WO2019180888A1

WO2019180888A1 - Remote controller

Info

Publication number: WO2019180888A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/011466
Authority: WO
Inventors: 真勝倉
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2018-03-22
Filing date: 2018-03-22
Publication date: 2019-09-26
Also published as: JP6942241B2; JPWO2019180888A1

Abstract

The purpose of one or more embodiments of the present invention is to be able to easily change the display on a remote controller for an air conditioner that shows the operation mode of the air conditioner to a display that a user can easily understand. The invention comprises a display unit (134) to display various screen images and a terminal communication unit (135) to receive user information pertaining to the birth place or residence of the user. In accordance with the received user information, the display unit (134) switches the screen image showing the operation mode of the air conditioner.

Description

Remote controller

The present invention relates to a remote controller for an air conditioner.

In recent years, travelers from various countries have come to stay in hotel rooms due to an increase in overseas travelers. On the other hand, the remote controller for an air conditioner is a stationary type, and the operating state of the air conditioner is displayed in a specific language and pictogram.
It is known that the interpretation of characters and pictograms such as explanations of the operation mode of the air conditioner differs depending on the cultural background of each country. For example, a pictogram and a character string that mean heating differ between an area where a combustion type such as a fireplace is used for heating and an area where a radiator such as steam is used.

With regard to such a point, for example, a technique for displaying the operation mode of the air conditioner in a character string in a language understandable by the user by switching the display language of the remote controller for the air conditioner is disclosed (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

JP 2006-46686 A

However, with the conventional technology, the user needs to perform operations up to language switching in a situation that is difficult to understand. For this reason, there exists a possibility that a user may operate an air conditioning machine accidentally by incorrect operation.

Therefore, an object of one or more aspects of the present invention is to make it possible to easily change the display showing the operation mode of the air conditioner in the remote controller for the air conditioner to one that the user can easily understand.

A remote controller according to an aspect of the present invention is a remote controller that remotely controls an air conditioner, and receives user information related to a user's hometown or residence from a display unit that displays various screen images and a setting terminal. And a reception unit, wherein the display unit switches a screen image indicating an operation mode of the air conditioner according to the received user information.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the display showing the operation mode of the air conditioner in the remote controller for the air conditioner can be easily changed to one that the user can easily understand.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an air conditioning system schematically. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a setting terminal roughly. It is the schematic which shows an example of the latitude longitude information. (A) And (B) is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a remote control schematically. It is the schematic which shows an example of a position database. It is the schematic which shows an example of a pictogram database. It is the schematic which shows an example of a unit database. It is the schematic which shows an example of the screen image displayed on a remote control. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of a user performing display setting using a remote control. It is the schematic which shows an example of a selection screen image. It is a flowchart which shows the process which specifies the registered city name. It is a flowchart which shows the process which produces | generates an operation mode screen image. It is the schematic which shows the 1st example of an operation mode screen image. It is the schematic which shows the 2nd example of an operation mode screen image. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of a user adding a pictogram to the pictogram database of a remote control.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air conditioning system 100 according to an embodiment.
The air conditioning system 100 includes a setting terminal 110,

remote controllers

130A and 130B, and

air conditioners

160A and 160B.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 100 includes an air conditioner 160A and an air conditioner 160B. The air conditioner 160A is controlled by a remote controller 130A as an equipment management apparatus, and the air conditioner 160B is remotely operated by the remote controller 130B.
The air conditioner 160A is a heat pump type using a refrigerant, and the air conditioner 160B is a radiator type using water (steam).

Note that the air conditioner 160A and the air conditioner 160B are referred to as the air conditioner 160 when it is not necessary to distinguish between them, and the

remote controllers

130A and 130B are referred to as the remote controller 130 when it is not necessary to distinguish between them.
In addition, the air conditioning system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two

air conditioners

160A and 160B, but may include one air conditioner 160, and may include three or more air conditioners 160. Also good. Similarly, the air conditioning system 100 includes two

remote controllers

130A and 130B, but may include one remote controller 130 or three or more remote controllers 130.

