JPH09319427A - Control panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp the state of equipment or the use conditions of consumption articles as well by integrally controlling plural pieces of equipment through a unified remote controller. SOLUTION: When the self-check switch of a source screen is turned on, a state managing part 69 confirms the operation types, operating states and total operating time of respective pieces of bathtub equipment 23 from a communication circuit 77 through cables 30, 32 and 34. The confirmed result is displayed on an LCD panel 55 as display image information. When the self-check switch is turned off, the display of this display image information onto the LCD panel 55 is stopped and the display contents on the LCD panel 55 are switched to the source screen. When the self-check switch is not turned off and the display time of this display image information does not reach prescribed t1, this display image information is continuously displayed as it is. When it is judged the display time reaches a fixed value, the display of this display image information onto the LCD panel 55 is stopped and the display contents on the LCD panel 55 are switched to the source screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation panel used in a control system for a plurality of devices, the operation panel having a function for integrally controlling each device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A control system for bathroom-related equipment, particularly a water heater having a heating / heating function for bath water, a bath hot water circulation purifying device having a bath water purifying / heat keeping function, and bubbles generated in the bath water. A control system having a bubble generator will be described as an example.

Conventional bathroom-related equipment is provided with an operation panel (remote controller, abbreviated as a remote controller) unique to each equipment. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the bathtub 1 is equipped with a plurality of bathroom-related equipment such as a water heater 3, a bath water circulation purification device (abbreviated as “circulation cleaner” in the figure) 5, and a bubble generator 7. Since the remote controllers 9, 11 and 13 (see FIG. 2) unique to each device are installed in the bathroom, it is necessary to install as many remote controls as the number of installed devices.

[0004]

By the way, when an abnormality or a failure occurs in the water heater 3 to the bubble generator 7, the remote controller 9 of the water heater has a numerical display indicating the abnormality or the failure. In the remote controller 11 for the bath water circulation purifying device, a blinking check sign lamp and an alphabet display indicating an abnormality or a failure are displayed on the display unit. Further, in the bubble generator remote controller 13, a corresponding LED lamp among a plurality of LED lamps provided corresponding to the notation of the cause of abnormality / fault that is printed or attached in advance is turned on. In this way, since many remote controls are installed and the display mode of abnormality / fault is not unified, it is difficult for the user to know which device has a fault / failure, and the user is confused. There is a risk.

Moreover, with the hot water supply remote controller 9 and the bath water circulation purification device remote controller 11, the user cannot grasp the cause and contents of the abnormality / fault. Further, since the method of coping with the abnormality and the failure including the remote controller 13 is not understood unless the instruction manual of the device is read, it is troublesome for the user to deal with the abnormality or the failure.

On the other hand, even a service person who performs maintenance needs to deal with the problem while referring to the manual because the details and cause of the abnormality are unclear.
Even if the service person dealt with according to the manual, it was not possible to grasp the current state of the equipment or the usage status of consumable parts used in the equipment.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to integrally control a plurality of devices by a single remote operation panel (unified remote controller, abbreviated as unified remote controller), and allow a user or a service person to control the devices. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by making it possible to grasp the state clearly and quickly and also to grasp the usage status of consumable parts used in equipment.

[0008]

An operation panel according to the first aspect of the present invention integrally controls a plurality of devices, and includes a display means, a state diagnosis means, and a display control means. The display unit displays various pieces of information about each given device as image information. The state diagnosing means diagnoses the state of each device based on the given information indicating the state of each device.
The display control means outputs the information indicating the state diagnosis to the display means so as to be displayed as image information when a display command of the diagnosis result is given.

In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the image information showing the result of the state diagnosis shows normal / abnormal or failure for each device. The image information indicating the result of the state diagnosis may be configured to display normal / abnormal or failure according to the function of each device. Further, as the image information showing the state diagnosis result, the image information showing the function in which each device is driven and the numerical data showing the operating state, the total operating time of each device, and the built-in each device are displayed. Image information that displays the total usage time of each consumable part is also included.

