JPH07117289B2 - Display control method and device for remote-controlled water heater - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to a base unit such as a gas burner or a petroleum burner for directly controlling a combustion section, which gives an instruction from a remote unit installed at a remote place. The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling various visual display units included in a remote unit in a remote control type hot water supply device.

[Prior Art] Nowadays, a base unit for directly controlling a combustion section having a gas burner or an oil burner for selectively heating a heat exchanger for supplying hot water is required to be installed in a safe proper place, for example, outdoors together with the combustion section. A remote-controlled water heater has been put into practical use, which is fixedly installed in the base unit so that operation commands to the base unit can be sent from a remote unit installed at any desired indoor location. It is becoming more complicated or sophisticated.

The conceptual configuration of such a hot water supply system is, for example, as shown in the second drawing, and two remote units 20 (20
_-1 , 20 _-2 ) is shown, but it can be generally considered as n (n ≧ 1) units.

Therefore, when pointing out a particular remote unit, add a suffix of 20 _-i (eg 20 _-1 , 20 _-2 etc.)
When any remote unit can represent another, the suffix is omitted and it is simply referred to as the remote unit 20.
Is most preferably electrically connected by a two-core wiring path 30 in order to reduce the number of crossover wires between them, in other words, the two-core wiring path 30 is divided into two power supply lines and data transmission lines. It also has a role.

That is, since the commercial AC power is generally applied only to the base unit 10, the DC power provided in the base unit 10 and rectified by a rectifier circuit (not shown) is only available in each circuit section in the base unit 10. Instead, it is sent to the remote unit 20 through the two-core wiring path 30 while being used by each circuit section in the remote unit 20, while being emitted from the base unit 10 and the microcomputers 11 and 21 in the remote unit 20. The transmission data is transmitted via the transmission / reception circuits 12 and 22 provided for each of the power supply lines 30.
In addition, it is adapted to be superposed by an appropriate method such as an on / off method of power supply voltage or a chopping method. In general, each transceiver circuit 12,22
Can monitor the transmission data output from its own unit 10, 20.

In the remote unit 20, an operation switch 51 capable of converting the mode of the base unit is generally provided as a momentary type electric switch 51, and every time this is operated, the microcomputer 21 built in the remote unit 20 is provided with a predetermined switch. Set data bit to logical "1",
Or, create a bit string consisting of a special pattern of multiple bits, and output the data instructing the off mode if the base unit 10 before the operation is in the on mode, and output the data instructing the on mode in the off mode. .

The base unit 10 does not perform any operations involving combustion when it is in the off mode. On the other hand, when in the ON mode, for example, when the user opens the faucet 31 or the shower 32, and when water flow occurs through the heat exchanger in the combustion unit (not shown), the It acts to start combustion and heats the heat exchanger,
The water supplied from 31 or shower 32 is used as hot water.

When the microcomputer 11 of the base unit 10 is turned on, the microcomputer 11 specifies the information from the remote unit 20, for example, the temperature of hot water discharged from the faucet 31 or the shower 32 via the two-core wiring path 30. Read the set temperature information.

This set temperature information is also as shown in FIG.
It can be set by the user by the set temperature / temperature designating switches 55 _-1 , 55 _-2 provided on the operation panel 40 attached to the remote unit 20.

On the operation panel 40 shown in the figure, the set temperature is set by an electro-optical device such as a light emitting diode or a liquid crystal when the user continuously presses the set temperature designation switch 55 _-1 marked with a left arrow or presses it once. The temperature setting switch indicated by the arrow pointing to the right moves to the lower temperature scale 65 displayed on the display element.
55 _-2 each time the user presses and holds or presses once,
The case where the temperature scale 65 moves to the higher side is shown, and the information of the same content as the temperature display content at that time is displayed on the remote unit.
20 is sent from the microcomputer 21 built in 20 to the two-core wiring path 30 via the transmission / reception circuit 22, and the base unit 10
It is captured by the microcomputer 11 inside.