The setting terminal 110 communicates with the remote controller 130 and sets a display indicating the operation mode on the remote controller 130.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the setting terminal 110.
The setting terminal 110 includes a storage unit 111, a communication unit 112, an input unit 113, a display unit 114, and a control unit 115.

The storage unit 111 stores programs and information necessary for processing in the setting terminal 110.
For example, the storage unit 111 stores latitude / longitude information in which information related to the place of residence or hometown, latitude corresponding to the place of residence or hometown, and longitude corresponding to the place of residence or hometown are associated.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of latitude and longitude information.
The latitude / longitude information 116 shown in FIG. 3 is information in a table format including a city name column 116a, a latitude column 116b, and a longitude column 116c.
Each row of the city name column 116a stores a city name that is city identification information for identifying a city. Here, the city name is information on the place of residence or hometown.
In each row of the latitude column 116b, the latitude of the city indicated by the city name in the same row is stored.
Each row of the longitude column 116c stores the longitude of the city indicated by the city name in the same row.
As described above, the latitude / longitude information 116 associates a city name, its latitude, and its longitude.

The communication unit 112 communicates with the remote controller 130. For example, the communication unit 112 communicates with the remote controller 130 using radio.
The input unit 113 receives input of various instructions.
The display unit 114 displays various screen images.

The control unit 115 controls processing at the setting terminal 110.
For example, the control unit 115 receives input of information regarding the user's place of residence or hometown through the input unit 113 and the display unit 114. Specifically, the control unit 115 receives an input of a city name corresponding to the user's place of residence or hometown through the input unit 113 and the display unit 114.
In addition, the control unit 115 identifies the latitude and longitude corresponding to the input city name by referring to the latitude / longitude information stored in the storage unit 111.
Then, the control unit 115 transmits the input city name and information indicating the specified latitude and longitude from the communication unit 112 to the remote controller 130. Here, the input city name is transmitted to the remote controller 130 as user information regarding the user's residence or hometown.

The city name corresponding to the place of residence or hometown may be the city name of the city where the user lives or the city where the user was born, or the city where the user lives or the city near the city where the user was born. It may be a city name. The city name of the city where the user lives or the city near the city where the user was born is, for example, the city name of the representative city of the area where the user lives or the representative city of the area where the user was born. Alternatively, it may be the city name of the capital of the country where the user lives or the city name of the capital of the country where the user was born.
In addition, when the information regarding a user's residence or hometown is already memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 111, the control part 115 does not receive the input from a user, but uses the memorize | stored information as user information, and remote control 130 may be sent.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, a part or all of the control unit 115 described above includes a memory 10 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes a program stored in the memory 10. ) Or the like. Such a program may be provided through a network, or may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium. That is, such a program may be provided as a program product, for example.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a part of the control unit 115 includes a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits). Alternatively, it can be configured by a processing circuit 12 such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

In addition, the memory | storage part 111 can be comprised with a volatile or non-volatile memory, and the communication part 112 can be comprised with a communication interface. The display unit 114 and the input unit 113 can be configured by a display device and an input device such as a touch panel, for example.

Returning to FIG. 1, the remote controller 130 is a remote controller for setting the air conditioner 160.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the remote controller 130.
The remote controller 130 includes a storage unit 131, a screen construction unit 132, an input unit 133, a display unit 134, a terminal communication unit 135, a device communication unit 136, and a control unit 137.