For example, if each device is a bathtub device such as a water heater, a bath water circulation purification device, or a bubble generator, a normal / abnormal (fault) is displayed for each of the water heater, the bath water circulation purification device, and the bubble generator. To be done. Further, normal / abnormal (fault) is displayed for each of the hot water supply / reheating function, the blow (bubble generation) function, and the purification function. Further, for example, the water heater is in the additional heating operation, the bath hot water circulation purification device is in the purification circulation, and the bubble generator is in operation, the additional heating temperature, the additional heating flow rate, the purification flow rate, the blow flow rate, etc. Is also displayed. Furthermore, for example, the total operating time of the bath hot water circulation purifying device, the total operating time of the sterilizing lamp which is a consumable part, the total operating time of the bubble generator, etc. are displayed.

Therefore, the user or the service person can clearly and quickly grasp the state of the equipment by giving a command to display the image information showing the result of the state diagnosis on the display means, and the expendable parts used in the equipment. The usage status of can be grasped.

The display of the image information showing the result of the state diagnosis is executed at the time of starting each device, at the time of driving stop, or at the time of starting each device and at the time of driving stop.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a control system for a plurality of devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above system includes a hot water supply device 23 for hot water supply to the bath tub 21 and reheating of the hot tub water, and a bath hot water circulation purification device for circulating and purifying the hot tub water to keep it warm (in the figure, "
25) and a bubble generator 27 for generating bubbles in the bath 21. The above system is further connected to each of these bathtub equipments 23 to 27 through communication and power supply cables 30, 32, 34, and each bathtub equipment 23.
It also includes a unified remote controller 29 for integrally controlling ~ 27.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the unified remote controller 29 described above.

In FIG. 4, on the front surface of the casing of the unified remote controller 29, an LCD panel 55 is arranged which is driven by applying a predetermined voltage. Further, on the front surface of the casing of the unified remote controller 29, in addition to the LCD panel 55, a screen on / off key 59, a function selection key 61 for selecting some predetermined functions, and a bathtub device to be operated. The device selection key 63 is also arranged.
All of the screen on / off key 59 to the device selection key 63 are mechanically configured hard keys, and these configure the hard key operation unit 65 shown in FIG.

The structure of each of the above parts will be further described below.
On the LCD panel 55, for example, the control unit 67 displays image information such as a status display of a bath temperature and a water level, and detailed function selection keys related to the devices and functions selected by the various selection keys 61 to 63. Is displayed.

The function selection key 61 and the device selection key 63 are specifically as follows.

As the function selection keys 61, there are a purification key for selecting the bathtub purification function of the bathwater circulation purification device 25 and a shower priority key, and a bathing key for selecting the automatic operation function of the water heater 23. is there.

Further, as the device selection key 63, a hot water supply unit on / off key for selecting the operation / stop of the water heater 23, a blow key for selecting the operation / stop of the bubble generator 27, and a built-in intercom (not shown). There is a call key for using ().

In this embodiment, the operation switches and main function switches of the bathtub devices 23 to 27 are arranged as hard keys on the front surface of the casing of the unified remote controller 29, and the additional function switches and various setting switches of the bathtub devices 23 to 27 are arranged. For, the soft keys are displayed / erasable on the LCD panel 55. The names of the switches are classified by function, not by device, thereby improving operability with emphasis on operability. A control section 67 having a functional configuration as shown in FIG. 5 is built in the unified remote controller 29.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the control unit 67 included in the unified remote controller 29 of FIG.

The control unit 67 controls each bathtub equipment such as the hot water supply device, the bath hot water circulation purifying device, and the bubble generator described above through the communication circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as "communication circuit") 77 of the bathtub equipment (hereinafter, collectively (Shown as “tub device 23”), and is also connected to the hard key operation unit 65 and the LCD panel 55. The control unit 67 includes a state management unit 69, a first memory 71, a second memory 73, and a display management unit 75.

