JPH0984143A - Remote control device of air conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize an operation mode at a glance, to facilitate the selection of an operation button and to prevent a malfunction by displaying a color tones being different at every operation mode by means of liquid crystal and also dividing button shapes by function. SOLUTION: A liquid crystal display part 3 displays display marks 7a-7b indicating the operation mode by the color tones being different at every mode. 7a indicating heating is turned on as a red kind of color tone, 7b indicating dehumidifying as a green kind of color tone and 7c indicating cooling as a blue kind of color tone with the character of the operation mode simultaneously. A main operation button 4 is adopted as an oblong one, an operation change-over button 5d as the oblong and square one together with a wind speed change-over button 5e and a timer button 5f which executes an operation for setting and cancelling a timer by turning on and off at setting time, which is also the on and off button for selecting a timer mode, as about a square one and, then, preservation and cancel are executed through the use of the oblong one with length being shorter than that of the operation change-over button 5d. Thus, the operation mode is recognized at a glance, the function of the button is easily judged by viewing it, a system is easy to operate and the malfunction is also prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device for an air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner equipped with a remote controller for performing remote control of this type operates an indoor unit main body, which is generally called an air conditioner, installed on a wall of a room, etc. By operating the operation button of the remote controller, it can be controlled by a wireless signal such as infrared rays transmitted from the remote controller main body. For example, if a desired indoor temperature is set and operated by the remote controller, the remote controller will respond accordingly. A control signal is transmitted from the indoor unit body to store the set temperature in the indoor unit body, and the indoor unit body is driven so as to be maintained at the set temperature while detecting the ambient temperature with a temperature detection circuit including a thermistor. Generally, these remote controllers are provided with operation buttons and a liquid crystal display unit, and a mode of a signal which is controlled by the operation button operated by the user and transmitted is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit as monocolor characters or marks. . Here, the operation buttons are generally round or oval in order to be neatly arranged with an emphasis on the appearance design. This is also clear from JP-A-6-129695. Further, the positional relationship between the operation buttons and the display on the liquid crystal display unit is not normally arranged in the same row in the vertical or horizontal direction.

As for remote control of televisions, VTRs, etc., as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-83962, most remote controller bodies have only operation buttons and no liquid crystal display section, and the operation buttons are the same. Many shapes are arranged in an orderly manner. In the remote controller for television, video, etc., the mode of the signal controlled or transmitted by the operation button operated by the user is displayed on the television screen or the display portion of the VTR main body.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned prior art, since the liquid crystal display unit displays characters and marks in mono-color, it is difficult to distinguish the main operation modes of heating, dehumidification, and cooling, and especially in the off-season. In some cases, the operation may run across other operation modes, and it is required to clearly determine the operation mode. The operation buttons are round or elliptical, and many of them have the same shape.Therefore, when the user selects the operation button, he / she gets lost or accidentally operates a different operation button. If you do, the handling operability is considerably poor.

Further, since the positional relationship between the operation buttons and the display of the display section is not in the same row, it is difficult to confirm the subsequent display of the operation, and the visibility is poor and the overall handling is poor. turn into. On the other hand, in a remote controller displayed on a television, a video, etc., the operability of the button is poor as described above, and the positional relationship between the operation and the display is not the same as the remote controller when operating the button. And the subsequent display is a TV or VTR
Since it is a double action (visual confirmation) of looking at, it is not easy to understand even though it is general and familiar.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device in which the operation mode can be seen at a glance, the operation buttons can be easily selected at the time of operation, and there is no erroneous operation and the display after operation can be confirmed very easily.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a remote controller for transmitting a control signal to a room body by a wireless signal, a different color tone is displayed for each operation mode on a liquid crystal display, and the shape of an operation button is changed to each function. This is achieved by separately arranging the positional relationship between the operation buttons and the display of the liquid crystal display unit in the same row.

