JPH10336763A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a reduction of consumption of an internal buttery in a remote control device that executes remote control of a hot water supply apparatus or the like. SOLUTION: A signal generation part 4 outputs communication data when operating buttons 2a, 2b,... are operated; but even if operating buttons 2a, 2b,... are operated with a short interval, the communication data are not outputted from the signal generation part 4 with an interval shorter than a signal generation standby time t-wait. A power supply voltage supervision part 10 checks a voltage of a buttery 9 incorporated in a remote control device 1 and when the power supply voltage lowers a transmission timing switchover voltage, the signal generation part 4 uses a longer value than usual as the signal generation standby time t-wait.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote control device. In particular, the present invention relates to power saving of a remote control device used for a water heater, an automatic bath device, an air conditioner, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a wireless remote control device for transmitting a space propagation signal such as a radio wave or an infrared ray to a device such as a water heater, an automatic bath device, or an air conditioner and remotely controlling the device has been used. In a device equipped with such a remote control device, when an operator operates an operation button of the remote control device, a modulation signal including a code indicating a control content is transmitted from the remote control device, and a transmission / reception device in the device is transmitted. Receives this signal, demodulates the received signal, decodes a code included in the signal, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the control content. And the operator of the remote control device
Normally, it is confirmed that the intended operation has been performed by checking the operation and reaction of the device side, and the operation of the remote control device is terminated.

[0003]

However, the signal is not received by the transmitting / receiving device in the device, the operation or response of the device after transmitting the signal is slow, or the device is operated at a position remote from the device. If the target operation or reaction cannot be confirmed on the device side even when the operation button of the remote control device is operated, the operator often repeatedly presses the operation button repeatedly.

In general, a dry battery is used as a power source in a remote control device in consideration of operability and portability. Therefore, when the operation button is operated repeatedly as described above, the dry battery is greatly consumed. Become. In particular, a dry battery has a characteristic that the voltage drops sharply when its remaining capacity is small, and that the dry battery has a characteristic that its consumption is further increased by continuous use. For this reason, if the remaining capacity of the batteries is low and the operation button of the remote control device is continuously pressed many times, the consumption of the batteries becomes extremely severe, suddenly the remote control device cannot be used, or There was an inconvenience that the replacement frequency was increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and has as its object to reduce battery consumption in a remote control device, and in particular to prevent sudden battery exhaustion. is there.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control device comprising: an input operation means; a signal generation means for generating a signal in response to an operation of the input operation means; a power supply; When the power supply voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage and the input operation means is operated at a short interval, a signal generated by the signal generation means is thinned out.

Here, when thinning out the signal generated by the signal generating means in accordance with the change in the power supply voltage, the thinning rate may be changed in several stages.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, when the power supply voltage falls below a certain voltage, the signal generated by the signal generation means is thinned out when the input operation means is continuously and repeatedly operated. In addition, the consumption of the battery can be reduced, and the battery can be prevented from running out rapidly. On the other hand, when the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage, the response of the remote control device does not deteriorate.

For this purpose, for example, the signal generation means does not generate a signal at a signal generation timing shorter than the signal generation standby time, and the power supply voltage is set to a predetermined value. When the voltage drops below the voltage, the signal generation standby time may be longer than when the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage.

In this case, by extending the signal generation standby time, no signal is generated by the input from the input operation means operated during that time, so that the signal is thinned out and the power consumption is reduced. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a signal is generated from the signal generation means with a delay of a predetermined delay time from the operation of the input operation means, and the next time the delay time elapses. When the input operation means is operated, a signal corresponding to the previous operation of the input operation means is not generated, and when the power supply voltage falls below a certain voltage, the power supply voltage becomes equal to or higher than the certain voltage. The delay time may be longer than in the case.

Also in this case, no signal is generated in a short repetition cycle, so that the signal generated by the signal generating means is thinned out, and power consumption is reduced.