The microcomputer 11 built in the base unit 10
In accordance with the received set temperature data, in consideration of the water flow rate obtained from the water flow sensors 33 and 34 which detect the amount of hot water discharged from the faucet 31 and the shower 32, which are schematically shown in FIG. As a result of the arithmetic operation, the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion unit, the amount of air supplied, and the like are controlled through an appropriate interface (not shown) to function as much as possible to match the actual hot water temperature with the specified set temperature. .

The remote unit 20 also has a priority setting switch 52, a reheating switch 53, and a water filling switch as shown in FIG.
54 and the like are also provided, and when the priority setting switch 53 is operated, for example, the set temperature information or the like transmitted from the remote unit 20 _-i where the priority setting switch 53 is operated first takes precedence, and the others are changed. I can't do it.

The reheating switch 53 is, for example, for reboiling cold water in the bath tub 33 schematically shown in FIG. 2,
The hot water filling switch 54 is a switch for storing a predetermined amount of hot water in the bath tub 33. Therefore, in order to know the amount of hot water supplied to the bathtub, the water flow sensor
35 sends the amount of water to the microcomputer 11.

In addition, although there are those having various functions, the parts related to the object of improvement of the present invention will be described. Each switch 51, 52, 5 provided on the operation panel 40 of each remote unit 20 is described.
3,54,55 _-1 , 55 _-2, etc. have a display section that uses electro-optical display elements such as light-emitting diodes and liquid crystals in order to visually display the state of their operation in correspondence with each. Be prepared.

Speaking of the example here, as shown in FIG. 3, a light emitting diode which is lit near the operation switch 51 when the base unit enters the ON mode by the operation of this switch. Is provided with a driving state display unit 61, and similarly, a light emitting diode or a priority setting state display unit 62 which is turned on when the priority is set is provided near the priority setting switch 52, and a cooker switch.
In the vicinity of each of the 53 and the water filling switch 54, there are an additional cooking indicator 63 and an additional filling indicator 64 which are lit when they are respectively operated and the corresponding additional cooking operation or filling operation is performed. Be prepared. Set temperature designation switches 55 _-1 , 55
_The temperature scale 65 that performs electro-optical display of the temperature with the operation of _-2 has been described above.

Further, on the operation panel 40 of the remote unit 20, although not essentially required for this type of device, as a sign of recent multifunctionalization, for example, an electro-optical device using a light emitting diode, a liquid crystal or the like is used. A clock 66 or the like having a display unit may be provided.

As described above, it is shown that there are a plurality of switches as illustrated on the operation panel 40 in accordance with FIG. 3 without specifying any one except the operation switch 51 in FIG. Therefore, the switches 1 to n, and the display element that selectively and visually displays corresponding to them are represented by light emitting diodes,
Similarly, LEDs 1 to n are shown without specifying any of them.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Even in the water heater having the system configuration as described above, in the conventional one, the on / off operation of each electro-optical display element on the operation panel 40 of the remote unit 20 is performed exclusively by the operation switch. It was dominated only by the operation of 51.

That is, each display can be driven when the operation switch 51 is operated to put the base unit in the ON mode. In other words, the operation switch 51 must be operated again to put the base unit 10 in the OFF mode. For example, such a display always displayed something. For example, in the set temperature display scale 65, the temperature set at that time is always displayed by light emission, and even if the priority setting switch 52 is set, as long as the priority is set, the display section 62 corresponding to this is displayed. The light emitting diode of was configured to keep lighting.

However, although the operation switch 51 was operated to put the base unit 10 into the ON mode, the tap 31 and the shower 32 did not open any outlets, and therefore combustion in the combustion section did not start at all, and the It is normal for a situation such as a lapse of time to occur. In particular, if the driver forgets to operate the operation switch 51 that should put the base unit into the off mode before going to bed, each display unit maintains the electro-optical display operating state until the user notices from the next day.

