JPH0865760A - Cordless remote controlled hot water supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the change of ID code registration in a market and to provide a system with improved responsiveness. CONSTITUTION: A remote controller 1 and a hot water supplier main body 9 are respectively provided with transmission/reception frequency change means 3 and 11 and communication is performed while synchronizing and changing a communication channel by them. In the meantime, at the time of using an ID code registration mode, a specified channel is selected and the registration by the communication is made possible. Also, using channel information is added to communication data at the time of the registration and the initial data of normal communication and the discordance of communication channels is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cordless remote control water heater for controlling communication between a remotely installed appliance and a controller (also referred to as a remote controller) by using radio waves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional cordless remote control water heater system will be described with reference to FIG.

In a state where communication between the main body of the water heater and the remote controller is not started, both the transmission / reception frequency of the water heater and the transmission / reception frequency of the remote controller are fixed to channel 1. When the switch operation of the remote controller is performed from this state (P1), the remote controller transmits an operation signal to the water heater main body (A), and the water heater main body receives this signal (B). After that, the water heater main body transmits a response signal to the remote controller (C), but T1 seconds after the end of the response signal, the water heater main body and the remote controller activate their respective timers so that they can communicate at the same timing.

The transmission / reception operation up to this point is performed on channel 1, which is a transmission / reception frequency fixed in advance. By this operation, timer synchronization is established, and the remote controller thereafter turns on the reception power every T2 seconds to intermittently receive data (D), and the water heater main body also has a transmission timing to the remote controller every T2 seconds ( E). After the timer synchronization is established, the transmission / reception frequency is switched for both the water heater main body and the remote controller at the following timings.

First, in the reception of the main body of the water heater, the reception channels are switched to 1, 2, and 3 by a timer at a cycle T2 / 2 seconds which is 1/2 of the intermittent reception cycle T2 seconds of the remote controller (F). Corresponding to this, the remote controller must transmit on the same channel as the reception channel of the water heater main body. For example, when there is a switch operation at P2, the remote controller transmits an operation signal (A), but the transmission channel at this time may be set to the channel 2 that the water heater body is receiving.

That is, as shown in (G), the transmission channel of the remote controller may be switched at the timing synchronized with the main body. If the remote controller 1 determines that the radio wave of the same frequency has already been transmitted by the carrier sense performed immediately before the transmission, there is no problem if it waits until the next transmission channel 3 to transmit.

Next, the reception of the remote control is performed by the T as described above.
Intermittent reception is performed at a cycle of 2 seconds (D). At this time, the reception is first received on channel 1, at the reception timing after T2 seconds, received on channel 2, and next on channel 3.
Next, the channel 1 is periodically changed again (H). Corresponding to this, the water heater main body must be transmitted on the same channel as the remote control reception channel.

For example, when the hot water supply main body is in the hot water supply combustion state at P3, the timing of actually sending the information of hot water supply combustion to the remote control is the reception timing of the remote control after T3 seconds, but the transmission channel at this time is the remote control. It is good to match the same 3 channels as the remote control reception channel with the timer synchronized with (E). If it is determined by the carrier sense performed by the water heater main body immediately before transmission that the radio waves of the same frequency have already been transmitted, there is no problem if the radio waves of the same frequency are already transmitted, waiting until channel 2 after T2 seconds.

The channels 1, 2, and 3 are stored as a set in the main body of the water heater and the remote controller at the time of shipment, and various combinations can be created by using different communication channels for each set.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned configuration, in the market, for example, when the remote controller fails and is replaced, the ID codes assigned to the remote controller and the water heater body are recognized by each other, so-called registration. However, it is difficult to register the new remote controller and the main body of the water heater by using radio waves. It was necessary to perform wired registration work using the setting device. The same can be said when replacing only the main body of the water heater.

Further, even if the registration work is performed, it cannot be used unless a plurality of normally used communication channels are matched in the remote controller and the water heater main body, and a setting device is also required for this. Also, in the market, if the memory of multiple used channels is partially destroyed by noise or the like, communication does not become impossible at all, but the communication situation deteriorates,
There was a risk that the response to the state change of the main body and the operation of the remote control would be delayed.