When the operation interval of the input operation means is shorter than the operation prohibition time, the signal generation means does not generate a signal and the power supply voltage is kept constant. If the voltage drops below
The operation prohibition time may be longer than when the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a certain voltage.

Also in this case, no signal is generated even if the input operation means is operated in a short repetition cycle, so that the signal generated by the signal generation means is thinned out, and power consumption is reduced.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a case of a remote control device used for a water heater will be described as an example.
In a hot water supply system, for example, a remote controller having an operation function corresponding to an installation location is provided in a kitchen, such as a main remote controller (hereinafter, referred to as a remote controller), a bathroom in a bathroom, a sub remote controller in a washroom, and the like. Communication data is exchanged between each remote controller and the water heater, and the water heater is driven based on the communication data transmitted from each remote controller. Communication between the main remote controller and the water heater is carried out by wire, and the other remote controllers communicate wirelessly.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a wireless remote controller provided in a bathroom or the like, for example. This remote control device 1 is shown in FIG.
Has an appearance as shown in the front view of FIG.

The remote control device 1 includes a large number of operation buttons 2a, 2b,...
a, 2b,... connected to the signal generation unit 4, the data transmission / reception unit 5, the transmission / reception antenna 6, the decoding unit 7, the display unit 8 including a liquid crystal display panel or an LED lamp, the battery 9, the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10, the power supply A state determination unit 11 and a signal interval measurement timer 12 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation buttons 2a, 2b,... Are various buttons such as a hot water supply hot water temperature adjustment button, a bath water level setting button, a bath hot water temperature adjustment button, a bath pot automatic operation switch, and the like. It is arranged on the surface of the control device 1. Any operation button 2
When a, 2b,... are operated, an operation trigger signal is generated in the signal generator 4. When an operation trigger signal is generated, the signal generation unit 4 reads out a command code corresponding to the type of the operation buttons 2a, 2b,... From the storage device 3, and generates communication data according to a predetermined communication protocol. The generated communication data is output to the data transmitting / receiving unit 5.

The remote control device 1 uses a battery 9 such as a dry battery (primary battery, secondary battery) or the like as a power source, and supplies power to the signal generation unit 4. In FIG. 1, a battery is connected only to the signal generation unit 4, but the other components are also supplied with power from the battery 9. The power supply voltage monitoring unit 10 checks the voltage of the battery 9, and the power supply state determination unit 11 compares the battery voltage V with the transmission timing switching voltage Vref, and outputs the comparison result to the signal generation unit 4. I have. FIG. 4 shows a change in the battery voltage V. The battery 9 is depleted with time t, and the battery voltage V decreases.
When it becomes min, the remote control device 1 becomes inoperable. The battery voltage V becomes the transmission timing switching voltage Vref at time tref, and the transmission timing switching voltage Vref is determined to be slightly higher than the minimum operable voltage Vmin.

If the check of the battery voltage V by the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10 is always performed, the current consumption by the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10 increases. Therefore, the check of the battery voltage V is performed when the operation buttons 2a, 2b,. It is preferable to perform only.

The signal interval measuring timer 12 includes a signal generator 4
As soon as the communication data is generated, "measurement time" is reset to "0" and measurement is started, and the elapsed time from when the communication data is output from the signal generation unit 4 to when the next communication data is generated is measured.

The signal generation unit 4 includes a signal interval measurement timer 12
The communication data is not generated in a time interval shorter than the signal generation waiting time twait by monitoring the measurement value of the operation signal 2 and the operation data is generated after the operation buttons 2a, 2b,. (During the signal generation standby time), the operation buttons 2a, 2b,... Are not accepted. In addition, the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is equal to or higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (V ≧ Vref).
Sending the determination result to the signal generating unit 4 determines that it is, the signal generating unit 4 sets the signal generation waiting time twait to a normal value t _1, power state determination unit 11, the battery voltage V
Is lower than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (V
<Sending determination result determines that Vref) to the signal generating unit 4, the signal generator 4 a signal generation standby time twait longer value t ₂ (than usual> switched to t _1).