Obviously this is a waste of power. When liquid crystal is used as an electro-optical display unit, power consumption may not be a problem, but it is necessary to use a light emitting diode as a display element in the display unit because a particularly conspicuous display is required. In this case, the larger the number of display units, the larger the power consumption. Considering it as a problem of the life of the light emitting diode itself, it is not desirable to leave it on.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and in a remote-controlled water heater system of this type, it is possible to reduce the risk of wastefully operating the electro-optical display unit in the operation panel provided in the remote unit. The basic purpose is to do.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the base unit is in the on mode, and the combustion can be started at any time when the tap hole is opened. However, if none of the hot water outlets are opened (no water flow through the heat exchanger) and no operation switches except the operation switch are operated for a certain period of time, the display is always requested. There is provided a method and apparatus for forcibly cutting off the operating power supply to the electro-optical display element in each display unit except the display unit such as a clock.

On the basis of this, among the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit after the lapse of the certain time, after the operating power is forcibly cut off although not always required to be displayed, There is also provided a method and apparatus for restarting the power supply to the display element, which has been interrupted when the control switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit is operated.

Even when the base unit is in the ON mode, the control switches other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit are not operated, and the water flow through the heat exchanger is not generated for a certain period of time. Of the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, when the operating power is forcibly cut off as described above, the base unit itself is also added. There is also provided a method and apparatus for forcibly switching the mode to the off mode.

Furthermore, after the lapse of a certain period of time, among the electro-optical display elements equipped on the operation panel of the remote unit, those that do not require constant display are forcibly cut off the operating power and the base unit is forcibly cut off. If the control switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit is operated after the switch to the off mode, the power supply to the display element that had cut off the power supply Also provided is a method and apparatus for automatically switching the base unit to the on-mode upon restarting the power supply.

[Operation] In the present invention, even when the base unit is in the ON mode, it is necessary to constantly display a clock or the like after a predetermined time elapses in a state where no control is performed, not to mention combustion. The power supplied to the display elements other than the display unit is automatically and forcibly shut off. Therefore, the state after this can be called the power saving mode for convenience.

Furthermore, in addition to shutting off power to the display element, when the base unit is forcibly put into the off mode after the elapse of the certain time, from the remote unit side or at the base unit itself, Not only the amount required for driving the display element but also the other power consumption amount in the ON mode can be reduced, and the risk of malfunction due to disturbance can be reduced.

On the contrary, after the lapse of the above-mentioned certain time, the system is not forcibly put into the off mode, and according to the most basic idea of the present invention, the power supply to the display element of the unnecessary display unit is simply cut off. In this case, the status display section of the operation switch may be a display section that always needs to be displayed.

This allows the user to know that the system was automatically in the power save mode by having some of the display elements other than the status display element of the run switch turned off.

If the user operates any of the control switches except the operation switch after a certain period of time as described above, the display state will automatically return to the same display state as in the normal on-mode state. If the unit itself is forcibly placed in the OFF mode and is automatically returned to the ON mode, it will not be necessary to operate the operation switch again and the operability will be improved. .

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a time chart showing an operation example for explaining an embodiment of a method for controlling a display unit for a remote-controlled water heater according to the present invention.

The method of the present invention can be applied to a hot water supply system as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and since this embodiment also envisions it, each system component used below and As for the reference numerals, those already described are used.

It is assumed that the base unit 10 in the system shown in FIG. 2 is initially in the off mode as shown at the left end of the uppermost line in FIG.

On the other hand, as the remote unit 20, as shown in the second illustration, the first remote unit _20-1 and the second remote unit 20-1.
20 _-2 are used, and the base unit 10 and these two remote units 20 _-1 , 20 _-2 also serve as power supply lines from the power supply circuit (not shown) of the base unit 10 to each remote unit. It is assumed that they are connected by a two-wire type data transmission line (hereinafter, simply a two-core wiring path) 30, 30.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the operation switch 51 provided in the first remote unit 20 _-1.
If (Figs. 2 and 3) are operated, the microcomputer 21 built in the remote unit 20 _-1 creates corresponding digital data, and the transmitter / receiver circuit 22 creates the two-core wiring path 30.
This data is superimposed on and sent to the side of the base unit 10.

