JPH11215572A - Radio remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a remote controller to enable entry operations by automatically displaying an operating state of an installation device, when power supply is applied to the remote controller. SOLUTION: With a battery power supply 2 applied to the remote controller 1, a remote control communication means 3 automatically sends a connection signal to a gas hot water supply device 10. Upon the receipt of a reply signal from an installation device communication means 12 of the gas hot water supply device 10, a display means 6 displays an operating state and the operating state can be changed through the entry by an operation means 7. Since the connection procedure is automatically conducted by having only to supply power to the remote controller 1, the operating state is immediately confirmed by the display means 6 and the setting condition of the operating state is changed by the operation means 7. Thus, the operating state of the installation device is easily changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for remotely operating household equipment such as a water heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional wireless remote control device for a gas water heater, for example, a remote operation side supplies power with a battery and communicates with the gas water heater by means of a remote controller communication means. The heater is supplied with power from an external power source and communicates with the remote operation side through the water heater side communication means to inform the remote operation side of the operation state of the gas water heater and display the operation state on the display means. , So that the user can confirm it.

[0003] When the operating state of the gas water heater is to be changed, for example, when the bath automatic hot-water beam operation start time, hot water supply temperature set value, etc. are to be changed, the operating means can be used. Then, after the construction of the gas water heater is completed, when the power is supplied by connecting to an external power source, the water heater-side communication means is in a state of waiting for reception from the remote controller-side communication means.

[0004] When battery power is supplied to the remote control side, an initial screen is displayed on the display means. In this displayed state, it is not possible to confirm the operating state of the water heater. In this case, the operation for changing the operation state already set by the operation means is not accepted.

[0005] In order to change the operating state displayed on the display means on the remote control side by the operation means, it is necessary to perform a connection operation for wireless communication with the water heater side by the operation means. Then, when communicating with the water heater side by wireless communication, it is necessary to perform a connection operation according to a connection procedure as shown in FIG.
In the case of the remote operation side, the connection signal is transmitted to the water heater side, the connection operation is completed only after receiving the response signal from the water heater side, the operation state is displayed, and input from the operation means is received. It was possible to do it.

[0006]

However, in the conventional remote control device, the operating condition of the water heater side is confirmed by operating means or the setting conditions are changed until the connection operation between the remote control side and the water heater side is performed. There was a problem that it could not be operated.

A dry battery used as a power source on the remote control side usually consumes the battery in about one year when it is assumed to be used and the battery needs to be replaced. It is necessary to remove the battery and replace it with a new battery, but if you replace it with a new battery, the display means will continue to display the initial screen and display the operating status until you perform the same connection operation as above. However, there is a problem that an operation input for changing the setting condition cannot be accepted.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the remote control side can automatically transmit a connection signal when power is supplied, and the equipment side can receive the connection signal. If it is in a state, it sends a response signal to the remote operation side, displays the driving state on the remote operation side,
Acceptance of an operation input for changing a setting condition is enabled.

According to the present invention, even if the user does not perform the connection operation according to the connection procedure, if the power is supplied to the remote operation side, the operation state is displayed on the remote operation side and the setting condition is changed. Operation becomes possible.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a remote control communication means capable of automatically transmitting a connection signal when connected to a power supply, a display means for displaying an operation state of equipment, and an operating condition of equipment. And a facility device-side portion having facility device-side communication means capable of communicating with the remote control-side communication device by being connected to a power supply.

When power is supplied to the remote operation-side part, a connection signal is automatically transmitted to the equipment-side part. If power is supplied to the equipment-side part, the equipment-device-side communication means is connected to the connection signal. Receiving the response signal and transmitting the response signal to the remote operation part, the remote operation part can display the driving state on the display means when the response signal is received, and can receive the input by the operation means. can do.

Further, the remote operation side has a function of not displaying a communication error on the display means when the equipment side and the power supply are not connected.

[0013] Even if power is supplied to the remote control side communication means and a connection signal is automatically transmitted to the equipment side, the connection signal is received because power is not supplied to the equipment side. When a response signal cannot be transmitted, a communication error is not displayed on the display means, so that there is no danger of being mistaken for a failure.

Further, there is provided a retransmitting means for retransmitting the connection signal when the remote operation side part cannot receive the response signal from the equipment side part.

[0015] Even if the connection signal and the response signal cannot be transmitted and received between the remote operation side part and the equipment side part, it is necessary to transmit the connection signal using a communication channel used in another system. As a result, no jamming radio wave is emitted, and even when the power source of the remote operation side is a battery power source, it is possible to prevent the battery from being consumed by useless transmission.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless remote control device for a gas water heater in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a connection procedure of a remote operation part in the wireless remote operation device. In FIG. 1, 1
Is a remote operation side part, 2 is a battery power source, 3 is a remote control side communication means, 4 is a remote control side storage means, 5 is a retransmission means, 6 is a display means, 8 is a remote control side control means, 9 is a remote control side control section, Reference numeral 10 denotes a gas water heater, 11 denotes an external power supply, 12 denotes a water heater side communication means, 13 denotes a water heater side control means, 14 denotes a water heater side storage means, 15 denotes a combustion control device, and 16 denotes a water heater side control unit. .