The communication data output from the signal generator 4 is sent to the data transmitter / receiver 5. The communication data is modulated in the data transmission / reception unit 5 and radiated from the transmission / reception antenna 6 to space. The modulation method in the data transmission / reception unit 5 is not particularly limited, and ASK (Amplitude Shift Keyin) is used.
g), PSK (Phase Shift Keying), FSK (Frequen
Various digital modulation methods such as cyShift Keying can be adopted. The contents of the transmission data are displayed on the display unit 8 as necessary.

When transmitting, the remote control device 1 transmits communication data in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. That is, one of the operation buttons 2a, 2
When b,... are operated (S1), the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10 checks the battery voltage V (S2), and determines whether the battery voltage V is higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (S3). Thereby, the signal generation waiting time twait is set to a different value. That is, when the power state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V ≧ Vref, the signal generating unit 4 sets the signal generation waiting time twait the shorter value t ₁ (S
4), when it is determined that the V <Vref, sets the signal generation standby time twait long value t ₂ (S5). After the signal generation waiting time twait is set to t ₁ or t ₂ in this way, the signal interval measurement timer 12 is monitored to wait until the signal generation waiting time twait has elapsed (S
6) If there is communication data to be transmitted, the communication data is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving antenna 6 (S7, S8). Signal generator 4
When the communication data is output, the signal interval measurement timer 12
Is reset to "measurement time" = 0, and time measurement is started again (S9). Therefore, in this signal generation unit 4,
While waiting for the signal generation standby time twait to elapse (S6), even if the operation buttons 2a, 2b,.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C,
Relatively short interval operation buttons 2a, 2b, ... are repeatedly operated, considering a case where the operation trigger signal is generated in a short period Δta than the time t _1, the remaining capacity is most battery voltage V of the battery 9 6 is equal to or higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref, as shown in FIG. 6B, the communication data to be decimated is small, but the remaining capacity of the battery 9 is reduced and the battery voltage V becomes higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref. 6D, the signal thinning rate increases and the power consumption decreases, as shown in FIG. 6D.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transmission / reception device 13 provided in the water heater and communicating with the remote control device 1 to control the water heater. In the transmitting / receiving device 13 of FIG. 3, a configuration for wired communication with a main remote controller (not shown) is omitted. Transceiver 13
Is composed of a transmission antenna 14, a data transmission / reception unit 15, a decoding unit 16, an output circuit 17, and a signal generation unit 18.

The communication data transmitted from the remote control device 1 as described above is received by the transmission / reception antenna 14 of the transmission / reception device 13 on the device side.
The data is demodulated by the data transmitting / receiving unit 15. Then, the decoding unit 16 decodes the communication data to read the content of the command code, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the content of the command code from the output circuit 17 to control the water heater.

When the water heater is controlled in this way, the signal generator 18 codes the set value and the operating state of the water heater, outputs a communication code, modulates the data with the data transmitter / receiver 15 and transmits the communication code from the transmitting / receiving antenna 14 to the air. To radiate. Transceiver 13
When the communication code radiated from is received by the transmission / reception antenna 6 of the remote control device 1, the received communication code is demodulated by the data transmission / reception unit 5 and further decoded by the decoding unit 7 to set the water heater. Information such as an operation state is displayed on the display unit 8.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote control device 21 according to another embodiment of the present invention. This remote control device 2
1, the communication data is generated and output by the signal generation unit 4 with a delay from the operation of the operation buttons 2a, 2b,... By the delay operation time, and the operation buttons 2a, 2b are again output during the delay operation time. Are operated, the communication data by the previous button operation is canceled and is not output.