[0008]

By displaying different color tones for each operation mode on the liquid crystal display, the current operation mode can be seen at a glance and the user can feel at ease, and even an old person who cannot read small characters can easily determine the operation mode. Also, by dividing the shape of the operation button for each function, when the user performs a button operation of a function desired by the user, it is possible to distinguish from other functions by the shape of the operation button, so it is confusing when selecting the button, or by mistake. There is no risk of erroneous operation such as operating different operation buttons. Further, by arranging the operation buttons and the display positions of the liquid crystal display section in the same row, it is possible to easily operate the operation buttons and confirm the display, and thus it is possible to provide a remote control device having excellent handleability as a whole.

[0009]

[Embodiment] In the remote control device of an air conditioner, main operation buttons and their contents and button names shown in this embodiment are indicated by ().

Main operation button: Turns the operation on and off (start / stop). Room temperature control button: Adjusts the set temperature (room temperature). Operation switching button ... Switches the operation mode such as heating and cooling (operation switching). Dehumidification ... Dehumidification operation can be performed by pressing this button, and the type of dehumidification can be selected (dehumidification). Wind speed switch button: Switches the wind strength. (Switch wind speed). Time set button ... Adjusts the current time and timer set time (time). Timer button: Select, set, or cancel ON / OFF at the set time (OFF,
Enter, reserve, cancel).

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
This will be described below. Reference numeral 1 denotes a remote controller main body, in which a circuit board on which a control IC, an oscillator, and other electronic parts are mounted and a dry battery are housed inside a case body (none of which is shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes a door, which is formed so as to hang from a substantially central portion of the remote controller main body 1 to a lower end thereof to cover the front surface, and is openably and closably mounted. The door 2 has a room temperature button 2a for adjusting the room temperature that is frequently used during normal use, a sleep timer button 2b that allows several kinds of off timer operation just by pressing the button, and a dedicated dehumidification mode that prioritizes comfort and economy. A dehumidifying button 2c that can be operated by one shot is provided, and when each button is operated, any one of the buttons on the main body described later is operated at the same time, but it is programmed in the IC so as to obtain a desired operation mode. Regarding the shape and arrangement of the buttons provided on the door 2, the room temperature button 2a has a vertically long rectangular shape in the upper center, and the room temperature up ∧ and room temperature down ∨ marks are displayed on the button surface. The good night timer button 2b and the dehumidifying button 2c have oval buttons on the left and right of the room temperature button 2a, and the good night timer button 2b and the dehumidifying button 2c are clearly distinguished by changing the color tone. As a material and a manufacturing method for each of these buttons, a rubber molded product such as silicone is generally used, but a resin molded product such as ABS or a sheet key squeezed from a thin plate may be used. Also,
Although the good night timer button 2b and the dehumidification button 2c have the same shape and are distinguished by the color tone, it is fully conceivable to change the shape of each button such as a round shape and a square shape for other measures. A liquid crystal display unit 3 is electrically connected to the IC and the circuit board so that the control state of each function is displayed as characters, numerical values, marks, or the like by operating buttons. The liquid crystal display unit 3 is formed by hanging it from the substantially central portion of the remote controller body 1 to the upper portion.
The upper part of the center shows the set temperature as a numerical value and the unit price of ° C as 3a, the characters of the good night timer and the display of the off time are on the left as the character and numerical value as 3b, and the dehumidifying operation as the right. The illustration shows a liquid crystal display like 3c, and the room temperature button 2a and the set temperature display 3a, the sleep timer button 2b and its display 3b, and the dehumidification button 2c and its display 3c are arranged in the same row in the vertical direction. . The room temperature button 2a adjusts the room temperature by raising or lowering the set room temperature, and the good night timer button 2b is turned off after 1 hour each time the button is pressed → Off after 2 hours → Off after 3 hours → Off after 7 hours → There is a function of cyclically changing the mode to cyclic, and each time the dehumidifying button 2c is pressed, it has a function of cyclically changing the mode from light dehumidification → clothes drying → room dehumidification → condensation suppression. Reference numeral 4 is a main operation button for turning on and off the operation, and a horizontally long button is arranged between the door 2 and the liquid crystal display unit 3. The main operation button 4 may have a triangular shape or a round shape as long as it has a shape that can be distinguished from other buttons, instead of the horizontally long shape, but in the case of the present invention, the appearance design is left-right symmetrical and simpler and easier to use. The shapes and arrangements described above were used to give an image and to strengthen the individual relationship with each liquid crystal display content. Reference numeral 5 denotes a main body operation part, which is located inside the door 2 and provided with operation buttons which are not frequently used even during normal use. The main buttons and liquid crystal display contents will be described below. Reference numeral 5d is an operation switching button, and every time the button is pressed, the operation mode is cyclically switched to automatic → heating → dehumidification → cooling → air blowing and air blowing. Operation switching button 5d
Is a laterally long rectangular shape and is arranged on the right side of the main body operating portion 5 together with another wind speed switching button 5e for switching the strength of the wind. 5f is a timer button for setting and canceling a timer for turning on and off at a set time, and an on / off button for selecting a timer mode has a substantially square shape, and reservation and cancellation are shorter than the operation switching button 5d described above. It is distinguished as a horizontally long rectangle. The timer button 5f is arranged on the left side of the main body operation unit 5. A time button 5h is used to adjust the time set by the timer or to set the current time at the current time 5g. On the surface of the time button 5h,
The mark of ∧ to advance the time and ∨ to set the time back is displayed, and the shape is a vertically long square. On the other hand, the present time button 5g is a small circle and is arranged at the center of the main body operation unit 5.