Also, when the battery is replaced, the battery is always generated when the battery is replaced. However, if only the power of the remote controller is turned off and then the power is supplied again, and the water heater body continues to operate normally, the remote controller will be restarted. When it is operated, it always sends on channel 1, but since the main unit switches the communication channel at the timing synchronized with the remote control to receive, the probability of receiving the remote control transmission is low, and communication may not start properly. there were.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily re-register the ID code in the market. A second object of the present invention is to make it possible to enter the first communication without using the setting device after re-registering. The third object of the present invention is to
The storage operation of a plurality of used channels is made possible by the response signal of the first communication. A fourth object is to enable quick restart of communication even when the power source of only the remote controller is temporarily turned off due to battery replacement or the like.

[0014]

To achieve the above object, the first means of the cordless remote control water heater of the present invention comprises a water heater main body and a remote controller for remotely controlling the water heater main body. The remote controller transmits / receives radio signals, operating means for operating and inputting hot water supply operation conditions, timer means for measuring a predetermined time by adjusting the reference time with the water heater main body by transmitting / receiving, and transmitting / receiving by information from the timer means. A transmitter / receiver frequency changing means for switching the frequency band of the radio wave within a predetermined range in synchronization with the water heater main body, the water heater main body main body transmitter / receiver means, a main body timer means for adjusting the reference time with the remote controller, and the remote controller It is equipped with a main body transmission / reception frequency changing means for switching the frequency of transmission / reception radio waves in synchronization with The transmission / reception in the registration mode in which the codes are recognized with each other to enable communication is provided with a transmission / reception frequency changing unit and a transmission / reception frequency changing unit of the main body for setting a specific communication frequency by an operation signal of the main body registration unit and the remote control registration unit .

The second means of the present invention comprises a transmitting / receiving means or a main body transmitting / receiving means for adding frequency information used in the first transmission / reception after the registration mode to the response signal of the registration mode.

A third means of the present invention is provided with a transmitting / receiving means or a main body transmitting / receiving means for adding a plurality of frequency information used in the synchronous communication to the response signal of the first communication after the registration mode.

A fourth means of the present invention is a timer means and a main body timer means for setting the frequency used during the first communication after the initial power-on to a ratio in which the distribution of the period time is higher than the other frequencies during the synchronous communication. It is equipped with.

[0018]

According to the first means of the present invention, when the main body registration means and the remote control registration means are operated, the main body transmission / reception frequency changing means and the transmission / reception frequency changing means set the registration mode, and the water heater main body and the remote controller are set at a specific frequency. Since they can be communicated with each other, it is possible to perform registration using radio waves, and it is easy to re-register at the time of failure replacement in the market because a registration setting device prepared for registration is unnecessary.

According to the second means of the present invention, since the communication channel used for the first transmission / reception after the registration mode can be designated in the data of the response signal in the registration mode, the communication channel setting device is not used. However, the first communication can be performed.

Further, according to the third means of the present invention, it becomes possible to transmit a plurality of communication channels to be used by the first response signal after the registration mode, and it is not necessary to separately prepare a communication channel setting device. Even put in communication to automatically switch the synchronization of multiple channels.

Further, according to the fourth means of the present invention, since the frequency used for the first communication after the initial power-on is used at a high ratio of the distribution of the synchronization time period in the synchronous communication, only the remote controller replaces the battery, etc. By the operation after the power is turned off, the probability of matching the communication frequency can be increased and the communication can be restarted quickly even when the water heater main body is in synchronous communication.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, 1 is a remote controller, 2
Is a timer means for measuring the synchronization timing with the water heater main body 9 and 3 is a transmission / reception frequency changing means.
The frequency is changed according to the clock time. Reference numeral 4 is a transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving radio signals by radio waves, 5 is a power supply control means for controlling the power supply from the battery to the transmission / reception means 4 according to the time measured by the timer means 2, and 6 is a switch 6 such as a push button.
a, 6b and other operating means, 7 is a transmitting / receiving antenna,
Reference numeral 8 is a display means such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the state of the main equipment.

The transmitting / receiving means 4 sends the contents of the hot water supply set temperature and the like operated by the operating means 6 through the antenna 7 to the water heater main body 9
It has a function of displaying on the display means 8 the state of the main body transmitted from the water heater main body 9 via the antenna 7. Further, when the operation means 6 performs the ID code registration of the water heater main body 9 and the remote controller 1 again, by performing a special operation such as multiple pressing of the switches 6a, 6b, etc., the remote controller 1 is registered in the retry mode (hereinafter referred to as registration It has a function as a remote control registration switch that is set to the mode).