The storage unit 131 stores programs and information necessary for processing of the remote controller 130.
For example, the storage unit 131 includes a position database 138 as position information, a pictogram database 139 as pictogram information, and a unit database 140 as unit information.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the position database 138.
The position database 138 shown in FIG. 6 has a city name column 138a, a latitude column 138b, and a longitude column 138c.
Each row of the city name column 138a stores a city name as registration information. The registration information is information regarding the place of birth or residence.
Each row of the latitude column 138b stores the latitude of the city indicated by the city name in the same row.
Each row of the longitude column 138c stores the longitude of the city indicated by the city name in the same row.
As described above, the location database 138 associates registered city names, latitudes, and longitudes.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the pictogram database 139.
The pictogram database 139 shown in FIG. 7 has a city name column 139a, a mode 1 column 139b, and a mode 2 column 139c.
Each row of the city name column 139a stores registered city names as registration information.
Each row of the mode 1 column 139b is a city indicated by the city name of the same row, and a character string representing mode 1 which is the first operation mode of the air conditioner 160, and a mode pictogram which is a pictogram representing mode 1. Is stored. Here, mode 1 is assumed to be heating.
Each row of the mode 2 column 139c is a city indicated by the city name of the same row, and a character string representing mode 2 which is the second operation mode of the air conditioner 160, and a mode pictogram which is a pictogram representing mode 2. Is stored. Here, mode 2 is assumed to be cooling.
As described above, the pictogram database 139 associates the operation mode, the character string representing the operation mode, and the mode pictogram representing the operation mode.

Specifically, when the city name is “Tokyo”, “heating” is stored as the explanatory character string of mode 1, and “sun mark picture” is stored as the mode pictogram of mode 1. In addition, “cooling” is stored as an explanatory character string of mode 2, and “fan picture” is stored as a mode pictogram of mode 2.

When the city name is “Washington DC”, “HEAT” is stored as the mode 1 explanation character string, and “flame picture” is stored as the mode pictogram of mode 1. Further, “COOL” is stored as an explanatory character string of mode 2, and “snow crystal picture” is stored as a mode pictogram of mode 2.

As described above, the pictogram database 139 holds an explanation character string of the operation mode of the air conditioner 160 and a mode pictogram that intuitively indicates the operation mode to the user for each registered city.
The explanatory character string in the pictogram database 139 is a character code, and the mode pictogram is held as binary data in a bitmap format.
Here, only two modes, mode 1 and mode 2, are provided as operation modes. However, there may be three or more operation modes or only one operation mode.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the unit database 140.
The unit database 140 shown in FIG. 8 includes a unit 1 column 140a and a unit 2 column 140b.
The unit 1 column 140a stores a unit type that is unit identification information for identifying the unit 1, and a unit pictogram that is a pictogram representing the unit 1 that is the first unit used in the operation mode of the air conditioner 160. To do.
The unit 2 column 140b stores a unit type that is unit identification information for identifying the unit 2, and a unit pictogram that is a pictogram representing the unit 2 that is the second unit used in the operation mode of the air conditioner 160. .
As described above, the unit database 140 associates the unit type of the unit used in the operation mode of the air conditioner 160 with the unit pictogram representing the unit identified by the unit type.

Specifically, when the unit type is “heat pump”, a picture similar to the air conditioner 160A shown in FIG. 1 is held as a unit pictogram. When the unit type is “radiator”, a picture similar to the air conditioner 160B shown in FIG. 1 is held as a unit pictogram.

The unit type in the unit database 140 is a character code, and a unit pictogram indicating a unit identified by the unit type is held as binary data in a bitmap format.

Returning to FIG. 5, the screen construction unit 132 refers to the pictogram database 139, the unit database 140, and the position database 138 to generate screen image data of a screen image indicating the operation mode of the air conditioner 160. The operation mode is represented by a combination of a pictogram and a character string.

The input unit 133 receives input of various instructions.
The display unit 134 displays a screen image based on the screen image data generated by the screen construction unit 132. For example, the display unit 134 switches the screen image indicating the operation mode of the air conditioner 160 according to the user information from the setting terminal 110.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen image displayed on the remote controller 130.
The operation mode screen image 150 representing the operation mode of the air conditioner 160 generated by the screen construction unit 132 has a character string area 150a at the top and a pictogram area 150b at the bottom.