The display management unit 75 functions as an interface between the LCD panel 55, the hard key operation unit 65, and the control unit 67, and the display read from the second memory 73 via the state management unit 69. Operates according to the processing program.

In this operation, image information (for example, FIG. 4) suitable for the connection state of the bathtub equipment 23 at that time (that is, which one of the water heater, the bath water circulation purification device, and the bubble generator is connected) is used. The original screen displayed on the LCD panel 55 is selected and output to the LCD panel 55. There is also a process of accepting or not accepting key input information from the hard key operation unit 65 or the LCD panel 55. It also includes a process of changing the image information displayed on the LCD panel 55 based on the received key input information, a process of outputting the received key input information to the state management unit 69, and the like.

6 to 9 read out from the first memory 71 by the state management unit 69 due to the fact that the self-check switch (soft key) at the upper right of the original screen of FIG. 4 is turned on. There is also a process of outputting the various display screen information shown to the LCD panel 55 instead of the above-mentioned image information (original screen). The various display screen information shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 will be described in detail in the first memory 71.

The second memory 73 stores various display processing programs corresponding to various combinations of the above-mentioned three types of bath equipment 23. The second memory 73 has a status management unit 69.
When a display processing program suitable for the combination of bathtub devices determined to be “connected” is selected by, the program is output to the display management unit 75.

As the display processing program, for example, a program for combining a plurality of devices applied when the connected equipment is a bath water circulation purification apparatus and a bubble generator, and the connection equipment is a water heater and a bath water circulation purification apparatus. Examples include a program for combining a plurality of devices that is applied when the device is a bubble generator. Each display processing program has, for example, some kinds of image information suitable for a combination of connected devices as typified by the original screen of FIG. 4, a function of not accepting a key input operation for a non-connected bath device, and the same function. It includes a function to interpret the input information from the key in different meanings depending on the combination of connected bathtub equipment.

Further, each display processing program is read from the first memory 71 by the state management unit 69 shown in FIG.
It also includes a function of outputting the display screen information shown in FIG. 9 to the LCD panel 55 in place of the above-described image information.

The first memory 71 stores various operation processing and sequence control programs corresponding to various combinations of the above-mentioned three types of bath equipment 23. First memory 71
When an operation processing and sequence control program suitable for the combination of bathtub equipment determined to be “connected” by the state management unit 69 is selected, the program outputs the program to the state management unit 69.

As the operation processing and sequence control program, for example, a program for combining a plurality of devices applied when the connected device is a bath water circulation purification device and a bubble generator, and the connected device is a water heater and a bath water circulation device. Examples include a program for combining a plurality of devices that is applied when the device is the purifying device and the bubble generator.

The first memory 71 further stores various display screen information according to various combinations of the above-mentioned three types of bathtub equipment 23. As such display screen information,
For example, the display screen information as shown in FIG. 6, the display screen information as shown in FIG. 7, the display screen information as shown in FIG. 8, the display screen information as shown in FIG.

In the display screen information of FIG. 6, the devices connected to the bathtub 21 (in this embodiment, the connected devices are the water heater 2
3. Normal / abnormal (fault) is displayed for each of the bath hot water circulation purification device 25 and the bubble generator 27. Here, as an example, it is displayed that all of the hot water supply device 23, the bath water circulation purification device 25, and the bubble generator 27 are normal.

The display screen information shown in FIG.
Normal / abnormal (fault) is displayed according to the function of the device connected to, that is, according to the hot water supply / heating function, the blow (bubble generation) function, and the purification function. Here again, as an example, it is displayed that the hot water supply / reheating function, the blow function, and the purification function are all normal.