Reference numeral 10 is a main body timer means for measuring the synchronization timing with the remote controller 1, and 11 is main body transmission / reception frequency changing means for changing the frequency according to the time measured by the main body timer means 10. Reference numeral 12 is a main body transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a radio signal, 13 is a main body controlling means for controlling combustion operation of the main body,
Reference numeral 14 is a transmitting / receiving antenna, and 15 is a main body registration switch for setting the main body 9 of the water heater in the registration mode when the ID code of the main body 9 of the water heater and the remote controller 1 are re-registered.

The transmission / reception means 12 has a function of transmitting information from the main body control means 13 to the remote controller 1 via the antenna 14 and transmitting an operation signal received from the remote control 1 via the antenna 14 to the main body control means 13. The operation will be described below based on the above configuration.

The operation of re-registering the ID code in the market will be described with reference to FIG. 2A and 2B are communication packet diagrams in the registration mode in one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, also referred to as registration packet). First, the water heater main body 9 enters the registration mode by pressing the main body registration switch 15. At this time, the main body transmission / reception frequency changing means 11 detects the switch operation and sets the transmission / reception frequency to a specific channel.

Then, the remote controller 1 is ready to receive from the remote controller 1. The remote controller 1 also enters the registration mode by performing a special operation such as multiple pressing of the operating means 6 such as the switches 6a and 6b. At this time, the transmission / reception frequency changing means 3 detects the special operation, and the transmission / reception frequency is set to the water heater main body 9 Set to the same specific channel as.

When the remote controller 1 enters the registration mode, FIG.
The registration packet shown in (a) is transmitted. This registration packet includes an ID code (C1) indicating a number unique to the remote controller 1,
SA (C2) indicating the source address, DA (C3) indicating the other party, PFC (C4) indicating the type of packet
And an error check code FCC (C5). At this time, since the water heater main body 9 is receiving at the same frequency as the remote controller 1, the registration packet can be received normally.

Upon receiving the registration packet from the remote controller 1, the water heater main body 9 checks the PFC and FCC and then stores the ID code of the remote controller 1 in the registration packet in the transmitting / receiving means 12. After that, it is necessary to return the response transmission to the remote controller 1, which transmits the registration ACK packet shown in FIG.

This packet is an ID code (C6) showing a number unique to the water heater main body 9 and an SA showing the address of the sender.
From (C7), DA (C8) indicating the transmission partner, PFC (C9) indicating the packet type, communication channel A (C10) used for the first transmission and reception after the registration mode, and error check code FCC (C11) It is configured.

When the remote controller 1 receives the registration ACK packet, it checks the PFC and FCC, and then stores the ID code of the water heater main body 9 in the registration ACK packet in the transmitting / receiving means 4, and at the same time, the communication channel A (C10). Is stored in the transmission / reception frequency changing means 3.

By transmitting and receiving in the above registration mode,
From the first transmission / reception after the registration mode, the water heater main body 9 only recognizes the communication packet to which the ID code of the remote controller 1 is added as normal data, and the remote controller 1 also adds the ID code of the water heater main body 9 in the same manner. Since only the transmitted packet is recognized as normal, there is no malfunction even if the ID code is re-registered in the market, and it is possible to easily re-register without having to use a special setting device.

Further, the water heater main body 9 is used in the registration mode of the communication channel (described later) used after the first transmission / reception.
ID in the market as it can be transmitted from the remote controller to the remote controller 1.
Communication can be resumed normally immediately after re-registering the code. The condition for ending the registration mode is that the transmission / reception of the registration packet and the registration ACK packet is completed, or the transmission / reception is not completed within a fixed time. Further, in a case where the remote controller 1 is not a power source that consumes power, for example, a case where a rechargeable battery or the same commercial power source as the water heater main body 9 is used, it is not necessary to consider the drainage of the battery power source. It may be started from the machine body 9.

Next, a method of synchronous communication in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 4 is a synchronous communication timing chart in another embodiment of the present invention.