The screen construction unit 132 constructs a character string to be displayed in the character string area 150a by connecting font data corresponding to the character code.
Further, the screen construction unit 132 reads out the mode pictogram corresponding to the operation mode from the pictogram database 139 and the unit pictogram corresponding to the unit used from the unit database 140, and arranges the read pictogram according to the rules described later. Then, an image to be displayed in the pictogram area 150b is generated. FIG. 9 shows an example in which only the mode pictogram is displayed without the unit pictogram corresponding to the unit.
Note that the images of the character string area 150a and the pictogram area 150b are represented by a set of dots.

Returning to FIG. 5, the terminal communication unit 135 communicates with the setting terminal 110. Here, the terminal communication unit 135 performs wireless communication. The terminal communication unit 135 functions as a receiving unit that receives user information from the setting terminal 110.
The device communication unit 136 communicates with the air conditioner 160. Here, the device communication unit 136 performs wired communication.

The control unit 137 controls processing by the remote controller 130. For example, the control unit 137 controls the air conditioner 160. Specifically, the control unit 137 controls the operation state and the operation mode of the air conditioner 160 so that the set temperature specified by the user is obtained.

Part or all of the control unit 137 and the screen construction unit 132 described above execute, for example, the memory 10 and a program stored in the memory 10 as illustrated in FIG. It can be configured by a processor 11 such as a CPU. Such a program may be provided through a network, or may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium. That is, such a program may be provided as a program product, for example.

Further, a part or all of the control unit 137 and the screen construction unit 132 may include, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, as illustrated in FIG. It can also be constituted by a processing circuit 12 such as ASIC or FPGA.

Note that the storage unit 131 can be configured by a volatile or nonvolatile memory, and the terminal communication unit 135 and the device communication unit 136 can be configured by a communication interface. The input unit 133 can be configured with buttons or the like, for example. The display unit 134 can be configured by a display device using liquid crystal or the like, for example.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing when the user performs display setting using the remote controller 130.
First, the control unit 115 of the setting terminal 110 accepts input of information related to the user's residence or hometown from the user via the input unit 113 and the display unit 114 (S10). Here, as information on the user's residence or hometown, the city corresponding to the user's residence or hometown, for example, the city name of the user's residence or hometown, or the user's residence or hometown The input of the city name of the city near is accepted.

Specifically, the control unit 115 causes the display unit 114 to display the selection screen image 151 illustrated in FIG. 11, and, via the input unit 113, the user's residence or home city, or The selection of the city name of the city close to the place of residence or home of the user is accepted. As shown in FIG. 11, city names of a plurality of cities are displayed on the selection screen image 151, and the user can select one city name from the displayed city names.
If the user has already selected a city name and stored in the setting terminal 110, the control unit 115 skips step S10 and proceeds to step S11.

Next, the control unit 115 identifies the latitude and longitude corresponding to the input city name by referring to the longitude / latitude information stored in the storage unit 111 (S11).
And the control part 115 sends the setting information which shows the input city name, the specified latitude, and the specified longitude to the remote control 130 via the communication part 112 (S12).

Next, the screen construction unit 132 of the remote controller 130 determines whether or not the city name indicated by the setting information sent from the setting terminal 110 is registered in the position database 138 (S13). If the city name is not registered (No in S13), the process proceeds to step S14. If the city name is registered (Yes in S13), the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S <b> 14, the screen construction unit 132 performs processing for specifying a city name registered in the location database 138. For example, the screen construction unit 132 specifies a city name close to the city name indicated in the setting information from the city names registered in the position database 138. This process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S <b> 15, the screen construction unit 132 communicates with the air conditioner 160 via the device communication unit 136 and acquires type information indicating the unit type of the air conditioner 160.
Then, the screen construction unit 132 uses the type information acquired in step S15 and the city name sent in step S12 or the city name specified in step S14, as operation data that is image data of the operation mode screen image. Mode screen image data is generated (S16). A method of generating the operation mode screen image data will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The display unit 134 displays an operation mode screen image based on the operation mode screen image data generated in step S16 (S17).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the process of specifying a registered city name in step S14 of FIG.
The screen construction unit 132 of the remote controller 130 uses the latitude La1 and longitude Lo1 indicated by the setting information sent from the setting terminal 110, and each of the latitude La2 and longitude Lo2 registered in the position database 138. The distance DV between cities is calculated using the following equation (1) (S20).
DV = (La1-La2) ² + (Lo1-Lo2) ² (1)