In the display screen information of FIG. 8, the type of operation of each connected device is displayed and the operating state (flow rate, pressure, etc.) is displayed numerically. Here, as an example, the water heater 23 is in the reheating operation, and the bath water circulation purification device 25
Indicates that the cleaning cycle is in progress and the bubble generator 27 is operating. And the heating temperature is 60 ℃,
It is also displayed that the additional heating flow rate is 10 liters / minute, the purification flow rate is 20 liters / minute, and the blow flow rate is 130 liters / minute.

Further, the display screen information of FIG. 9 displays the total operating time of each connected device and the total operating time of consumable parts. Here, as an example, the bath water circulation purification device 2
The total operating time of 5 and the total use time of the sterilization lamp (provided in the bath water circulation purification device 25) that is a consumable part are displayed as 3010 hours (the total use time of the sterilization lamp is a bar graph). Is displayed). on the other hand,
The total operating time of the bubble generator 27 is displayed as 100 hours.

Among the above-mentioned display screen information, the information indicating the state of each device and each function, and the numerical information are as follows.
Of course, it is given from the sensor group of each device.

The first memory 71 outputs the display screen information selected by the status management unit 69 from the various display screen information described above to the display management unit 75. The processing operation relating to the display of each display screen information on the LCD panel 55 will be described in detail later.

The state management section 69 has a function of confirming the connection / non-connection of each bathtub device 23 and the bathtub device 2 which has confirmed the connection.
3 has a function of executing sequence control and a function of confirming the state of the bathtub equipment such as the presence / absence of abnormality / abnormality of the bathtub equipment 23 confirmed to be connected.

The confirmation of the above connection / non-connection by the state management unit 69 is performed by, for example, first obtaining 8-bit or 16-bit serial data corresponding to each bathtub device 23 from the communication circuit 77 through the respective cables (30-. 34) to each bathtub device 23. And each bathtub device 2
When each side receives each data, the confirmation data is transmitted to the state management unit 69, and the state management unit 69 side confirms that the confirmation data is returned.

In the present embodiment, when this communication is normally performed three times in succession, it is determined as "connected", while when normal communication cannot be performed nine times in succession, it is determined as "not connected". I am trying to do it. In addition to the above, as a specific communication method, between each bathtub device 23 and the state management unit 69, the protocol is the same for all bathtub devices, and only the data is different for each bathtub device, and the data is shared. There is a method of making the protocol different, or a method of making only the confirmation data different by sharing the data and the protocol. In addition, data is unilaterally periodically transmitted from each bathtub device to the state management unit 69, and when the state management unit 69 does not receive this data for a predetermined time or more, “not connected”. May be determined. The state management unit 69 uses the first memory 7 based on the determination result.
The first memory 73 and the second memory 73 are accessed. The state management unit 69 reads the display processing program from the second memory 73 in response to the request from the display management unit 75 and gives it to the display management unit 75.

The state management unit 69 also includes a first memory 71.
Each bathtub device 23 through the communication circuit 77 on the basis of the key input information (key operation information of the hard key operation unit 65 and the LCD panel 55) passed through the display management unit 75 according to the operation processing and sequence control program incorporated from
The sequence control of is executed.

When the self-check switch is turned on, the status management unit 69 further stores the normal / abnormal determination result for each connected device or function and the above-mentioned numerical data in the first memory 71. Then, in response to the output request from the display management unit 75, the determination result and the numerical data are stored in the first memory 7.
It is read out from the No. 1 and output to the LCD panel 55 via the display management unit 75.

FIG. 10 shows ON / OFF of the water heater 23,
6 is a timing chart showing the relationship between ON / OFF of the reheating function of the water heater 23 and ON / OFF of the display of the self-diagnosis result of the water heater 23 and its reheating function displayed on the LCD panel 55.

In this embodiment, as is clear from the figure,
When the reheating function of the water heater 23 is activated or stopped, or when the reheating function is activated and its driving is stopped, the self-check function works (automatic ON), and the display screens shown in FIGS. The information is displayed on the LCD panel 55 for the time t1. As shown in FIG. 11, while the water heater 23 is ON, the display screen information may be displayed on the LCD panel 55 for the time t1 each time the predetermined time t2 elapses. That is, not only the input by the self-switch but also the operation ON / OFF switch of each function, and the self-check function may be activated appropriately during the start, stop, and operation of the function.