In the base unit 10 receiving this, the contents are decoded by the transmission / reception circuit 12 and given to the microcomputer 11, so that the microcomputer 11 built in the base unit 10 is put in the on mode. This is the same as the base unit 10 itself being in the ON mode, but such operations starting from the operation of the operation switch 51 are related by the arrows in FIG.

Although the remote unit 20 _-2 may be provided with the operation switch 51, the operation switch state of the second remote unit 20 _-2 is not illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to avoid complication.

In any case, when the base unit 10 is in the ON mode, it is connected between each remote unit 20 _-i and the base unit 10 via the microcomputers 11 and 21 incorporated therein,
Mutual data transmission / reception begins in a predetermined manner.

Here, for example, when water is started as a result of the user twisting the faucet 31, the corresponding water flow sensor 33 tells the microcomputer 11 with the built-in base unit that the water flow has occurred and its flow rate as detection data. Send in.

In response to this, the microcomputer 11 with a built-in base unit gives a burner ignition command to a combustion unit (not shown) to start combustion, while operating the priority setting switch 52 (Fig. 3) to set the priority. The set temperature data sent from the given remote unit 20 _-i ,
Thereafter, the temperature of the hot water discharged from the faucet 31 is controlled so as to be as close as possible to the set temperature according to the flow rate data emitted from the water flow sensor 33 and the like.

Such a temperature control operation itself may be the same as that in the water heater system of this type that has been conventionally developed, and when the operation switch 51 is operated as described above, it is changed to another remote unit. even made the operation, by the base unit 10 enters the on mode Along with this, as the instruction data from the side of the base unit 10 in the reverse, lighting instruction data drive display part both of the remote unit 20 _{- 1} and 20 _-2, and the operation panel 40 of each remote unit is configured as shown in FIG.
In the above, the light emitting diode forming the operation switch status display portion 61 provided near the operation switch 51 is turned on.

Although not shown, the combustion display section, which indicates that the combustion is currently being performed when the combustion in the combustion section is started, is also provided with an appropriate electro-optical element such as a light-emitting means or the like on the operation panel. It is often provided at

In this way, after the base unit 10 enters the ON mode, various switches provided on the operation panel of each remote unit 20 _-i , as schematically shown in FIG. 1 to n are arbitrarily operated according to the user's convenience, and the data associated therewith are sent to the base unit 10 side, and the control contents of the base unit 10 and the set temperature scale 65 are electro-optical. It is visually displayed by such a display element.

In this regard, FIG. 1 shows, in the bottom line, that at least one of the display elements enters the lighting mode when the base unit 10 enters the ON mode, as the display element LEDi is turned on.

However, as shown in the situation after the time t _{0 in} FIG. 1, some significant data (in this case, the second remote unit 20 _{-2 in} this case) is stored in the microcomputer 11 built in the base unit 10. (Data associated with the operation of the switch 2 in the inside) is not transmitted, and control data associated with the operation of any switch is not transmitted, and the three sensors 33, 34,
There is a case where information from various sensors related to combustion control is not changed in content or is not given at all for a certain period of time T or more as in 35.

In this case, the microcomputer 11 built in the base unit 10 to which the present invention is applied always receives the latest data by a built-in software program processing or a dedicated timer circuit (not shown). When the predetermined time T has elapsed since the latest data was input, the light emitting diode that has been lit up to that point is shown as indicated by the solid arrow in FIG.
Forcibly turn off LEDi.

However, as shown in FIG. 3, the clock 66 or the like, which is always required to be displayed by the liquid crystal or the like, may be excluded from the forced light-off control, and the status display portion 61 of the operation switch 51 may also be changed in some cases. Therefore, it may be excluded from the forced light-off control.

