined value of the water level reading means or a switch operation signal for instructing the instrument to drive, and a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving to / from the instrument as a wireless signal; Power supply control means for supplying power to the device, and timer means for starting time measurement when a signal from the bathing completion output means of the equipment is received and outputting a stop signal for power supply to the power supply control means when a predetermined time is measured. ,
Power supply stop display means for receiving the stop signal of the timer means and displaying that power supply from the power supply control means to the transmission / reception means is stopped, and a switch operation instruction signal and operation information from the device within the predetermined time. When the detection means receives a switch operation signal or a water level reading signal when the power supply stop display means indicates that the power supply is stopped, the power supply control means restarts the power supply to the transmission / reception means. A wireless transceiver that was set to start.