Next, the control operation of the unified remote controller 29 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the unified remote controller 29 first confirms that the self-check switch at the upper right of the original screen of FIG. 4 is turned on (step S101), it initializes a built-in timer (not shown) (step S102). .

Next, each cable (30
Through 34), the operation type, operation state, total operation time, etc. of each bathtub device 23 are confirmed (step S
103), and the confirmation result is displayed on the LCD panel 55 as the display image information shown in each of FIGS. 6 to 9 described above (step S104). Here, if it is confirmed that the self-check switch is turned off (step S10)
5) The display of the display image information on the LCD panel 55 is stopped, and the display content of the LCD panel 55 is switched to the original screen as shown in FIG. 4 (step S107). When the self-check switch is not turned off and the display time of the display image information does not reach the predetermined time t1 (steps S105 and S106), the display of the display image information is continued as it is. When it is determined that the display time has reached t1 (step S106), the processing operation of step S107 described above is performed.

The present invention can be carried out in various modes other than the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the present invention can be applied to control of various devices such as control of audio / visual related devices as well as control of bathtub related devices. Then, the communication between the unified remote controller and the controlled device may be wireless instead of wired, and may be one-way communication without being limited to bidirectional communication. However, in the case of one-way communication from the unified remote controller to the device, the unified remote controller needs to use a means different from normal communication in order to determine whether or not the device can be used. For example, it is necessary to have a function of sending a start command to the device and detecting and determining a driving sound (output sound in the case of audio / visual related device) emitted by the device.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A plurality of devices can be integratedly controlled by a unified remote controller, and users and service personnel can clearly and quickly understand the condition of the device and also the usage status of consumable parts used in the device. By making it possible, the above problems can be solved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional bathroom-related equipment control system.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a remote controller of a conventional control system for bathroom-related equipment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system for bathroom-related equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the unified remote controller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a functional configuration of a control unit included in the unified remote controller.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing display screen information according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing display screen information according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing display screen information according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing display screen information according to an embodiment.

[Fig. 10] ON / OFF of the water heater and ON of the reheating function
6 is a timing chart showing the relationship between ON / OFF and ON / OFF of the display of the self-diagnosis result displayed on the LCD panel.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the relationship between ON / OFF of the water heater and ON / OFF of the display of the self-diagnosis result displayed on the LCD panel.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the unified remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 bathtub 23 hot water supply device 25 bath hot water circulation purification device 27 bubble generator 29 unified remote control 55 LCD panel 59 screen on / off key 61 function selection key 63 equipment selection key 65 hard key operation unit 67 control unit 69 state management unit 71 first Memory 73 Second memory 75 Display management unit 77 Communication circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An operation panel for controlling a plurality of devices in an integrated manner, based on display means for displaying various information about each given device as image information, and based on information indicating a state of each given device. A state diagnosis means for diagnosing the state of each device, and a display control means for outputting to the display means to display information indicating the state diagnosis as image information when a display command of the diagnosis result is given, An operation panel comprising: 2. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the image information indicating the state diagnosis result indicates normality / abnormality or failure for each of the devices. 3. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the image information indicating the state diagnosis result indicates normality / abnormality or failure according to a function of each device. 4. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the image information indicating the state diagnosis result displays numerical data indicating a function in which each of the devices is driven and an operating state thereof. Operation panel to be used. 5. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the image information indicating the state diagnosis result is displayed with a total operating time of each device and a total operating time of a consumable part built in each device. Operation panel characterized by being performed. 6. The operation panel according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the image information indicating the state diagnosis result at the time of starting each device or at the time of driving stop or at the time of starting and stopping drive of each device. An operation panel which is displayed on the display means in any one of the above.