JPH0865774A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To clarify the operational function of an operation button and to make a remote controller easily usable by providing the plural operational functions in one or a pair of the operation buttons of the remote controller and displaying a mark for indicating the changeover of the operational functions at a liquid crystal display panel. CONSTITUTION: For instance, the liquid crystal display panel 3 is provided with a time display part 3a, an operating mode selection display part 3b, a temperature display part 3c, a wind amount mode selection display part 3d and a function display part 3e for indicating the changeover of the operational functions of an up-down button 7 provided with two operational functions. The up-down button 7 is provided with a room temperature setting function and the time setting function of operating time or the like. Characters 'temperature/time' for indicating the two operational functions are printed on a remote controller main body, the mark 'downward black triangle' is displayed on the left side of the function display part 3e when the up-down button 7 is turned to the room temperature setting function and the mark 'downward black triangle' is displayed on the right side of the function display part 3e when it is turned to the time setting function.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless type remote control device for remotely controlling an air conditioner or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wireless type remote control device for remotely operating an air conditioner includes a plurality of operation buttons, a microcomputer for processing operation input signals, a display section (liquid crystal display panel) for displaying operation contents, and an air conditioner. It is composed of a transmission circuit section for converting an output signal to the harmony machine into an infrared signal, and the data such as the set temperature inputted by operation is displayed on the display section each time. The function display (name) of the operation button is printed near each operation button or displayed on the display unit. However, as the number of functions increases, the number of operation buttons increases, and the gap between the operation buttons narrows, which may result in erroneous operation. As a means to eliminate such erroneous operation,
There is one in which one or a pair of operation buttons has a plurality of functions (for example, a room temperature setting function and a time setting function such as an operating time) to reduce the number of operation buttons. However, even if there is only one operation button, it is necessary to display multiple functions.
As shown in Fig. 6, two function display "Temperature / Time" by two-color printing is provided in the vicinity of the operation button 21, and an openable / closable lid body is provided on the remote control body. ), The function display (ON timer, time, OFF timer) printed on the remote control unit and each operation button 2
2, 23, 24 are associated with each other, and when the lid is closed, as shown in FIG. 6B, the function display (operation, temperature, air volume) printed on the lid and each operation button 22, 23, It corresponds to 24. 5 and 6, the liquid crystal display panel is shown in the upper frame.

[0003]

However, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case where a plurality of function displays are arranged side by side with respect to one operation button, even if the operation color is distinguished by the character color, the operation button is currently displayed. It is difficult to understand which function the function is, and as shown in FIG. 6, the function of the operation button can be distinguished by opening and closing the lid.
Since a lid and an opening / closing switch for detecting the open / closed state of the lid are required, the cost is disadvantageous. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device that solves the above problems.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes a plurality of operation buttons for setting operating conditions of equipment, a microcomputer for processing operation input signals, and operation. A wireless remote controller that includes a display unit for displaying contents, a transmission circuit unit for converting an output signal to the device into an infrared signal, and the like, and includes at least one or a pair of the operation buttons. The operation button is provided with a plurality of operation functions, and the function display is printed and displayed on the remote controller body between the display section and the operation button, and each time the operation function of the operation button is switched, a function corresponding to the operation function is displayed. A mark indicating a display is displayed on the display unit.

[0005]