Similar to the button provided on the door 2, the material and manufacturing method of each button of the main body operating portion 5 is generally a rubber molded product such as silicone, but a resin molded product such as ABS or a thin plate is squeezed. It is also possible to use a seat key or the like. The distinction by the button shape of the main body operation unit 5 may be to replace each button or to divide the shape into a round shape, a triangle shape, a quadrangle shape, and the like to further distinguish them as large and small buttons. Since the first impression seems to be complicated when they are installed in dense places, the present invention does not make an extreme difference in shape. Regarding the arrangement of the display characters and the like on the liquid crystal display unit 3 corresponding to the operation buttons of the main body operation unit 5, the characters 6a, 6b, 6c indicating the operation mode and the marks 7a, 7b, 7c are arranged close to each other on the lower right side. They are arranged vertically with the letters indicating other operation modes. (FIG. 2 of the embodiment shows the time when set to air-conditioning, FIG. 3 shows the full lighting state) The timer related off or on and the time is 3f by letters and numerical values on the lower left side (see the embodiment 2 indicates the time when the incoming timer is set at 6:00 am) Also, the current time required for timer setting is displayed on the left side like 3 g with letters and numbers, and the current time in Fig. 2 is 10 pm (Shown) is displayed near the timer, and the operation switching button 5d described above is displayed.
And characters 6c for operating mode display and timer button 5f
Time button 5h, current time button 5g and timer display 3f
The current time display 3g is arranged in the same row in the vertical direction. The display marks 7a, 7b, and 7c indicating the operation modes are displayed in different colors for each mode. 7a indicating heating is red, dehumidification 7b is green, and cooling 7c is blue. It lights up at the same time as the operation mode characters. still,
In addition to the present embodiment, it is possible to display the characters of the operation mode by color and display the entire liquid crystal display by color according to the operation mode, but the former color character is inferior in visibility and the latter full color display is It is not so good because it has poor interior quality.

The buttons of the door 2 and the main body operating section 5
The buttons and the liquid crystal display unit 3 are not only vertically arranged as in this embodiment, but depending on the design, the door, the main body operation unit, and the liquid crystal display unit are vertically long and arranged on the left and right sides of the remote controller main body. In some cases, the operation section and the display section may be respectively arranged. At this time, the same effect can be obtained by arranging the operation button and the display section in the same row in the horizontal direction. Further, even in the case of the remote controller without the door 2, the main body operation unit 5 shown in this embodiment forms the appearance, and the arrangement with the liquid crystal display unit 3 may be the same as that in this embodiment.