When power is supplied from the battery power source 2 to the remote operation side unit 1, the remote operation side unit 1 can automatically communicate with the gas water heater 10 via the remote control side communication means 3. On the other hand, when the gas water heater 10 is supplied with power from the external power supply 11, the gas water heater 10 can communicate with the remote operation side unit 1 via the water heater communication means 12, and the operation state of the gas water heater 10 is changed to the remote operation side. By transmitting the information to the part 1, the operating state is displayed on the display means 6 so that the user can confirm it. In addition, a change in the operating state, for example, a setting change such as a bath automatic hot water operation start time and a hot water supply temperature can be input and changed by the operation means 7.

Further, in the gas water heater 10 system, six types of communication channels can be used, and one type of communication channel previously allocated to each gas water heater 10 is assigned to the water heater side. The data is stored in the storage means 14 and the remote control side storage means 4 so that communication can be performed on the same communication channel.

After the installation of the gas water heater 10 is completed, when the power is supplied by connecting to the external power supply 11, the power is supplied to the water heater control unit 16, and the water heater communication unit 12 is provided with the water heater storage unit. It is in a state of waiting for reception via the communication channel read from 14, and is in a state in which it can receive signals from the remote operation side unit 1 and transmit signals.

Next, the connection procedure of the remote operation side unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When a dry battery is inserted as the battery power source 2 (S1), an initial screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display means 6 (S2). In this display state, the operation state of the gas water heater 10 cannot be confirmed, and a change operation of the setting condition by the operation means 7 cannot be accepted.

However, the remote operation side part 1 has a battery power source 2
Is input, and immediately after the initial screen is displayed, the connection signal is transmitted to the gas water heater 10 via the remote control communication means 3 on the communication channel read by the remote control storage means 4 (S3). When the water heater-side communication means 12 of the gas water heater 10 receives this connection signal, a response signal including an operation signal of the gas water heater 10 is transmitted to the remote operation-side part 1, and the remote controller-side communication means 3 transmits the response signal. When receiving (S
4) Output a response signal as shown in FIG. 7 to the display means 6 (S5).

According to the connection procedure described above, the user can turn on the battery power source 2 in the remote control unit 1 and immediately confirm the operation state after the lapse of the normal communication end time. The operating means 7 allows the operating condition to be changed, for example, a setting change operation such as a hot water supply temperature, a bath automatic hot water operation start time, and the like, and the operating state of the combustion control device 15 of the gas water heater 10 can be changed.

Also, the dry battery of the battery power source 2 usually consumes the battery in about one year after the assumed use, and the battery needs to be replaced. However, the battery replacement time can be notified to the user by the display means 6. The user can easily remove the batteries and replace them with new batteries. When the battery is newly replaced, the remote control unit 1 displays the initial screen on the display unit 6 and can immediately transmit the connection signal by the remote control communication unit 3 as described above. Therefore, after the normal communication end time has elapsed, it becomes possible to receive an operation input for displaying the operating state or changing the setting.

However, when the battery power supply 2 is supplied to the remote operation side unit 1 before the gas water heater 10 is connected to the external power supply 11, even if the connection signal is transmitted from the remote operation side unit 1, the gas hot water supply is performed. Since the water heater side communication unit 12 of the water heater 10 is not in a state of receiving the response signal and transmitting the response signal, the remote operation side unit 1 cannot receive the response signal.
In this case, the remote operation side unit 1 continues to transmit the connection signal a predetermined number of times via the communication channel read out by the remote control side storage unit 4 by the retransmission unit 5 (S6), and waits for reception of a response signal. (S7).

As described above, if the response signal has not been received after transmitting the connection signal a predetermined number of times, a communication error code "760" as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display means 6 (S8). Then, it is notified that the connection has failed, and a connection operation waiting state is set (S9).

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a connection procedure of a remote operation side part which is improved by the connection procedure described in Embodiment 1.

If the response signal cannot be received after the remote operation side unit 1 has transmitted the connection signal (S4), the retransmission unit 5 transmits the connection signal via the communication channel read out by the remote control side storage unit 4. Then, the connection signal is transmitted a predetermined number of times (S6), and waits for reception of a response signal (S7).

As described above, if the response signal is not received after transmitting the connection signal a predetermined number of times (S1).
0), the display of the initial screen as shown in FIG. 5 is output to the display means 6 without displaying the communication error code "670" (S11), and the connection operation waits (S1).
2).

According to the connection procedure as described above, when power is supplied to the remote operation side unit 1 in a state where the external power supply 11 is not supplied to the gas water heater 10, the communication error is not displayed, thereby enabling the remote control. It is possible to prevent fear of being mistaken for a malfunction of the operation device.