When the communication between the water heater main body 9 and the remote controller 1 is not started, that is, when the initial power is turned on or when the ID code registration is redone, the transmission / reception frequency of the water heater main body 9 and the transmission / reception frequency of the remote controller 1 are both set. It is fixed to channel A (I, J). This channel A is stored in the hot water heater main body 9 and the remote controller 1 on the same channel at the factory shipment stage, but when the ID code is re-registered, it is set by the above-mentioned registration ACK packet.

When the switches 6a and 6b of the remote controller 1 are operated (P4), the remote controller 1 sends an operation signal to the water heater main body 9 (K), and the water heater main body 9 receives this signal ( L). After that, the water heater main body 9 transmits a response signal to the remote controller 1 (M), but after the lapse of T4 seconds from the end of this response signal, the water heater main body 9 and the remote controller 1 are respectively connected to the main body timer means 10 so that they can communicate at the same timing.
And the timer means 2 is started. The transmission / reception operation up to this point is performed on channel A, which has a predetermined transmission / reception frequency.
Done in.

By this operation, timer synchronization is established, and thereafter, in the remote controller 1, the power supply control means 5 turns on the power supply of the transmission / reception means 4 every T5 seconds thereafter to intermittently receive (N), and the water heater main body 9 also receives T5. The transmission timing to the remote controller 1 is set every second (O).

FIGS. 3A and 3B are synchronous communication packet diagrams in another embodiment of the present invention. Although the basic configuration is the same as the registration packet, the response packet from the water heater main body 9 to the remote controller 1 is a packet indicating the display content of the remote controller shown in (a) and used in future communication as shown in (b). There are two types of packets to which the three communication channels A, B, and C are added, and the water heater main body 9 transmits both packets at the time of the first response signal transmission. By receiving this packet (b) in the remote controller 1 and storing it in the transmission / reception frequency changing means 3, it is possible to prevent the remote controller 1 and the water heater main body 9 from matching each other on the communication channels.

After the timer synchronization is established, the transmission / reception frequency of the water heater main body 9 and the remote controller 1 are switched at the following timing. First, the main body 9 of the water heater receives channels A and T for the intermittent reception cycle T 5 seconds of the remote controller 1.
Channel B is switched for 5/2 seconds, and channel C is switched for the next T5 / 2 seconds as one cycle. In this, the main body transmission / reception frequency changing means 11 confirms the time measured by the main body timer means 10 and controls the main body transmission / reception means 12 (I). Corresponding to this, the remote controller 1 needs to transmit on the same channel as the reception channel of the water heater main body 9.

For example, in P5, the switches 6a and 6b
When there is an operation such as the above, the remote controller 1 transmits an operation signal (K), but the transmission channel at this time may be set to the channel A received by the water heater main body 9. That is, as shown in (J), the transmission channel of the remote controller 1 confirms the time measured by the timer means 2 by the transmission / reception frequency changing means 3 and switches the transmission channel of the transmission / reception means 4 at the same timing as the water heater main body 9. You can go. If the remote controller 1 determines that the radio wave of the same frequency has already been transmitted from another water heater by the carrier sense performed immediately before the transmission, the communication will not be confused if it waits until the next transmission channel B before transmission. Absent.

Next, as described above, the remote control 1 receives the intermittent reception at the T5 second cycle as described above (N). At this time, the channel A is first received, and the reception timing after T5 seconds is the channel. The signal is received by B, and is then periodically changed to channel C and then channel A again (P). This can be done by the transmission / reception frequency changing means 3 counting the elapse of T5 seconds counted by the timer means 2 and controlling the reception channel of the transmission / reception means 4 every T5 seconds.

The transmission of the water heater main body 9 corresponding to this needs to be performed on the same channel as the reception channel of the remote controller 1. This is the time T measured by the main body timer means 10.
This is possible by the main body transmission / reception frequency changing means 11 counting the elapse of 5 seconds and controlling the transmission channel of the main body transmission / reception means 12 every T5 seconds. If the hot water heater body 9 determines that the radio wave of the same frequency is already transmitted by the carrier sense performed immediately before the transmission, there is no problem if the transmission is performed after waiting for the next channel after T5 seconds.

Next, at P6, remove the battery of the remote controller 1,
The operation when a new battery is immediately re-inserted and operated will be described. Since the remote controller 1 is the same as when the initial power was turned on, it transmits on channel A (K), but the water heater body 9
Is in the synchronous communication, the channel C is waiting to be received, and the data of the remote controller 1 cannot be received due to the channel mismatch (I).