For this reason, the remote control device 21 is provided with a delay time measuring timer 22 for measuring an elapsed time since the operation of the operation buttons 2a, 2b,. Until the time measurement timer 22 elapses the delay operation time, the operation buttons 2a, 2
are operated and the next operation trigger signal is generated, the previous communication data is canceled, and the operation button 2 is pressed.
When the delay time measurement timer 22 elapses the delay operation time without operating any of a, 2b,..., the communication data is output.

Further, based on the battery voltage V checked by the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10, the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is equal to or higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (V ≧ Vref), and determines the determination result. When transmitted to the signal generator 4,
The signal generator 4 sets the delay operation time to a normal value,
When the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is lower than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (V <Vref) and transmits the determination result to the signal generation unit 4, the signal generation unit 4 determines the delay operation time. Switch to a longer value than usual.

FIG. 8 shows this remote control device 21.
9A and 9B are flowcharts showing the operation at the time of transmission of FIG.
(C) and (d) are diagrams showing the operation. In all cases, in a normal operation state (V ≧ Vref), the delay operation time is set to 0, and when the battery voltage drops (V <Vref), the delay operation is performed. The time is set to be tdly (≠ 0).

That is, one of the operation buttons 2a, 2
are operated (S11), the signal generator 4 resets the delay time measurement timer 22 to "measurement time" = 0 and starts time measurement (S12). Next, the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10 checks the battery voltage V (S13), and the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is equal to the transmission timing switching voltage Vre.
It is determined whether or not it is greater than f (S14), thereby making the delay operation time different. That is, when the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V ≧ Vref, the delay operation time is set to 0 (S15), and if there is communication data to be transmitted, the communication data is immediately transmitted from the transmission / reception antenna 6 (S17, S17). S18).

On the other hand, if it is determined that V <Vref, the delay operation time is set to tdly (≠ 0) (S1).
6) Wait for the delay operation time tdly to elapse (S1)
9) When the delay operation time tdly has elapsed, the communication data to be transmitted is confirmed, and the communication data is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving antenna 6 (S17, S18). Here, when the next button operation is performed during the standby of step S19 (S20), the delay time measurement timer 22 is reset to "measurement time" = 0 (S21), and the steps from S13 are repeated again.
Therefore, in this case, the previous communication data is canceled.

Therefore, when the remaining capacity of the battery 9 is large and the battery voltage V is equal to or higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref,
The operation buttons 2a, 2 at the timing shown in FIG.
Even if b,... are operated and an operation trigger signal is generated, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9B, the communication data is output at the same timing. However, when the remaining capacity of the battery 9 decreases and the battery voltage V becomes lower than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref, the communication data is output as shown in FIG. When the operation buttons 2a, 2b,... are operated at the timing shown in FIG. 9C to generate an operation trigger signal, as shown in FIG.
When a, 2b,... are repeatedly pressed, communication data is thinned out, and power consumption is reduced.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device 23 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The remote control device 23 includes an operation interval measurement timer 24 for measuring an operation time interval of the operation buttons 2a, 2b,.
When the operation buttons 2a, 2b, ... are pressed, the operation interval timer 24 is reset to "measurement time" = 0, and measures the time until the next button operation. Then, the signal generation unit 4
The operation interval measurement timer 24 is monitored, and the operation button 2
are operated to generate an operation trigger signal, the next operation button 2a, 2b,... is not accepted until the operation prohibition time tb elapses, and no operation trigger signal is generated.

Also, based on the battery voltage V checked by the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10, the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is equal to or higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (V ≧ Vref), and determines the determination result. When transmitted to the signal generator 4,
The signal generation unit 4 sets the operation prohibition time tb to the normal value of t ₆ , but the power state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is lower than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref (V <Vref). determining when to send the result to the signal generator 4, the signal generator 4 long value t ₇ than usually the operation prohibition time tb (>
switch to t _6).