With the above-mentioned structure, the respective function displays when one or a pair of operation buttons have a plurality of operation functions are printed on the remote controller main body, and the operation functions are displayed on the display section. Each time is switched, a mark indicating the function display printed on the main body of the remote controller is switched and displayed, so that it is possible to determine at a glance what the current operation function is.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an upper surface of a main body of a remote control device for an air conditioner. Reference numeral 1 is a remote control main body, 2 is a window for transmitting infrared signals, and 3 is a display section using a liquid crystal display panel. As operation buttons, run / stop button 4,
An operation mode switching button 5, an air volume switching button 6, an up / down button 7 having two operation functions for setting an indoor temperature and an operating time, and a timer button 8.
Etc. are provided. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the remote control device. 9 is an operation unit having the operation buttons (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc.) described above, and 10 is an operation input from the operation unit 9. A signal processing microcomputer (microcomputer) 11 is a transmission circuit unit for outputting an infrared signal. The microcomputer 10 is provided with an operation button discrimination means for discriminating which operation button has been operated, and a switching means for switching display contents to be displayed on the display unit 3 based on the discrimination result by this discrimination means. Other, microcomputer 10
There is a storage unit that holds operation input signals, a timer unit that controls the timing of reading and transmission of operation input signals, a code signal generation unit that generates code signals, etc., and the output signal from this code signal generation unit The transistor of the transmission circuit unit 11 is driven to operate the light emitting element.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the display unit 3 and the up / down button 7 according to the present invention, showing a state in which all the display contents are displayed, and the time when the operating time is displayed on the display unit 3. A display unit (also referred to as a timer display unit) 3a and an operation mode selection display unit 3b which is convenient for selecting an operation mode.
And a temperature display section 3c for displaying the set value of the indoor temperature, an air volume mode selection display section 3d for selecting an air volume mode, and a function display for displaying two marks "▼" at the same time or selectively. Part 3e, while the remote control body 1
Is a letter "driving" representing the operation function of the operation mode switching button 5, a letter "driving / time" representing the operating function of the up / down button 7, a letter "air volume" representing the operating function of the air volume switching button 6, and the timer button 8 Characters such as "timer" are printed, and the display as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed all at once when the remote control operation is started. By the way, a feature of the present invention is that the up / down button 7 consisting of a pair of upper and lower sides is provided with a room temperature setting function and a time setting function for determining an operating time, and the function display is printed on the remote controller main body 1 and the liquid crystal display is displayed. This means that the mark "▼" indicating either one of the function display "temperature / time" printed on the remote controller main body 1 is switched and displayed on the panel 3 every time the operation function of the up / down button 7 is switched.

4A and 4B show a specific example thereof, and the up / down button 7 has a function of switching the set temperature except when the timer function is set, and the function display section 3
A mark "▼" is displayed on the left side of e to indicate that the operation function of the up / down button 7 has become the room temperature setting function. At this time, the time display unit 3a displays, for example, the character "continuous" indicating the current time and continuous operation, the operation mode selection display unit 3b displays, for example, the character "dry" indicating dry operation, and the air volume mode selection display. In the portion 3d, for example, the characters "automatic" indicating that the air volume setting is automatic are displayed. If the timer button 8 is operated during this time, the up / down button 7 switches to the time setting function, for example, the state continues for 5 seconds, at this time, the mark "▼" appears on the right side of the function display portion 3g, and the up / down operation is performed. The button 7 indicates that it has become the time setting function, and the time display portion 3a displays, for example, four characters of "timer" and the set operation start time.

[0009]

With the remote control device as described above, even if one or a pair of operation buttons are provided with a plurality of operation functions, that operation button has which function at the operation stage. It can be seen at a glance whether it is convenient or not, and the operation is convenient, and the lid, which is provided in the conventional remote control device, and the switch for detecting the open / closed state of the lid, are not necessary, which is advantageous in cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a remote control device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a display example according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part showing another display example according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example in a conventional remote control device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another display example in the conventional remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Remote control main body 2 Transmission window 3 Display section (liquid crystal display panel) 4 Run / stop button 5 Operation mode switching button 6 Air volume switching button 7 Up / down button 8 Timer button 9 Operation section 10 Microcomputer (microcomputer) 11 Transmission circuit section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of operation buttons for setting operating conditions of a device, a microcomputer for processing an operation input signal, a display section for displaying operation contents and the like, and an output signal to the device for converting into an infrared signal. In a wireless remote controller including a transmission circuit unit and the like for remotely operating a device, at least one of the operation buttons or a pair of operation buttons has a plurality of operation functions, and the function display is displayed on the display section and the operation buttons. While displaying the print on the remote control main body between, every time the operation function of the operation button is switched,
A remote control device, wherein a mark indicating a function display corresponding to the operation function is displayed on the display unit. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a liquid crystal display panel. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation button for selecting one of the operation functions having the plurality of operation functions. 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of operation buttons have a room temperature setting function and a time setting function such as an operating time. 5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein only the function of the operation button being operated is displayed on the display unit for a predetermined time.