However, since the reception period of channel A is twice as long as that of channels B and C, if the timing of the transmission start of the remote controller 1 enters during this reception period, reception is possible and communication is possible. The transmission data of A can be received, and normal reception is possible by automatic retransmission from the remote controller 1 at P7 after T5 seconds (L).

Then, a response is returned (M) as in the initial stage, and thereafter, the synchronous communication becomes possible again. As described above, even when only the remote controller 1 is turned off during the synchronous communication and is turned on again, it is possible to quickly restart the communication.

When P6 communication fails, channel A
Since the communication resuming operation is waited for only the transmission period allocated to, the reception period of the water heater main unit 9 should select an appropriate point between this waiting time and the probability of communication. Also, this one is
For example, there is no need for another mode setting that repeats from the first communication after the registration mode.

[0047]

As described above, according to the first means of the present invention, when the main body registration means and the remote control registration means are operated, the main body transmission / reception frequency changing means and the transmission / reception changing means set the registration mode so that a specific frequency is set. Since both the water heater main body and the remote controller can communicate with each other, registration can be performed using radio waves, and re-registration at the time of failure replacement in the market is easy because a registration setting device prepared for registration is unnecessary.

Further, according to the second means of the present invention, the communication channel used for the first transmission / reception after the registration mode can be specified in the data of the response signal in the registration mode. It is possible to immediately perform the first communication without using it.

Further, according to the third means of the present invention, it becomes possible to convey a plurality of communication channels to be used by the first response signal after the registration mode, and it is possible to eliminate the discrepancy between the used channels. , Even if the communication channel setting device is not separately prepared, it automatically enters the communication for synchronous switching of multiple channels.

Further, according to the fourth means of the present invention, even when only the remote controller is powered off due to battery replacement or the like during the synchronous communication of the water heater main body, it is used at the first communication after the initial power-on. Since the frequencies are used with a high proportion of the allocation of the synchronous time period in the synchronous communication, it is possible to increase the probability of matching the communication frequency even when the water heater body is in the synchronous communication and restart the communication quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a remote controller of a cordless remote control water heater according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a water heater main body of the water heater.

FIG. 2A is a communication packet diagram transmitted by the remote controller in a registration mode. FIG. 2B is a communication packet diagram transmitted by the water heater main body.

FIG. 3 (a) is a communication packet diagram when a water heater main body of the cordless remote control water heater according to another embodiment of the present invention responds to the remote controller. (B) is a communication packet diagram in which a plurality of communication channels of the water heater are added.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of synchronous communication in the water heater.

FIG. 5 is a communication timing chart of a conventional cordless remote control water heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 remote control 2 timer means 3 transmission / reception frequency change means 4 transmission / reception means 5 power supply control means 6 operation means 9 water heater main body 10 main body timer means 11 main body transmission / reception frequency change means 12 main body transmission / reception means 15 main body registration switch

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

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A water heater main body and a remote controller for remotely controlling the water heater main body, wherein the remote controller transmits / receives a radio signal, operating means for operating and inputting a hot water supply operation condition, and the water heater main body by transmission / reception. And a reference time and a timer means for measuring a predetermined time, and a transmission / reception frequency changing means for switching a frequency band of transmission / reception radio waves within a predetermined range in synchronization with the water heater main body based on information from the timer means. Includes a main body transmission / reception means, a main body timer means for synchronizing the reference time with the remote control, and a main body transmission / reception frequency changing means for switching the frequency of the transmission / reception radio wave in synchronization with the remote control. A registration mode that allows the ID codes individually assigned to each other to be recognized by one another and to communicate A cordless remote control water heater that is set to send and receive at a specific communication frequency. 2. The cordless remote-control water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting / receiving means or a main body transmitting / receiving means for adding frequency information used in the first communication after the registration mode to the response signal of the registration mode. 3. The cordless remote controller water heater according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting / receiving means or a main body transmitting / receiving means for adding a plurality of frequency information used in synchronous communication in a response signal of the first communication after the registration mode. 4. A timer means and a main body timer means for setting a frequency used in the first communication after the initial power-on to a ratio in which the distribution of the synchronization time period is higher than the other frequencies in the synchronous communication. Cordless remote control water heater.