FIG. 11 shows the remote control device 2
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of transmission of No. 1; When any of the operation buttons 2a, 2b,... Is operated (S31), the operation interval measurement timer is reset to "measurement time" = 0, and time measurement is started (S32). Next, the power supply voltage monitoring unit 10 checks the battery voltage V (S33), and the power supply state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V is equal to the transmission timing switching voltage Vre.
It is determined whether or not it is greater than f (S34), thereby setting the operation inhibition time tb to a different value. That is, when the power state determination unit 11 determines that the battery voltage V ≧ Vref, the signal generating unit 4 sets the operation inhibition time tb the shorter value t ₆ (S35), if it is determined that the V <Vref, the operation It sets the inhibition time tb the longer value t ₇ (S3
6).

Next, after confirming the communication data and sending it out of the transmitting / receiving antenna 6 (S37, S38), it waits until the operation prohibition time tb elapses (S39), and when the operation prohibition time tb elapses, the operation buttons 2a, 2b. , ... accepted. Therefore, during the standby in step S39, the operation button 2
are not accepted even if a, 2b, ... are operated.

Therefore, when the remaining capacity of the battery 9 is large and the battery voltage V is equal to or higher than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref,
The operation buttons 2a, 2 at the timing shown in FIG.
When b,... are operated and an operation trigger signal is generated, FIG.
The communication data is output at the timing as shown in FIG. 2 (b). If the remaining capacity of the battery 9 decreases and the battery voltage V becomes lower than the transmission timing switching voltage Vref, the communication data is output as shown in FIG. Operation button 2)
Even if a, 2b,... are operated and an operation trigger signal is generated, as shown in FIG. 12D, the thinning rate increases and the power consumption decreases.

In each of the above embodiments, the battery voltage V changes the processing depending on the magnitude of the transmission timing switching voltage Vref. However, the battery voltage V is divided into more areas.
More detailed processing can be executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an appearance of the remote control device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission / reception device in a device that transmits / receives data to / from a remote control device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in voltage of a dry battery.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a signal transmission operation of the above remote control device.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are time charts for explaining a signal transmission operation when the battery voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and FIGS.
5 is a time chart illustrating a signal transmission operation when the battery voltage falls below a certain value.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a signal transmission operation of a remote control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are time charts for explaining a signal transmission operation when the battery voltage is equal to or higher than a certain value, and FIGS.
5 is a time chart illustrating a signal transmission operation when the battery voltage falls below a certain value.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a signal transmission operation of a remote control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

12A and 12B are time charts for explaining a signal transmission operation when the battery voltage is equal to or higher than a certain value, and FIG.
(D) is a time chart illustrating a signal transmission operation when the battery voltage falls below a certain value.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2a, 2b,... Operation button 4 Signal generation unit 9 Battery 10 Power supply voltage monitoring unit 11 Power supply state determination unit 12 Signal interval measurement timer 22 Delay time measurement timer 24 Operation interval measurement timer

Claims (4)

[Claims] An input operation means, a signal generation means for generating a signal in response to an operation of the input operation means, a power supply, and a means for monitoring a power supply voltage, wherein the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined voltage. In addition, when the input operation means is operated at a short interval, a signal generated by the signal generation means is thinned out. 2. The signal generation means does not generate a signal at a signal generation timing at an interval shorter than the signal generation standby time, and when the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined voltage, the power supply voltage decreases. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal generation standby time is made longer than when the voltage is higher than the voltage. 3. A signal is generated from the signal generation means with a delay of a predetermined delay time from the operation of the input operation means, and when the next input operation means is operated before the delay time elapses. In order not to generate a signal corresponding to the operation of the previous input operation means, when the power supply voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage, the delay time is longer than when the power supply voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage. The remote control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 4. When the operation interval of the input operation means is shorter than the operation prohibition time, a signal is not generated in the signal generation means, and when the power supply voltage falls below a certain voltage, the power supply voltage is reduced. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation prohibition time is made longer than when the voltage is equal to or higher than a certain voltage.