When the connection operation is performed by the operating means 7 of the remote operation side unit 1 after the gas water heater 10 is connected to the external power supply 11, a connection signal is transmitted according to a predetermined procedure (S3). If the response signal has not been received (S4), after retransmitting a predetermined number of times (S7), a communication error code "670" as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (S13), indicating that a failure has occurred. To the user.

(Embodiment 3) The connection procedure described in Embodiment 2 is further improved, and FIG. 4 shows a connection procedure of a remote operation side part. In the case of the second embodiment, after the remote control side first place transmits the connection signal and fails to receive the response means, the communication read out by the retransmission means 5 by the remote control side storage means 4 The connection signal is transmitted a predetermined number of times via the channel (S6), and a state of waiting for a response signal is entered (S7). If the response signal cannot be received, the remaining five communication channels other than the stored communication channels are taken as a countermeasure against a problem that the contents of the water heater side storage means 14 and the contents of the remote control side storage means 4 are different. , The connection signal was transmitted sequentially.

However, immediately after the battery power source 2 is turned on to the remote operation side part 1, the remote operation side part 1 automatically transmits a connection signal immediately, so that even in a normal use state, the gas to be transmitted is not transmitted. The water heater-side communication means 12 of the water heater 10 is not necessarily in a state in which the connection signal can be received.

Therefore, after transmitting the connection signal a predetermined number of times, the contents of the water heater side storage means 14 and the contents of the remote control side storage means 4 are different from each other except for the communication channel stored as a countermeasure against the problem that the contents are different. The necessity to perform the transmission of the connection signal through the five communication channels is reduced.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the connection is performed according to the connection procedure as shown in FIG.

When the battery power source 2 is turned on to the remote operation side part 1 (S1), an initial screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display means 6 (S2), and the gas is transmitted through the communication channel read out by the remote control side storage means 4. A connection signal is transmitted to water heater 10 (S3).

If the response signal is not received even after transmitting the connection signal (S4), the retransmission means 5 transmits the connection signal a predetermined number of times via the communication channel read from the remote control side storage means 4. Is transmitted (S6),
The state is set to wait for reception of the response signal (S7).

If the response signal cannot be received after transmitting the connection signal a predetermined number of times as described above (S14),
The display of the initial screen as shown in FIG. 5 is output to the display means 6 (S15), and a state of waiting for a connection operation is made (S16).

According to the connection procedure as described above, even when the battery power supply 2 is supplied to the remote operation side unit 1 in a state where the gas water heater 10 is not capable of receiving, the communication channel of another system is set. Since it is not uselessly used for transmission, it is not necessary to emit jamming radio waves, and it is possible to prevent the battery power supply 2 of the remote operation side unit 1 from being consumed by useless transmission.

When the gas heater 10 is connected to the external power supply 11 and then connected by the operating means 7,
The connection signal is transmitted according to a predetermined procedure (S3). If no response signal is received (S4), after retransmission is performed a predetermined number of times (S7), if a response signal is not received even though connection signals are transmitted through all communication channels (S17, S18, S19), a display of the communication error code "670" as shown in FIG. 6 is output (S20).

[0041]

The present invention is embodied in the form described in the above-described claims and has the following effects.

According to the first aspect, the connection procedure is automatically performed simply by turning on the power to the remote operation side.
The operating status can be immediately confirmed by the display means,
It is possible to change the setting condition of the operation state by the operation means, and it is possible to easily change the operation state of the equipment. Further, the remote operation side can be displayed and operated without knowing the connection procedure.

According to the second aspect, if a response signal cannot be received from the equipment side even though the connection signal is automatically transmitted from the remote operation side, a display of a communication error is not output, so that a failure occurs. Can be prevented from being mistaken.

Further, according to the third aspect, since the communication channel used in the other system is not wastefully used for transmission, no jamming radio wave is emitted and a battery is used as a power source for the remote operation side. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent battery consumption due to useless transmission.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a connection procedure according to the first embodiment of the wireless remote control device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a connection procedure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a connection procedure flowchart according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a display diagram of a remote control initial screen on a display unit of the wireless remote control device.

FIG. 6 is a display diagram of a remote control communication error screen on a display means of the wireless remote control device.

FIG. 7 is a display diagram of a remote control operation state on display means of the wireless remote control device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a conventional connection procedure of a wireless remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote operation part 2 Battery power supply 3 Remote control side communication means 5 Retransmission means 6 Display means 7 Operation means 10 Gas water heater (facility equipment side part) 11 External power supply 12 Facility equipment side communication means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takechi 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device comprising: a remote control side communication means capable of automatically transmitting a connection signal by connection to a power supply; a display means for displaying an operation state of the equipment; and an operation means for changing an operation condition of the equipment. A wireless remote control device including an equipment-side portion having an operation-side portion and an equipment-side communication portion capable of communicating with the remote control-side communication portion by being connected to a power supply. 2. The wireless remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit has a function of not displaying a communication error on the display unit when the power supply unit is not connected to the power supply. 3. The wireless remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control unit has a retransmitting means for retransmitting the connection signal when a response signal from the equipment unit cannot be received.