The screen construction unit 132 refers to the distance DV between cities calculated in step S20, and in order from the city indicated by the city name indicated by the setting information sent from the setting terminal 110. Then, a predetermined number of city names are specified from the city names registered in the position database 138 (S21). The predetermined number is, for example, 5.

The screen construction unit 132 displays the city name specified in step S21 on the display unit 134, and accepts the selection of the city name via the input unit 133 (S22). For example, the user selects a city name that he / she thinks is closest to his / her hometown from among the five city names listed. Here, the user may make a selection in consideration of not only the close proximity but also the cultural proximity, or only the cultural proximity.

Then, the screen construction unit 132 identifies the selected city name as the registered city name (S23).
Here, five city names are listed and allowed to be selected by the user. However, the screen construction unit 132 may specify the city name of the nearest city as the registered city name. .

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing for generating operation mode screen image data in step S16 of FIG.
First, the screen construction unit 132 of the remote controller 130 acquires the operation mode from the air conditioner 160 via the device communication unit 136 (S30). The operation mode acquired here is a mode in which the air conditioner 160 is currently operating.

Next, the screen construction unit 132 obtains from the pictogram database 139 the operation mode acquired in step S30 and the city name shown in the setting information transmitted from the setting terminal 110 in step S12 in FIG. 10 or in FIG. The character string and mode pictogram corresponding to the city name specified in step S14 are read (S31).

Next, the screen construction unit 132 refers to the unit database 140 to determine whether there is a unit pictogram corresponding to the unit type indicated by the unit type information acquired in step S15 of FIG. 10 (S32). ). If there is such a unit pictogram (Yes in S32), the process proceeds to step S33, and if there is no such unit pictogram (No in S32), the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S33, the screen construction unit 132 reads out the unit pictogram corresponding to the unit type indicated by the unit type information acquired in step S15 of FIG. 10 from the unit database 140, the read unit pictogram, The operation mode screen image data is generated by arranging the character string and the mode pictogram read in S31 in a predetermined first format.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of an operation mode screen image displayed based on the operation mode screen image data generated in step S33.
The operation mode screen image 152 shown in FIG. 14 includes a character string region 152a at the top and a pictogram region 152b at the bottom.
In the character string area 152a, the character string read in step S31 is arranged at the top.
The pictogram area 152b includes a mode pictogram area 152c and a unit pictogram area 152d.
The mode pictogram read in step S31 is arranged in the mode pictogram area 152c.
A unit pictogram read from the unit database 140 is arranged in the unit pictogram area 152d.

In FIG. 14, the vertical width L1 and the horizontal width W1 of the mode pictogram region 152c are each twice the vertical width L2 and the horizontal width W2 of the unit pictogram region 152d, but the embodiment is not limited to such an example. .

Returning to FIG. 13, in step S34, the screen construction unit 132 generates the operation mode screen image data by arranging the character string and the mode pictogram read in step S31 in a predetermined second format. .

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of the operation mode screen image displayed based on the operation mode screen image data generated in step S34.
The operation mode screen image 153 shown in FIG. 15 includes a character string region 153a at the top and a pictogram region 153b at the bottom.
The character string read in step S31 is arranged in the character string area 153a.
In the pictogram area 153b, the mode pictogram read in step S31 is arranged.

In FIG. 15, the vertical width L3 and the horizontal width W3 of the pictogram region 153b are set to the same length as the vertical width L2 and the horizontal width W2 of the mode pictogram region 152c shown in FIG. In addition, blank areas having a lateral width of W4 and W5 are provided on both sides of the lateral width W3 area of the pictogram area 153b. The lateral width W4 and the lateral width W5 are each half the lateral width W2 of the unit pictogram region 152d shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing processing when the user adds a pictogram to the pictogram database 139 of the remote controller 130.
First, the user selects a mode pictogram to be added via the display unit 114 and the input unit 113 of the setting terminal 110 (S40).