However, in the present invention, since such control is performed, as compared with the conventional example, at least the display unit that has been lit for a long time unnecessarily, for example, the preset temperature scale 65, can be forcibly turned off. The latter state can be called, so to speak, a power saving mode.

Several more methods can be adopted for the specific state of the power saving mode and the return from the power saving mode.

One is that the power saving mode is not limited to the turning-off operation of the display unit that does not always require the display as described above, and the base unit 10 itself, for example, as shown by a virtual arrow in FIG. Is configured so that the user intentionally operates the operation switch to put the system in exactly the same state as when the system was put in the off mode, and accordingly, the power saving mode is changed from the off mode to the on mode. Returning to is a method of leaving the operation of the operation switch 51 again.

In this case, the power saving mode may be a mode in which the display unit 61 related to the operation switch 51 is also turned off.

However, on the contrary, when the user intentionally puts the system into the off mode, and when the user does not know the time T
To distinguish for the user from automatically entering the power saving mode depending on the progress of
The status display section 61 of continues to light up, and the other display section, which is normally continuing to display, is turned off with the lapse of the above time T, and the user is automatically in the power saving mode. While notifying that it has been entered, at this time, there is no need to operate the operation switch again, and the user can simply operate any control switch on the operation panel 40 provided in the remote unit 20 _-i. As shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 1, the system may directly return to the display state of the display unit in the ON mode state before entering the power saving mode.

Further, in consideration of the above idea, other significant data is not given to the microcomputer 11 built in the base unit 10 until a predetermined time T elapses after the latest data is given. In addition to forcibly shutting off the operating power to the display elements that make up the display section that does not require constant display, the virtual line arrow in FIG. 1 and the mode status of the base unit 10 corresponding to this As shown in Fig. 1, even when the base unit is forcibly set to the off mode, for example, after that, as shown by the first switch 1 of the second remote unit 20 _{-2 in} Fig. 1, which user is When any one of the control switches of the remote unit 20 _-i is operated, the operating power is supplied again to the display element that has been turned off, as indicated by a solid arrow and a virtual arrow. At the same time, the base unit can be put into the ON mode again.
Besides, any modification without departing from the spirit of the present invention is easy for those skilled in the art.

[Effects] According to the present invention, in a remote-controlled water heater, even if the base unit is in an on mode in which combustion can be started in the combustion section at any time with the generation of a water flow, a combustion start command associated with such a water flow generation is long Is not given, or new control data based on the operation of various control switches by the user is not sent, the power saving mode is entered, and at least the display element of the display unit other than the one that requires constant display. Since the power supply to the power supply can be cut off, the power consumption can be reduced and the life of the display element can be extended.