Another example of distinguishing these operation buttons is as follows.
How to change the color of operation buttons to all different colors, or
Since the operation buttons are usually operated when they are pressed, there are methods such as changing the hardness and pressing force of the operation buttons, and providing Braille protrusions on the button surface. In terms of sex, the former is not easy to use for people with color blindness or blind people, and the latter is not a good method because it requires a delicate sense of fingertips when operating, Furthermore, the price of the remote controller in both cases will be considerably high.

Therefore, looking at the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display unit 3
, The operating mode characters 6a, 6b, 6c displayed in response to the operation of the operation switching button 5d and marks 7a, 7b, 7c indicating the operating mode in the vicinity thereof are simultaneously displayed, and the mark 7a is reddish. Since the mark 7b is displayed in green and the mark 7c is displayed in blue, the driving mode can be recognized at a glance even by an elderly person who has difficulty reading small characters, and the user can handle with confidence. Also, because the shape of the operation button for each function is changed and differentiated, the button and function can be easily judged by the eye, and even the visually impaired can see the difference in shape by touching with their fingers. It is easy to operate because it is understood. Further, since the operation section is arranged at the bottom and the display section is arranged at the top, and the positions of the operation buttons of the door 2 and the buttons of the main body operation section 5 and the display position of the liquid crystal display section 3 are arranged in the same column in the vertical direction, the operation is performed. It is possible to make the remote controller very easy to use and to confirm the subsequent display.

Although it is possible that the operation unit and the display unit are arranged vertically opposite to each other in relation to this embodiment, in this case, the display unit is difficult to see with the palm when operating, and the handling becomes bad. There is a drawback that

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the liquid crystal display unit 3, and FIG.
Shows an enlarged view of the main body operation unit 5. In FIG.
In actual use, not all the contents are displayed at the same time as shown in the figure, but for ease of explanation, all mode display states (all lit display) are shown.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the liquid crystal display section simultaneously displays characters indicating each operation mode and a mark in the vicinity thereof in a different color tone for each mode, so that the operation mode can be understood at a glance and the user can There is an advantage that you can handle with confidence.
Also, by dividing the shape of the operation button by function,
The button and its function can be easily judged visually, and even a visually handicapped person can know which function the operation button is by touching with his / her finger, so it is inexpensive and easy to operate, and there is no risk of erroneous operation. Also, by arranging the button and the liquid crystal display position for each function in the same row, it is easy to check the display after the button operation, which is very easy to use. Furthermore, even in the case where operation buttons are provided on both the door and the main body operation unit, the door button and display position, and the main body operation unit button and display position are arranged in the same row, and the buttons also have different shapes for each function. Since it has been changed, there is an advantage that the operability is good and the display can be easily confirmed in all operations.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a door is opened by the remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid crystal display unit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main body operation unit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Remote controller main body, 2 ... Door, 3 ... Liquid crystal display part, 4 ... Main operation button, 5 ... Main body operation part.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a remote controller which transmits a control signal to an indoor body by a wireless signal and displays a liquid crystal, a character indicating each operation mode and a mark near the character with a different color tone for each mode are simultaneously displayed and operated. A remote control device for an air conditioner characterized by categorizing the shape of the buttons by function and arranging the operation buttons in the same row as the liquid crystal display. 2. The color tone of the liquid crystal display is red for heating, blue for cooling, and green for dehumidifying operation for reducing humidity only.
Air conditioner remote control device. 3. A remote controller with a door, wherein operation buttons are provided on both the door and the main body when the door is opened, and not only the operation buttons of the main body but also the operation buttons provided on the door. 2. The remote control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the shape is divided according to the function and arranged in the same row as the liquid crystal display. 4. A main operation button is arranged at a substantially central portion of a vertically long main body, a liquid crystal display section is provided above the main operation button, and an operation button provided on a door and an operation button of the main body section are provided below the main operation button. The remote control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display and the operation buttons are arranged in the same row in the vertical direction.