Next, the user sets the operation mode of the air conditioner 160 for the mode pictogram selected in step S40 via the display unit 114 and the input unit 113 of the setting terminal 110 (S41).

Next, the user sets a character string describing the mode pictogram mode selected in step S40 via the display unit 114 and the input unit 113 of the setting terminal 110 (S42).

Next, the control unit 115 of the setting terminal 110 adds one line of the pictogram database 139 based on the mode pictogram selected in step S40, the operation mode set in step S40, and the character string set in step S42. Applicable data is created, and the data is sent to the remote controller 130 via the communication unit 112 (S43). In remote control 130 that has received such data, screen construction unit 132 registers the data in pictogram database 139.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the user can intuitively change the current operation mode of the air conditioner 160 by appropriately changing the character string indicating the operation mode and the mode pictogram according to the information on the place of residence or hometown. To be able to understand.

As described above, according to the embodiment, it is possible to select a mode pictogram that is easy for the user to understand even if the mode pictogram corresponding to the place of residence or hometown is not installed. Thereby, the user can intuitively understand the operation mode of the air conditioner 160.

As described above, since a new mode pictogram can be added, a mode pictogram that can be properly understood by the user can be added later after an emergency measure is taken with the mode pictogram that is most easily understood.

In the embodiment described above, the information on the place of birth or residence is the city name, but the present embodiment is not limited to the above example. For example, the information on the place of birth or place of residence may be a country name that is country identification information for identifying a country, or a region identification information for identifying a region such as a group, city, prefecture, or state. It may be a name.

100 air conditioning system, 110 setting terminal, 111 storage unit, 112 communication unit, 113 input unit, 114 display unit, 115 control unit, 130 remote control, 131 storage unit, 132 screen construction unit, 133 input unit, 134 display unit, 135 terminal Communication unit, 136 device communication unit, 137 control unit, 160 air conditioner.

Claims

A remote controller for remotely controlling an air conditioner,
A display unit for displaying various screen images;
Receiving from the setting terminal user information about the user's hometown or residence,
The display unit switches a screen image indicating an operation mode of the air conditioner according to the received user information.
A storage unit for storing pictogram information for associating each of a plurality of pictograms with each of a plurality of pieces of registration information relating to the place of birth or residence;
If there is one registration information that matches the received user information among the plurality of registration information, a pictogram corresponding to the one registration information is identified from the plurality of pictograms, and the identified pictogram is The remote controller according to claim 1, further comprising: a screen construction unit that generates a screen image including the screen image and displays the generated screen image on the display unit.
A storage unit for storing pictogram information for associating each of a plurality of pictograms with each of a plurality of pieces of registration information relating to the place of birth or residence;
When none of the plurality of registration information matches the received user information, from a birth place or residence in the plurality of information, a birth place near the birth place or residence in the received registration information, or One registration information regarding the place of residence is specified, a pictogram corresponding to the one registration information is specified from the plurality of pictograms, a screen image including the specified pictogram is generated, and the generated screen image is The remote controller according to claim 1, further comprising: a screen construction unit to be displayed on the display unit.
It further includes an input unit that receives input of various instructions,
When none of the plurality of pieces of registration information matches the received user information, the screen construction unit has a distance from the plurality of pieces of registration information to a place of birth or residence in the received user information. 4. The remote controller according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined number of the registration information items are displayed on the display unit in close order, and selection of the one registration information is accepted via the input unit. 5.
The receiving unit receives the user information and a new pictogram from the setting terminal,
The remote controller according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the screen construction unit adds the user information as the registration information to the pictogram information in association with the new pictogram. .
The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the user information indicates a city name.
The remote controller according to claim 2, wherein the registration information indicates a city name.