Also, after doing so, if the user intentionally operates some control switch in the power saving mode,
A hot water supply system with a power saving mode that has a high operability when it is configured to be able to immediately respond to the operation and to supply the operating power again to the display element that has been turned off. Can be provided, and the value as a product will also increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an operation explanatory view of an embodiment constructed according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration view of an example of a hot water supply system to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 3 is an operation panel and various control switches provided in a remote unit. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the arrangement state of the display unit. In the figure, 10 is a base unit, 11 and 21 are microcomputers, 12 and 22 are transmitting / receiving circuits, 20 and 20- _i are remote units, 30 is a data transmission line, 31 is a faucet, 32 is a shower, 33
Is a bath tub, 33, 34 and 35 are water flow sensors, 40 is a control panel provided in the remote unit, 51 is an operation switch, 52 is a priority setting switch, 53 is a cooker switch, 54 is a water filling switch, 55 _-1 , 55 _-2 is a set temperature designation switch, 61 is an operation switch status display section, 62 is a priority setting status display section, 63 is a cooking state display section, 64 is a hot water display section, 65 is a set temperature scale,
66 is a clock display section.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A base unit for directly controlling a combustion unit having a heat exchanger for hot water supply and a remote unit for operating the base unit from a remote place are connected by a data transmission line, and the data transmission line is connected to the base unit. A microcomputer for transmitting and receiving various control data groups via each of the base unit and the remote unit is built in, and the operation panel of the remote unit is connected to the operation mode of the base unit via the heat exchanger. An on-mode in which the combustion unit is operated based on the generation of a water flow, and predetermined combustion control is performed based on an instruction from the remote unit or data from various sensors, and the combustion unit is generated despite the generation of the water flow. And an operation switch for instructing the mode switching from one to the other between the off mode that does not start combustion at A method of controlling the display unit for a remote-controlled water heater, which is provided with a display unit using an electro-optical display element in order to visually display a content corresponding to a control state and output data of the base unit. When the base unit is in the ON mode, control switches other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit are not operated, and the water flow through the heat exchanger is not generated. The operation power of the electro-optical display element provided on the operation panel of the remote unit that does not require constant display is forcibly cut off after a certain period of time. A method for controlling a display unit for a remote-controlled water heater. 2. After the elapse of the certain period of time, among the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, those which do not always require display are forcibly cut off from the operating power. After that, when the control switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit is operated, the power supply to the display element, which has been cut off, is restarted. The method for controlling a display unit for a remote-controlled water heater according to claim 1. 3. When the base unit is in the ON mode, control switches other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit are not operated, and water flow through the heat exchanger is not generated. As it is, when a certain period of time has passed, among the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, when the operating power is forcibly cut off for those that do not require constant display, The display unit control method for a remote-controlled water heater according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is also forcibly switched to the off mode. 4. After the lapse of a certain period of time, among the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, those which do not require constant display are forcibly cut off from the operating power, and If the control switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit is operated after the base unit is forcibly switched to the off mode, the supply is cut off. The display unit control method for a remote-controlled water heater according to claim 3, wherein the base unit is automatically switched to the ON mode while power supply to the display element is restarted. 5. A data transmission line connects a base unit for directly controlling a combustion unit having a heat exchanger for hot water supply and a remote unit for operating the base unit from a remote place, and the data transmission line is connected to the base unit. A microcomputer for transmitting and receiving various control data groups via each of the base unit and the remote unit is built in, and the operation panel of the remote unit is connected to the operation mode of the base unit via the heat exchanger. An on-mode in which the combustion unit is operated based on the generation of a water flow, and predetermined combustion control is performed based on an instruction from the remote unit or data from various sensors, and the combustion unit is generated despite the generation of the water flow. And an operation switch for instructing the mode switching from one to the other between the off mode that does not start combustion at A control device for the display unit for a remote-controlled water heater, which is provided with a display unit using an electro-optical display element in order to visually display a control state in the base unit and contents corresponding to its output data. When the base unit is in the ON mode, the control switches other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit are not operated, and the water flow through the heat exchanger is also generated. Without doing so, when a certain time has elapsed, the electro-optical display element provided in the operation panel of the remote unit is always operated by the instruction of the microcomputer built in the base unit or the remote unit. A display unit for a remote-controlled water heater, which does not require a display but forcibly shuts off the operating power. Control device. 6. After the elapse of the certain period of time, after the operating power is forcibly cut off, of the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, which do not require constant display, When the control switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit is operated, the power supply to the display element, which has been cut off, is restarted. The display control device for a remote-controlled water heater according to claim 5. 7. When the base unit is in the ON mode, control switches other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit are not operated, and water flow through the heat exchanger is not generated. As it is, when a certain period of time has passed, among the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, when the operating power is forcibly cut off for those that do not require constant display, The display unit control device for a remote-controlled water heater according to claim 5, wherein the base unit is also forcibly switched to the off mode. 8. After the lapse of the certain period of time, among the electro-optical display elements provided on the operation panel of the remote unit, those which do not require constant display are forcibly cut off the operating power, And, if the control switch other than the operation switch provided on the operation panel of the remote unit is operated after the base unit is forcibly switched to the off mode, the supply is shut off. While restarting the power supply to the display element,
The display control device for a remote-controlled water heater according to claim 7, wherein the base unit is automatically switched to an on mode.